Chapter 8: Julia's Final Scheme

The phone call ended.

For several seconds, I remained completely silent.

Julia had been working with the First Moon faction.

The jewelry shop.

The stolen crown.

The ceremony interruption.

The mysterious messages.

Everything suddenly made sense.

This had never been about a crown.

It had never even been about Falcon.

Julia had wanted access to me.

To my bloodline.

To the power that had awakened during the ceremony.

Falcon stood beside me.

"Sloane."

"I'm fine."

"You're thinking too loudly."

I looked at him.

"I don't think that's possible."

"With you, apparently anything is possible."

I smiled faintly.

"The Chairman wants me back in Northmere."

"Then we should go."

"We?"

"I'm your Alpha."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you promised not to control me."

"I did."

"Then ask instead of deciding."

Falcon paused.

"Will you come back with me?"

I considered it.

"Yes."

"Because I need answers."

He nodded.

"Then I'll make sure you get them."

We returned to Northmere that evening.

The council had gathered in an emergency session.

My brother stood at the center of the chamber.

Several powerful Alphas surrounded him.

The atmosphere was tense.

"Sloane," my brother said.

"The captured wolf has confessed that Julia met with the First Moon faction before the ceremony."

I walked forward.

"What did she tell them?"

"Your movements."

"Your bloodline."

"And the exact timing of the mating ceremony."

Falcon's expression hardened.

"Why would she help them?"

One elder answered.

"Because they promised her power."

I frowned.

"What kind?"

"A seat on the future ruling council."

"And the guarantee that Falcon would be removed if necessary."

Falcon's eyes became cold.

"So she wanted the throne without becoming Luna."

"Exactly."

I looked at my brother.

"Where is she now?"

"Missing."

That answer immediately made me suspicious.

"She wouldn't disappear without a plan."

"Agreed," my brother said.

A guard suddenly rushed into the chamber.

"Chairman!"

"We've received an emergency transmission from the Silvermoon pack."

"Go ahead."

"Several pack members have been attacked."

"Their wolves are unconscious."

"The attackers left a message."

The guard handed him a piece of black paper.

My brother read it.

His expression became grim.

"What does it say?" I asked.

He handed it to me.

Only five words were written:

"THE FIRST MOON WILL RISE."

A chill moved through me.

"They are trying to provoke the entire pack."

Falcon nodded.

"And they want you to react."

"So we don't react."

"Then what do we do?" he asked.

"We make them come to us."

My brother looked at me carefully.

"That's dangerous."

"So is waiting."

The council debated for hours.

Eventually, they agreed to use me as bait.

Not because I was expendable.

Because I was the only person powerful enough to survive the trap.

The plan was simple.

A false announcement would be made that I was returning to the Silvermoon ceremony grounds.

The First Moon faction would believe I was vulnerable.

Security would wait in hidden positions.

Falcon would stay close.

My brother would command the outer perimeter.

And I would draw out whoever was leading them.

The announcement was made before midnight.

By sunrise, Northmere was buzzing.

"Sloane Lunebom returns tomorrow."

"The First Moon heir will face the council."

"The Luna ceremony may resume."

Exactly as expected...

Someone took the bait.

A messenger arrived at the palace with a message for me.

"From Julia Stone."

I opened it.

"Come alone if you want the truth about your bloodline."

"Meet me at the old Moon Temple."

"Do not bring Falcon."

"Do not bring your brother."

I looked at the message and smiled.

Julia really thought I was that stupid.

Falcon read it over my shoulder.

"You're not going."

"I am."

"Not alone."

"Obviously."

He shook his head.

"You enjoy dangerous situations too much."

"And you worry too much."

"That's because you're reckless."

"You're my arranged mate, not my babysitter."

He smiled.

"Maybe I'm becoming both."

The next evening, we went to the Moon Temple.

The ancient ruins sat deep inside the forest.

The walls were covered with First Moon symbols.

Silver light from the moon illuminated the old altar.

Julia stood in the center.

She was alone.

Or so it appeared.

"You came," she said.

"You asked me to."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Where's Falcon?"

"You told me to come alone."

"And you listened?"

"For once."

She smiled faintly.

"You're always so confident."

"I have reasons."

Julia looked at the silver symbol beneath her feet.

"Do you know what this place is?"

"The oldest First Moon temple in Northmere."

"Exactly."

"And do you know why your bloodline matters?"

"I'm sure you're about to tell me."

Her smile faded.

"The First Moon heir can awaken the ancient throne."

"If you claim it, you won't just be a Luna."

"You'll outrank every Alpha in existence."

I remained calm.

"And you want that power."

"I want someone who understands it."

"You mean yourself."

"Yes."

Julia stepped closer.

"Falcon will never understand the power you're carrying."

"He doesn't need to."

"I do."

"You want me to give you the bloodline?"

"Not give it."

"Bind it."

I finally understood.

"You want to force a bloodline bond."

"Exactly."

"And that's why you needed Falcon gone."

Julia laughed softly.

"Now you're finally understanding."

Suddenly, figures emerged from the forest.

Dozens of wolves surrounded the temple.

Their eyes glowed silver.

Falcon's voice came from the darkness.

"You're too late, Julia."

She froze.

He stepped out from behind the ruins.

My brother appeared on the opposite side.

Guards surrounded the temple.

Julia looked around in horror.

"You lied to me."

"No," I replied.

"You simply believed I was weaker than you."

Julia's face twisted with rage.

"Then let's see how powerful you really are."

She raised both hands.

The First Moon symbols beneath us began glowing.

A violent wave of ancient energy erupted from the altar.

Several guards were thrown backward.

Falcon rushed toward me.

"Sloane!"

"I'm fine!"

I stepped into the center of the glowing circle.

The power inside me awakened again.

Silver light surrounded my body.

The entire temple shook.

Julia screamed.

"You can't control it!"

"Maybe not yet."

"But I don't need to control it to stop you."

I released my aura.

The power crashed through the temple.

Julia fell to her knees.

The wolves surrounding us lowered their heads.

The First Moon symbols went dark.

Silence returned.

I walked toward Julia.

"You wanted my crown."

"You wanted my bloodline."

"You wanted Falcon."

"You wanted everything."

I looked down at her.

"But you never understood the first rule of power."

"It can't be stolen from someone who doesn't need it."

Julia stared at me in disbelief.

Falcon stepped beside me.

"It's over."

Julia suddenly began laughing.

"No."

"You still don't know the truth."

My expression changed.

"What truth?"

She looked directly at me.

"The First Moon throne doesn't belong to you."

"It belongs to whoever can awaken the final seal."

My brother's face changed.

"That's impossible."

Julia smiled.

"Then open the ancient seal and see."

The ground beneath the temple suddenly cracked.

A massive silver symbol appeared beneath our feet.

My bloodline reacted instantly.

And from somewhere beneath the ruins...

A voice echoed through the temple.

"The heir has returned."

Everyone froze.

The real power of the First Moon had finally awakened.