Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 63: The Blackwood Legacy

ARIA POV

The dirty book fell from the top shelf, hitting me on the head before thumping to the floor. I rubbed my head, muttering under my breath. Three days of looking through the pack’s oldest records, and all I had was a headache and dust in my hair.

Jaxon was still healing from Elder Malin’s attack. While Lucien and Kael hunted for the traitors with the Broken Moon marks, I had chosen to search for answers about my own family. If my father was directing the First Wolf, maybe understanding my bloodline would help me find a way to stop him.

I picked up the fallen book, ready to toss it aside when gold writing caught my eye: "Bloodlines of the Ancient Packs." My heart skipped. This could be it!

Flipping through the pages, I found what I was looking for – Blackwood. My father’s family name.

"The Blackwoods," I read aloud, "descended from the third son of the First Alpha, carried the gift of spirit walking. " Spirit walking? I’d never heard of such a thing. Reading further, my mouth went dry.

"Those of pure Blackwood blood can separate their spirits from their bodies during the full moon, allowing them to see distant places or even enter the minds of others temporarily."

I thought of the strange dreams I’d been having – watching events unfold as if I was floating above them. It hadn’t been dreams at all. I’d been ghost walking without even knowing it!

The book slipped from my hands as the library door burst open. Lucien ran in, his face pale.

"Aria, we need you. It’s Jaxon – something’s wrong." ________________________________________

Jaxon thrashed on the bed, held down by Kael and two other dogs. His eyes were open but glowing a strange red – the same red I’d seen in my father’s eyes in my vision.

"He started screaming about voices in his head," Kael explained grimly. "Then his eyes changed color."

"It’s Elder Malin’s knife," I realized. "It must have been poisoned or cursed."

Lucien nodded. "I’ve tried everything. My healing skills aren’t working on whatever this is."

I remembered what I’d just read about the Blackwood gift. If I could spirit walk, maybe I could see what was going inside Jaxon’s mind. But I had no idea how to do it on purpose.

"Everyone out," I ordered suddenly.

"What? No way," Kael countered.

"I need to try something," I urged. "Please trust me."

Reluctantly, they all left except Lucien, who refused to leave his brother. I didn’t have time to fight.

I put my hands on either side of Jaxon’s face and closed my eyes. Focusing on the feeling I’d had in my dreams, I pictured my spirit lifting from my body.

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"It’s not working," I grumbled.

"What are you trying to do?" Lucien asked.

"Spirit walking. It’s a Blackwood gift, allegedly. I need to see inside his mind."

Lucien was quiet for a moment. "The Blood Moon practice. You finished it with all three of us. Our blood mixed with yours..."

"Which means what?" I asked desperately.

"The healing gift is from my mother’s family. But what if we all got something from each other through the ritual? What if you can use my link to Jaxon as a bridge?"

It was worth a try. I reached for Lucien’s hand and put it on top of mine where I touched Jaxon’s face.

The world turned sideways.

Suddenly, I wasn’t in the room anymore. I was floating in darkness with glowing red lines all around me. Following the brightest thread, I found myself in a strange, twisted version of our forest. Jaxon was there, fighting against shadowy forms with Elder Malin watching from a distance.

"Jaxon!" I called.

He turned, surprised. "Aria? How are you here?"

"I’ll explain later. We need to get you out!"

Elder Malin smiled bitterly when he saw me. "The daughter of Blackwood learns her skills. But too late, I think."

He raised his hand, and the shadows swarmed Jaxon.

"This isn’t real!" I shouted. "This is your mind, Jaxon. You control it, not him!"

Understanding flashed across Jaxon’s face. He stopped fighting and stood tall.

"You’re right," he said quietly. "This is my mind." He turned to Elder Malin. "And you’re not welcome here."

The shadows fled as Jaxon’s confidence grew. Elder Malin’s form flickered.

"This isn’t over," the older hissed. "The First Wolf rises. The seven doors will open. Your blood belongs to us now."

Then he was gone, and I felt myself being pulled back to my body.

I gasped, opening my eyes to find Lucien staring at me in surprise and Jaxon sitting up, his eyes returned to their normal color.

"You did it," Lucien whispered.

"We did it," I corrected him, squeezing his hand.

________________________________________

Later that night, while the others slept, I returned to the library. The spirit walking had worked, but Elder Malin’s words worried me. Seven doors. The same number as the Broken Moon rebels. It couldn’t be chance.

I pulled out another old book I’d found earlier – "Moon Lore and Ancient Prophecies." Flipping through it, I found a part on the Blood Moon ritual.

"The Blood Moon opens seven doors between worlds," I read. "Each door requires a key of willing blood from those marked by the broken crescent."

My heart raced. The seven rebels weren’t just spies – they were sacrifices!

I turned the page and froze. There was a drawing of a woman with my exact face, standing beneath a red moon with wolves gathering around her. The text read: "The Last Blackwood Daughter, Bridge Between Worlds."

Below it was a prophecy that made my blood run cold: "When the daughter of both worlds completes the Blood Moon rite, she becomes the key to all seven doors. Her blood, freely given, will seal the doors forever. Her blood, taken by force, will join the worlds into chaos."

They didn’t just want to wake the First Wolf. They wanted to open doors between worlds, and I was somehow the master key.

I slammed the book shut and ran to find the boys, but as I reached the door, it swung open.

Kael stood there, his face grim. "We need to talk."

"I just discovered something terrible—" I began.

"It’s about Lucien," he interrupted. "I found this in his things."

He held out his hand. In his hand lay a small silver charm shaped like a broken moon.

My world collapsed around me. Lucien – my true mate, the one I trusted most – was one of them?

"Where is he now?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Kael’s eyes met mine, filled with pain and hatred that matched My own.

"He’s gone. And he took the book of rites with him."