ECLIPSE

Episode 5—After The Moon

ECLIPSE

Chapter Five

After the Moon

The Moon Ceremony ended shortly after midnight.

By then, most of the younger wolves had already disappeared into the village.

The older ones remained behind, talking in groups beneath the oak.

I stayed with Maya.

Mostly because she refused to leave.

"I need food."

"You've said that six times."

"I'm consistent."

"You've been eating all night."

"And?"

I laughed.

"Nothing."

She linked her arm through mine.

We started walking toward the village.

The night was colder than it had been earlier.

I pulled my jacket tighter.

"So," Maya said.

I immediately knew that tone.

"What?"

"The Alpha looked at you."

I kept walking.

"He looked at everyone."

"No."

She stopped.

I continued for two steps before turning around.

"What?"

"He looked at you differently."

I rolled my eyes.

"You've been watching too many dramas."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

She caught up with me.

"I saw him."

"Congratulations."

"Luna."

I sighed.

"Fine. Maybe he looked at me."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Did you do something?"

"No."

"Did he say anything?"

"No."

"Did you say anything?"

"No."

She frowned.

"Then why was he staring?"

"I don't know, Maya."

That answer irritated me.

Not because she was asking.

Because I wanted to know too.

---

When I arrived home, my mother was waiting in the kitchen.

She was still wearing the dress she'd worn to the ceremony.

"You stayed out late."

"I was with Maya."

She nodded.

Then she looked at me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Actually..."

I smiled.

"It wasn't terrible."

She smiled back.

"Good."

I sat at the table.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Why doesn't anyone talk about Enigmas?"

Her smile disappeared.

It was subtle.

So subtle that I almost missed it.

"What made you ask that?"

"I found the word in one of my books."

"Enigma?"

"Yeah."

She looked down at her hands.

"I don't know."

"You don't know what it means?"

"I know what the word means."

"Then?"

She hesitated.

"It's an old word."

"From when?"

"A very long time ago."

"Why don't we use it anymore?"

My mother stood.

"I think you should sleep."

I stared at her.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the answer you're getting."

She walked toward the kitchen.

I watched her disappear around the corner.

Something had changed.

I wasn't sure what.

But it had.

---

I went upstairs.

My room was dark.

I switched on the light.

Nothing unusual.

My bed.

My desk.

My books.

The window.

I walked over and opened it.

Cold air rushed inside.

The forest stretched beyond the houses.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

Normal.

I stared at it for a while.

Then I noticed something.

A small object sitting on the windowsill.

I frowned.

I hadn't left anything there.

I picked it up.

A tiny silver pendant.

A crescent moon.

There was no chain.

Just the pendant.

I turned it over.

Nothing was engraved on the back.

I looked outside.

Nobody was there.

I glanced toward the neighboring houses.

Lights were going out one by one.

Everyone was going to sleep.

I looked back at the pendant.

For some reason, I felt like I'd seen it before.

But I couldn't remember where.

I placed it on my desk.

Then I went to bed.

---

I woke sometime during the night.

I didn't know why.

The room was completely dark.

For several seconds, I didn't move.

Then I heard something.

A soft scratching sound.

Against the window.

I sat up.

Scratch.

Scratch.

Scratch.

My heart began beating faster.

I reached for my phone.

The screen lit up.

3:17 a.m.

I stared at the time.

The scratching stopped.

I looked toward the window.

Nothing.

I climbed out of bed and walked over.

The curtains were closed.

I reached for them.

Then stopped.

I didn't know why.

I suddenly didn't want to open them.

I stood there for several seconds.

Then I pulled the curtain aside.

The forest was empty.

No wolves.

No people.

Nothing.

I let out a breath.

"See?"

I whispered to myself.

"Nothing."

I turned away.

Then the moonlight shifted across the room.

For just a second, the silver pendant on my desk seemed to glow.

I froze.

I stared at it.

The glow disappeared.

I walked over and picked it up.

Cold.

Completely ordinary.

I laughed quietly.

"You're losing it, Luna."

I put it in the drawer.

Locked it.

And went back to bed.

I didn't know it then, but that tiny silver crescent would become the first thing I ever owned that I couldn't explain.

And I wouldn't see it again for a very long time.