Alec’s

I sit at the breakfast table, my mind completely lost in thought.

The dream-no, the memory-I just had doesn't make any sense to me.

There's so much to unpack. So many unanswered questions.

Ever since I started getting Nyx's memories, I always assumed their mother was a Luna. I thought maybe their father had been an Alpha who died, leaving their mom to lead the pack. But now... I'm not so sure about that theory anymore.

A Queen.

A Kingdom.

None of that rings a bell. There's no record in werewolf history of monarchs, ever. So where do Nyx and Xena really come from?

They mentioned mates, but that's the only link I can connect them to the werewolf species. Crowns, thrones-none of it makes any sense.

The only monarchy I know of is in the human world. And we can all agree that Nyx is anything but human.

I chew absently, barely tasting the food as I try to work things out. To put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Even if Nyx came from some ancient, pre-civilization era, there has never been a time in our history where a monarchy ruled over werewolves. From what we were taught in school, it's always been Alphas and the Council. Never a single ruler. Never a Queen.

So again, I ask: Where is Nyx from?

It's all so confusing. There is mention of mates, yet no mention of wolves or shifting. There is mention of a queen, yet we have never been ruled by a monarch.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

The sudden question startles me, and I drop my fork with a clatter.

I look up to find Raven watching me curiously.

"I got another memory," I say with a sigh. "And it just confused me even more than

I already was."

She takes the seat next to me, and it's only then I notice she's carrying her breakfast too.noveldrama

"Tell me what it was about," she says gently, cutting into her eggs.

I tell her everything, careful not to leave out a single detail. When I'm done, I slump back in my chair, exhausted by the sheer weight of it all.

"That's what I've been trying to figure out," I mutter, frustrated. "Where is she from? Because I've never heard of any monarch leading werewolves. A Queen, of all things? It's far-fetched."

Like I said, most werewolves, especially the Elders, are masochists.

They can barely stomach a woman giving them orders, let alone one ruling over them. Most Alphas, not all though, still believe a mate's job is to look pretty and give them strong pups. Not rule.

"I can look into it," Raven offers, her voice distracted, thoughtful. "But I've never heard of anything like that either. We both know only humans and witches have female leaders. So, I'm not getting my hopes up."

There's so much mystery surrounding Nyx; it feels like it's going to drive me insane.

"And have you talked to her?" Raven asks.

"No," I admit. "I can't feel her. She's probably blocked me and locked herself away."

I tried reaching out the moment I woke up. But she didn't answer.

Just crickets. So, I was left alone to drown in all these questions.

"We really need to figure out where she came from," Raven says, tapping her fingers on the table. "Maybe then we'll understand her better Maybe we'll understand the source of her powers. Like... was it a kingdom that existed long ago? Did something happen-some kind of war or massacre-and they were wiped out, leaving just Nyx, Xena, and their mom? Did everyone in the kingdom have powers?"

Goddess. So many questions. And not a single answer.

When is everything ever going to make sense?

"I can't answer all of that," I tell her grumpily, "but there is one thing that really doesn't add up."

"Okay," she says, turning toward me. "What is it?"

"Nyx was supposed to be the next Queen, right? But she was planning to

abdicate. She wanted Xena to rule instead. So... what went sour between them?"

Raven frowns, her gaze distant as she considers my question.

"We thought this was about power," I continue. "Apart from Kaden, we thought all of this was a fight for

control. But from what I saw

didn't care about that kind of power. She just wanted peace. A quiet life with her mate and future kids. She never wanted to rule their kingdom."

"Go on," Raven urges when I pause.

"I would understand if Xena turned on Nyx because they both wanted the throne.

If they were rivals, it would make sense. But they weren't. Nyx gave her the

crown. Willingly. So, what happened?"

I could feel Nyx's love for her twin. It was real. Strong. Fierce.

So what could have gone so wrong?

"Maybe Nyx changed her mind later," Raven suggests, though her tone isn't fully

convinced. "Maybe that caused some friction?"

I shake my head. "Do you really think Nyx is the kind of person to go back on a promise?"

Raven is quiet for a moment before finally sighing. "No. She isn't."

"So this confirms it," I mutter, motioning to everything around us. "This-everything that's

happening-isn't about power. Het

about something else. Something big enough to destroy that bond. Something that turned Nyx's love into resentment. Hatred."

We both fall silent, letting it all sink in.

Nyx is seeking more power, but not to conquer. She wants enough strength to kill

her sister. But none of this started with greed or ambition.

With the way she loved Xena... whatever happened must have cut so deep that it

shattered everything. The love. The trust. The promise.

I just wish I knew what it was.

Because maybe, just maybe, if I can understand what happened between them...

I can find a way to bridge the gap.

To bring them back to each other.

To fix what was broken.