Chapter 8 First Morning
Lana's POV
I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the faint smell of blood and ash.
For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was or how I got here. My entire body ached like I'd been hit by that truck I'd mentioned the night before. Every muscle screamed when I tried to move.
Wait. The night before. The shift. The woman in the castle courtyard claiming to be Kian's mother.
I sat up too quickly, and the room spun. I pressed a hand to my temple, trying to ground myself. The last thing I remembered was Kian shifting into his wolf form with a growl that shook the earth, moving to attack the woman with the cold eyes, and then someone, Sera, maybe?...had grabbed me and dragged me away from the chaos.
The door opened, and I nearly screamed before recognizing Kian. He looked like he hadn't slept. His shirt was torn, revealing bandages across his ribs, and there was a fresh cut along his jaw that hadn't been there last night.
"You're awake," he said, and there was something cautious in his tone. As if he wasn't sure if I'd still be here when he opened the door. "How do you feel?"
"Like death," I said honestly. "What happened? Your mother showed up and then..."
"She's not my mother." He set down a tray with food and sat carefully on the edge of the bed, keeping distance between us. "That's what I need to talk to you about."
I pulled the blanket higher, suddenly very aware that I was naked underneath it. Kian noticed, of course he did, but he had the decency to keep his eyes on my face.
"The woman you saw last night is Lyanna. She was my father's mate before my mother." He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that made him look younger and more vulnerable than I'd seen him. "When my mother was pregnant with me, Lyanna tried to kill her out of jealousy. My father exiled her, stripped her of her rank, and forbade any pack from taking her in."
"That's... intense," I managed.
"She's been gathering power in the borderlands for twenty-three years." His expression went hard. "Last night, she attacked to try to prove she's strong enough to challenge for the territory. She wanted to prove that my father made a mistake exiling her."
"Did she..I mean, did she hurt you badly?" I could see the bandages, but the mate bond was quiet now, which somehow made it harder to read his injuries.
"Nothing I won't recover from." He stood, clearly uncomfortable with the vulnerability he'd shown. "You need to eat. Your body went through enormous stress shifting. You need nutrients."
I looked at the tray. There was meat, bread, fruit, and what looked like a raw steak. "Is that supposed to be...?"
"For your wolf," he said matter-of-factly. "She'll crave raw protein for the next few days as her body adjusts. Humor her. It will help you heal faster."
I reached for the bread first, avoiding the raw meat. But as I ate, my wolf stirred restlessly inside me, making my mouth water for the bloodier option. It was disturbing how much she wanted it.
"You're wondering if you're becoming a monster," Kian said, reading my expression perfectly.
"Am I?"
"No. You're becoming what you were always meant to be." He sat again, this time closer. "Lana, Eclipse Wolves are different from regular wolves. We don't have the same instincts about hierarchy and submission. Your wolf isn't going to want to follow arbitrary pack rules or bow to an Alpha just because of rank."
"Then what does she want?"
"Freedom. Power. Protection for those she cares about." He studied my face. "And a mate strong enough to match her."
"Lucky for me you exist," I said dryly, and was rewarded with a slight smile.
"Very lucky."
A knock interrupted us, and Sera entered without waiting for permission. She took one look at me in bed, in Kian's bed, and her expression went knowing.
"The Council representatives have arrived," she said to Kian, completely ignoring the implication. "They're demanding an audience."
Kian's entire body went tense. "How many?"
"Three. Ancient ones, judging by their power signature. They say it's regarding the Eclipse Wolf situation."
I watched the color drain from Kian's face. Whatever was coming, it was worse than his psychotic past attacking the castle.
"I need to get dressed," I said, throwing off the blanket and immediately regretting it when Kian's eyes went molten silver. I grabbed the nearest piece of fabric- his discarded shirt from the night before and wrapped it around myself. "What do Council representatives want with me?"
"Nothing good," Sera said. "Eclipse Wolves have been illegal for a hundred years. The last one they found, they hunted until she was cornered. Then they killed her slowly to make a point."
The room seemed to tilt. "Why?"
"Because an Eclipse Wolf nearly destroyed an entire territory a century ago," Kian said quietly. "The Council decided the risk wasn't worth it. They passed a law: any Eclipse Wolf found will be executed immediately."
"But... I didn't do anything."
"You exist," Sera said gently. "That's crime enough in their eyes."
Kian moved to the door. "Stay in this room. Don't come out no matter what you hear. I'll handle this."
"Wait," I called, and he paused. "If they find me, they'll execute me, right?"
"Over my dead body."
"But if it comes to it...if it's a choice between me and everyone else..."
"It won't be." He came back, cupping my face in his hands with surprising gentleness. "I told you last night: I'd burn the world for you. That hasn't changed."
After he left with Sera, I stood at the window overlooking the courtyard where the battle had been fought. The blood had been cleaned away, but you could still see the scorch marks from magical attacks.
My reflection stared back at me from the glass, hair wild from sleep, wearing a man's shirt that fell to my thighs, eyes that seemed darker than they should be.
I looked like someone who'd just discovered she had the power to destroy empires.
And worse, I wasn't sure I cared.
Below, I heard voices. Kian's cold and commanding. A woman's voice, ancient and sharp like breaking ice. And underneath it all, the sound of metal scraping, swords being drawn.
The Council had come for me.
And based on the anger radiating through my bond with Kian, they were about to learn exactly why he was called the Blood Alpha.