Chapter 13: The Moon Crown's Choice
865 Words
The Hidden Chamber trembled violently.
Dust rained from the ceiling as dark energy spread across the ancient floor.
Magnus Bloodfang stood before the silver throne, his crimson eyes fixed on the Moon Crown resting upon a crystal pedestal.
Its silver jewels shimmered beneath the chamber's enchanted light.
"So this," Magnus said with a smile, "is the treasure your family has protected for centuries."
Aria stepped forward.
"You'll never have it."
Magnus chuckled.
"Oh, I think I will."
With a wave of his hand, dozens of Shadow Wolves emerged from portals of black mist, surrounding the chamber.
Professor Thorn drew his sword.
"Protect Aria!"
Kael unsheathed his blade and stood beside her.
"No one touches the Moon Crown."
The battle erupted.
Steel clashed against claws.
Silver magic collided with dark energy, filling the chamber with flashes of light.
Luna quickly helped Elder Celeste escort the younger students and scholars toward a hidden exit.
"We have to keep them safe!" Luna shouted.
---
Professor Graves stood beside Magnus, laughing as he raised his staff.
"You never suspected me."
Headmaster Orion faced his former librarian.
"For twenty years, you lived among us."
"I trusted you."
Graves smiled coldly.
"And that was your greatest mistake."
Dark chains burst from his staff, wrapping around Orion's wrists and ankles.
The Headmaster struggled, but the enchanted chains only tightened.
"Headmaster!" Professor Thorn yelled.
Before he could help, three Shadow Wolves attacked him.
Kael fought fiercely, forcing the creatures back.
"Professor Thorn!"
"I'm fine!" Thorn replied as he defeated another beast.
"Keep Magnus away from Aria!"
---
Magnus slowly climbed the steps leading to the Moon Crown.
He reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the crown—
A blinding silver explosion filled the chamber.
Magnus was thrown backward across the room.
He crashed into a stone pillar, cracking it in half.
The Moon Crown floated into the air.
Its silver light grew brighter.
Every person in the chamber watched in amazement.
"It rejected him," Elder Celeste whispered.
Magnus slowly stood, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
"So..."
"It recognizes only the true heir."
---
The Moon Crown drifted across the chamber.
It stopped in front of Aria.
She stared at it in disbelief.
"I... I can't."
The gentle voice of the Moon Wolf echoed inside her mind.
"Do not fear your destiny."
"Accept it."
Aria took a slow breath.
She reached toward the crown.
The instant her fingers touched it, the chamber was flooded with brilliant moonlight.
The crown settled gently upon her head.
Ancient runes appeared across the walls.
Every crystal in the chamber glowed.
Outside, across the academy grounds, every wolf lifted its head toward the sky and howled.
The Moon Crown had chosen its queen.
---
Aria felt warmth spread through her entire body.
Her wounds disappeared.
Her silver eyes shone brighter than ever before.
A flowing cloak of shimmering moonlight formed around her shoulders.
She looked at her hands.
Power unlike anything she had ever imagined flowed through her veins.
Professor Thorn smiled.
"The Moon Queen..."
Headmaster Orion, still bound by dark chains, smiled proudly.
"Welcome... Your Majesty."
---
Magnus's smile vanished.
"No!"
"That power belongs to me!"
He unleashed a massive wave of dark energy toward Aria.
Without thinking, she raised one hand.
A glowing silver shield appeared instantly.
Magnus's attack shattered against it like glass.
Everyone stood speechless.
Aria had blocked the Dark Alpha's strongest attack without taking a single step backward.
Magnus clenched his fists.
"So you've finally awakened."
He raised his sword again.
"This changes nothing."
Before he could attack, the chamber shook violently.
The Moon Crown released another pulse of energy.
Ancient symbols appeared on the floor, surrounding Magnus and Professor Graves.
Professor Graves looked down in horror.
"What is this?"
Headmaster Orion recognized the symbols immediately.
"The Chamber's Judgment Seal."
Golden chains of light burst from the floor and wrapped around the traitor.
Professor Graves screamed as the magic drained his dark power.
Magnus slashed through the chains with his sword and grabbed Graves by the arm.
"You've become a burden."
"My lord... please!"
Magnus showed no mercy.
He hurled Graves into the collapsing wall behind him.
The traitor disappeared beneath falling stones.
Without another glance, Magnus opened a portal of swirling darkness.
He looked directly at Aria.
"You have won today."
"But when the Blood Moon rises..."
"I will return."
"And next time..."
"I'll take far more than a crown."
He stepped into the portal.
The remaining Shadow Wolves followed him before the portal sealed shut.
Silence filled the Hidden Chamber.
The battle was over.
For now.
Headmaster Orion walked to Aria and knelt on one knee.
One by one, Elder Celeste, Professor Thorn, Kael, Luna, and every warrior in the chamber followed.
They bowed their heads.
"Hail the Moon Queen," Orion declared.
Aria looked around at everyone kneeling before her.
Only a few weeks earlier, she had believed she was an ordinary girl living in Ashwood.
Now, she wore the legendary Moon Crown and carried the hopes of every werewolf clan.
She knew this victory was only the beginning.
Beyond the Shadow Lands, the Blood Moon was drawing closer.
And with it...
the greatest war in werewolf history.
- Writer
