The moonlight reckoning

Chapter 3: heart’s in motion

A few days later, Aria decided to go to the river again; she wouldn’t admit it, but she hoped she would meet Luca there. She found her way through the woods, hiding behind trees, trying to avoid her sister or anyone noticing her. She got to the river and carried on with her activities as always. After waiting for hours, there was no sign of Luca; filled with disappointment, she decided to leave.

—Aria. A voice howled in the distance.

“Aria,” Luca tried again, softer this time, although too late to keep her from her jagged start. She looked up sharply with brown eyes that pierced until they found his.

“What are you doing here?” It was a guarded, slurred voice that asked from weariness.

"But... I had a feeling that I'd find you here.”

Her laugh was quite hollow and a little bitter. 'Oh, but it does. The universe does seem to be having fun throwing us together, doesn't it?' Luca watched her; he noticed how her hands trembled slightly as though she was nervous.

“Does your father know you’re here?” Aria asked.

“Does it matter?” Luca responded.

“He might order for my head if he sees his only heir with an umbra princess, don’t you think?”

“My father is not capable of such,” Luca answered.

"The whispers contradict your claims; they say he is arrogant and proud."

As she spoke, Luca moved closer, staring into her eyes; she felt like he could see her soul. From this point, his yellow eyes looked so beautiful, and they sparkled as the sun set. She had never seen anything this breathtaking; a sense of uneasiness ran down her spine, her heart pounding like it would fall off her chest.

She struggled to put herself together and tilted her head, attempting to avoid his gaze.

Luca shifted her long blond hair to the side, trying to make her face more visible. She stood close to his chest as she smelled the subtle yet unmistakable sweet perfume, like a whispered promise of something delightful to come.

The sun was setting; it was late, and everyone would be looking for her now. She pushed Luca but not too hard, gave a short wave, unable to look him in the eyes, and ran off.

As Aria walked in, Maliya was waiting for her.

“Where have you been this time?” Maliya asked.

She smirked, trying to hide happiness. “Nowhere, just around the woods as always.”

They both retreated to their rooms; Aria could not get the moment out of her mind. She kept giggling and panting; this had to be the happiest day of her life since her mother passed, but how long will this happiness last?

That evening, while the Umbra wolves were working themselves into a lather over the night's full-moon gathering, tension was definitely in the air.

The murmuring of the elders was ever persistent, but Loki had finally hushed them by taking his position at the front.

He was a member of the high council who had always been thirsty for power, looking for ways to scheme his way to the throne. No one ever took him seriously.

It now seemed like he was just waiting for the appropriate moment when the profound revelation would be made.

He demanded attention from the people and the alpha.

“I have something to say,” Loki said.

The entire crowd sat quiet; Orion, confused about what was going on, said

“What is it this time, Loki? What mischief are you plotting?”

“Not mischief, your Alpha, but the truth.”

Already getting irritated, Orion ordered Loki to take his seat, but he insisted, as he was about to be dragged out, he howled harder.

"The time has come for me to disclose this truth that has troubled me for quite some time." Loki's voice boomed, carrying far above the silent crowd. "Aria, the descendant of Orion, is not born in the pure lineage of the wolves; she is a half-breed—sired by a human and a wolf."