Bound by the moon's Betrayal

CHAPTER TWO: AWAKENING

My eyes opened to a dimly lit room that smelled of damp earth and burning cedar. I was lying on a stone slab, my body aching like I had been over by a train. Voices reverberated around me, sharp and tense as though an argument had broken out.

“She's not ready” Kael’s voice was unmistakable, his calm composure now laced with frustration.

“She doesn't have a choice,” Blade snapped back. “The prophecy doesn't wait for readiness. What it demands is action”

“Stop this…You’ll scare her off before she even understands who she is,” Kael growled.

I groaned, my head pounding as I forced myself to sit up. “Can you all shut up for a second? My head’s splitting open and I'm losing my mind”.

The room became silent again, and all of a sudden all eyes were on me again. Kael stood closest, his ice-blond hair glowing faintly in the dim light. Blade leaned against a wall, his arms crossed, his fiery eyes locked onto mine. Hale was perched on a stool, his golden gaze watching me with detached amusement. And the shadowy man with the golden eyes stood in the corner, his expression unreadable.

The room went silent, and suddenly, all eyes were on me again. Kael stood closest.

“Welcome back, Luna,” Kael said softly, stepping closer.

“Please stop calling me that,” I hiss, swinging my legs off the slab.

“Please I’ll say it again, stop calling me Luna. I’ll be so glad if you do that. I’m not anyone's Luna and…..”

Blade pushed off the wall. “You don't get to decide who and what you are. The money you shifted, it was written in stone”.

“Shifted?” I repeated, my voice rising. “ I didn't even choose to shift..I don't even know how it happened. One minute, I was closing my cafe, and the next, I was…”

“Becoming who you are today is who you're always meant to be”, Kael interrupted. His voice was soothing more than the others, but it only intensified my anger.

“Meant to be?” I laughed bitterly.” That's rich coming from a bunch of strangers who burst into my life without being invited. So why should I believe a word any of you say?”.

The shadowy man finally spoke, his voice cutting and smooth. “Because your life depends on it”.

I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. “Who the hell are you?”

“Luca,” he said simply, his golden eyes locking with mine. “Alpha of the Nightshade Pack. And if you think your shift or transformation is chaotic, wait until you meet the Shadow Fang”

There it was again, that name. Shadow Fang. It sent a chill through me, though I didn't know why.

“Someone please explain what's going on,” I demanded, crossing my arms.”What is this Shadow Fang?

Hale stood, his movements fluid as he approached. “The Shadow Fang is more than a name. It's a force-an ancient enemy.

For centuries now, it's been hunting down our kind, wolves and we’ve been waiting for the prophecy to come true. Elena, you’re that prophecy”.

I shook my head and arms.”What disbelief is written all over me? “This is purely insane. How?.. I’m just…normal. Or at least…

“You were never normal,” Kael said gently

“That birthmark on your wrist? It's not just a mark. It's the symbol of the Moon’s Chosen-our savior”.

“Saviour?” I echoed, my voice hollow.

“You’ve got the wrong girl”.

“No,” Luca said firmly, stepping closer. “We don't”

Before I could respond, the ground beneath us trembled, it was a very low rumble that grew into a violent quake. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling, and the air grew heavy with a very strong oppressive energy.

“Please can someone tell me what's happening here”? I yelled, struggling to stand on my feet.

Kael's expression darkened. “ It's what we were talking about. “They’ve found us”

“Who?”

“The Shadow Fang,” Blade growled, his eyes blazing

A deafening roar filled the room, and the walls rippled as if they were alive.

“Get her out of here” Kael shouted, his voice very commanding

Blade grabbed my arm, his grip strong like an iron.

“Move”

“I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what's going on” I protested

“You’ll die if you stay,” Blade snapped

The shadows came forward, forming into different shapes with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp teeth. One of them lunged at me, but Kael slammed into the creature and tore it apart with his claws.

I stumbled back, my heart racing fast as more shadows poured into the room. Blade showed me the way to exit

“Go” he barked

Before I could argue, a cold tendril wrapped around my ankle, almost yanking me off my feet. I screamed as it dragged me towards the shadows.

“Elena” Kael's voice was distant.

Immediately I lashed out with my claws, but when had I grown claws? Everything was happening fast. The tendrils recoiled, and I stood to my feet.

“Run”.. Luca’s voice cut through the chaos.

Seeing everything happening, I don't need to be told twice. I ran towards the exit, my legs moving faster than I expected

We burst out into the open air; the cool night breeze hit my face like a slap.

“This way,” Luca said, leading the charge

I followed, my mind raced with fears and questions. Behind us, we heard the shadows howling

“Where are we going?” I shouted, trying to dodge low-hanging branches.

“To safety,” Blade replied, though the way he was sounding, it looked as though he wasn't very sure.

We reached a place and everything was quiet. Then, suddenly the ground opened and a massive silhouette appeared

Its voice was so coarse.” Elena Blackstone; you cannot escape your destiny..The earlier you accept it, the better for you”.

I froze, my blood turned to ice as its red eyes locked onto mine

“What….what is that”. I whispered.

“The Shadow Fang,” Luca responded.

I was completely lost. What do I have to do with this Shadow Fang? What is happening to me? Can I survive all these?

I thought aloud.

The creature lunged, and everything went black.