THE MOON CHOSEN DAUGHTER

CHAPTER FIVE- The One I Should Fear

The warning would not leave my mind.

Beware the one you trust most.

I stood beneath the silver moon, staring at Kael.

He stared back.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then my mother rushed toward me.

"Mira!"

She wrapped her arms around me so tightly that I could barely breathe.

"You're alive."

"I'm okay."

She pulled away and examined my face, my arms, and the glowing mark on my chest.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

But I wasn't sure of anything anymore.

Not after what the Moon had told me.

Not after discovering that my father had been murdered because he refused to sacrifice me.

And especially not after realizing that someone I trusted was hiding a secret.

My eyes moved toward Kael.

He looked away.

That was enough to make my stomach tighten.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Kael's expression remained calm.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

My mother looked between us.

"Mira—"

"No."

I stepped closer to him.

"The Moon warned me."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"What did it say?"

I hesitated.

I couldn't explain why, but I didn't want to tell him.

"Nothing important."

He studied me.

For a moment, I wondered if he knew I was lying.

Then Ronan laughed.

"You really are his daughter."

Everyone turned toward him.

He was still kneeling, surrounded by Silver Moon warriors.

Kael walked toward him.

"Be quiet."

Ronan smiled.

"You should ask your guardian what happened seventeen years ago."

Kael's face hardened.

"Don't."

My heart began pounding.

I looked at him.

"What happened seventeen years ago?"

Kael didn't answer.

"Kael."

Silence.

"Tell me."

He looked toward my mother.

She lowered her head.

That familiar feeling returned.

Another secret.

Another lie.

Another piece of my life that everyone knew except me.

"What happened?"

Kael finally spoke.

"I was there the night your father died."

The words struck me.

"You were there?"

"Yes."

"Then you saw who killed him."

"I saw what happened."

"Who killed him?"

He looked away.

"I don't know."

I stared at him.

"You don't know?"

"The room was dark. There was chaos. Your father told me to take you and your mother away."

"You knew I was there?"

"Yes."

"You saw my father die?"

Kael's jaw tightened.

"I saw him fall."

"And you never told me?"

"You were a child."

"I was his daughter!"

My voice echoed through the forest.

"I deserved to know!"

"I know."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because your father made me promise."

I stopped.

"What promise?"

"That I would protect you."

I laughed bitterly.

"Protect me from the truth?"

"Protect you from everyone who wanted to use you."

I turned away.

My heart hurt.

Kael wasn't the only one who had lied to me.

But somehow, his secret hurt the most.

Because I had trusted him.

More than anyone else I had met since discovering this world.

Ronan suddenly spoke.

"Ask him about the mark."

Kael glared at him.

"Ronan."

"What mark?"

I looked at Kael.

He said nothing.

Ronan smiled.

"The mark on his shoulder."

Kael's hand immediately moved toward his shirt.

My eyes narrowed.

"Show me."

"Mira."

"Show me."

He hesitated.

Then slowly removed his jacket.

A dark symbol covered his shoulder.

A crescent moon surrounded by black flames.

My breath caught.

"That's the same symbol."

"No."

He shook his head.

"It's different."

"How?"

"Yours is silver."

He touched his mark.

"Mine is black."

My mother stepped backward.

Her expression changed.

"You never told me."

Kael looked at her.

"I didn't know it would awaken."

"What does it mean?" I asked.

Kael looked at me.

"It means I was bound to your family."

"Bound?"

"Your father placed a blood oath on me."

I frowned.

"What kind of oath?"

"To protect the Moon-Chosen."

I stared at the mark.

"Then why does it look like mine?"

"Because your powers are connected to mine."

My stomach twisted.

"The Moon warned me about someone I trust."

Kael's eyes met mine.

"And you think it's me?"

"I don't know."

He stepped closer.

"If I wanted to hurt you, I could have done it already."

"I know."

"Then trust me."

I wanted to.

I really did.

But the voice in my mind wouldn't let me.

Beware the one you trust most.

I stepped away.

"I need time."

Kael nodded.

"Take it."

Before anyone could say anything else, a loud horn sounded from the mountains.

The Silver Moon warriors immediately turned toward the east.

One of them ran into the clearing.

"Princess!"

I turned.

"What?"

He dropped to one knee.

"The northern village has been attacked."

My mother gasped.

"By Bloodfang?"

The warrior shook his head.

"No."

"Then who?"

He looked terrified.

"The Moon Council."

Kael's face became serious.

"How many?"

"Too many."

I looked toward the mountain.

"What are they after?"

The warrior hesitated.

"You."

I closed my eyes.

Of course.

It was always me.

My blood.

My power.

My throne.

Everyone wanted something from me.

I opened my eyes.

"Then we go."

My mother grabbed my arm.

"No."

"Mom."

"You can't."

"They're attacking innocent people because of me."

"That's exactly why you shouldn't go."

I shook my head.

"If I stay here, they'll keep attacking."

Kael stepped forward.

"She's right."

My mother glared at him.

"You encourage her?"

"I'm not encouraging her."

He looked at me.

"I'm telling her the truth."

"What truth?"

"You are the reason they're afraid."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"Because you have the ability to unite the packs."

He looked toward the mountains.

"If you take the throne, the Council loses its power."

I understood.

"So they want to kill me before I become Queen."

"Yes."

I looked at the silver warriors.

"Then I won't run."

My mother sighed.

"I knew you'd say that."

She pulled a small blade from her coat.

It had a silver handle and a crescent-shaped blade.

"Your father gave me this."

She placed it in my hand.

"It's yours now."

I stared at it.

"What does it do?"

"Only someone of royal blood can use it."

I held it.

The blade immediately glowed.

Kael looked surprised.

My mother smiled sadly.

"Just like your father."

We began traveling toward the northern village.

The forest seemed different now.

The wolves moved around us silently.

I could feel their presence.

Their emotions.

Their fear.

Their loyalty.

Their hope.

It was overwhelming.

"Can you hear them?" Kael asked.

I nodded.

"Not their words."

"Then what?"

"Their feelings."

He looked at me.

"That's part of your power."

I looked at the wolves.

"They're scared."

"Yes."

"Some of them are angry."

"Yes."

"And some..."

I stopped.

"What?"

"They believe in me."

Kael smiled.

"They should."

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because you're their Queen."

My heart skipped.

I looked away.

We reached the northern village just before sunrise.

Smoke filled the sky.

Houses had been destroyed.

People were running through the streets.

Wolves lay wounded on the ground.

My chest tightened.

I ran forward.

"Help them!"

The Silver Moon warriors spread out.

Kael rushed toward an injured wolf.

I knelt beside a young girl who was crying.

"Where is your mother?"

She pointed toward a burning house.

I ran.

"Mira!"

Kael shouted after me.

I ignored him.

The flames were spreading quickly.

I kicked the door open.

Inside, I found a woman trapped beneath a wooden beam.

"Help!"

"I've got you."

I tried lifting it.

It wouldn't move.

I gritted my teeth.

"Come on."

The Moon mark began glowing.

The beam became lighter.

I lifted it.

The woman crawled free.

Then the entire building shook.

A Bloodfang warrior stood outside.

He smiled.

"You."

I froze.

He transformed.

A massive red-eyed wolf lunged at me.

I raised my hand.

Silver light exploded.

The wolf crashed into the opposite wall.

I stared at my hand.

I hadn't even thought about using my power.

It simply obeyed me.

The wolf stood again.

Angry.

It charged.

Before I could react, Kael appeared.

His black wolf form slammed into it.

The two creatures fought violently.

I watched.

Kael was faster.

Stronger.

But the Bloodfang wolf was relentless.

It managed to bite his shoulder.

Kael roared.

"Kael!"

I ran toward him.

The moment I touched his fur, silver light flowed from my hand.

His wound closed.

He stared at me.

I stared at him.

Neither of us moved.

Then a voice whispered inside my mind.

This is the one.

My blood went cold.

I pulled my hand away.

Kael transformed.

"Mira?"

I stepped backward.

"What?"

"What happened?"

I couldn't answer.

The Moon's voice had sounded certain.

This is the one you must fear.

But why?

Kael looked at me with confusion.

Then pain crossed his face.

"You don't trust me."

I swallowed.

"I don't know."

He took a step closer.

"You healed me."

"I know."

"Why would you do that if you think I'm your enemy?"

"Because I don't want you to die."

He stared at me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then someone screamed.

We turned.

A group of black-cloaked Council warriors stood at the end of the street.

Seraphine was among them.

She smiled.

"Excellent."

My hands tightened around the silver blade.

Seraphine raised her hand.

"Bring me the Moon-Chosen."

The warriors charged.

The Silver Moon pack rushed forward.

The village became a battlefield.

I stood beside Kael.

Our backs touched.

"Ready?" he asked.

"No."

He smiled.

"Good."

I looked at him.

"Why is that good?"

"Because if you were ready, I'd be worried."

Despite everything, I smiled.

Then the battle began.

I raised my hand.

The Moon answered.

Silver light swept across the village.

The Council warriors were thrown backward.

The wolves howled.

The villagers stared at me.

And for the first time, I understood what the prophecy meant.

I wasn't supposed to fight alone.

I was supposed to lead.

But as the battle continued, I noticed something.

Seraphine wasn't attacking me.

She was watching Kael.

Her eyes followed him wherever he moved.

Then she smiled.

I felt a chill.

She knew something.

Something about Kael.

Something I didn't know.

Seraphine looked directly at me.

And silently mouthed three words.

He betrayed your father.

My heart stopped.

I looked at Kael.

He was fighting three warriors at once.

Then he turned.

Our eyes met.

And I suddenly couldn't tell whether the person standing beside me was my protector...

or the greatest danger I had ever known.