Daughter of the Veil

Chapter 10 – The Moon’s Mercy

The moon hung low over the Wildwood, casting a silver glow that danced through the trees and across the river’s edge. Lila stood barefoot in the clearing, the soft grass brushing her ankles, her golden locket warm against her chest. Her senses tingled—magic pulsed around her, more alive than ever before.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Ever since she and Sky had opened their hearts to each other, her powers had sharpened. She could feel the hum of the earth, the song of the river, even the gentle flickers of Sky’s presence miles away. He was hunting with Gabriel, giving her a rare moment of quiet.

Still, something stirred.

A whisper cut through the trees.

"Lila."

Her eyes snapped open. It wasn’t a voice she recognized, yet it felt familiar. Dreamlike.

She turned—and the world melted.

She stood suddenly in a field of stars. Not the sky above her, but all around. Floating. Endless. And before her, cloaked in shimmering silver, stood a woman.

Moon-pale hair spilled down her back. Her eyes were ancient oceans. She radiated stillness, sorrow, and serenity.

"Serene," Lila breathed, instinctively knowing. The Moon Goddess.

"Child of dreams," the goddess said, stepping forward. "You are no longer hidden. The gods watch. The Veil thins."

Lila swallowed, her voice hoarse. "I don’t understand. Why now? Why me?"

Serene lifted a hand. “Because you carry the seed of balance. Fenrir’s heir is bound to you. Nytheria’s fire lives within you. And Noah’s storm approaches.”

Lila’s stomach twisted. "He tried to kill me."

"He tried to stop time," Serene said softly. "He loved your mother once. Her disappearance broke him. And now, he sees your light and believes it must be extinguished to restore his own."

Tears welled in Lila’s eyes. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Become what you were born to be. But be warned—power without purpose burns."

The stars shimmered.

“Find the temple ruins in the Whispering Mountains. There, you will find truth. And choice.”

The vision dissolved—and Lila was back in the clearing, gasping.

Sky burst through the trees, panting, Gabriel just behind him. “Lila! I felt you—your power—it flared.”

She looked up at him, wild-eyed, her hands trembling.

“I saw her,” she whispered. “Serene. The Moon Goddess. She told me… Noah loved my mother.”

Sky tensed, jaw clenching. “Then he’ll be even more dangerous than we thought.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “And if Serene came to you, it means the gods are truly moving. This is bigger than us.”

Lila nodded slowly, still absorbing everything. “We need to go. To the Whispering Mountains. There’s something waiting for me there. Something ancient.”

As she turned, soft laughter filled the clearing. Three figures emerged from the trees—

A tall redhead with fiery eyes and freckles like stardust, arms crossed but smiling warmly. “You weren’t going to leave without your coven sisters, were you?”

“Aria,” Lila gasped.

Beside her, a silver-haired witch with violet eyes gave her a wink. “Talia and I sensed something brewing. Thought we’d join the chaos.”

“And I brought snacks,” a shorter brunette added with a grin.

Lila’s heart swelled. Her girls. Her squad. Finally.

Gabriel gave a wolfish snort. “Great. More witches.”

Sky chuckled. “Better get used to them.”

Lila smiled through the whirlwind in her chest. With her bonded mate, her soul-linked wolf, and her coven sisters at her side—she was ready.

The mating ceremony would come. Soon. And when it did, they would mark each other beneath the Great Oak under a crescent moon, a vow of soul and skin.

But first, they had a temple to find.