Page 65 of Howl For A Kiss
Kieran smirked. "And I'll make sure the pack leaders stay in line in the meantime. Can't have anyone getting cold feet."
Elena reached for Damon's hand, lacing her fingers with his. "Together," she said, her voice firm. "All of us."
"Always," Damon replied, his grip tightening.
The room fell silent, the weight of their plan settling over them like a storm cloud poised to break. Elena's wolf stirred, eager for the fight and for the chance to tear down the walls Thorne had built between the human and shifter worlds.
"Let's end this," she said firmly.
The others nodded, determination etched into every face. Elena felt it then—the unshakable unity of their Lunar prophecygroup, their found family. They were more than hybrids and more than warriors. They were the bridge between worlds, and the hope for a future where love and freedom could thrive. And they were more than ready to burn the old world down to build it.
The ringing of Kieran's phone sliced through the cabin, startling Elena from her thoughts. Kieran's expression shifted as he answered, his silver-blue eyes narrowing as Lena's voice crackled through the speaker, frazzled and urgent.
"Something's happening in Shadow Pack territory," Lena started, her words clipped. "There's a hybrid woman—rumored to be descended from the original shapeshifter bloodline. She's real, Kieran. And she's powerful. Beyond anything we've ever seen. She's already rallying a spiritual faction of the rebellion."
Elena's breath caught. A descendant of the ancient shapeshifter bloodline? The air in the room thickened with tension as she exchanged a glance with Damon. His green eyes burned with intensity, his jaw tightening as he leaned forward.
"Are you sure she's real?" Kieran demanded, his voice sharp. "Not some rumor or?—"
"She's real," Lena interrupted, her tone firm. "Rhea confirmed it. She's the fourth and final part of the Lunar Prophecy."
Elena's heart pounded. The final part of the prophecy? Her mind raced, trying to piece together what this meant. The Lunar Prophecy had always been a beacon of hope for them, a promise of restoring harmony between humans and shifters. But this—this was monumental. This was the missing piece.
"What does this mean?" Elena asked. "Is she a threat? An ally?"
Lena hesitated. "She's… a catalyst. Her powers surpass anything we've ever encountered. She's not just a wolf shifter—she can transform into other creatures. Rhea believes heremergence signifies the return of forgotten magic, magic that Thorne tried to erase centuries ago."
Damon's low growl rumbled through the room. "If Thorne finds out about her, he'll kill her. We need to extract her. Now."
Kieran nodded, his expression grim. "Agreed. We'll have to put the Granite Ridge medical facility mission on hold. This is top priority." He paused for a moment as if thinking through the next steps in a flash. "Lena, hang up and text all the details to Damon's phone now. Damon and Elena will leave tonight to go extract this hybrid woman."
Elena's stomach tightened. The Granite Ridge medical facility was their best chance to expose Thorne's corruption, but this—this was bigger. This was the prophecy unfolding before their eyes.
Damon's hand found hers again, his grip firm and reassuring. She looked up at him, and the determination in his gaze steadied her. She knew they were the best fit to go extract this mysterious hybrid woman from Shadow pack territory with their combined tactical expertise and experience.
Suddenly, Kieran's phone rang again. He answered, his expression shifting from surprise to disbelief as his face paled. "Father?"
The word hung in the air, heavy and impossible. Everyone froze. Elena's pulse quickened as Kieran's voice softened, his Alpha demeanor momentarily cracking. "I'm coming to get you."
When he hung up, the room was silent. Kieran looked at them, his silver-blue eyes wide. "That was my father. Alpha Alaric. He's alive. He escaped captivity and is at a safehouse. I'm leaving now to get him."
Elena's mind reeled. Alaric Silvercrest, Kieran's father, the missing Alpha—the man they'd all thought dead—was alive. Damon's grip on her hand tightened, his expression as stunned as hers.
"What does this mean for the treaty?" Maya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kieran shook his head. "I don't know. But we'll figure it out. Right now, we have two missions—get my father and extract this hybrid. Damon, Elena—you handle the hybrid now. I'll handle my father."
Damon nodded. "We'll bring her back."
As she and Damon prepared to leave, Elena's thoughts raced. The pieces of the prophecy were falling into place, but the stakes had never been higher. Damon's hand lingered on hers as they walked out of the cabin, his touch grounding her.
The crisp December air bit at Elena's skin as she climbed into Cade's borrowed truck, the scent of pine and snow sharp in her nostrils. Damon slid into the driver's seat beside her, his broad shoulders filling the space with an undeniable presence. The engine roared to life, and Elena leaned into him, her wolf stirring restlessly within her. His hand found hers, warm and firm, grounding her in the moment.
"This changes everything now," Elena murmured, her voice low but steady. She glanced out the window at the snow-covered landscape blurring past, her mind racing with the weight of what lay ahead. The hybrid woman in Shadow pack territory—the fourth and final part of the Lunar Prophecy—was more than just a mission. She was a catalyst, a force of nature that could shift the balance of their world forever.
Damon's fingers tightened around hers, his deep voice cutting through her thoughts. "It does," he agreed, his tone firm and steady. "But we'll handle it like we always do. Together."
Elena looked at him, her heart swelling with a mixture of love and determination. She knew, without a doubt, that she could face anything with him by her side. Together, they were unstoppable.
