MOONLIT SECRET

CHAPTER 2: NEW WORLD

Evelyn said no, but Lira still felt like she was missing out on something major. She needed time to dream, and Selene visited her every night in visions both clear and not, promising that somewhere there was a purpose waiting for Alara: something about an artifact called the Moonstone – or even less, she had never heard of it.!”

Years later, the Found come together under a full moon and Lira could sense something big. Until she turned, catching sight of a stranger at the offset in the clearing— their eyes met. He towered over her, with eyes dark and penetrating that looked like they could read right through you.

"Who is that?" Her heart beat harder as Lira whispered:

Evelyn looked at him, a cautious smile on her lips. “That's Aiden Blackwood. He is the alpha of a rival pack. He said, in this area, "they are few and far between.

There was an odd attraction that Lira felt towards Aiden, something she could not understand. The air crackled with tension as he passed.

The inflection in Aiden's rich, dark voice as he breathed her name. "I've heard about you."

Your voice, Lira… and I've heard of you. "What do you want?"

Aiden was staring at me with a look that I couldnt read. "To talk. There are things I must tell you, about your history and future."

Lira's pulse quickened. What do you know about my past?

“More than you know,” Aiden said, a smile dancing around his lips. But this is neither the time nor place. Give us a chance to hope in vain again, Forest of the Old Oak Tree tomorrow morning. We have much to discuss."

Aiden was off into the darkness before Lira could say anything further, stirring up more questions than she had answers for.

Both dread and glee swirled within Lira as the pack scattered. She was aware that seeing Aiden would expose her to a lot of risk, but she also felt meeting him was the only way to open all those pages from where they had stopped.

Moonlight poured in from above, taking its place beside the sunlight, inadvertently casting long shadows across the clearing. Lira exhaled and prepared herself for whatever was awaiting her. It was merely the first leg of her greatest journey, and she would find out, no matter what.

King of Cliffhangers: The following morning, as Lira headed out to find the old oak tree, she had a funny feeling that someone was watching her. The trees almost seemed to be encroaching on her now, each leaf that rustled in a bush made her heart race. She cleared the trees and saw Aiden standing there, waiting, but she got about two words out before a deep growl shook through the woods. They were not alone.

Lira opened her eyes and squinted at the room, trying to blink into focus. It was dark in the room, and it smelled of musk with an earthy scent. She sought to shift, but instead was weighed down by something new. Her heart started racing as she quickly glanced at her hands —no, those are paws. Alexandra was a werewolf now - not Alexandra but Lira.

The ambush, the burning cut, and then blackness came over her in a shiver. Here she was, in this strange new shape. The door creaked open, and out stepped an imposing figure of a man. He was a strong presence, his piercing blue eyes looked as if they could see through her.

A deep voice pulled me back from the void, "You are awake now." "I'm Alpha Gideon. You're safe here."

She tried to speak, but only a growl came from her throat; next to her, kneeled Gideon, resting his hand on the furry part of her shoulder and telling herself it would all be alright. I know this is confusing, but you have to chill out. Try to go back to human form!

Lira closed her eyes, her concentration focused hard, before she changed. It seemed to take forever, but finally her body began moving again. The fur receded, the bones cracked, and she snapped back into place, until she was on all fours in the ground, trembling naked. Gideon covered her with a blanket.

"Good," he said. "Now, take it easy. You’ve been through a lot."

Lira sounded small and scratchy. "What happened to me?"

Gideon helped her sit up. A rogue werewolf ambushed you. And when you died, it was as one of us. You, who called yourself Alexandra, is only at the end of your human life. The old man simply nodded and proceeded to say, "You are Lira now, part of my pack."

Her heart felt the weight of his words. "But how? Why?"

Gideon laughed and said, "There is a lot still to be learned. At least for now, that you are not alone. We will help you adapt.”

Weeks became days and Lira grappled with the changes that were occurring in her life. Within the endless forest at Silver Hollow, she never left their land. The way they functioned, what rules the pack had to be loyal to, and even the hierarchy that kept their society in balance.

During an evening campfire, she came across Evelyn; a lively young werewolf with the most gleeful smile you ever saw. “You seem t’ be in need of a friend,” Evelyn scooted next to her,

"I guess so," Lira admitted. This is all just so… heavy.

Evelyn chuckled. "I know the feeling. I was turned a year ago. It gets easier, I promise."

They took to each other almost immediately, and Evelyn became a mentor for Lira as the girl tried (mostly) in vain to learn how be a werewolf. You are unique," she pointed out one night, while they walked the parameter. "I can sense it."

"What do you mean?" Lira asked.

"Your senses, your abilities. They're different, stronger. You both may have a divine connection, I believe.

Lira frowned, remembering the dreams she'd had of Selene and how her body acted so weird around them. Dreams...visions, perhaps. Selene wont shut up about my fate

Evelyn's eyes widened. "Selene? That's the Moon Goddess. When she talks to you, that means there is something amazing about to happen in your life.

This was something that had left Lira both excited and terrified. In the learning process of her talents, she noticed a variety rates from the pack. They had not known what to expect, with some in awe and others fearful of the untamed strength she might wield.