Chapter 42
1341 Words
The Journey Begins
Hailey
"At first light."
Kael's words linger in my mind long after the council meeting ends.
The room slowly empties around us.
Maps are gathered.
Orders are issued.
Scouts rush in and out carrying messages.
The atmosphere inside Bloodmoon has changed completely.
The fortress feels alive.
Not with peace.
With preparation.
With purpose.
With war.
The prophecy's words continue echoing through my thoughts.
Seek the Crescent Vault before shadow reaches the mountain.
The Crescent Vault.
The Moon Mother's Tears.
The first key.
Every answer only seems to create more questions.
And somehow those questions now come with a deadline.
The Veil is moving.
The witches are coming.
And if we don't reach the Vault first...
I don't want to think about what happens.
The walk back to our room passes in a blur.
The brothers are unusually quiet.
Each lost in their own thoughts.
Even Zane.
Which is honestly more concerning than anything else.
The moment we enter the room, everyone immediately begins preparing.
Kael starts checking weapons.
Rider inventories supplies.
Asher spreads maps across the large table near the windows.
And Zane—
Zane collapses dramatically onto the bed.
"We're all going to die."
Nobody even looks up.
"You packed extra socks," Rider says.
"You'll survive."
"I appreciate how little faith you all have in my suffering."
"Your suffering is usually self-inflicted," Asher replies.
I smile despite myself.
The familiar banter eases some of the tension squeezing my chest.
Not all of it.
Just enough.
I move toward the windows overlooking the valley.
Bloodmoon stretches beneath us.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
Safe.
For the first time since arriving, I realize I don't want to leave.
The thought surprises me.
A week ago I barely knew this place existed.
Now it feels like home.
A sharp knock interrupts my thoughts.
The door swings open before anyone can answer.
"Lila."
Every brother groans.
Lila beams.
"Good. You're all here."
"You knocked after opening the door."
"I like giving the illusion of manners."
Zane snorts.
"At least she's honest."
Lila ignores him completely.
Her attention settles on me.
Her eyes narrow.
Then narrow further.
"Oh no."
"What?"
She points directly at me.
"You're doing the thing."
"I don't know what that means."
"The staring."
"I'm looking out the window."
"The dramatic staring."
I cross my arms.
"It isn't dramatic."
"It absolutely is."
She marches across the room and grabs my wrist.
Before I can react, she starts pulling me toward the door.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"Away from the overprotective wolves."
The brothers immediately object.
Naturally.
Lila doesn't even slow down.
Naturally.
Lila
Hailey is overwhelmed.
Anyone with functioning eyesight can see it.
The problem is that four giant wolves are currently hovering around her like particularly handsome guard dogs.
Which means somebody needs to rescue her.
That somebody is obviously me.
I drag her down the corridor.
Ignoring the protests behind us.
Eventually the fortress doors open and cool morning air greets us.
Hailey inhales deeply.
Good.
She needed this.
The village is already awake.
Children race through the streets.
Merchants prepare stalls.
Warriors move between patrols.
Life continues despite the approaching storm.
Several wolves wave when they see Hailey.
Others smile.
One elderly woman actually steps out of a bakery and presses a small pastry into her hands.
"For the journey."
Hailey blinks.
Surprised.
Confused.
Touched.
The woman smiles warmly.
Then walks away before she can protest.
I pretend not to notice the emotion on Hailey's face.
Mostly because I know she'll deny it.
Hailey
I don't understand.
Everywhere we go, wolves greet me.
Not formally.
Not because of prophecy.
Because they genuinely seem happy to see me.
A group of children runs past.
One little girl stops.
"Were you really born under the Silver Moon?"
I blink.
Lila immediately looks interested.
Traitor.
"I... honestly don't know."
The girl nods thoughtfully.
Then smiles.
"My mom says you're going to save us."
My stomach twists.
Before I can answer, the girl continues.
"I think you're nice."
Then she runs away.
Leaving me standing there speechless.
Lila watches me carefully.
"Told you."
"Told me what?"
"They already like you."
The words settle heavily in my chest.
Because for the first time, I believe her.
Not because I'm Silvermoon.
Not because of Selene.
Because they know me.
Lila
We eventually end up sitting on a stone wall overlooking the training fields.
For several minutes we simply watch the warriors below.
Then I ask the question I've been waiting to ask.
"Are you scared?"
Hailey doesn't answer immediately.
The silence tells me everything.
Finally she exhales slowly.
"Yes."
Honest.
Good.
"I thought so."
She looks at me.
"You're not helping."
"I'm not supposed to."
I bump her shoulder lightly.
"I'm supposed to listen."
The smile that appears is small.
But real.
"I'm not scared of the witches."
Interesting.
"Then what are you scared of?"
The answer comes quietly.
"So many people are counting on me."
The vulnerability in her voice hurts.
"I just figured out who I am."
Her gaze drifts toward the mountains.
"What if I'm not enough?"
There it is.
The real fear.
Not failure.
Disappointment.
The fear of letting everyone down.
I shake my head.
"Good."
She stares.
"Good?"
"Only people who care are scared."
The words hang between us.
"You care."
I point toward Bloodmoon.
Toward the fortress.
Toward the people preparing for war.
"That's why you're worried."
For several moments she says nothing.
Then she leans against my shoulder.
Just slightly.
The gesture makes me smile.
Hailey
The warmth of friendship feels different from the bond.
No less important.
Just different.
Comforting.
Steady.
Real.
Lila reaches into her pocket.
Then places something into my hand.
I stare down.
A bracelet.
Silver.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Four tiny symbols hang from it.
The ancient clans.
My breath catches.
"Lila..."
"It belonged to my grandmother."
My eyes widen.
"What?"
She shrugs.
As though she isn't casually giving me something precious.
"She always said I'd know when to pass it on."
I stare at her.
"Lila, I can't—"
"You can."
Her expression softens.
"You're family now."
The words hit me harder than I expect.
Family.
Not destiny.
Not prophecy.
Family.
My throat tightens.
Immediately Lila points a warning finger at me.
"No crying."
I laugh.
"I'm not crying."
"You were about to."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
Maybe I was.
Hailey
By dawn, the expedition is ready.
The brothers wait near Bloodmoon's gates.
Weapons secured.
Supplies packed.
Horses prepared.
The journey is finally beginning.
Alpha Theron stands beside the entrance.
His expression is serious.
Thoughtful.
Concerned.
The gates tower above us.
Beyond them lies the wilderness.
The mountains.
The Crescent Vault.
And whatever secrets have been waiting centuries to be discovered.
Before I can mount my horse, Lila suddenly throws her arms around me.
The hug nearly knocks the breath from my lungs.
I hug her back instantly.
Neither of us speaks for a moment.
Then she pulls back slightly.
Her eyes shine suspiciously.
"I just got a best friend."
My throat tightens.
Her voice softens.
"Don't make me find another one."
Emotion climbs painfully into my chest.
I smile.
"I'll do my best."
"You better."
She points at me.
Then at the brothers.
"And if any of you idiots get her killed, I'll haunt you."
Zane raises a hand.
"Noted."
Even Theron smiles.
The gates begin opening.
Slowly.
Ancient mechanisms groaning beneath centuries of use.
The mountains wait beyond.
Silent.
Watching.
Alpha Theron steps forward.
His hand settles briefly on my shoulder.
Whatever amusement existed moments ago disappears.
"The Vault was hidden for a reason."
The warning settles heavily between us.
I nod.
Then turn toward the open road.
Toward the unknown.
Toward the answers I've spent my entire life searching for.
The brothers fall into position around me.
Not behind.
Not ahead.
Beside me.
Exactly where guardians belong.
The morning sun breaks across the mountains as we leave Bloodmoon behind.
And somewhere in the distance, hidden beneath stone, secrets, and centuries of forgotten history...
The Crescent Vault waits.
- Writer
