The rain had not stopped since the raid on Moon River. It drummed relentlessly against the the high stone walls of the Pack Ten, neutral ground, sacred ground, and tonight the only place left untouched by corruption. Captain Maelor stood alone in the war chamber, dripping rainwater onto the polished obsidian floor. He had been awake for nearly twenty hours, overseeing the transfer of rescued children, cataloguing evidence, and preparing his official report to the Council of Alphas. But none of that weighed on him as heavily as the thin map rolled tightly inside his hand.
A map that would change everything. A map that held the location of Alpha Edward and Luna Hazel-the long-lost leaders of Stacy's bloodline. Maelor exhaled slowly and raised his head. "Bring them in."
The guard at the door bowed and opened the double doors. Alpha Colt entered first-broad shouldered, power coiled under his skin like a storm barely contained. His eyes blazed a deep blue, but behind the strength, Maelor recognized exhaustion. Stacy walked beside him. She moved like someone not yet fully used to her power-graceful but uncertain, filled with strength she didn't quite recognize as her own. Her silver-streaked auburn hair fell in waves around her face, and her green eyes shimmered with moon kissed magic. The Moon Goddess's touch lingered on her-visible, palpable, undeniable.
Behind the trailed Nessa, Olivia, and Niall. But Maelor lifted a hand. "This meeting is for Stacy and Colt only". The others hesitated, but Stacy nodded gently "Go wait in the west hall. We won't be long." When the doors shut behind them, the room fell into thick silence. Maelor gestured toward the long table in the center of the chamber. "Sit."
Colt didn't move. "You called us in urgently. Tell us what happened."
Stacy's voice was softer. "Did you find more children?"
Maelor shook his head. "We found something else." He unfurled the map and laid it across the table.
Colt stepped closer immediately, eyes narrowing at the ink strokes-mountain ranges drawn with precision, sigils marking hidden tunnels, old wards layered over entrances like scars. Stacy's heart hammered painfully in her chest. She clutched the back of a chair. "What...what is this?"
Maelor tapped the center of the map. "This is a containment site. A prison built beneath the northern mountains, shrouded by ancient wards. It was referenced repeatedly in Alpha Richard's journals. He calls it a holding cell. A place to keep dangerous individuals."
Stacy felt her pulse spike. Her throat tightened. Colt's voice dropped low. "Who is being held there?"
Maelor's gaze softened. He pointed to the red circle on the map "Stacy...it's your parents.".
The room seemed to tilt, For a moment, Stacy couldn't breathe. She reached out blindly, fingers curling against the table for stability. "My parents?" she whispered. The words trembled. "Alive?"
Maelor nodded. "Alive. Both of them"
Stacy's vision blurred. Colt stepped behind her instantly, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Stacy" he murmured. "Breathe".
She didn't realize she was choking until she felt the air rush back into her lungs.
Maelor continued gently. "The map was hidden among Richard's logs. It details the path, the wards, and an access sigil likely used be the Fae Commander or one of his followers. Richard worked with the ancient fae who imprisoned them."
Stacy swiped her tears angrily. "So he knew. All this time, he knew where they were."
"Yes." Maelor said "And he signed off on several reinforcement rituals to keep the prison sealed."
Colts nails lengthened, slicing into the table's edge. "He's going to pay for this," he growled.
Maelor nodded solemnly. "He will. But there is more. The High Council has reviewed all evidence from the raid. The Alphas of major packs have assembled here, and the will convene within the hour."
Stacy swallowed hard. "To decide what?"
"Richard's fate." Maelor answered. Colt stood straighter. "And we'll be there."
"You must be." Maelor said. "Your testimonies matter. The children's testimonies matter. The Council needs to understand that Richard's actions are not isolated. He is being manipulated by a far older enemy"
"The Dark Fae Commander" Stacy whispered.
Maelor expression darkened. "Yes and the forces behind him are rallying."
Stacy brushed her fingers across the map. "We're going after my parents."
"You will" Maelor agreed. "But not tonight. First, the Council must sanction a rescue to avoid triggering a multi-pack conflict. If you move without approval, other Alphas may think you are seizing territory."
Colt snorted. "I don't care what they think."
Maelor met his gaze evenly. "You will if it starts a war."
Colt clenched his jaw but didn't argue further. Stacy folded the map carefully and tucked it against her chest. "Let's go."
Maelor nodded and moved towards the doors.
"The Council awaits."
The Council
The council chamber was carved from black stone that shimmered with threads of quartz. Torches lined the walls, their flames shifted be enchantments so that each burned in the colors of the packs represented. It was a place of tradition, authority, and ancient blood oaths.
Seven Alphas stood around the circular table when Stacy and Colt entered. Their expressions ranged from solemn to furious. At the head of the circle stood Elder Seris, head of the Council. A woman of indeterminate age, power radiating from her like heat from a forge.
"We call this emergency meeting to session," Seris announced. "Captain Maelor, present your findings."
Maelor stepped forward calmly and placed Richard's journals, ledgers, and artifacts on the table. He described the raid-every detail, every horror, every crime. Gasps echoed throughout the chamber as he explained the children to the walls, the forced experiments, the ritual chambers, the intent to break the Twin Veil prophecy.
Then he revealed the final piece. A map. A prison. Alpha Edward and Luna Hazel- alive.
Stacy stood rigid as Colt's side as murmurs rippled across the chamber. Finally Seris raised a hand. "We will decide Richard's fate. Alpha Colt, Stacy-step forward."
Colt moved first, head high. Stacy followed, gripping the map tightly.
Seris addressed her directly. "You stand before us as the daughter of two imprisoned Alphas. Do you confirm the authenticity of the map?"
Stacy nodded. "Yes."
"And do you believe Richard acted knowingly and maliciously against your bloodline?"
Colt answered this time, voice cold as steel. "Yes he worked with the Dark Fae Commander. He helped imprison my mate's parents. He experimented on children. That alone demands his execution."
Some Alphas nodded, others looked uneasy.
Alpha Teegan stepped forward. "Richard has been a threat for years, but these crimes...he has broken every law of our king. I call for an immediate arrest."
"I second it," Jaxson barked.
"Third" Owen said quietly.
One be one, hands rose around the circle.
Until all but Seris had agreed.
She stepped closer, her voice a low thunder. "Richard will stand trial. He will answer for his sins before every pack." The chamber seemed to exhale. Decision made. Fate sealed.
"Captain Maelor" she continued. "assemble a Guard unit and bring Alpha Richard of Crescent Creek into custody. Alive."
A ripple of tension broke across every Alpha in the room. Alive. Difficult, but commanded. Maelor bowed. "As you wish."
He signaled to Vyra and a squad of twelve elite Guard. They marched out swiftly, armor clinking, runes glowing.
Colt squeezed Stacy's hand. "It's over.", he murmured. "He's done."
Stacy allowed herself one shaky breath. "I hope so."
The Vanishing
It didn't take long. The Guard returned less than thirty minutes later. But without Richard. As Soon as Maelor entered, every Alpha sensed it-the tension, the fury brewing beneath his skin. His eyes glowed a searing blue, runes along his armor pulsing violently.
Seris lifted he chin. "Where is he?"
Maelor's voice was ice. "Gone."
Gasps. Murmurs. Stacy felt her stomach drop.
Colt snarled. "What do you mean gone?"
"The pack house was abandoned" Maelor answered. "All scent trails older than an day. No sign of a struggle. No sign of voluntary departure either. But..." His jaw clenched. " We found traces of shadow magic. Old. Fae-made. The same energy used in the ritual chambers."
Stacy's blood froze. "The Dark Fae Commander took him."
Maelor met her gaze. "Or he ran to the commander. "
The chamber erupted into arguments-voices overlapping, rage rising from every Alpha.
"He escaped justice."
"He cannot be allowed to join forces with that creature."
"This is an act of war-"
"ENOUGH"
Seris's voice cracked through the chaos like lightening. Silence fell. She looked at each Alpha, then at Stacy, then at Colt, and finally at Maelor.
"Richard's disappearance confirms what we feared. He was never in control. The Dark Commander threads this web Richard is merely another pawn."
Her hands curled into fists.
"The war we hoped to avoid is inevitable."
Stacy straightened. For the first time, her voice held an Alpha's command-born not of title, but destiny. "Then we fight."
Colt stepped beside her. "We fight. And we free my mate's Alpha and Luna."
Maelor nodded deeply. "We'll prepare a rescue mission immediately."
Seris met Stacy's eyes. "You will lead it."
Stacy's breath hitched. "Me?"
"You are the daughter of the imprisoned Alpha and Luna. You are touched by the Moon Goddess and tied to the prophecy the Dark Commander fears. This mountain prison was built for your bloodline. Only you can undo what was done."
Colt placed a hand on Stacy's back. "You won't face it alone."
Maelor bowed his head. "Nor will the Guard."
Seris lifted her staff. "Then let the decision be recorded in the annals of every pack. The Council moves to war preparation. Richard's trial will proceed when-if- he is captured."
Stacy didn't miss the flicker of doubt. If.
The Dark Commander was old. Powerful. Cunning. Richard might already be lost beyond saving.
As the Alpha's began issuing orders, as warriors ran through the fortress, as the moon rose pale and cold over the storm-clouded sky, Stacy stood rooted where she was-holding the map that would lead to her parents.
Colt touched her cheek, brushing away a tear she hadn't realized had fallen. "We're going to bring them home," he said softly.
She nodded. "Prepare the rescue mission," she called. "We leave at dawn."