Chapter 222

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.

“Not just nearby,” Theo said. “Right here.

He tugged me to sit on the ground next to him, showing me what seemed to be a compartment at the base of the burial.

“I’ve got it ready to open,” Theo said, squeezing my hand. “But I needed you here with me.”

“I’m always here for you,” I replied.

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

“Wait,” I rushed, grabbing his arm as all the possible implications of this find ran through my head. “What if this just makes things worse? This is a huge discovery. We know the Waar Pak like power, wouldn’t this put an even bigger target on our backs?”

“No one outside of this room is going to find out about this,” Theo assured me. “You can even command them yourself if it helps.”

I chewed on my lip, still unsure about the situation. Theo rested his hand on mine again.

swear, if we find something in here, I won’t use it unless you are okay with it.”

Frustration ran through me. I threw my hands in the air with an exasperated grunt.

“You all keep talking about these damn stones as if they have some kind of magical powers,” I said. “Do you really think a rock is going to have any impact on anything?”

Theo sighed. “I don’t know,” he offered honestly. “But I have faith that it will. I don’t know why, but I do.”

“And if you’re wrong?”

“I 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 to do.”

Theo had opened 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 was something we both needed to see through.

“Okay,” I agreed firmly.

He smiled and kissed me before turning back 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 a cloud of debris.

“You okay?” Theo asked as I coughed and waived the dust from the air.

“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Just a little dust. Come on. Let’s see what’s inside.”

Theo positioned a 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 the container as Theo removed it.

Setting it down gently in front of us, we stared at it for a while.

“You can open it,” I finally said.

He took a deep breath and lifted the metal box onto his lap.

“He won’t be able to,” his father said suddenly.

We both looked up at him. He was looking at the head of the tomb intently, running his hand along the rough surface.

“Dad?” Theo replied worriedly.

Alpha Torin shook his head. “You won’t be able to get it open. You’re missing the key.” He straightened and held a hand out to Theo to help him to his feet. “But I think I know where to find it.”

“What are you talking about?” Theo asked as he lifted me from the floor.

“I’m sorry, son,” Torin said, gripping his shoulders. “This all should have been familiar to me sooner. I guess my mind is...” His expression was pained and it broke my heart. “Look, keep that safe, okay? I will take care of this.”

“What are you going to do?” I asked.

He smiled at me. “It’s better you don’t know,” he said. He took my hand. “You may have been right in your concerns, Ayla.

But I think we can prevent them as well. I just need you to trust me. Both of you.”

“Of course we trust you.”