Chapter 108
Third Person POV
Research became Nan and Lionel’s obsession.
“Which text was it that confirmed our fated bond?” Nan asks Lionel.
“An ancient one. Dating back to a few hundred years after the Great Calamity.” He replies.
She whistles. “Yikes. That is old.”
“Considering the Great Calamity was thousands upon thousands of years ago…” Lionel chuckles.
“Do you have a copy of it? I doubt the Archivists would allow you to just personally handle such a delicate artifact.” She remarks.
He shakes his head enthusiastically. “My status as Alpha of Wolfsbane Industries is the only reason my expert was even allowed to view the documents.”
“I do have a copy of the translations.” He admits. He pulls out his phone to show her to photocopy.
Two line in particular stands out to her.
“…They have only emerged in a century or so since the Great Calamity…One that says that the Moon goddess has not abandoned these people. But rather, they may very well be descendants of the Lunara wolves of the lost Moon clan…”
“Moon clan?” Nan says out loud. “I’ve never heard of a Moon clan.”
“I haven’t either.” Lionel admits. “And I’ve learned about every possible clan that existed…some even before the Great Calamity.”
The only thing that surprise her was that Lionel did not know about this Moon clan.
“Lionel,” Nan mummers. “Can you make out what this scratched out line says?”
It’s difficult. The ancient link had seeped in well. Making it harder to the common visual spectrum to see.
Lionel’s alpha eyes are much better than the common visual spectrum. He flashes them. The ink blot is no match for his senses.
“Lunara.” Lionel proclaims. “It reads Lunara.”
‘More questions.’ Nan thinks. ‘All I have is more questions.’
They share a tired look. “Back to the books.” Lionel sighs.
Neither had any ideas of the rabbit hole they were about to fall into.
Their search seemed fruitless at first. Dead ends at every turn. Tantalizing bits of information dangled in front of them only to hit a wall.
Most information before the Great Calamity was lost to time. The only well-known sources of information passed down by its survivors. Survivors that seemingly lied and shrouded the truth in mystery.
The picture only became clear as Lionel and Nan painstakingly stitched each piece of information together.
Here is the sum of what they knew:
Wolf-less only popped up after the Great Calamity. There were no records or mentions of them before. That is a fact.
The Moon clan was a special clan. One well-known and revered in the ancient world. Yet nobody alive today knows about it.
The Great Calamity was the accumulation of war and greed.
There are no known survivors of the Moon clan.
The word Lunara has been erased from history.
The Lunara wolves were known for their special abilities and powers. The nature of the powers still unknown. It was as though it was not written down because it was not necessary too.
Everyone in the ancient world knew what and who the Lunara wolves were.
It’s all frustratingly vague. The combined resources of Lionel’s wealth and influence to piece together this meager information. Nan felt like tearing her hair out.
“There has to be more.” Lionel growls. “In a thousand years, surely someone knew something about this.”
“If they did, it’s been hidden pretty well.” Nan grunts.
“It’s like everyone collectively agreed to never mention the Lunara wolves once the war was over.” She continued.
“Maybe none survived.” Lionel theorizes.
Nan can only shake her head. “I don’t believe that. I really do think that there is a connection between the Lunara wolves, the Moon clan, and the wolf-less.”
Lionel rubs his face tiredly. “It does not help that most of the history was passed from word-to-mouth.”
“Really?” Nan says. Something in the back of her mind taking attention at that.
He misunderstands. “You know…father-to-son. Mother-to-daughter.”
Nan sucks in a sharp breath. “Mother to daughter…” She whispers with unseeing eyes.
“…It has been passed down in our family for countless generations. From mother to daughter...”
“Nan?” Lionel asks her in concern. “What’s wrong?”
“I just remembered something my mother once told me. About the necklace.” Nan says breathlessly.
“She said it came from a special back. In a time before the Great Calamity. That all common knowledge of it had been destroyed…that the necklace was one of its last remnants.”
‘How did I not put this together sooner?’ Nan thought. The words uttered out loud putting it all into perspective for her.
“Oh.” Realization blooms within Lionel’s face. Then a heart-pounding grin stretches across his pink mouth.
“I think I have an idea. Do you remember the collector I reached out too and secured your necklace from? I think he might be our lead.”
It was the first time in days that Nan felt optimistic. “Let’s meet him.”
They should have known better.
Lionel had secured the meeting with the collector.
Nan decided to wear her mother’s necklace. Her suspicion about the connection between Lunara wolves and her confirmed once she realized that the soft metal felt cool against the heat of her chest. They were on the right track.
Someone else must have thought so too. It was not the collector that greeted them. It was an unfriendly stranger.
“I suggest you stop your search. I can assure you…you will not find the answers you seek.” The stranger said in lieu of introduction.
Lionel moved in front of Nan protectively. His wolf aggravated at the possible threat this stranger posed. His alpha eyes flashing and teeth bared warningly.
“Who are you?” He snarls.
“I am no one you should concern yourself with. Unless you should continue down the path you are barreling towards.”
‘That’s not ominous at all,’ Nan thought sarcastically. Irritated at the posturing of the two males.
She placed a hand on Lionel arms. Lightly tugging on it. He did not budge.
She groaned and then jostled her way to his side. His growling told her Lionel was unhappy at her actions but she ignored that. She had come to close for answers to be intimidated now.
Nan did not speak. She did something much better. She lifted her necklace for the stranger’s eyes to behold.
The stranger’s expression relaxed. His body language lost its coiled edge of danger. Nan knew she had made the right choice.
“I see you’ve begun working out your heritage.” He says gently to Nan. Like one would too a distressed pup.
There was a familiar cadence to it that clogged Nan’s throat with emotion.
“Can you tell me anything? I don’t know what I am looking for. I just want answers.”
The stranger’s dark eyes are kind now. “You must have noticed some stranger happenings lately. Sensations and powers you don’t understand.”
Lionel did not like the desperate look on Nan’s face. This man was dangling hope in front of her face. Why couldn’t he speak plainly?
“Yes. Why? Why now?”
“It’s what happens when women of your bloodline meet their fated mates. Particularly those of the Inferno clan.” He replies calmly.
‘Just who were my birth parents?’ Nan ponders uneasily. ‘It’s serious enough that this stranger is not being straight with me.’
It’s almost as though the stranger reads her thoughts.
“I cannot give you all of the answers you seek. It is not my place. I can, however, offer you a gift.”
“A gift?” Lionel repeats, unimpressed.
“In this book is the key to complete your mate bond.”
Nan’s heartbeat quickens. “Why would you help me?”
“My family has served those of your lineage for centuries.” He answers unhelpfully. “Is this not your original goal?”
It was.
Nan grabbed the book.
“I would suggest section 9. It would be your best bet. If you have any questions…you need only reach out.”
The stranger hands Lionel his business card. Correctly guessing the agitated Alpha will not allow him any closer. Then he is gone.
That had been days ago.
Lionel and Nan had scoured the book for answers. The best way to complete their bond was through a series of trials. Meant to deepen the connection on both ends.
Nan was incredibly doubtful about it. Deeply untrusting of the source. The entire thing seeming seedy and secretive.
Lionel on the other hand…
“I don’t see another way, Nan. Please…for us.” He pleaded. “I just want to be with you.”
Nan bite her lip. Her doubts still raging within. Then she sighed.
“Okay…let’s do the trials.”
