Chapter 13: The Awakening
617 Words
The light around Aria intensified.
At first, it was only a faint glow around her hands. But within seconds, the energy spread across her arms, swirling like silver flames dancing in the night air.
Below the balcony, the battlefield suddenly grew silent.
Every wolf—royal guards and rebels alike—felt it.
A powerful pressure filled the courtyard, like the air itself had grown heavier.
Magnus’ eyes widened with excitement.
“So it’s true,” he whispered.
“The Moon-Bound power.”
Beside Aria, Kael’s expression darkened.
“Aria,” he said carefully, keeping his voice calm, “you need to breathe.”
But Aria could barely hear him.
Her chest felt hot.
Too hot.
The energy inside her body felt like a storm trying to break free.
“I… I can’t stop it,” she said, panic rising in her voice.
The silver light suddenly pulsed outward.
A wave of energy burst from the balcony like a shockwave.
Several rebel wolves were thrown backward across the courtyard.
Dust and broken stone lifted into the air.
Magnus staggered but managed to stay on his feet.
Then he began to laugh.
A deep, thrilled laugh.
“Magnificent!”
Kael stepped in front of Aria instantly, his body shielding her from the crowd below.
His eyes were glowing now—bright gold.
“You need to go back inside,” he told her.
But the energy around Aria only grew stronger.
The silver glow climbed up her neck, across her shoulders, and began forming faint patterns across her skin—like ancient markings made of moonlight.
Aria gasped.
“What’s happening to me?”
Kael looked down at the courtyard again.
Magnus was watching like a hunter who had finally found his prey.
And that was when Kael realized the truth.
“This is what he wanted,” Kael growled.
Magnus raised his sword proudly.
“Yes.”
The rebel Alpha’s voice echoed through the courtyard.
“I needed her power to awaken.”
Aria stared at him in confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
Magnus spread his arms.
“The prophecy never said the power would belong to the royal bloodline.”
His smile grew darker.
“It only said the Moon-Bound would awaken.”
The ground trembled slightly beneath everyone’s feet.
Even the royal guards looked uneasy.
Kael’s instincts screamed danger.
“Aria,” he said urgently, “you must stop the power now.”
“I don’t know how!”
Another burst of light exploded from her hands.
This time the shockwave cracked the stone railing of the balcony.
Pieces of rock fell into the courtyard below.
Magnus stepped forward slowly, clearly unfazed.
“You see the problem, King?” he said.
“She has power.”
“But no control.”
Kael’s patience snapped.
With a furious roar, he leapt from the balcony.
In midair, his body began to change.
Bones shifted.
Muscles expanded.
Dark fur burst across his skin as he transformed into his full Lycan war form.
He landed in the courtyard with enough force to crack the stone beneath his feet.
The massive black wolf towered over every warrior present.
Golden eyes burned with fury.
The royal guards stepped back in awe.
Magnus grinned even wider.
“Finally,” he said.
He pointed his sword directly at Kael.
“I was hoping you would show me your true strength.”
Behind them, Aria stood frozen on the balcony.
Her glowing hands trembled.
The silver energy around her was still growing.
And deep inside her chest…
Something ancient was beginning to awaken.
Something powerful.
Something that had been waiting for centuries.
The Moon-Bound power had only just begun to rise.
- Writer
