The trek through the woods was hard and silent. The tension between the group floated in the cold night air, visible in their breathings. Luna walked on ahead, the relic clutched in her hands like a fragile lifeline.“So what now?” Jax finally broke the silence, and his voice was sharp. “We just keep wandering in the woods until Mira decides to really kill us?”"Would you prefer that I abandon you here to sort things out by yourself?" Alaric retorted, his voice icy.“Don’t tempt me,” Jax growled, his golden eyes flashing.Alec stepped between them. His tone allowed no argument. “We need a plan, not another fight.”Luna ceased walking and turned to face the group. “We’re going to the Temple of Blood Moon, are we not? Alaric said it was there Mira intended to finish her ritual.”“And you trust him?” Kael asked, his arms crossed.“No,” Luna admitted, her voice soft but firm. “Not in the sense that I have a firsthand account. But I trust my instincts, and where they’re guiding me right no
“Luna!” Jax growled, his body shifting mid-air as he tackled a wolf to the ground. “This isn’t the time for experimenting!”The relic burned in her hand, its light swelling with every second that passed. Luna could not even hear the fighting over the drumming of her heart."Choose, Moonbearer," echoed the voice of the relic in her mind once more, demanding yet soothing at the same time.“I don’t know what that means!” Luna shouted, frustration spilling over.“Luna, focus!” shouted Kade, shooting an arrow that went straight through a wolf's chest. He didn’t look at her even for a second; his eyes were busy searching for the next threat.Luna gasped for breath. It was as if she was drowning in the relic's power and all the chaos surrounding her. Her eyes wandered to Alaric, who stood at the edge of the fighting, intently watching her."You know something!" Luna accused, her voice shaking with rage. "What am I supposed to do?"Alaric stepped closer, easily dodging the snapping wolf. “T
The growl became louder, penetrating the silence. Through the fog stepped the lead wolf but not alone. Next to him stood Mira, her red cloak flapping in a wind that wasn't visible.“Welcome,” said Mira, smoothly as silk. “To the Veil.”“What is this place?” Kael demanded, his fists clenched."It's the space in between," Mira said, her eyes shining. "A liminal world, neither here nor there. The relic brought you here because it needed time - time for Luna to see the truth."Luna stood up against Alec’s hand holding her shoulder. “What truth?”"That you're being told a lie," Mira said, smiling with a razor-sharp grin. "Did they tell you what the relic really is?"“It is a binding to the moon’s power,” Luna said, her voice shaking.Mira laughed darkly. "Is that what they promised you?" She looked at Alec, Kael, and Jax with an expression oozing sarcasm. "Did you forget to tell her that the Moonbearer is a vessel that consumes himself like a candle in a storm?"“That’s not entirely true,”
Alec looked away, guilt written all over his face. "It's true Jax and I are soulmates."The air seemed to drain from Luna’s lungs. “What?”“Yes, we have a religious connection but it wasn’t in my power to explain to you how I felt,” Alec said, getting closer. “I wouldn’t want to hurt you. But it does not mean that now I think any less of you.”“Doesn’t it?” Luna whispered, her voice breaking."That's why I fight for you," Mira said, her voice as sharp as steel. "They've been lying to you, Luna. Right from the start."“Enough!” Luna shouted, her anguish making her voice tremble. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”The mist swirled violently around them, and Kade shouted, "Luna! Where are you?"He emerged moments later, his eyes darting between Alec and Mira. “What’s going on?”"Ask Alec," Mira said coldly. "Or better still, ask him why the relic chose her."Kade’s expression darkened. “Mira, stop this.”“No,” Luna interjected, her voice trembling. “Let her finish.”Mira smiled fain
Luna stepped forward, her voice clear even with the storm raging in her. "Enough. We'll follow you, Mira, but if you betray us, I'll make sure to end you myself."Mira’s smile faded but she nodded. “That’s fair, Moonbearer. I’m coming.”As the Pack started moving, Alec fell in step with Luna and whispered, “Luna, I—”“Don’t,” she said without looking at him. “You’ve said enough.”His shoulders sagged, but he didn’t argue.The group hiked through the forest, a clear tension barrier between them. Mira went ahead, softly humming to herself, her confidence almost unsettling.“Where are we going, exactly?” Kade asked.“To the Heart of the Veil,” Mira said. “That’s where the relic goes when it feels threatened. But it ain’t easy getting there.”“Why not?” Jax asked.Mira turned her head, unusually serious. "The Heart has a guardian, and it doesn't like visitors."“What kind of guardian?” Luna asked, her voice sharp.“You’ll see soon enough,” Mira said cryptically.The air was colder deeper
She paused and turned to him. “But it seems you have lied to me. Every single one of you. How am I supposed to trust any of you if you continue keeping secrets from me?”Kade stepped forward, his face a mixture of emotions. "Luna, we were just trying to protect you—"“Don’t say that again!” she screamed, her voice wandering amidst the trees. “I am not a child, Kade! I expect the truth however ugly or even painful it is. Perhaps you have never felt completely clueless about your destiny?”The group fell silent, it was so obvious that her words carried great weight.Alec mentioned in a low voice, “I didn't want to lose you,” his eyes gleamed.“You already have,” she whispered, her voice breaking.The wolf’s growl echoed through the forest, drawing their attention.“We should keep moving,” Mira said, her tone uncharacteristically subdued.Luna wiped her eyes and looked away from Alec, following the wolf. The others followed in silence, a sign of the fractures beginning to form in their r
Luna Rivers narrowed her glare at the heavens, observing as dark clouds obscured the last semblance of the dying sun. The light faded quickly, throwing long veins of exploring shadows through the dense forest that flanked her new home. In her current surroundings, she had yet to see another living soul, which felt remarkably jarring, though also oddly… right. The old cabin sat at the end of a forgotten road and was entombed somewhere deep in the mountains; it was some… five miles from the nearest town. The cabin was bequeathed to her by her parents; even as they were alive they had not once brought the property to her attention. Luna only discovered the deed after their untimely passing and it was buried in the drawers of her mother’s desk as though it was a family secret taken to the grave.And here I am, in front of the cabin with my suitcase at my feet, both apprehensive and hopeful. Luna's life had gone through a rough patch of unfortunate events. She had lost her parents in a fr
Luna’s heart raced as she stood frozen in the middle of the cabin. The name "Ronan" echoed in her mind like a bell, a chill of fear washed over her. She didn’t know who or what Ronan was, but the fear in the man’s voice was undeniable. “Who is Ronan?” Luna asked, timidly. Silence. The only sound came from the noise crackling in the fire. That warmth felt very far away from the danger she suspected was outside.Another knock, softer this time, then the voice returned. “Open the door, Luna. We need to talk. We don’t have a lot of time.” Her fingers tightened around the blankets around her shoulders, tightening all the fear swelling inside. All her instincts screamed for her to run, but she didn’t know where to go. She didn’t know the forest. The nearest town was miles away. These men or whatever they were seemed to know her, and if they knew her name, what else had they figured out? Luna swallowed hard. Her mind raced through the options she had. Maybe she could get out the back and
She paused and turned to him. “But it seems you have lied to me. Every single one of you. How am I supposed to trust any of you if you continue keeping secrets from me?”Kade stepped forward, his face a mixture of emotions. "Luna, we were just trying to protect you—"“Don’t say that again!” she screamed, her voice wandering amidst the trees. “I am not a child, Kade! I expect the truth however ugly or even painful it is. Perhaps you have never felt completely clueless about your destiny?”The group fell silent, it was so obvious that her words carried great weight.Alec mentioned in a low voice, “I didn't want to lose you,” his eyes gleamed.“You already have,” she whispered, her voice breaking.The wolf’s growl echoed through the forest, drawing their attention.“We should keep moving,” Mira said, her tone uncharacteristically subdued.Luna wiped her eyes and looked away from Alec, following the wolf. The others followed in silence, a sign of the fractures beginning to form in their r
Luna stepped forward, her voice clear even with the storm raging in her. "Enough. We'll follow you, Mira, but if you betray us, I'll make sure to end you myself."Mira’s smile faded but she nodded. “That’s fair, Moonbearer. I’m coming.”As the Pack started moving, Alec fell in step with Luna and whispered, “Luna, I—”“Don’t,” she said without looking at him. “You’ve said enough.”His shoulders sagged, but he didn’t argue.The group hiked through the forest, a clear tension barrier between them. Mira went ahead, softly humming to herself, her confidence almost unsettling.“Where are we going, exactly?” Kade asked.“To the Heart of the Veil,” Mira said. “That’s where the relic goes when it feels threatened. But it ain’t easy getting there.”“Why not?” Jax asked.Mira turned her head, unusually serious. "The Heart has a guardian, and it doesn't like visitors."“What kind of guardian?” Luna asked, her voice sharp.“You’ll see soon enough,” Mira said cryptically.The air was colder deeper
Alec looked away, guilt written all over his face. "It's true Jax and I are soulmates."The air seemed to drain from Luna’s lungs. “What?”“Yes, we have a religious connection but it wasn’t in my power to explain to you how I felt,” Alec said, getting closer. “I wouldn’t want to hurt you. But it does not mean that now I think any less of you.”“Doesn’t it?” Luna whispered, her voice breaking."That's why I fight for you," Mira said, her voice as sharp as steel. "They've been lying to you, Luna. Right from the start."“Enough!” Luna shouted, her anguish making her voice tremble. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”The mist swirled violently around them, and Kade shouted, "Luna! Where are you?"He emerged moments later, his eyes darting between Alec and Mira. “What’s going on?”"Ask Alec," Mira said coldly. "Or better still, ask him why the relic chose her."Kade’s expression darkened. “Mira, stop this.”“No,” Luna interjected, her voice trembling. “Let her finish.”Mira smiled fain
The growl became louder, penetrating the silence. Through the fog stepped the lead wolf but not alone. Next to him stood Mira, her red cloak flapping in a wind that wasn't visible.“Welcome,” said Mira, smoothly as silk. “To the Veil.”“What is this place?” Kael demanded, his fists clenched."It's the space in between," Mira said, her eyes shining. "A liminal world, neither here nor there. The relic brought you here because it needed time - time for Luna to see the truth."Luna stood up against Alec’s hand holding her shoulder. “What truth?”"That you're being told a lie," Mira said, smiling with a razor-sharp grin. "Did they tell you what the relic really is?"“It is a binding to the moon’s power,” Luna said, her voice shaking.Mira laughed darkly. "Is that what they promised you?" She looked at Alec, Kael, and Jax with an expression oozing sarcasm. "Did you forget to tell her that the Moonbearer is a vessel that consumes himself like a candle in a storm?"“That’s not entirely true,”
“Luna!” Jax growled, his body shifting mid-air as he tackled a wolf to the ground. “This isn’t the time for experimenting!”The relic burned in her hand, its light swelling with every second that passed. Luna could not even hear the fighting over the drumming of her heart."Choose, Moonbearer," echoed the voice of the relic in her mind once more, demanding yet soothing at the same time.“I don’t know what that means!” Luna shouted, frustration spilling over.“Luna, focus!” shouted Kade, shooting an arrow that went straight through a wolf's chest. He didn’t look at her even for a second; his eyes were busy searching for the next threat.Luna gasped for breath. It was as if she was drowning in the relic's power and all the chaos surrounding her. Her eyes wandered to Alaric, who stood at the edge of the fighting, intently watching her."You know something!" Luna accused, her voice shaking with rage. "What am I supposed to do?"Alaric stepped closer, easily dodging the snapping wolf. “T
The trek through the woods was hard and silent. The tension between the group floated in the cold night air, visible in their breathings. Luna walked on ahead, the relic clutched in her hands like a fragile lifeline.“So what now?” Jax finally broke the silence, and his voice was sharp. “We just keep wandering in the woods until Mira decides to really kill us?”"Would you prefer that I abandon you here to sort things out by yourself?" Alaric retorted, his voice icy.“Don’t tempt me,” Jax growled, his golden eyes flashing.Alec stepped between them. His tone allowed no argument. “We need a plan, not another fight.”Luna ceased walking and turned to face the group. “We’re going to the Temple of Blood Moon, are we not? Alaric said it was there Mira intended to finish her ritual.”“And you trust him?” Kael asked, his arms crossed.“No,” Luna admitted, her voice soft but firm. “Not in the sense that I have a firsthand account. But I trust my instincts, and where they’re guiding me right no
Her throat thickened at his words, and she blinked the tears away. "Thank you, Alec. That means more than you can imagine."Behind them, Jax muttered under his breath, "Wonderful. Another moment I didn't need to witness."Kael chuckled softly, but the sound was more bitter than amused.But before anyone could respond, there came a low growl that seemed to echo through the trees. It was as if the whole group froze and every instinct they had, was on end.“They’re here,” Alaric said, his voice low and steady.Luna's pulse raced at the sight of glowing eyes in the darkness, surrounding them like predators closing in on their prey.“We’ve got company,” Jax growled, his claws extending.Alec drew his blade and took a defensive posture. “Stay close, Luna. This is not going to be pretty.”The wolves entered the moonlit space and their snarling forms were dark and big. And in the heart of the pack was a figure one would easily identify – Mira.Her eyes made of silver glinted with malice while
Out of the darkness stepped the tall man, his grace slow and purposeful. The silver hair of the man shone in the moonlight, and his piercing blue eyes surveyed the group with ruthless precision.“Well, well,” he said, his voice calm and mildly disturbing. “What brings the prodigal daughter and her happy entourage to my neck of the woods?”“Alaric,” Luna said, her voice steady even though fear coiled in her belly.He smiled with a sharp-featured smile that might have given him an air of menace. "I see my reputation runs ahead of me. However, I can't say I expected a family reunion.""We are not here for pleasantries," Alec said, stepping forward. "We need information."Alaric's eyes flicked to Alec, and his smile widened. "Oh, the overprotective type. Let me guess: you think you can scare me?""Enough," said Luna, with a strong voice. "We don't have time for games. Mira is up to something and I believe you know what it is."At the mention of Mira’s name, Alaric’s face darkened. “Mira.
Luna gripped the relic tighter, its feeble glow trying to light up the way ahead. “What if she’s not? What if she’s telling the truth? The moon has always seemed...alive, as if it’s watching me, waiting for something. Maybe Mira’s right about the relic needing balance.”Kade stepped forward, and his composed voice pierced the silence of fear. "Even if she is right, Luna, you are not alone. We will find another way."Jax snorted, but there was nothing humorous about it. "Yeah, because alternatives always work so well in prophecies and ancient curses."“Enough,” Kael snapped, his voice sharp. “Arguing won’t solve anything.”All of a sudden, the relic pulsed with great intensity in Luna’s hands, sending a wave of energy through the group. She gasped and dropped it as it hit the ground with a resonant hum."What the hell was that?" Jax stepped back as if the relic had just sprouted teeth.Luna stared at the paper, frightened, her eyes open wide. “I don’t know. It has never done it before