CHAPTER 10
1231 Words
Prophecy Unveiled
“Elara, this isn’t just a warning,” Lysandra said softly, her finger tracing the strange symbols carved into the stone. “This is a revelation.”
Elara frowned as she leaned closer to the table. The small lantern beside Lysandra gave off a dim light, casting long, flickering shadows over the strange runes. “A revelation of what? It feels like someone is trying to mess with my head.”
Lysandra shook her head, her silver hair sparkling in the lantern’s glow. “No, this is much older than the Bloodfangs. Older than the wars between the packs. These runes belong to the Moon’s Chosen.”
Elara blinked, surprise and doubt crossing her face. “The Moon’s Chosen? That’s just a story.”
Lysandra’s speech got stronger, her tone leaving no room for debate. “It’s no story, Elara. The Moon’s Chosen were real. They were protectors, chosen by the moon goddess herself. They had powers beyond anything we could imagine. But the last of them disappeared centuries ago.”
Elara’s stomach tightened. She tried to steady her breathing as she looked at the stone again. “So why is this message here? Why is it directed at me?”
Lysandra’s gaze softened, sympathy in her pale blue eyes. “Because you are one of them, Elara. The last of the Moon’s Chosen.”
The words hit Elara like a punch to the chest. She stumbled back, shaking her head. “No. That can’t be true. I’m just… me. A cursed outsider who can’t even control her powers.”
“Your shadows aren’t a curse,” Lysandra said. “They’re a gift. But like any gift, they can be dangerous if you don’t learn to control them.”
Elara’s hands gripped the edge of the table tightly. “What does this mean? For me? For Moonveil?”
Lysandra’s face darkened. “It means a war is coming. And you’re at the center of it.”
The camp buzzed with anxiety. Everywhere Elara looked, wolves were on high alert. Scouts patrolled the edges of the camp, their eyes scanning every shadow. The air felt thick with unease.
“Stay sharp!” Aeron’s voice rang out as he addressed a group of scouts. “If you see anything and I mean anything suspicious—report it immediately.”
Elara walked through the camp, her heightened senses on edge. Every sound seemed louder, every scent stronger. Something wasn’t right. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.
Her shadows rippled at her feet, responding to her unease. Suddenly, she noticed movement near the edge of the camp. A figure, cloaked in darkness, was slipping away into the trees.
“Stop right there!” Elara shouted, breaking into a run.
The figure bolted, moving fast through the dense forest. But Elara was faster. Her shadows stretched ahead of her, moving like snakes until they wrapped around the intruder’s legs and pulled him to the ground.
Elara reached him first, holding him down with one knee. “Who sent you?” she asked, her voice cold and steady.
The man glared up at her, his face twisted with anger. “You’ll never stop us,” he spat.
Elara’s grip tightened. “Answer me,” she said through tight teeth.
Aeron emerged beside her, his blade glinting in the moonlight. “Let me handle this,” he said.
Elara shook her head. “No. He’s mine.”
The man’s lips turned into a mocking smile, even as blood dripped from his mouth. “You think you’re safe here?” he sneered. “The Bloodfangs are already among you.”
Elara’s heart raced. She leaned closer, her shadows whirling menacingly. “Who? How many?”
The man laughed, a loud, unpleasant sound. “Enough to destroy your precious pack.”
Before she could press him further, his body convulsed. Black foam bubbled from his mouth, and his eyes rolled back. He went limp in her grasp.
“Poison,” Aeron said sadly. He sheathed his blade, his face dark. “He’d rather die than talk.”
Elara stood, her shadows moving wildly around her. “This isn’t over,” she said, her voice calm but filled with purpose. “There are more of them out there. We have to find them before it’s too late.”
Kieran stood in the center of the pack’s meeting hall. The big room was packed with wolves, their looks a mix of fear, anger, and doubt. The stress was so thick it was almost choking.
Kieran raised his hand, calling for silence. “Listen carefully,” he began, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs. “The Bloodfangs have infiltrated our territory. We’ve already caught one spy, but there are more. We cannot let our guard down.”
The crowd erupted into nervous whispers.
“How are we supposed to fight an enemy we can’t see?” one wolf called out.
Kieran’s gaze was steady as he replied, “We’ll fight by being prepared. I’m sending guards around the clock. No one joins or leaves the camp without my approval. We’ll stay vigilant.”
His eyes moved to Elara, who stood near the back of the room. “And Elara will take on a leadership role. Her abilities are crucial in defending the pack.”
The room erupted into protests.
“You can’t be serious!” one wolf shouted. “She’s an outsider!”
“She can’t even control her powers!” another added, his tone sharp.
Kieran raised his hand again, silencing the crowd. “Enough! Elara has proven herself. She caught the spy tonight. If we want to survive, we need her.”
Elara stepped forward, her shadows swirling protectively around her. “I know you don’t trust me,” she said, her voice steady despite the anger and doubt directed at her. “But I didn’t ask for this. All I want is to protect this pack, just like all of you.”
The crowd quieted, though doubt lingered in their eyes.
Cassandra stepped forward, her expression calm but her eyes gleaming with subtle malice. “Kieran,” she said, her tone sweet but firm. “Are you sure this is the right choice? Trust is fragile. If it’s placed in the wrong hands…”
Kieran’s jaw tightened. “My decision is final. If anyone has a problem with it, they can take it up with me.”
Cassandra lowered her head, hiding the small smile that tugged at her lips. “Of course, Alpha. I only want what’s best for the pack.”
As the meeting finished, the crowd scattered, though the stress stayed. Elara lingered near the entrance, her mind racing. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Cassandra’s words held a deeper meaning.
Kieran approached her, his expression unreadable. “You did well tonight,” he said.
Elara frowned. “Did I? Feels like the pack hates me even more now.”
“They’ll come around,” Kieran said, though his tone lacked faith.
Before she could reply, a faraway howl pierced the air. It was sharp, intense, and frightening.
Kieran’s eyes darkened. “That’s the eastern border.”
Elara’s shadows swirled in anticipation. “What do we do?”
Kieran’s voice was grim as he answered, “We fight.”
The scream grew louder, joined by others. The Bloodfangs were here.
- Writer
