The Moon Crown Choice
876 Words
The stranger’s hand closed around the Moon Crown.
A deafening explosion of silver light erupted across the temple.
“No!”
Nysera lunged forward.
The moment her fingertips brushed the ancient crown, an invisible force hurled both of them in opposite directions.
BOOM!
The arena cracked apart.
Stone pillars collapsed as the sacred mountain trembled violently.
The Moon Crown floated between them, refusing to move.
Its silver glow pulsed like a heartbeat.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
“It rejected them…”
The High Priestess whispered.
“No.”
Master Rowan narrowed his eyes.
“It’s… waiting.”
The hooded stranger slowly rose to his feet.
His silver robes fluttered in the icy wind.
For the first time, everyone could see his face clearly.
He looked no older than thirty.
Sharp features.
Long silver hair.
Eyes that glowed with an eerie blue light.
Most shocking of all…
The Moonborn crest burned on his forehead.
Nysera’s heart pounded.
“Who are you?”
The man smiled.
“My name…”
“…is Orion.”
Silence swept across the battlefield.
“I am the First Prince of the Moonborn Kingdom.”
The words struck everyone like thunder.
Master Rowan staggered backward.
“Impossible.”
“The First Prince died during the massacre.”
Orion’s smile faded.
“That’s what the world was meant to believe.”
Far above the battlefield, the Shadow Emperor laughed.
“So…”
“You finally reveal yourself.”
Orion looked toward the sky.
“I’ve hidden long enough.”
The Shadow Emperor raised his hand.
Thousands of shadow wolves roared in unison.
“Kill him.”
The army charged.
Draven stepped forward immediately.
“Protect the Queen!”
The Lycan warriors met the shadow wolves with a thunderous roar.
Steel clashed.
Magic exploded.
The sacred temple transformed into a battlefield.
Kael shifted into his massive black wolf.
Without hesitation, he leaped into the enemy ranks.
His claws tore through shadow beasts one after another.
“I won’t let them reach her!”
Cassian fought beside him.
Crimson flames erupted from his hands, reducing dozens of enemies to ash.
For the first time…
The two rivals fought together.
Not for pride.
Not for power.
But for Nysera.
Meanwhile…
Nysera couldn’t take her eyes off Orion.
“If you’re truly my brother…”
She swallowed hard.
“Why didn’t you come back?”
Pain filled Orion’s expression.
“I tried.”
“I searched every kingdom.”
“But someone always found me first.”
“Who?”
“The Shadow Emperor.”
A cold silence followed.
“He wanted the Moonborn bloodline destroyed forever.”
“I barely escaped with my life.”
Nysera stepped closer.
“You left me alone.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“I was just a child.”
“I know.”
His voice broke.
“And I’ve hated myself every day since.”
Suddenly..
The Moon Crown began to spin.
Silver beams shot toward the heavens.
The clouds parted.
A soft feminine voice echoed across the battlefield.
“The heir has arrived…”
Every wolf froze.
Even the Shadow Emperor stopped smiling.
The Moon Goddess had spoken.
The Crown floated gently toward Nysera.
She reached out.
This time…
Nothing stopped her.
The crown settled slowly onto her head.
The moment it touched her hair.
A blinding pillar of moonlight erupted into the sky.
Nysera cried out.
Power surged through every part of her body.
Her silver hair lengthened.
Her eyes transformed into radiant pools of liquid moonlight.
The Moon Mark spread across her arms like glowing vines.
Every injured wolf on the battlefield suddenly felt their wounds begin to heal.
Broken swords repaired themselves.
Flowers bloomed through cracked stone.
Darkness retreated before her light.
The High Priestess dropped to her knees.
“The Moonborn Queen…”
“…has awakened.”
Thousands of warriors followed.
One by one…
They knelt.
Even proud Alphas lowered their heads.
“My Queen.”
The words echoed through the mountain.
Nysera looked around in shock.
She hadn’t asked for this.
Yet every heart recognized her authority.
The Shadow Emperor’s smile vanished.
“So…”
“It has finally happened.”
He slowly removed the black cloak covering his body.
Ancient scars covered his chest.
His crimson eyes burned with hatred.
“I waited a thousand years…”
“…to kill the Moon Queen.”
He raised his sword toward Nysera.
“Come.”
“Show me…”
“…whether you’re worthy of the crown.”
A wave of terrifying dark energy erupted from his body.
The sky turned black.
The Blood Moon disappeared behind storm clouds.
Lightning split the heavens.
Nysera tightened her grip on the Moon Blade.
For the first time…
She no longer felt like the rejected omega.
She stood as the ruler the prophecy had promised.
She raised her sword.
“I won’t let you destroy this world.”
The Shadow Emperor grinned.
“Then entertain me.”
He vanished.
A split second later.
He appeared directly behind Nysera.
His blade swung toward her neck.
A burst of silver light exploded between them.
Someone had intercepted the fatal strike.
As the light faded, Nysera gasped.
Standing in front of her…
Bleeding from a deep wound across his chest…
Was Draven.
- Writer
