CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: A NEW PROPHECY

The pack house shook as Elara’s silver light exploded outward, shattering every shadow thing in a fifty-foot radius.

The Council of Shadows’ servants dissolved into smoke, their dying screams echoing across the region.

"The first trial is complete," the ancient voices hissed from the retreating darkness. "But you have only delayed the inevitable, Bridge Walker." "Come back and say that to my face," Ronan snarled, his flames dancing around three saved pack members.

But the shadows were already gone, leaving behind only the smell of burnt magic and terror. "Is everyone okay?" Elara asked, running to check on the young wolves they’d saved. Two teens and one new mother, all unconscious but breathing.

"They’re alive," Darian confirmed, his truth-sight scanning for injuries. "Weak, but unharmed." "For now," Kael said sadly. "The Council said this was just the first test. There are six more coming." "Then we’ll face them," Elara said strongly. "Together."

But as they carried the saved pack members back to the house, a new complication arrived. The pack’s seer, Ancient Maya, came tripping out of the woods. Her eyes were white with vision-trance, and her words carried the weight of prophecy.

"Luna," she gasped. "I’ve seen... I’ve seen the future." "Maya?" Elara caught the old woman as she swayed. "What did you see?" "Children," Maya whispered. "Your children. With power beyond imagination."

Elara’s heart stopped. "My what?" Maya’s blind eyes locked on her with supernatural accuracy. "Three families will merge into one. Ice, fire, and truth mixed with Bridge Walker magic.

The kids will be more powerful than any supernatural being ever born." "That’s impossible," Kael said. "Elara isn’t even—" "Pregnant yet," Maya finished.

"But she will be. Soon. And when those children come into the world, everything will change." "Change how?" Darian asked, his truth-sight reading Maya’s prophecy as real.

"They will unite all supernatural races under one rule," Maya continued, her voice getting stronger. "Werewolves, vampires, witches, fae—all will bow to the children of the Bridge Walker and the Triple Alpha bond."

"That sounds like conquest," Ronan said uncomfortably. "Or peace," Maya answered. "The vision showed both options. Your children will either save the supernatural world... or rule it with total power." Elara felt dizzy.

"How many children?" "Three," Maya said. "One for each mate. Born within months of each other. Each carrying the united power of their parents’ bloodlines." "When?" Elara whispered.

"The first conception happens within the next full moon cycle," Maya said. "Whether you want it or not. The Council of Shadows’ trials are meant to awaken your deepest magical potential. That includes your ability to make life." "Hold on," Kael stepped forward.

"Are you saying the trials will force Elara to—" "Not force," Maya amended. "Enhance. The Council’s magic will strengthen every part of her Bridge Walker abilities. Including the part that bonds mates and makes offspring."

Elara’s face burned. "I’m not ready to be a mother." "Ready or not, the prophecy has begun," Maya said sadly. "I saw the children clearly. A girl with ice magic and silver light. A son with fire skills and truth-sight. Another kid who can walk between worlds at will."

"Walk between worlds?" Darian asked sharply. "Your third child will be able to travel to any supernatural realm," Maya explained. "The vampire courts, the fae lands, the witch covens—she’ll be able to visit them all.

And more importantly, she’ll be able to bring their power back with her." "That’s not just powerful," Ronan realized. "That’s dangerous." "Exactly," Maya nodded. "Which is why the Council of Shadows wants to control you.

They know about the warning. They know your children will change the supernatural world." "So they’re testing us to see if we’re worthy of raising such powerful offspring," Kael said grimly.

"Or to see if they can corrupt you before the children are born," Maya added. "If they can turn you to darkness, your offspring will serve their purposes instead of opposing them." Elara sank into a chair, stunned.

One year ago, she’d been worried about passing her final year.

Now she was facing trials that would decide the fate of all supernatural beings, and apparently she was about to become the mother of three impossibly powerful children. "There’s more," Maya said softly. "More?" Elara asked softly.

"The vision showed me who your enemies will be. The Council of Shadows is just the beginning. When word gets about your children, every supernatural faction will want to claim them." "Claim them how?" Ronan’s flames flared dangerously.

"Some will try to kill them before they’re born. Others will try to steal them as infants. A few will wait until they’re older and try to poison them from within."

"Over my dead body," Kael said coldly. "That’s what some of them are counting on," Maya responded. "Dead parents can’t protect their children." The room fell silent as the weight of Maya’s words sank in.

Elara wasn’t just facing seven cases. She was facing a lifetime of protecting children who would be targets from the moment they drew breath.

"However," Maya added, "the prophecy also showed me your greatest strength." "Which is?" Elara asked hopefully. "Your link with the triplets isn’t just about love. It’s about balance. Ice to cool fire’s rage. Fire to melt ice’s coldness.

Truth to lead both toward wisdom. And your Bridge Walker power holding it all together." "So our children will have that balance too?" Darian asked. "If you can teach them," Maya said. "If you can live long enough to raise them. If you can keep them from being corrupted by the very power they’ll receive."

"No pressure," Ronan mumbled. But Elara was thinking about something else Maya had said. "You mentioned the first conception happens within the next full moon cycle.

Which mate?" Maya’s sightless eyes turned toward Kael. "The Alpha heir. Ice and silver will mix first." Kael’s face went pale. "I’m not ready to be a father either." "None of us are," Elara said softly. "But apparently, we don’t get a choice." "There’s always a choice," Darian said strongly. "Prophecies show options, not certainties. We can fight this."

"Can we?" Maya asked sadly. "Look around you. Everything that’s happened so far has been leading to this moment. Your marriage to three Alphas. Your power rising. The Council of Shadows appearing. It’s all connected." "Connected how?" Elara asked. "Your parents didn’t just break a contract when they hid you," Maya stated.

"They stalled a prophecy. One that was meant to happen twenty years ago. By suppressing your skills and keeping you hidden, they pushed everything forward to now." "So this was always going to happen?" Kael asked.

"Yes. But how it happens can still change. The prophecy shows your children as either saviors or rulers. That choice will be up to you." "And what if we choose not to have children at all?" Ronan asked. Maya’s face grew grave.

"Then the magical world falls into chaos. Without your children to unite the races, we’ll face a war that destroys everything. Humans will discover our presence. Governments will hunt us. Magic itself might die."

"So we have children and risk them becoming tyrants, or we don’t have children and watch the world burn," Elara summarized. "That’s about right," Maya said sheepishly. Elara looked at her three mates.

A year ago, their biggest fear had been figuring out how to share her without killing each other. Now they were facing parenthood, ancient enemies, and the duty for the entire supernatural world’s future. "The Council of Shadows is still out there," she said finally.

"We have six more trials to face. And apparently, we need to survive them long enough to have children who might save or damn everyone." "When you put it like that, it sounds almost impossible," Darian said. "Almost," Elara agreed. "But not completely." She stood up, choice made. "Maya, thank you for the advice. We’ll face whatever comes."

"There’s one more thing," Maya said as they prepared to leave. "The prophecy showed me when your first child will be born." "When?" Elara asked, fearing the answer. "Nine months after the final trial ends. If you survive all seven challenges, your daughter will arrive exactly as spring starts." "And if we don’t survive?" Kael asked.

Maya’s blind eyes filled with tears. "Then the promise dies with you. And so does any hope for peace in the magical world." As they left Maya’s quarters, Elara felt the weight of fate pressing down on her shoulders.

She was no longer just fighting for her own life or even her mates’ lives. She was fighting for children who didn’t exist yet but who might be the key to everything.

Behind them, Maya’s voice brought one final warning: "Be careful who you trust in the trials ahead. The Council of Shadows isn’t your only enemy. Some of your friends will betray you when they learn about the prophecy." "Who?" Elara called back.

But Maya had already disappeared into her trance, leaving them with more problems than answers. And in the distance, thunder rumbled across a clear sky—the first sign that their second trial was about to begin.