Luna turned to Alec, her voice shaking. "What is he talking about?"Alec’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer.Jax stepped in, his voice calm but thick with guilt. "It's true. We swore to protect you, but... part of that oath was to keep certain things from you. Things about your parents and their connection to the prophecy. Luna, it's the same prophecy and truth that all these people are always referring to".Luna felt as if her heart was sinking. “You knew it? This whole time you knew it and said nothing. That is my pain”.“We didn’t want you to be burdened with it,–” Alec began with a pleading voice. “You already had so much trouble, Luna. We thought it was the correct decision to make.”“Right for who?” she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. “For me or for yourselves?”Kade stepped forward. "Luna, they were trying to protect you. We all were. That doesn't make it right, but their intentions were good.""I don't care about intentions!" she yelled, her voice cracking. "I care abo
Corvin's smirk evapor, and for the first time, his face turned solemn. "The Moonbearer’s power is not a blessing, but a curse. To wield it is to become well beyond the norm, half the world more than likely would not recognize. It means sacrifices."“What sacrifices?” Luna demanded.He pointed to her friends. “The connections you’ve built. The life you’ve lived. The love you’ve discovered. It all could be lost.”Alec stepped forward, his voice resolute. "Luna, you need to listen to me. We're going to take on whatever we do together. Don't let him frighten you into the wrong choice."Corvin’s gaze flicked to Alec, and his silver eyes narrowed. “You say that now, but wait until she turns into something you can’t protect anymore. Something you can’t even begin to understand?”“I’ll take that risk,” Alec said without hesitation.Luna’s world turned to mud as she looked at the people who had shaped her world. Alec, Jax, Kade, even Morgana with her sick twist had been part of her story. And
“I already made my choice,” Luna said firmly.“Have you?” the figure asked, almost mournfully. “Your heart is divided. It carries the weight of loyalty, love, and trust. Yet beware—hearts that are divided cannot survive under the burden of the Veil.”Alec stepped forward, jaw set. “Leave her alone. She doesn’t need your cryptic warnings from some ghost.”The figure turned its glowing gaze toward Alec. "And you, Protector, what will you do when the Moonbearer's light burns too bright for you to stand beside her?"Alec’s expression darkened, but before he could retort, the figure turned its gaze to Jax. “And you, Guardian of the Spirit. For how long will you mask your insecurities with wit?”Jax flinched, his mask of confidence faltering.“And Kade,” the figure said, turning to the silent warrior. “Do you ever intend to release the shackles of guilt, or will it drag you down into the darkness?”“Enough!” Luna shouted, her voice slicing through the tension. “You don’t know us. You don’t
Jax’s voice was softer now but still laced with uncertainty. “For what it's worth, I’m not going anywhere either.”Kade nodded silently and his presence a steady anchor.Even Morgana gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. “For now.”Luna looked at each of them as her heart ached with gratitude and fear. "Thank you. All of you."Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them trembled a bit and there was a faint sound of a distant drum.“Now what?” Jax muttered, drawing his weapon.The mist in front parted to reveal a huge stone door covered with delicate symbols that appeared to glow faintly.“The Veil’s core,” Morgana whispered, her expression uncharacteristically serious.Luna stepped forward, her heart pounding. “What’s behind it?”She caught Morgana’s gaze, and this time there was a sincere note in her voice that was unexpected. “The truth.”Her hand reached out to the door, without laying on it a voice as if it from nowhere pierced her heart.“Luna…” That was her mother's
"Then how do we pass it?" Kade asked, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger."We face it," Luna said, stepping forward despite Alec’s protest. Her voice steadied as she spoke to the figures. "If you’re here to test us, then let us prove ourselves. No more games."The figures all seemed to tilt their heads slightly, as if pondering her words. At last, one spoke. "Very well, Moonbearer, but know this: truth is a two-edged sword."The shadows receded a bit, but not enough to feel safe. The room changed again. This time, it was an oval arena with walls lined with mirrors. Each reflected a distorted version of their faces: anguish, rage, and despair."Choose," the voices said. "Look into the mirror that calls to you, and face what you fear most."Luna hesitated, her heart racing. The others were throwing worried looks around the group."This is insane," Jax said softly, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides."No," Luna whispered, matching his gaze. "This is our way forwa
The creature loomed over them, a shapeless blob of shifting shadows and bulging red eyes. Its roar rippled the ground, making everyone pause for a heartbeat.Alec said, his voice tight with urgency, “Luna, do you recognize it? Can you do anything?’”She shook her head, her heart hammering. “I don’t know. It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before.”Kade cracked his knuckles as he stepped forward. “I don’t care what it is. If it bleeds, we can kill it.”“It doesn’t have blood, Kade!” Morgana said sharply, tugging a charm from her pocket. “It’s a manifestation of the Veil’s power. Normal weapons won’t do any good.”“Then what will?” Jax asked, his voice edged with panic.Morgana looked at Luna. "Her association with the moon. That's the only thing powerful enough to cast it out."“Are you sure?” Luna asked, her voice wavering.“No,” Morgana confessed, narrowing her eyes. “But we don’t have time to doubt. Do something, or it will tear us apart!”The Shadow Beast lunged at them, swiping
Alec suddenly broke in, eyes lighting up in revelation. "The Moon Relic. It's still resonating with her energy!" Kade crossed his arms and expressed a skeptical attitude. "And what is it we do? Some magic trick to yank her out of the void?""Got a better idea?" Alec snapped impatiently.Just as Kade was about to respond, a faint light shimmered into view in the atmosphere over them, and there was silence as they watched the light shape itself into a form."Luna?" Jax whispered in disbelief, hope glimmering in his voice.But it wasn't Luna. The shape revealed itself to be a spectral entity, its face obscured by a hood."You have trespassed too deeply," the figure spoke, and its voice rang out like a choir of whispers."Who are you?" Alec asked forcefully, stepping forward."I am Guardian of the Veil," it stated, glancing at the group. "What you have done has upset the balance. The Moonbearer's interference has awakened dark forces that are beyond suppression.""Then bring her back!" A
Alec's fists overhanded. He had northealed in his queue, having been frozen, it seemed. "That's not who she is," he told himself; his teeth were clenched."Of course it is," the whisper purred, chilling further. "You let me go. You let me die.""Shut up," he snarled as he tried to grasp more breaths."Alec!" Jax seized him by the arm and shook him. "Don't let it get to you. It's not real!"He boiled forward, slowly blinking, attempting to mentally clear the fog. "I…I fell…moving," he mumbled.Kade grumbled with tense shoulders. "This place is moving. Swear if something just jumps out—"Before he finished, a figure came to silhouette in the further down shadows."Luna?" Alec yelled, hope shining bright in his eyes.But as they came close, it settled into something else—a woman wearing a flowing black cloak, her face half-hidden."It's her," Morgana said softly, but venom dripped from her voice."Her who?" Kade moved his glance between them."The woman who made us find the relic," Alec
The final battle against the darkness was fierce, but the united power of Luna and her allies was inevitable. For each relic they activated, the light of the moon shone brighter until it filled the land void of darkness.When the moon reached its climax, Luna stood in the center of the nexus, the relics glowing around her. On her sides stood Alec, Kade, Jax and Selene with their hands in-between hers.Luna said, her voice steady, “This is it. The moon’s power is ours to wield. We can, together, set things aright.”"And we will," Alec said, keeping his gaze steady. "It's because we believe in you."Jax squeezed her hand, passionate in his voice. "You are the heart of this, Luma".Taking a deep breath, Luna gathered the moon's power and her heart was filled with love and determination. Light engulfed them, washing away the last remnants of darkness.As light faded, the land was no longer the same. The forest was oppressive and lively, the air full of the scent of blooming flowers. The n
Jax snarled as he stepped in front of Luna, "Try it, and you'll regret it."Before Malachai could answer, a brilliant light erupted from the nexus, causing everyone to shield their eyes. When the light receded, a figure stood between Alpha Prime and Luna—a translucent, ethereal apparition that caught Luna's breath.“Mom?” Luna whispered, her voice trembling.The image of her mother turned, the softness in her expression mingling with resolve. "Luna, my precious girl. You have the power to do what I never could. Trust yourself, though."“Mom, I don’t understand,” Luna said, tears streaming down her face. “I do know you are here for a reason. Why is this happening?”Luna's mother stepped closer, as if her spirit were trying to whisper comfort. A spectral hand brushed Luna's cheek. "This is your destiny, Luna. The moon chose you not to bear its burden but to guide it. You can rewrite its will if you believe in yourself."Malachai scoffed. "Touching. But what good is faith when the blood
Malachai's expression darkened, and the smile faded from his lips. "Be careful, Amara. You've made plenty of mistakes yourself. Want me to remind you of them? Start with bringing Luna here."Luna’s eyes jumped back and forth between them, her voice carrying the questions. “What does he mean, Amara?”Amara hesitated and in that moment, the laughter of Malachai echoed again, sharp and biting. "Oh, she didn't tell you? The relic, the visions, even your awakening - it was all her doing. You didn't find this path by chance Luna. You were chosen for it."“Amara?” Luna’s voice shook. Betrayal sliced through her like a knife."It's not what he's making it sound like," Amara said quickly, her tone desperate. "I…yes I guided you here but only because you're the only one who can stop this."“You used me!” Luna shouted, stepping back. “You knew I was a pawn in this, and you said nothing?”Before Amara could respond, Malachai took another step closer, his voice dripping with venom. "But now, you s
The group hurried on, the anxiety taut as a string preparing to clash with the coming storm. The trees flanking them rustled eerily in the wind, a far-off sound of growling carried in the breeze.Alec pressed the blade tighter, his voice low but sharp. "We have to move. Now."Luna glanced up, the light of the moon pouring down on their path. “How far to the nexus?”Amara pointed east. Her voice was sharp. “Less than a mile, but it’s through thick brush, and Malachai will have traps laid out.”Jax smiled as he drew his twin daggers from their sheathes. “Traps are him. Getting past them is on us.”Selene looked at him witheringly. “That’s easy to say when you don’t have to walk in there.”Jax winked. “That’s why I’m charming. To keep morale up.”“Can we focus please?” Alec growled, clearly losing his patience. “Luna, you stay close to me. If anything comes at you—”"I can take care of myself," she interrupted, her tone authoritative. "I'm not helpless, Alec."He sighed then ran his hand
The woman hesitated and gazed at the moonlit sky, her doubt showing for the first time in her eyes. It was the first time uncertainty had shown in her eyes. “Because of the relic... it’s not just a source of power. It’s the key.”Jax frowned. “A key to what?”“To the Moon Gate,” she said quietly.Luna’s breath hitched. “The Moon Gate? That’s just a legend.”The woman shook her head. "No, it's real. And if Malachai opens it, he will unleash a power that will consume this world and everything in it."The voice of Selene was laced with skepticism. "How do you know all of this?"The woman's eyes hardened. "Because I saw it before. I was there when the last gatekeeper fell. I watched Malachai betray his blood to gain the relic."Luna’s heart clenched. “His own blood?”The woman nodded her head. "Malachai didn't only kill your parents, Luna. He killed his brother- your father."The news came like a thunderclap. Alec stood frozen, with his fists clenched at his sides. Jax’s mouth fell open,
She looked up at Luna and said in a voice that was quiet yet steady, ”It’s not a matter of liking it Jax. It is the matter of doing what needs to be done”.Alec paced for a while and then turned to her, his face more than angry but also desperate. "Necessary? Luna, losing your connection to the moon—your power—it's not just a solution; it's a death sentence for who you are."Selene crossed her arms and leaned against a tree. "She's not wrong, Alec. Without the moon's power, you won't just lose your strength, Luna. You'll lose your identity as a wolf."Luna shook her fists, attempting to steady her shaking hands. “I know what it means. I’ve thought about it ever since... ever since the relic bonded with me. If this is the price to stop Malachai, then it’s worth it.”“Worth it?” Alec echoed, his voice rising. “Do you hear yourself? You’re speaking like you’re expendable.”Jax’s tone was sharp. “We all are scars when Malachai stops. Or do you think we’ll come out of this no one SCAR?”“T
The silence was deafening, cracked only by the popping sounds from the flames. While Pack members wore varied expressions, Luna stood in the center, her gaze flicking between them.“I’m going,” she said firmly, her voice the only sound in a silent afternoon.“No, you are not,” Alec said, growling, his golden eyes fixed on hers. “We already talked about this. It’s a trap, Luna.”Luna hugged her arms across herself, looking back at him with equal intensity. "Of course it's a trap," she said, "but if we do nothing, Malachai wipes everything out. He'll come to open the gateway Alec."Jax leant against a tree, arms folded, neither happy nor sad. “She’s right. We cannot afford to just idle, waiting for him to tell us what he wants done next.”Alec turned toward him, his voice rising. "And you think the solution is to send her straight into his hands?"Jax smirked, but it did not have any humor in it. "I did not say that. But we lack the luxury of time, don't we?"Selene stepped forward, he
Alec pulled Luna's hand, his voice calm yet demanding. "We're leaving. Right now."The woman stepped back into the shadows, her parting words doing so. "It is in your hands, Luna, to keep the balance. Do not allow the darkness to wear you out in this way".As they ran to the open space of their territory, Luna’s mind was filled with questions, doubts and fears. But there was one thing that was clear: the match wasn't over.And the second time they encountered Malachai, running would be out of the question.The group barely returned to the safety of their territory when the forest erupted with sinister howls. Alec paced in the clearing by the fire pit, his nervous energy had him moving much more than normal. His wolf energy crackled in the air, right then as he was very frustrated.“We can’t keep running,” Alec growled, his golden eyes flashing. “The Pack of Malachi is closing in and every moment we waste, we’re losing the ground on.”Selene crossed her arms and leaned against a tree,
Alec growled and stepped closer. “Don’t listen to him, Luna. He’s just trying to mess with your head.”"Am I?" Malachai's smile widened. "Or am I finally revealing a truth that even the moon has hidden away?"As they had no time to answer, the ground under their feet began to tremble. The deep bass note vibrated in the air and Luna felt her chest burning awfully at the place where the relic’s energy was still there.“What’s happening?” she gasped, clutching her chest.Malachai's eyes sparkled with victory. "The awakening, Luna. The power of the relic has already begun to stir within you. Soon, however, you'll come to realize that light cannot exist without darkness; even your eyes will be blinded by the truth."The hum got louder and an opening in the ground, glowing with a light from another world, appeared between them. Luna’s knees buckled as the power inside her surged, threatening to devour her.“Luna!” Alec shouted, catching her before she fell.Selene reached for her too, a pan