The Golden Lycans (Ella) novel Chapter 83

The Cabin

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The Cabin

The cabin is a single large room, exuding a mixture of rustic warmth and quiet authority. A collection of mismatched armchairs surrounds a roaring wood burner, while a large, imposing

desk sits at the far end of the space, an old leather chair behind it. Lining the walls are towering

bookshelves crammed with volumes, a massive globe, and various artifacts that hint at history

power, and legacy.

Before I can take it all in, Dana’s voice cuts through the heavy silence.

“Welcome to the pack house, Ella,” she greets warmly, stepping forward and wrapping me in a

motherly embrace.

I stiffen slightly, not out of discomfort but out of sheer uncertainty in this setting. Still, I force a small smile, trying my best to relax. But it’s difficult when the weight of the room, the weight of who rules this room, presses down on me uncomfortably.

Then, my eyes shift to Austin’s father.

Leo.

He watches me with narrowed eyes, assessing, judging-his stance and expression making it clear that his opinion of me remains unchanged. Instinctively, I step closer to Austin. His hand finds mine, his grip firm, reassuring. He knows what I’m feeling.

“Sit,” Leo commands briskly, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. He moves toward the largest armchair by the fire, settling in as if it were a throne.

Austin and I take our seats, mine positioned as far from Leo as possible. I don’t trust him, don’t like him, and I have no idea what this meeting is meant to accomplish. Then, Leo clears his throat-a

sound of pure authority.

“I apologise for not immediately congratulating you, Austin, on finding your mate,” Leo says, though

his voice lacks warmth. If anything, it carries a weight of disappointment and resignation.

Austin nods silently, offering no response. The tension lingers between them, thick and unspoken.

After a pause, Leo exhales sharply and shifts in his chair.

“Now, explain. What were you talking about last night? About the origins of our pack? And what did

you mean about Atlas?”

Austin leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees, his expression unreadable.

“Well,” he begins, his tone measured, “despite what you’ve believed since September, Freya and I

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have known for a while now, that Ella isn’t the human we originally thought she was.”

Leo’s sharp gaze flicks to me, confusion flashing across his face.

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“Not human?” he repeats, “how? That’s impossible, Austin. She’s nothing supernatural that we’ve ever encountered.”

I sit up straighter, clearing my throat before speaking.

“I’m actually… Fae,” I say simply. “and you wouldn’t recognise what I am, as I am apparently the last of my kind.”

Leo stares at me, his expression shifting from shock to outright disbelief. His eyes search mine, as if waiting for me to take it back, to correct myself. But I don’t.

Before he can respond, Austin continues, clearly relishing the stunned look on his father’s face.

“And to answer your other question,” he says, “Atlas revealed something else to me last night, just

after we greeted everyone, before I came into the hall.”

He pauses, his gaze flicking to me before returning to Leo.

“Turns out, Atlas is the spirit of our pack’s founder. None of this is a coincidence…”

Leo’s brows furrow, but Dana is the one who speaks first.

“I don’t understand…” she murmurs, “what do you mean, about repeating history? The founder was mated to a Lycan. The Fae have been extinct for six hundred years…”

Austin sighs, loudly this time, then turns to his father, his expression hardening.

“Why isn’t the real story of our pack’s origins common knowledge?” Austin demands, frustration tightening his voice. His sharp gaze locks onto his father, “why have I only heard about it from

Atlas?”

Leo exhales heavily, his expression darkening. A low growl rumbles from his chest.

“Because we are a proud pack of LYCANS, Austin,” he exclaims, his tone edged with bitterness, “how do you think it would look if the truth came out? That our entire legacy-our strength-began with a bond where only ONE was Lycan? To many, it would be a laughing matter. That knowledge has been passed down, kept secret, from alpha to alpha for hundreds of years.”

Austin recoils slightly, disgust flashing across his face.

“Are you serious?” he snaps, “PLENTY of packs out there have alphas bonded to mates from other species. Dalston Lake’s Luna is a witch. Packs thrive because of diversity-witches, elves, nymphs…it’s not something to be ashamed of. If anything, knowing the truth makes me prouder of

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our pack than ever. Since Atlas revealed it last night, I feel more honored to be connected to him,

More grateful than ever to be blended with his spirit.”

His voice softens, but the conviction behind it does not.

“And now, I get to be mate bonded to Ella-a faerie,” He looks directly at his father, unwavering,

“and that means something else. Something monumental. And you know it.”

“Wait, wait-someone please explain,” Dana interjects, looking completely lost.

I turn to her, speaking carefully.

“Your pack’s founder was mate bonded to a faerie. That bond-their union-is what gave him and his descendants their golden appearance, and their unique abilities, for several generations. Your pack doesn’t descend from two Lycans, but from a Lycan and a faerie.”

Dana’s eyes widen as she stares at me, her mind racing to catch up.

Austin exhales and runs a hand through his hair.

“If-when-Ella and I fulfill our bond… Atlas and I will become the next Golden Lycan.”

He says the words as if he himself is still grappling with their weight.

The room falls into stunned silence.

Leo clears his throat, while Dana looks utterly mystified, her eyes darting between her son and me as if struggling to reconcile the truth with everything she has ever known.

“They used to prophesise it…but…I never thought it would happen again…and certainly not in my lifetime.. The Fae were believed to have been extinct for so long,” Leo says, the intensity of his stare makes my skin prickle with unease. I shift back in my chair, instinctively putting distance between

“But there was always a caveat to the prophecy,” he continues, voice lower now, weighted with significance. “He would return when the world needed him most. When darkness threatened to

overrun the light.”

My stomach tightens.

Darkness and light. Again.

Lately, it seems like every conversation keeps circling back to this looming threat, this unseen

force. I stare down at the floor, trying to suppress the discomfort crawling up my spine.

“This might explain some of what the pack Seers have been saying,” Dana speaks up, her voice

thoughtful. “They’ve mentioned a Warden of the Light… I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I just

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remembered something from my history lessons.” She pauses, her brows knitting together.

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The Fae were once the world’s greatest source of light. Their disappearance is why darkness has been steadily gaining ground for centuries.”

Her gaze shifts to me, her expression both curious and calculating.

“How strong are you?” she asks.

The question takes me off guard.

“Well…” I hesitate, feeling the weight of every set of eyes on me, “what I do know is that my magic feels stronger when I’m near Austin. Old texts say a faerie’s power grows when they’re in love… and we can only assume that a mate bond might amplify that even more, because it’s divinely given.”

I exhale, shifting uncomfortably. “So, I guess I’m nowhere near my strongest yet.”

Austin, sensing my unease, speaks up.

“Ella has only known about her true heritage for less than two months,” he reminds them, his tone

protective.

The room falls into a pensive silence, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

“Austin… about the subject of darkness,” I begin hesitantly, my throat tightening. “There’s something important I need to tell you. I didn’t want to bring it up last night because… well, we

were so happy.”

I swallow hard, trying to find the right words.

“But… there’s a bit of an issue.”

Austin’s expression shifts instantly, his body tensing as he turns to me.

“I found out at Christmas that there’s a hybrid after me. His name is Erebus, and his intention is to drain me of my light. He wants my magic, at it’s peak,” My voice drops slightly, the weight of it pressing against my chest, “so… he sent someone to lure me into falling in love with them-to strengthen my magical reserves before he takes them for himself. But…” I hesitate, my pulse

quickening, “he has no idea that it’s going to be far more than he expected.”

My eyes meet Austin’s, unwavering, “because of our divine bond.”

“Erebus?” Leo repeats, his voice sharp with fury. His entire posture stiffens, his piercing stare now

locked onto me.

Dana looks equally enraged, her jaw tightening as her hands curl into fists.

I nod.

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“I believe it’s the same man who wiped out your neighboring pack.”

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A muscle in Austin’s jaw twitches, and I don’t have to look to know his fists are clenched. His entire aura shifts, thick with a uncharacteristic, simmering rage.

“Who did he send?” he asks, his voice dangerously quiet. His green eyes burn with something

deeper-hurt. Betrayal.

I couldn’t lie to him. Not about this. And part of me knows he already suspects the answer.

I take a slow breath.

“Will.”

The moment the name leaves my lips, a flash of light ignites in Austin’s eyes, and I feel the energy

in the room shift.