Chapter 15 FOURTEEN
\[NYRA'S POV\]
“This is useless," I sigh, dropping my hands in defeat and falling on the grass. Riven stares at me for a while and sighs.
He's been so patient with me for the past two hours, teaching me how to control water. Or trying to rather, because I haven't been able to so much as lift a drop from the lake.
Ugh! Who knew magic was going to be so hard!
“Listen, baby," he begins, dropping to his knees beside me. “You really have to take these lessons seriously. What happened last time will definitely happen again and we need you to be able to at least defend yourself."
He's right. I have to be serious.
" How about we continue this tomorrow, hmmm?” He suggests with a soft smile. The kind I'm slowly getting attached to. At this point I think it's safe to say that he's my favorite person amongst the brothers.
He's not trying his best to avoid me like I'm some plague like Lucien. Neither does he go out of his way to make my life hell like Kade. And neither does he act all brooding and commanding like Keiran.
Yeah, he's definitely my favorite.
He stretches forward his hand and I place mine in his. He pulls me to my feet. “We should head back now. Keiran has something to tell us."
I nod and we start heading back to the castle. Knowing he's the only one liable to give me a response, I ask the question that has been in my mind for a while. “Can I ask a question, Riven?”
" Of course, baby.”
I take a deep breath. " Keiran told me about the light and shadow wolves the other time and I was left curious about one thing. If the light wolves were the ones who caused trouble to begin with, why are the shadow wolves rogues?”
He doesn't say anything. He's silent for a whole five minutes, almost like he's trying to decide if he should actually tell me. Finally he sighs.
“You see…’’ he begins. “The moon goddess created two species of wolves, each strongest at different times of the day. The light wolves were stronger during the day and the shadow wolves could function best at night. We had control over the dark and they, the day. But everything changed when the light wolves stopped being content and desired our power.”
He pauses, his jaw tightening like the memory itself tastes bitter. We’re halfway across the bridge leading back to the castle when he finally speaks again.
“They wanted balance,” he continues softly. “Or at least that’s what they claimed. But in reality, they wanted domination. They thought if they merged the powers of light and darkness, they could remake the world in a way they deemed ‘pure’.”
I snort. “Pure? Sounds like something a power hungry asshole would say before blowing everything up.”
Riven actually chuckles. “You’re not wrong, baby. Their Alpha King Aurelius believed the shadow wolves were born defective. That darkness shouldn’t exist unless the light allows it. So he started the Purge.”
My steps falter. “The… what?”
His expression falls. “It was a massacre, Nyra. He accused the shadow wolves of corrupting the goddess’s gift. He rallied the light packs and declared that for the world to ‘heal,’ the shadows had to be erased.”
Cold dread slides down my spine. “And the goddess just… let him?”
“She tried to intervene,” he replies, voice low, “but divinity has its own laws and one of the most important is not to interfere in matters of the mortals. Besides, Aurelius had already gathered enough power and loyalists. The war was catastrophic, and when it ended, there weren’t enough shadow wolves left standing to form whole packs. So the light wolves branded them as rogues, outcasts, with no lands or rights.” He looks away. “And eventually… the world forgot the truth. They only remembered the version Aurelius carved into history.”
My heart twists painfully. “Riven… that’s…”
“Why the Moon goddess killed herself and shattered her heart to pieces.,” he finishes, meeting my gaze. “The Lunar Crystal is the most powerful artifact in werewolf lore. The Lunar Heir is the only one who can activate it and restore the balance they once destroyed.”
Oh!
That's why Jackson wanted me. To stop the shadow wolves from finding me, and using me for his own benefit.
Ugh! What a disgrace to humanity.
We complete the walk to the castle in silence. When we arrive, we head straight for Keiran's office.
They're all there.
Keiran sits behind his desk relaxed, his aura screaming authority. Kade is nestled on the couch, a smirk on his face as he stares at me. Lucien leans against the window, his signature “let's get this over with, I've got things to do” look on his face. I'm starting to think he gets bored just by being around people.
“So," Keiran begins, after Riven has settled on the sofa and pulled me on his lap. “I think it's only fair that we tell you the history of the Dark Alpha."
“I have a feeling this little history lesson won't end well," Lyric murmurs.
I do so, but I just have to listen anyway.
“See, Cara mia, the Dark Alpha was not always evil,” Keiran says then nods towards Riven. " Show her the image and what you discovered.”
Riven nodded. I stood up and he fished out a piece of paper from his pocket, handing it to me.
I stare at the paper skeptically. For some reason I know I will not like what I'm going to see. I take the paper from Riven but don't open it.
“See, baby after recent attacks from the Dark Alpha on the border packs, I had to do a couple of researches. A trip to the Lunar archives in Vegas had me knowing what I wanted."
I stare at him blankly.
" The man once had a family,” Kade says. " Turns out he was betrayed and cursed. Turns out the only thing that can break his curse is the Lunar Crystal.”
" The betrayal is just a rumor,” Keiran corrects, shooting Kade a warning glance to which the latter scoffs. “Rumor has it that the Dark Alpha once had a wife. But she left him for another man. He killed the man out of jealousy. But turns out the man was a sorcerer who cursed the Alpha before dying."
" Open it,” Lucien nods at the paper in my hands.
" You ready, Lyric?" I ask telepathically.
But nothing could have prepared me for what I see once I open the paper.
“This…” the words escape me. I stutter, not knowing how to put it in a way that sounds more believable. " This…this is my…my mother."