"You said you found that shard on the training grounds?" Alpha Bryce asked, walking toward the door.

I guess we're starting now.

"The one from last night? Yes. The one today was in the gardens," I said as we made our way toward the gardens.

"How did you know they were there?"

"The one from last night was just glowing in the grass. The one from today, I felt the first shard get hot and then when Aiden and I looked around it was glowing under that stone bench." I pointed out the bench we sat on.

Alpha Bryce examined the bench and the grass underneath. "Well, it's not charred or anything. I don't see anything visually out of place. It looks like normal ground. I wonder what the radius is of you being able to sense them."

"I was maybe ten to twenty feet away from the one last night and literally sitting on top of the one today. So at least ten to twenty feet? When we come across another we can experiment with it before adding it to the piece we already have."

"That sounds like a really good plan," Alpha Bryce agreed. He stood up from his crouched position and dusted off his hands. "Let's head to the training grounds and see if there's any trace of another shard. If they're appearing in these places, there's a chance they might be following a pattern or a specific area of focus."

As we walked towards the training grounds, my thoughts raced. I glanced over at Alpha Bryce. His expression was intense, a mix of curiosity and determination.

"I'll keep an eye out for any changes in temperature or glowing," I said, trying to stay focused. "If you notice anything unusual, let me know."

"Will do," Alpha Bryce replied. "I wonder why the moonstone just shattered rather than being completely destroyed."

"What?" I asked.

"The moonstone, what was the point in shattering and not just destroying itself? And why can it be put back together again? How many times has it shattered and been reformed?" he asked, not really sounding like he was talking to me and was asking questions out loud.

Really good questions.

"I never thought of that. Has this happened before? I'll bet Harry could figure it out."

"Hopefully he does find something before we have to ask him to look it up," Alpha Bryce agreed.

When we reached the training grounds, I began to walk in widening circles, scanning the area with heightened senses. The ground was a mix of dirt and grass, with the occasional training equipment scattered about.

Alpha Bryce walked alongside me, occasionally inspecting the area with a practiced eye. "Do you think there's a connection between the moonstone breaking and the prophecy? What if no matter what happened yesterday, the moonstone was just destined to shatter?"

"It's possible," I said, pausing to examine a particularly dense patch of grass.

Alpha Bryce nodded thoughtfully. As we continued our search, I noticed something peculiar: a faint, shimmering light emanating from a small crack in the ground.

I called Alpha Bryce over. "Look at this. It's not glowing as bright as the other shards, but there's definitely something here."

Alpha Bryce knelt down beside the crack and carefully examined it. "This could be a sign. Let's see if we can clear it out and get a closer look."

He grabbed a nearby stick and dug into the earth until the glow was bright. He pulled it out and examined the very small piece. While he did that I grabbed the piece that was in my pocket, it glowed and was getting hotter.

"Look. They're both glowing," I said softly.

"Fascinating. Okay, so let's do an experiment now. Back up until they stop glowing," he instructed.

I took a few steps back, but they both still emanated the light.

"Keep going," he said again.

I kept stepping backwards until they stopped. I had to be at least twenty five feet away from the other shard when they stopped.

"Okay, come back." Alpha Bryce motioned to me. "Let me hold it."

I handed the piece over and like the Aiden it stopped glowing. "Fascinating!"

He handed me both pieces and they immediately began to glow and raise in the air before the bigger piece absorbed the small shard. Alpha Bryce's eyes grew as wide as saucers as the glow subsided and the moonstone shard rested in my hand.

"I have never seen anything like that before. That is the most insane thing. There is something about you that ties you to this piece. But what is it? Why?"

I stared at the moonstone shard in my hand, its surface now jagged and rough, but still shimmering with an otherworldly light. The heat from the shard had settled, but the strange energy radiating from it was unmistakable.

"I don't know what's going on," I said, feeling confused.

Alpha Bryce nodded. "It's clear that this shard reacts to you in a way it doesn't to anyone else. We need to understand this connection better."

I glanced around the training grounds, feeling like the world was just sitting on my shoulders.

"This could be a good thing," Alpha Bryce said, trying to reassure me.

I nodded, trying my best to not start crying. "Let's keep looking."

We didn't go far for the rest of the day, just looking around the perimeter of the packhouse and down the road a bit not going too far.

"We should head back now," Alpha Bryce said. "I'll plot out a more detailed search tomorrow and find when King Aiden can get time to go with us to the Night Fall Runners territory. I want to really start a deep search there since I'm familiar with the area."

"Okay. That sounds good," I agreed.

We made our way back to the packhouse, the shard safely tucked away. As we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching us from somewhere. My heart raced and I quickened my pace.

When we reached the house, Harry was already waiting for us in his study, surrounded by piles of books and papers. He looked up as we entered, his eyes narrowing in curiosity.

"Did you find another shard?" Harry asked, his tone both eager and cautious.

"Actually, we did," Alpha Bryce said, holding up the larger shard. "The shards really do just fuse together. I've never seen anything quite like that."

Harry's eyes widened as he examined the shard. "That's crazy. What did it feel like when you held it?"

"It didn't do anything when I was holding it. Only when Queen Elara had hold of it. It glowed and rose in the air before almost melting back together."

"It didn't do that for you, but it did for Elara?" Harry asked, looking at me inquisitively.

"Yes."

"Okay, Elara, what was it like?"

"It feels hot, but not burning my skin. Just...hot."

"I wish I could see that."

"Come with us next time?" I suggested.

"Maybe," Harry said.

I sat down as Aiden arrived with Alpha Graham.

"You're back, my love."

I smiled up at him.

"Alpha?" Carlisle asked, apprehensively entering the room.

The other Alpha's glanced around before looking at Aiden.

"Yes, Carlisle?" Aiden asked.

"Is everything okay?"

Aiden sighed heavily before sitting next to me. "Yes and no. We need to talk. I suppose it's time that I brought you and Saunders in on what's happening."

Carlisle stared at his Alpha for a long time. "Why didn't you come to us before with whatever is happening?"

"I didn't exactly know what was happening. I'm still not one hundred percent sure I understand everything, but we're going to talk. After dinner. Let Saunders know," Aiden told him.

Carlisle nodded his head and retreated from the room.

"Alpha Graham and I are going to head back to our packs for a few days," Alpha Bryce said, breaking the silence. "We have been neglectful this week. We're also planning on making pack announcements about the shift in leadership."

"That's a good idea," Dad said, entering the room. "I'm trying to figure out how to tell Alpha Conrad. He's not going to take this well."

"Conrad is a sniveling coward," Alpha Graham growled. "No offense to you, Beta."

Dad took a deep breath. "No offense taken, Alpha. My Alpha is a difficult man to deal with, I just didn't realize how difficult until now. My wife and I are returning home tonight. We've already been gone for a day longer than we told him we would be gone. He's going to want answers."

"Do you want us to go with you, Dad?" I asked.

"No, Elara. You stay here. With your mate and your pack. I mean...Queen Elara?"

I smiled at my Dad. "You don't have to call me that, Dad."

He kissed the top of my head before bidding us all goodbye. "Harry, make sure you let us know when you're coming back and the plans for your own ceremony."

"I will. Ciara and her mom are planning all of that. I'm just showing up and doing what I have to do. I'm not a planner." Harry laughed.

"Your majesty, Queen Elara and I were talking while we were doing the search this afternoon, would you have time, say tomorrow, to go to the Night Fall territory? We would like to start searching there but I would need a few days to look around." Alpha Bryce turned to Aiden.

"I could rearrange a few things so Saunders and Carlisle manage the pack duties during that time."

"Is it alright if I stay here?" Harry asked. "I could keep reading and be handy if Ciara does need me."

"Of course. You need to focus on your mate and your ceremony. Even if you want to take a few days to relax and get the details, you can."

"No, no. I definitely want to keep researching. I'll go crazy with ceremony plans. I'm really, really bad at that stuff."

"He really is," I added. "He was responsible for arranging our parents' anniversary party last year. It was a disaster."

"I wouldn't say disaster," Harry said defensively.

"No? Then why did the pig show up in a dress rather than as a slab of meat to be roasted?"

"That...was a complete misunderstanding," Harry replied.

"A dress?" Aiden looked at us.

"Yes. A pink, fluffy dress. With a crown I might add. She was a pretty pig and still lives at the house. Dad loves that thing." I shook my head.

"Wait, your dad has a pet pig?" Aiden asked again.

"Yep. Thanks to Harry and his incredible party planning."

Aiden and Alpha Bryce burst into laughter. I couldn't help it, I did too, just remembering everyone's shocked faces when dinner showed up the way it did.

Harry shook his head, before he started to laugh too. "Yeah, I'm staying out of it."

As we turned back to our plans, the dinner bell started to ring.

"It's that late already?" I asked.

"I guess so," Aiden responded.

We all made our way to the dining hall, which was unusually quiet. Carlisle and Saunders sat by one another while Laura and Becky were missing from dinner. I looked around the room and noticed that most everyone who was not security or a guard were missing.

"What's going on?" Aiden noticed the same thing I did. "Where is everyone?"

"Alpha, we thought having a smaller supper this evening would be a good opportunity for us to find out what is going on in our pack."

Aiden sat in his seat, followed by myself and the other Alpha's.

"Sit," he commanded the rest.

"I am no longer Alpha," he announced.