Claimed by the Alpha's Moon

Chapter 7: Shadows of Truth

Chapter 7: Shadows of Truth

Avoiding both Kael's frantic search and the pull of our friend's bond that threatened to pull me back to him, I spent the night roving the woods. Every fiber of my being cried to go back, to let him embrace me and promise everything would be good. Still, I couldn't unhear Seraphina's statements or see the resignation in his eyes.

I had resolved my mind by dawn.

Early morning light found the Moonstone Pavilion vacant, its crystal walls mirroring the weak sun like broken rainbows. I pressed my hand against the main pillar, feeling the old enchantment beating beneath my fingertips. With or without Kael's protection, I had to learn about my power—which could change the earth—if I were genuinely Celestial-born.

"You returned.

I spun to find Marcus Blackthorn emerging from the shadows, but this wasn't the Alpha I knew. His usual composed demeanor had cracked, revealing something wild and desperate beneath.

"Where is he?" I asked, though I already knew.

"Tearing apart half the forest looking for you. The pack is in chaos—three Alphas from neighboring territories arrived at dawn demanding answers about the 'Celestial threat.'" His dark eyes studied me intently. "They're scared, Aria. And scared wolves do stupid things."

My heart sank. "What kind of stupid things?"

"The kind where they decide the threat needs to be eliminated before it grows stronger." Marcus stepped closer, his voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "There's something you need to know about tomorrow night. Something even Kael doesn't know."

"More secrets?" I laughed bitterly. "How refreshing."

"This isn't a game!" His Alpha power lashed out, making the very air vibrate. "The blood moon doesn't just amplify your power—it calls to every supernatural creature within a thousand miles. Vampires, demons, things that have been sleeping for centuries. They'll all feel it when your power peaks."

Ice flooded my veins. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that if you can't control what happens tomorrow night, you won't just destroy the pack. You'll paint a target on every innocent soul in three states."

Before I could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the pavilion. But these weren't Kael's familiar steps—these were measured, purposeful, carrying the weight of authority I'd learned to fear.

Elder Thorne stepped into view, flanked by two other Elders I didn't recognize. Their expressions were grim, their eyes hard as winter stone.

"Aria Silvermoon," Elder Thorne's voice carried the full weight of pack law. "By order of the Greater Council, you are hereby summoned to answer for the disturbances you have caused."

Marcus moved to stand between us, his stance protective. "She's under my family's protection."

"Not anymore." The second Elder, a severe woman with silver-streaked hair, held up an official-looking document. "The Council has voted. The Celestial is to be contained until a proper tribunal can be arranged."

"Contained?" The word came out as a whisper, but the power behind it made the crystal walls ring like bells.

"Temporarily sealed, " the third Elder explained, his tone almost apologetic. 'Your power is dampened until we can determine if you pose a threat to supernatural society as a whole.'

"And if you decide I do?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

Their silence spoke volumes.

"You can't do this," Marcus snarled, his own power rising to meet theirs. "She hasn't harmed anyone. She's done nothing but try to protect us."

"She exists," Elder Thorne said simply. "That's enough."

The injustice of it hit me like a physical blow. Condemned not for any crime I'd committed, but for the potential of what I might become. Just like Seraphina had been all those centuries ago.

"No," I said quietly.

The Elders paused, clearly not expecting resistance.

"No," I repeated, louder this time. Silver light began to dance around my fingers, responding to the fury building in my chest. 'I won't let you cage me like some rabid animal. I won't let you destroy me because you're too cowardly to face your own fears.'

"Child, you don't understand—"

"I understand perfectly!" The power exploded outward, shattering several of the crystal panels. "You're so terrified of what I might become that you're willing to create the very monster you claim to fear!"

Elder Thorne's face had gone pale, but his voice remained steady. "Stand down, or we will use force."

I looked at Marcus, seeing the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to protect me, but he was still bound by pack law, still constrained by centuries of tradition and hierarchy.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, knowing he would understand.

Then I let go.

Not completely—I wasn't ready to become what Seraphina had warned me about. But enough to show them exactly what they were trying to chain.

Silver light, so bright it transformed the world white, power erupted from me in waves. The remaining crystalline barriers dissolved, reshaping into implausible geometrical forms that defied physics, rather than just breaking. The air itself appeared to hum with energy, forcing every supernatural presence to drop to their knees.

I found myself alone in the middle of what had once been the Moonstone Pavilion after the light went off; it had now become something akin to a church constructed of starlight and dreams.

The Elders were gone—teleported away or fled, I didn't know and couldn't care. Though he remained, Marcus was looking at me with an expression I could not understand.

"That," he said slowly, "was either the most lovely thing I've ever seen or the most horrifying.

"Perhaps both," I said, amazed by my degree of serenity. The power had settled back into my bones like a contented cat, no longer fighting to be free.

Kael's voice came from behind me, husky with weariness and something that could have been amazement.

I looked about to see him torn and with frenzied eyes after a night of searching, standing at the edge of my changed haven. But his look had no terror now, only love and resolve that caused my heart to skip.

I began, "The Elders—.

"Can go to hell," he said decidedly. "All of them. Should they want to take you, they have to go through me first.

Kael, you are ignorant. Should I tomorrow night be unable to regulate this,—"

He moved forward without hesitation, crossing the threshold of power that surrounded me. No more running. None left. No longer will we allow fear to drive our decisions.

I desired to believe him. God, I so desired to trust him.

But as he came toward me, a fresh voice cut through the air like a knife.

"How wonderful. The young Alpha at last develops a spine.

We saw Seraphina appearing at the margin of the clearing; she was not alone, though. Behind her stood a tall, intimidating figure with fiery eyes and strength that caused the air itself to rebound; one that turned my blood cold.

"Hello, niece," the figure said; I realized with dawning terror that this had to be Viktor Blackthorn—the banished brother, the one whose name was spoken only in whispers.

Kael gasped, his face whitening as he uttered, "Uncle Viktor.

Viktor's grin was as sharp as shattered glass. "I understand quite a clamor has been going on. A lost Celestial, a terrified pack, Elders demanding things they have no right to make. His eyes fixed on me with voracious interest. "How wonderfully chaotic.

"What do you want? I demanded, silver light already starting to flicker around my palms.

Viktor laughed, his voice dark with sorcery. "My sweet child, I desire what I always have—to see this corrupt world burn and create something better from the ashes.

He lifted his hand, and living ink started to gush from his fingertips.

"And you, tiny star, will help me do it.