Chapter 4 - The Healer’s Hidden Blood
Rosaline told Kalin everything.
The dream.
The woman's voice.
The feeling of silver.
Kalin listened without interruption.
At sunrise, he ordered records brought from every neighboring pack.
Genealogies.
Birth records.
Medical archives.
Marriage contracts.
Anything concerning Rosaline's family.
Three days passed.
Nothing.
Then Thomas found a sealed document from an abandoned monastery.
He entered Kalin's study pale-faced.
“My king.”
“What?”
“You need to see this.”
The document was old.
Very old.
The seal belonged to the former Royal Council.
Kalin opened it.
His eyes widened.
Rosaline stood beside him.
“What?”
He passed it to her.
She read.
Her mother had not been an ordinary wolf.
She was descended from the Moonblood line.
A rare lineage believed to possess unusually strong healing abilities and an ability to neutralize certain poisons.
Rosaline stared.
“That makes no sense.”
“It explains your gift.”
“It doesn't explain Harrington.”
Thomas pointed to another line.
“Moonblood descendants can activate ancient wolf territories.”
Rosaline frowned.
“So?”
“The old northern kingdom was built around those territories.”
Kalin understood.
“If the Ashen Circle gains her blood, they could use her to access the ancient moonstone mines.”
Rosaline looked sick.
“They don't want me dead.”
“No.”
“They want me alive.”
Kalin nodded.
“That is worse.”
Before they could continue, an explosion shook the castle.
The window shattered.
Kalin dragged Rosaline down.
Thomas shouted.
“Attack from the east gate!”
Kalin's soldiers rushed out.
Rosaline followed despite orders.
Outside, black-cloaked riders attacked.
The Ashen Circle.
Their banners showed the ash wolf.
A tall man rode at the front.
Rosaline recognized him.
Lord Caster.
He was laughing.
“Give us the Moonblood!”
Kalin stepped forward.
“You'll receive nothing.”
Caster raised his sword.
“Then we take her.”
The battle began.
Rosaline helped the wounded.
She moved between soldiers without fear.
Her hands glowed faintly with moonlight as she healed a deep wound.
Kalin saw it.
So did the enemy.
Caster shouted:
“There! The bloodline is awakened!”
Several soldiers turned toward Rosaline.
Kalin's wolf roared.
He tore through the attackers.
By sunset, the Ashen Circle had retreated.
But they had taken something.
Arthur.
The young heir was missing.
Rosaline went cold.
“No.”
Kalin looked at Thomas.
“Find him.”
“We will.”
Kalin took Rosaline by the shoulders.
“This is not your fault.”
“They took him because of me.”
“They took him to lure us.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
He shook her gently.
“They took him because they fear us.”
Rosaline looked up.
“Us?”
Kalin answered without hesitation.
“You and me.”
The mate bond pulsed.
Rosaline's wolf responded.
For the first time, she didn't fight it.
That night, Kalin sat beside her while she planned the rescue.
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
“I am king.”
“And I'm your healer.”
“Exactly.”
“You need me.”
His eyes met hers.
“Yes.”
The admission hit her harder than expected.
“I need you too.”
Silence.
Kalin moved closer.
Rosaline's heartbeat raced.
“I don't know what this is yet.”
“Neither do I.”
“You're the first person to make me feel safe in a long time.”
His voice softened.
“You are safe with me.”
“I believe you.”
He reached for her face.
Stopped.
“May I?”
She nodded.
His fingers brushed her cheek.
The touch was gentle.
Reverent.
He leaned toward her.
Then the alarm sounded.
They pulled apart.
Thomas burst in.
“We found Arthur.”
“Where?”
“The Frostpass.”
Kalin stood.
“We ride at dawn.”
Rosaline rose.
“I'm coming.”
Kalin looked at her.
“I expected you to say that.”
She smiled faintly.
“You're learning.”
May you like
He smiled back.
“Fast.”
