"What did you find?" Aiden asked, his eyes searching ours with intense curiosity as he ushered us into the familiar warmth of the house.

"I think the prophecy is real," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, filled with both excitement and trepidation.

We made our way to Aiden's office, where Harry and I placed the ancient books on the sturdy oak table. With trembling hands, we carefully opened the leather-bound books to the pages that held centuries-old secrets, revealing detailed maps and ancient texts describing the origins of our packs.

I sat down and took a deep breath looking at everything again, hardly believing that this was real.

"Look at this," Harry said, his finger tracing the meticulously drawn map in one of the ancient books. "This map outlines the original boundaries of the lycan kingdom. King Fenrir, our first and last monarch, had six sons. Five of them received territories that eventually became our packs."

Alpha Bryce leaned forward, his brow furrowed with curiosity. "What about the sixth son?"

Harry nodded solemnly. "He was banished from the entire kingdom. King Fenrir deemed him unworthy due to his cruel and reckless nature, cutting him off from any claim to the throne or land."

I chimed in, my voice brimming with excitement. "And here," I continued, turning to another page, "are the star maps. They align perfectly with the boundaries of the original kingdom, suggesting that the constellations guided these ancient locations. It's as if the stars themselves marked these key points."

Aiden's eyes gleamed with awe as he studied the illustrations. "This discovery is remarkable," he murmured. "If these maps and constellations are accurate, they could lead us to more artifacts and possibly unveil the heart of the prophecy."

Alpha Xavier, his expression thoughtful, posed a crucial question. "Have you figured out how the old kingdom corresponds to our current territories?"

"We have some theories," Harry replied cautiously. "But we're still in the process of confirming everything."

I continued, pointing out specific passages from the ancient texts. "In this account," I explained, tracing my finger over the faded script, "it describes how the territories were governed. Valen ruled Silver Moon with wisdom and fairness, fostering a haven of learning and justice. Caelum, known for his courage, governed Dark Moon Howlers, a land of resilience and strength. Orion, characterized by kindness, led the Crimson Moon Tribe, a place of healing and peace by serene lakes. Thane, humble and hardworking, oversaw Night Fall Runners, ensuring prosperity in dense woodlands. Aelric, known for his thoughtfulness, governed Moon Shadow, bringing wealth and stability through foresight and planning."

"Valen," Aiden said softly.

"Huh?" Alpha Bryce asked.

"My grandfather used to tell me stories about the first Alpha of our pack, Alpha Valen. We are direct descendants of his. The Alpha position has been passed down through our family from one generation to the next," Aiden explained.

"Really?" Alpha Graham interjected. "That's interesting."

"Why is that significant?" Aiden questioned.

"I don't think any of the other Alphas in our history are direct descendants," I added, curious about the implications.

Alpha Xavier nodded thoughtfully. "I inherited the pack from our previous Alpha, who passed away without heirs. I was his Beta before succeeding him."

"My great-great-great-grandfather challenged his Alpha for leadership and emerged victorious," Alpha Bryce shared, adding to the familial lineage of leadership.

"My family has held the Alpha position for many generations. However, there was an attack on our pack centuries ago that wiped out the Alpha, Beta, and their families. It was then that my ancestor assumed the role of Alpha," Alpha Graham recounted.

"That could be important?" I asked, more than told everyone.

"Are there any descendents left besides Aiden?" Alpha Xavier questioned.

All of us shrugged our shoulders.

"Okay. Let's move on for now," Harry added, his voice filled with urgency, "And these star maps, Aiden—they're not just celestial patterns. They align with the territories marked here on the map. If we can understand how they interconnect, we might unlock the secrets of our origins and the prophecy itself."

By this time we were all sitting down.

The doors to the office opened and Marshall walked in. "Sir, Laura is here for Elara."

"Huh?" I spun around.

"Your final dress fitting for Friday, ma'am."

"Oh my Goddess."

Aiden smiled up at me. "Go."

"Go? Now? There is no way we can still have our ceremony!" I exclaimed.

"There is nothing on this Earth that is going to stop our ceremony. We have three days to figure this all out and find that moonstone."

"Aiden..."

"Elara, go. Dress fitting."

I closed my eyes and sighed heavily. He stood and walked to me, kissing my cheek.

"Do this for me, my love. I doubt we're going to get very far here."

"With Mr. Research Investigator over there? You'll probably have the whole thing solved before I even leave the grounds."

Aiden chuckled as he led me from the room. "I promise if there are any breaking finds I will call for you."

"Promise."

"I swear to Goddess my first move is calling you."

"Fine. I'll go. I'm not happy about it though."

"Not happy about what?" Laura asked, walking up to me.

"Leaving Aiden."

"Awe. You guys are so cute!" she said happily. "But your dress needs final alterations done if you want it for Friday."

"Yes. Yes. Let's go."

"Do you want me to take you, ma'am?" Marshall asked, following close behind.

"No. You stay here. I think Laura and I will be alright."

Marshall nodded, looking back at Aiden for confirmation, who nodded back with a reassuring smile. "I need a snack anyway," Marshall mused, heading towards the kitchen.

Laura and I hurried down the front steps of the house toward her waiting car.

"So, how are you feeling about Friday?" Laura asked, her voice filled with excitement as we entered the bustling workshop.

I sat beside her as she zoomed toward town. Staring out the window, my mind reeled with the fact that everyone else was just going about their lives normally.

"I'm nervous, but also excited," I replied honestly, a mix of emotions swirling within me.

Laura pulled into a spot right in front her shop and walked to her front door. The little bell dinged as we walked in. Ciara sat behind the counter, reading a magazine. She looked up and rolled her eyes.

"Done with my mate yet?"

"My brother is with Aiden and the other Alpha's."

"That's Alpha Aiden," she said snarkily.

"Don't start, Ciara. You'll go home."

"Mom. You're supposed to be working on my dress!"

"I am, but Elara's ceremony is on Friday. I'm not going to be responsible for the Alpha and Luna's ceremony not being perfect."

"Laura, you could throw me in something off the rack and it would be amazing because your gowns are gorgeous, " I reassured her.

"You're sweet, but no. No, Luna of mine will be in anything but the best. Let's get you into that gown and see how everything looks."

I took a deep breath, slightly grateful for the distraction from everything that was going on and that made me feel ridiculously guilty. The gown, already stunning in its craftsmanship, seemed to come alive as Laura made the final adjustments, ensuring it fit me perfectly for the upcoming ceremony.

"It's exquisite," Laura remarked, admiring the intricate details and shimmering emerald fabric. "You're going to look absolutely radiant."

"Thank you," I said sincerely, feeling a surge of anticipation for the celebration that would mark a new chapter in my life.

As she continued her work with meticulous care, adjusting the hem and ensuring every detail was just right, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the normalcy of this moment.

"I can't wait for everyone to see you in this," Laura said with a smile, breaking the peaceful silence of concentration in the room.

"Me neither," I replied softly, imagining the moment when Aiden would see me walking towards him, ready to embark on our shared future.

I savored the simple pleasure of being present in this moment. Here, amidst the hustle and bustle of final preparations, I found a brief respite from the weight of everything.

As Laura put the finishing touches on the gown, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen—it was Aiden. Excusing myself, I stepped aside to take the call.

"Aiden? What is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the urgency I sensed in his tone.

"Elara, you need to come back," Aiden's voice was tight with concern. "I think we found something."

My heart skipped a beat. "What? Are you serious? I'm on my way. I'll have Laura bring me right back."

"Marshall should be pulling up in a second."

"I'm on my way then," I said quickly, my mind racing.

Turning to Laura, I smiled at her. "So, I have to go."

"What? Now? Why? We're almost done!"

"Can you finish without me? Aiden needs me back at the house urgently."

Ciara scoffed behind me.

Laura nodded understandingly, her expression filled with concern. "Yeah. Of course! Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Everythings fine. Just something came up."

I thanked her hurriedly, my thoughts consumed what they could have possibly found. I changed as quickly as I could and ran out the front door as Marshall pulled up.

"I should have just driven you," he said deadpanned.

"Yeah, yeah. What did they find?"

"I dunno. Alpha doesn't tell me details, just what to do and I'm to take you back immediately."

"Okay. Get me back immediately."

As Marshall navigated the familiar roads back to the estate, I tried to calm my racing thoughts, focusing instead on the steady rhythm of the car.

The estate loomed into view sooner than expected, and I practically leaped out of the car before it came to a full stop. Rushing through the front doors, I found Aiden waiting for me in the foyer, his expression a mix of excitement and concern.

If all of this urgency keeps up I'm going to end up having a heart attack or something.

"Elara," he greeted me, his eyes searching mine for reassurance. "You're here. We found something incredible."

My heart pounded with anticipation. "What is it?"

Aiden took my hand and led me through the house, back to his office where everyone had gathered around the oak table. The ancient books lay open once more, pages illuminated by the warm glow of the room's lamps.

"We were examining the star maps further," Harry began, his voice filled with awe. "And we discovered another layer to the constellations."

Alpha Xavier nodded gravely. "These constellations, they're not just markers for the ancient territories. They seem to point to a specific location—a hidden grove mentioned in the prophecy."

My breath caught in my throat. "You mean... the Moonstone?"

Harry nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Exactly. We believe the ancient texts are guiding us to this grove. And it's not just a legend—it's real. The Moonstone might actually exist."

Alpha Bryce leaned forward, his voice low with urgency. "If we can find this grove, if we can locate the Moonstone, it could change everything for our packs. It could stop this evil."

Aiden squeezed my hand gently, his gaze locked on mine. "Elara, this could be the key to unlocking our past, our future—everything."

As we huddled around the table, making plans and deciphering the next steps, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the brink of something extraordinary. But whether it would lead to triumph or peril remained to be seen.

A sudden thought struck me, a nagging question that had been lingering in the back of my mind, refusing to be ignored.

"Alpha Graham," I began softly, "you mentioned your pack was attacked. But I don't recall any record of the Dark Moon Howlers attacking. Have any of the other packs ever launched an attack?"

I glanced around at the gathered Alphas, all of them shaking their heads in unison.

"If none of the other packs attacked, then who did?" I pressed further, my gaze searching their faces for answers.

Silence fell over the room, everyone exchanging uncertain glances.

"The sixth son," Aiden murmured quietly.

"Is there a sixth pack? A rogue pack?" I asked, the implications sinking in.

"Oh my Goddess, why didn't we consider this before? How has this never come up?" Alpha Graham's voice betrayed a hint of disbelief.

"We simply didn't know," Alpha Bryce replied, his expression thoughtful.

"What do we do with this information?" Aiden interjected, his tone grave.

"There's no certainty that a sixth pack even exists," Alpha Xavier added cautiously.

"No, there isn't," I agreed.

"Let's proceed with caution," Aiden said."Continue as is. The ceremony. Deciphering all of this information and finding the moonstone"

As we gathered our belongings and prepared to leave, a chill ran down my spine.