Chapter 18 — The Moon Temple
1073 Words
The kingdom had barely recovered from the attack when Elara found herself standing inside the royal chamber, surrounded by people who seemed to know more about her past than she did.
The words of the First Alpha wouldn’t leave her mind.
When you were a child, you opened the Moon Temple.
She turned toward Lysandra.
“You’re taking me there.”
Her mother looked surprised.
“To the temple?”
“Yes.”
“Elara, it’s dangerous.”
“So is everything else you’ve kept from me.”
Lysandra lowered her gaze.
“You’re right.”
Cassian stepped forward.
“I’ll go with her.”
Lysandra looked at him.
“The temple doesn’t belong to your bloodline.”
“I don’t care.”
Elara glanced at him.
“I want him there.”
Her mother sighed.
“Then we leave before sunrise.”
But Elara didn’t want to wait.
That night, she secretly followed the ancient wolves into the forest.
The Moon Wolf inside her guided her through a narrow path between towering trees.
At the end of the path stood a massive stone door covered in silver symbols.
Elara reached toward it.
The door opened.
A cold wind rushed past her.
She stepped inside.
The temple was enormous.
Moonlight poured through a hole in the ceiling, illuminating a circular platform in the center.
Elara walked toward it.
The moment she stepped onto the platform, the world disappeared.
She was no longer in the temple.
She stood in a field covered with silver flowers.
A woman stood beneath the moon.
Her face was impossible to describe.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Elara immediately knew who she was.
“The Moon Goddess.”
The woman smiled.
“You finally remember.”
Elara’s heart raced.
“Why was my memory erased?”
“Because your mother was afraid of what you would become.”
“Am I dangerous?”
“To those who seek control, yes.”
Elara swallowed.
“What does the First Alpha want?”
The Moon Goddess looked toward the sky.
“He wants freedom from the curse placed upon him.”
“What curse?”
“He was once my guardian.”
Elara frowned.
“He protected the Moon Kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he become our enemy?”
“Because he believed power belonged to those strong enough to take it.”
The Moon Goddess stepped closer.
“He tried to take the Moon Crown before its rightful heir was born.”
“Elara,” she whispered.
“When you were born, he realized the crown would never belong to him.”
Elara’s hands tightened.
“So he tried to kill me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t he?”
“Your mother stopped him.”
Elara remembered something.
Fire.
Screaming.
A woman holding her.
Her mother.
And a huge wolf standing in the doorway.
Her memories rushed back.
“I remember.”
The Moon Goddess nodded.
“You remember the night your kingdom fell.”
Elara dropped to her knees.
“I saw him.”
“Yes.”
“He was there.”
“Yes.”
“Why did he let me live?”
“Because he discovered something.”
“What?”
The Moon Goddess’s expression became serious.
“Your power can break his curse.”
Elara stared.
“That’s why he wants me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why does he keep threatening Cassian?”
The Moon Goddess didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she looked directly into Elara’s eyes.
“Because he knows your greatest weakness.”
Elara’s heart sank.
“Cassian.”
The Moon Goddess nodded.
“He knows you would sacrifice yourself to save him.”
The vision began fading.
“Wait!”
Elara reached for her.
“How do I stop him?”
The Moon Goddess’s voice echoed around the temple.
“Do not choose love over the kingdom.”
Elara froze.
“Why?”
“Because the First Alpha will make you believe they are the same choice.”
The vision disappeared.
Elara opened her eyes.
She was back inside the temple.
But she wasn’t alone.
Cassian stood at the entrance.
“You disappeared.”
Elara stared at him.
“I needed answers.”
“Did you find them?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
Cassian walked closer.
“What did you learn?”
“That the First Alpha can use me to break his curse.”
Cassian’s expression hardened.
“And what does he need?”
“Me.”
Silence filled the temple.
Cassian looked at the Moon Crown.
“Then we make sure he never gets you.”
Elara shook her head.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“He knows I would sacrifice myself for you.”
Cassian’s eyes softened.
“Elara.”
“I can’t let that happen.”
“You won’t.”
“How can you promise that?”
“Because I’m not going to let you face him alone.”
Elara looked away.
“You might die.”
“So might you.”
“That isn’t funny.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
He stepped closer.
“I’ve spent years protecting this kingdom.”
His voice became quieter.
“But I don’t want to protect a throne anymore.”
Elara looked at him.
“What do you want?”
Cassian held her gaze.
“You.”
Her heart raced.
Before she could answer, the temple shook.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
A deep roar echoed outside.
Cassian immediately reached for his weapon.
“He found us.”
Elara looked toward the entrance.
The ancient wolves began growling.
Then a voice echoed through the temple.
“Queen Elara.”
The First Alpha stepped into the moonlight.
“You finally remembered.”
Elara stood beside Cassian.
“You’re not taking me.”
He smiled.
“I don’t need to take you.”
He raised his hand.
A black symbol appeared on Cassian’s chest.
Cassian staggered.
Elara’s eyes widened.
“Cassian!”
The First Alpha smiled.
“Now you have a choice.”
Elara stared at the mark.
“What did you do?”
“I placed a curse on your Alpha.”
Cassian dropped to one knee.
“Don’t listen to him.”
The First Alpha looked at Elara.
“Come with me…”
The mark on Cassian’s chest began glowing.
“…or watch the man you love pay the price.”
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