Chapter 150: Shadows Return

Five years after Luna’s wedding, life was peaceful. Too peaceful.

Thomas was five years old. Looked fifteen. Smart. Strong. Powerful like his mother.

I was enjoying being a grandmother. Visiting Portland often. Watching Thomas grow. Helping Luna lead.

Then the disappearances started again.

“Three supernatural beings missing this month. All from different cities. All powerful. All just gone.” Andres tracked it. Looking worried.

“Like before. Like the Covenant.” Sarah remembered. “But we destroyed them. They’re gone.”

“Maybe not all of them. Maybe some escaped. Maybe they rebuilt.” Maya suggested.

“Or maybe this is something new. Something different. Something worse.” I had a bad feeling.

The Council investigated. Sent teams. Searched everywhere.

They found nothing. Just like before. No bodies. No clues. Just missing people.

Then we got a message. Delivered to Council headquarters. Anonymous.

“The Covenant fell. But the mission continues. We are the New Order. We are stronger. Smarter. Better. And we are coming. For all of you. For your children. For your future. Surrender now. Or face extinction. You have been warned.”

“New Order? Who are they? What do they want?” Cole read the message. Concerned.

“Same thing the Covenant wanted. Control. Power. Domination.” I crumpled the paper. “But we beat the Covenant. We’ll beat them too.”

“Will we? We’re older now. Slower. Luna is in Portland. We’re spread thin.” Nina was practical. “We’re not as strong as we were.”

She was right. I was thirty eight now. Still strong. Still capable. But not twenty anymore.

Cole was forty. Sarah and Maya were thirty six. We were all aging. Getting older. Slower.

“Then we call Luna home. We reunite Luna Triad. We prepare for war. Again.” I decided.

I called Luna. Told her everything. The disappearances. The message. The threat.

“I’m coming home. Me, Derek, and Thomas. We fight together.” Luna didn’t hesitate.

“What about your pack? Your people in Portland?” I asked.

“They’ll manage. Or they’ll come with us. Either way, family comes first. Always.” Luna was firm.

Two days later Luna arrived. Derek and Thomas with her. Plus fifty wolves from her pack. All ready to fight.

“The New Order. Do we know anything about them?” Luna asked at the emergency Council meeting.

“Nothing. They’re completely unknown. No history. No records. No trace.” The Elder looked frustrated. “It’s like they appeared from nowhere.”

“Or they’ve been hiding. Planning. Preparing for years. Waiting for the right moment.” Marcus suggested.

“Waiting for what? What changed? What’s different now?” Yara asked.

Then I realized. “Thomas. They’re waiting for Thomas. For the next generation. The prophecy continues through him.”

Everyone looked at Thomas. He sat quietly. Listening. Understanding everything despite being five.

“They want me? Like Vivian wanted my mom?” Thomas asked. Calm. Mature.

“Maybe. Or they want to stop you. Prevent the prophecy. End the bloodline.” I explained honestly.

“Then I’ll fight. I’ll protect myself. I’m not scared.” Thomas stood. Confident. Brave.

“You’re five years old. You’re not fighting anyone.” Luna was firm. Protective mother.

“I’m five but I’m not a child. Just like you weren’t. I’m ready.” Thomas looked at his mother. “Let me help.”

The same argument I’d had with Luna. The same struggle. The same pain.

“We’ll see. For now we prepare. We train. We get ready.” Luna deflected. Not ready to decide.

That night I couldn’t sleep. Too many thoughts. Too many worries.

My phone buzzed. Text from unknown number.

Not the New Order. Someone else.

“Hello, Lita. Long time. Miss me? I’ve been watching. Waiting. Learning. The New Order is real. They’re dangerous. They’re coming. And they have someone you know. Someone you thought was dead. Someone who wants revenge. Can you guess who? Here’s a hint. Family keeps betraying you. Over and over. Because some wounds never heal. Some hate never dies. Some revenge never ends. Good luck. You’ll need it. Signed, A Friend.”

The mysterious friend. Back again. After years of silence.

Who did the New Order have? Who was supposed to be dead? Who wanted revenge?

Richard? No. He was in maximum security prison. Checked on monthly.

Vivian? No. Also in prison. Magical prison. Unbreakable.

Catherine? No. She was… wait. Where was Catherine?

I called the prison. “Where is Catherine Crane? I need confirmation she’s still locked up.”

“Hold please.” The guard checked. Long pause. Too long. “Ma’am. Catherine Crane escaped. Three months ago. We’ve been searching but haven’t found her.”

“Three months? And nobody told me? Nobody warned us?” I was furious.

“It was classified. Council orders. Didn’t want to cause panic.” The guard sounded apologetic.

“Who gave that order? Who kept this secret?” I demanded.

“The Elder. She ordered silence. Said she’d handle it personally.”

I hung up. Stormed to The Elder’s quarters. Pounded on the door.

She opened it. Looking guilty. “Lita. I was going to tell you.”

“When? When Catherine killed someone? When she attacked? When it was too late?” I pushed past her. Into her room. “She escaped three months ago and you said nothing?”

“I didn’t want to worry you. Didn’t want to disrupt your peace. You’d been through so much.” The Elder tried to explain.

“That’s not your decision to make. She’s my grandmother. My responsibility. My threat.” I was shaking with anger. “Where is she now?”

“We don’t know. She vanished completely. No trace. No sightings. Nothing.” The Elder looked down. Ashamed.

“She’s with the New Order. She’s leading them. Or helping them. Or working with them.” I realized. “The friend said family keeps betraying us. Catherine is family. She escaped. She’s back. She’s the threat.”

Through the bond Sarah and Maya felt my rage. My fear. My realization.

We were at war again. With the New Order. Led by Catherine. Coming for Thomas. Coming for all of us.

The peaceful years were over. The battles were starting again.

And this time, I wasn’t sure we could win.