Lily’s scalp burned as Zephyr yanked her through the trees by her hair, dragging her like a sack of grain. Her legs scrambled to keep up, stumbling over roots and stones, but he didn’t slow down.
“Keep moving,” he growled. “You think you’re smart, don’t you?”
She whimpered silently, trying not to fall again. Her shoulder throbbed. Her cheek was bleeding from when he’d backhanded her for trying to run. She could still feel the weight of his threat—his promise to blind her if she spoke.
Up ahead, light flickered through the trees.
Zayn stood near the steps of the main hall, arms crossed, talking quietly with Victoria. She was draped in sheer gold, her lips curled in an irritated pout.
As Zephyr stomped into view, dragging Lily behind him, both of them turned. .com
Zayn’s expression darkened immediately. “What the hell is this?”
“She was spying,” Zephyr said in a tight voice. “Caught her sneaking around the east side of the woods.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “She’s always skulking around. Must you ruin every quiet moment, Zephyr?”
“I wouldn’t have brought her to your attention if she hadn’t found something,” he snapped, yanking Lily forward and forcing her to her knees.
Zayn’s eyes narrowed. “Found what?”
Zephyr wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest still heaving. “There’s a trap door. Hidden under the forest floor. Covered in leaves, sealed tight. She triggered it. I saw it light up when she touched it.”
Victoria blinked. “A trap door?”
Zayn stepped forward, interest sparking in his eyes. “Show me.”
They returned to the forest in tense silence. Lily walked ahead, her face lowered, her hair hiding the bruises forming along her temple. She could still feel Zephyr’s eyes on her back.
When they reached the spot, the leaves had already blown aside from her earlier fall. The trap door was now exposed, faint lines glowing faint gold across the frame. The light shimmered like it recognized something in the air.
Zayn crouched beside it. He ran his fingers along the edge, his jaw tightening. “I’ve only seen this once,” he muttered.
Victoria stepped beside him. “What is it?”
“It’s old,” Zayn said. “This seal was used during the war—meant to keep Alpha blood knowledge safe. Scrolls. Maps. Curses. It can’t be opened unless the bloodline matches.”
Victoria’s brows lifted. “So... her blood opened it?”
Zayn looked at Lily, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. “Apparently.”
Zephyr scoffed. “That thing? She’s no Alpha.”
“She’s Grayson’s daughter,” Zayn muttered. He stood. “She has the blood of an Alpha.”
Victoria crossed her arms. “So what now?”
Zayn’s voice was cold and quiet. “Now? We open it.”
The vault door opened with a low, echoing thud, the ancient seal cracking apart like it hadn’t been touched in decades. Dust spilled out into the air. Cold, musty air rushed up from below, smelling of old parchment and earth.
Zayn stepped in first, his movements slow, cautious. Victoria followed behind, heels clicking against the stone. Zephyr hung back by the door, arms crossed, eyes sharp and suspicious. free\we,bnovel.c o(m)
Lily lingered last, her steps hesitant.
“Careful,” Zayn said over his shoulder. “There could be traps.”
The stairwell led down into a round stone chamber lit by glowing stones embedded in the walls. Scrolls, books, and strange artifacts filled the carved-out shelves that wrapped around the room. It felt heavy with secrets.
“This place is... ancient,” Victoria whispered.
Zayn was already scanning the shelves. “Some of these markings are from the early war era. This is knowledge the packs thought lost.”
Zephyr snorted. “And it was found by a mute slave girl. What are the odds?”
Lily ignored him. Something tugged at her. A feeling. Like the vault was humming quietly, pulling her toward something. Her feet moved on their own, slow and sure, until she stopped in front of a shelf near the back.
There was a scroll tucked between two thick tomes. Old, but not crumbling. Wrapped in black ribbon. Her fingers hovered over it.
Zayn noticed her pause. “What is it?”
Instead, she reached for it.
“Wait—” Zephyr snapped, stepping forward like he meant to stop her.
But the moment her hand touched the ribbon, the symbols on the scroll glowed faintly. Zayn grabbed Zephyr’s shoulder, stopping him.
“Let her,” he said, eyes fixed on the scroll. “It’s responding to her.”
Lily gently unwrapped the ribbon. The scroll opened easily in her hands. The letters on it were old, but somehow... familiar.
She squinted at the words.
Victoria was watching too, her voice low with disbelief. “She’s reading it.”
Lily’s lips parted slightly as her eyes scanned the symbols. .com
She didn’t know what it meant. Not fully. But the words pulled at something deep in her. Like a half-forgotten dream.
“There’s much to uncover here. Too much,” Zayn said as he turned back to head back out.
“We’ll come back after the Alpha King leaves,” he said. “I want this place guarded until I decide what to do with it.”
Lily carefully set the scroll back in place and left the vault.
They walked through the forest in heavy silence, the trees casting long shadows as the sun began to dip. Leaves crunched underfoot, and not even the birds dared to make a sound.
Zayn was in front, steps steady, mind deep in thought.
The others halted behind him, confused.
He stood still, eyes fixed ahead—but not really looking at anything. His jaw clenched. His hands curled into fists at his sides.
Victoria stepped closer. “Zayn?”
Then, slowly, his head turned. His eyes landed on Lily.
She blinked, startled, hugging herself tightly. She had been walking behind them, silent as always, bruises still fresh on her skin, her frame smaller than ever in the twilight.
“The seal opened for her,” he muttered.
“What?” Victoria snapped.
He turned fully now, speaking more to himself than anyone else. “The vault only opens to Alpha blood. She touched it, and it opened.”
Zephyr frowned. “So?”
Zayn looked at him. “Don’t you get it? Apart from Xavier, she’s the only one who has the blood of Knightmoon. She has a claim over Thunder Paw.
Victoria’s expression darkened. “What are you saying?”
Zayn’s voice dropped low. “If she is mine, I will have the right to lead. To unify both packs.”
Victoria’s voice rose, shrill with disbelief. “You can’t be serious!”
“She’s the solution,” he said again. “The answer to my claim.”
Victoria stepped in front of him. “She’s the enemy, Zayn! The daughter of the wolf who destroyed everything. The reason your brother died. The reason our people were enslaved. And now you want to claim her?”
He didn’t flinch. “I want to survive.”
“And what about me?” Victoria snapped. “I’ve been at your side through everything. I fought for you. I loved you.”
Zayn’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t about love. This is about securing our future. If we lose the Alpha King’s support, everything will fall apart.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with rage. “So the solution is to claim her? A mute mutt? Over me?”
Zayn turned back to Lily, his voice flat and cold. “Yes. She will become my Luna.”