CHAPTER SEVEN:THE QUEEN OF FORGOTTEN SHADOWS
636 Words
No one moved.
The Beast King—the ancient monster feared by wolves, hunters, and legends alike—remained kneeling before Aria beneath the blood moon.
The entire forest fell silent.
Kael slowly rose from the shattered trees, blood staining his dark fur before he shifted back into human form. His golden eyes widened in disbelief.
Darius stared at the creature with visible shock.
“That’s impossible,” he murmured.
Commander Lucien and the remaining hunters looked horrified.
The Beast King bowed its massive head lower.
*My queen has returned.*
Aria’s chest tightened painfully.
“I’m not your queen,” she whispered.
But deep inside her soul, something ancient stirred.
The creature’s crimson eyes softened strangely as it looked at her.
For a brief second, Aria no longer saw a monster.
She saw loneliness.
Pain.
Centuries of grief.
Then another vision struck her mind violently.
—
A forgotten kingdom beneath silver skies.
Selene standing beside the Beast King near a glowing lake.
But the beast looked different then.
Smaller.
Calmer.
Not consumed by darkness.
Selene gently touched the creature’s face while smiling.
“You are not evil,” she whispered.
The beast lowered its head sadly.
*The world will always fear what it does not understand.*
—
The vision vanished.
Aria staggered backward.
Darius immediately noticed the fear in her eyes.
“What did you see?”
Aria looked toward the Beast King again.
“He knew Selene…”
The creature released a low growl.
*She saved me.*
Kael frowned deeply. “Saved you from what?”
For the first time, anger flashed across the Beast King’s face.
*The Alphas.*
Dark clouds suddenly covered the moonlight.
The forest trembled again.
Darius’ expression darkened instantly.
“The ancient war…”
The Beast King slowly stood to its full terrifying height.
Long ago,” Darius said quietly, “the first Alphas tried to control the creature’s power. They tortured it. Experimented on it.”
Kael looked stunned.
“That story was erased from history.”
“Because the packs buried the truth,” Darius replied coldly.
The Beast King’s crimson eyes remained fixed on Aria.
*Selene stopped them.*
Aria’s heart pounded.
“So why did she die?”
The creature became silent.
Pain crossed its monstrous face.
Then finally—
*Because she chose mercy.*
The wind howled violently through the trees.
Darius clenched his fists tightly.
“The Alphas feared peace,” he said bitterly. “Selene wanted wolves, humans, and creatures to coexist. But the rulers of the packs wanted war and control.”
Lucien suddenly stepped forward angrily.
“Don’t listen to these monsters!” he shouted. “The Blessed Luna brings destruction wherever she rises!”
Aria looked toward him.
“Then why are you afraid of me healing people?” she asked quietly.
Lucien froze.
The remaining hunters exchanged nervous glances.
Aria slowly stepped closer.
Silver energy glowed around her body once more.
“You call me dangerous,” she continued, “yet your Order came here to kill me before I even understood who I was.”
Lucien’s face hardened.
“You are the beginning of the end.”
Then suddenly—
A hunter screamed behind them.
Dark shadows exploded from the forest, tearing through the remaining Crimson Order soldiers. Massive winged creatures descended from the sky, their glowing blue eyes shining through the darkness.
Kael immediately growled.
“Night Crawlers.”
Darius cursed softly.
“They came sooner than expected.”
The creatures looked horrifying—half wolf, half shadow, with giant wings and razor claws dripping black venom.
The Beast King roared furiously.
But the Night Crawlers ignored everyone else.
They wanted only one person.
Aria.
One of the creatures pointed toward her and screeched:
“BRING THE LUNA TO THE SHADOW THRONE!”
Then the monsters attacked all at once.
- Writer
