Chapter Thirteen: Under the Blood Moon
716 Words
The sanctuary was silent.
Lena stared at the man standing before her.
Her hands trembled.
"...Dad?"
Tears filled the man's eyes as he slowly nodded.
"Yes, Lena."
For a moment, she couldn't move.
For eighteen years, she had imagined this moment.
She had dreamed of asking him why he left.
Why he never came back.
Now...
He was standing right in front of her.
She ran to him.
Without thinking, she threw her arms around him.
He hugged her tightly, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"I'm so... so sorry."
Lena buried her face against his chest.
"I thought you didn't want me."
He gently cupped her face.
"Never."
"Not for a single day."
---
Kai watched quietly from a distance.
For the first time since meeting Lena...
He saw genuine happiness in her eyes.
Emma smiled softly.
"She deserves this."
Kai nodded.
"She does."
---
A few minutes later...
Everyone gathered inside the sanctuary's council hall.
Lena sat beside her father.
"My name is Ethan Carter," he began.
"I was once a Guardian of the Moon."
Everyone listened carefully.
"When Lena was born, the Guardian who stands before us today tried to kill her."
Lena gasped.
"What?"
"He feared the prophecy."
"So he framed the Shadow Wolf..."
"...started a war between the packs..."
"...and hunted every child who carried the Moon Mark."
Lyra lowered her head.
"I tried to stop him."
"But I failed."
---
The Guardian smiled calmly.
"I did what was necessary."
Alpha Alden growled.
"You destroyed innocent lives!"
"I protected the future."
"No."
Lena stood.
"You protected your own fear."
The Guardian looked at her.
"You sound just like your mother."
---
Outside...
The moon slowly began turning red.
Lyra's face became pale.
"The Blood Moon..."
Kai looked toward the sky.
"It's tonight."
Everyone fell silent.
The final battle had arrived.
---
The warriors prepared for war.
Moon Pack.
Blood Fang Pack.
For the first time in centuries...
They stood together.
Viktor stepped beside Alpha Alden.
"I never thought I'd fight at your side."
Alden smiled faintly.
"I never thought I'd allow it."
Both men laughed quietly.
The old hatred between their packs had finally begun to fade.
---
Kai walked outside alone.
The wind carried the scent of pine and rain.
Footsteps approached behind him.
He turned.
Lena.
She smiled softly.
"I figured I'd find you here."
He looked back at the moon.
"I was thinking."
"About tomorrow?"
He nodded.
"What if I don't survive?"
Lena's smile disappeared.
"Don't say that."
"It's possible."
She stepped closer.
"So is surviving."
Kai looked into her emerald-green eyes.
"You've changed everything."
"No."
She smiled.
"We changed everything."
Silence settled between them.
The red moon rose higher.
Kai took a slow breath.
"Lena..."
"Yes?"
"I've been trying not to say this."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
He laughed softly.
"That you'd think I was moving too fast."
Lena smiled.
"I probably am."
Kai reached for her hand.
"I love you."
The words escaped before he could stop them.
His heart pounded.
"I know this isn't the right time..."
"But every day I spend with you makes me wish I'd met you years ago."
Lena felt tears sting her eyes.
She had never imagined falling in love with a mysterious boy she'd met only weeks ago.
Yet somehow...
It felt completely natural.
She gently squeezed his hand.
"I love you too, Kai."
His breath caught.
"Really?"
She laughed through her tears.
"Really."
Without another word...
He leaned forward.
Very gently...
He kissed her forehead.
"I promise," he whispered.
"I'll protect our future."
She rested her head against his shoulder.
"And I'll fight beside you."
High above them...
The Blood Moon reached its peak.
The Guardian raised his hand toward the crimson sky.
Dark clouds gathered.
Lightning split the heavens.
The ground shook violently.
From the ancient ruins beneath the mountain...
A deafening roar echoed across Moonridge.
The Shadow Wolf's prison had finally broken.
But instead of one creature emerging...
A swirling darkness rose into the sky, taking the shape of a monstrous wolf made entirely of black mist.
The Guardian smiled.
"Behold..."
"The creature your fear has fed for centuries."
Every warrior stared upward in horror.
Kai tightened his grip on Lena's hand.
The final battle...
Had begun.
- Writer
