Blood and Betrayal

 (Chapter :Mira's POV)

 The Lycan stronghold loomed before us, an ancient fortress carved into the heart of the mountains. Towering stone walls stood against the wind, their jagged edges softened by centuries of ivy and moss. It felt untouched by time—unchanged—a relic of a past I could not remember, but one that recognized me.

 Lorenzo led me through the arched entrance, his grip firm but reassuring. Despite the urgency of our escape, I felt something shift the moment I stepped past the threshold. A pull deep within me, as though the land itself knew who I was.

 The scent of pine and damp earth filled my lungs. Torches flickered along the stone corridors, casting shadows against murals of battles long past. I barely noticed the Lycans guarding the halls—massive men and women with sharp, watchful eyes. They stared at me, some in shock, others in silent acknowledgment.

 And then, at the end of the hall, he stood waiting.

 A man with silver-streaked black hair, broad shoulders, and golden eyes that gleamed with the weight of years. He was powerful, regal, exuding the kind of authority that needed no words.

 My uncle.

 "Come closer, child," his voice was deep, steady. "Let me look at you."

 I hesitated. I had been running for so long, uncertain of where I belonged, who I truly was. But now, under his gaze, I felt stripped bare—seen in a way I had never been before.

 Lorenzo stepped aside, allowing me to walk forward alone.

 When I stopped before my uncle, he studied me for a long moment. Then, in a voice laced with something like sorrow, he murmured, "You have your mother's eyes."

 A lump formed in my throat.

 I had expected answers, but I wasn't prepared for the weight of them.

 The Truth of My Past

 We sat in a grand chamber with high ceilings and a roaring fire. Lorenzo remained close, standing near the wall, his presence grounding me.

 My uncle—Alpha Caelan Valerius—began to speak.

 "The war between Lycans and Vampires was a long and bloody one. Your father, King Aldric, was a warrior without equal. Your mother, Queen Seraphina, was our strongest seer, a white wolf with power over fate itself. Together, they ruled with strength and wisdom."

 I listened, enraptured, but my heart pounded with unease. I already knew how this ended.

 Caelan's golden eyes darkened. "But power breeds enemies. The Vampire King feared what your family represented. He struck when we least expected, forming an alliance with warlocks skilled in forbidden magic."

 A pit formed in my stomach.

 "The spell they used was not meant to kill—but to erase." His voice was tight with fury. "To remove your family's power from existence itself."

 I shivered as he continued.

 "We fought to the last breath, but we were betrayed." His tone turned sharp, edged with old pain. "And not just by our enemies."

I looked up.

 Caelan's jaw tightened. "Your mother's closest friend, the High Witch Lilith, and her husband, Lord Veyron, a vampire elder, betrayed us."

 I stiffened, my breath catching.

 Lilith… the woman who was practically a second mother to mine. And Veyron—one of my father's most trusted allies.

 "They were our allies," I whispered in disbelief.

 "They were." His voice was cold. "But greed and ambition turn even the most loyal into enemies."

And then came the final blow.

 "Their daughter, Selene—**your best friend—**was the one who handed you over."

 I felt the room tilt.

 Selene. My closest friend. My sister in all but blood. The one I had trusted with my secrets, my dreams.

 No.

 No, it couldn't be.

 Caelan saw my denial and pressed on. "Selene was jealous of you, Mira. She grew up in your shadow, a child of two powerful bloodlines, but always second to you. When the warlocks offered her family power beyond measure, they did not hesitate."

 A memory surfaced, sharp as a dagger—Selene standing beside me the night before everything fell apart. Her laughter, her promises.

 Had it all been a lie?

 "They used her as the final key," Caelan continued. "She was the one who led you into their trap. Who weakened your defenses. And when they came for you… she did not stop them."

 A crushing weight settled in my chest.

 Betrayed. By the one person I had loved like a sister.

 I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "Is she still alive?"

 Caelan hesitated, then nodded. "She thrives under Callidus's rule. She serves him, body and soul."

 Rage and sorrow warred within me.

 Selene lived. She had betrayed me, stolen my life, and continued to stand beside my enemies.

 I forced my voice to remain steady. "Then one day, I will make her pay."

 Lorenzo, silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was quiet, dangerous. "You won't be alone in that."

 I met his gaze, something unspoken passing between us.

 Caelan exhaled deeply. "There is more."

 The Lost Brothers

I I looked at him warily. "More?"

 "You were not the only one who survived."

 I held my breath.

 "Your brothers."

 My heart stopped.

 "They live," he confirmed. "Your eldest brother, Rhaegar, rules in your father's stead. He is a ruthless king, forged by loss. The others… they could not bear to remain in the land that stole everything from them. They left, each with their mate, scattered across different lands."

 I tried to process it. I had brothers.

 "They do not know you have returned," Caelan said. "Not yet."

 A long silence stretched between us.

 Finally, I found my voice. "Why didn't you tell them?"

 "Because you were not ready," he answered without hesitation. "You are powerful, Mira, but you are still finding yourself. Your return will shake the foundations of everything. And not all will welcome you back."

 I thought of the Vampire Council, of Callidus, of those who still wanted me dead.

 I thought of Rhaegar, a brother I had never met, forged by the same grief that had erased me.

And I realized—

This was just the beginning.