THE WOLFLESS LUNA

CHAPTER 17: THE THING SHE BECOMES

CHAPTER 17: THE THING SHE BECOMES

The world fell into a heavy and unnatural silence after Aria’s scream faded away. The air still carried the echo of her pain, but everything else had gone still, as if even the forest was afraid to breathe.

Kael stood frozen, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady himself. His eyes searched the surrounding destruction, but there was only broken stone, dust, and emptiness.

“Aria” he called out, quickly with a low voice.

But there was no answer.

For a moment, fear gripped him tightly. She wasn’t there.

“No” he whispered under his breath.

Ronan stepped forward slowly, with his sharp eyes scanning every corner of the ruined space. “She didn’t just disappear,” he said calmly. “Something like her doesn’t vanish. I think she moved.”

Kael turned to him immediately. “Then where is she?” he demanded.

Before Ronan could answer, a powerful force shook the ground beneath their feet. It didn’t come from inside the ruins. It came from outside, near the forest region.

Kael felt it instantly and without wasting another second, he ran.

The forest no longer felt safe or familiar. The trees bent slightly, as if pushed by an invisible force, and the air felt thick and heavy. It was hard to breathe, like something unseen had taken control of the land itself.

Kael pushed forward quickly, following the pull he could not ignore.

Ronan followed behind him, his voice was calm but serious. “You are running straight into danger,” he warned.

I am already, Kael replied, without slowing down.

Another wave of power spread through the forest, this time, stronger than before.

Kael broke through the last line of trees and stopped suddenly.

The clearing ahead was destroyed. The ground was split open in several places, and broken trees lay scattered everywhere on the ground.

And in the center of it all… Aria stood.

She looked calm, almost too calm, as her hair moved gently in the wind. However, the surrounding energy was anything but peaceful. It moved wildly, like a storm that refused to settle.

“Aria,” Kael called out, with his voice softer this time.

She did not turn immediately. “I know you’re there,” she said after a moment.

Her voice was steady, but something about it felt different.

Kael took a careful step forward. “It’s me,” he said. “You’re not alone.”

She turned slowly to face him.

Her eyes were no longer the same. The silver he knew was gone, replaced by something darker, something deeper, with a faint glow that made his chest tighten.

“You shouldn’t have come,” she said.

Kael did not stop walking toward her. I wasn’t going to leave you, he replied.

For a brief moment, she simply watched him, as if trying to understand something.

Then she smiled… But it was not the smile he remembered.

You still think I need you, she said.

I know you do, Kael answered firmly.

Her facial expression changed. “No,” she said quietly. “I don’t.”

Without warning, the surrounding air exploded with force. The energy slammed into Kael and threw him backward. He hit the ground hard but quickly pushed himself back up.

Ronan stepped into the clearing beside him, letting out a quiet breath. “Well, that confirms it,” he said.

Aria’s eyes shifted toward him. “You again,” she said, with a flat tone.

Ronan gave a faint smile. “Miss me?”

Her eyes became darkened. “No.”

She lifted her hand slightly, and the ground beneath Ronan cracked instantly. He was able to step back just in time.

Kael stepped forward again, this time, ignoring everything else. “Aria, listen to me,” he said.

There is nothing left to listen to, she replied.

Her power began to rise again, stronger and more controlled this time.

You’re not thinking clearly, Kael insisted.

“For the first time, I am,” she said.

The words struck him harder than any attack.

Everything I believed before was a lie,” she continued.

Kael shook his head. “That’s not true.”

She stepped closer, and the ground broke under her feet with each step. “You lied to me,” she said.

I didn’t know the truth then, he replied.

But you still chose them, she said.

Kael went silent again.

That silence was more than enough.

Aria’s facial expression turned colder. “Exactly.”

The tension between them grew heavier by the second, until a sudden movement in the distance broke it.

Ronan turned sharply. “We have company.”

Figures began to appear from the trees, dressed in black, moving silently but with clear purpose.

The Council had arrived.

Aria went still, with her breathing slowing down as she stared at them. “They found me,” she whispered.

One of the figures stepped forward. “Target confirmed,” he said coldly.

Kael moved instantly, placing himself between them and Aria. “You’re not taking her,” he said.

The hunters did not hesitate. They removed all obstacles and launched the attack instantly.

The clearing exploded into chaos as claws, weapons, and power clashed violently. Kael fought without holding back, while Ronan joined in, though he was far more careful.

Through it all, Aria remained in the center, watching and waiting.

Then, slowly, her power began to rise again.

They came for me, she said.

One hunter rushed towards her, but before he could reach her, she raised her hand. His body froze in mid-air and he was unable to move.

“I remember you,” she said quietly.

With a simple motion of her hand, she threw him aside like he weighed nothing.

The others did not stop.

“Proceed with capture,” one of them ordered.

Aria smiled again…” Try,” she said.

Her power burst out of her, stronger than anything before. The ground split open, and the air twisted under with great force.

Kael tried to reach her, but the energy pushed him back.

“Aria, stop!” he shouted.

For a brief moment, her eyes changed back to silver.

“Kael” she whispered.

Hope rose in him again…But it vanished just as quickly as her eyes turned dark once more.

“She’s losing control,” Ronan said.

“No,” Kael replied. “She’s becoming something else.”

Aria was slowly lifted into the air as her power surrounded her completely. Her eyes glowed with something ancient and terrifying.

When she spoke, it was no longer just her voice.

“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”

She looked directly at Kael, with her face empty of emotion.

“Now…I’m the thing you were sent to destroy.”