The Blood Moon Dynasty

Aurelia's Pov People imagine silence as something peaceful. They have never stood in the Hall of Awakening. The room was vast enough to swallow every whisper before it reached the vaulted ceiling. White marble columns rose on either side of the chamber, carved with wolves whose eyes seemed to follow every member of the royal bloodline as they walked between them. High above, stained glass scattered the morning light across the polished floor in shades of silver and blue, bathing the ancient altar at the centre of the hall in a pale glow that never seemed to fade. I had stood in this room more times than I cared to remember. At six years old, I had believed the Moon Goddess was testing my patience. At ten, I had convinced myself my wolf was simply stubborn. At fifteen, I stopped asking why. Now, at nineteen, I had learned to smile before anyone else could offer me their pity. The heavy doors opened behind me, I didn't need to turn around to know who had entered. "My lady." Lady Miriam's voice carried the quiet authority it always had. She had served three generations of Ashthorne's royal family and possessed the remarkable ability to make even kings think twice before arguing with her. "Your parents are waiting." "I know." "You've kept them waiting for seven minutes." "I counted six." She came to stand beside me, folding her hands neatly before her. Although age had bent her back ever so slightly, nothing had managed to diminish the sharpness in her eyes. "You've always had a habit of correcting people." "I only correct people who are wrong." A breath that might have been a laugh escaped her. "One day, that tongue of yours will find trouble." "It usually does." This time, she didn't hide her smile. For a moment, neither of us spoke. My gaze remained fixed on the altar. It wasn't grand by royal standards. There were no jewels decorating its surface, no gold worked into its edges. It had been carved from a single block of white stone long before Ashthorne became a kingdom. The priests claimed the Moon Goddess herself had blessed it on the first Blood Moon. Every heir of the Seven Great Packs had stood before it. Every Alpha, Beta and future ruler, including me, nothing had happened. Lady Miriam followed my gaze. "You don't have to come here anymore." "I know." "Then why do you?" I searched for an answer and found none that made sense. Perhaps I kept returning because some part of me refused to believe the story had ended before it had even begun or perhaps I simply hated unanswered questions. "I suppose," I said at last, "I'm waiting for the altar to apologize." She looked at me. Then, to my surprise, she laughed not loudly. Just enough to fill the empty hall with warmth. "You truly are your grandmother's granddaughter." "I've been told that's either a compliment or a warning." "In your case..." She rested a gentle hand against my shoulder. "Both." The great doors opened once more. A young palace attendant hurried inside, bowed deeply, and struggled to catch his breath before speaking. "Your Highness...the royal procession from Black Hollow crossed the eastern bridge an hour ago." My mother had been expecting them tomorrow. Lady Miriam's smile disappeared. "So soon?" The attendant nodded. "The other kingdoms have begun arriving as well. The palace courtyard is already preparing the welcome." I exchanged a glance with Lady Miriam. The Gathering had begun. For a hundred years, the Seven Great Packs had ruled their lands separately, gathering only when the Blood Moon returned to its highest place in the heavens. Kings would negotiate alliances. Queens would strengthen old friendships. Future rulers would meet for the first time. As a child, I had imagined the Gathering would feel magical, now I knew better. It was beautiful, certainly but beauty had little to do with peace, every smile carried a purpose, every conversation concealed another and every royal family arrived with secrets they intended to leave with. Lady Miriam adjusted the folds of my cloak before stepping back to examine me with the critical eye she reserved for formal occasions. "You look like a princess." "I was hoping to look like myself." "The two are rarely allowed to be different." She wasn't wrong, outside, the first trumpet echoed across the palace grounds. Then another and another, the sound rolled through the castle like distant thunder. The first royal house had arrived.I drew a slow breath and turned toward the doors. Whatever awaited Ashthorne during this Gathering had already crossed our borders. I simply didn't know yet that it would change my life forever.