The Elders Arrive
933 Words
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Elders Arrive
Aria barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the silver crown.
The throne.
The endless sea of kneeling warriors.
And the shadow standing behind the throne.
Watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.
The image haunted her.
By sunrise, she gave up trying to sleep.
The room Lucien had assigned to her was larger than her entire apartment at university.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the forest.
Ancient furniture decorated the chamber.
A massive fireplace crackled softly in one corner.
Yet none of it felt comforting.
Because somewhere in this castle, powerful people were deciding whether she deserved to live.
A knock sounded.
Aria immediately sat upright.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A young woman entered carrying a tray.
She looked around Aria's age.
Long black hair.
Kind eyes.
A warm smile.
Unlike everyone else in the castle, she didn't appear afraid.
"Good morning."
Aria relaxed slightly.
"Morning."
The woman placed breakfast on a nearby table.
"My name is Selena."
Aria smiled politely.
"I'm Aria."
"I know."
The response made them both laugh.
For the first time since arriving, Aria felt slightly normal.
Slightly.
"You don't seem surprised by everything."
Selena tilted her head.
"You mean the werewolves?"
Aria nodded.
"The monsters."
Another nod.
"The prophecy."
Selena's smile faded.
"That part is surprising."
Aria looked away.
Everyone kept talking about the prophecy.
Yet nobody would explain it properly.
"What exactly is the Moon Queen?"
The question hung in the air.
Selena hesitated.
Then sat down.
"My grandmother used to tell me stories."
"What kind of stories?"
"The kind people stopped believing."
Aria frowned.
Selena lowered her voice.
"They say the first Moon Queen united every supernatural kingdom."
Aria's heart skipped.
"The first?"
Selena nodded.
"She ended wars."
"Created alliances."
"Built peace."
For a moment, admiration filled her eyes.
Then it vanished.
"They also say her death nearly destroyed the world."
The room fell silent.
Aria stared at her untouched breakfast.
Nothing about this sounded like her.
She wasn't a queen.
She wasn't a hero.
She wasn't even brave.
She was just a girl who wanted her old life back.
Unfortunately...
That life no longer existed.
---
Meanwhile, deep beneath the castle, Lucien stood inside the war chamber.
A massive round table occupied the center.
Maps covered every wall.
Pack leaders filled the room.
The atmosphere was tense.
"The northern packs have fallen."
A gray-haired warrior slammed his fist onto the table.
"Damn the Council."
Murmurs of agreement followed.
Lucien remained silent.
His attention focused on the reports spread before him.
The situation was worse than anyone realized.
The Shadow Council wasn't attacking randomly.
Every strike was planned.
Every target chosen carefully.
Which meant only one thing.
Someone was feeding them information.
There was a traitor.
The realization made his wolf restless.
Dangerously restless.
Damien entered.
Immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"They've arrived."
The room fell silent.
Lucien slowly stood.
The Elders.
None of the pack leaders looked pleased.
For good reason.
The Elders were powerful.
Ancient.
Feared.
And absolutely convinced they knew what was best for everyone.
Lucien especially disliked them.
Because they rarely listened.
---
Outside the castle, six black vehicles rolled through the gates.
Every warrior immediately straightened.
The atmosphere became tense.
The doors opened.
Six elderly figures stepped out.
Yet despite their age, power radiated from them.
The oldest woman leaned on a silver staff.
Her white hair reached her waist.
Sharp blue eyes surveyed the castle.
Nothing escaped her attention.
Elder Cassandra.
Leader of the Council of Elders.
And one of the most feared women alive.
She approached Lucien.
"You found her."
Not a question.
A statement.
Lucien's expression remained neutral.
"Yes."
Cassandra studied him carefully.
Then smiled.
A cold smile.
"Interesting."
Lucien didn't like that smile.
Not one bit.
---
An hour later, Aria found herself standing inside the castle's grand hall.
Hundreds of warriors watched from the edges.
Pack leaders filled the seats.
The Elders occupied an elevated platform.
The setup reminded her of a courtroom.
Which immediately made her nervous.
Lucien stood beside her.
His presence was the only thing preventing her from running.
Elder Cassandra rose.
"Aria Vale."
The sound of her name echoed throughout the hall.
Aria swallowed hard.
"Yes?"
The Elder's gaze sharpened.
"Do you know why you're here?"
"No."
A few people chuckled.
Cassandra ignored them.
"Good."
Aria blinked.
Good?
"We prefer honesty."
The Elder slowly descended the platform.
Her silver staff tapped against the floor.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Each step echoed through the chamber.
Finally, she stopped directly in front of Aria.
"Show me your wrist."
The request made Aria nervous.
Still, she obeyed.
The moment the silver mark became visible, gasps spread through the room.
The Elders exchanged looks.
Several warriors looked terrified.
Others appeared hopeful.
Cassandra touched the mark.
The reaction was immediate.
Silver light erupted across the hall.
Everyone staggered backward.
Even Lucien.
Aria gasped.
Power surged through her body.
Ancient.
Wild.
Impossible.
The Elder quickly withdrew her hand.
For the first time since arriving, genuine fear appeared in her eyes.
The hall fell silent.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Cassandra whispered three words.
Three words that changed everything.
"It is her."
A chill swept through the chamber.
Lucien's jaw tightened.
Damien cursed softly.
And Aria's heart pounded.
Because whatever "her" meant...
Nobody looked happy about it.
Then the castle alarms began to scream.
A warrior burst through the doors.
Blood covered his clothes.
His face was pale.
Terrified.
"The Shadow Council!"
The hall erupted into chaos.
The warrior struggled to catch his breath.
Then delivered the message that froze everyone in place.
"They're attacking the capital."
- Writer
