The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 72: Ayla

“What did they find?” I asked as I stepped off the ladder.

“Honestly,” Briggs said, “I’m not sure. Just that it’s big and Theo wants you in there.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I didn’t know if I should be worried or scared or excited. We really had no idea what could be in there, but I knew it wasn’t nothing. So, I braced myself for something terrible but hoped for some kind of miracle.

It didn’t take long for Briggs to guide us through the passageways. It did get a little difficult to navigate around the area of the vault with all the mess and equipment. Alpha Torin and Harmon were carrying lights through the hole in the wall when we arrived and I followed them through. I stopped in my tracks just inside when I saw the huge stone structure.

“Holy crap,” I blurted out.

Theo stood from where he had been looking at something on the stone and headed toward me. He immediately wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. He released a breath. I could feel that he needed me through our bond. But I still didn’t know why.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

He pulled back, brushing my hair from my face. “We may have found something that can help keep you safe.”

“Really?”

”

“I hope so,” he replied. “At the very least, this is something that will change history.”

He took my hand and led me toward the structure at the center of the room. He explained that it was a sarcophagus and who was buried inside it. Then he showed me the depictions on the side. Including the one indicating there may be a second Moonstone located nearby.

Theo said. “Right here.

me what seemed to

to open,” Theo said, squeezing my

here for you,” I replied.

he leaned forward and started to pull at the panel. As it started to move, worry washed over me.

my head. “What if this just makes things

outside of this room is going to find out about this,” Theo assured me. “You can even command them yourself if it helps.”

on my lip, still unsure about the situation. Theo rested his hand on

we find something in here, I won’t

with it.”

threw my hands in the air with

some kind of magical powers,” I said. “Do you really think a

“I don’t know,” he offered honestly. “But I have faith that it will. I don’t

you’re wrong?”

would never bet your or our pup’s safety on this,” he said firmly. “Everything else that we have planned is still going to happen. This is… it’s just something I feel I have

up completely, letting everything he was feeling flow through our mate bond. I could feel the pull that was drawing him towards whatever was inside this tomb. He was right. He needed to do this. And I needed to support him. Whether I believed there was any power in the stones or not. This

I agreed firmly.

to the stone panel. I leaned forward and helped him pry it free from the sarcophagus. It took more effort than I expected and with one big tug, it fell to the floor, sending up

asked as I coughed and waived

assured him. “Just a little dust. Come

what’s inside.”

flashlight so it shined into the space we had just cleared. From where I sat, I could make out a small box inside. Theo reached in slowly. The room was dead silent other than the scraping sound of

can open it,” I