The Luna’s Choice (Theo and Ayla) by Kat Silver
Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Chapter 72: Ayla

“What did they replace?” 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 reallyhad no idea what could be in there, but I knew it wasn’t nothing. So, I braced myself for somethingterrible 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 navigatearound the area of the vault with all the mess and equipment. Alpha Torin and Harmon were carryinglights through the hole in the wall when we arrived and I followed them through. I stopped in my tracksjust 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. Heimmediately wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. He released a breath. I couldfeel 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 yousafe.”

“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 asarcophagus and who was buried inside it. Then he showed me the depictions on the side. Includingthe 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 thebase 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, worrywashed over me.

“Wait,” I rushed, grabbing his arm as all the possible implications of this replace 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 replace out about this,” Theo assured me. “You can evencommand 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 replace 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 haveplanned 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 couldfeel the pull that was drawing him towards whatever was inside this tomb. He was right. He needed todo this. And I needed to support him. Whether I believed there was any power in the stones or not. Thiswas 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 itfree 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 couldmake out a small box inside. Theo reached in slowly. The room was dead silent other than the scrapingsound of the container as Theo removed it. Setting it down gently in front of us, we stared at it for awhile.

“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 therough 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 straightenedand held a hand out to Theo to help him to his feet. “But I think I know where to replace 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. Iguess my mind is…” His expression was pained and it broke my heart. “Look, keep that safe, okay? Iwill 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 inyour 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.”