Chapter 33: Project Moon Crown

Rowan read Edric Storm's journal entry twice.

Then he called his father.

This time, nobody argued about secure communications. Adrian came to Hollowcrest personally.

Cassian joined us.

So did Mireya.

Knox remained because the journal belonged to his family.

We gathered in a Nightvale conference room where every device was placed inside signal-blocking cases.

Adrian set the copied page on the table.

"Project Moon Crown."

Mireya's expression was grim.

"You know it?"

"No."

She touched the paper.

"But I know the theory behind it."

I sat straighter.

"What theory?"

"Lunaris mate amplification."

Rowan's jaw tightened.

Mireya continued.

"Old stories exaggerated our abilities. People claimed a Lunaris Luna could multiply an Alpha's authority, strengthen Pack bonds, improve fertility, stabilize shifting disorders, even influence neighboring wolves."

"Were any of those true?"

"Some."

"Which?"

"Bond stabilization. Pack resonance. Alpha recovery."

She looked at me.

"But only within a healthy voluntary bond."

Cassian leaned forward.

"Marcus wanted to force it."

Mireya nodded.

"That would explain why he wanted bloodline compatibility records."

Adrian looked sick.

"My great-uncle spent years around Nightvale research divisions."

Rowan turned toward him.

"What divisions?"

"Biological medicine. Wolf-bond disorders."

"Could he have run experiments?"

Adrian's silence answered before his words did.

"I don't know."

Cassian slammed his palm onto the table.

"How does Nightvale not know?"

Adrian's Alpha power flickered.

"Because Marcus erased his trail eighteen years ago."

"Convenient."

"Enough," I said.

Cassian looked at me.

"Fighting about who should've known doesn't tell us what Moon Crown was."

He exhaled and sat back.

Adrian nodded.

"You're right."

Knox opened another scanned journal page.

"My grandfather tracked purchases."

Silver compounds.

Medical restraints.

Scent suppressants.

Blood preservation equipment.

My stomach turned.

"That's not political research."

"No," Rowan said.

"It's a laboratory."

Mireya closed her eyes.

"After the attack, several Lunaris bodies were never recovered."

Cassian went still.

"What?"

"You knew."

"I thought they burned."

"Some."

Her voice shook.

"Others disappeared."

The room became painfully quiet.

I imagined survivors being dragged away.

People like Lyra.

Like Mom.

Like me.

"Could any still be alive?"

Mireya looked at me with grief.

"After eighteen years?"

She didn't finish.

We didn't need her to.

Adrian ordered Nightvale investigators to search historical properties connected to Marcus.

Knox provided Stormridge records.

Cassian provided names of missing Lunaris members.

For two days, nothing surfaced.

Then Rowan came to my dorm at six in the morning.

I opened the door half asleep.

"What happened?"

"We found a facility."

I was awake instantly.

"Where?"

"Western mountains."

"Vael territory."

"Former Vael territory."

I grabbed a jacket.

"Nessa."

"I'm coming."

"No."

I stopped.

He looked miserable saying it.

"Why?"

"Because if Project Moon Crown was designed around your bloodline, walking into the facility may be exactly what Marcus wants."

"Marcus is in custody."

"His network isn't."

I hated that he was right.

"Then what do I do?"

"Stay somewhere secure until we know what we're dealing with."

I crossed my arms.

"I hate this."

"I know."

"Don't become overprotective now."

"I'm trying not to."

"You're failing."

"Spectacularly."

I stared at him.

Then sighed.

"Fine."

His surprise was almost insulting.

"What?"

"You agreed."

"Don't make me change my mind."

He kissed my forehead before he could think better of it.

We both froze.

The mate bond warmed.

His eyes widened.

"Sorry."

I touched the spot.

"No."

"No?"

"It was okay."

His entire expression softened.

"Go," I said quickly.

"Before you become unbearable."

"Already there."

He left with Cassian, Adrian's investigators, and Garrick.

I spent the next six hours pacing.

Tessa threatened to tie me to a chair.

Lyra distracted me with old Lunaris photographs.

At noon, Rowan called.

"We're inside."

"And?"

"Facility abandoned recently."

"How recently?"

"Days."

My stomach dropped.

"They knew Marcus was caught."

"Probably."

"What did you find?"

Silence.

"Rowan."

"Medical rooms."

My fingers tightened around the phone.

"People?"

"No."

Relief and disappointment mixed.

"Records?"

"Some were destroyed."

"Some?"

"We found patient codes."

I closed my eyes.

"Any names?"

"Not yet."

Then I heard Cassian shouting in the background.

Rowan turned away from the phone.

"What?"

Muffled voices.

Then silence.

"Rowan?"

He returned.

His voice had changed.

"Nessa, we found a photograph."

"Of what?"

"A patient."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"Then why are you calling me like that?"

He inhaled.

"Because she looks exactly like your mother."

My heart stopped.

"Mom is here with me."

"I know."

"Then who is she?"

"We're trying to identify her."

I turned.

Mom was sitting across the room.

She saw my face and stood.

"What happened?"

I put the call on speaker.

Rowan repeated it.

Mom went white.

"Describe her."

"Dark hair. Gold eyes. Same facial structure as you. Photograph appears approximately twenty years old."

Mom gripped the table.

"No."

"What?"

She whispered a name.

"Seraphina."

Mireya gasped.

Lyra looked confused.

I stared at Mom.

"Who is Seraphina?"

Mom's eyes filled with tears.

"My twin sister."