Heart Bound

Moonstone

Kyrie's POV

As Gina headed off to her next class, Cal caught my hand, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and secrecy.

“I want to show you something, Kyrie. It’s important,” he said, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. “Come with me?”

There was a pull in his voice, something undeniable. I nodded, feeling a thrill rush through me as I realized he was planning to take me somewhere he trusted, somewhere that felt essential. As we left the school grounds and slipped out through a quiet side door, I didn’t ask any questions, letting Cal guide me as we made our way through the woods and toward his pack’s territory.

The closer we got, the more I could feel the power humming around us, a sense of ancient energy woven through the land. When we finally reached the packhouse, my breath caught in my throat. It wasn’t just a building—it was a grand villa, towering and majestic, nestled against the trees. Four levels rose above us, each with a unique design that seemed both old-world and timeless, with balconies wrapped in intricate ironwork and stone pillars that gave it an almost regal appearance. The windows were large, casting light onto the sprawling grounds, where a pool shimmered in the sunlight and a beautifully manicured garden stretched around the villa.

Cal smiled at my reaction, his hand still warm in mine. “This is my pack’s home.”

The inside was just as awe-inspiring. As he led me through the halls, I took in the modern gym, common areas with plush leather couches and warm fireplaces, and high ceilings adorned with chandeliers. Wolves in his pack moved around comfortably, some greeting Cal with warm nods, a few glancing at me curiously.

Cal led me through several corridors until we reached a pair of intricately carved double doors. He paused before opening them, his eyes meeting mine. “This is the heart of our pack’s history,” he said quietly. “Our library. Only a few outside our pack have ever seen it.”

He pushed open the doors, and I gasped at what lay beyond. The library was enormous, its walls lined with towering bookshelves that stretched up to the ceiling. There were ladders on rails, and sunlight poured through stained glass windows, casting colorful light across the room. The air was thick with the scent of old books and magic—a warm, intoxicating mix that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

At the center of the library, an ancient, carved wooden table held a book that practically glowed with energy. I could feel the magic radiating from it, a protective charm woven around the leather cover. Cal nodded toward it, his voice soft and reverent.

“This library holds the history of our people. Every pack, every lineage is recorded here. There’s even a section dedicated to those who… aren’t with us anymore.” He looked at me, his gaze steady. “If there’s any record of your family, we’ll find it here.”

I followed him to the central table, my fingers brushing over the cover of the book. “This is incredible, Cal. I had no idea something like this even existed.”

Cal’s lips quirked in a smile. “Our pack’s witch crafted this library herself. It’s not just a library—it’s a magical archive, enchanted to protect our history from anyone who would want to erase it. And I think it’s time we found some answers about your family.”

We started in the section for royal families, Cal guiding me to a shelf that seemed almost to hum with energy. The books here were ancient, their spines gilded and worn, each one inscribed with a family name. I scanned the titles, my heart racing as I searched for something, anything, that could lead me to my past.

Finally, my fingers brushed against a worn spine, and I froze, staring at the name etched in faded silver: *The Moonstone Lineage.* I pulled the book from the shelf, its weight settling in my hands as if it had been waiting for me.

Cal leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. “Your family name.”

I nodded, the reality sinking in. *Moonstone.* It felt familiar, almost like a memory surfacing from a distant dream. I opened the book, flipping through the pages, which detailed the history of the Moonstone family. The passages spoke of royal wolves with silver hair, wolves who had once ruled with wisdom and compassion, a family line revered for their power and their deep bond with the Moon Goddess.

My fingers trembled as I traced the names on the pages, reading about my ancestors, about the battles they’d fought, the alliances they’d made. And then, near the end, I found the entry I’d been searching for—my parents. The names hit me like a wave, the realization filling me with an ache I hadn’t expected.

“Your mother was Queen Lyria,” Cal murmured, reading over my shoulder. “And your father… King Darius.”

I felt a mixture of pride and sadness welling up inside me. Lyria and Darius. My parents. They had been powerful, respected leaders, and they’d sacrificed everything to protect me. I wanted to remember their faces, to feel some connection to them, but the memories were hazy, half-formed. I’d been so young when they disappeared.

But as we flipped further, another name caught my eye. I shivered as I read the entry, my voice dropping to a whisper. “The Shadow Wolf.”

Cal’s expression darkened, and he moved closer, his hand resting on my shoulder. “The Shadow Wolf was once one of the most feared wolves among us. His true name was Zoran, leader of the Shadow Clan, an ancient and cursed pack that nearly brought ruin to the werewolf kingdoms.”

“Zoran…” I repeated, the name heavy with menace. “What happened to him?”

Cal turned the page, his voice low and steady. “The Shadow Clan was a pack cursed by gypsy witches and the royal fae bloodline. They were a dangerous breed, able to draw power from the shadows, channeling dark energy that allowed them to grow stronger as the moon waned. They sought to overthrow the royal bloodlines, to claim control over all werewolves.”

He pointed to an illustration of a swirling black vortex, a gateway drawn in ink and shadow. “The Shadow Clan drew their power from the Shadow Realm, an alternate dimension they used to amass strength and forge alliances with dark creatures. They were unstoppable… until the gypsy witches and royal fae joined forces to curse them. The fae cast a powerful spell, one that banished the Shadow Clan into the Shadow Realm, cutting them off from the earthly plane.”

“But they’re still there,” I murmured, tracing my fingers over the illustration. “Waiting… and watching.”

Cal nodded, his expression grim. “The curse should have kept them contained. But some say Zoran’s spirit still lurks, seeking a way back. Some even think he’s managed to influence certain packs, bending them to his will. If the Djinn is connected to him…”

The realization settled over us like a shroud. If Zoran or any remnants of his power had survived, it meant my family had been fighting a force that wasn’t truly gone, one that could still find its way back.

Cal’s hand squeezed mine, his gaze filled with determination. “We’ll keep this between us, Kyrie. No one else can know—not until we figure out who we can trust.”

I nodded, my resolve hardening. “Agreed. We’ll keep digging, but we have to be careful.”

As we closed the book, the doors to the library creaked open, and I turned, my heart pounding as I saw two figures entering. A man and a woman, regal in appearance, their expressions cool and assessing. The man’s hair was dark, streaked with hints of gray, his frame tall and intimidating, while the woman had a sharp, calculating gaze, her blonde hair pulled back in a sleek twist.

Cal straightened, his hand dropping from mine. “These are my parents—Alpha Ethan and Luna Sylvia.”

The air grew thick as they approached, their eyes sweeping over me with a mixture of interest and barely concealed disapproval. Sylvia’s gaze lingered on my hair, her nose wrinkling slightly.

“You brought her here?” Sylvia’s voice was smooth but cold, each word laced with skepticism.

Cal met her gaze, his jaw set. “Yes, Mother. Kyrie is my mate.”

Ethan’s expression tightened, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. “She has no lineage that we know of, and she… smells like an omega,” he said, his tone dismissive, though I could see a flicker of curiosity in his gaze.

My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to stay calm. I could feel Selene’s presence humming within me, quiet but reassuring. She was masking my true scent, hiding the power I’d only just begun to understand.

Cal’s hand brushed mine again, a small, comforting gesture, and he met his father’s gaze evenly. “Kyrie’s origins are complicated, but that doesn’t make her any less of a leader. I trust her, and I’ll protect her.”

Sylvia crossed her arms, her gaze turning icy. “Trust is one thing, Cal. But you are an Alpha. You need a mate who can strengthen our pack, someone with a lineage we can trace back. This… girl, regardless of your bond, doesn’t offer that.”

Heat rose to my cheeks, and I felt a spark of defiance flare within me. “With respect, Luna Sylvia, there’s more to strength than bloodlines.”

Ethan’s gaze hardened, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “We’ll see about that,” he murmured, as if testing me, weighing my words.

Cal squeezed my hand, his voice firm. “Kyrie is my choice, and nothing will change that.”

The tension in the air was thick, and Sylvia’s gaze flickered between the two of us, something dark and calculating in her expression. I felt Selene stir, a quiet warning humming through my thoughts.

Cal’s parents may not have trusted me yet, but I knew one thing for certain: Cal and I were in this together, and I wasn’t going to let anyone—not the Djinn, not Zoran, and not even his parents—stand in our way.