Chapter 22 My fingers brush over cracked spines until they stop on one bound in faded blue leather . When I pull it out , dust swirls in the air , making me sneeze . " The Lost Packs of the Northern Realms , " I read aloud . The cover bears a strange symbol wrapped around a flowering vine . " Careful with that one , dearie . " The voice makes us both jump . - a crescent moon An elderly woman with silver - streaked hair pulled into a severe bun peers at us from behind wire - rimmed glasses. " Those histories are delicate . And dangerous , some might say . " " I'm sorry , I didn't mean to- " I start to put the book back , but she steps closer , her eyes fixed on my face . " Moon - blessed eyes , " she whispers , so quietly I almost miss it . Then louder : " No , no , you keep looking , child . Sometimes the past calls to those who need to hear it . " Before I can ask what she means , she hurries away , her footsteps oddly silent on the stone floor . " Well , that was weird , " Iris declares . " Even for Ms. Winters . She's usually just grumpy , not cryptic . " I open the book carefully , something pulling me toward the middle pages . A detailed illustration shows a pack gathering , wolves with unusual markings tending to injured packmates . Their fur seems to glow with an inner light . " The Mooncaster Pack , " I read , " known for their extraordinary healing abilities and connection to lunar magic , vanished without trace in the year- " " There you are . " Alaric's deep voice breaks through my concentration . I snap the book shut , my heart racing as I look up to find him watching us with an unreadable expression . " The council meeting is about to start , Iris . " " Right ! " His sister bounces up . " Sorry , got distracted . Sage , why don't you keep exploring ? I'll find you after . " I expect Alaric to follow her , but he lingers , his eyes falling to the book in my hands . " Finding anything interesting ? " " I ... yes . The histories are fascinating . " I clutch the book closer , not sure why it feels so important . He steps nearer , and my breath catches as he reaches past me to brush dust from the spine . His scent surrounds me - crisp winter wind and something uniquely him . " The old stories say some packs were blessed by the Moon Goddess herself , " he murmurs . " That she gave them gifts to protect and heal others . " " Do you believe that ? " I ask , looking up at him . His face is so close , I can see flecks of silver in his steel - gray eyes . Something shifts in his expression . "I believe the Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways . " His fingers brush mine where they rest on the book , and electricity shoots up my arm . " And that sometimes her greatest gifts come in unexpected forms . " The moment stretches between us , heavy with things unsaid . Then voices in the hallway break the spell , and he steps back , his Alpha mask sliding back into place . " Council meeting , " he says gruffly . " Stay out of trouble , sweetling . " I watch him go , my heart pounding . Through the library's tall windows , I hear raised voices discussing border patrols and mutant wolf attacks . Mentions of wounds that won't heal properly , of something dark spreading through the territories . Chapter 22 +25 BONUS My hands shake as I return to my room later , the morning's events swirling in my mind . As I change for bed , my fingers catch on the small pendant I've worn for as long as I can remember - a simple silver crescent moon with a tiny flower etched into its curve . In the mirror , my violet eyes seem to glow in the gathering dusk . - a woman with the same eyes , For just a moment , I see another face superimposed over mine in the glass singing about moonlight and healing while mixing herbs in a moonlit garden . The vision fades as quickly as it came , leaving me with that hollow feeling again . Sleep , when it finally comes , is filled with dreams of glowing wolves and the sound of a woman's voice singing about the moon's blessed children and the gifts they carry in their blood . I have to stop reading books filled with old wives ' tales before bed . Cara Anderson author