Episode 6 – The Blood Moon Trial
1463 Words
Alyssa’s breath came in short, sharp bursts as she followed Kade through the dense forest. The wind howled through the trees, carrying with it the distant growls of approaching wolves. Her heart pounded—not just from the sprint, but from the weight of Kade’s words.
A queen. The rightful heir to a throne she never knew existed.
Branches whipped against her arms as she stumbled over the uneven ground. Kade’s grip on her wrist was firm, guiding her deeper into the woods. They finally broke through the tree line, emerging into a clearing bathed in eerie silver light.
At the center stood an ancient stone circle, weathered and cracked, pulsing with an energy she could feel in her bones.
Kade turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “We don’t have much time.”
Alyssa’s chest heaved. “Tell me everything. No more half-truths.”
Kade exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “You are the last of the royal bloodline. The daughter of the true Alpha King and Queen, who were betrayed and murdered before you could take your place.”
Alyssa swallowed hard. “Then why wasn’t I killed too?”
“Because someone hid you. They placed you in the human world, hoping you’d be safe. But now, the truth is out.”
Alyssa’s mind spun. Her entire life—her wealth, her adoptive family, everything she thought was real—was just a façade.
“Why do they want me dead?”
Kade’s eyes darkened. “Not everyone wants you dead. Some want you to take the throne. Others fear what you might become.”
A rustling in the trees made them both freeze.
“They’re here,” Kade muttered.
Alyssa turned, expecting to see wolves. Instead, a group of figures emerged from the darkness—men and women dressed in black, their eyes glowing in the moonlight.
At the front stood a familiar figure.
Lucian.
“Well, well,” he drawled, his golden eyes gleaming. “The lost princess finally stands where she belongs.”
Alyssa straightened her spine, refusing to let him see her fear. “What do you want from me?”
Lucian smirked. “I want to see if you’re worthy.”
Kade growled lowly, stepping protectively in front of Alyssa, but she put a hand on his arm, stopping him.
“I don’t need a bodyguard,” she said firmly. “If I’m truly the heir, I’ll prove it myself.”
Lucian chuckled, slow and mocking. “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”
Alyssa’s pulse quickened as the group spread out, forming a circle around her. The wind carried the scent of something primal, electric.
Lucian gestured toward the stone ruins. “The Blood Moon Trial begins now.”
Alyssa barely had time to react before Lucian lunged at her. He was fast—too fast—but something inside her clicked. Her instincts took over, and she dodged at the last second, spinning out of his reach.
A low growl rumbled from his chest. “Not bad.”
She barely had time to catch her breath before another figure charged. This time, she didn’t hesitate. She twisted, using their momentum against them, sending them sprawling to the ground.
A flicker of surprise crossed Lucian’s face. “Maybe you are one of us.”
Alyssa didn’t know what was happening. She had never fought before—never trained for combat—but her body seemed to remember something she didn’t.
Her pulse thrummed. Her skin tingled.
Power surged through her veins, raw and untamed.
Kade watched from the sidelines, his gaze intense. “Alyssa, listen to me,” he called. “Stop holding back. Let it in.”
She didn’t know what it was. But something inside her was waking up.
Lucian smirked. “Let’s see how deep that blood runs.”
He moved at lightning speed, shifting midair. His body twisted, bones cracking, fur ripping through his skin. A massive black wolf landed before her, its golden eyes burning into hers.
Alyssa’s breath caught. She could hear everything—the rustling of leaves, the heartbeat of every person around her. The world had sharpened.
Then she felt it.
A pull. A force inside her demanding to be freed.
Her muscles tensed, her vision blurred, and a fire ignited deep within her chest.
And then—
Everything went black.
Alyssa barely had time to react before Lucian lunged at her. He was fast—too fast—but something inside her clicked. Her instincts took over, and she dodged at the last second, spinning out of his reach.
A low growl rumbled from his chest. “Not bad.”
She barely had time to catch her breath before another figure charged. This time, she didn’t hesitate. She twisted, using their momentum against them, sending them sprawling to the ground.
A flicker of surprise crossed Lucian’s face. “Maybe you are one of us.”
Alyssa didn’t know what was happening. She had never fought before—never trained for combat—but her body seemed to remember something she didn’t.
Her pulse thrummed. Her skin tingled.
Power surged through her veins, raw and untamed.
Kade watched from the sidelines, his gaze intense. “Alyssa, listen to me,” he called. “Stop holding back. Let it in.”
She didn’t know what it was. But something inside her was waking up.
Lucian smirked. “Let’s see how deep that blood runs.”
He moved at lightning speed, shifting midair. His body twisted, bones cracking, fur ripping through his skin. A massive black wolf landed before her, its golden eyes burning into hers.
Alyssa’s breath caught. She could hear everything—the rustling of leaves, the heartbeat of every person around her. The world had sharpened.
Then she felt it.
A pull. A force inside her demanding to be freed.
Her muscles tensed, her vision blurred, and a fire ignited deep within her chest.
And then—
Everything went black.
Alyssa wasn’t unconscious, but she wasn’t fully present either. She floated in darkness, her mind drifting between reality and something else—something ancient.
A voice echoed in her mind.
You are more than you know. You are the beginning and the end. The blood of kings flows through you.
A rush of heat coursed through her veins. It wasn’t pain—it was power.
Her fingers twitched, and when she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the clearing. She stood in a different world, bathed in silver light. A giant wolf, glowing with ethereal energy, stood before her. Its eyes were the same emerald green as her pendant.
It spoke, though its lips never moved.
Wake up, Alyssa.
She gasped, and suddenly—
She was back.
The clearing reappeared, the ground solid beneath her feet. But something had changed.
She felt stronger. Sharper.
The air around her shimmered, and Lucian—the wolf—stumbled back, his golden eyes wide with shock.
Kade took a step forward, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Alyssa… your eyes…”
She blinked, confused, until she caught her reflection in a nearby puddle.
Her irises were no longer their usual shade. They glowed—bright, untamed, wild.
Like a wolf.
Lucian let out a low chuckle. “Well, well. Looks like the little princess is waking up.”
Alyssa clenched her fists, feeling the power humming beneath her skin.
And for the first time, she wasn’t afraid.
She was ready.
Alyssa’s body trembled as the energy within her surged. Every nerve in her body burned like fire, yet she felt no pain—only power. It was intoxicating, overwhelming, and unstoppable.
Lucian stepped forward, shifting back into his human form, his golden eyes never leaving her. “Impressive,” he murmured, wiping a streak of blood from his mouth. “But raw power means nothing if you can’t control it.”
Alyssa exhaled sharply, her breath misting in the cool night air. Control? She had spent her whole life being controlled—by expectations, by wealth, by the illusion of a perfect life. But this… this was something she owned.
She took a step forward, feeling the earth beneath her pulse like a heartbeat. “Then I’ll learn.”
Lucian smirked. “Good answer.”
Kade moved to her side, his hand brushing against her arm. She could feel his warmth, his steady presence grounding her. “We’ll figure this out together,” he said softly, his voice rough with something unspoken.
The howls in the distance grew louder. More were coming. The trial was far from over.
Alyssa lifted her chin. Whatever came next, she was ready to fight for it.
For her past.
For her future.
For herself.
- Writer
