Chapter 6: The Journey Begins
1346 Words
Elara stood beside the window, watching the darkness slowly fade from the sky. The mountains in the distance were barely visible beneath a layer of mist.
She hadn't slept.
Thirty Lycans were following them.
The ruined Moon Palace waited somewhere beyond the western mountains.
And Alpha Kael was apparently coming after her.
She couldn't decide which thought frightened her most.
A knock sounded.
"Come in."
Lucien entered wearing black traveling clothes, a sword strapped across his back.
"We leave in ten minutes."
Elara turned.
"Just the two of us?"
"Six guards will accompany us."
"That's not exactly a small group."
"We're traveling through territory controlled by the Blood Moon Order. I'd rather have too many guards than too few."
Elara nodded.
Then she noticed something.
Lucien looked exhausted.
"You didn't sleep either."
"I had other things to handle."
"Because of me?"
"Partly."
She looked down.
"I'm causing trouble for your kingdom."
Lucien stepped closer.
"You didn't ask to be hunted."
"Still..."
He interrupted gently.
"Stop blaming yourself for what other people have done."
Elara looked at him.
Those words reminded her of something her mother had said in the vision.
When they come for you, don't let them make you believe you are the reason for their hatred.
She touched the pendant.
"I think my mother knew this would happen."
Lucien's eyes fell on it.
"Then perhaps she knew more about the future than we realize."
The journey began just after sunrise.
Six black horses waited outside the castle gates.
Lucien mounted the largest one and held out his hand.
Elara hesitated.
"I can ride alone."
"I know."
"Then why are you offering?"
"Because your ankle isn't fully healed."
She looked at her wrapped ankle.
"Fine."
She accepted his hand.
Lucien pulled her onto the horse behind him.
The warmth of his body surprised her.
She immediately shifted backward.
"Relax," he said.
"I'm relaxed."
"You're holding the saddle like it personally offended you."
Elara glanced down.
Her fingers were gripping it tightly.
"I've never ridden with someone before."
"You'll survive."
"That's what you said before I nearly fell."
"I caught you."
"Exactly."
A faint smile appeared on Lucien's face.
For the first time in days, Elara laughed.
The sound surprised both of them.
They rode west.
Behind them, the Shadow Kingdom gradually disappeared into the distance.
By midday, the forest had become denser.
Lucien suddenly raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
"What happened?" Elara whispered.
He listened.
Nothing.
Then he turned his head slightly.
"Someone is following us."
One of the guards immediately reached for his sword.
"How many?"
"Three."
The guard looked confused.
"Only three?"
Lucien's expression remained serious.
"Three are the ones I can hear."
The others understood immediately.
There could be more.
Lucien looked at Elara.
"Stay with the guards."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to check the trail."
Before he could move, a silver arrow flew from the trees.
Lucien knocked it aside with his sword.
"Ambush!"
The forest exploded into movement.
Masked warriors emerged from the trees.
The guards drew their weapons.
Elara's heart raced.
One attacker charged directly toward her.
She moved aside just in time.
The warrior swung again.
Elara stumbled backward.
Then a deep growl came from behind her.
Lucien.
His eyes had changed.
His crimson gaze burned brighter, and his canines had lengthened.
The attacker froze.
Lucien stepped forward.
"You chose the wrong person to hunt."
He moved faster than Elara could see.
Within seconds, the attacker was disarmed and lying unconscious on the ground.
The remaining warriors began retreating.
"Don't let them escape!" one of the guards shouted.
But Lucien raised his hand.
"Let them run."
Elara stared at him.
"Why?"
"They'll take a message back."
"What message?"
Lucien looked toward the fleeing figures.
"That we're not afraid."
After the attack, the group continued traveling.
They eventually stopped beside a small river to rest.
Elara sat beneath a tree while Lucien examined a shallow cut on his arm.
"You were injured."
"It's nothing."
She frowned.
"You're becoming annoying."
"I thought you already decided that."
Elara tore a piece of cloth from the edge of her sleeve.
"Give me your arm."
Lucien looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to clean the wound."
"I can do it."
"I know."
She held out her hand.
"Give me your arm."
After a moment, he obeyed.
Elara carefully wrapped the wound.
Their fingers touched.
Both went still.
A strange warmth passed between them.
Elara quickly pulled her hand away.
"Done."
Lucien looked at the bandage.
"You tore your dress for that."
"It's already damaged."
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
Their eyes met.
Something unspoken lingered between them.
Then Elara looked away.
"We should keep moving."
Lucien nodded.
"Yes."
Neither mentioned what had just happened.
By evening, they reached the foot of the western mountains.
A ruined stone arch stood between two enormous cliffs.
Lucien stopped his horse.
"We camp here tonight."
Elara looked toward the mountain path.
"Is the palace beyond there?"
"Yes."
Her heart began pounding.
"We're close."
"Closer than I'd like."
"Why?"
Lucien pointed toward the mountain.
"Because this territory hasn't been safe for centuries."
Elara stared at the dark path.
"What lives there?"
"Things that don't appreciate visitors."
She swallowed.
"That's reassuring."
Lucien almost smiled.
They made camp beneath the stone arch.
As the fire burned, Elara sat quietly, staring at the pendant.
She turned it over.
For the first time, she noticed something engraved on its back.
A tiny symbol.
A wolf surrounded by a crescent moon.
"Lucien."
He looked up.
"What?"
"Have you seen this symbol before?"
He took the pendant from her.
The moment he saw it, his expression changed.
"Where did you find this?"
"It was on my mother's pendant."
Lucien stared at the symbol.
Then he looked toward the mountains.
"That's not the symbol of the Moon Kingdom."
"What is it?"
His voice lowered.
"It's the symbol of the first Shadow King."
Elara's eyes widened.
"The first Shadow King?"
Lucien nodded.
"The founder of my bloodline."
She stared at him.
"Why would my mother have his symbol?"
Lucien didn't answer.
A cold wind suddenly swept through the camp.
The fire flickered.
Then the pendant began glowing.
Elara gasped.
The silver light spread across her palm.
A faint voice whispered through the darkness.
"Find the truth beneath the throne."
The light vanished.
Everyone in the camp stared at her.
Lucien stood slowly.
"The palace is calling you."
Elara looked toward the mountains.
For the first time, she wondered whether her mother hadn't simply hidden her from the world.
Perhaps she had hidden her because the truth was connected to the Shadow Kingdom itself.
And perhaps Lucien was not merely the man destined to protect her.
Perhaps their families had been connected long before either of them was born.
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