Selenophile 2

In a place untouched by ordinary humans, there was an extraordinary structure that bordered the southeastern side of the Lunaria Forest. Its location was somewhat hidden behind towering ancient trees and orderly mountain ranges. At first glance, the eyes would be deceived, unable to find its presence. Nature seemed to conspire to keep its existence a well—guarded secret from the outside world.

The building was no ordinary house. Resembling a skyscraper, its design resembled the castle often mentioned in children's bedtime stories. Sturdy and large pillars surrounded it, giving it a luxurious and ancient appearance. Next to it was a vast courtyard, more accurately described as an endless garden.

A neatly made and meticulously maintained path was lined with small stones. Various aromatic flowering plants formed colorful paths. There was also a small pond with a beautiful fountain.

As far as the eye could see, the green grass became a soothing carpet. The chirping of birds, reminiscent of a melodious song, continued without interruption. The blue sky stretched out, illuminated by the sunlight. Everything created a magnificent panorama that no ordinary person could ever imagine.

What's more interesting is that the atmosphere was rather peaceful. Tranquility and serenity often surrounded it, thanks to its location far from the outside world. It seemed quiet, almost always silent, as if there were no inhabitants.

Until the time when the sun began to set and the light was replaced by darkness. The silence was shattered by noise and commotion. Calm and peace were no longer felt as restlessness began to waft and fill the air.

The 15th, the second full moon night, should always be an eagerly awaited moment, just like any other full moon night. But this time something was different. Without cheers and hustle and bustle, those faces looked tense and anxious, as if they were experiencing similar worries.

"What if Ursa is wrong?"

"Could her prophecy be wrong?"

"Will the Alpha forgive Ursa again?"

Many questions and fears hung in the air. Everyone was struggling, making it almost impossible to breathe. They asked each other, but no one could answer. They wanted to demand, but there was another party more entitled to complain.

"There is something that binds her wolf spirit all the time. I think she may not even realize that she is a werewolf."

"Are you suggesting magic?"

Ursa nodded, acknowledging the question. "I suspect so, Philo."

Philo Celeste remained silent. He chose not to say anything now, daring only to glance at a man sitting on a throne with an unreadable expression on his face.

"That's the only reasonable explanation why you couldn't find them all this time, Alpha."

Finally, Ursa was able to express the possibility that had been circulating in her mind lately. She had thought about it night after night. It seemed impossible that the Alpha hadn't found his mate for years.

"My suspicion is confirmed, Alpha. The ceremony we performed last night provided the answer to our long-standing fears. The girl, your future mate, the future Luna for the Xylvaneth Pack, has been found," Ursa continued fervently. She conveyed sincerity in her expression to convince the Alpha. "Tonight, she will appear in the Lunaria Forest."

"What if you're wrong again?"

Ursa stumbled. The flat question seemed to stop her heart. "I-I am willing to accept your punishment, Alpha."

Silence. Ursa's answer created a momentary hush. No one spoke until the Alpha rose from his throne.

"Philo."

Philo answered promptly, "Yes, Alpha?"

"You will lead the search tonight. Explore the Lunaria Forest and don't come back until you find the girl."

"Understood, Alpha."

After that, the Alpha left. Philo and Ursa exchanged glances shortly after.

"Are you sure about this, Ursa?"

Ursa winced, her hands clenching together. Her calm face looked worried, but she nodded. "I-I'm sure, Philo. I saw her. The Moon Goddess showed her to me. I'm not lying."

"I hope so, because this is not just about the Alpha, but about the survival of the pack."

Ursa nodded. Like the others, she felt the same concern. They were afraid and panicked with a question that had haunted them for over ten years. What if the Alpha couldn't find his Luna? What would happen to her? Could the pack's destiny soon be over?

Luckily, Ursa received a vision at the right time. The Sacred Ceremony was performed. The moonlight became the path for the Moon Goddess to give her answer. A face appeared in her mind and she shared this joyful news with the pack.

Unfortunately, the good news was not enough to assuage the worries deeply rooted in the minds of the pack. They needed tangible proof, visible to the eyes—the presence of the woman who would become their Luna.

Now Ursa's only hope lay with the Beta. She knew that Philo was a reliable werewolf, and now she prayed that Philo could find the girl in time. At least before the Alpha lost his patience and punished her.

"How do we find her?" Philo asked later. His brow furrowed in confusion. "The Lunaria Forest is huge, and how will we know if she's the one we're looking for?"

"The Palace and the outside world are separated by the Monte Astralis Mountain range and the Lunaria Forest. So, all you have to do is go to the meeting point between them. She will come down from the Monte Astralis Mountains and enter the Lunaria Forest. She's just an ordinary girl brave enough to enter the Lunaria Forest. She's not one of the werewolves yet, but she's brave."

Ursa closed her eyes for a moment. She remembered the vision she had received last night. Like a jumbled video, the visual display gave her a rough idea.

"She runs. She's trying to save herself. So, you must come at the right time. The full moon will lead her to you.”

Philo nodded. Despite some lingering doubts, he decided not to be impulsive. He would follow the Alpha's command and prove for himself whether Ursa's prophecy was true or not.

"I will gather the pack at once."

Philo left. Ursa remained alone in the pavilion. Her hands were clasped to her chest and her head was bowed. Her mouth murmured prayers that repeated endlessly.

Hopefully. Hopefully everything is true. I pray.

While Ursa continued to pray, Philo did the opposite. He hurried toward the Palace hall, and his presence immediately quieted the commotion there.

All eyes turned to Philo, then glanced here and there, but they didn't find the expected figure.

"Alpha is not here. He's angry."

"Impossible. How could he be angry if Ursa's prophecy hasn't been proven true yet? It could be wrong, but it could also be right. He shouldn't be angry now."

"Ursa made a false prophecy years ago. She said that the Luna would come soon, but it didn't happen. The pack began to doubt her abilities."

Philo sighed. His voice echoed and reverberated, then the commotion subsided.

"Tonight, we will go to the Lunaria Forest. We will explore the forest and find the girl. No matter what happens, we must bring her here. Do you understand?"

The pack answered in unison. "Yes."

"But what if the prophecy is wrong again, Philo? What will happen to Ursa?"

Philo turned to the source of this question. A werewolf woman named Julie Davis was staring at him, waiting for his answer.

"That is the Alpha's and Ursa's business. Our business is to follow Alpha's orders. So, there's nothing to question. We're leaving now."

Julie fell silent, and others remained mute. They didn't say anything when Philo gave the orders.

Everyone hurried out of the hall. They walked outside and the moonlight bathed their entire bodies.

Blood boiled. Spirits howled. Immediately after Philo's command, they ran.

On two legs at first. Then their bodies changed. Large and majestic, covered in long and beautiful fur.

Their four legs kicked firmly. Sharp eyes were ready to pierce the darkness of the Lunaria Forest. Muzzles opened and a long howl echoed.

*

Era gasped, her breathing getting harder and harder. But she couldn't stop, not even for a moment. Behind her, the thugs were still in pursuit.

"How is this possible? Why are they still chasing me?"

At first, Era thought everything would be over once she entered the Lunaria Forest. But that wasn't the case. It seemed that Mosha, as the ruler of the night in Avaluna, could instill fear many times over. His criminal network was not to be taken lightly; he was known for his cruelty and would spare no one who defied him. So, the thugs ignored the myths and horrible stories that circulated around Avaluna. In their minds, werewolves might not really exist, but Mosha's wrath was undoubtedly real if they failed to carry out his orders.

"There! Over there! That's Era!"

Without looking back, Era picked up her pace. She pushed through the thick bushes and crossed a small river. She crossed everything until her body reached its limit.

Era was running out of energy. Her concentration began to fade and her legs weakened. Finally, she could only scream when the roots of a tree tripped her.

Era fell. Her body rolled several times until a large rock collided with her head, instantly silencing her.

Pain surged through her. Her bones felt like they were crumbling. Era couldn't move in the echo of laughter that instantly spread.

"We found her. Relax. She won't be able to escape anymore."

Era gasped for breath. The pain and numbness prevented her from standing. The only thing she could do was open her eyes and look up at the bright full moon.

Perhaps for the first time in her life, this was the moment when Era truly saw the full moon. Before, she had never paid any attention to it, just glanced at it and considered it unremarkable. But for some reason, it felt different now.

Amidst the waves of pain and fear, Era discovered that basking in the moonlight brought a peace she had never felt before. Anxiety, worry, and all fears slowly vanished. She smiled broadly before the darkness claimed her consciousness.

"There she is! Look! She fainted!"

The gang of thugs found Era's location. They surrounded her and burst into laughter. One of them was Bart. He immediately pulled out his cell phone and contacted Mosha.

"Boss, I found Era. I'll—"

Wolf howls interrupted Bart's words. Not once, but several times. The horrible sounds echoed back and forth as if issuing a warning.

Faces turned pale. The thugs exchanged glances as cold sweat began to form. They approached each other as they looked around, trying to find the source of the howling.

"B-Bart, what's going on?"

Bart swallowed hard, unable to answer.

"I-I told you. We should never have set foot in this cursed forest."

"Silence!" Bart snapped. He glared at them. "Don't be cowards. There's nothing in this forest. It's just ordinary wolf howls. If they attack, pull out your damn guns!"

The thugs fell silent. No more complaints were heard. They nodded, and Bart gave an order.

"Now, lift this wench. Don't keep the boss waiting."

"Alright."

Two of them approached Era. Bart scanned the area, observing the situation and squinting his eyes.

Bart tried to focus his vision. There was something strange behind the row of tall trees, like two shimmering lights, and he moved closer.

Bart froze. His gaze, straight ahead at first, slowly began to rise. He followed the movement of the two lights and realized they were a pair of wild eyes.

No longer howling, but a growl that resonated and echoed. The air instantly became turbulent with a searing heat. Bart and the goons were tossed in all directions.

"W-Wolf!"

Bart and the thugs took off running. They were in disarray. Everyone was screaming and the once peaceful night was completely disturbed.

"She runs. She's trying to save herself. So, you must come at the right time. The full moon will lead her to you.”

The wolf walked slowly. As he approached Era, he saw the moonlight illuminating her, then he looked at the moon above. It let out a long howl.

*