chapter 8
706 Words
Chapter 8: The Blood Moon Rises
Three days remained until the Blood Moon Festival.
A strange unease settled over the Silver Crescent Pack.
The birds no longer sang at dawn.
The forest seemed unnaturally quiet.
Even the wolves grew restless, pacing through the night as if sensing a danger they could not name.
Lyra stood before the mirror in her room, staring at the reflection of the young woman she barely recognized.
Dark circles framed her once-bright emerald eyes, and the smile that had always come so easily was gone.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Eliana stepped inside carrying a tray of breakfast.
"You've barely eaten in days."
"I'm just not hungry."
Eliana set the tray down and embraced her friend.
"You don't have to face everything alone."
For the first time in days, Lyra allowed herself to cry.
"I don't understand," she whispered. "Kael looked at me as if I were his enemy."
Eliana stroked her hair.
"Whatever is happening, I know one thing."
"What?"
"You would never betray this pack."
Lyra closed her eyes.
"I hope Kael believes that one day."
---
Meanwhile, Kael stood in the training arena, defeating warrior after warrior.
His attacks were harsher than usual.
His temper shorter.
Every time he thought of Lyra, anger surged through him.
She was hiding something.
He was certain of it.
Yet beneath that anger was another feeling.
Pain.
His wolf growled inside his mind.
She is our mate.
Kael clenched his fists.
"Then why can't I trust her?"
His wolf fell silent.
---
That evening, Elder Miriam summoned Lyra to the Moon Temple once again.
The old priestess looked exhausted.
"I have searched every ancient scroll."
"And?"
"There is only one prophecy that speaks of silver flames."
She unrolled a faded parchment.
Written in an ancient language was a single passage.
"When the Blood Moon weeps, the First Luna shall awaken once more.
She will be betrayed by the one chosen by fate.
Only after her heart is broken shall the True King claim his Queen.
Together they will stand against the Shadow Crown, or all kingdoms shall fall."
Lyra's hands trembled.
"Betrayed..."
"The prophecy doesn't say by whom," Elder Miriam replied gently.
"But I fear the answer is closer than we wish."
---
That same night, Selene met once more with the hooded stranger deep within the forest.
"You promised the Alpha would reject Lyra."
"He will."
"When?"
The stranger smiled beneath his hood.
"During the Blood Moon Festival."
Selene's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"And afterward?"
"You will become the Luna."
He didn't mention that she would only be Luna for a very short time.
Once Lyra's bond broke...
She would no longer matter.
---
Far beyond the borders of every known pack, the crimson-eyed king stood inside an ancient hall lined with towering pillars of black stone.
His commanders knelt before him.
"The Blood Moon rises in three nights, Your Majesty."
"I know."
"The armies are ready."
"Good."
The king walked to a massive window overlooking countless black wolves gathered below.
For centuries they had waited.
Not for conquest.
Not for war.
For their Queen.
He drew a magnificent sword from its sheath.
The silver runes engraved along its blade began to glow.
"The Moon Goddess has remained silent for a thousand years."
"But I can feel her will."
He raised the sword toward the moon.
"Our Queen is suffering."
A thunderous howl erupted from every wolf below.
The mountains themselves seemed to tremble.
"Prepare the Shadow Legion."
Gasps filled the hall.
His commander looked up in disbelief.
"The elite guard, Your Majesty?"
"They have not marched since the Great Celestial War."
"They march now."
His crimson eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
"If fate demands patience..."
"I will wait."
"But if anyone dares harm my mate after the bond is broken..."
His aura exploded through the fortress, shattering every window.
"...not even the strongest Alpha in the world will save them from my wrath."
Far away, Lyra looked up at the crimson moon beginning to tint the night sky.
She didn't know why...
But for the first time in her life, she no longer felt completely alone.
Somewhere beyond the horizon...
Someone was already coming for her.
- Writer
