Page 19 of Moon Fated

"Let's do this.” I nodded to Blake, and he handed me the dagger. With an imperceptible nod, he beckoned me toward a secluded alcove shielded by ancient trees. "Will they all come?" I asked.

"Only a few," Blake replied, his sandy hair catching the moonlight that broke through the canopy. "The rest have gone with Justin. They trust his judgment."

That was to be expected. I didn’t know if Blake had told the elders who they’d be meeting, but I doubted he’d given them the whole truth. The way Justin had reacted earlier…I shivered. Nathan would be returning soon, and I needed to be far from Kitimat when he arrived.

A few moments later, the Elders emerged from the shadows like specters of a bygone era, their figures imposing even under the heavy cloak of night. Elder Marlowe led the procession, his silver hair cascading over broad shoulders. He carried with him an air of command that often made wolves twice his junior cower. His piercing gaze settled on me, and I could feel the weight of his scrutiny.

"The prodigal. Returned.” His voice was gravelly, carrying the resonance of a growl even in human form.

"Does our alpha know of this?" chirped Elder Tara, her frame lithe and movements spry as she rounded Marlowe like a cunning fox. Her eyes twinkled with mischief, though her tone held an edge sharp enough to cut through bone.

"I’m not interested in betrayal," retorted Elder Cormac, his burly figure moving forward with a lumbering grace. The lines on his face deepened as he frowned.

"Enough," snapped Elder Keira, meeting my eyes.

She’d seen me once. In the grocery store. I’d gone out to buy apples, and Nathan didn’t like returning from work to find the house empty. I’d thought I left enough time, but there was only one checker open. I was a nervous wreck, sweating through my shirt, when I started out to the parking lot. That’s when I saw Keira. Next to Nathan’s truck.

Keira gave me a slight nod. “Tell me why you’re here, child.” With one piercing look, it was as if she saw beneath my surface. She knew. They may not approve of the choices I made, but she at least understood why I’d made them.

“I’m here for Callista. For the Ash family. I know Kitimat doesn’t have a tracker.” I still love my pack. I couldn’t quite say those words out loud, but I felt them. It was true. I missed this place. I missed my family and friends. But no amount of community was worth bondage.

"I found this.” I drew the dagger from my coat, the blade catching the scarce light and throwing it into the Elders' faces. Their expressions shifted from skepticism to solemnity in a matter of seconds.

Cormac stepped closer, his large hand hovering over the weapon but not touching it. "Where did you find this?" he asked, his voice losing its earlier bite.

"I believe Callista had it," I replied.

The elders exchanged looks.

"Never straightforward, are you, Evelyn?" Marlowe's lips twisted into something between a smirk and a sneer. His eyes, though, remained locked on the dagger.

"Only when it serves my purpose," I shot back, feeling that familiar tickle of defiance. I was a grown-ass woman with a strong wolf. I wasn’t going to allow them to treat me like a petulant child.

"Marlowe, hold your tongue," Tara chided softly, her silver hair shimmering even in the dim light. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she turned to me. "These markings," she murmured, gesturing at the intricate etchings on the blade. "They speak of old magic, of a time when the veil between worlds was thinner."

"Indeed," Cormac rumbled, his deep voice carrying an undercurrent of concern. His fingers brushed over the symbols, careful not to make contact with the steel. "I've seen similar craftwork once before?—"

"Enough," Lysander interrupted, his green eyes flashing with urgency. The others fell silent, turning to him.

I waited impatiently. This was always how it was with the elders. They wanted to help the pack, but they wouldn’t give up their secrets.

“This magic has made its way to Kitimat,” I said. “There’s no benefit to hiding what you know. Callista is out there, along with the other wolves that have disappeared. I need to find her.”

Lysander pursed his lips. “We don’t have the answers you seek. But if you take this to Lyra?—”

Tara hissed a breath. “Wolves do not collude with witches.”

“Who’s Lyra?” My heart began to speed.

"Lyra Moonshadow," Keira began, holding up a hand when Tara tried again to cut in. "A witch of formidable power who fled to the northern reaches long ago. She sought solitude after a great tragedy befell her."

"Tragedy?" I pressed, sensing there was more they were hesitant to reveal.

"Her mate," Lysander said simply, and the finality in his tone told me all I needed to know about the depth of Lyra's loss. "Cursed and taken from this world. She's been alone ever since, meddling in human affairs. Her loyalty to none but herself."

"Meddling how?" I could feel my curiosity morphing into resolve. If this witch knew anything about the dagger, I needed to find her.

“She follows whims,” Tara said, as if it were a curse word.

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