Chapter 2 : The Mysterious Maiden
1255 Words
Darkness.
That was the first thing she felt.
A vast, endless darkness that seemed to stretch in every direction.
Then came the whispers.
Soft voices drifted through the void like distant echoes carried by the wind.
"Wake up..."
"The time has come..."
"You must remember..."
The voices sounded familiar.
Yet before she could understand them, a sharp pain shot through her head.
Her eyes flew open.
A gasp escaped her lips.
For several moments, she could only stare at the ceiling above her.
Moonlight streamed through large windows, illuminating an unfamiliar room.
Everything felt strange.
The scent of herbs lingered in the air.
White curtains surrounded the bed.
Candles flickered softly nearby.
Confusion washed over her.
Where was she?
Slowly, she pushed herself upright.
The movement made her dizzy.
She pressed a hand against her forehead and closed her eyes.
Fragments of memories flashed before her.
A forest.
Rain.
A glowing silver light.
Running.
Then...
Nothing.
Her memories vanished into darkness.
The door suddenly opened.
A middle-aged woman carrying a tray stepped inside.
The moment she noticed the girl awake, surprise crossed her face.
"Oh!"
The tray nearly slipped from her hands.
"You're awake!"
The woman hurried toward the bed.
Relief shone in her eyes.
"Thank the Moon Goddess."
The girl stared at her.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled kindly.
"My name is Clara. I'm one of the palace healers."
Palace?
The word immediately caught her attention.
Her confusion deepened.
"Palace?"
Clara nodded.
"You're in Moonfang Palace."
The girl froze.
Moonfang Palace.
The royal palace.
Home of the Supreme Alpha.
Even with her fragmented memories, she knew that name.
Everyone knew that name.
A sudden wave of unease settled in her chest.
"How did I get here?"
Clara hesitated.
"You were found unconscious."
"Where?"
"The Moon Grove."
The room became silent.
The girl's eyes widened.
Moon Grove?
She had no memory of such a place.
"No..."
She shook her head.
"I don't remember."
Clara's expression softened.
"Don't force yourself."
The healer gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You've been unconscious for three days."
Three days.
The revelation left her speechless.
Three entire days had vanished from her life.
Clara studied her carefully.
"Do you remember your name?"
The girl opened her mouth.
For a terrifying second, she wasn't sure.
Then a single name surfaced.
"Aria."
Relief flooded her.
"My name is Aria."
Clara smiled.
"That's a good start."
Aria.
At least she still remembered that much.
But beyond her name, everything felt distant.
Broken.
As if pieces of her memories had been ripped away.
A knock interrupted their conversation.
A young healer entered.
His face looked nervous.
"Clara."
"What is it?"
"The Alpha wishes to see her."
The room immediately fell silent.
Even Clara seemed startled.
"The Alpha?"
The young healer nodded.
"He was informed the girl regained consciousness."
Aria felt her stomach tighten.
The Alpha.
There was no need to ask which Alpha.
Only one person held enough authority to be referred to that way.
Alpha Lucas.
The Supreme Alpha.
The ruler of the entire realm.
Stories about him were known everywhere.
Some called him a hero.
Others called him a monster.
Most agreed on one thing.
He was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Clara squeezed Aria's hand reassuringly.
"Don't be afraid."
That advice did little to calm her nerves.
A few minutes later, Aria followed the healers through the palace corridors.
Her eyes widened at the sight around her.
Everything seemed enormous.
Golden chandeliers hung from high ceilings.
Silver carvings decorated the walls.
Paintings of former rulers lined the hallways.
Guards stood watch at every corner.
The palace radiated power.
Yet despite its beauty, an uneasy feeling lingered within her.
Almost as if the palace itself was hiding secrets.
The group eventually stopped before a pair of enormous doors.
Aria swallowed.
The guards pushed them open.
The throne room.
It was even larger than she imagined.
Moonlight poured through towering windows.
The silver throne stood at the far end of the hall.
And seated upon it was a man.
Aria's breath caught.
For a moment, she forgot how to move.
Alpha Lucas was undeniably handsome.
Dark hair framed a sharp, sculpted face.
His broad shoulders carried an effortless strength.
Silver eyes studied her with unsettling intensity.
The stories had not exaggerated.
He looked every bit the ruler of the werewolf realm.
Power radiated from him.
The atmosphere itself seemed to bend around his presence.
Beside him stood another man with brown hair and a friendly expression.
Beta Ethan.
Though Aria didn't know his name yet.
Lucas observed her quietly.
The moment she entered the room, something had felt strange.
His wolf had become restless.
Unusually restless.
That had never happened before.
Not once.
He couldn't explain it.
Nor did he like it.
Aria felt his gaze on her.
It was impossible to ignore.
She forced herself to meet his eyes.
Neither looked away.
The silence stretched.
Then Lucas finally spoke.
"What is your name?"
His voice was calm.
Deep.
Commanding.
"Aria."
"Full name?"
She hesitated.
A strange feeling passed through her.
"I don't know."
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"You don't know?"
"I only remember Aria."
The Alpha studied her carefully.
Searching for signs of deception.
Finding none.
"Which pack do you belong to?"
"I don't remember."
"Your family?"
Aria lowered her gaze.
Nothing came to mind.
Not a face.
Not a name.
Nothing.
Frustration tightened her chest.
"I don't remember."
The room remained silent.
Lucas exchanged a glance with Ethan.
The Beta looked concerned.
Memory loss wasn't impossible.
But something about this situation felt unusual.
Very unusual.
Lucas rose from his throne.
The movement immediately drew Aria's attention.
He descended the steps slowly.
Each step seemed deliberate.
Measured.
Powerful.
Before long, he stood directly in front of her.
Much closer than before.
Aria suddenly became aware of how tall he was.
How intimidating.
How impossible it was to ignore his presence.
Lucas studied her face.
Her silver-gray eyes.
Her dark hair.
The faint scar hidden near her wrist.
Everything about her felt unfamiliar.
Yet strangely significant.
His wolf stirred again.
A low growl echoed in the back of his mind.
Lucas immediately suppressed it.
What was wrong with his wolf?
Aria felt something strange as well.
A sudden warmth spread through her chest.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Confusion flickered across her face.
The sensation vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Neither understood what had just happened.
Lucas stepped back.
His expression remained unreadable.
"You may stay in the palace until your memories return."
Aria blinked.
She had expected suspicion.
Interrogation.
Perhaps even imprisonment.
Not kindness.
"Why?"
The question slipped out before she could stop herself.
A few guards looked shocked.
Nobody questioned the Supreme Alpha.
Yet Lucas merely stared at her.
"Because until we discover who you are, I intend to keep you where I can see you."
Aria wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or threatened.
Perhaps both.
A faint smile appeared on Ethan's face.
Lucas turned toward the guards.
"Assign additional security."
The guards bowed.
"Yes, Alpha."
Lucas returned to his throne.
The audience was clearly over.
Clara gently guided Aria toward the exit.
As she reached the doors, she glanced back.
Her eyes met Lucas's once more.
A strange feeling settled between them.
Brief.
Unexplainable.
Dangerous.
Neither could understand it.
Yet both felt it.
And neither realized that deep beneath the palace, hidden within an ancient chamber untouched for centuries, a forgotten symbol had begun to glow with silver light.
The prophecy had awakened.
And fate had taken its first step.
- Writer
