The Forgotten Past

The infirmary buzzed with the frantic movement of doctors and healers working to stabilize Lyra's mother. Lyra stood frozen at the doorway, her heart hammering in her chest as the machines blared in warning tones. Ethan's hand rested firmly on her shoulder, grounding her as she watched helplessly.

"She's going to pull through," Ethan murmured, his voice steady. "She's strong."

Lyra swallowed hard, her mother's last words echoing in her mind.

"The ones who came before… Something ancient…"

What did she mean?

A few agonizing minutes passed before the beeping slowed, and the head healer turned to Lyra with a reassuring nod. "She's stable, but she needs rest. No more excitement tonight."

Lyra nodded weakly, stepping forward to brush a hand against her mother's forehead. "I'm here, Mom."

Her mother stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering but not opening. "Lyra…" she mumbled weakly.

Ethan stepped closer, his presence a silent promise of protection. "She'll talk when she's stronger.

Lyra let out a shaky breath. "If we have that much time."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "We'll make time."

Midnight Crest Tower – Strategy Room

The atmosphere was tense as Lyra, Ethan, Logan, and Amelia gathered around the central table once more. Amelia tapped away at her laptop, frustration evident in her tight posture.

"I've scoured every database, every archive we have," Amelia said, shaking her head. "There's nothing about this 'ancient bond' your mother mentioned. Whatever it is… it's buried deep."

Logan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. "If it's older than our records, then maybe it's something not meant to be found."

Lyra's fingers drummed restlessly against the table. "I need to know what it means. If Vivian wants to break our bond, it's because she knows what it's worth." She looked to Ethan, her voice laced with frustration. "And I don't."

Ethan crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "We'll find out. But right now, Vivian has the upper hand. We need to take it back."

Lyra exhaled sharply. "I just… I feel like I'm fighting blind. First my mother, now this." She gestured toward Amelia's screen. "What if there's something we're missing?"

Amelia hesitated before speaking. "There might be one place we haven't checked."

Lyra perked up. "Where?"

Amelia glanced at Ethan, uncertainty flashing in her eyes. "The archives beneath Blackthorn Keep."

Logan let out a low whistle. "That place is a death trap."

Ethan's expression darkened. "Blackthorn Keep is crawling with rogue wolves and Blood Pact sympathizers. Going there would be suicide."

Lyra's jaw clenched. "Then I guess we don't have a choice."

Ethan growled in frustration. "Damn it, Lyra. You can't keep throwing yourself into danger."

Lyra met his gaze, fire burning in her eyes. "I can't sit here and do nothing either."

Logan sighed. "We're going, aren't we?"

Ethan exhaled through his nose. "Yeah. We are."

Blackthorn Keep – The Forgotten Archives

The ancient fortress stood like a skeleton against the night sky, its once-grand towers crumbling under centuries of neglect. Thick vines twisted around the stone, and the faint scent of damp earth and decay filled the air.

Lyra crouched behind a crumbled wall with Ethan and Logan, surveying the entrance.

"No movement," Logan whispered. "But I don't like how quiet it is."

Ethan's gaze scanned the dark corridors ahead. "Stay sharp."

Lyra's heart pounded as they moved through the ruined halls, their footsteps muffled by the layers of dust coating the ground. Faded banners bearing the sigil of long-forgotten packs lined the walls, their colors barely visible.

"This place gives me the creeps," Logan muttered.

Lyra ignored him, focusing on the whispers of power that seemed to hum in the air. Something ancient lay beneath this place—something waiting to be uncovered.

They reached the entrance to the archives, a massive stone door etched with symbols that Lyra didn't recognize. Ethan pressed his hand against it, his brow furrowing.

"It's sealed," he muttered.

Lyra stepped forward, a strange pull guiding her. She traced the symbols with her fingertips, feeling a faint pulse of energy beneath them. Without thinking, she whispered words that came unbidden to her lips.

The ground trembled.

With a low groan, the door creaked open, revealing a vast chamber lined with towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls.

Logan whistled. "That's one way to make an entrance."

Ethan shot Lyra a wary glance. "How did you—"

"I don't know," Lyra admitted, stepping inside.

The room was eerily quiet, the air thick with the scent of old parchment and something darker—something lurking. Lyra moved toward the nearest shelf, her fingers trailing over the spines of books so ancient they crumbled at the touch.

She pulled out a heavy tome, flipping through the brittle pages until she found something that made her breath hitch.

"The Bond of Eternity," she read aloud.

Ethan moved closer, his eyes scanning the text. "What does it say?"

Lyra's fingers trembled as she read. "It says that the bond between an Alpha and his Luna is more than just love or loyalty. It's a force that connects them to the origins of our kind. It's tied to the very essence of what makes us werewolves."

Logan frowned. "And Vivian wants to break that?"

Lyra swallowed hard. "If she breaks it, she could unravel everything. Not just our connection, but the balance between packs, between power and instinct."

Ethan's expression hardened. "Then we can't let that happen."

Lyra continued reading, her voice quiet. "There's more. It says that the bond can't be broken unless…" She trailed off, her hands tightening on the pages.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Unless what?"

Lyra's voice was barely a whisper. "Unless one of us dies."

Silence fell over the room, thick and suffocating.

Ethan's grip on her shoulder tightened. "That's not going to happen."

Lyra forced herself to meet his gaze, determination flaring within her. "Then we have to stop her before she tries."

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber.

Ethan's eyes snapped to the entrance. "We have company."

Logan cursed under his breath, drawing his weapon. "Looks like they beat us to it."

Lyra's heart pounded as figures emerged from the shadows—Vivian's wolves.

Ethan growled low. "Get ready."

Lyra braced herself, power humming beneath her skin.

The battle for their bond was about to begin.