"Find her!" Kaelen roared, flipping the huge oak table. It crashed against the wall, splintering into bits. The pack members flinched, backing away from their Alpha's rage.
"She couldn't have gotten far," Kaelen growled, his eyes flashing a dangerous red. "Not with that baby slowing her down."
Serena watched from the doorway, her face a perfect mask of worry. Inside, she was happy. Luna being gone was exactly what she wanted.
"Perhaps she doesn't want to be found, my love," Serena suggested softly, putting a gentle hand on Kaelen's arm. "Maybe it's time to let her go."
Kaelen yanked his arm away, staring at his wife. "I will never let her go. Never!"
The room fell silent. Everyone knew about Kaelen's obsession with the missing omega, but no one dared say it—especially not in front of Serena, their Luna.
Serena's smile faltered for just a second before she calmed herself again. "Of course, my Alpha. We'll find her." She turned to the gathered pack members. "Split into groups. Search every inch of our territory."
As the wolves rushed to follow directions, Serena noticed her loyal follower, Darius, in the shadows. She signaled him to stay back. Once the room was empty, Serena turned to Kaelen and shared a supposed sighting of Luna with another male wolf, knowing this would make Kaelen jealous. Kaelen, furious, couldn't believe Luna would betray him. Serena faked sympathy and told him Luna seemed to have moved on, which only fueled Kaelen's anger. He ordered his men to find the male and bring him alive.
Afterward, in the hallway, Darius questioned Serena about her true plans. She shed her kind act and communicated her cold determination, instructing him to find Luna and kill her, making it look like an accident. Darius expressed worry that the Alpha would find out, but Serena insisted they could be careful. She admitted that Luna's baby was a threat to her control over the pack and that Kaelen, although the Alpha, relied on her intelligence. Serena also told Darius to kill the male if he really existed or to fabricate a story about him; her priority was Luna's death.
Meanwhile, Kaelen was consumed by thoughts of Luna and her sudden absence. He remembered vividly the day he first met her, captivated by her boldness and beauty. Their shared power during their union made their bond special. The discovery of her pregnancy should have brought joy, but it complicated his life due to a prophecy that forced him to marry Serena instead. He regretted not being honest with Luna about the situation.
A knock on his door brought him back to the present. A young wolf named Remy told him about a cabin found in the northern woods, which had Luna's scent. Kaelen hurried there, followed by Remy, finding signs of another male's presence and a hidden tunnel leading to the river. As they followed Luna's scent downstream, Kaelen worried for her safety, especially because she was pregnant. He told a search party to head to the old temple ruins, knowing Alpha Jarek's reputation. Meanwhile, Serena planned to execute her plan and asked Darius if everything was ready, including silver bullets to kill a wolf.
Unbeknownst to them, Mira, a young omega and former friend of Luna, overheard their evil plan. She chose to warn Luna about the danger, but before she could leave, Serena's followers captured her. Mira bravely informed them that Serena meant to kill Luna and the baby, leading to uncertainty among the wolves. They agreed to help Mira find Luna before going to the ruins.
At the temple ruins, Serena aimed her gun at Aric while Luna felt his determination to protect her. She tapped into her silver light, making a shield that deflected the bullets Serena fired. Surprised and afraid, Serena tried to shoot again, but each bullet bounced off the screen. Jax declared Luna the wolf queen, the most powerful wolf in generations. Serena's fear changed to anger, and she pulled out a larger gun, ready to fire.
Just then, Kaelen arrived with a group of wolves, angry at what he saw: Serena threatening his Luna. Serena claimed she was protecting the pack and accused Luna of betrayal by being with Aric. When Kaelen confronted Luna, she stated that she had chosen freedom over being with him. Kaelen felt something was different about the baby, realizing it didn't smell like him. When Luna revealed that the child wasn't his, Kaelen's rage burst, transforming him into a massive wolf.
Before a confrontation could happen, Mira arrived with other wolves, telling Kaelen that it was a trap and that Serena planned to kill Luna and the baby.All eyes turned to Serena, who looked like a cornered animal.
"Is this true?" Kaelen asked, shifting back to human form to speak.
"She's lying!" Serena insisted. "This omega is trying to turn you against me, your true Luna!"
But Kaelen's sharp eyes had already spotted the silver bullets scattered on the ground where they'd landed after hitting Luna's shield.
"Silver bullets," he said, his voice deadly quiet. "You would kill an innocent child? My child?"
"It's not your child!" Serena yelled, finally losing control. "It never was! The prophecy said—"
"What prophecy?" Kaelen asked.
A slow clap stopped them. Everyone turned to see a new figure emerge from the shadows of the temple.
"Well, isn't this a touching family reunion," the man said, his voice smooth as silk but cold as ice. "The Alpha, his Luna, his omega, and... oh my, is that a soul bond I see?"
Luna felt Aric tense beside her. "Jarek," he whispered.
Alpha Jarek smiled, his bright teeth contrasting his brown skin. He spoke about having watched Luna and the group, showing particular interest in Luna and her baby. Kaelen moved closer to protect Luna and told Jarek to stay away from her. Jarek questioned whether Luna was truly under Kaelen's care, pointing out that now Aric had a soul bond with her, which he claimed changed everything according to a prophecy. Jarek mentioned that the child born from their bond would be the most powerful werewolf, which would make whoever controlled the child extremely powerful.
Luna firmly stated that no one would control her child, causing Jarek to laugh and make a show of power by summoning his pack of wolves, outnumbering Kaelen's group. He indicated that they should share his plans to become the supreme Alpha. Luna felt trapped by the dangerous forces around her, including Kaelen's possessiveness, Serena's resentment, and Jarek's desire. Aric reassured her through their bond, saying they would face the situation together. As Luna focused on her inner power, she formed a protective dome of silver light around herself, Aric, and Jax. Jarek was amazed by her power and speculated on the child's potential.
Luna argued her baby was not a weapon for Jarek to use. Jarek ordered his pack to attack, wanting Luna alive but ready to kill anyone else in their way. Suddenly, Luna felt a strong surge connected to her baby, causing the dome's light to push back the approaching wolves. Everyone was shocked by this show of power. Jax remarked that the baby was protecting them, prompting a calculating response from Jarek. Kaelen looked at Luna with renewed respect and questioned her identity, which led to the appearance of Eryndor, an ancient and wise werewolf, who revealed Luna's true nature as the reborn wolf queen.
Eryndor approached Luna and asked to enter her protected dome. After Luna consented, he confirmed her lineage and warned the others not to fight over her without understanding her importance. He told them that the decision for her future lay in her hands, as she was about to give birth. Luna protested that it was too early, but Eryndor reassured her that prophecy sets the timing. He stated that anyone who aids Luna would be rewarded with her loyalty or vengeance.
As Luna experienced intense pain, Eryndor emphasized the value of safety for her childbirth. The situation worsened as Kaelen and Aric argued about what to do, while Luna realized her water had broken and the baby was coming. Eryndor called for calm as everyone realized Luna was about to give her child. Amid confusion and fear, Luna promised her pregnant child she wouldn't let anyone hurt it. The silver light increased, suggesting the baby was connecting with them both. Luna and Aric shared a vision of a disturbing future if the child fell into the wrong hands, leaving them horrified and worried about the dire implications."The end of everything," she whispered. "Unless..."
Another contraction cut off her words, this one so strong that the silver dome flickered and weakened. In that moment of weakness, Jarek made his move.
"Now!" he ordered his pack, and they rushed forward as one.
The last thing Luna saw before the world burst into chaos was a dark figure leaping over the heads of the attacking wolves, flying through the air with a silver sword gleaming in the moonlight—a figure she recognized with shock.
"Serena?" Luna gasped as the Alpha's Luna landed in front of her, sword raised to protect her from Jarek's pack.
"Don't look so surprised," Serena said grimly. "I've seen the future too. And unlike these power-hungry fools, I'm choosing the right side of history."
She turned to face Jarek, her sword flashing dangerously. "No one touches the wolf queen or her child. No one."