Lynam stopped at the base of an ancient tree, his grip on her hand firm. "Xanthe, there's something you need to see."
He knelt and pressed his hand against the tree's trunk. A soft glow spread from his palm, and the ground beneath them trembled. Xanthe gasped as a hidden passageway opened, revealing a spiral staircase that descended into darkness.
"What is this?" she whispered.
Lynam's eyes met hers, a mixture of fear and determination in his gaze. "The truth. But once you see it, there's no turning back."
Before she could process his words, a distant howl echoed through the forest, followed by the unmistakable sound of claws tearing through wood. The passageway began to close, but Lynam pulled her inside just in time.
"Who else knows about this?" Xanthe asked, her voice shaking as they descended into the unknown.
"Only the people I trust," he replied.
Her heart sank. And I wasn't one of them until now.
As they reached the bottom of the staircase, the air grew colder, and the faint glow of magic illuminated the cavern ahead. Xanthe's eyes widened as she took in the sight before her—a room filled with ancient relics, glowing runes, and a massive stone throne.
"This is who I am," Lynam said quietly. "This is who we are."
Xanthe's breath hitched as she scanned the room. The intricate runes glowed faintly, pulsating with a power she could feel in her bones. The throne, massive and imposing, stood as the centerpiece, carved from what seemed to be both stone and bone, its surface etched with symbols she couldn't decipher.
"What… what is this place?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lynam stepped forward, his back to her as he gazed at the throne. "This is my inheritance. My truth." He turned to face her, his expression somber. "I didn't choose this, Xanthe. But it's who I am."
She took a hesitant step forward, her eyes narrowing. "You've been hiding this from me. All this time, you've known I was part of a pack, part of something bigger. But you… you had your own secrets."
"I wanted to protect you," he said, his voice firm but tinged with regret. "From this world, from the dangers that come with knowing."
"Protect me?" she repeated, her tone sharp. "I've been fighting for my life, my pack, my marriage, and you thought keeping secrets was the way to protect me?"
Lynam exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. "You don't understand. If Alex or Michelle found out about this, they wouldn't just ruin us—they'd destroy everything. They'd tear through your pack, this throne, and everything it represents. I couldn't risk that."
Her fists clenched at her sides. "But you risked us."
Silence hung heavy between them, the only sound the faint hum of magic from the runes.
Finally, Xanthe broke the tension. "What is this throne? Why does it feel… alive?"
Lynam hesitated, then gestured for her to sit. "You need to see for yourself."