Chapter 21
Chapter 21 1/6 AURORA Dane lifted a hand and carefully traced the place three pages had been torn from the book .
The surrounding pages were splotched with an old , rust colored liquid .
Blood .
I had flipped through this book hundreds of times , trying to figure that out myself .
But I thought I knew .
The Reeds gave me this book because they said it was full of old scribbles .
They didnt think it was important .
I dont remember much about when they gave it to me because I was young .
That was only part of the reason .
So much of my life before marrying Dane was lost to me .
But I think I remember Esther Reed saying she tore them out .
Now I touched the torn places .
The book had been written hundreds of years ago .
Someone might have been able to translate it , if it was written in a language .
Instead , it was written in a code made of strange symbols .
As I got older , I discovered the symbols were revealing themselves to me .
Its an old gift that runs in our pack , my grandmother says a gift of magical interpretation .
From what Ive been able to read , the pages beforehand describe the setup for a ceremony .
The pages are the ceremony , itself .
Chapter 21 A ceremony ? Dane asked .
I nodded .
The ceremony is to reveal the moon goddesss chosen .
2/6 Why would Esther Reed take these pages if she couldnt read the book and didnt know how important they are ? Dane asked .
I dont know .
I spent almost twenty two years thinking I was their biological daughter .
Everything they ever told me was a lie .
Except that I couldnt trust the Montagues .
I did remember them saying that .
Over and over again .
Then they made me Danes wife and tried to control him through me .
But hed won , in the end .
Hed driven them into the shadows in the deepest parts of the forest .
Then Id freed him from me , too .
Do you think she kept them ? Dane asked .
He leaned close , looking over my shoulder .
It would have been easy to lay my head on his shoulder and relax against him .
Goddess , I hated that part of me still wanted so badly to do that .
I laughed without humor .
Probably .
Esther keeps everything .
Shes always been a hoarder .
Dane rubbed his chin .
It was a familiar gesture one he made when he was deep in thought .
The old Reed pack house is on my land .
I remembered .
Hed chased them out in a raid a year after our 3/6 Chapter 21 forced marriage .
It had been the win that turned the tide of the pack war against the Reeds .
After that was the first time he went to the Council asking to end our marriage , and the first time the Council had forbidden it .
What are you saying ? I asked , dread rising in the pit of my stomach .
I hadnt been back to the place Id been raised since they poisoned me with silver and left me for Dane to find .
I never intended to go back .
Im saying we need to search the house , Dane said .
I snapped the book closed .
We dont .
The book will guide us to the relics location .
Thats all we need .
Then why is this ceremony in here ? he asked .
I hesitated .
Dane and I hadnt had a civil conversation this long … ever .noveldrama
It was strange .
I wasnt sure how I felt about it .
The chosen is required to undo the magical locks that keep the relic safe .
But I believe we can figure it out .
At least , we could if my grandmother was right , and the prophecy on the first page of the book talk me being the chosen .
In the few years Id known her , shed never been wrong .
And if there was no need to find the chosen , there was no need for me to face my past and visit my abandoned childhood home .
Chapter 21 4/6 But Dane shook his head .
My grandfather knows a little about messing with ancient magic .
One thing is certain , you do everything required , or people die .
We need to go into the Reed pack house and find those pages .
My heart chilled at his words .
No we dont .
Dane stalked toward me suddenly , all the rage and threat hed been missing back in his voice .
Yes .
We do .
And we will .
Meet me there the day after tomorrow .
The next night , I dreamed of the night my family killed my wolf .
The night I met Dane .
Everything hurt .
My veins were on fire .
I crawled through the forest .
Inside , my wolf had curled up into a tiny corner of my mind , whimpering and crying .
Its all right , I told her .
Please hang on .
Please , dont leave me ! Even in the dream , my childhood was no more than a dark shadow , but I knew my wolf was the reason I had survived .
I knew we had to keep living .
I fell to the ground , face down .
Help … please … My voice was so weak I could barely form the words .
Even as I called out , I despaired .
Chapter 21 No one would come for me .
No one ever had .
Then there was a warm hand on my face .
Shh .
Whats your name ? His voice was kind .
And there was something … my wolf … she reached for him ….
And in that moment , she died .
I didnt know what happened after that , only that he was carrying me .
His heartbeat was steady against my ear .
Safe , it seemed to say .
Safe , safe , safe .
5/6 But it had been wrong .
Instead of curling into his chest , I started to cry .
DANE I woke in a cold sweat from the dream .
My clock read 2 am .
I hated that fucking dream .
Every time I had it , I woke up feeling like a knife had been twisted in my heart .
Like I was in love with the woman whod ruined everything .
Like I should protect her , even now .
Chapter 21 6/6 In a way , I was .
Thats why Id sent my sister Piper and my best pack warriors .
As if my name summoned her , my phone started to ring .
It was Pipers name .
I answered .
Piper ? Dane , she sounded panicked .
The Reeds are here .
Broken Forest wolves have us surrounded .
They want Aurora .