Chapter 36: The Soul Stone

The bullet hit me in the shoulder. Pain exploded. I fell backward.

Cole roared. His shift completed instantly. Massive dark wolf launching at Claire.

She fired again. The bullet hit his chest. He stumbled but didn't stop.

His jaws closed around her wrist. The gun fell. She screamed.

The door burst open. Alex and Stacey rushed in. Both shifted mid-run.

"Don't kill her!" Thomas shouted from the bed. "We need answers!"

Alex tackled Claire. Pinned her down. His wolf was snarling. Ready to tear her throat out.

Stacey came to me. Shifted back to human. "How bad?"

"Shoulder. Went through." I was bleeding but alive. "Cole?"

He shifted back. Blood spreading across his shirt from the chest wound. "I'm fine. Bullet missed the heart."

"You're both idiots," Stacey said. She tore her shirt. Made bandages. "Hold still."

She wrapped my shoulder tight. Then moved to Cole.

Claire laughed from under Alex's paws. "You think this changes anything? The prophecy still happens. Lita still dies."

"Why?" I asked through the pain. "Why do you care so much?"

"Because I'm the one who made the prophecy in the first place."

Everyone froze.

"What?" Thomas sat up in bed despite his weakness. "That's impossible. The prophecy is three hundred years old."

"And so am I." Claire's eyes glowed golden. Brighter than before. "I was the Luna Alpha who fought the first demon war. I'm the one who made the deal. My life for the seal. My death to bind them."

"You're supposed to be dead," Cole said.

"I was. For about five minutes. Then I used a soul stone. Transferred into another body. My sister's body. She volunteered." Claire's smile was cold. "I've been jumping bodies for three hundred years. Waiting for the prophecy to complete."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because the seal wasn't permanent. I knew the demons would return. Knew we'd need another Luna sacrifice. So I created the prophecy. Made sure there would always be a Luna bloodline. Made sure one would be ready when the time came." She looked at me. "You're the culmination of three hundred years of planning. You were bred for this. Your mother. Your grandmother. All the way back. All Luna blood. All leading to you."

My head spun. "That's insane."

"That's survival. The demons are coming. You die or everyone dies. Simple."

"There has to be another way," Cole said.

"There isn't. I've had three hundred years to look. This is it." Claire struggled against Alex. "Now let me up. I'm trying to help."

"Help? You shot us!" Stacey said.

"To prove a point. You can't escape the prophecy. Bullet wounds heal. Demon apocalypse doesn't." Claire looked at Thomas. "Tell them. You know I'm right."

Thomas was quiet. Then nodded slowly. "She's right. I've studied the prophecy my whole life. There's no other way. Lita dies or the world ends."

"But the soul stone," I said. "You said I could transfer. Survive."

"You could. But it only delays the inevitable. Eventually, you have to return to your body. Face the prophecy. Die for real." Thomas looked at Claire. "Right?"

"Right. The soul stone is a temporary fix. Buys you time. Maybe finds you a better death. But the death still comes." Claire's eyes softened slightly. "I'm not your enemy, Lita. I'm trying to prepare you. Give you the truth no one else will."

"By killing my brother? By shooting me?"

"Your brother was going to ruin everything. And the gunshot was a warning. If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead." She looked at Alex. "Can I get up now? This is undignified."

Alex looked at Cole. Cole nodded. Alex shifted back. Stepped away.

Claire stood. Brushed herself off. Her wrist was already healing. Fast. Too fast for a normal wolf.

"Three hundred years of practice," she said, seeing my expression. "You learn tricks."

"So what now?" I asked. "I just accept I'm going to die?"

"You prepare. You train. You make peace with it." Claire walked to the window. "The Alpha meeting is in one hour. Every pack leader will be there. They'll look to you for hope. For strength. Can you give them that knowing you'll be dead in three days?"

"I don't know."

"Then figure it out. Fast. Because scared Alphas are dangerous Alphas. If they sense weakness, they'll turn on you. Try to find another solution. Another sacrifice." She looked at me. "They'll offer up other Luna bloodline wolves. Your cousins. Distant relatives. Anyone to avoid the prophesied death."

"I didn't know I had cousins."

"You have dozens. Your mother's family is huge. All carrying Luna genes. All potential sacrifices if you refuse." Claire's voice was hard. "So you have a choice. Die yourself. Or let them kill someone else in your place."

The soul stone in Cole's pocket seemed to pulse. I could feel it even from across the room.

"Can I see it?" I asked.

Cole pulled it out. Handed it to me.

The crystal was warm. Alive. Like it was calling to me.

"If I use this," I said to Claire. "If I transfer my soul before I die. What happens to my body?"

"It dies. The prophecy is fulfilled. Demons are sealed. But your soul survives in the host." She paused. "Until you find a way back. If you find a way back."

"Has anyone ever done it? Returned to their original body?"

"Once. Took seventy years and the death of twelve witches to figure out the spell." Claire's smile was grim. "But it's possible."

My phone buzzed. A text from Morgana.

"I heard what happened. Claire is lying. There's a faster way back to your body. Come to me after the meeting. I'll show you. But you need to decide about your mother soon. Tonight is the deadline."

I showed the text to Cole.

"Don't trust her," he said immediately.

"Don't trust me either," Claire added. "Don't trust anyone. Everyone has an agenda."

"What's yours?" I asked her.

"To see the prophecy fulfilled. To keep the demons sealed. To protect the world I've spent three hundred years guarding." She met my eyes. "Even if it means sacrificing you."

Thomas coughed from the bed. Blood. Lots of it.

"Dad?" Cole rushed over.

"I'm dying. Finally. Took long enough." Thomas smiled weakly. "Take the stone. Use it or don't. But don't let Claire control your choice. You're Luna Alpha. Your death. Your terms."

His eyes closed. The monitors beeped faster. Then flatlined.

Thomas Hartman was dead.

Cole stood there. Staring at his father's body. No tears. Just shock.

"We need to go," Alex said quietly. "The meeting starts in thirty minutes."

"Cole?" I touched his arm.

"I'm fine. Let's go." His voice was flat. Empty.

He wasn't fine. But we didn't have time to process.

We had an Alpha meeting. Dozens of pack leaders waiting to judge me.

And somewhere, my mother was deciding if she'd die for me.

And Morgana was waiting with answers.

And Claire was watching. Making sure the prophecy happened exactly as planned.

Three days left.

The clock was ticking.