Chapter 13: The Guidance Of Moonlight
1065 Words
Welcome home, Moon Heir.
The voice echoed through Aria's mind.
She froze.
The silver wolves remained bowed before her.
Not one showed aggression.
Not one appeared hostile.
Instead, they seemed respectful.
Almost reverent.
Aria glanced nervously at Lucas.
"Did you hear that?"
Lucas shook his head.
"Hear what?"
"The wolf spoke to me."
Ethan blinked.
"The wolf what?"
The largest wolf slowly approached.
Its silver fur shimmered beneath the moonlit sky.
Ancient wisdom filled its glowing eyes.
Aria should have been afraid.
Instead, she felt strangely calm.
As though some part of her had always known these creatures existed.
The wolf stopped only a few feet away.
Then lowered its massive head.
Once again, the voice sounded inside her mind.
The blood of Luna has returned.
Aria swallowed.
"Who are you?"
The wolf's gaze softened.
We are the Guardians of Moonlight.
Protectors of the Sacred Realm.
Protectors of the House of Luna.
Aria's heart raced.
The House of Luna.
Every answer seemed to lead back to that name.
"Do you know who I am?"
The wolf stared at her for a long moment.
Then answered.
You are Aria Luna.
The final heir.
The words struck like lightning.
Aria Luna.
A surname.
Her surname.
For a moment, she couldn't breathe.
Lucas stepped forward.
His expression sharpened immediately.
"What did it say?"
Aria looked at him.
Emotion swirled inside her chest.
"It knows me."
Lucas frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The words felt strange on her tongue.
Like a forgotten truth finally returning home.
"My name."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"It said my name is Aria Luna."
Silence followed.
Even Ethan looked stunned.
The largest wolf slowly turned its gaze toward Lucas.
For several seconds, the creature studied him.
Then something unexpected happened.
The wolf lowered its head toward him as well.
Not as deeply.
Not with the same reverence.
But enough to show respect.
Ethan's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline.
"Well, that's new."
Lucas remained calm.
Though inwardly, he was surprised.
The wolf's ancient eyes glowed brightly.
The Silver Wolf walks beside the Moon Heir.
The Silver Wolf.
Aria immediately remembered her mother's warning.
Trust the Silver Wolf.
Her gaze slowly shifted toward Lucas.
At exactly the same moment, Lucas looked at her.
Neither spoke.
But both understood.
The guardian was talking about him.
---
The wolves led them deeper into the forest.
The silver path wound between glowing trees and crystal streams.
The Sacred Realm became even more beautiful the farther they traveled.
Ancient monuments emerged from the mist.
Towering statues.
Forgotten temples.
Ruins covered with glowing vines.
Everywhere Aria looked, she felt familiarity.
Not memory.
Not exactly.
Something deeper.
A connection.
The feeling both comforted and frightened her.
One of the smaller wolves walked beside her.
Its fur sparkled softly.
"You really live here?" Aria asked.
The wolf's ears twitched.
For centuries.
"Centuries?"
The wolf nodded.
Time moves differently here.
Ethan sighed dramatically.
"Of course it does."
Aria smiled.
Despite everything, Ethan somehow found ways to remain himself.
The Beta noticed her smile.
"Good."
"What?"
"You smiled."
Aria blinked.
"So?"
Ethan shrugged.
"You've spent the last week discovering you're part of an ancient prophecy, hunted by a rival Alpha, and connected to an evil shadow king."
He pointed ahead.
"A smile is progress."
Lucas rolled his eyes.
The wolf looked confused.
Aria laughed softly.
The sound echoed through the forest.
And for the first time in days, it felt genuine.
---
Several hours later, they reached a clearing.
The moment Aria stepped into it, she stopped.
At the center stood an enormous silver tree.
Its branches stretched high into the sky.
Glowing leaves shimmered like stars.
Silver roots spread across the ground.
Ancient symbols covered its trunk.
Aria's breath caught.
"The tree."
Lucas looked at her.
"You've seen it before."
She nodded.
"In my vision."
The largest guardian wolf stepped forward.
The Tree of Origins.
The first tree blessed by the Moon Goddess.
The tree from which the House of Luna drew its strength.
Aria slowly approached.
The closer she came, the stronger the pull became.
Like an invisible force drawing her forward.
Lucas immediately noticed.
His instincts sharpened.
Something was happening.
The tree began glowing brighter.
The leaves rustled despite the absence of wind.
Silver light gathered around Aria.
The Crescent of Luna pulsed beneath her clothing.
Then—
The tree released a single glowing leaf.
It drifted slowly downward.
Floating through the air.
Landing gently in Aria's hand.
The moment she touched it—
A memory exploded inside her mind.
---
A little girl laughed as she ran through the palace gardens.
Silver flowers bloomed everywhere.
The air smelled sweet.
Warm.
Safe.
The little girl was herself.
Aria.
But younger.
Perhaps six years old.
A woman chased after her.
Laughing.
The silver-haired queen.
Her mother.
"Aria!"
The queen smiled.
"Slow down."
Young Aria giggled.
"You can't catch me!"
The queen pretended to struggle.
"Oh no."
Young Aria laughed harder.
The memory was filled with happiness.
Pure happiness.
No fear.
No darkness.
No prophecy.
Only family.
Only love.
Then everything changed.
A horn sounded.
The queen's smile vanished.
Warriors rushed through the palace.
Someone shouted.
"The enemy has breached the outer walls!"
Fear swept through the memory.
Young Aria looked confused.
The queen immediately knelt.
Taking her daughter's face in her hands.
"Listen carefully."
Tears filled the queen's eyes.
"You must be brave."
Young Aria shook her head.
"Mother?"
The queen hugged her tightly.
A final embrace.
A final goodbye.
Then the memory shattered.
---
Aria gasped.
Tears streamed down her face.
The clearing returned.
The Sacred Realm returned.
Lucas was beside her instantly.
"Aria."
His voice sounded distant.
She could barely hear him.
The memory felt so real.
So painful.
"My mother..."
Her voice broke.
Lucas gently steadied her.
The concern in his eyes was unmistakable.
"What did you see?"
Aria wiped away tears.
"I remembered."
The words came out as a whisper.
Lucas's expression softened.
"What?"
Aria looked toward the Tree of Origins.
"My family."
Silence settled over the clearing.
The guardian wolves lowered their heads.
Respecting her grief.
Respecting her memories.
Far away, beyond the Sacred Realm, the Shadow Seal cracked once more.
A new fracture spread across its surface.
And deep within the darkness, crimson eyes slowly opened.
The Shadow King smiled.
Because with every memory Aria recovered...
She moved closer to her destiny.
And so did he.
- Writer
