Chapter 2: The Mysterious Invitation
828 Words
Aria barely remembered how she found her way home.
The image of the enormous black wolf and the glowing stone replayed in her mind over and over again. Every sound in the forest now seemed different. Every rustling leaf made her glance over her shoulder, expecting the silver-eyed wolf to appear once more.
By the time she reached the house, the sun had disappeared behind the mountains.
Daniel Blackwood's truck was already parked outside.
As Aria stepped through the front door, her father looked up from the kitchen table.
"There you are," he said, relief washing over his face. "I was starting to worry."
"I lost track of time."
His eyes narrowed.
"Were you in the forest?"
"Yes."
"How far did you go?"
Aria hesitated.
"I... found a clearing."
Daniel's face instantly lost its color.
"What kind of clearing?"
"There was a huge stone with strange symbols on it."
The coffee mug slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
"You touched it?"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Aria stared at him.
"How do you know about it?"
Daniel quickly looked away.
"It doesn't matter."
"It does matter!"
He sighed deeply before kneeling to pick up the broken pieces.
"Some places are better left forgotten."
"But—"
"No more questions, Aria."
His tone ended the conversation.
She nodded quietly, though her curiosity only grew stronger.
That night, after dinner, Daniel disappeared into his study.
The room was always locked.
Aria had never been inside.
As she walked past the door, she heard her father speaking softly.
"...it's happening sooner than expected."
There was a pause.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep her safe."
Aria frowned.
Safe from what?
The floor creaked beneath her feet.
The voices stopped.
The study door opened.
Daniel stepped out, forcing a smile.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"I was getting some water."
"Go to bed."
She nodded and walked away, pretending she hadn't heard anything.
But she knew one thing.
Her father was hiding something.
---
The next morning began like any other.
Until the mail arrived.
Daniel collected the letters from the mailbox.
Most were ordinary bills.
One envelope wasn't.
It was midnight blue, sealed with silver wax bearing the image of a crescent moon wrapped around a wolf.
Daniel froze.
"No..."
Aria noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
He slowly turned the envelope over.
Her name was written across the front in elegant silver handwriting.
Miss Aria Blackwood
She blinked.
"Who would send me a letter?"
Daniel didn't answer.
With trembling hands, he gave it to her.
"I think... you should open it."
Aria carefully broke the seal.
Inside was thick ivory paper.
As she unfolded it, silver letters slowly appeared across the page as if written by invisible ink.
---
Dear Miss Aria Blackwood,
It is our pleasure to inform you that you have been selected to attend Mooncrest Academy.
Your presence has been requested immediately.
Transportation will arrive in three days.
Do not ignore the call. Destiny waits for no one.
—Headmaster Orion Ravenshade
---
Aria read it twice.
Then a third time.
"What kind of school is Mooncrest Academy?"
Daniel remained silent.
"You knew this was coming."
"I hoped it never would."
"You know this place?"
He closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"A boarding school."
"For what?"
He looked directly at her.
"For people... who are different."
Aria laughed nervously.
"I'm not different."
Daniel whispered, almost to himself,
"That's what I've been trying to protect."
---
That evening, strange things began happening around the house.
The lights flickered without reason.
The family dog from next door refused to come near Aria.
When she accidentally dropped a glass, she caught it before it hit the floor.
Impossible.
She hadn't even seen herself move.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"How did I..."
Later that night she stood before her bedroom mirror.
For just a second...
Her gray eyes flashed bright silver.
Then returned to normal.
She stepped backward.
"No..."
A howl echoed from somewhere beyond the forest.
Unlike before...
This time she understood it.
Not with words.
With feeling.
It wasn't a threat.
It was a welcome.
---
Miles away, hidden beneath Mooncrest Academy, a circle of elders gathered around an ancient crystal glowing with silver light.
Headmaster Orion stood at its center.
"The seal has weakened," one elder said.
"She has touched the Moon Stone."
Another elder looked uneasy.
"If she comes here, every hidden pack will know."
"They already do," Orion replied.
The crystal suddenly pulsed.
A map appeared within its light.
One bright point glowed stronger than all the others.
Aria Blackwood.
"The last Alpha heir has awakened," Orion said quietly.
"We have very little time before our enemies reach her."
Outside the academy walls, hidden among the trees, crimson eyes watched the castle from the darkness.
A cruel smile spread across Magnus Bloodfang's face.
"So the girl has received her invitation."
He turned to his followers.
"Prepare yourselves."
"The hunt... begins."
- Writer
