THE WOLFLESS LUNA

CHAPTER 19: THE TRUTH THEY BURIED

Aria’s scream tore through the clearing as her power surged out of control. The ground shook violently beneath everyone’s feet, and the air became heavy with pressure that made it hard to breathe. Dark energy circled her like a storm, rising and falling without rhythm.

Kael struggled to stay on his feet as he watched her. “Aria!” he shouted, trying to reach her again. But the moment he stepped closer, the force pushed him back. It pushed him so hard that he hit the ground but got up immediately. “I’m not leaving you,” he said under his breath.

Aria’s body lifted higher into the air. Her head tilted back as if something invisible was pulling her. Her eyes glowed brighter than before, but they were not focused. She was not fully there. “She is losing control,” one of the hunters said. The leader shook his head slowly.

“No,” he replied. “She is crossing the limit.” Ronan frowned. “That does not sound better.” Aria suddenly gasped. Her body froze in the air. Then…Everything went silent.

The power around her stopped moving. The wind died. Even the trees became still. Kael felt it immediately. Something had changed again.

“Aria” he said more carefully this time. With her head slowly lowered to the ground. Her eyes opened. They were no longer dark. They were not silver either.

They were something new. Something unnatural. “Who am I?” she asked softly. Her voice sounded so confused and lost.

“You’re Aria,” he said. You’re still you. She looked at him for a long moment. Then she noddedher head slowly. “No,” she said. “I’m not just Aria.”

The air trembled again. The hunter leader stepped forward. Of course you’re not, he said. You never were. Aria’s eyes snapped to him. Then tell me, she said.

What am I? The man studied her for a moment. Then he spoke. You are what we tried to create. Kael’s facial expression changed. “Create?”

Ronan looked at the man sharply. That means this was planned. The man did not deny it. For generations, he said calmly, we searched for a way to control power like yours. Aria felt her chest tighten again. You experimented” she whispered.

The man nodded once again. Your parents were part of that research. The world seemed to stop. Kael froze. Aria’s breath caught. No, she said. They tried to protect you, the man continued. But they also helped create you.

Aria’s mind raced. All the memories. All the pain. It’s a lie,” she said, shaking her head. It is the truth, he replied. Ronan crossed his arms slowly. So let me get this straight, he said. You made her, lost control, and now you want her back?

The man looked at him. We want to finish what we started. Aria’s power reacted instantly. Anger rose from within her, Strong and sharp. I am not your experiment, she said.

The ground beneath her cracked again. The man’s expression remained calm. You are more than that, he said. That is why we need you alive. Kael stepped forward. You’re not taking her anywhere, he said.

The man finally looked annoyed. You are still standing in the way of something you do not understand, he said. I understand enough, Kael replied.

You failed your mission once, the man said coldly. Do not make the same mistake again. Aria’s eyes moved slowly back to Kael. Mission? she repeated.

Kael went still. The silence was enough. You were still working with them, she said. No, Kael said quickly. I’m not.

But you were, she cut in. Pain filled her voice. “You were never just protecting me,” she said. Kael shook his head. That’s not true. But he could even hear how weak it sounded.

Aria’s expression changed again. This time, it was not anger. It was something colder. I see it now, she said quietly. The air around her darkened again. You were watching me, she continued.

Kael stepped forward again. I stayed because I chose you, he said. Aria laughed softly. That doesn’t change what you were sent to do anyway, she replied.

Her power rose again this time. Not wild this time. The hunter leader raised his hand. “Enough,” he said. “Take her.” The hunters moved again. But this time, Aria did not wait.

She lifted her hand. The ground exploded beneath them. Several hunters were thrown back instantly. Others tried to move around her, but something stopped them.

They froze mid-way like something invisible was holding them. Aria’s eyes glowed brighter. “I can feel you,” she said slowly. The hunters looked confused. Every heartbeat, she continued. Every movement.

Kael’s breath caught. That’s not possible! Ronan said. But it was happening. Aria closed her hand slightly. One of the hunters dropped to his knees, gasping.“I can control you,” she said.

Her voice was so calm. The leader’s expression changed. “Impossible,” he said. Aria looked at him. “Try me,” she replied. And for the first time, the man hesitated.

That was all she needed. Her power surged again. But this time it did not spread outward. It focused inward. Kael felt like something was trying to reach inside him.

“Aria” he said. She looked at him. And for a moment, He saw her again. The real her. I don’t want to hurt you, she whispered. Then her expression broke. I can’t stop it.

The power surged again. Stronger and faster again. The hunters began to fall. One by one. Not dead, but controlled. Ronan stepped back slowly. This is bad, he said quietly. Kael did not move. He couldn’t because for a moment, his body refused to listen. Aria’s power was reaching him too.

“Aria” stop,” he forced out. Her eyes widened. She tried to stop it but it didn’t stop. Instead, it grew. The hunter leader suddenly smiled. You finally see it, he said.

Aria looked at him. “What?” she asked. His voice dropped. You are not just a power. You are in control.” Aria’s breath stopped. Her power surged again, Stronger than ever.

And this time, Kael dropped to one knee. Aria stared at him in shock. “No” she whispered. But her power did not stop. Kael’s body refused to move as the force pressed down on him.

It was not pain. It was something worse. It felt like his own strength was no longer his. “Aria” he said, his voice strained as he fought against it. Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

Fear filled her expression. “I’m not doing this on purpose,” she said quickly. But even as she spoke, the pressure increased. Kael dropped fully to both knees. The ground beneath him cracked. Ronan tried to step forward, but he stopped suddenly.

I can feel it too, he said, with his voice low and tensed. She’s inside our heads, inside everything.”

The hunters did not move. For the first time, they looked unsure. Aria shook her head desperately. “Stop…please stop,” she whispered. But her power did not listen.

Instead, it grew stronger. Then Something changed. The hunter leader stepped closer again. But this time, he did not look threatened. He looked very satisfied.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “This is exactly what we were waiting for.” Aria’s eyes snapped to him. What do you mean? She demanded. The man’s smile widened slightly. “You think this is your power?” he asked. His voice dropped. “No, this is the system activating.”