Chapter 138- The Truth in the Flame

Tarria

The moment my feet touched the soil of the tribe’s outer border; I could feel the pull—familiar energy tugging at the very core of me. It wasn’t just the land I’d missed; it was the heartbeat of my people, the bond that couldn’t be severed no matter how far I was taken or how cruelly I was restrained. The warrior scouts stayed close on either side, keeping a protective perimeter around me, but I barely noticed them now. My eyes were locked on the path ahead—toward home. Toward Lexy.

I was tired. Bone-deep tired. My body carried the bruises of my captivity, and my mind hadn’t stopped running since I woke up tied to that cursed chair. But more than exhaustion, I felt urgency. What I knew couldn’t wait.

It was night by the time we arrived at the tribe’s border and a sense of relief washed over me. The guards at the gate parted quickly, murmuring among themselves as they took in my appearance—matted hair, a rip across my sleeve, a still-healing cut along my jawline. But I walked tall. Not for pride, but for purpose.

I was told by the scouts that she’s in her office still. We entered the packhouse through the side entrance to avoid being seen by any of the guests and made our way to Lexy’s office. As we approached the office door I could hear Lexy and CJ talking. The scout ahead knocked on the door and a couple of seconds later opened it.

As I entered her eyes lifted before the scouts could announce me. The moment our gazes met, her expression shifted—shock, relief, and something deeper. Hurt, perhaps, or fury she had carefully locked away.

“Tarria,” she breathed, stepping toward me. The crowd parted without a word.

“My Queen,” I said hoarsely, bowing my head.

She reached me in three strides, and without hesitation, pulled me into an embrace. The fierce grip of someone who’d been on the edge of losing something irreplaceable.

“You’re home,” she whispered.

I nodded against her shoulder, but then gently pulled back. “I am. But we don’t have much time. We need to talk. Now.”

Her jaw tightened at the urgency in my voice. “Let’s sit.”

She sat me down and CJ served me a glass of water. I sat the glass down and as took a deep breath she said, “Start from the beginning.”

I sank into the chair across from her. The warmth of the tent was soothing, but I had no time to savor it.

“He’s not just playing at breaking the alliance,” I began. “Adrian’s plan… it’s bigger than just you and me. He’s trying to rewrite the balance of power.”

Lexy leaned forward, hands clasped. “How?”

“They want to crown me,” I said, the words like ash on my tongue. “Not as a puppet—but as a queen. A figurehead of something… ancient. A bridge between light and dark. My father, Kael, and Adrian—they believe I’m the key to uniting the fractured lands. Not for peace. For domination.”

Lexy’s brows drew together. “What do you mean, your father?”

I inhaled sharply. “He’s alive. He was part of it all along. The story about the rogues killing him—it was a lie. A fabrication to draw out the part of me they needed. I was taken as a child so they could shape me. I think my powers started manifesting even back then. They saw something in me—something they called ‘the balance.’ My bloodline ties into a long-forgotten prophecy I didn’t even know existed.”

Lexy’s voice was low and steady. “And what do they want you to do?”

“To take your place,” I said. “Adrian wants me to rise as queen—not here in the tribe, but over something larger. A kingdom they’re building from the shadows. Along with using the alliance to get it all in one They say it’s already begun. Deals have been made. Kael is consolidating rogue factions, Adrian has placed feared on some of the packs, and my father… he’s the one feeding them ancient and bloodline rituals to give them legitimacy.”

She didn’t react with rage, or even surprise. Her expression was unreadable. “Did they hurt you?”

I paused. “No. Not in the way you think. They didn’t need to. They tried to convince me. Reason with me. They believe I am a phoenix born to reign. Not with fire alone, but with both destruction and rebirth.”

Lexy’s eyes flared slightly at the word. “Phoenix?”

I nodded. “They believe I’m the embodiment of a lost lineage. My powers—what I’ve only scratched the surface of—are part of a larger force. They called me the Beacon of Shadow and Flame. Said the duality in me—light and darkness—is rare. That it can tip the scales.”

Lexy stood then, pacing. “Do you have powers? And they want to weaponize it. Shape you into their own version of a ruler. And use your name—your legend—to rally support.”

“Exactly,” I said. “They’re manipulating history. Tying me to prophecies to make people believe this is fate. Adrian told me if I joined willingly, he’d let you live. But he’s bluffing. His eyes told a different story. And yes, I do but it just manifested during the kidnapping.’

She stopped pacing, looking at me sharply. “And you? What did you say?”

“I told him I’d rather die on my knees for you than rise on a throne built by lies.”

Lexy’s breath caught, just for a second. She crossed the room and knelt before me, a hand grasping mine. “You are more loyal than they will ever understand.”

“They don’t get it,” I said softly. “What being part of *this* tribe means. What do you mean to us. To me.”

We were quiet for a beat. Then she stood, her voice all commanded again. “We need to act. We need proof of these alliances forming. We need to find Kael’s gathering points, where Adrian is turning leaders. If they’ve tied your name to this prophecy, we use that against them. You’ll speak at the conference. Tell them everything.”

I nodded. “There’s something else. They’re planning something for the next lunar cycle. I didn’t get to hear anything more than that. I do know they have no idea what you are and what you are capable.”

Lexy’s face hardened. “Then we flip the narrative first. You’re not just power and some prophecy. You survived them. You brought their secrets back. And I will not let them twist your power for their cause.”

A flicker of something stirred in me. Hope. Determination. Maybe even fire.

“I want to train harder,” I said. “Control more of my power. I don’t want to just survive their schemes. I want to end them.”

Lexy smiled then. A small, dangerous smile. “Good. Because I’ve got plans of my own. And you’re the centerpiece now—whether they like it or not.”