MOONLIGHT FATE

CHAPTER THREE

Caius POV

The ground shook again, the kind that travels through bone and stone at the same time. Dust fell from the sanctuary ceilings, the ancient walls outside creaked under the weight. I turned towards the doors. Whatever is coming, must be big, to my surprise Aurelia stood perfectly behind me, most people would have panicked, they would have run, hidden or beg for help. She stood like a trained soldier before battle, calm, dangerous, and completely unmovable. Her power still filled the sanctuary, I could feel it in the air like lightning waiting to strike. Inside my mind, my wolf Ragnar paced restlessly “she shouldn't exit,” he growled, for once I agreed.

In all my years as a collector for the territories, I have seen powerful witches, strong wolves, vampires, and creatures far worse, but I have never seen anything like her. She didn't carry the moonstone, It was part of her. Another violent impact shook the sanctuary, cracks spread across the marble floor. Aurelia looked toward the door "They're breaking the outer barrier." she whispered, her voice carried no fear, just certainty. I step closer to the door and listen, a lot of booth-steps, not like the three that just fled, not ten but an army. "You knew this would happen." She looked at me calmly, "I knew someone would come, but I just didn't expect them this fast" that makes two of us. My order was straightforward, get the Moonstone back and return it to the Council, no delay, no attachment.

But the mission changed the moment I entered the sanctuary. The Stone wasn't sitting on an altar like the council believed, it was standing right in front of me and somehow my instincts were telling me to protect it. Ragnar has been restless inside my head, I have never seen him restless for anything or anyone. Right in front of me she threw three vampires across the room like they were nothing. Another heavy crash shook the walls, something outside roared, my instincts sharpened immediately "Whatever that is," I whispered, "is not part of the Council." her eyes darkened "No," she said softly. "It isn't." The doors rattled violently and the wood began to split. The outer barrier was collapsing. My wolf pushed forward, claws itching to tear into something. "Tell me something," I said, looking back at her. She raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you planning to run?" to my surprise, she smiled just a little “no” I should have known she would not run. Another deafening crash shook the building “boom”

Something slammed into the outer gate, the entire building trembled, stone cracked along the walls, dust filled the air. "Excellent," I murmured. Then the door exploded open, cold night air flooded the chamber and with it Vampire, dozens of them. Their red eyes glowed in the darkness beyond the entrance. Then he stepped in, tall, confident and deadly, his dark armor reflected the faint light of the Blood Moon, a long black coat dangled behind him like a veil of darkness.The moment he entered the sanctuary the air became heavy, oppressive, commanding. My stomach tightened not because I had met him before but from whispers passed between parks during long nights around the fire. Lucian the vampire general who never failed a hunt, the one who wiped out three wolf packs in a single winter, even Alphas spoke about him cautiously. In my head, Ragnar snarled.

Lucian eyes immediately found Aurelia, his eyes were filled with power hunger. "So," he said coldly as he entered. "We finally met." Without thinking, I stepped in front of Aurelia, my wolf bared its teeth. Lucian smirked when he noticed it "collector, move aside." I didn't. Behind me, Aurelia inhaled slowly, the stone inside her glow brightly as power rolled through the sanctuary like a swelling storm, Lucian smile faded slightly. "Be careful." he warned "This entire place is going to collapse if she loses control." I looked at Aurelia, she did not appear out of control rather she looked focused. "What do you want?" I asked. His eyes never left Aurelia., "what everyone wants, the Moonstone" Behind him, more vampires entered the sanctuary twenty or thirty or maybe more, then it hit me, they are not here to raid the place but they are here to capture her if necessary. My mind calculated the numbers instantly, too many even for me or for her. “Bring her to me," Lucian ordered. Every vampire moved at once, my claws came out instantly, then everything exploded in a motion. The first vampire rushed forward, I caught him mid-air, my claws tore through his chest before he even realized it. Behind me silver light burst across the sanctuary,

Aurelia had raised her hand, the Stone answered instantly, a wave of lunar power blasted the chamber, five vampires flew backward like leaves in a storm, then the ground trembled again a deep roar echoed from the forest, everyone froze for a split second even Lucian turned towards the trees, "What was that?" one vampire asked nervously. Aurelia spoke quietly behind me, "That”, she said “is the real problem,” the trees outside the sanctuary exploded, something huge is moving through the woods, something powerful that should not be here. My wolf went completely still then it said a single word in my head “Run” Aurelia stepped forward immediately, the moon rose fully into the sky above the sanctuary and the stone inside her flashed brighter than ever. Slowly, Lucian stepped backward for the first time since he arrived, fear appeared on his face for a split second, in that moment I understood something terrifying, whatever was coming, it wasn't here for the vampires, it wasn't here for me but it was here for her and I may be here to protect the stone not steal it.