The Trial of the First Alpha
742 Words
The mountain trembled.
Cracks spread across the ancient stone beneath Orion's feet.
Silver energy erupted around him like a storm.
Evelyn could barely breathe.
The power radiating from the First Alpha felt endless.
Ancient.
Unstoppable.
Even the air itself seemed to bend around him.
Lucien stepped forward immediately.
Golden energy exploded from his body.
"You'll go through me first."
Orion smiled.
"That can be arranged."
Before anyone could react—
BOOOOM!
The two kings collided.
A shockwave blasted across the mountainside.
Trees shattered.
Cliffs collapsed.
Moon Guardians were thrown backward.
Evelyn shielded her face from the force.
When the dust settled, both warriors stood exactly where they had started.
Neither had moved.
Neither had been injured.
Orion's smile widened.
"You're stronger than I expected."
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"You talk too much."
The Lycan King attacked again.
This time faster.
Golden light flashed.
The mountain exploded.
For several seconds, nobody could even follow their movements.
Boom.
Boom.
BOOOOM!
The battle shook the heavens.
Yet Orion remained calm.
Effortless.
As if he were merely sparring.
Then he raised one hand.
Lucien froze mid-attack.
Shock crossed everyone's face.
Orion was holding Lucien's wrist.
With one hand.
The First Alpha sighed.
"You have potential."
Then he casually threw Lucien across the mountain.
BOOOOOM!
A section of cliff collapsed entirely.
Silence followed.
Even Damon looked stunned.
Nobody had ever seen Lucien overpowered so easily.
Orion turned back toward Evelyn.
"Now then."
His silver eyes glowed.
"The heir."
The First Wolf immediately stepped between them.
Its enormous spectral form towered above the battlefield.
Ancient power radiated from every strand of moonlight fur.
Orion laughed.
"Still protecting them."
The First Wolf growled.
"I remember what happened last time."
The smile disappeared from Orion's face.
For the first time, anger appeared.
"You know nothing about what happened."
The First Wolf's eyes burned.
"I was there."
Silence.
The tension became unbearable.
Then Orion looked away.
Toward the temple.
Toward the glowing entrance.
A strange sadness crossed his face.
Just for a second.
Then it vanished.
Evelyn noticed.
And suddenly realized something.
Orion wasn't trying to enter the temple.
He was trying to keep everyone else out.
Why?
The question wouldn't leave her mind.
Then the pendant around her neck began glowing.
Again.
Brighter than ever before.
Silver light exploded outward.
The temple responded immediately.
Ancient runes ignited across its walls.
The massive doors began opening wider.
A voice echoed from within.
Female.
Gentle.
Powerful.
"The heir may enter."
Everyone froze.
The Moon Goddess.
Or at least her magic.
The voice continued.
"Alone."
Evelyn's heart skipped a beat.
"No," Damon said instantly.
"Absolutely not," Kael agreed.
Lucien had already returned.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His expression was dark.
"You're not going in alone."
But the voice repeated itself.
"The trial belongs to the heir."
The temple glowed brighter.
The Heart of the Moon was calling her.
The First Wolf lowered its head.
"It must be done."
Evelyn looked around.
At her father.
At Lucien.
At Damon.
Kael.
Cassian.
The people who had fought beside her.
The people who had become family.
Fear tightened her chest.
But she knew.
This was her path.
Her choice.
Her trial.
Aiden stepped forward.
His silver eyes softened.
"I'm proud of you."
The words nearly broke her.
She had waited her whole life to hear them.
Evelyn hugged him tightly.
For a moment, the war disappeared.
The prophecy disappeared.
There was only a father and daughter.
Then she stepped back.
And turned toward the temple.
The entrance glowed with silver light.
Calling her.
Waiting for her.
She took a deep breath.
And crossed the threshold.
The moment she entered—
The doors slammed shut.
BOOOOM!
Everyone outside was left behind.
Darkness surrounded Evelyn.
Complete silence.
Then silver flames ignited along the walls.
Ancient symbols appeared everywhere.
The temple was far larger inside than outside.
A massive hallway stretched before her.
At the far end stood a throne.
And seated upon that throne was a woman.
Silver hair.
Silver eyes.
A crescent moon crown.
Evelyn froze.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
Because she recognized the woman.
Not from visions.
Not from stories.
From her blood.
The woman smiled gently.
"Welcome, Evelyn."
Her voice trembled with emotion.
The impossible truth hit her.
The figure on the throne wasn't a memory.
Wasn't an illusion.
Wasn't a ghost.
The Moon Goddess herself was waiting inside the temple.
And she had been waiting for thousands of years.
- Writer
