Chapter 10: The Enemy Awakens
1036 Words
Amara’s POV
We left the Silver Court before sunrise.
For the first time since I arrived, I looked back at the ruins and wondered whether I would ever
see them again.
The forest was no longer peaceful.
Smoke rose beyond the trees.
Distant howls echoed through the valleys.
The war Selene had warned me about was no longer coming.
It had begun.
Nora rode beside me while Selene led the group.
“How many packs have fallen?” I asked.
Selene did not answer immediately.
“Four.
”
My stomach twisted.
“Four?”
“In less than a week.
”
Nora looked frightened.
“Where are the survivors?”
“Scattered.
”
I looked ahead.
“What about Shadow Moon?”
Selene's expression became unreadable.
“Still standing.
”
I should have felt relieved.
Instead, I thought of Kael.
I hated that his name still mattered.
After everything he had done, some part of me still wanted to know whether he was safe.
I hated that part of myself.
We reached an abandoned fortress by nightfall.
The survivors had gathered there.
Wolves from different packs.
Families.
Children.
Warriors.
Everyone looked exhausted.
Everyone was afraid.
And when I walked into the courtyard, the conversations stopped.
They stared at me.
Some bowed.
Others whispered.
“The royal heir.
”
“The Moonborn.
”
“She is alive.
”
I looked at Selene.
“I do not want this.
”
“You may not want the crown,
” she said quietly,
Before I could answer, a howl echoed across the mountains.
Every wolf in the fortress froze.
Another howl followed.
“but they need someone to believe in.
”
Then another.
The sound was coming closer.
Selene's eyes widened.
“They found us.
”
The gates shook.
Once.
Twice.
Then the first attack came.
Rogues poured toward the fortress.
The warriors rushed forward.
I stood frozen for half a second.
Then I remembered the training.
Control.
I closed my eyes.
I reached for the power inside me.
It answered immediately.
The air changed.
Every wolf around me felt it.
I opened my eyes.
“Hold the gates!”
My voice carried across the courtyard.
The warriors moved.
For the first time, they did not see me as a frightened girl.
They saw a leader.
I raised my hand.
The ground trembled.
A wave of energy pushed the attacking wolves backward.
The fortress erupted in cheers.
But I knew it was not enough.
Because this was only one attack.
Ronan was testing us.
Far away, Kael stood on the walls of Shadow Moon.
His warriors surrounded him.
Luca ran toward him.
“Another attack.
”
Kael turned.
“Where?”
“The eastern border.
”
“How many?”
“Too many.
”
Kael looked toward the horizon.
He could feel something.
A strange pressure in the air.
Then he heard a voice.
Not with his ears.
Inside his mind.
The Moonborn has awakened.
Kael froze.
“What was that?”
Luca looked at him.
“What?”
Kael turned toward the forest.
“She is alive.
”
Luca's expression changed.
“You can feel her?”
Kael nodded.
And for the first time, he understood.
Amara was not simply connected to him.
She was connected to everything.
The packs.
The Moon.
The war.
And somehow, he had been standing on the wrong side of that connection.
“We need to find her.
”
Luca nodded.
“Then we go now.
”
Kael turned.
But before they could leave, a messenger came running toward them.
“Alpha!”
“What?”
The messenger dropped to one knee.
“The eastern fortress has been attacked.
”
Kael's heart sank.
“Survivors?”
“One group escaped.
”
“Where are they?”
The messenger looked up.
“They are with the Moonborn Queen.
”
Kael went completely still.
Amara’s POV
The battle lasted until dawn.
When the sun finally appeared, the rogues were gone.
But the fortress was damaged.
Many wolves were exhausted.
I stood among them, barely able to keep myself upright.
Selene approached.
“You did well.
”
I shook my head.
“No.
”
She frowned.
“I should have done more.
”
“You saved them.
”
“People still got hurt.
”
“That is war.
”
I looked toward the mountains.
“How do we stop him?”
Selene was silent.
Then she said,
“What do we need?”
“We cannot defeat Ronan with strength alone.
”
“Your blood.
”
I turned toward her.
“My blood?”
She nodded.
“Your royal bloodline is connected to the curse that keeps Ronan alive.
”
My heart stopped.
“So what happens if he gets me?”
Selene looked at me.
“He will use your blood to make himself immortal.
”
A cold feeling spread through my body.
Then a horn sounded behind us.
Everyone turned.
A lone wolf stood at the edge of the fortress.
He was covered in dust.
A Shadow Moon symbol hung from his cloak.
My heart began to race.
Selene stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The wolf looked directly at me.
“I came from Alpha Kael.
”
My chest tightened.
“What does he want?”
The wolf swallowed.
“He wants you to return.
”
I almost laughed.
After everything?
He wanted me back?
But before I could answer, the wolf pulled a sealed letter from beneath his cloak.
I took it reluctantly.
My hands trembled as I broke the seal.
There were only a few words.
Amara,
I know now that I was wrong.
I stopped breathing.
Then I read the final line.
And if I do not find you before Ronan does, everyone you love will die.
I lowered the letter slowly.
For months, I had thought my story was about escaping the boy who rejected me.
I was wrong.
Because now the same boy was asking me to return.
Not as the weak girl he had thrown away.
Not as the rejected mate he had forgotten.
But as the only person powerful enough to save his kingdom.
And somewhere beyond the mountains, Ronan Darkmoor was already waiting for me.
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