Chapter Six – The Weight of Promises
Maelis' POV
Sleep did not come easily that night.
After Silas disappeared into the darkness, I had returned to my dormitory with my heart still racing. The encounter replayed in my mind over and over again. His voice, his words, the way he had looked at me as though I was someone worth believing in.
I lay in my narrow bed, staring at the ceiling while Cassandra's soft breathing filled the room. The moonlight painted silver patterns across the walls, but my mind was far from peaceful.
You won't be alone.
Those four words echoed inside my head like a promise I desperately wanted to believe.
But promises had a way of breaking in my experience.
The Alpha had promised to love me like a daughter when he first brought me home. The Luna had promised to treat me as her own. Neither of those promises had lasted beyond the first week.
Once Cassandra was born, I had become invisible.
Once I became old enough to understand my place, I had learned to accept it.
But tonight, something had shifted.
Silas had seen me and instead of turning away, he had stepped closer.
I didn't know what that meant.
I was too afraid to hope.
The morning sun streamed through the window, pulling me from my restless sleep.
I had barely closed my eyes when Cassandra's voice cut through the silence.
"Get up."
I sat up immediately, my body responding to her command before my mind was fully awake. "Yes?"
She was already dressed, her golden hair perfectly styled, her uniform immaculate. She looked like she had stepped out of a painting.
"We have our first history lesson today," she said, not bothering to look at me. "I expect you to stay quiet and not draw attention to yourself."
I nodded slowly. "I understand."
She finally turned to face me, her eyes narrowing. "And Silas?"
My heart skipped a beat. "What about him?"
"You know exactly what." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "If he approaches you again, you will redirect him to me. Do you understand?"
I lowered my eyes. "Yes."
"Good." She grabbed her bag and walked toward the door. "Don't be late."
The door clicked shut behind her.
I sat there for a long moment, staring at the empty space where she had been standing. The weight of her words pressed down on my chest like a physical burden.
How was I supposed to keep Silas away when he had promised to help me train?
How was I supposed to explain that without revealing everything?
I ran my hands over my face and took a slow, steadying breath.
One day at a time.
That was all I could manage.
The history hall was larger than I had expected.
Ancient tapestries lined the stone walls, each one depicting a different moment in werewolf history. The first shift, the Great Alliance, the War of the Blood Moon. The images were so vivid that I found myself staring at them as I walked inside.
Students were already seated, their voices creating a low hum of conversation. I spotted Cassandra near the front, surrounded by several other students who were hanging on her every word.
She didn't look at me.
I found an empty seat near the back, away from the crowd. It was where I belonged.
The professor entered a few minutes later. She was an older woman with silver-streaked hair and sharp eyes that seemed to see straight through everyone.
"Good morning," she said, her voice carrying easily across the room. "I am Professor Elara, and I will be teaching you the history of our kind."
A few students shifted in their seats.
"For those of you who believe history is simply a collection of old stories, let me correct you." Her eyes swept across the room. "History is the foundation upon which our world is built. The decisions made centuries ago continue to affect us today."
The lesson began.
Professor Elara spoke of the first Alphas, the formation of the packs, and the ancient laws that governed werewolf society. I found myself drawn into her words despite my exhaustion.
Then she mentioned something that made my blood run cold.
"Many of you have heard of the Bloodstone prophecy."
The room went quiet.
I felt my fingers tighten around the edge of my desk.
"The Bloodstone is said to be an ancient artifact, one that holds the power to reveal the true nature of any wolf who touches it. According to legend, when the blood of the Hidden Luna touches the stone, it will awaken and signal the beginning of a new era."
My heart started pounding.
The Hidden Luna.
I had heard that phrase before, but I had never truly understood what it meant.
Professor Elara continued. "The Hidden Luna is believed to be the descendant of the first Luna, the one whose bloodline holds the power to unite or destroy the werewolf world. For centuries, scholars have searched for her. Some believe she is already among us, waiting for the right moment to reveal herself."
Whispers spread through the room.
"Could she really exist?"
"Maybe she's just a myth."
"If she does exist, why hasn't she come forward?"
Professor Elara raised her hand, silencing the room. "The prophecy states that the Hidden Luna will be revealed when she is ready. Until then, we can only wait and watch."
The lesson continued, but I couldn't focus.
All I could think about was the Bloodstone.
The way it had reacted to my blood.
The way Silas had looked at me afterward.
She is not an ordinary wolf.
The words echoed inside my head.
No. It couldn't be me.
I was just Maelis, the unwanted adopted daughter. I wasn't special. I wasn't powerful. I wasn't anyone worth noticing.
I had spent eighteen years convincing myself of that.
But the Bloodstone had seen something different.
After the lesson ended, I gathered my things and tried to slip out unnoticed.
It didn't work.
"Maelis."
I froze at the sound of my name.
Kieran stood in the doorway, his dark eyes fixed on me. He was alone, which made me even more nervous.
"Kieran," I said carefully. "Is something wrong?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured for me to follow.
I hesitated for a moment before falling into step beside him.
We walked through the academy's winding corridors until we reached a quiet courtyard hidden behind the main building. The area was surrounded by tall hedges, creating a private space away from prying eyes.
Kieran stopped in the center and turned to face me.
"I wanted to talk to you about yesterday."
My stomach tightened. "What about yesterday?"
"The Bloodstone."
I felt the color drain from my face. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me." His voice was calm but firm. "I saw the way it reacted to your blood. I've studied the prophecies for years. I know what it means."
I opened my mouth to deny it again, but the words wouldn't come.
Kieran stepped closer. "You're the Hidden Luna, aren't you?"
The question hung in the air between us.
I wanted to say no. I wanted to shake my head and walk away and pretend I had never heard those words.
But I couldn't.
Because deep down, I had known something was different about me for years.
I had felt it in the way my wolf fought to break free.
I had felt it in the way the Bloodstone had responded to me.
I had felt it in the way Silas, Jace, and Kieran had all looked at me like I was someone important.
"I don't know what I am," I finally whispered. "I've spent my whole life trying to figure that out."
Kieran studied me for a long moment. "Then it's time you started looking for answers."
"Where would I even begin?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. He held it out to me.
"What is this?" I asked.
"An address." His eyes met mine. "There's a woman who lives in the village outside the academy grounds. She's been studying the Bloodstone prophecies for decades. If anyone can tell you who you truly are, it's her."
I stared at the paper. "Why are you helping me?"
Kieran was silent for a moment. "Because I know what it's like to carry a secret you can't share with anyone."
His words surprised me.
"The day I turned sixteen," he continued, "I discovered something about my own heritage that changed everything. I spent years trying to understand it on my own. I almost destroyed myself in the process."
I looked at him. "What did you discover?"
"That I wasn't who I thought I was either."
My heart ached for him.
I had spent so long feeling alone that I had forgotten others might be struggling too.
"You don't have to face this alone, Maelis." His voice softened. "That's why I'm telling you about this woman. She can help you understand your past."
"But what about Cassandra?" I asked. "She's already furious with me. If she finds out I've been investigating my heritage—"
"She won't find out."
"How can you be so sure?"
Kieran's expression hardened. "Because if anyone tries to hurt you while you're on this journey, they'll have to answer to me."
The conviction in his voice made my breath catch.
There was something about his words that felt different from Silas's promise. Silas had offered support and encouragement. Kieran was offering protection—the kind that came with a warning.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "I don't know how to repay you."
Kieran shook his head. "I'm not doing this for repayment. I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do."
He paused. "One more thing."
I tilted my head. "What?"
"You're going to need someone to watch your back while you're meeting with this woman. The academy doesn't allow students to leave the grounds without permission."
"Then how am I supposed to—"
"Jace will help you."
I blinked. "Jace?"
He nodded. "He knows the academy's patrol schedules better than anyone. If anyone can get you out without being noticed, it's him."
I had so many questions. Why were they helping me? What did they hope to gain?
But before I could ask, Kieran turned and walked away.
"Wait," I called after him. "When do I go?"
He glanced over his shoulder. "Tonight. Meet Jace at the eastern gate after curfew. He'll take care of the rest."
Then he was gone, leaving me standing alone in the quiet courtyard with a folded piece of paper in my hand and a dozen questions swirling in my mind.
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
I sat through my remaining classes without absorbing a single word. My mind was consumed with what Kieran had told me.
The Hidden Luna.
A woman who could help me understand my past.
A chance to finally learn the truth about who I was.
It felt impossible. After eighteen years of wondering, of questioning, of feeling like I didn't belong anywhere, I finally had a path forward.
But it also felt terrifying.
What if the truth was worse than I imagined?
What if I discovered something about my past that I couldn't handle?
What if I learned that the Alpha and Luna had stolen me for a reason—a dark reason that would change everything?
I pushed the thoughts away.
I couldn't afford to let fear hold me back.
Not now.
Not when I was so close to answers.
That evening, I waited until Cassandra had fallen asleep before slipping out of bed.
I had prepared for this. Before dinner, I had packed a small bag with a change of clothes, a flashlight, and the folded piece of paper Kieran had given me.
I moved silently through the darkened corridors, my heart pounding with every step.
The eastern gate appeared in the distance.
Jace was already there.
He leaned against the stone wall with his arms crossed, a smirk playing at his lips. "Took you long enough."
I hurried toward him. "I had to wait for Cassandra to fall asleep."
He chuckled. "Makes sense. She does seem like the type to wake up just to make your life difficult."
I frowned. "That's not very nice."
"Neither is she." He shrugged. "But hey, I call it like I see it."
I couldn't help but smile despite myself.
Jace pulled out a small key and unlocked the gate, holding it open for me. "After you."
"Where did you get that?"
"I have my ways."
I stepped through the gate and into the darkness beyond.
Jace followed, locking the gate behind us.
"The woman Kieran told you about lives about a mile from here," he said, falling into step beside me. "We'll be there in fifteen minutes."
We walked in silence for a while.
The path was narrow and winding, cutting through thick forest. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows across the ground.
"You're quiet," Jace observed.
"I'm nervous."
"Understandable." He glanced at me. "But you don't need to be."
I looked at him. "Why not?"
"Because whatever you learn tonight, it's going to be the truth." His voice was serious for once. "And the truth, no matter how hard it is to hear, is always better than living in the dark."
Those words settled deep inside me.
He was right.
For eighteen years, I had been living in the dark.
I had been raised by a family who didn't love me, protected a sister who didn't appreciate me, and hidden a wolf who was desperate to be free.
It was time to step into the light.
No matter what I found there.
The cottage appeared at the edge of the forest.
It was small and unassuming, with ivy crawling up its stone walls and smoke curling from its chimney.
A single lantern burned in the window.
Jace stopped at the front gate. "I'll wait here."
I frowned. "You're not coming in?"
"The woman Kieran mentioned—she doesn't like visitors she doesn't know." He smirked. "She's also not a fan of troublemakers."
"You do seem to have a reputation."
"Only the best kind." He gestured toward the cottage. "Go on. I'll be right here if you need me."
I took a deep breath, pushed open the gate, and walked toward the cottage door.
The wood creaked as I lifted my hand to knock.
Before my knuckles could make contact, the door swung open.
An old woman stood in the doorway. Her silver hair fell past her shoulders, and her eyes were the color of ancient amber. She wore a simple woolen dress and held a wooden walking stick in one hand.
"Ah," she said, her voice warm but knowing. "You finally found your way here."
I stared at her. "You were expecting me?"
"Child," she smiled gently, "I've been expecting you for eighteen years."