THE MOON GODDESS OF SILVERFANG

Chapter one The moon had always followed me. I did not understand what that meant when I was a child. To me, the moon was simply a beautiful light in the night sky, hanging above the mountains and shining through the branches of the ancient trees surrounding Silverfang territory. I used to watch it from my bedroom window whenever I could not sleep. Sometimes, I imagined that it was watching me too. I never knew how close I was to the truth. My name is Elara, and I was born into the Silverfang wolf pack. My father, Alpha Adrian, was the leader of the pack. My mother, Selene, was his first mate. I barely remembered her. She died when I was very young, leaving behind only a few memories that had survived the years. I remembered her gentle voice. I remembered the warmth of her hands. I remembered the way she used to carry me outside at night and show me the stars. Most of all, I remembered the moonlight. Whenever I thought about my mother, I saw her beneath the moon. Then she was gone. After her death, my father eventually married another woman. Her name was Morwen. To the rest of Silverfang, Morwen was a respected woman. She was intelligent, composed, and careful with her words. She knew how to smile at the elders and how to speak kindly to visitors. But behind the closed doors of our home, she was different. She never treated me like a daughter. She treated me like an unwanted responsibility. I learned early that the safest thing I could do around her was remain quiet. That morning, I woke before sunrise. I had barely opened my eyes when I heard her voice outside my door. “Elara.” I sat up immediately. “Yes?” “The water buckets are empty.” I looked toward the window. The sky was still dark. “I'll get them.” “You should have done it last night.” I said nothing. That was another lesson I had learned. Arguments only made things worse. I dressed quickly and carried the buckets toward the eastern stream. Silverfang was quiet at that hour. Most of the wolves were still asleep, while a few guards patrolled the settlement. Our territory was surrounded by enormous trees and mountains. A wide river passed through the western side, while the eastern stream supplied most of the settlement with fresh water. I reached the stream and knelt beside it. The water was cold. I filled the first bucket. Then the second. As I stood, I noticed something strange. The moon was still visible. It was unusually bright. I looked at it for several seconds. A strange warmth spread through my chest. I touched my heart. The feeling disappeared. I shook my head and picked up the buckets. By the time I returned home, Morwen was already waiting. “You took too long.” “I’m sorry.” She took one of the buckets. “You always have an excuse.” “I didn't—” “Enough.” I lowered my head. She walked inside. I followed. That was how most of my mornings began. Work. Silence. More work. I prepared breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, swept the main room, and helped with whatever else Morwen decided needed to be done. My father was rarely home for long. As Alpha, he had responsibilities that kept him busy throughout the day. He handled disputes, supervised patrols, met with warriors, and communicated with neighboring packs. Whenever he was around, Morwen behaved differently. She smiled. She spoke gently. She asked whether I had eaten. Sometimes I wondered whether my father noticed the difference. I hoped he did. But he never said anything. That afternoon, I was sent to gather herbs from the forest. I walked alone. The forest was peaceful. Birds moved through the branches, and sunlight slipped between the leaves. For a few moments, I forgot about Morwen. I forgot about the pack. I forgot about everything. I simply walked. Then I heard something. A howl. I stopped. It came from deeper within the forest. Another howl answered. I looked around. There was no one nearby. I should have returned. Instead, I followed the sound. I walked farther than I had ever gone before. Eventually, I reached a small clearing. A stream passed through the center. Above it, the branches opened enough for the sky to be seen. I stood there. Something about the place felt familiar. I could not explain why. Then I saw a wolf. It stood on the opposite side of the stream. It was enormous, with dark gray fur and silver eyes. I had never seen it before. The wolf looked at me. I looked back. Neither of us moved. Then it turned and disappeared into the trees. I took one step forward. A strange feeling told me to follow. But I stopped myself. I had already been gone too long. I returned to Silverfang before sunset. Morwen was waiting. “Where have you been?” “Gathering herbs.” “You were told to stay near the boundary.” “I didn't go far.” She looked at the herbs in my hands. “Give them to me.” I did. She walked away without another word. That night was the Moon Gathering. Every full moon, Silverfang gathered in the central clearing to honor the ancient traditions of the pack. I stood at the back with the younger wolves. My father stood near the ceremonial fire. Morwen stood beside him. Elder Rowan, one of the oldest members of Silverfang, stepped forward. He raised his staff. “The moon watches.” The pack repeated the words. “The forest remembers.” The pack repeated them again. “The bloodline endures.” I felt a strange sensation in my wrist. I pulled my sleeve down. “The pack survives.” Everyone raised their faces toward the moon. I looked up. The moon was enormous. Brighter than it had ever been. My heart began beating faster. Then the fire stopped moving. Every flame became completely still. The clearing fell silent. I heard something. A heartbeat. It was not mine. It seemed to come from beneath the ground. The earth trembled. I stepped backward. Suddenly, moonlight fell directly across me. I could not move. A silver glow surrounded my body. Someone gasped. Then another voice shouted. “Look!” I looked down at my wrist. A crescent-shaped mark had appeared beneath my skin. It was glowing. The crowd erupted into whispers. My father stood. “Elara!” I looked at him. He looked shocked. But someone else looked terrified. Morwen. For the first time in my life, I saw genuine fear in her eyes. She stared at the mark as though she had seen something she desperately hoped would never return. Elder Rowan slowly approached me. He stared at my wrist. His face became pale. “Where did you get that?” “I don't know.” He looked at my father. Then back at me. “That is the Moon Seal.” The clearing became silent. I had heard stories about the Moon Seal before, but they had always been treated as legends. “What does it mean?” I asked. Rowan took a breath. “Long ago, Silverfang was protected by a woman chosen by the moon.” Someone laughed nervously. “That is only an old story.” Rowan shook his head. “No.” His eyes remained fixed on me. “It was never only a story.” My father stepped closer. “Rowan, explain.” The elder looked toward the moon. “The first Moon Guardian was called Lyra. She carried a power that allowed her to communicate with the ancient spirit of the moon. She protected the wolf clans and brought peace to territories that had fought for generations.” “And the mark?” my father asked. “It appeared on those who carried her blood.” My breathing stopped. I looked at my wrist. “You mean…” Rowan nodded. “The old blood has awakened.” Whispers spread through the crowd. Some wolves looked amazed. Others looked afraid. Then a young warrior spoke loudly. “Maybe she's cursed.” I looked at him. “I am not cursed.” My voice shook. No one answered. Morwen suddenly stepped forward. “The ceremony is over.” Rowan frowned. “This needs to be discussed.” “Not here,” Morwen replied. She looked at the crowd. “Everyone return home.” My father seemed uncertain, but eventually nodded. The wolves slowly dispersed. I remained standing beneath the moon. My father approached. “Elara.” “What is happening to me?” He looked at the mark. “I don't know.” “You're lying.” His expression changed. “I know your mother had questions about the Moon Seal.” My heart tightened. “You knew?” “Yes.” “Why didn't you tell me?” “You were too young.” “I am sixteen now.” “I know.” “Then tell me.” Before he could answer, Morwen interrupted. “You need to rest.” I turned toward her. “Why are you afraid of me?” Her face became cold. “I am not.” “You are.” “Elara.” “Why?” She stepped closer. “You don't understand what you're dealing with.” “Then explain it.” She said nothing. I looked between her and my father. Neither of them would answer. That night, I could not sleep. I sat beside my window and watched the moon. The mark on my wrist still glowed faintly. I thought about the wolf I had seen earlier. I thought about Elder Rowan. I thought about my mother. Then I heard a voice. “Elara.” I froze. It was soft. Gentle. Familiar. I knew that voice. “Mother?” The room was empty. But moonlight filled it. I stood. The mark on my wrist became brighter. Then images flashed through my mind. A woman standing beneath a full moon. A silver wolf beside her. A crown. A newborn child. A forest covered in mist. Then darkness. I stumbled backward. The vision disappeared. My breathing became uneven. “What is happening?” A howl sounded outside. I went to the window. The enormous silver-eyed wolf stood beneath it. It looked directly at me. Then it lowered its head. I felt something inside me respond. Not fear. Recognition. The wolf disappeared into the darkness. I remained by the window. I did not understand what was happening. But one thing had become clear. The moon was calling me. And whatever secret my family had buried for sixteen years was beginning to awaken. I looked at my glowing wrist. For years, Morwen had made me believe I was unwanted. For years, I had wondered whether there was something wrong with me. Now I knew there was something different about me. I simply did not know what. I turned toward the door. Tomorrow, I would demand answers. I would ask my father about my mother. I would ask Elder Rowan about the Moon Seal. And I would ask Morwen why she looked terrified when the mark appeared. For the first time, I was no longer willing to remain silent. I did not know that the answers would lead me toward a secret that had been hidden since before my birth. I did not know that my mother's disappearance was connected to the Moon Seal. I did not know that Morwen knew more than she had ever admitted. And I certainly did not know that the destiny waiting for me would eventually place the entire Silverfang pack in my hands. All I knew was that something had changed. The girl who had spent her life obeying was beginning to question. The girl who had always lowered her head was beginning to look toward the sky. And beneath the watchful moon, I made my first promise to myself. I would discover the truth. No matter how frightening it was. No matter who tried to stop me. No matter what I found waiting beyond the forest. The moon had chosen me for a reason. And I was finally ready to find out why. Next chapter>>