The Last White Luna Queen

Chapter Two: The Awakening

Aria Snow ran deeper into the forest.

She didn't know where she was going.

She only knew she needed to get away.

Away from the pack.

Away from the whispers.

Away from Alpha Kael.

Every step sent another wave of pain through her chest.

The rejected mate bond was still burning inside her.

She pressed one hand against her heart.

"Why does it hurt so much?"

Her wolf remained silent.

That frightened Aria more than anything.

Usually, her wolf was gentle and comforting.

Tonight, something had changed.

The strange silver markings covering her arms continued to glow beneath her skin.

Aria stopped beside a clear stream.

She looked down at the water.

Her reflection stared back at her.

But it wasn't the same reflection she had seen that morning.

Her eyes were silver.

Not gray.

Not blue.

Silver.

A tiny crown-shaped mark rested above her eyebrows.

"What happened to me?"

Suddenly, the forest became completely silent.

Aria turned around.

"Who's there?"

Nothing.

She took a cautious step backward.

Then she heard footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Coming from behind the trees.

Aria's heart raced.

"Show yourself!"

A figure stepped out of the darkness.

An old woman.

She wore a long black cloak, and her silver hair reached her waist.

Her eyes were strangely bright.

Aria immediately felt something familiar about her.

"Who are you?"

The woman stared at Aria for several seconds.

Then she whispered,

"You're alive."

Aria frowned.

"Do I know you?"

The woman shook her head.

"No. But I knew your mother."

Aria's breathing stopped.

"My mother?"

She had been told her mother died when she was a baby.

Nobody ever spoke about her.

"What do you know about my mother?"

The old woman stepped closer.

"Your mother's name was Lyra."

Aria stared at her.

"How do you know that?"

"Because she was the last White Luna Queen."

The words seemed to echo through the forest.

Aria laughed nervously.

"That's impossible."

"Is it?"

The woman pointed toward Aria's glowing hands.

"Look at yourself."

Aria looked down.

The silver markings were spreading.

"You carry her blood."

Aria shook her head.

"My mother was just a normal wolf."

"That is what they wanted you to believe."

"Who?"

"The people who have been hiding you."

Aria's stomach tightened.

"Why?"

The old woman looked toward the mountains.

"Because if the other packs discover that the White Luna has returned, they will come for you."

"Why would they?"

"Because the White Luna has the power to unite every wolf kingdom."

Aria remained silent.

The woman continued.

"Your ancestors ruled the supernatural world before the Alpha kingdoms existed. But they were betrayed."

"By who?"

"The Alpha bloodlines."

Aria's eyes widened.

"They killed your family?"

"Not all of them."

The old woman reached into her cloak.

She removed a small silver pendant.

Aria recognized it immediately.

It was identical to the necklace her mother had left behind.

"My mother gave you that?"

"She gave it to me before she disappeared."

Aria reached for it.

The moment her fingers touched the pendant, a powerful wave of energy exploded through the forest.

The trees shook.

The stream rose into the air.

Aria screamed.

A vision appeared before her eyes.

A woman stood beneath a blood-red moon.

She had long silver hair.

A white wolf stood beside her.

The woman was crying.

"Aria..."

Aria froze.

"Mom?"

The woman looked directly at her.

"If you're seeing this, then my time has run out."

Tears streamed down Aria's face.

"Mom!"

The vision continued.

"I hid your identity because the enemy was searching for you."

A dark shadow appeared behind Lyra.

"Never trust the Black Crown."

The vision suddenly disappeared.

Aria collapsed to her knees.

"What does that mean?"

The old woman looked terrified.

"The Black Crown."

"What is it?"

"The most dangerous enemy your bloodline has ever faced."

Before the woman could explain further, a howl echoed from the distance.

The old woman's expression changed.

"They found you."

"Who?"

"Wolves from the Bloodfang Pack."

Aria stood.

"How many?"

"Too many."

The sound of paws approached rapidly.

The old woman grabbed Aria's arm.

"You must run."

"I can't leave you."

"You must."

A group of wolves emerged from the trees.

Their eyes glowed red.

At least twenty.

Their leader shifted into a tall man wearing black armor.

"Give us the girl."

The old woman stepped in front of Aria.

"Never."

The man smiled.

"We know what she is."

Aria's heart pounded.

The man pointed at her.

"The White Luna."

Aria's eyes widened.

The wolves began growling.

The old woman whispered,

"Run."

Aria shook her head.

"I won't leave you."

"You don't understand."

The old woman turned toward her.

"You aren't ready to fight."

The armored wolf lunged.

The old woman raised her hand.

A powerful silver barrier appeared.

The attacker slammed into it.

But the barrier cracked.

Aria stared in disbelief.

The old woman was struggling.

Another wolf attacked.

The barrier shattered.

The old woman was thrown against a tree.

"Stop!"

Something inside Aria snapped.

A terrifying growl escaped her throat.

The wolves froze.

Aria's eyes turned completely silver.

The wind exploded around her.

Her hair lifted into the air.

A huge white wolf appeared behind her.

It was enormous.

Bigger than any normal wolf.

Its eyes burned like silver stars.

Every Bloodfang warrior dropped to their knees.

The leader stared at Aria in terror.

"No..."

Aria stepped forward.

The ground cracked beneath her feet.

"You wanted the White Luna."

Her voice sounded different.

Stronger.

Colder.

"Here I am."

The leader tried to stand.

Aria raised one hand.

He was thrown backward like he had been struck by an invisible force.

The remaining wolves fled.

Silence returned to the forest.

Aria stared at her hands.

"What did I just do?"

The old woman slowly stood.

She looked at Aria with tears in her eyes.

"Your awakening has begun."

Aria looked toward the mountains.

"What happens now?"

The old woman answered,

"Now every Alpha who has heard the legends will come looking for you."

Far away, inside the Northern Alpha Castle, Kael stood before a massive window.

He could feel the strange energy spreading through the territory.

His Beta, Ethan Blackwood, entered the room.

"Alpha."

Kael turned.

"What happened?"

Ethan looked serious.

"The Bloodfang Pack attacked someone in the forest."

Kael's expression darkened.

"Who?"

Ethan hesitated.

"The reports say..."

He swallowed.

"They were looking for Aria Snow."

Kael's heart stopped.

"Is she alive?"

Ethan nodded.

"Yes."

Kael released a breath.

But Ethan wasn't finished.

"Alpha, there's something else."

"What?"

"The wolves who attacked her..."

Kael stared at him.

"They came back terrified."

"Why?"

Ethan lowered his voice.

"Because they saw the White Wolf."

Kael's face went pale.

The woman he had rejected as a worthless Omega was not an ordinary wolf.

She was something the world had been waiting centuries to see.

The last White Luna Queen.

And Kael had just rejected her.

Outside the castle, thunder shook the sky.

A mysterious figure stood on a distant mountain, watching the silver glow surrounding the forest.

The figure smiled.

"Finally."

A pair of crimson eyes opened in the darkness.

"The Queen has awakened."

And then the figure whispered,

"Now we can begin the hunt."