Elena Bennett had one rule she never broke. Never enter the forest after sunset. Unfortunately, tonight, she had broken it. She stood between two enormous trees, staring at the darkness ahead of her. Her phone had no signal, her car had broken down several minutes earlier, and the road behind her had somehow disappeared beneath the thick evening fog. "Great. Just perfect." She kicked a small stone away and looked at her phone again. Nothing. Her mother was going to kill her. Elena had promised to return home before eight, but it was already past eleven. She had taken a shortcut after leaving her friend's house, unaware that the road would lead her into a forest she had never seen before. A strange sound came from somewhere behind her. She turned. "Hello?" No answer. She waited, listening. Then came another sound. A low growl. Elena's stomach tightened. She slowly turned towards the trees. Two golden eyes stared at her from the darkness. Her breath caught. A massive black wolf stepped onto the path. Elena stumbled backwards. "No. No, no, no." The wolf didn't move. It simply watched her. She had seen wolves in documentaries before, but none had looked anything like this. This creature was enormous, almost the size of a horse, with dark fur and frightening golden eyes. Elena turned and ran. She didn't care about the branches scratching her arms or the stones beneath her shoes. She only wanted to get away. But she didn't get far. A man stepped out from behind the trees, forcing her to stop. He was tall, broad-shouldered and dressed in a black coat. His dark hair was slightly messy, and his golden eyes were fixed on her with an expression that revealed absolutely nothing. "Stop running," he ordered. Elena stared at him. "Are you serious? There's a giant wolf behind me!" "I know." She blinked. "You know?" The man glanced over her shoulder. The wolf had stopped several feet away. "You're trespassing on royal territory." Elena looked around in disbelief. "Royal territory? Is this some kind of joke?" He didn't answer. Instead, he studied her face as though trying to recognize something. "What's your name?" "Why should I tell you?" His expression hardened. "Because I asked." Elena folded her arms, although her hands were trembling. "And I don't remember agreeing to answer your questions." A strange silence followed. Then several men emerged from the forest. The moment they saw the stranger, they lowered their heads. "Your Majesty." Elena's eyes widened. Your Majesty? The man didn't acknowledge their greeting. "Who brought a human into my territory?" One of the men stepped forward. "No one, Your Majesty. We noticed her after the border guards reported an unusual scent." The stranger looked at Elena again. "Human?" He said the word as if it were an insult. Elena frowned. "Excuse me?" He ignored her. "Take her to the castle." Two men approached. Elena immediately stepped backwards. "Don't touch me! I'm going home." "You are not going anywhere until I know why you're here." "I already told you. My car broke down!" The man's eyes narrowed. "Your car?" "Yes. You know, the thing people use to travel?" One of the men quickly looked away, apparently trying not to react. The stranger didn't find her amusing. "Enough." His voice was quiet, but everyone immediately became silent. Elena felt an uncomfortable chill run through her body. There was something about him that made it difficult to argue, even though she had no intention of obeying him. Then her wrist began to burn. She gasped and grabbed it. A silver mark appeared on her skin. It was a crescent moon surrounded by three unfamiliar symbols. The men immediately stepped backwards. One of them whispered, "That's impossible." The stranger moved closer. For the first time, his expression changed. "Where did you get that mark?" Elena stared at her wrist. "I don't know. It wasn't there before." He grabbed her hand and examined the symbol. His fingers were cold. "What's your family name?" "Bennett." He released her immediately. Something unreadable passed across his face. "Repeat that." "Elena Bennett. Is there a problem?" The man looked towards his guards. "Bring me the royal records." One of them hesitated. "Your Majesty, do you think she could be..." "Not another word." His voice silenced everyone. Elena looked between them. "Could I be what?" Nobody answered. The stranger turned towards her. "Alexander Blackthorn." Elena waited. He seemed to expect a reaction. "Okay?" One of the guards looked horrified. Alexander's eyes narrowed. "I am the King of the Black Moon Kingdom." Elena stared at him. Then she laughed nervously. "Right. And I'm the Queen of England." Nobody laughed. Not even slightly. Alexander stepped closer. "Take her to the castle." This time, Elena didn't argue immediately. Something in his voice told her that whatever was happening was far more serious than she had imagined. As the guards escorted her through the forest, she looked back at the enormous black wolf. It was still watching her. Then something strange happened. The wolf lowered its head. Not in aggression. In respect. Elena stopped walking. "Why is it doing that?" Alexander followed her gaze. His expression turned cold. "Because it recognizes something you don't." Before Elena could ask another question, a bell rang from somewhere beyond the trees. Once. Twice. Then a third time. Every guard stopped. Alexander's face changed. One of the men hurried towards him. "Your Majesty, the ancient bell has rung." "I heard it." "It hasn't rung in twenty years." Alexander looked towards Elena's wrist. The silver mark was glowing brighter now. Then the guard whispered something that made Elena's blood run cold. "The royal archive has opened by itself." Alexander remained silent for several seconds. Finally, he looked directly at Elena. "Bring her to the throne room." Elena swallowed. "Why?" His golden eyes were fixed on her. "Because I want to know why a dead bloodline has suddenly returned." And for the first time that night, Elena realized something terrifying. The wolves hadn't found her by accident. They had been waiting for her.

The castle was nothing like Elena had imagined. It stood on top of a mountain, surrounded by enormous stone walls and dark forests. Tall towers stretched towards the night sky, while silver torches illuminated the entrance. Elena stepped out of the black vehicle and stared at the building. "Is this where you bring everyone you kidnap?" she asked. The man standing beside her didn't respond. Alexander Blackthorn stepped out of the vehicle behind them. "Do you ever stop talking?" Elena turned towards him. "Do you ever stop giving orders?" One of the guards lowered his head, hiding his expression. Alexander looked at Elena for several seconds. "Be careful with your words." "Then give me a reason to be polite." His jaw tightened. He turned towards the entrance. "Bring her inside." Elena followed the guards reluctantly. The moment she entered the castle, conversations stopped. People standing along the enormous hallway turned to look at her. Some appeared curious, others confused, but a few looked genuinely frightened. She noticed their eyes moving towards her wrist. The silver mark was still there. "Why is everyone staring at me?" she whispered. "Because you don't belong here," one of the guards replied. "Then perhaps someone should take me home." Nobody answered. They led her into a large room with a long table, enormous windows and several portraits of previous rulers. At the far end stood an elderly man wearing a dark royal uniform. "Your Majesty," he greeted Alexander. "Where is the royal archive report?" The elderly man glanced at Elena. "Is she the girl?" "Yes." The man studied her wrist. His expression changed. "That mark..." "Tell me what it means," Alexander ordered. The elderly man hesitated. "Your Majesty, I believe we should discuss this privately." "No. Speak." The man swallowed. "That symbol belongs to the House of Valemont." Elena frowned. "What's the House of Valemont?" Nobody answered immediately. The elderly man looked at Alexander before continuing. "It was one of the oldest royal bloodlines in our history. Its members were believed to have disappeared after the massacre twenty years ago." Elena stared at him. "Wait. You're saying my family is dead?" "Not necessarily," the man replied. Alexander moved towards the table. "Bring the records." A young servant hurried away. Elena crossed her arms. "I would appreciate it if someone explained what is happening." Alexander looked at her. "You are in my kingdom, standing in front of my council, wearing the mark of a bloodline that was supposedly destroyed twenty years ago. I have every reason to question you." "I didn't ask to be here!" "And yet here you are." Before Elena could respond, the servant returned carrying an old leather book. The elderly man opened it carefully. Several pages were covered with handwritten names, dates and royal symbols. He searched for a moment before stopping. His fingers became still. "What is it?" Alexander asked. The elderly man looked up. "Your Majesty, there is something strange." "What?" "The records say the Valemont bloodline had only one surviving child." He turned the book towards Alexander. A name was written beneath an old royal symbol. ELENA VALEMONT. Elena stared at the page. "That's not my name." The elderly man nodded slowly. "Your birth name may have been hidden." Alexander studied her face. "Who were your parents?" "My mother is Rebecca Bennett. My father died when I was young." "Your father's name?" Elena hesitated. "Daniel Bennett." The elderly man suddenly closed the book. Alexander noticed. "What?" The man looked genuinely disturbed. "Daniel Bennett was the name of the man accused of betraying the royal family twenty years ago." Elena felt her stomach tighten. "My father?" "That is what the records say." She shook her head. "No. My father wasn't a traitor." Alexander remained expressionless. "Then perhaps your mother knows more than she has told you." Elena looked away. Her mother had always refused to discuss her father's family. She had never understood why. Now she was beginning to wonder whether the silence had been protecting her from something. Alexander walked towards the windows. "Have someone bring the royal physician. I want her examined." Elena immediately objected. "I'm not allowing anyone to examine me." "You are not in a position to make demands." "I am not your prisoner!" Alexander turned. "Until I know who you are and why your mark has appeared, you will remain here." Elena stared at him. "I hate this place." "That makes two of us." He left the room. The elderly man waited until the doors closed before approaching her. "Miss Bennett, there is something you need to understand." Elena looked at him. "What?" He lowered his voice. "Your father wasn't the only person accused of betraying the royal family." "Who else?" The man glanced towards the closed doors. "King Alexander's father." Elena's eyes widened. Before she could ask another question, a scream echoed through the hallway. The guards rushed towards the entrance. Alexander returned almost immediately. "What happened?" A young guard stood outside, breathing heavily. "Your Majesty, the royal archive..." "What about it?" "The second page has appeared." Alexander's expression hardened. "Read it." The guard swallowed. Then he spoke. "One child was hidden. One king was deceived. And the bloodline that was buried will return to claim what belongs to it." Silence filled the room. Elena looked at Alexander. For the first time, she noticed something unfamiliar in his eyes. Fear. Not for himself. But for what her arrival might mean. Alexander slowly turned towards her. "Lock every entrance to this castle." "Your Majesty?" He didn't look away from Elena. "Nobody leaves until I discover who brought her here." Then he gave an order that made every person in the room freeze. "Find her mother. I want Rebecca Bennett brought before me." Elena stepped forward. "You leave my mother out of this!" Alexander's voice remained cold. "Your mother has twenty years of secrets to explain." Elena stared at him, her heart pounding. She had come looking for a way home. Instead, she had discovered that her entire life might have been built on a lie. And the most frightening part was that the Savage King seemed to know something about her past that even she didn't.

Elena stood in the middle of the royal archive, staring at Alexander. "Bring my mother here?" she repeated. "You cannot simply order people around and expect everyone to obey." Alexander turned his golden eyes towards her. "I'm the king. That is exactly what I expect." "Then you must be very disappointed when people don't listen." One of the guards lowered his head, clearly trying to hide his reaction. Alexander noticed. "Something amusing, Captain?" "No, Your Majesty." "Good. Then stop looking amused." Elena folded her arms. She was beginning to understand why people feared this man. He spoke as if every word he said was a law. But she wasn't one of his subjects. At least, she didn't think she was. "I'm going home," she announced. "You're staying." "Watch me leave." She turned towards the door, but two guards immediately stepped into her path. Elena stopped. "You have got to be joking." Alexander walked towards her, his expression unreadable. "Until I understand why your name appears in a royal record, you are not leaving this castle." "My name is Elena Bennett. I don't know anything about your royal family, and I certainly don't care about your throne." "You may not care about the throne," he replied. "But someone went to considerable trouble to hide your identity. That makes you important." "Or it means someone made a mistake." "Royal records do not make mistakes." "Kings do." The room became silent. Alexander studied her for several seconds before turning away. "Take her to the east guest chambers. Make sure she is comfortable, but do not let her leave the castle." "I don't need a guard," Elena protested. "You need several." He walked out before she could respond. --- The east guest chamber was larger than Elena's entire house. There was a huge bed, a fireplace, a sitting area, and windows overlooking the castle gardens. Everything looked expensive, from the curtains to the furniture. Elena stood by the window, wondering how her ordinary evening had turned into a nightmare involving a king, a mysterious birthmark, and a royal family she had never heard of. A knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in." An older woman entered carrying a tray. She had silver hair, kind eyes, and a calm expression. "Good evening, miss. I'm Martha. I look after the east chambers." "Hello. I'm Elena." "I know." Martha placed the tray on the table. "His Majesty asked that you be given something to eat." Elena looked at the food. "Did he also ask that I be locked inside?" Martha hesitated. "His Majesty can be difficult." "That's a polite way of describing him." For the first time, Martha smiled. Then her eyes fell on Elena's wrist. The smile disappeared. "Where did you get that mark?" Elena looked down. "It's been there since I was born." Martha moved closer, her expression changing. "May I see it?" Elena hesitated before extending her hand. Martha stared at the silver crescent. "Oh, dear." "What? Do you know what it means?" Martha quickly stepped back. "I have been working in this castle for many years. I have seen many things, but I never thought I would see that mark again." Elena's heart began to beat faster. "You know something about my family?" Martha glanced towards the door. "Not here. The walls in this castle have ears." Elena frowned. "Are you saying someone is listening?" "I'm saying you should be careful about whom you trust." Before Elena could ask another question, footsteps sounded in the corridor. Martha immediately picked up the empty tray. "Please eat your dinner, miss." She walked towards the door. "Martha!" The older woman paused. "Who was my mother before she became Rebecca Bennett?" Martha looked at her for a long moment. Then she whispered, "Your mother was once known as Princess Rebecca Valemont." Elena felt as if the floor had shifted beneath her. "My mother is a princess?" Martha opened the door. "Keep your voice down." Then she left. --- In the royal council chamber, Alexander stood before a large table surrounded by the kingdom's most powerful elders. Nobody had touched the documents placed before them. "Your Majesty," Elder Marcus began, "we must discuss the girl." "Then discuss her." "The Valemont bloodline was destroyed twenty years ago. If that girl is truly the surviving heir, her presence could threaten the kingdom." Alexander's expression hardened. "Are you suggesting I should be afraid of a young woman who doesn't even know who she is?" "I'm suggesting that her existence changes everything." Another elder leaned forward. "There is also the matter of your father." Alexander's jaw tightened. "My father has nothing to do with this discussion." "Your father was accused of helping the Valemonts escape. If the accusation was true, then the throne may have been built on a lie." The room fell silent. Alexander placed both hands on the table. "Choose your next words carefully." Elder Marcus lowered his voice. "We only want to protect the kingdom." "No. You want to protect your positions. There is a difference." He turned towards the captain of the royal guard. "Find Daniel Bennett's records. Every report, every letter, every witness statement. I want them on my desk before sunrise." "Yes, Your Majesty." "And nobody speaks to the girl without my permission." The elders exchanged uneasy glances. Alexander noticed but said nothing. He had spent years ruling through fear and strength. He trusted very few people, and the council was not among them. There was something about Elena's arrival that troubled him. Not because she might be a lost princess. But because the royal archive had recognized her before he had. --- Elena had barely touched her dinner when the door opened again. Alexander entered without knocking. She looked at him. "Do kings ever knock?" "Do guests ever follow instructions?" "I'm beginning to understand why your castle feels like a prison." He ignored her comment and noticed the untouched food. "You should eat." "I'm not hungry." "Then at least stop arguing for a moment." Elena stared at him. "You came here to ask questions, didn't you?" "I came to tell you that your mother is on her way." Her expression changed immediately. "When will she arrive?" "Soon." "Is she safe?" Alexander paused. "She is being escorted by my guards." "That wasn't my question." His eyes met hers. "She is safe." Elena released a breath. Then she remembered what Martha had told her. "Alexander, was my mother really a princess?" His expression changed slightly. "Who told you that?" Elena immediately regretted asking. "So it's true?" "Answer my question." "Martha mentioned something about Princess Rebecca Valemont." Alexander turned towards the door. "Do not repeat that name to anyone." "Why?" "Because there are people in this castle who would do anything to keep the Valemont family buried." Before Elena could respond, a guard appeared at the entrance. "Your Majesty, the woman has arrived." Alexander looked towards Elena. "Your mother is here." Elena rushed past him. --- Rebecca Bennett looked exhausted when she entered the chamber. Her coat was dusty, and her hair had fallen loosely around her shoulders. But the moment she saw Elena, she hurried forward and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. "Elena!" "Mum!" Elena held her mother for several seconds before stepping back. "What is happening? Why are we here? Why are people calling me a princess?" Rebecca's eyes moved towards Alexander. He stood near the fireplace, watching them. "Leave us alone," Rebecca said. Alexander didn't move. "This is my castle." "And she is my daughter." For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Alexander gestured to the guards. "Wait outside." The guards left, but Alexander remained. Rebecca looked directly at him. "Do you know who I am?" "Rebecca Bennett." "That is the name I chose after everything happened." Alexander's expression became colder. "Then tell me your real name." Rebecca closed her eyes briefly. "Rebecca Valemont." Elena stared at her mother. "You knew?" Rebecca turned towards her. "I wanted to tell you when you were older." "I'm old enough now! You let me grow up believing we were an ordinary family." "We were a family, Elena. That part was never a lie." "Then why did you hide everything else?" Rebecca's eyes filled with tears, but she held herself together. "Because I wanted you to have a life that belonged to you. Not one controlled by this kingdom." Alexander stepped forward. "Who helped you escape?" Rebecca looked at him. "Your father." The words seemed to change the atmosphere in the room. Alexander's face became unreadable. "My father died twenty years ago." "I know." "He was accused of betraying the crown." "He was not a traitor." "Then explain why he helped your family disappear." Rebecca took a slow breath. "Because the people who attacked the Valemonts were not outsiders. They were members of the royal council." Alexander stared at her. "Do you have proof?" Rebecca looked towards Elena. "I have something your father left behind." "What is it?" Elena asked. Rebecca reached into the inside pocket of her coat and removed a small silver pendant. Elena recognized it immediately. It was the same pendant her mother had told her belonged to her father. Rebecca placed it in Elena's palm. "Your father gave this to me the night we escaped. He said that when the time came, you would need to return it to the Blackthorn family." Alexander stepped closer. "Let me see it." Rebecca shook her head. "Not yet." His eyes narrowed. "Why?" "Because your father made me promise that I would only give it to the rightful heir." Elena looked between them. "I'm standing right here. Can someone please explain what is inside this pendant?" Rebecca's fingers trembled as she touched the small silver clasp. Before she could open it, the pendant began to glow. The silver crescent on Elena's wrist answered with a faint light. Alexander immediately stepped back. For the first time since Elena had met him, his expression showed genuine surprise. Rebecca whispered, "It has recognized her." A deep sound echoed through the castle. The ancient bell rang once. Then twice. Alexander looked towards the window. The bell had not rung since the night his father died. Rebecca turned pale. "Oh no." Elena held the pendant tightly. "What does that mean?" Her mother looked at Alexander. "It means someone knows she has returned." Alexander's voice dropped. "Who?" Rebecca swallowed. "The person who ordered the Valemont massacre." And somewhere beyond the castle walls, a horn sounded in the darkness.