Sera's POV
Magnus Thorne's cabin sits deep in neutral territory, hidden among ancient pines that have witnessed centuries of pack history. The building itself looks like it grew from the forest rather than being constructed weathered wood and stone that blend seamlessly with the surroundings. Runes are carved into the doorframe, protective wards that make my skin tingle even from a distance.
He'll sense us coming, Asher says as we approach. Magnus has detection spells all over these woods.
Will he attack? I ask, suddenly nervous. Meeting a member of the Council even a sympathetic one feels dangerous.
Not if he recognizes us first, Ryker answers, which is not as reassuring as he probably meant it to be.
The door opens before we knock. An old man stands in the threshold ancient beyond reckoning, with silver hair that falls past his shoulders and eyes that have seen too much. Power radiates from him, but it's different from the threatening aura Elder Thorne (the other one, the enemy) projected. This feels like wisdom, like knowledge accumulated over lifetimes.
Those ancient eyes lock on me, and he gasps.
By the Goddess, he breathes, voice cracking with emotion. It's true. A Celestial Wolf. After three centuries, they return.
He drops to one knee right there in his doorway, head bowed.
Please don't, I say quickly, uncomfortable with the gesture. I'm not... I'm just trying to survive.
You're everything the legends promised, Magnus says, rising with difficulty. His joints creak audibly. Please, come in. All of you.
The cabin's interior surprises me. Books everywhere stacked floor to ceiling, covering every available surface. Scrolls and parchments scattered across tables. Maps pinned to walls showing pack territories from different eras. The smell of old paper and tea and magic fills the air.
Magnus gestures to chairs arranged around a fireplace. Sit. I'll make tea. Or do Celestials still drink tea? The texts never mention
Tea is fine, I interrupt gently. I'm very new to all of this.
Of course. Forgive me. I've waited my entire life for this moment, and now I'm babbling like a fool. He bustles around, preparing tea with shaking hands. When Ryker's message came this morning, I thought it was a joke. Or wishful thinking. But you're really here. A living Celestial. Extraordinary.
Kade, ever practical, cuts through the excitement. She has three days until the Council summons her. We need to prepare her for what's coming.
Magnus's expression sobers instantly. Ah. Yes. The Council. He hands out tea in mismatched cups. They sent you the summons already?
Elder Thorne the other one appeared at Silverclaw territory, Asher explains. Gave Sera three days to present herself voluntarily or face Enforcers.
Morgana Thorne, Magnus says, voice heavy with dislike. My cousin. A brilliant politician and a terrible person. She'll argue for your immediate execution, Sera. She was involved in the original Celestial purges three hundred years ago young then, but zealous in her belief that your kind was too dangerous to exist.
My blood runs cold. She's three hundred years old?
Council members can extend their lives through various means. Morgana has been meticulous about maintaining her position of power. Magnus sips his tea. But knowing your enemy is half the battle. Let's discuss what you're facing.
He sets down his cup and looks at me seriously. The Council will test you. Not just your power they can sense that well enough but your intentions. Your control. Your willingness to submit to their authority.
I won't submit to people who want me dead, I say flatly.
Good, Magnus surprises me by saying. Submission would mark you as weak, as easily controlled. They respect power. But he holds up a gnarled finger, you must demonstrate control. Show them you're not a wild threat, not someone who will accidentally destroy packs in moments of emotion.
How do I do that?
Practice. Training. Learning the old ways. He stands with effort. Come. Let's see what you can do.
We move to a clearing behind the cabin. The three Alphas stand back, giving us space but staying close enough to intervene if needed.
Magnus faces me, ancient eyes assessing. First lesson: shielding. Your power radiates constantly. Every wolf within miles feels it. Wants to submit to it. You must learn to contain it, to control when and how you display your strength.
I think about this. When I returned to Silverclaw territory, my power was like a beacon. Everyone felt it. Couldn't resist it.
How?
Close your eyes. Feel the power inside you don't fight it, just observe it. Where does it sit? How does it move?
I close my eyes and turn my attention inward. The power is everywhere, flowing through every cell, but it concentrates in my chest near where the mate bonds pulse. It moves like liquid fire, constantly churning.
I feel it, I say.
Good. Now imagine pulling it inward. Not suppressing it that won't work. Think of it like... like wrapping yourself in a blanket. The blanket is still visible, but it contains the warmth rather than letting it radiate outward.
I try. The power resists, not wanting to be constrained. I push harder
Gently, Magnus warns. You're fighting yourself. Power responds to intention, not force.
I take a breath. Try again, this time coaxing rather than forcing. Imagining the power pulling inward like a gentle tide. Slowly, carefully, I envision a shield forming around myself transparent but present. Containing without suppressing.
It works.
The oppressive weight in the clearing lifts. Magnus exhales in relief. Through the bonds, I feel the three Alphas relax slightly.
Excellent! Magnus actually claps his hands together. It took you minutes. Most Celestials in the old texts needed days to achieve even basic shielding.
Maybe because I've spent twenty-three years hiding everything I felt, I say without thinking. Turns out that skill transfers.
The words come out bitter. True.
Your experiences, however painful, have prepared you for this, Magnus says gently. Now, can you hold the shield while we talk?
I focus on maintaining it while he explains.
The shield must become second nature. You should be able to hold it while sleeping, fighting, even in moments of extreme emotion. Practice constantly. In a few days, it will feel as natural as breathing.
We spend hours training. Magnus teaches me to sense other wolves their presence, their pack bonds, their emotional states. He shows me how to strengthen pack bonds without breaking them, how to identify the threads of connection that tie wolves to their Alphas.
Never sever a bond without absolute necessity, he warns. Breaking pack bonds is traumatic. Use it as a last resort.
He also teaches me about the darker powers. The ones that frighten me.
You can compel submission, he says carefully. Force any wolf to obey. But this power corrupts if used carelessly. The old Celestials had strict codes about when commanding was permissible only in defense, only to prevent greater harm.
What if I lose control? The fear that's been haunting me since awakening finds voice. What if I hurt someone accidentally?
That's why you have three mates, Magnus says, gesturing to Kade, Ryker, and Asher. They're your anchors. Celestial power is vast but unstable it needs grounding. Traditionally, Celestial Wolves bonded to three Alphas specifically to create balance. Their combined strength can pull you back if your power spirals.
How? Kade asks, interested despite himself.
The mate bonds work both ways. She draws strength from you, yes. But you can also draw her back to herself through those same connections. If her power overwhelms her, anchor her through your bonds. Remind her who she is.
During a break, I practice on Ryker at his insistence.
Use your power on me, he says. Try to force submission. You need to understand what it feels like when it works and when it doesn't.
I can't
You can. And you must. Better to learn control with me than accidentally hurt someone you care about.
Reluctantly, I reach out with my Celestial authority. Touch Ryker's will. Push gently.
The mate bond flares. My power bounces back, completely ineffective.
See? Ryker says. The bond protects me. Now try on Magnus with his permission.
Magnus nods.
I push my power toward him. It works instantly his body tenses, his wolf submitting against his will. I pull back immediately, horrified.
I'm sorry
Don't be, Magnus says, shaking off the effects. That's what we're here for. You need to understand both the power and its limitations.
We continue through the afternoon. Magnus drills me on pack politics, Council procedures, ancient laws that might protect me. He's encyclopedic in his knowledge, passionate in his teaching.
The Council will try to intimidate you, he says during one break. They'll surround you with their power, make you feel small. Don't let them. You are Celestial you outrank them in every way that matters. Stand tall. Meet their eyes. Never apologize for existing.
As sunset approaches, I'm exhausted mentally more than physically. But I've learned so much.
One more thing, Magnus says as we prepare to leave. The prophecy that your stepmother mentioned do you know the full version?
I shake my head.
Magnus pulls out an ancient scroll, handles it with reverent care. This is one of the few surviving texts from before the purges. The actual prophecy reads: 'When betrayed innocence meets blood moon's light, the Silver Eyed Queen shall wake. Bound to three by Goddess's design, she will choose unite the packs in new harmony, or burn them all to righteous ash. Balanced between creation and destruction, her path shapes the future of all wolfkind.'
Silence falls over the clearing.
I get to choose, I breathe, understanding dawning. Unite or destroy. It's not predetermined.
Exactly, Magnus confirms. Victoria only told you half the prophecy the part that served her purposes. The full version gives you agency. Power to decide your own path.
What do you think I should do? I ask him.
Those ancient eyes meet mine. I think you should do whatever your heart tells you is right. But know this the current system is broken. Built on the graves of your people. If you choose destruction, many would argue it's justified. If you choose unity, you'll face opposition from those who profit from the current power structure. Neither path is easy.
No pressure, Asher mutters, earning a ghost of a smile from Magnus.
The Council meeting is in two days now, Kade reminds us. What else does she need to know?
Come back tomorrow, Magnus says. I'll teach you about Council protocols, who your allies might be, and how to navigate their political games. For tonight, rest. Process what you've learned. And remember he looks at me intensely, you're stronger than you know. The prophecy exists because you're capable of extraordinary things. Trust yourself.
We return to the inn as darkness falls. I'm so tired I can barely think straight.
In my room, I collapse on the bed. The three Alphas linger at the doorway.
You did well today, Kade says. Praise from him feels earned, significant.
Magnus is right about the bonds, Ryker adds. We're here to help you. To anchor you. Don't try to carry this alone.
Get some rest, Asher says gently. Tomorrow we continue.
They leave me alone, but through the walls, I feel them. Awake. Alert. Standing guard.
For the first time since awakening, I don't feel like I'm drowning. I have power, yes. But I also have teachers. Allies.
Maybe even friends.
The mate bonds pulse in my chest steady, warm, becoming familiar.
Two days until the Council.
Two days to master enough control to survive.
Two days to decide if I want to unite the broken system or burn it down and build something better.
As I drift toward sleep, Magnus's words echo:
Neither path is easy.
But for the first time in my life, I get to choose my own path.
That has to count for something.