The Alpha's Rejected Luna

Chapter 6: The Hidden Power

The sun had barely begun to dip below the horizon when Lucian led me through the Midnight Crest pack’s vast, ancient grounds. The air was thick with the scent of pine and fresh earth, the shadows long and deep, giving the place a strange kind of quiet reverence. It felt like walking through a world that wasn’t quite my own, and I still couldn’t shake the disorienting feeling of being thrust into this new life, surrounded by unknowns.

Lucian had been silent since our conversation earlier. His eyes would occasionally flicker to me, but his thoughts seemed far away. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking, to demand that he explain the bond between us more thoroughly, but every time I opened my mouth, the words seemed to fall short.

The bond was undeniable. And yet, I still didn’t know if I was ready for it. I wasn’t ready for him, and I certainly wasn’t ready to open myself up to whatever the Moonclaw powers inside me meant.

“Where are we going?” I finally broke the silence, my voice feeling small in the vastness of the forest around us.

Lucian’s gaze shifted to me, his lips curling slightly in a barely-there smile. “To meet the elders. They’ll want to know about you. About your lineage.”

I frowned, trying to suppress the unease gnawing at my insides. The elders. The Midnight Crest pack’s oldest and wisest wolves. From what I’d heard, they were powerful, respected, and could be unforgiving to those who didn’t meet their expectations.

“Why do they need to know about me?” I asked cautiously, trying to keep my voice neutral, but my anxiety was getting the better of me.

Lucian’s expression softened, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something—an understanding, a recognition of my fear. “They need to understand your power, Sera,” he said softly. “It’s not just about being my mate. There’s something inside you, something that even I can’t fully grasp. They’ll be able to sense it, help guide you.”

I swallowed hard. Power. The word alone made my pulse spike. I had no idea what kind of power I was supposed to have. The only thing I’d ever been known for was my weakness, my inability to stand up for myself. The idea that there could be something more inside me felt... impossible.

As we neared a clearing, the scent of the elders grew stronger. The atmosphere seemed to thrum with an ancient energy, a power that seemed to pulse from the earth itself. I couldn’t help but shiver, as though I was stepping into a place where the very air held secrets—secrets that might change my life forever.

We reached a large, stone structure at the heart of the clearing. It was simple, yet imposing, with ancient runes carved into its surface. A sense of history hung in the air like a thick mist, and as Lucian led me inside, I felt the weight of the pack’s legacy pressing down on my shoulders.

Inside, the space was dimly lit by flickering lanterns, the shadows dancing on the walls. At the far end of the room sat three figures, their eyes glowing faintly in the low light. I immediately recognized the power in their gazes, the way they seemed to see through me, past my skin and into the very core of who I was. The air around them seemed charged, electric, and I couldn’t help but feel small in their presence.

Lucian stepped forward, his posture commanding and sure as he addressed them. “Elders, this is Sera Blake. My mate.”

The eldest elder—a woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes—studied me intently, her gaze so sharp it felt like a physical touch. She didn’t speak right away, but I could feel the weight of her judgment in the silence.

“She is the one?” The voice came from another elder, a man with dark, weathered features and a deep, gravelly tone. “The one with the Moonclaw lineage?”

“Yes,” Lucian answered simply, though his voice carried a subtle tension I hadn’t noticed before. “I believe so.”

The third elder, an older man whose face was covered with a long, thick beard, nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving me. “You don’t know what this means, child,” he said, his voice full of quiet authority.

I blinked, startled by his words. “What do you mean?” I asked, feeling the unease grow in my stomach. “What does it mean?”

The elder’s gaze softened slightly, but there was still a distant sadness in his eyes. “The Moonclaws are a powerful and ancient bloodline. Their powers come from the moon itself. But it’s not a gift without its consequences. The power you hold can change the course of the pack’s future—but only if you can learn to control it.”

I felt a chill at his words. Control it. The idea of having power I couldn’t control made me feel sick. I had no idea how to wield any kind of strength, and the idea that something like this was now expected of me was terrifying.

The eldest elder, the woman, finally spoke. “The Moonclaws are both feared and revered, Sera. But that power comes with a cost. It will challenge you. It will ask things of you that you may not be ready to give.”

Her words sank deep, like cold stones dropping into the pit of my stomach. I turned to Lucian, looking for some kind of reassurance, but his face was unreadable, his eyes steady as he waited for the elders to continue.

The elder with the beard nodded gravely. “The power you possess is not just about strength. It’s about balance. Harnessing the moon’s energy takes discipline, patience, and control. If you let it consume you, it will burn you alive.”

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. “What do you mean, burn me alive?” My voice trembled despite my attempt to remain composed.

The elder’s eyes darkened. “The Moonclaw power feeds on the emotions of its bearer. Rage, fear, pain—it fuels the energy. But uncontrolled, it will consume you until there’s nothing left.”

The room seemed to spin as their words hit me one by one. This power, this thing inside me—it could either protect me or destroy me. I had no idea which one I feared more.

Lucian stepped forward, his hand reaching out to rest on my shoulder. “It won’t consume you, Sera,” he said, his voice firm, yet filled with warmth. “I won’t let it. I’ll help you learn. I’ll protect you.”

But even as he spoke, a small part of me couldn’t shake the doubt that lingered, heavy and suffocating. Could I trust him? Could I trust myself?

The elders exchanged a look, and the room fell into a heavy silence. Finally, the eldest elder spoke again, her voice stern. “Remember this, Sera. This power is a gift, yes. But it is also a curse. It will test you in ways you cannot anticipate. Be careful how you wield it. If you let it control you, it will lead you down a dark path.”

I could feel my breath quicken, my heartbeat pounding in my chest as I took in the gravity of her words. I didn’t know if I was ready for what was coming—if I was even capable of handling what they had just revealed to me. The power inside me was so much more than I had ever imagined. And yet, I couldn’t ignore the terrifying truth that hung in the air: It could destroy me if I wasn’t careful.

Lucian’s hand tightened on my shoulder, grounding me as the weight of their words settled in. His voice was low and comforting, a whisper just for me.

“We’ll figure this out,” he said softly. “Together.”

But as I met his gaze, I wasn’t so sure. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but I did know one thing: I was standing on the edge of something powerful, something dangerous, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for it.

And the thought that maybe—just maybe—I would never be ready haunted me.

As I stepped back, the elder’s final words echoed in my mind: “Remember, Sera, power is both a gift and a curse. It is up to you to decide which one it will be.”