chapter 10
774 Words
Chapter 10: The Blood Moon Festival
The day of the Blood Moon Festival finally arrived.
Before sunrise, every member of the Silver Crescent Pack gathered in the sacred valley beneath the towering Moon Oak. White flowers lined the stone pathway leading to the ancient altar, while silver lanterns swayed gently in the morning breeze.
It was the most important day in the pack's history.
The day the Alpha and his fated mate would complete the Lunar Bond Ceremony.
Yet an uneasy silence hung over the valley.
Even nature seemed to be holding its breath.
---
Inside the Alpha House, Lyra stood before a full-length mirror.
She wore a flowing white gown embroidered with silver thread. Tiny moonstones glittered along the sleeves, making her appear almost ethereal.
Eliana smiled through tears as she adjusted Lyra's veil.
"You look like a true Luna."
Lyra forced a smile.
"I only hope my mate sees me that way."
Eliana took her hands.
"No matter what happens today, remember who you are."
"You are kind."
"You are brave."
"And you are stronger than you know."
Lyra nodded, though fear still gripped her heart.
---
Across the hall, Kael fastened the ceremonial Alpha cloak around his shoulders.
Beta Rowan studied him carefully.
"You don't look happy."
Kael sighed.
"My wolf wants this bond."
"And you?"
Kael remained silent.
The darkness planted in his heart had grown stronger with every passing day.
Whenever he looked at Lyra, love and suspicion battled within him.
He no longer knew which feelings were truly his.
---
As sunset painted the sky crimson, Elder Miriam stepped before the altar.
"The Blood Moon rises!"
The crowd fell silent.
The enormous crimson moon slowly climbed into the heavens, bathing the valley in eerie red light.
"Alpha Kael Blackwood."
"Luna Lyra Ashthorne."
"Step forward."
They obeyed.
Standing side by side before the sacred altar, they looked every bit the destined Alpha pair.
Elder Miriam raised the Moonstone Staff.
"Do you, Alpha Kael, accept Lyra Ashthorne as your fated mate and future Luna?"
A long silence followed.
Lyra held her breath.
Kael looked into her hopeful emerald eyes.
For one brief moment...
The poison's hold weakened.
He remembered every happy memory they had shared.
He opened his mouth.
"I..."
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded inside his mind.
The false visions returned stronger than ever.
He saw Lyra embracing another man.
He saw her leading rogues into the pack.
He heard voices whispering.
She will destroy everything you love.
His eyes turned ice cold.
The bond between their wolves trembled.
Then Kael spoke the words that shattered the night.
"I reject you."
Silence.
Complete...
Terrible...
Silence.
Lyra stared at him, unable to breathe.
"No..."
Her voice barely escaped her lips.
"No... Kael..."
"I reject you as my mate."
"I reject you as my future Luna."
"I reject the bond the Moon Goddess gave us."
The sacred valley erupted into shocked cries.
Eliana covered her mouth in horror.
Beta Rowan stood frozen.
Even Selene had not expected Kael's rejection to sound so merciless.
Lyra's knees buckled.
A searing pain tore through her chest.
It felt as though her very soul was being ripped apart.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Why?" she whispered.
Kael looked away.
"I cannot trust a traitor."
The words struck harder than any blade.
"I never betrayed you," Lyra sobbed.
"I loved you."
"I always loved you."
But Kael remained silent.
Above them, the Blood Moon suddenly glowed with blinding crimson light.
The earth shook violently.
Thunder rolled across the heavens.
The silver pendant around Lyra's neck burst into radiant light.
A voice echoed through the valley—soft, powerful, and unmistakably divine.
"The false bond is broken."
Every wolf dropped to their knees.
The Moon Goddess had spoken.
Her voice continued.
"The child of silver has fulfilled the first trial."
A pillar of silver light descended from the heavens, surrounding Lyra.
The unbearable pain in her chest began to fade.
Far beyond the mountains, inside the obsidian fortress, the crimson-eyed king suddenly rose from his throne.
His eyes widened.
He pressed a hand over his heart.
Then, for the first time in a thousand years...
He smiled.
"The bond..."
His voice trembled with emotion.
"It has finally broken."
He turned to the thousands of warriors waiting below.
"Prepare my horse."
"Open the Eastern Gates."
Every commander bowed.
"Our Queen awaits."
As the fortress gates slowly opened, a cold wind swept across the land.
A new destiny had begun.
And the man who had waited through a thousand years of loneliness was finally coming to claim the woman the Moon Goddess had destined to be his true mate.
- Writer
