The traces of sunlight fade behind the treetops, leaving a sky painted in purple and gold. The air carries the scent of foods from the kitchen mixed with the remnants of the victory bonfires from yesterday's festival. Laughter ripples through the streets, and I can see the Misfits already feel safe, but I can't stop feeling that those creatures aren't yet done.I've got this sense that the battle's still on, and those creatures that ran away are definitely returning.I'm on the watchtower, keeping an eye on the town with my arms crossed. The atmosphere feels peaceful except for the celebration noise. Even when my intuition is on high alert, sending warning signals, I still can't stop them from celebrating.Bran's beside me, watching the town with me. He's been clingy lately, and it's annoying how much I've noticed that. I've gotten used to having him around. And this sucks more.We stay quiet for a while before he eventually starts talking."You never used to be this quiet," he murmur
Talia's POVThe room's quiet, with only the flickering torches outside my window casting shadows on the walls. My body hurts in spots I didn't even know existed, and those bandages around my ribs are tight, but I hardly notice the pain. I can't stop thinking about what I heard on the battlefield."You're not meant to be here... you're a hidden Alpha of-"Bran dug his claws into the rogue, stopping him mid-sentence as his life slipped away. I can't shake off the sound of his voice; it's nesting in my head like a seed hoping to sprout.I sit up slowly and I can hear my muscles complain about the movement. I'm surrounded by this peaceful palace room, which is a contrast to the chaos we barely made it through. I can still smell blood and smoke on my skin, even after the healer tried to clean my wounds. I breathe out while I press my hands to my head."A hidden Alpha?"That doesn't make sense. I've accepted who I am-a warrior, a loner, a defender of the Misfits. I'm an Alpha, but I only to
Talia's POV"Knock! Knock!"The sound jolts me out of my thoughts.I frown, turning toward the door. Who in their right mind is knocking at this hour? Then I realize it's morning already.The morning air is crisp. The war is behind us now, but its echoes are still in the town-burned buildings waiting to be rebuilt, warriors moving slower than usual as they nurse their wounds, the weight of loss still in the air.I stretch my arms over my head as I sit up from bed. My body aches, but it's a good kind of pain-the kind that reminds me that I'm alive and that we all survived.And also, I'm not alone anymore.I rest my palm against my chest, where the warmth of my bond with Tiara still is. I have a wolf now. My wolf. A part of me I cherish the most. I'm smiling and then suddenly remember someone knocked earlier."Come in," I call.The door opens, and of course, it's Bran.He rests on the doorframe with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed. His eyes scan me from head to toe, stopping a
Talia's POVI pace the storage room, my mind tangled in thoughts. I can't even say this is what I'm thinking about because a series of it flashes across my head. Should I give in to these feelings now or face the battle ahead? I don't know who I am at this moment as that voice refuses to leave my head. Am I meant for another Pack? Am I in the wrong place right now?The wooden walls of the storage room feel tighter now that I'm stuck in here with Bran, and the fact that I almost lean into whatever is about to happen between us doesn't help my nerves.Bran is watching me, leaning on a stack of crates, his lips curled in amusement. "You're going to wear a hole in the floor at this rate."I pause, just enough to stare at him before continuing my pacing. "I'm thinking, Bran.""So am I." He smirks.I narrow my eyes, moving to his side, "And what, exactly, are you thinking about?"He straightens, stretching his arms before resting them on his hips. "That we need to unite the Misfits and the
Talia's POVThe Starlight Pack is throwing a party for us.This action lifted my eyebrows. Lanterns swing from above the trees, filling the lawn with bright light. Long tables are loaded with delicious cuisine-roasted meats, hot bread, and fruits that look almost too good to be true. A bonfire pops in the middle; fire kindles up into midnight while wolves from the Starlight Pack and the Misfits stick together.It's like a dream.I used to get teased, overlooked and turned away here. Now? Everyone's pushing and trying to sneak a peek at me."Is that her?""She's different," another murmured in awe.I keep my expression neutral, but inside, my wolf Tiara snorts. "They're acting like you grew another head.""They never expected me to survive," I reply silently.Bran keeps pace with me, his presence grounding as we walk together. He stays quiet, but I can sense his eyes on me as we navigate the crowd. He's tense. I can tell."His wolf won't stop pacing," Tiara notes with amusement. "He's
Talia's POV"Are you seriously blindfolding me?""Yes," Bran says.I cross my arms as Bran leads me to whatever he calls the surprise. I just hope it is worth it. "Bran, if this is another one of your pranks, I swear-""It's not," he chuckles; he places his hands gently, adjusting the fabric over my eyes. "Trust me, Talia."Trust.I huff, but I allow him to lead me on. his hand is warm around mine as we walk. The air is crisp, and I can perceive sweet smells all around- jasmine, maybe. The party has calmed down, leaving the murmur of the Pack Members settling in for bed.Bran moves slowly, making sure I don't trip, but it's not like I can't sense where I am. The ground shifts from dirt to smooth stone, and then the air around us feels... different, like I'm in an open area now."Almost there," Bran murmurs in anticipation.Tiara stirs in my mind. "He's nervous."Bran? Nervous? That's a rare sight.Whatever this is, it's important to him, she muses. Let's not make him suffer too much.
Talia's POVMy palace balcony is peaceful under the moonlight shining on the garden. I spread my arms wide, eyes shut, savoring the fresh breeze on my skin. Months of battles and quests have passed. I'm at the Starlight Pack and need some fresh air to relax before deciding my next move.My mind is racing with thoughts about the Misfits starting anew here, and I need to help them find jobs for their survival. I'll put those worries aside and enjoy the fresh air now. A new day awaits tomorrow.I rest on the stone railing, gazing at the landscape. The Misfits finally have a home. I finally have a home.Yet, my chest is tight.Because despite all of this, surviving, rejection, leading an entire pack, winning battles, and proving my worth-there's still one thing unresolved.Bran.Tiara hums softly in my mind. "You're thinking about him again."No, I'm not, I lie, my fingers tightening on the railing.Tiara huffs in amusement. "You forget that I can feel everything you do."I exhale, raking
Talia's POVGolden sunlight streams in, filtering through the curtains and illuminating the floor. I wake up slowly, stretching on the soft sheets.Then realization dawns on me.I'm at Bran's palace.Last night's memories make my heart race. The talk and the kiss made me stay when feelings became overwhelming. Not that anything else happened. Bran frustratingly remained respectful, saying goodnight after our intense moment.I feel both grateful and frustrated. He should have escorted me back home, but he didn't and I know he wants me around. We felt so emotional that after saying goodbye to each other last night, we strolled to the gate where I was supposed to go back, but we were lost in talks till I followed him to his chambers.Timid person.Tiara laughs in my thoughts. He's being patient because he values you. That, or he enjoys torturing himself.I grunt while flipping onto my stomach. I'm unsure if I should be impressed or annoyed.A knock interrupts my thoughts, and Bran's deep
POV: The New Seer of the Dark Council (Council of the East)I see her.Even before the stars split.Even before the Moon Goddess lays her hand on her heart.I see the girl awakening.Not with my eyes or with the cursed black things that smoulder in my head and glow when they shouldn't. But deeper. The way roots see water underground. The way wolves hear a storm coming before the first drop falls.Talia.Her name echoes inside me like it's written behind my teeth.She stands in that dream-space, her spirit wide open, and I'm there-barely, briefly. A shadow just outside the light.I wasn't supposed to see her that clearly.But I did.And now I can't unsee her.Her light. Her fear. Her power.The Moonstone has chosen her, and the trials have begun.I sit motionless in the far end of the council chamber, body still as bone, even as the fire in the center crackles and spits dark orange sparks.I don't speak until I must.Until I feel them watching me. The Council of the East-seven old clo
POV: TaliaTalia's body is still in Misfit Town.She lies motionless in her bunk, one hand still faintly glowing with the pulse of the stone. Bran is the first to find her. He had followed the ripple of magic that burst through the trees when she touched the stone. Now, he kneels beside her, his face pale with fear, trying not to panic.But this isn't about her body. It's about where her spirit has gone.Talia opens her eyes to skyless light. She's no longer in the woods or her room or anything that feels familiar. Everything around her is soft and glowing, like the space between stars had taken shape.This place isn't real in the way real places are. It feels more like memory and meaning stitched together. There's no ground, but she doesn't fall. No air, but she can breathe.In front of her, a tall stone arch rises out of nothing. Symbols glow along its edges-the same ones that had appeared on her arms. The same rhythm and same pull.A voice echoes across the space.Talia, Keeper of
Aunt MerleComing back to Misfit Town without being seen was never simple. But this time, it was more than just secrecy-I couldn't let anyone see me carrying the stone. Only the one meant to carry its power should lay eyes on me right now.That's why I used the bone ash spell. Just enough to hide myself from the senses of others. The magic made sound slip away from me and light bent around me. It wasn't perfect. But it was enough.I moved quietly past the outer trees of the town just before sunrise, the stone wrapped tightly in moon cloth and held close to my chest. It wasn't heavy, not in the usual way, but it throbbed with heat and energy-like it had its heartbeat. It didn't feel human. It didn't feel alive. But it was something old. Ancient.With each step closer to the heart of the town, the air changed. It started to hum softly. Like the ground and the trees could sense what I was bringing. Like the town itself was deciding if I should be allowed in.The streets and homes hadn't
POV: TaliaI got up before dawn because something stirred me awake. Dead silence. I don't feel anything at all. It's only a switch. It felt like the air just ditched the world I was familiar with.I sat upright in bed, my breath hanging somewhere between snoozing and shouting. My room still sat in darkness, with the curtains hardly moving. My arms were on fire.I rolled up my shirt sleeves and took a look.Marks. Faint and glowing. It feels like starlight veins running from my wrists to the bend of my elbows. They beat along with my heart-actually, not my heart. Something that goes deeper. Something older.The stone. I haven't laid a finger on it or even seen it, but I can feel its pull. It's like a tune I haven't listened to, but it feels familiar. It's transforming me. I'm not sure how long this will last. Or who I'll turn into by the time it's over.I run my fingers over the glowing trails. They're cozy. Full of life. Not painful. Not yet."Bran?" I whisper, even though I know he's
Aunt Merle's POVIt moved the moment I did.Like it had been waiting for me.The corrupted guardian stepped forward, limbs wrong in all the ways that make your bones ache just looking. It's fur peeling like bark in the sun, muscles twitching under pale, half-dead skin. Its eyes glowed green-brighter now-flickering like candlelight trapped in rot.I didn't move at first. I let my breath settle. Let my pulse slow. Fear is a clever liar. It whispers things like you can't, you're too old, you failed once and you'll do it again.But I'm not here to win. I'm here to protect what needs to be protected.I reach into my bag, my fingers finding the vial of ashroot tincture. My sister made this once, back when she still believed we could hold the line against everything coming for us. I never liked the way it smelled-burnt leaves and regret-but it helps in moments like this. I dab a bit under my nose. It clears the air and sharpens me."Let's get this over with," I whisper, more to myself than t
Talia's POV Strange things are beginning to happen to me after our search for the cookbook in the archives. The first time it happens, I'm brushing dirt off a silver spoon half-buried beneath a pine root, and the second I touch it, the world turns upside down.Not like in the dramatic way people say, but like gravity forgets her job. My knees give, my vision fuzzes, and a weightless heat rushes behind my eyes, burning. A voice I don't recognize, and not mine-whispers something sharp and slanted. The spoon clatters to the ground."Hey!" Bran's voice cuts through the dizziness. "Talia-hey, look at me. Stay with me."I blink. His face is so close, framed by leaves and worry lines. His hands hover just inches from my shoulders, unsure whether to touch me or watch.I grab his sleeve. Just to make sure I'm here. Now. Not wherever that flash dragged me."I'm fine," I say, but it sounds like a lie even to me. My voice is raspy, too breathy."Liar. That's your lying face. Also your 'don't tel
Aunt Merle's POVThis night is way colder than I anticipated.Canada may be known for its brutal winds and icy cold, but there's something uniquely cold about the forests near Misfit town. It murmurs hidden truths. The old ones. Some that remember me, and some I'd rather forget.I stomp through the frozen ground, my boots crunching as I head down the winding trail into the thick woods, my satchel bouncing at my side with each brave step I take. In my bag, I've got some sage, nightroot, a couple of white candles blessed during a blood moon, and a solar power bank that I almost forgot until I felt like I should take it with me.I recognize this path. Even after so many years. Even after grief tried to bury it under layers of avoidance. There was a time when my sister and I carved our initials into one of these trees, laughing like we were still children, despite being mothers by then. My fingers brush against the bark of that same tree as I pass. It no longer laughs. Me neither.This jo
Talia's POVAs we near the exit, an unseen force pulls at my chest. I gasp. I can't move my feet.Then-a pull.Not physical, not something I can fight. It goes deeper, touching my core. An air ripple, a time shift.Flames from the candle sway unpredictably, as if stirred by an unseen wind. The edges of the room fade away. My vision tunnels. My heartbeat slows, and then-Darkness.Then, light appeared.A vision.I'm out of the archives now.I stand in a moonlit clearing, surrounded by the smell of wet earth and pine. The trees whisper familiar voices, pulling me toward the sound.A figure kneels in the clearing, shaking with silent sobs. She is young, with a dirty and tear-streaked face, and her long dark hair is tangled in leaves.She looks at me with luminous, regretful eyes."Forgive me," she whispers, her voice breaking. "I never wanted this."A group of shadowy figures appears from the trees before I can move. They wear black, yet I sense their overwhelming power bearing down on m
Talia's POVThe air in the palace feels oppressive as if my aunt's words are pushing against me. I run my fingers along the wooden table in my study, my mind racing to find answers amid Aunt's revelations.The book was bound to me.My blood is needed to unleash its magic. Does that explain the figures I have been seeing lurking in the shadows? Are they out on a mission to take me?Thoughts swirl within me, weaving through unclear memories. My grandmother sacrificed herself for it, and now someone is ready to spill my blood for its power. This is just too much of a problem than I can imagine.Bran rests on his desk's edge, observing me intently. He crosses his arms, candlelight creating shadows on his face. Since my aunt's words, he remains quiet, yet I feel his discomfort swirling around us."What are you thinking?" He asks, at last, his tone calm.I slowly exhale, placing my hand on my forehead. "That I don't know nearly enough."His eyes show an unclear emotion. "Then let's change t