KING AZRIEL CAELUM FENRIS

The scent of cinnamon tea clung to the wooden walls of the cottage, the morning sun casting gold ribbons across the breakfast table. Elira padded into the kitchen barefoot, still tugging her brush through a stubborn curl. Her mother's gentle humming drifted from the hallway as she gathered her knitting supplies.

"I'm not hungry, Mama," Elira said, lightly tapping the edge of the wooden table.

Her mother turned around, soft lines creasing at the edges of her warm brown eyes. "Again? Elira, you're eighteen today. A little bread and cheese wouldn't kill you."

"I just feel... off," Elira murmured, wrapping her arms around herself.

Her mother set down her basket and crossed the room, wrapping her in a firm hug. "It's just nerves. Every wolf feels it before their Awakening. You'll be fine. Whatever today brings, your father and I are here, okay?"

Elira nodded, burying her face in the familiar scent of lavender and earth that clung to her mother's wool shawl.

"Alright, well," her mother said, pulling back with a smile, "I've got knitting class with Liana's mother. I'll drop by the packhouse later with lunch-you'll be with Liana, right?"

Elira nodded again. "Yeah. She promised we'd go walking after her chores. I think she just wants an excuse to skip half the errands."

Her mother chuckled. "That sounds like her. Alright, my girl. Happy birthday."

She pressed a kiss to Elira's forehead, and just like that, she was gone-leaving Elira with a quiet house, a nervous heart, and the promise of a life that would never be the same again.

Elira stood by the door, waving as her mom disappeared down the gravel path arm-in-arm with Mrs. Duskwing, both women already deep into their usual animated chatter about yarn colors and shawl patterns.

The house fell quiet, save for the faint tick of the old wall clock and the morning birdsong outside.

She turned around, sighing. The silence made her thoughts louder.

The day the mate bond could snap into place, if the Moon Goddess willed it.

Her fingers brushed against the wolf-shaped pendant that always hung from her neck. It had belonged to her adoptive mother's mother. She didn't know why it comforted her, but it always had.

The thought of her mate finding her today brought an odd twist in her stomach. Was it excitement... or dread?

Pushing it down, she tied her boots, grabbed her shawl, and made her way down the familiar forest path toward Seraphine's estate.

The Duskwing manor sat perched near the cliff's edge, tall and regal, wrapped in ivy and thick with enchantments that only wolves of noble blood could afford. Despite that, Seraphine had never acted stuck-up a day in her life.

Elira knocked once, then pushed the gate open.

Before she could even call out, the front door swung wide.

"Girl, finally!" Seraphine grinned, already barefoot and in her comfy house robe. "If you made me wait one more minute, I was going to shift, track you down, and drag your ass here."

Elira laughed, stepping into the warmth of the Duskwing home. "Good morning to you too."

Seraphine looped her arm through hers and led her to the kitchen. The smell of cinnamon and berries clung to the air like magic.

"I saved you the last piece of mum's berry tart," Seraphine said, sliding a plate toward her.

Elira's stomach growled. "Bless you."

As they sat, Seraphine leaned on her elbow, eyes twinkling.

"So... today's the day."

Elira rolled her eyes but smiled. "Don't remind me."

"No, I have to. What if your mate turns out to be some brooding rogue with a tragic backstory and smoldering eyes?"

"Or," Elira replied dryly, "a spineless snob who thinks orphans aren't worthy of being loved."

Seraphine's expression sobered.

"Elira..."

"I'm fine," Elira said quickly. "I just... Can we pretend today's just another normal day?"

Seraphine didn't push. Instead, she stood, grabbed her sketchbook from the table, and tossed Elira a pillow.

"You know what? I have something better than pretending."

Elira raised a brow. "What's that?"

"Let's go up to the overlook and talk trash about boys. And maybe paint flowers like sad virgins waiting for the Goddess to throw us a bone."

Elira burst out laughing, the weight in her chest lifting just a bit.

Elira hesitated, then said, "I want to stop by Liana's house."

Seraphine's smile faltered. "Liana?"

"Yes," Elira nodded. "Mama left with her mom for knitting class, and I haven't seen Liana since last week. I promised I'd check on her."

"Hmm," Seraphine said, dragging the sound as if it had weight. "You know I'm not really close to Liana, right?"

Elira cast her a sideways glance. "You two used to braid each other's hair during herbology classes."

"That was... years ago." Seraphine's voice was careful, smooth like silk but lacking warmth. "We're cordial, sure. But we don't exactly braid each other's souls anymore."

Elira laughed softly. "Braid each other's souls? Dramatic much?"

"I'm being serious." Seraphine folded her arms. "She's... she has a way of making things about herself. And sometimes, when you're not looking, she's sharpening knives."

Elira stopped walking and turned to her friend. "Seraphine, Liana has never been anything but kind to me. She's always checking in. Besides, she helped Mama harvest the lunaris herbs when I was down with fever last winter."

"Yeah, and she told everyone at the herb market about it afterward," Seraphine muttered.

Elira's brows furrowed. "Why are you being like this? I thought you liked her."

"I don't dislike her," Seraphine said, her tone clipped. "I just don't trust her. Not around people she thinks are in her way."

Elira's chest tightened at the veiled meaning, even if she couldn't decipher it fully. She turned away, continuing down the path. "Well, you don't have to come in. I just thought it would be nice. She's been kind, and I miss her."

Seraphine hesitated before following. "Fine. But don't be surprised if she starts asking weird questions again. Last time, she grilled me about the Luna Decree and who the council was favoring."

Elira blinked. "Did she?"

Seraphine nodded. "Like I'd know. The council doesn't exactly pin scrolls on my bedroom wall."

Elira gave a half-smile but didn't comment. Her thoughts wandered. Why would Liana ask about something like that?

"She has this theory," Seraphine added, voice low, "that the next Luna Queen won't be chosen at all. That fate will choose her. That the Alpha King will break tradition."

Elira paused. Her heart fluttered-unsteady.

"And?" she asked quietly.

"And I think it's dangerous to even say that out loud," Seraphine whispered. "That Decree has held power in one bloodline for centuries. If fate chose someone outside of it..."

"What?" Elira looked at her. "You think the council would... what? Ignore it?"

"I think they'd do more than ignore it," Seraphine said, her voice barely audible now. "I think they'd erase it."

Elira's breath caught in her throat.

For a moment, both girls stood in silence, the wind brushing their cheeks like the ghost of something unsaid. Elira reached up and touched the crescent-shaped pendant resting on her collarbone-a gift from her adopted father. A charm to protect her from unseen things.

"Let's just go," she murmured, swallowing her unease.

Seraphine gave a nod but kept her arms crossed. "I'll wait outside if she starts gossiping again."

"No," Elira said. "Come in. Please. For me."

Seraphine stared at her for a long beat, then nodded. "Alright. But if she brings up politics again, I'm blaming you."

"Deal," Elira smiled, trying to lighten the mood as they turned toward the twisting stone path that led to Liana's ivy-covered cottage. The house sat nestled in a cradle of lavender and bluebells, just beyond the silver creek.

But as they neared the door, something tightened in Seraphine's jaw. Elira didn't notice it-not yet. She couldn't have known the threads of fate were already twisting, already tying knots behind her back. And that the betrayal wouldn't come with swords or shouts, but with soft smiles and silken lies.

The warm scent of dried rose petals and vanilla met them as Elira pushed open the creaky wooden door to Liana's home. It was cozy, cluttered in a comforting way-books stacked like towers of thought, herb bundles hanging from the rafters, and little hand-carved animal figurines scattered across the shelves like forgotten guardians.

"Come on," Elira said softly, motioning for Seraphine to follow. "She's probably in her room. You know how she gets when she's sketching again."

"Or talking to herself," Seraphine muttered under her breath.

Elira shot her a quick glare over her shoulder but didn't bother replying. She tiptoed down the narrow hallway, stopping at the familiar lavender-painted door. Without knocking, she nudged it open.

Liana's room was bathed in lilac light from the stained-glass window. Crystals lined the sills, catching sunbeams and scattering tiny rainbows across the floor. There were ink-drawn maps tacked to the walls, strange symbols etched in charcoal on parchment, and a few pressed flowers under glass frames. A collection of moth wings floated in resin on her desk. Typical Liana-half sunshine, half witchy.

"She's not here?" Elira frowned.

"She probably took a nap," Seraphine said flatly. "Or astral-projected again."

"Don't be rude," Elira whispered.

A faint humming sound slipped from the far end of the room. Liana's closet door creaked slightly open, revealing a sliver of movement.

"Liana?" Elira stepped forward just as the door swung wide.

Liana stood barefoot, eyes unfocused, her fingers twitching at her sides. Her usually bright honey-blonde curls were a bit messy, like she'd been tossing in sleep-or something deeper.

"My Queen..." she whispered.

Her voice didn't sound like her own. It echoed-low, distant, like it came from the bottom of a well.

Elira froze. Seraphine instinctively stepped back.

"Uh... Liana?" Elira said again, now concerned. "Are you okay?"

Liana didn't respond immediately. Her gaze flicked to Elira's chest, locking onto the silver crescent pendant nestled above her heart.

"Elira... My Queen," she breathed.

A sudden gust of cold wind burst through the room from nowhere, swirling the curtains and sending the crystal light dancing madly across the walls. The pendant around Elira's neck pulsed faintly with warmth.

Seraphine sucked in a sharp breath. "What the hell?"

Liana's eyes rolled back for a split second, and she swayed on her feet before collapsing forward.

"Elira!" Seraphine shouted, catching Liana just before she hit the floor.

"I've got her-get a pillow!" Elira knelt, brushing Liana's hair back. "Liana, hey, hey-wake up!"

After a few tense seconds, Liana blinked, her golden irises fluttering as though emerging from a deep sleep. Her brows furrowed. "W-What happened? Did I trip over something?"

Elira stared, heart pounding. "You... called me Queen."

Liana blinked at her, then burst into a laugh. "What? That's a weird dream. I probably mistook you for one of the royal portraits."

"You weren't dreaming," Seraphine said sharply. "You went full oracle-mode and passed out."

Liana frowned, sitting up slowly with Elira's help. "No, no way. That doesn't happen anymore."

"Anymore?" Elira repeated. "Wait-you've had trances before?"

Liana looked between them, clearly flustered. "I used to. Back when I was little. Visions, I guess. My grandmother said they ran in our bloodline, but they stopped after I turned fifteen."

Seraphine narrowed her eyes. "And they suddenly decided to restart today of all days? Right in front of Elira?"

Liana gave a sheepish shrug. "Maybe it's the herbs. I've been working with lunarwort again and-"

"Cut the crap, Liana," Seraphine snapped. "You said my Queen. That wasn't random."

Elira stood slowly, heart still pounding. "Okay. Enough."

Both girls turned to her.

"I don't know what that was," Elira said. "And honestly, it's freaking me out. But I don't think Liana would fake something like this."

Liana's expression softened. "I wouldn't. Elira, you're my sister in everything but blood. If something's happening to you... I want to help."

Seraphine bit her lip, clearly holding something back. Elira didn't miss it. But she also didn't press-yet.

Instead, she helped Liana to her feet and dusted off her blanket. "Maybe you should rest."

"Yeah," Liana nodded. "Sorry. That was weird."

Seraphine forced a smile. "Super weird."

As Liana turned to adjust the window, Seraphine leaned into Elira's ear and whispered, "Keep your eyes open. This girl's hiding something. And so is that vision."

Elira didn't respond. She just looked down at the pendant again-still faintly warm against her skin-and wondered if the truth was already blooming, buried deep inside her blood.