Chapter 19: The Power I Never Knew I Had

Faye’s POV

The first arrow came from the trees.

Sebastian moved before I could even see it.

He knocked the arrow aside, and it struck the stone wall behind us.

“Everyone inside!” he commanded.

The courtyard erupted into chaos.

Guards shifted into wolves.

The pack members dragged children toward the estate.

Howls echoed from every direction.

But I couldn't move.

The silver mark on my wrist was burning.

Not with pain.

With recognition.

Something was calling to me from the forest.

Roman grabbed my arm.

“Faye, don't listen to it.”

I looked at him.

“You can hear it too?”

His expression darkened.

“No.”

“Only the Moonborn can.”

Another arrow flew toward us.

Sebastian caught it in midair.

His eyes flashed gold.

“Get Faye and Leo inside.”

Roman shook his head.

“That's exactly what they want.”

Sebastian turned on him.

“Then explain.”

Roman pointed toward the forest.

“The Ashen Blood aren't attacking the estate.”

“They're forcing her to awaken.”

I stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because once your power fully awakens, every ancient bloodline will know where you are.”

A cold silence settled between us.

I looked at Leo.

He was standing beside a guard, frightened but trying desperately not to show it.

I walked toward him.

“Leo.”

He ran into my arms.

“Mom, are they going to hurt us?”

I held him tightly.

“No.”

I looked toward the forest.

“Not if I can stop them.”

Sebastian heard me.

“Faye, you don't know what you're dealing with.”

“Neither do you.”

He went silent.

I wasn't angry.

Not anymore.

I was simply tired of everyone deciding what I could and couldn't do.

The silver glow spread from my wrist to my fingertips.

The ground beneath my feet began to tremble.

Every wolf in the courtyard froze.

Even Sebastian's wolf lowered its head.

Roman whispered,

“She's awakening.”

A howl answered from the forest.

Then another.

And another.

The trees began to sway despite the absence of wind.

A silver wave moved through the ground.

It passed beneath the courtyard and disappeared into the forest.

Then every hostile wolf beyond the boundary suddenly stopped.

Their howls died.

Silence returned.

I looked at my hands.

“What did I do?”

Roman stared at the forest.

“You commanded them.”

I shook my head.

“I didn't say anything.”

“You didn't need to.”

Sebastian stepped toward me.

His expression was unreadable.

“Faye, look at me.”

I did.

For a moment, the entire world seemed to disappear.

His voice softened.

“Are you hurt?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

He reached for my wrist.

I let him take it.

The moment his fingers touched the silver mark, his eyes widened.

A flash of memories crossed his face.

I saw him stumble.

“Sebastian?”

He released me.

His breathing had become uneven.

“I saw something.”

“What?”

He looked at me as if seeing me for the first time.

“Your past.”

My heart stopped.

“What did you see?”

His voice was barely a whisper.

“I saw the life you lost.”

I went completely still.

He had seen it.

The lonely house.

The years I spent waiting.

My illness.

My son's cold eyes.

The moment I died alone.

Sebastian's face drained of color.

“Faye…”

I pulled my hand away.

“Don't.”

He looked devastated.

“I didn't know.”

“You didn't want to know.”

He lowered his head.

For once, he had no defense.

No Alpha command.

No excuse.

Just regret.

Leo suddenly approached us.

He looked between us.

“Dad?”

Sebastian knelt in front of him.

His voice broke slightly.

“I'm sorry.”

Leo frowned.

“For what?”

Sebastian looked at me.

Then back at our son.

“For not protecting your mother when I should have.”

Leo was silent.

Then he reached out and took Sebastian's hand.

“Then protect her now.”

Sebastian's eyes reddened.

“I will.”

A horn sounded from the eastern gate.

The attack wasn't over.

A guard came running.

“Alpha!”

“The Ashen Blood have stopped fighting.”

Sebastian stood.

“Why?”

The guard swallowed.

“Because their leader is approaching.”

Roman's expression turned grim.

“Who?”

The guard looked toward the forest.

“A woman.”

“She says she is the last daughter of the Moonborn line.”

My blood ran cold.

I stared toward the trees.

A woman stepped out of the darkness.

She had silver eyes.

And she looked exactly like me.