The Silver Witch

Selene crumpled to the floor as pain ripped through her body. The crack in the sky grew wider, darkness spilling like ink across the morning light. She dragged herself to the window, pressing her palms against the glass.

"Ivy," she whispered. "Hold on."

The door to her room suddenly clicked open. Selene spun around, her heart pounding. Lyra stood there, her face pale with worry.

"Quickly," the healer whispered. "Dante has called an emergency pack meeting. Everyone will be there—including Elara."

Hope sparked in Selene's chest. "And Ivy?"

"I haven't seen her since last night." Lyra grabbed Selene's hand. "But this might be our only chance to search Elara's quarters."

The pack house was nearly empty as they crept through the hallways. When they reached Elara's wing, Selene felt a chill run down her spine. The air smelled wrong—like a storm brewing underground.

"I'll keep watch," Lyra said, staying by the door. "Hurry."

Selene slipped inside. The room was elegant but cold—silver decorations covered every surface. On the bedside table sat a small wooden box carved with strange symbols. Next to it lay a silver dagger.

Selene reached for the box, but before she could touch it, a voice cut through the silence.

"Looking for something?"

Elara Frost stood in the doorway, her silver hair gleaming like polished metal. Behind her, two guards held Lyra between them.

"Where's Ivy?" Selene demanded.

Elara smiled. It never reached her eyes. "Safe. Preparing for her important role tonight."

"You're using her to open the shadow world." Selene's hands began to glow with white light. "I won't let you hurt her."

"Hurt her?" Elara laughed. "I saved her, dear. I gave her life when you took it away." She stepped closer, unafraid of Selene's power. "And tonight, she'll help me claim what should have been mine generations ago."

"You're lying. Ivy was never dead."

"Smart girl." Elara's smile vanished. "Yes, I pulled her from the river before she drowned. Such a special child—born with one foot in each world. The perfect key."

Rage bubbled inside Selene. "You've been planning this for ten years. You turned my sister against me, made my father exile me."

"And it worked beautifully." Elara circled Selene like a predator. "I needed you gone, your powers dormant. I needed time with Ivy."

"Why now? Why bring me back?"

"Because the door requires both sisters—shadow and light." Elara's eyes glowed silver. "Ivy's darkness and your light, joined by blood."

A growl rumbled from the doorway. "Let them go, Elara."

Dante stood there, his blue eyes blazing with fury. Behind him was Jace, wolfed out and snarling.

Relief flooded through Selene. "Dante—"

"Silence!" Elara snapped, her voice suddenly different—deeper, ancient. "You're too late, Alpha. The ritual has begun."

She raised her hands, and silver light shot from her fingertips. Dante dodged, but the light hit one of the guards, who screamed and crumpled to the floor.

In the chaos, Selene lunged for the wooden box. Her fingers had just touched the lid when Elara grabbed her wrist.

"You don't know what you're dealing with, Luna Wolf," she hissed.

"Neither do you." Selene twisted free and flipped open the box.

Inside lay a small silver collar—the twin of the one she'd seen around Dante's wolf in her vision.

Elara screamed in rage and shoved Selene away. "Guards! Take them all!"

More wolves poured into the room. Dante rushed to Selene's side, pulling her behind him protectively.

"Run," he whispered. "Find Ivy."

"I won't leave you—"

"Trust me." His eyes met hers, clear and fierce. "I'll hold them off."

Jace appeared at her side. "This way!"

Together they slipped out a side door while Dante confronted Elara.

"Your spell is broken," Dante growled. "I see you for what you are now."

Selene wanted to stay, to fight beside him, but Ivy needed her more. She followed Jace down a narrow staircase she'd never seen before.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"The old temple beneath the pack house." Jace's face was grim. "Lyra said that's where she heard Ivy crying last night."

The stairs seemed endless, spiraling deeper underground. The air grew colder, damper. Finally, they reached a heavy wooden door covered in the same strange symbols that had been on Elara's box.

"Stand back," Jace warned. He slammed his shoulder against the door once, twice, three times before it burst open.

Inside was a circular chamber with a stone altar at its center. The walls were covered with silver mirrors, reflecting moonlight from a hole in the ceiling.

And there, lying on the altar, was Ivy.

"Ivy!" Selene rushed forward.

Her sister's eyes flew open—solid silver, without pupil or iris. "You shouldn't have come, Selene."

The voice wasn't Ivy's. It was older, deeper.

Jace grabbed Selene's arm. "That's not just your sister anymore."

"Very perceptive, Beta." Ivy sat up, her movements jerky like a puppet. "The little girl is still in here, but I'm in control now."

"Who are you?" Selene asked, her voice shaking.

Ivy smiled with Elara's cold expression. "I am Morgana Frost, trapped in the shadow world for three centuries. Tonight, I return—using this perfect vessel and the power of twin Luna Wolves."

"Twin—?" Selene froze as understanding dawned. "No."

"Yes." Ivy—Morgana—laughed. "You and your sister, born of the same rare bloodline. One drawn to light, one to shadow. The perfect keys to open the door between worlds."

"Elara is your descendant," Jace realized. "She's been working to free you all this time."

A slow clap echoed through the chamber. Elara stood in the doorway, her eyes glowing the same silver as Ivy's.

"Well done." She smiled at Jace. "But you're too late to stop us."

Behind her, wolves dragged in Dante's unconscious body. Blood trickled from a wound on his temple.

"Dante!" Selene tried to run to him, but invisible hands held her in place.

"The Alpha will witness my triumph," Elara said coolly. "And then he'll be the first to bow to the new order."

She glided forward, touching Ivy's cheek tenderly. "Look at you, Grandmother. Almost fully manifested."

"The final stage requires the sister's blood," Morgana said through Ivy's mouth. "Bring her."

Selene fought against the invisible force holding her, but it was too strong. As they dragged her toward the altar, she caught sight of Dante stirring, his eyes fluttering open.

Their gazes met for one electric moment.

Trust me, he had said.

The moon shone directly overhead now, illuminating the entire chamber. Elara placed the silver dagger in Ivy's hand.

"Cut her," Elara commanded. "Release me fully into this world."

Ivy stood, moving stiffly toward Selene. Inside those silver eyes, Selene caught a glimpse of terror—her little sister, fighting against Morgana's control.

"Ivy," Selene whispered. "I know you're in there. Fight her."

The dagger trembled in Ivy's hand. "I can't—"

"Remember the lullaby?" Selene asked softly. "The one Mom used to sing?"

A flicker of recognition passed across Ivy's face.

"Sing it with me," Selene urged. "Please."

Ivy's hand shook violently now. The silver in her eyes wavered.

"No!" Elara shrieked. "Kill her now!"

But Selene had already begun to sing, her voice soft but growing stronger with each note. The white light spread from her hands, enveloping her entire body.

And then, miracle of miracles, Ivy joined in—her voice small and frightened at first, then clearer.

The silver faded from her eyes, replaced by tears.

"S-Selene?" she whispered, sounding like herself for the first time.

"I'm here," Selene promised. "I'm right here, and I'm never leaving you again."

Elara lunged forward with a scream of rage. "You stupid child! After everything I did for you!"

Before she could reach them, a massive black wolf leapt between them—Dante, fully transformed despite the silver weakening him. He snarled, fangs bared at Elara.

The invisible bonds holding Selene suddenly shattered. She wrapped her arms around Ivy, pulling her sister close.

"No!" Elara's scream shook the chamber. "Grandmother, help me!"

The mirrors lining the walls began to crack. Dark smoke poured from them, swirling around Elara.

"If I can't have the girl," a terrible voice echoed, "I'll take you instead."

Elara's eyes widened in horror as the smoke enveloped her. She reached toward Selene and Ivy, her expression suddenly desperate.

"Help me," she begged. "Please—"

Then she vanished in a flash of silver light, leaving nothing behind but the dagger clattering to the stone floor.

For a moment, everything was silent. Then Ivy collapsed against Selene, sobbing.

"I remember everything," she cried. "I'm sorry—I didn't want to hurt you—"

"Shh." Selene rocked her gently. "It's over now."

But even as she spoke, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The crack in the sky, visible through the opening in the ceiling, was growing larger.

Dante shifted back to human form, his eyes filled with urgency.

"The door is still opening," he said grimly. "Elara may be gone, but Morgana is coming through."

The mirrors shattered completely, dark smoke pouring from every broken piece. The smoke began to take shape—a woman's figure, tall and terrible, with eyes like burning silver coins.

"At last," Morgana's voice boomed. "Freedom!"