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Chapter 22: Bound by Shadows
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2024-10-25 07:44:17Related chapters
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 23: The Crossroads of Fate
The dogs will be named: Silence and Eternity. The blink will be unending: thus the effigy of hopes and dreams incised into the Tern, lingering for an eternity there-in. Luna's heart raced as she looked back at the clearing, arriving at the crater of a life-shattering decision. In her mind, she replayed Kael's offer over and over while feeling the chill of his gaze, cold and expectant.Embrace or fight darkness.Alec and Jax stood close, the tension between the three a charge in the air. Kade was standing in the shadows, inscrutable, the gold of his eyes betraying an intensity wrought strictly for her.Luna closed her fists, the relic's warmth pulsating against her chest like a warning. Uncertainties fluttered through her mind, torn between the seduction of darkness and her fear of being consumed by it.But she had no chance to respond; a hush of silence permeated the air through Alec’s low, deadly voice: “You can’t actually be considering this?” He had clenched his jaw, and his eyes w
Last Updated : 2024-10-25POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 24: Shadows of Truth
The shadows swallowed them, cold and suffocating: Luna could see absolutely nothing, not even her hands in front of her face. She could sense Alec, Jax, Kade all around her, all of them tense as if a prelude to static which was a little breathtakingly delayed; Before she could resist even that the darkness further in a codified way just grimly closeted in.The pulse thudded in her ears. She forced herself to breathe and some calm within her, remnants of the laughter of the woman-"When you will embrace the darkness with your arms, the world shall bow before you"-threatened to clutch at her within a vise."Luna!" A sharp voice came through the void, streaked with urgency. "Stay with us!""I'm here," Luna called back, her voice shaking more than she wished. She reached out her hand, fumbling in the darkness, until she could feel his. "I'm here."Without warning, the oppressive shadows pulled back; it felt like they were shedding the layers of skin. Luna blinked as her vision cleared, rea
Last Updated : 2024-10-25POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 25: The Choice
The stillness in the temple was filled with charged air ripe with the scent of old magic and inevitable uncertainty. Standing at the center, Luna paused, her heart swaying a Racing match, bound in-between the flow of power settling in her chest and the neediness of her pack all around her. The relic thumped against her skin, matching a thud for a thud with her heartbeat, urging her to plunge herself into acceptance of the power it wanted to confer on her.Alec was having a very hard time against the coils of shadow holding him. "Luna! Don't listen to them! It's possible to break free!"Jax has managed to rise with difficulty, heart pounding. "They want you under their control; you can hold your own!"But locked with her eyes on Kael's mother, that sharp and frigid woman standing before her, sparkling with her promise of power, she never asked for this, wished for none of it. Deep within her very soul, however, the allure was clear: the darkness swirling in her veins, something she sh
Last Updated : 2024-10-25POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 26 The Re Awakening
All went silent with some creepy, obscure sound reigning the place of the temple as such frightful and trembling words emanated from Luna while making an equally frightful choice."I choose... neither."Silence followed, punctuated only by Lambert's scintillating hold. Even the shadows willed themselves not to come on. Kael's mother blinked her disbelief, narrowing her cold stare slowly. Elara, Guardian of Light, stepped forward at the surprising conviction of her silver eyes. "Neither? Kael's mother hissed, spitting fire with the venom of the same. "You may not refuse both. This is your fate!”Though her legs were still trembling, Luna stood firm and unwavering now. Her voice was hearty, strong-hearted. "I dare not accept for darkness to flow deep in my veins. Not even the radiant light. I shall choose my own path and find another way."Alec exhaled, relieved, beside her, his gaze softened with admiration. "Oh, Luna..."Kade nodded, and a little smile curled at the corner of his lip
Last Updated : 2024-10-25POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 27: Shattered Foundations
The air outside the temple was rife with dust and havoc. Luna and her company staggered out into the night as the earth continued to quiver underneath their feet, the crumbling remains of the temple throwing wreaths of debris into the air behind them. The once-majestic temple, a trophy of ancient power, was being devoured by itself. A sign of olden times flagging down - and maybe about her future as well, thought Luna. Alec held her arm firmly, yet his eyes reflected concern. "Luna, are you alright? What was that thing back there?" Luna was out of breath and wiping the dirt from her face, "I don't know... I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Jax scrutinized the horizon, his body tense. "Whatever it was, it felt like it was pulling on us, a mix of light and dark. It's unnatural." Kade stepped forward and fixated his gaze on the smoking ruins behind them. "It said the balance has been destroyed. That we should build again. But what does that mean?"Luna shook her head, attempti
Last Updated : 2024-10-25POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 28: The Reckoning
With its glowing eyes trained on Luna, the figure of Balance stood before them motionless; it emanated power, both dark and light. The very ground beneath their feet quaked with every step it took. The rest of them shifted nervously, glancing between balancing force and Luna, their hopes hinging on the side of the earth. "You have until the next full moon," the figure said, its voice a deep, sonorous blend of male and female tones which reverberated in Luna's chest. "After that, the balance will tip. You must decide before then, or the world will be torn apart by the forces you have unleashed."Luna felt her heartbeat speeding up and understood the weight of those words. Her throat tightened, but she made herself say: "What if I don't choose?"The Balance narrowed its glowing eyes. "The world shall fracture beyond repair. The light and dark will consume all before them, and you, Luna, will be the incendiary which ignites this horror. Nobody, in fact, will remain standing, not even th
Last Updated : 2024-10-25POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 29: The Awakening of the Void
This monstrous figure, surging above them, seemed to grow bigger with each passing moment. Its form transformed from light to dark, a combination of all things Luna despised. With eyes glowing with unearthly light, like the Balance incarnate, there stood something strange-that darkness was deep and damning.The splitting roar sent a tidal wave of nausea through Luna as the earth shook beneath them. The air grew thick and dense, making it difficult to breathe- and it was becoming unbearable to be pinned between two opposing forces.Alec yelled above the racket, his voice gaunt with panic. "Luna! We have to move, now!"But Luna's gaze did not waver from the creature. It was as though the creature locked its piercing gaze into her, pulling her closer. A semblance of familiarity wafted over her psyche with its energy, which tugged at the core of her being. Her heart raced, and the relic about her neck reacted by thrumming violently almost in rhythm with her panic."Luna!" Jax yelled as he
Last Updated : 2024-10-25POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 30: The Choice
As the pack's eyes bore into her moving forward, Luna approached the Void with each step pulling various fear and resolve in her body. Behind her head, she could hear Alec's voice in growing desolation.“Luna, wait!” Alec hollered with a voice cracking with panic. “You don’t have to do this!”“Luna!” Jax practically shrieked, over-urgent. “Think about what you’re sacrificing! There has to be another way!”But the energy of the Void pulsated around her, a magnetic tether pulling her inwards. With each footfall, she felt the relic thrum against her skin; it became more aglow with each step into destiny.I'm not going to let you destroy everything! Luna retorted defiantly. It starts here and now!The Void flexed; light-turned darkness, another terrifying roar escaped it. The air cracked for as far as she could see, and the ground shook underfoot. There was power, then pressure, a stream of energy locking onto her, sensing her determination.“Luna!” Kael's voice, flooded with grief, broke
Last Updated : 2024-10-25
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POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 100: Shadows and Shadows
Luna felt the chaos strike her with the force of a blow, an acrid air foul with smoke, blood, and fear, as villagers ran in all directions screaming, with shadow wolves leaping from the shadows.Alec was going on all fours with a howl that cut through the din. A call to chambers echoed to ready their allies."Spread out!" Ronan yelled, already in action as he hacked at a shadow wolf. "Protect the villagers!"Selene grabbed Luna's arm. "Stick close. Malachai wants you, and he'll not have you on our watch.”"I won't just stand by!" Luna said, clutching the shining relic."Then don't," Selene huffed, pulling release. "But don't make it easy for him to drag you close."A little more confidence; Luna nodded, holding faster to the relic, feeling warm to her fingertips but with an insistent thrum to it.Jax stood alongside her, with two daggers in hand. "You got this, Moonbeam," he said, handing a smile that was rare and sincere. "Don't be fooled, you have us." Before she could answer, a sh
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 99: The Bloody War
Luna could feel them looking at her, waiting, anticipating. Taking a shaky breath, she said, "We can't fight them alone. We have to rally the other Packs."Ronan crossed his arms; it didn't show what he was thinking. "That's asking for a lot, Luna. Convincing Crescent Ridge Pack to help was one thing. Uniting all the Packs is a whole other battle.""Then we'll fight it," she said forcefully. "Because if we don't, none will survive."Ronan gave her a long considering look and slowly nodded. "All right. I'll send word out. But you had better be ready to lead. In order for them to listen to you, you'll have to show them." Luna nodded, determination hardening her heart. "I will do it."As the Packs was tending to their wounded and regrouping, Alec pulled her aside and searched her eyes."You good?" he softly asked."I don't know," she admitted, voice trembling. "That power felt like it wasn't just me that it was all about. Like it was bigger than me. Like the moon itself was guiding me."
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 98: Allies or Enemies
Luna held her ground. "I think you do care about your pack. Enough to put your pride behind and do what has to be done."For a moment, both Alphas held each other’s gaze in a silent war of command. At last, Ronan huffed and took a step back.“Fine,” he said. “We’ll hear you out. But if this is a trick, there won’t be enough of you left to regret it.”Luna nodded, and relief washed over her, though she didn’t let it show. “Fair enough.”Ronan waved his hand to tell the wolves to stand down, and Kade whispered, “Isn’t he just so charming?”Jax nudged him with an elbow. "Let's just get through this without starting another war, okay?"The Crescent Ridge wolves led them to a large clearing where a huge bonfire burned. The Packs were seated in two separate clusters, separated by an invisible line of distrust.Ronan spoke to his Pack with a commanding voice. "Listen up. We're supposedly fighting shadow wolves and this—" he gestured to the relic in Luna's possession, "key to defeating them.
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 97: More Shadows
Kaelde crossed his arms. "Fine. Let's say she's right about the timing. That doesn't explain why Luna is this supposed savior. What makes her so special?"“Kade,” Alec warned, his tone low.“No, it’s okay,” Luna interjected, looking straight into Kade’s eyes. “I’ve been asking myself that too. I don’t have all the solutions or answers but one thing I am sure of: I’m not backing down. Not now.”Kade held her gaze for a moment before he looked away, his shoulders tense. "Hope you're ready to back it up."“Enough,” Selene said, her voice slicing through the tension. “We need to concentrate. If the eclipse is in two nights, we don’t have any time to waste.”Jax tilted his head and squinted as he thought. “We’re going to need allies. Shadow wolves can’t be any better than they sound, and we sure don’t want to face them alone.”"Who is going to help us?" Alec asked. "The Packs are scattered. Half of them don't even trust each other anymore."“What about the Crescent Ridge Pack?” Selene of
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 96: The Weight of Truth
Alec's hand found hers and squeezed gently. "We are real, Luna. Whatever it took from you, we are here, and we aren't going anywhere."“Speak for yourself,” Kade muttered, earning a glare from Alec.“Kade, not now,” snapped Selene, stepping forward. Her voice was steady but had a sharpness to it. “Luna’s been through something and no one else is pointing fingers.”“Pointing fingers?” Kade narrowed his eyes. “I’m not pointing fingers. I said we’ve followed her blindly, and now she’s supposedly the heir to the moon? We deserve some answers, don’t we?”"I didn't ask for any of this!" Luna retorted, rising to her feet. Her voice rang in the cavern, silencing everyone. "Do you think this was my choice? Losing my parents, having my life turned upside down? I'm trying to figure this out just as much as you are!"The room fell into a heavy silence.Jax interrupted, his voice soft yet authoritative. "She's correct. None of us volunteered for this, but we all share the burden. Luna has been the
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 95: The Trial of the Moon
As Luna’s surroundings changed, the silver landscape faded away into the past. She was once again in her childhood home, where her mother’s cooking was all that could fill an empty room. The warm glow of the fireplace filled the room and she almost felt it for a moment.“Luna, sweetheart, can you grab the salt?” her mother’s voice called from the kitchen.She felt her chest tighten as she pivoted towards the sound. And there was her mother, alive and smiling, it was almost like the tragic night before never occurred.“Mom?” Luna’s voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes.Her mother turned, wiping the tears from her eyes with her apron. “What is it dear? You look like a person who has seen an apparition in daylight.”"I..." Luna faltered in her words. She wanted to run to her, hug her, and never let go but a flicker of doubt held her back.“Do you know where you are, Luna?” The wolf’s voice echoed faintly, far away yet close.Luna clenched her fists. Her heart was telling her somethi
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 94: Shadows of Betrayal
Jax hesitated, his jaw clenching. "The relic it's not stable anymore. That light and a bit of behavior it's reacting to it's warning you the power of the moon is unraveling and if you don't act soon it might take you with it."“Great,” Kade growled. “Another doom-filled prophecy. Just what we needed.”Selene stepped forward, her voice slicing through the tension. “Before we spiral further, let’s just take a moment to orient ourselves. We need to regroup and come up with our next move.”Alec nodded, keeping his arm around Luna. "Agreed. Luna's not in a state to make decisions right now. We need answers first."The group stood up, their surroundings slowly coming into focus. They were in an underground cave, the walls sparkling with wetness. Odd symbols were carved in the rock, meaning unknown."Doesn't anyone else feel like we're being watched?" Kade said softly, scanning the cavern with his eyes.“I’ve felt it since we landed,” Selene said, drawing her blade. “Stay sharp.”The air gre
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 93: The Weight of Truth
The woman’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “I am merely a vessel, an echo of the relic’s authority. And in that, I speak for the moon's timeless knowledge.”Luna clenched her fists, raising her voice. “Stop with the riddles! If you have answers, just give them to me. Why are you doing this? What does the moon want from me?”The woman's expression softened, but she remained disturbing. "The moon chose you, Luna, because you are its essence in a human form. Its energy runs through your blood, mingled with the relic's enchantment. But such power comes with a price."“What cost?” Luna pressed, her frustration mounting."Sacrifice," the woman repeated. "The life you've known. The relationships you’ve built. Those would keep you here, but the moon wants freedom; to open its arms to you, you have to cut those chords."Alec’s voice broke the building tension. “She doesn’t have to do anything you say. We’ll find another way.”“There's no other way,” the woman said, her voice colder now. “Defiance o
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 92: The Shattered Veil
Kade managed to get unsteadily to his feet and golden eyes swept the room. “I’m fine. Where’s Luna?”“Here,” a soft voice echoed, drawing their attention.Luna stood in the middle of the cave, facing away from them. The relic pulsed softly against her chest, its light feeble and intermittent. Shadows swirled around her as though animated, murmuring secrets that only she seemed to hear.“Luna,” Alec shouted, feeling relief rush through him. He stepped toward her, but Kade’s hand shot out and “Wait,” Kade warned, his voice low. “Something’s wrong.”Luna turned slowly, pale, and with tears down her cheeks. Her eyes were normally so bright but now they looked dull and haunted.“Luna,” Alec said again, his voice softer now. “What happened? Are you hurt?”She shook her head, her lips trembling. “I saw them.”“Who?” Selene stepped forward cautiously.“My parents,” Luna whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “And…” She faltered, eyes flicking to Jax.Jax froze, his face a mask of guilt.“An
