FORSAKEN LUNA

Chapter 4

That night, Aria's mind was trapped in Cassian’s words.

"You’re awakening."

She couldn’t deny what had happened. That pulse of energy—it had felt ancient, powerful, and entirely hers.

But if she was truly awakening…

Then what had been asleep inside her all this time?

In an instant, a sudden searing pain shot through Aria’s spine, knocking the breath from her lungs.

She collapsed to her knees, clutching her chest as her vision blurred.

A violent heat spread through her veins, crawling up her arms, her throat—burning her from the inside out.

She gasped, her nails digging into the dirt.

"What’s happening to me?"

Her heartbeat thundered. The golden threads she had glimpsed earlier flared beneath her skin, glowing brighter, stronger—uncontrollable.

It felt as though something deep within her was breaking free.

She barely registered Cassian’s rapid approach. His boots kicked up dust as he knelt beside her, gripping her shoulders.

"Aria! Listen to me!" His voice was sharp, demanding.

She trembled under his grip, every nerve in her body alive with scorching energy.

Cassian’s golden eyes darkened as he examined her. "It’s starting."

She gritted her teeth. "What… what is?"

He hesitated.

Then, his next words sent a chill down her spine.

"The true power of the Moon Goddess runs through you."

A shadow flickered across Cassian’s face, his expression unreadable. "Your strength was never meant to be ordinary."

Aria fought through the pain, forcing herself to focus. "Then why… why did my pack see me as weak?"

Cassian’s grip tightened. "Because they didn’t know what you were."

Her stomach twisted.

His voice was low, firm. "Because someone—or something—hid it from you."

Her breath hitched.

The years of suffering, of feeling powerless, of being treated like nothing—had it all been a lie?

Rage ignited in her chest.

Cassian exhaled, his gaze locked onto hers. "Now that it’s waking, your body is struggling to contain it."

A dangerous glint flashed in his golden eyes.

"If you don’t learn to control it—it will consume you."

Before Aria could respond, the pain surged again.

She threw her head back, a cry tearing from her throat as a new wave of heat exploded through her body.

The ground beneath her quaked.

A golden glow erupted from her skin, blinding and wild. Her veins burned with power, her entire being trembling with the force of something ancient, unstoppable.

Then—the mark appeared.

A silvery crescent etched itself onto her collarbone, glowing faintly under the moonlight.

Cassian’s eyes widened. His breath came sharp and uneven.

"By the gods," he whispered.

His fingers brushed the mark, reverence flickering in his expression. "This… this is impossible."

Aria panted, her vision hazy, her body still trembling from the aftershock.

She barely managed a whisper.

"What does it mean?"

Cassian met her gaze, and for the first time, she saw something in his eyes that had never been there before.

Fear.

Cassian exhaled, as if making a decision. "This isn’t just power, Aria."

His next words sent ice through her veins.

"This mark means you were never meant to be just a Luna."

He swallowed.

"You were meant to be a Queen."

Aria’s heart slammed against her ribs.

The world had cast her aside. Forsaken her.

But now…

Now, fate itself was reclaiming her.

And she would rise higher than any of them could ever imagine.