Chapter 3 - The Woman in the Prison Was Isolda's Sister, and Tristan Had Been Ordered to Reject Her
The woman woke to the sound of chains.
For twenty years, she had lived beneath the mountain.
Her name was Elara.
And the first thing she asked when the guards entered was:
“Has she awakened?”
The guards exchanged frightened looks.
“Who?”
Elara smiled.
“My little sister.”
Far to the north, Isolda was standing in the castle's library, staring at a genealogy that had been hidden for centuries.
Elias had spent the entire morning explaining Valoria.
The kingdom had once controlled most of the continent.
Its rulers were not simply Alphas.
They were Lunar Sovereigns.
Their blood could influence the land.
They could purify poisoned water.
They could break ancient curses.
They could strengthen weak packs.
And according to the oldest legends, only a true descendant could activate the Moon Throne.
But the Valorian royal family had vanished.
Or so history claimed.
Isolda touched the faded drawing.
“What happened to them?”
“War.”
“Who won?”
Elias hesitated.
“No one.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“The kingdom fell because someone inside the royal family betrayed it.”
Isolda looked up.
“Who?”
“Your uncle.”
Her stomach dropped.
“I have an uncle?”
“Had.”
Elias pointed to the genealogy.
King Alaric Valorian.
Queen Seraphina.
Their children:
Prince Caelan.
Princess Elara.
Princess Isolda.
Isolda stared.
Her name had been written centuries ago.
She shook her head.
“No.”
Elias said nothing.
Cedric stood behind her.
He had been silent throughout the lesson.
Finally, he asked:
“Where is Elara?”
Elias looked toward the mountains.
“According to the records, she died.”
“But she didn't.”
The king's voice was cold.
“How did you know?”
Elias looked at him.
“The assassin.”
Cedric nodded.
“We found tracks leading south.”
“And?”
“They ended at the old Valorian border.”
Elias closed the book.
“Then someone has been keeping the family secret alive.”
A horn sounded outside.
Cedric immediately turned.
Gideon rushed into the room.
“Your Majesty, riders are approaching.”
“How many?”
“Two hundred.”
“Whose?”
“Riverlands.”
Isolda felt her chest tighten.
“Tristan?”
“Yes.”
Cedric looked at Gideon.
“Prepare the gates.”
“Should we attack?”
“No.”
Cedric looked at Isolda.
“We wait.”
Hours later, Tristan stood outside the castle gates.
His army filled the valley.
Lady Rowena rode beside him.
Her expensive cloak moved in the wind.
“King Cedric!” Tristan shouted.
Cedric appeared above the gate.
“What do you want?”
“Return my mate.”
Cedric laughed.
The sound traveled down the stone walls.
“You rejected her.”
“She was cursed.”
“And yet your concern appears to have returned conveniently after you discovered I purchased her.”
Tristan's face reddened.
“She belongs to the Riverlands.”
“No.”
Cedric's voice hardened.
“She belongs to herself.”
Isolda stood behind him.
Tristan saw her.
He went pale.
Rowena stared.
“That can't be her.”
Tristan swallowed.
“It is.”
Rowena's eyes narrowed.
“She looks…”
“Beautiful?” Cedric supplied.
Tristan said nothing.
Isolda stepped forward.
“Why did you lie?”
Tristan's expression changed.
For one second, something like guilt appeared.
Then fear replaced it.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
He shook his head.
“I was ordered to reject you.”
The courtyard went silent.
Isolda froze.
“Ordered by whom?”
Tristan looked at the towers.
“Your family.”
Cedric stared.
“My family is dead.”
“That's what they wanted everyone to believe.”
“Who?”
Tristan hesitated.
Then Lady Rowena suddenly grabbed his arm.
“Tristan, don't.”
He looked at her.
“Why are you afraid?”
Rowena's face went white.
Cedric noticed.
“So,” he said quietly. “She knows.”
Rowena stepped backward.
Cedric raised a hand.
Guards surrounded the Riverlands delegation.
Tristan dropped his weapon.
“I never wanted to reject her.”
Isolda's voice cracked.
“You watched me cry.”
“I know.”
“You called me cursed.”
“I had no choice.”
“You sold me.”
Tristan closed his eyes.
“They threatened to destroy my pack.”
“Who?”
“Someone who controls the southern council.”
“Name him.”
Tristan finally said:
“Lord Malrec.”
Elias gasped.
“That name is impossible.”
Cedric turned.
“Why?”
“Because Malrec was the king who ordered the Valorian massacre.”
Isolda felt sick.
“He's alive?”
“No.”
Elias shook his head.
“He died centuries ago.”
Tristan laughed bitterly.
“Then someone is using his name.”
A sudden scream came from the crowd.
An arrow flew toward Isolda.
Cedric moved faster than anyone.
He caught the arrow.
Its metal tip turned black in his hand.
Poison.
His expression became murderous.
“Seal the gates.”
Chaos exploded.
The Riverlands soldiers thought the Northerners were attacking.
Steel met steel.
Isolda was pulled into the castle.
Tristan tried to reach her.
A warrior struck him down.
“Stop!”
Isolda's voice echoed.
Everyone froze.
She looked at Tristan.
“You saved me.”
He stared up at her.
“I should have.”
“Why didn't you?”
He couldn't answer.
She stepped closer.
“I don't forgive you.”
Tristan lowered his eyes.
“I don't expect you to.”
Cedric appeared beside her.
“Take him into custody.”
Tristan was dragged away.
But Rowena remained.
She approached Isolda.
“I know where they are keeping your sister.”
Isolda stared.
“How?”
Rowena whispered.
“Because my father works for them.”
Cedric stiffened.
“Your father?”
“Lord Adrian Vale.”
Gideon cursed.
He knew the name.
A southern warlord.
A man who had disappeared years ago.
Rowena continued.
“He has a fortress beneath the old mines.”
“Is Elara alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then we're going.”
Cedric shook his head.
“Not without an army.”
“I will go.”
“No.”
“She is my sister.”
“And you are my mate.”
The words hung between them.
Isolda stared at him.
Cedric softened.
“I will bring her back.”
The next morning, they rode south.
Tristan went with them under guard.
Rowena joined them.
As the mountains approached, Isolda began experiencing strange visions.
A little girl.
Running through a garden.
A woman with silver hair.
A man holding a newborn.
Then fire.
Screaming.
A dark figure.
And a voice.
Run, Isolda.
Run until the king finds you.
She gasped.
Cedric caught her.
“What happened?”
She looked at him.
“I remembered my father.”
“What did you see?”
“He knew he was going to die.”
“Did he say anything?”
Isolda nodded.
“He said…”
She closed her eyes.
“He said, ‘The king will find you.’”
Cedric stared ahead.
“Your father knew about me?”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“He said the king.”
A horn sounded in the distance.
They had reached the old mines.
Smoke rose from beneath the mountain.
Gideon pulled his sword.
“That's not a fortress.”
Cedric looked at the entrance.
“It's a battlefield.”
Because hundreds of soldiers were waiting.
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And beside them stood a man wearing a silver crown.
The crown of Valoria.
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