MARKED FOR PRETEND - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Long ago, there was a whisper of a golden bloodline.Born once in a generation,not just wolves, not just witches, but the bridge between worlds. The one the moon kissed directly. Their awakening wasn’t like others. They didn’t shift. They illuminated. And when they awakened, the world remembered what it forgot—old magic. Old blood,old ruin.But the bloodline was hunted.
Betrayed.
Burned from history, just like Chelsea’s home. Like her past.
Until tonight.
Chelsea gasped awake. Her windows were wide open. The wind tore through the curtains like a call. The moon painted her room silver, through a single broken window. A bright light lit the sky—not from the moon.
But from her.
She woke trembling, breath ragged. Her pulse raced against her wrists; the pulse of her birth-starred blood would not be silenced.
Her veins pulsed gold. Her hair lifted slightly like static. Her mark was no longer a simple crescent—it had bloomed into a full symbol.
She touched the crescent scar on her wrist. The skin beneath glowed gold. A gentle burn. Then the warmth traveled up her arm, lighting her bones.
It wasn’t painful. It was alive.
Her skin felt too tight. Her breathing ragged.
Then… the shift. Her body shifted first, it wasn’t bone and muscle twisting—but how she stood. Upright. Tall. Larger. Her silhouette blurred in the moonlight.
She caught her reflection and gasped. Her skin glowed. Her hair moved like moonlit water. Gold flecks drifted in the air, cascading around her shoulders. She lifted her hand, the mark had turned into a full moonsymbol etched in glowing runes.
Downstairs, the pack heard something strange in the halls like an earthquake in silence. Guards flitted in armored packs, stumbling over each other, shadows doubling.
In the courtyard below, Kaden stood in the moon’s hollow, eyes blazing silver-gold. He lifted his gaze to the broken window and there she was—more light than shadow.
He felt Kael shape himself into dominance behind his eyes. He steadied himself, waiting for her to step forward.
She did. And as she emerged, wolves bowed, first one then two, then all:
“The golden heir.” someone whispered.
“The Moon-Touched.”
Their voices shook the night. Lightning flashed far away.
Below the cliffs, warriors gathered, confused. Kneeling.
“The Golden Blood,” someone whispered. “She’s returned.”
Kaden couldn’t look away. His wolf, Kael, howled without warning.
Chelsea stumbled down the stair, closing each glowing rune imprinting the walls. Every breath burned with power. Every step murmured—I awake.
Kael—in Kaden’s body—stood near the central stone dais. He lowered his head. His eyes held no fear. Only awe.
“You are the moon’s daughter now,” he said, voice deep and golden. She opened her mouth. The wind answered for her.
The pulse spread like wildfire, camps miles away collapsed from strain,ceremonies halted,wolves howled,mages trembled.The night exploded into mythology.
She shone in the moonlight as though born of it. Chelsea lifted her arms, arms glowing, as the kingdom fell to its knees.
“I am hers,” Kael whispered. “I am hers to protect.”
The world bowed and trembled—and watched as the golden blood returned to reclaim its throne.
And somewhere, miles from Duskveil, a ripple of energy sliced through the air—awakened magic across borders, realms, packs, and kingdoms.
Eyes opened.
Enemies stirred.
The hunted bloodline had revealed itself.
And Chelsea… was no longer hiding.