MOONLIT SECRET

CHAPTER 3: TENSIONS RISE

Until one day, Alpha Gideon summoned her to his cabin. ‘Lira, we need to talk.' He said furiously gesturing for her to sit. "I've noticed your progress. You are catching on quick, but there is one thing you must remember.

With her heart racing, Lira nodded. "What is it?”

These woods harbor rival packs, and not all are kind. Aiden Blackwood returns to his parents pack, the so called "Blackwood" pack is one of most dangerous only adding 5 sons and their Alpha. You must be careful of them.

A bloodcurdling howl filled the forest before lira could answer. Her pack gathered on the clearing, Lira felt a strong presence nearing her. The crowd cleared and she met the gaze of a grip man, He was to tall muscular built dark hair with piercing emerald eyes. Aiden Blackwood.

Aiden advanced toward me and the air crackled between us. “Gideon,” he added, his voice frigid. I noticed you got yourself a new companion.

Gideon moved to the front, on edge. "What do you want, Aiden?"

Aiden's eyes turned to Lira, his lips twitching in a smile. "Just following up on something… And I got a little inside scoop about your new hire.

Lira was also afraid but she too had the sense of an inquisitive mind and heart. Aiden was magnetic, dangerous while her love for him only continued to grow.

Gideon stepped in front of Lira, eyes red and glowering at her father.

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Relax, Gideon. Just making conversation." He went to leave, though not before giving Lira one last glance. "See you around, Lira."

With that, he tunnels off into the forest and Lira's mind goes a mile minute. "Who is he?" she asked.

"Trouble," Gideon replied. "Stay away from him. His pack is known for being vicious, and he himself isn't a man to do business with.

Selene visited Lira in a dream that night. A figure of such luminance that she conversely envied and resented its light — The Moon Goddess stood over her. "Your way is one of peril, Lira," Selene spoke. Howbeit you are destined to greatness. Hunt down the Moonstone, as it will unlock your potential.

Waking up in a cold sweat, Lira realized the dreams could no longer be ignored. She opened up to Evelyn, who hung on every word.This Moonstone ““We have to learn more about it. Maybe that is the answer to everything.”

Diving into the ancient texts of our pack, they learned about a moonstone that was connected to some bloodline which held a mysterious power. Lira's bloodline. The texts insinuated a relic of great power; one that could bind or break the werewolf packs.

At that moment, however, a visitor arrived: Marcus[I4], Lira's foster father. "Marcus?" When she saw him, Lira exclaimed.

"Needed to talk t'you," Marcus mumbled, a worried look in his eyes. My past, there is so much you do not know.

A tumbling wave of emotions swept through Lira. "What do you know, Marcus?"

He sighed. “Your parents were the Moonstone keepers. They died defending it against those who wanted its power. You are their legacy, Lira. are their pathYou have to keep going

As she was about to wonder out loud, Marcus slide a small old looking note book across the table. This your mothers. It holds the key to finding Moonstone.

Marcus left and Lira just held on to the notebook battling between grief and vengeance. It became her parents mission and she would not rest until she found out the facts.

Some days later, a second threat materialized. The long hand of a well-known werewolf hunter, Hunter Cole, finally reached the region. Gideon warned the pack, “We have to be cautious.” "Cole is dangerous. He will not rest until every werewolf in this forest has been wiped out."

With each word, Lira could feel the responsibilities swell. Stuck in a bad crossfire between the packs, hunted by an evil hunter and trying to solve one of werewolf-kind's biggest mysteries — The Moonstone. However, with Evelyn next to her and the teachings of Selene leading them down this road she knew that they had no choice but to continue.

Lira had never felt as fulfilled in a long time, the pack was all gathered for another meeting.No, she was not Alexandra Silver Hollow orphaned child anymore. She has been Lira—a werewolf with a future to pass. Plus she was prepared to deal with any setbacks that came her way.

The night was vibrating with the symphony of life in the forest; there were crickets and rustling leaves due to a gust, plus a distant wolf. Frozen at the outskirts of her pack's territory, Lira's body was coiled like a spring waiting to be unleashed. His aura was like a cocktail of the epitome of danger and allure that indicated to her oncoming presence, she could sense Aiden Blackwood long before he did.

"Why are you here?" She asked as he entered the moonlight from out of the shadows, his greedy green eyes sparkled.

Aiden took a step closer and grinned. The feeling is mutual I s'pose."Have you forgotten, Lira? You shouldn't be out here alone, not with tensions between our packs this close to the breaking point.

Lira compared clarity, standing with her arms crossed to cover the unease creeping over her. "I’m not alone. My pack is nearby."

This is not supposed to comfort me right? Aiden's voice teased but it was hard. "You should be careful, Lira. You cannot trust your pack.

She stiffened and took a step back. "What do you mean by that?"

He shrugged, eyes still fixed on her. "Just a friendly warning. Watch your back."

Aiden vanished back into the woods before she could answer, leaving Lira with a confused expression on her face. Her brain was spinning as she made her way back to the camp. Could Aiden be right? Was there a mole in their midst?

She woke up the next morning in Alpha Gideon's cabin. Gideon's face hardened at her words. "I saw Aiden last night," she admitted.

I warned you off him, he said tensioned in his voice.

"I know, but he found me. He told me that we have a spy in our pack.

Gideon’s eyes narrowed. Aiden is attempting to cause discord. You can't believe a word he says.

Lira nodded, but something about the whole situation had started to make her uncomfortable. After a brief rest in one of Gideon's huts, she was going to have to go find Evelyn. She was in desperate need of a companion who could lead her out the mess that she had found herself tangled up with.

Evelyn, can we talk for a sec. Lira called Evelyn off to the side

Evelyn looked concerned. "What’s going on?"