Chapter 7: The stranger’s Secret (part2)
642 Words
Chapter 7: The Stranger’s Secret (Part 2)
The council chamber slowly emptied.
Only Lucian and Rowan remained.
Lucian stared at the map spread across the table, his fingers resting on the red circles marking rogue sightings.
“They’re closing in.”
Rowan nodded grimly.
“Every report places them closer to Mooncrest.”
Lucian’s amber eyes darkened.
“I don’t believe this is just another attack.”
“They’re searching for Aria.”
“And someone is helping them.”
Rowan frowned.
“You think there’s a spy?”
Lucian looked toward the large wooden doors.
“I know there is.”
Outside…
Hidden beneath a dark cloak, one of the council elders hurried through the forest.
He glanced over his shoulder repeatedly.
After making sure no one had followed him, he stopped beside an abandoned shrine.
A shadow emerged.
Only glowing crimson eyes could be seen beneath the hood.
“You have news?” the stranger asked.
The elder bowed.
“Mooncrest refuses to surrender the girl.”
The crimson-eyed figure smiled.
“Excellent.”
“They’ve chosen war.”
A heavy pouch of gold landed at the elder’s feet.
“You’ve served us well.”
The elder reached for it.
Before his fingers touched the bag—
Slash!
A blade flashed through the darkness.
His head rolled across the ground.
The Shadow Alpha stepped from the shadows, wiping blood from his sword.
“I never leave witnesses.”
His followers laughed as the elder’s body collapsed.
Meanwhile…
Aria sat alone beneath the ancient Moon Tree.
Her silver pendant rested in her palm.
The stranger’s words echoed endlessly in her mind.
“You still have it.”
She closed her eyes.
“Why does this feel so important?”
A soft breeze stirred the branches.
Then…
The pendant began to glow.
A warm silver light spread across her hands.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Suddenly
Images flooded her mind.
A little girl laughed as she ran through a palace garden.
A woman wearing a silver crown lifted her into her arms.
“My little moon.”
“You must always wear this pendant.”
“It will protect you.”
The little girl smiled.
“Will Daddy protect me too?”
A tall warrior stepped forward.
He wore silver armor unlike anything Aria had ever seen.
He kissed the child’s forehead.
“Always.”
The vision shattered.
Aria gasped for air.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“They…”
“They were my parents…”
For the first time since losing her memory…
She had remembered something.
Far beyond Mooncrest…
Kael finally arrived at the mountain overlooking the territory.
His horse stopped at the cliff’s edge.
Below him lay Mooncrest Pack.
Peaceful.
Protected.
Alive.
Damon rode beside him.
“So this is Mooncrest.”
Kael didn’t answer.
His wolf stirred restlessly.
For weeks, it had been silent.
Now…
It growled softly.
“Mate…”
Kael’s entire body froze.
His eyes widened.
“No…”
He could feel it.
Faint.
Broken.
But unmistakable.
The mate bond.
Ariana was alive.
He gripped the reins so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Ariana…”
His voice barely escaped as a whisper.
“I found you.”
Back inside Mooncrest…
Lucian stood outside Aria’s room.
He raised his hand to knock.
Before he could…
A piercing scream echoed through the mansion.
“Alpha!”
Warriors rushed through the corridors.
Rowan burst into the room.
“The eastern watchtower has fallen!”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed.
“How many?”
“More than three hundred rogues.”
“They’re marching straight toward the gates.”
The ground shook beneath their feet.
Outside, horns echoed through the village.
Children cried.
Warriors grabbed their weapons.
Aria stepped into the hallway.
“What’s happening?”
Lucian drew his sword.
“The war…”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“…has begun..
- Writer
