Alpha Serena's words sent a chill down my spine. I stiffened, instinctively retreating a step.
"Searching for me? Why?" I asked, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound strong.
Serena's smile grew sharper as she took a slow, deliberate step into the room. "Because your blood is special, Neah. Far more special than you've been told. You're the key to something ancient, something powerful—and something that has been hidden for centuries."
"What are you talking about?" I demanded, though I already knew her words had to be connected to what Dane had just said about my bloodline.
She tilted her head, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. "You've heard of the Crescent Curse, haven't you?"
I shook my head. "No."
Serena's silver eyes glinted with amusement. "How curious. Then again, your family has done everything in its power to keep you ignorant of the truth."
"What truth?" I demanded, frustration bubbling to the surface. "What does this curse have to do with me?"
She stepped closer, her voice softening but no less dangerous. "The Crescent Curse is not just a story, child. It's a prophecy. Long ago, wolves who carried a unique bloodline were hunted to near extinction because of their power—the ability to manipulate the effects of Blood of Wolfsbane, among other things. Those who carried this blood were seen as a threat, a weapon too dangerous to exist. But one family survived. One family hid themselves away, binding their abilities to protect their secret."
My throat tightened as her words sank in. "You're saying… my family is that bloodline?"
"Yes," Serena said simply. "And you, Neah, are the last of it."
I shook my head in disbelief. "No, that's impossible. My parents were ordinary wolves. Trey—"
"Trey lied to you," Serena interrupted, her voice cold. "Your parents knew what you were, what you could become. That's why they tried to hide you, why they bound your wolf. But someone betrayed them."
"Betrayed them?" I whispered, feeling the floor tilt beneath me.
Serena's smile returned, but this time it was tinged with pity. "Yes. Your parents didn't die because of a child's mistake. They were murdered because someone wanted to ensure your bloodline ended."
"No." I shook my head, backing away from her. "That can't be true. Trey said—"
"Trey is the one who betrayed them," Serena said bluntly, her words hitting me like a punch to the chest.
I froze, my mind racing. Could it be true? Could Trey have lied about everything?
Before I could say another word, the door burst open, and Dane stormed in, his crimson eyes blazing with fury. Jarek followed close behind, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Serena," Dane growled. "You had no right to come in here."
Serena didn't flinch. "I had every right. This girl's existence concerns more than just your pack, Dane."
"She's under my protection," Dane said, stepping between us. His voice was low and dangerous, a warning in every syllable. "Whatever you think you know, whatever you want from her—it ends here."
Serena raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his display. "Protection? Is that what you're calling it? You have no idea what you're dealing with, Dane. She's more than just a wolf with a bound spirit. She's the key to a power that could shift the balance of our world."
Dane's jaw tightened. "If you think I'll let you use her—"
"I don't want to use her," Serena interrupted, her voice rising. "I want to protect her. But if you keep her here, surrounded by enemies who want her dead, you'll only get her killed."
The room fell silent. I looked between Dane and Serena, feeling like a pawn in a game I didn't understand.
Finally, Dane turned to me, his expression softening just slightly. "Neah, do you trust me?"
I swallowed hard. "I… I don't know what to trust anymore."
His eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite name—hurt, maybe? But he didn't press me. Instead, he turned back to Serena.
"You'll leave now," he said firmly. "Whatever your intentions, you'll have to go through me before you get near her again."
Serena sighed, as if disappointed but not surprised. "Very well, Alpha Dane. But don't say I didn't warn you. The Crescent Curse is not something you can ignore. It will find her, whether you're ready or not."
With that, she turned and strode out of the room, her silver hair catching the light like a beacon.
When she was gone, Dane turned back to me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, though I didn't feel okay at all. "Dane… is what she said true? About my family? About Trey?"
His expression darkened, and I knew he didn't want to answer. But finally, he sighed. "I don't know for sure. But we're going to find out. Together."
For the first time, I felt a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, the truth was finally within reach.