Her head whipped around, looking for the person who did it. The light got brighter and allowed her to see a figure completely covered in darkness. It was a woman with bright silver eyes and with a faint, ethereal shimmer about her."You've come a long way," the woman said, nearly with an amused tone. "Do you even know in what you fell?"Luna's heart raced, but she galvanized her voice to remain steady. "Who are you?"The woman tilted her head. "You can call me Nyx. I am... a former acquaintance of Nemor Lunae."“The Nemor Lunae,” Luna repeated, clenching her fists. “Where is she?”Nyx’s laughter was like fragile glass shattering. “Oh, she’s close. Closer than you think. But let’s not rush things, dear child. There’s much you don’t understand—about her, about yourself.”Luna stepped forward, glaring. "If you think some vague warning is going to freak me out, you clearly don't know me at all."Nyx smiled. "Oh, I know you, Luna. I know you more than you know yourself. Shall we prove that
Luna hesitated, her mind racing. How could she explain what Nyx had told her? How could she voice the doubt that gnawed at her without unraveling everything?"She’s still processing," Alec said, stepping between them firmly. "Give her space."Jax threw up his hands. "Space? She disappears into some supernatural void, comes back shaken, and now she's acting like nothing happened? That's not how it works."Kade crossed his arms and narrowed his golden eyes. “As much as I hate to agree with Jax , he is certainly right on point. Whatever you saw, Luna, it might be of great importance to all of us.”Selene stepped forward cautiously. "Luna... we trust you, but we can't help you if you don't tell us what's going on."Luna’s chest tightened. She looked at Selene with a torn heart. Those words of Nyx repeated in her mind, “Not everyone who stands beside you is "on your side."“I can’t,” she whispered, lowering her gaze.“Can’t or won’t?” Jax pressed."Enough!" Alec growled, his voice reverbe
Selene stepped between them, her voice steady but firm. "Enough! Fighting won't bring Luna back. We need to think.”Kade stood up and dusted his hands. “This place is old, if it even is a place. It doesn’t just take people, but it tests them. If Luna’s alive, she’s fighting something we can’t do for her.”There was a brief flash of anger in Alec’s eyes. “We’re not going to let chance decide her fate,” he said.“Then let’s find another way down,” Selene said gently. “Together.”Luna stepped closer to the light, wary of her steps. It shone all the more as she neared it, revealing a large stone pedestal upon which an object lay. The object was the relic. Its crystal surface danced with various patterns as though it were animated.“You again,” Luna whispered, her voice finally returning.Touching it with her hand, she was surprised to notice that the shadow had a clear outline.“Careful, Luna,” the woman’s voice was soft, almost comforting. “A gift like that comes with a price.”Luna's he
Kade stepped between them, his eyes flashing gold in warning. "Not now," he growled. "We're wasting time arguing when Luna's still down there."Selene nodded, her expression bleak. "Kade is right. If she needs our help, then standing here blaming each other isn't going to do any good."Alec inhaled deeply, forcing his concentration. "We're going down there, all of us, together."Jax snorted and curled his lip. "Right, storming into the unknown has been so bloody effective for us, hasn it?""Enough!" Selene's sharp voice pierced the tension and silenced them all. She turned to Alec, her tone gentler now. "We're leaving, but it's got to be with a plan. Whatever's waiting for us down there... it knows us already and it's messing with our heads."Luna felt she was adrift in an endless void, the light of the relic still glowing in her chest. She could hear voices—whispers soft at first but growing louder and more urgent.“Luna… Luna…”She took a deep breath and opened her eyes only to be g
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
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
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
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
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
Alec paused, as if he were selecting his words very carefully. "Luna, you and I… there’s a connection. Something deeper than I can put into words. It's the reason I've always felt such a strong urge to protect you."Luna’s breath hitched. “A bond? Are you saying we’re—”“Soulmates,” Alec confirmed, his voice steady.Selene stared at him, shocked. "And you're just now telling her this? Alec, what the hell?""That's not so easy," Alec said, defensively. "I didn't see it that way until now. The moon showed me in the Lunar Chamber."Luna’s head spun with the confusion of a million questions wanting to pour forth from her. Another growl snapped her back to the present, however."We need to move," Alec said, urgently. "Malachai won't stop until he has Selene, and his Pack is crawling all over the forest."Selene’s aura flared again, but this time it was weaker than before. “If he wants me, let him come fight me himself.”"Don't be reckless!" Alec snapped, frustration boiling over. "You are
Luna's vision gradually returned—an interplay of silvery light, whiffs of cool air caressing her skin and the faint harmony of power all over her. She blinked and understood she was no more in the clearing.The expanse was huge and bright where walls were made of glittering crystals that it felt like they were going to pulsate with the rhythm of a heartbeat. Above her a huge moon hung there as if suspended, casting its ethereal glow.“Where… where am I?” Luna murmured.A soft groan escaped that drew her attention. A few feet away lay Selene, her form also curled in a silver aura. Luna scrambled beside her and started shaking her gently.“Selene, wake up!”Her eyes opened slowly, still flashing brightly with that unearthly silver. She got up, glancing around in bewilderment. “What place is this?"“I don’t know,” Luna admitted, helping her up. “But I think it’s connected to the relic—and the moon.”“The Lunar Chamber.”Both women turned at the voice. There was a form, cloaked in shadow