Chapter 4 The hidden path

Amara's legs burned as she pulled the triplets through the underground tunnels, their small hands clutching hers, the air heavy with damp stone and magic. The storm's rumble faded above, but Lucien's bellow...

"Amara!" echoed in her mind, raw and desperate, mingled with the creature's screech and that cold voice: You're too late, Alpha. Her heart pounded, guilt clawing her chest. She'd left Lucien bleeding in the alley, and now he was here, chasing her, his scent,pine and blood,flooding her senses. The tunnels' walls glistened, lit by faint runes she'd carved years ago, her Celestian blood guiding her to the underworld's heart, where answers about the Oracle waited. But the creature's red eyes haunted her, and the voice's threat,They belong to me,chilled her bones.

"Mama, he's coming,"

Kael said, his silver eyes sharp, his voice low as he tugged her hand. His gift,seeing the past of anyone he touched,made him too perceptive, his visions showing Lucien's pursuit, his bloodied claws.

"I saw him in the dark. He's angry."

"I know, Kael,"

Amara said, her voice shaky, pulling him closer.

"But we have to keep moving." She glanced at Lira, whose green eyes were wide with fear, her curls bouncing as she clung to Amara's cloak. Soren trailed behind, his gray gaze distant, a cold breeze swirling around him, his spirit-summoning power humming. The triplets were too young for this,too young for powers, for fear, for her lies.

"Mama, I don't like it here," Lira whimpered, her voice trembling, her small hand gripping tighter. "It's dark. The bad thing's close."

Amara's stomach knotted. Lira's dreams of a "bad thing" with red eyes were real now, the creature's screech echoing in her memory.

"You're safe, my heart," Amara said, kneeling despite the damp stone, brushing Lira's curls. "I won't let anything hurt you." Her voice was steady, but fear choked her. Lira's gift,erasing memories with a kiss,had flared yesterday, stealing Soren's memory of a lullaby, and it scared Amara. What else could Lira erase?

"Lira, don't cry," Soren said, his voice eerie, stepping closer, his gray eyes unblinking. "The spirits say we're close to something. A light." Amara's skin prickled, the air growing colder, whispers brushing her ears. Soren's spirits were unpredictable, their voices ancient, and she feared what they saw.

"What light, Soren?" she asked, standing, her hand tightening on Kael's. The tunnel's runes pulsed, guiding her, but Lucien's scent grew stronger, mixed with blood. Her heart leaped, torn between fear and longing. She'd loved him once, in the Oracle's chamber, his touch gentle, his silver eyes soft. But her lie,killing the real surrogate, taking her place,had broken them.

"It's warm," Soren said, his voice distant, pointing ahead. "But they're watching. The old ones. They want her." He nodded at Lira, and Amara's blood ran cold. Lira's power, her dreams,something was after her, and the Oracle's voice confirmed it.

"No one's taking you," Amara said, her voice fierce, pulling Lira close.

"Kael, Soren, stay with me." The tunnel split, one path to a safehouse, the other to the underworld's heart. She chose the heart, needing answers, her glow stirring under her skin, a faint light warming her.

"Why'd you lie, Mama?" Kael asked, his silver eyes narrowing, his voice sharp.

"I saw you with him. You weren't the one chosen. You took someone else's place."

Amara froze, her throat tightening. Kael's visions had shown her crime,killing the surrogate under a full moon, her Celestian blood wild, desperate to save her kind's legacy.

"Kael, stop," she said, her voice breaking, her hands trembling. "You don't understand. I had to..."

"Had to what?" he pressed, his small face hard.

"You hurt someone. I saw it. Blood, Mama. "Why?" His voice cracked, and Amara's heart shattered. He was too young to carry her sins.

"I did it for you," she whispered, tears falling, cupping his face.

"For all of you. The Oracle... It's dangerous. I couldn't let it have you." She couldn't say it,the triplets' purpose, guardians of destruction, born to end Lucien's bloodline. Not yet.

"Lira's scared," Lira said, her voice small, clinging to Amara.

"Don't be sad, Mama. I'll make it better." She leaned up, lips puckering, and Amara pulled back, fear spiking. Lira's kiss could erase her memories, and she couldn't lose them.

"No, baby," Amara said, softening her voice, kissing Lira's forehead instead. "You're perfect. Just stay close."

Lira's green eyes glistened, and Amara's chest ached, guilt flooding her.

A rumble shook the tunnel, dirt raining down, and Amara froze, her glow flaring. Footsteps echoed,Lucien's scent, heavy and close. "Amara!" His roar shook the stone, raw and desperate, and her breath caught. The creature's screech followed, red eyes glowing at the tunnel's end, blocking their path.

"Mama, it's here!" Lira screamed, burying her face in Amara's cloak. Soren whispered,

"The spirits are angry," and the air grew cold, shadows moving.

"Stay behind me," Amara said, her voice fierce, shoving the triplets back. Her glow burned brighter, starlight warming her hands.

"Lucien, stop!" she shouted, seeing his silhouette, blood dripping, his silver eyes blazing through the dark.

"Amara, don't move!" Lucien growled, his voice shaking, claws glinting. "That thing's after you!" He lunged past her, slashing at the creature, blood spraying. Its screech rattled her bones, and Amara's heart raced, torn between running and helping him.

"Lucien, you're hurt!" she said, her voice cracking, stepping forward. "Get back!"

"I'm not leaving you," he said, his silver eyes locking on hers, fierce and raw. "Not again. Who are you, Amara? What are you hiding?" His voice was a lover's threat, his wolf claiming her, and her chest tightened, guilt and need colliding.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears falling. "I lied, Lucien. I wasn't chosen. I... took her place." The words spilled out, heavy, and his eyes widened, pain flashing.

"What?" he said, his voice low, claws pausing. "You killed her? The surrogate?" The creature lunged, and he tackled it, blood spraying, his growl shaking the tunnel.

"Lucien, watch out!" Amara shouted, her glow flaring, pushing the creature back. Kael screamed, "Mama, he's here!" and a new figure stepped from the shadows-a scarred man, his eyes glowing with Oracle magic, his voice the cold laugh from the warehouse.

"The triplets are mine," he said, his smile cruel, raising a hand. Lira whimpered, her green eyes flickering, and a strange warmth pulsed from her, the air rippling.