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Chapter 9 Into the Heart of Darkness
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2024-10-14 03:40:47Related chapters
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 10 The Hidden Truth
The forest was alive with morning sounds as Alec, Kade, Jax, and Luna wound their way back to the cabin. The early light filtered through the trees and cast pockets of shadows on the ground. Before long, they had returned to the cabin. The warmth and security of the little shelter was a welcome change from the oppressive silence and threat of danger in the old temple. They regrouped in the main room, the glowing relic sitting heavy and silent in its case on the table. Alec paced, his mind processing what had so abruptly closed the door behind them. Kade sat against the back wall, watching the relic. Jax leaned against the wall beside the fireplace, staring into the fire.Luna dropped into one of the chairs at the table, needing the support behind her and the extra comfort it could provide. She let out a ragged breath, her body and mind wanting to collapse entirely. The relic shimmered slightly in the reflected firelight, and she had to squint a little against its glow. It was beautifu
Last Updated : 2024-10-15POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 11: The Edge of the Full Moon
A shadowy haze enveloped the sky as Alec, Kade, Jax, and Luna arrived on the outskirts of the forest where they were supposed to perform the ritual. There was a tangible tension among them. Only two days remained until the full moon, and that basically meant that all their hopes were hanging on the unlocking of the relic power to stand a chance against the Nightborne.The place they decided upon was an ancient clearing in the interior of the forest. The clearing was, as they were told, a place of power, an ancient sacred site of rituals centuries old, where the wolves of yore had interceded.As they stepped into the clearing, the air seemed almost to hum with digitized energy, and it felt as though the very ground had recognized its intended purpose. The sun illuminated the trees while long shadows traversed the floor, all knowing that the full moon was about to rise."This should be a good spot for the ritual," Alec said, with a low and thoughtful voice as he took a look around.Luna
Last Updated : 2024-10-16POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 12: The Rising Storm
Morning unfurled across the forest, yet the unease of the night before had not left Luna. The clearing buzzed with life as she stepped out of her tent. The serious, hushed tones of Alec and Kade's exchange filled the air. Jax was a little farther away, sharpening the blade of a knife while watching the perimeter; it was a ritual that had always seemed to calm him when it felt like trouble was brewing.Luna felt considerably weighted down by what she had talked to Jax about the previous night. His vision of that forest burning, her vanishing, gnawed on the inside of her like an insistent whisper of doom. As much as she wanted to dismiss it, the fear of a ritual getting out of hand bore down on her."Morning." Alec's voice interrupted her thoughts as he stood some distance away, offering her a reassuring smile. "How do you fare?" Luna half-heartedly ducked her head, trying to shake off her anxiety. "I didn't sleep much.""None of us did," Alec said, unsparingly. He waved his hand towar
Last Updated : 2024-10-16POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 13: The Alpha’s Wrath
And the figure behind him radiated a terrifying power sweeping across the clearing, so that the very ground beneath Luna shuddered. She couldn't comprehend what she had actually seen. This one was not like the other Nightborne; she felt it was different: larger, more imposing; its aura crackled with the weight of ancient, dark energy.Alec was just managing to get back on his feet, his breath ragged. He looked up at the creature towering over him, and for the first time since Luna had seen him, real fear spread across his face."What the hell is that?" Jax growled as he stepped beside Luna, his knife still drawn but his body manned and tense, ready to act.Kade lay on the ground at the edge of the clearing, trying to stand. He bellowed, "That's no ordinary Nightborne. It's their alpha.""Their alpha?" squeaked Luna, her heart thumping against her ribcage.Jax clenched his jaw and stepped forward. "I've never seen one this powerful. We need to get Alec away from it, now!"But Alec did
Last Updated : 2024-10-17POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 14: Dark Awakening
A sharp bolt of pain jolted through Luna's body, reawakening her from the pool of unconsciousness. Trembling, she opened her eyes, slowly coming back to the struggle of reality around her. Against a blurry canvas of sound and motion, she heard Jax's growl but, more importantly, Alec's screeching call to her name. A heavy and sinister presence loomed nearby, that of the alpha.Her muscles twitched in varied strains, and with immense effort, she pushed herself to sit up, her sight swirling. The clearing was like hell-burned earth where uprooted trees and scattered debris had covered the ground, the glow from the relic now pulsating at an all-time weakness. Yet what made her blood run cold was the sight of the alpha a few feet away from the relic; it hovered its massive claws over the ancient object, just waiting to pick it up.“No,” Luna said softly, her voice weak but laden with fear.The alpha's eyes glowed a deep malevolent red with crimson-tongued snarls aimed toward Luna, as if it
Last Updated : 2024-10-18POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 15 The Forgotten Alpha
Luna gasped heavily for breath as the world raged around her in a spinning whirl. The ground became unfixed beneath her feet as the relic pulsed in her hand, barely alive. The impact of the alpha's fury throbbed in her body, but her eyes had frozen onto the figure emerging from the forest.Several seconds of silence loomed over the clearing, interrupted only by the resonating deep growl—the warning from the alpha itself. With its bright red eyes, it now turned and fixed on the newcomer. A sense of tension slowed time, thick and suffocating as if the forest collectively was catching its breath.Still panting with blood staining his clothes, Jax stepped forward. His knife was drawn—for what it was worth—but he was careful to appear neutral. "Who the hell is this?" he hissed under his breath. It was almost too quiet to hear.Alec standing several feet away seemed equally surprised. His sharp, calculated eyes widened. "I don't know..." he said, the voice trailing off as he looked at the f
Last Updated : 2024-10-20POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 16: Rise of the Chosen
Chapter 16: Rise of the ChosenThe night air grew colder as Luna stood at the center of the clearing, her heart steady and calm. The relic in her hand pulsed faintly in time with the flow of her blood, and as their connection deepened, the moon shone brighter above, its rays wrapping about her like a protective cocoon.The alpha stumbled to rise, his body all squashed and broken, yet highly furious. The beauty of his red eyes shone with that hatred, but beneath that boiling rage, something deep was sensed in the alpha for the very first time by Luna—something else beneath all the rage: fear. Real fear; down to the core."You think you have won?" snorted the alpha, a combination of acute rasping pain suffusing each barbed syllable, but on the underlistening of a contemptuous malice. "You think that epitome of your ancestral folly will help you? You are nothing, Luna. A half-breed child without an ounce of claim to power."Bitter, her chest tightened in offense, her doubts thereby bubbl
Last Updated : 2024-10-20POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 17: Shadows of the Past
In all, there was silence near the forest. The winds that had howled through the trees now gave way to faint whispers. Luna, Jax, and Alec were walking back toward the pack village, the craving of the battle still sending its buzz in the air. Luna felt victorious, but a feeling of streaking unease still stretched in her gut.She had conquered the alpha and claimed the legacy of the Forgotten Alpha-The very heritage of power flowed through her veins. But something was amiss. The alpha's final words kept haunting her: This isn't over.As the village came into sight, the glow from the cottages began to ground her once again. But just before they could reach the safety of the home, Luna suddenly felt an unsettling surge of energy sweep through her. It was faint, barely perceptible, but awfully dangerous.She halted, her eyes sharp and scanning the dark forest behind them. Immediately, Jax discerned her tautness and moved closer to her; his hand swung to the hilt of his knife. "What's wron
Last Updated : 2024-10-20
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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
