Everyone on the deck froze in complete shock. The only ones who didn’t look surprised were Voren, Corvine, and Einstein. A heavy silence stretched across the entire yacht as everyone tried to wrap their heads around what Seraphine had just said.

Kylie stared at her daughter like she must have misheard her completely. Her face slowly drained of all color. "Sera..." Her voice shook with pure disbelief. "What the fuck are you talking about?" She looked totally lost. "I was there when you were born. I held you the day you came into this world."

Every word came out with absolute certainty.

Seraphine met her gaze with a calm, gentle smile. There wasn’t even a hint of anger or accusation in her eyes. "Mom Kylie..." Her voice stayed soft and full of deep respect. "I understand why you’re so confused."

She smiled a little before turning her attention back to Madison. "Don’t you think it’s long overdue?"

Madison slowly closed her eyes. For years she had dreaded this exact moment, and now there was no escaping it. She drew in a long, steadying breath before lifting her head.

"I never intended to pretend I was not your mother," she said quietly. A faint, bittersweet smile pressing her lips. "But someone figured things out, and instead of pointing it out, I decided to go along with it."

Kylie looked back and forth between the two women, growing more confused by the second. Nothing made sense anymore. "Madison..." She frowned deeply.

"We lived together in the pack house. You brought Daisy with you. When Noelle insisted that your family move into the pack house, I was right there." She took another step forward. "So what exactly is happening here?"

Madison smiled sadly. "I’ll answer everything. But before I explain..." She glanced around the deck. "I want to show you something."

Everyone watched her closely. By now, complete darkness had settled over the ocean. Crew members flipped on the lights around the deck, bathing everyone in a soft, golden glow. The evening breeze had turned noticeably colder.

Without even thinking twice, Voren slipped off his tuxedo jacket. He carefully draped it over Seraphine’s shoulders before wrapping his strong arms around her from behind.

The familiar, comforting scent of the jacket immediately wrapped around her. She smiled warmly. "Thanks, V." Her fingers instinctively pulled the jacket tighter around herself while she leaned back comfortably against his chest.

Voren rested his chin lightly near her temple, silently keeping her warm as his full attention stayed locked on Madison.

Madison reached up to her face. Very slowly, she removed one contact lens, then the other.

The moment she looked up again, Kylie gasped sharply. Her eyes widened in total disbelief. "Your eyes..." She stared without blinking. "How..." Her voice almost disappeared. "How do you have the exact same eyes as my Sera... and Esperanza?"

The bright blue eyes glowing under the deck lights looked completely identical.

Whispers immediately rippled through the people around.

Madison didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned around until her back faced everyone. Einstein understood without needing a single word. He stepped closer and carefully lowered the zipper at the back of her dress just enough to reveal her lower back.

The moment the fabric fell aside, the crescent moon mark became clearly visible. The symbol gleamed against her skin under the lights.

Kylie covered her mouth with a trembling hand. Her breathing turned uneven. "Impossible..." Her voice barely escaped her lips. Her entire body shook. "Noelle..." She stared at the mark, completely unable to look away. "Noelle told me she had this mark."

Her mind desperately dug through memories buried nearly three decades earlier. Fragments of old conversations came rushing back one after another. Things she hadn’t thought about in years suddenly became crystal clear.

Her lips parted. "She..."

The memories completely swallowed her.

Flashback – Twenty-Six Years Ago

The small shaman’s hut sat unusually quiet. Only the soft crackling of burning herbs filled the air, and the rich scent of dried plants and ancient incense hung heavy, creating an atmosphere that felt both peaceful and deeply mysterious.

Seated inside were Alpha Humphrey and Luna Kylie. Beside them sat their Beta and his wife, both listening with total attention. Across from them sat the oldest woman in the entire pack, the shaman.

Time had carved countless wrinkles across her face, yet her cloudy eyes still held a powerful wisdom that commanded everyone’s respect. No one knew exactly how old she was. Some believed she had lived far beyond a normal werewolf’s lifespan. Others thought the Moon Goddess herself had extended her years.

The old woman slowly lifted her tired eyes toward the four wolves before her. "Luna Kylie, Alpha Humphrey," a warm smile crossed her aged face. "It is finally time. My journey to join my ancestors has come."

Sadness filled the room, but no one interrupted her.

"The Moon Goddess has answered one final request. Before I leave this world, I’ve been allowed to tell you what lies ahead." She smiled softly. "I don’t know whether another shaman will be sent after me. That decision belongs only to the Moon Goddess. But I must obey everything she has commanded me to reveal."

Everyone listened in complete silence.

The old woman slowly nodded. "The time has come for the Centenary Pack to rule the werewolf kingdom with both strength and wisdom."

Her eyes settled on Humphrey and Kylie. "Your only son, Ravyn, has been chosen by the Moon Goddess. Not because he is the strongest or the fiercest warrior, but because of the kindness in your hearts and every sacrifice your family has made for the werewolf community."

Kylie instinctively reached for Humphrey’s hand. The couple exchanged proud, emotional smiles.

The shaman continued. "The Moon Goddess has already decided his future. But no ruler should ever possess limitless power and strength without someone capable of balancing it." She slowly raised one finger. "That is why a gifted she-wolf will be sent to stand beside him."

Her words immediately captured everyone’s full attention.

The old woman looked toward the burning fire. "Our ancestors admired humans. Everyone believes they envied humans because they were free to choose who they loved." She slowly shook her head. "That was never the darkest reason. The real reason was far uglier. They envied the freedom human men had, the freedom to betray their wives without the mate bond exposing them, the freedom to dominate women through power alone."

She sighed deeply. "They even created what they proudly called the Alpha Code. It gave countless Alphas excuses to abuse their authority. For generations, many she-wolves cried in silence. They endured pain no one spoke about. No one protected them."

She looked toward the ceiling. "Even our ancestors regret those choices now. They grieve for what their own daughters have suffered."

A heavy silence settled inside the hut.

"The Moon Goddess has begun correcting those ancient mistakes. That is why Ravyn’s path will not be easy." She slowly closed her eyes. "Our people have spent generations disrespecting the sacred mate bond. Because of those sins, it will become difficult for Ravyn to find the gifted she-wolf destined to stand beside him. In one way or another, we are all paying the price for the sins of our ancestors."

Flashback continues in the next Chapter.