Elias insisted that I visit the hospital and see Dr. Eris for a full check–up. However<b>, </b>despite running all her tests, she couldn’t find anything unusual. Not only had my stab wounds vanished without a trace, but even the scars my father had left all over me throughout the years had disappeared. Everyst mark–whether from the whip or any other kind of abuse- was gonepletely.


    No one could offer an exnation for it. But I wasn’t upset about that. I had never felt this physically strong before, never felt this sure of myself. It felt like stepping into a whole new version of me. Unreal–but in the best way. And I was savoring every second of it.


    Naturally, Elias didn’t leave my side for even a moment, which wasn’t a surprise. But I didn’t find it annoying at all. In fact, I weed it. I needed his presence–needed him close, constantly. And now I understood that he would never leave again. When that bond clicked into ce, it was unlike anything I could ever have imagined. It felt like my broken soul- fractured for so long–was finally whole again because of him.


    Once Dr. Eris gave the all–clear for me to leave the hospital, I didn’t hesitate–I wanted out. So we started the journey back toward our pack. But we had to go the long route, since the


    location of our pack was a carefully guarded secret.


    Warriors surrounded us the entire way, forming a protective circle, and Elias never once let go of my hand throughout the entire hike. I didn’tin, not at all. The little shocks of warmth–those sparks that danced along my skin where we touched–were moreforting now than ever. And now, they made perfect sense.


    We were retracing our way home, but not through the same path we had taken when we left.. Back then, Elias had only been concerned with getting me to the hospital as fast as possible. Now, we had to move more carefully, which meant a much longer walk through the forest.


    Still, my mind wouldn’t stop reying the images of my mother and Isolde. Their words. echoed inside me. I was the only one who could stop my father. I had time, yes–but I needed to be ready. I was sure that part of being ready meant learning how to fight, but beyond that, I didn’t even know what he was nning. I had no clue what his ultimate goal was.


    That was the first thing I needed to uncover. I couldn’t begin to formte any kind of n


    without knowing exactly what I <b>was </b>up <b>against</b>. <fnac5c> Th?s chapter is updated by findnovel</fnac5c>


    Finding out what he <b>was </b>doing had toe before anything else. That much was clear. But


    <CHAPTER 21


    More Heyrand?


    how in the world was I going to uncover that? The only ce where he kept real secrets was his office–and I knew for certain that it was locked tight. It was the one room in his entire packhouse where I had never been allowed, not even to clean.


    So that had to be my starting point. But even knowing that, I still had no idea how I was going.


    I I


    to get inside.


    “You’re being awfully quiet. Well… you’re usually quiet, but I didn’t expect it now,” Elias said as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I smiled, resting my head against his side, and he instinctively wrapped his arm around my waist.


    “I’ve just got a lot on my mind, that’s all,” I said softly.


    “Want to talk about it?” he asked.


    “Not yet. I think I’m still processing everything. Still kind of in shock,” I replied honestly.


    “Yeah, well, you’re not the only one. If there was ever any doubt about you being royalty


    before, there’s none now,” he said, chuckling lightly.


    “I guess not,” I murmured, my eyes scanning the warriors who surrounded us–not too close,


    but close enough to protect.


    “What are you thinking about? You look troubled,” Elias said.


    “Everyone keeps mentioning these royal powers, and I can’t help but wonder–what exactly are they? I mean, yeah, I look different now, but is that really all there is to it?” I asked, voicing one of the many thoughts crowding my brain.


    “I haven’t really thought much about it either,” he admitted. “Maybe your powers are still


    waking up. We both know there’s more to this world than what appears on the surface. There


    might be a lot more to your powers than anyone realizes.”


    I nodded slowly, still lost in thought. Because honestly, I had no clue where any of this was


    headed–<b>or </b>what wasing next.


    But <b>then</b>, without warning, <b>I </b><b>came </b>to <b>a </bplete stop. Elias immediately halted beside me, <b>ncing </b>over with a confused look, clearly wondering why I had stopped. I turned my head slowly, scanning all around us, and noticed that the warriors had stopped moving too. They


    maintaining a <b>secure </b>perimeter, surrounding us fully, making absolutely sure that nothing–and no one–could get close enough to harm us. If anything or anyone wanted to reach either me or Elias, they’d have to fight through a full circle of trained warriors first.


    were


    < CHAPTER 21


    More Benards


    But my attention wasn’t on them. I was staring beyond the warriors, out into the shadows of the forest. I couldn’t exin how I knew, but somehow, I was certain we weren’t alone. There was something else out there, something hidden and watching us. I started slowly turning in ce, scanning every direction, hoping to catch a glimpse–but whatever it was, it stayed well out of sight. Still, I had no doubt that it <b>was </b>there.


    Elias immediately barked an order to all his warriors, telling them to stay alert. Something was tailing us, and clearly, it had been hoping to catch us by surprise.


    We stood in silence, waiting. And waiting. All the while, I kept looking, letting my eyes jump from one point to another<b>, </b>searching. Then, without knowing why, my gaze locked behind us. I couldn’t see anything tangible, but somehow, I just knew. That was where it was. There was


    something back there–following–and it was getting closer.


    I raised my arm and pointed in that direction. The warriors followed my gesture, but they all looked puzzled, some shaking their heads, saying they couldn’t see a thing. Still, I was absolutely sure. I told them there was something there. It wasn’t a rogue, and it wasn’t a


    werewolf. It wasrger–<b>much</b>, muchrger.


    Suddenly, a deafening roar exploded through the air, louder than anything I’d ever heard in my life. I mped my hands over my ears instantly–it was so loud it physically hurt to hear it. The forest trembled as enormous trees began snapping and crashing to the ground. The unseen creature was moving toward us, ripping its way through the woods like the towering oaks weighed nothing–just tossing them aside like paper scraps.


    Elias instantly stepped in front of me, his body shielding mine, and the warriors sprang into position, preparing themselves to fight. But the truth was, we still didn’t know what it was. All


    we knew was that it was massive–and it wasing straight for us. The idea that something that big could sneak up on us without anyone noticing made no sense at all.


    I felt the hairs on my arms stand up straight. Goosebumps erupted across my skin as


    another earth–shaking roar sted through the clearing, this time from right in front of us. It


    was so strong, the air alone knocked most of <b>us </b>back a step with its sheer force.


    “Warriors, attack!” Elias shouted, and the group charged. They moved quickly, instinctively,


    striking out where they knew the enemy had to be. But they were fighting blind–none of them


    could see what they were aiming at. Whatever it was, it was invisible to us.


    “Elias, they’re going to be ughtered. We can’t even see it!” I cried out, panicked.


    “Don’t worry. They’ve trained for this. They know how to handle it,” Elias said, wrapping an


    arm protectively around me.


    “You need to go help them,” I urged him, but he shook his head, resolute.


    “I’m not leaving you,” he replied, unwavering.


    “Oh yes, you are,” a cold voice suddenly spoke from behind us. We spun around fast, and there he was–my father’s Beta.


    “Well, hello, Cassian. Honestly, I’m surprised my father sent you instead ofing himself,” I


    said, staring him down.


    “I suppose he trusts me more than you think,” Cassian answered coolly.


    “Or maybe he just knew this was a suicide mission. You only became Beta because thest


    one got killed. It wasn’t earned,” I shot back..


    “Thest Beta died honorably. He gave his life in battle,” Cassian retorted, visibly tense.


    I scoffed, unimpressed. “He died because he talked back to the Luna. That’s the real reason. Don’t pretend otherwise.” The smug look on Cassian’s face disappeared in an instant.


    “Alpha Thorne would never do that,” he said defensively.


    “Right. Just like he’d never fake his daughter’s death and keep her locked in a room for fifteen years. There’s literally <i>nothing </i>my father wouldn’t do,” I said coldly. That seemed to hit at nerve. I could tell Cassian was rattled. His warriors behind him still looked ready to fight, but then I felt Elias tense beside me. I turned to look at him, but his eyes weren’t on Cassian


    anymore–they were focused behind <i>us</i>.


    I spun around just in time to see the thing finally reveal itself. And it was unlike anything I had ever seen. Definitely not of this world. A massive, thirty–foot–tall dragon stood in front of us, its mouth crackling with fire, smoke rising from its nostrils.


    “Oh my god,” I whispered,pletely stunned.