Chapter 7 The Luna Trials Begin

Kael’s POV

The night was long.

I stand watching the forest over the walls of the pack compound.

In the distance, the Moon glows with imperiousness, its aura without flaw.

Deep inside a voice whispers, ‘The prophecy.’

It is a myth. One which I have grown up with, one which has been a story to be repeated over campfires in the night. A story of impending doom.

And the one that brings it: Moonborn.

The cool breeze rushes over, silencing my thoughts for a split second. Then I turn away and walk back inside, my posture straight. The guards I meet on my way bow in greeting, out of  equal measures of respect and fear.

My thoughts run wild, not full of strategies or pack matters, but of that girl.

A phenomenon.

It cannot be explained any other way.

Even without her presence, it is a seamless process to picture her figure, that frail body, but defiant eyes that almost glow. Her hair glowing and silvery as the full moon above.

The prophecy… is it true?

And if it is, how do I come out on the winning end?

By the time I go to sleep, my mind is still in knots.

Catastrophe looms.

I wake before sunrise, a growl leaves my lips. Alpha Rowan: a guest I have no desire to keep.

“He is still there,” I state to the guard rather than ask. “Watching.”

The guard bows his head. Perhaps he senses the anger that roils beneath my words.

I am not Alpha Kael for nothing.

Last night should be the end of his troubling my pack for her sake.

But he is a stubborn one.

I know it well.

“Keep him at bay,” I say, but think inwardly of his might; in the entire Pack, perhaps only a handful could handle his strength.

The Ironfang Pack is strong; Nightfang Pack rivals us too well to trigger a war carelessly.

I give my orders, and then stroll to the grounds. There, she stands: the bringer of catastrophe.

This time, the scent of lavender clings to her, a pleasant one.

Her hair is pulled up into a ponytail, her clothes  a neat shirt and fitted pants in familiar lines of training clothes.

I stop barely a few feet from her, looking over her. She appears still very frail, yet something is different. In her eyes lay a determination that isn’t just to survive.

It is one borne from a zeal to lead.

In my inner stream of consciousness, my wolf stirs. Not out of emotional turmoil, but a call.

‘What is this?’

I do not let my confusion guide my words. Instead I say, “You will train here every day from now on. The Luna Trials will begin soon. And I shall be your personal sponsor.”

Luna does not speak. Her eyes are fixed on me, a spell almost. Transfixed, she doesn’t notice the warrior to her left until he nudges her with the elbow, forcing her to kneel.

“Address the Alpha,” the warrior— Callum, a seasoned veteran I have assigned to her, barks. His growl is a warning and I smile almost imperceptibly.

I have chosen well. The ones I place around her must be strong in body, mind and spirit.

Luna braces her fall with her arms, and she bows her head. Then, in a whimper she speaks.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Her voice is weak, but there is an undertone that almost makes me frown.

This girl…

I must find out exactly everything about her.

The first half of training commenced, and Luna is, as expected from her previous attempts, utterly and foolishly weak.

I sneer at her panting on the ground, sweat beads rolling down her forehead.

“You are not worth the powers you have. A weakling with no spirit,” I say to her. She doesn’t respond, but her back is drawn taut, stiffening at my words.

Slowly she rises, stumbling forward until she reaches the edge of the training ground. She raises her head, her disheveled hair falling over her eyes.

I catch the glimpse of amber in her eyes: what should be an illusion - a spark of fire.

“I… will…” she pants, and I hold my gaze. “Get… stronger…”

“You WILL not,” I counter coldly. “You MUST. For your life depends on it, girl.”

Callum stands at the center of the training ground, a flicker of impatience in his eyes.

“Take her to join the others,” I order.

He bows, and instantly starts towards the trembling, silver-haired girl.

She does not resist being pulled away, and the faint scent of lavender remains in the otherwise empty space.

“Kaia,” I call out, and from the shadows, a woman materializes, cloaked in all black, half her face covered by a mask. “Every information on this girl. I want it. From the Moonveil pack to her birth.” I pause, weighing the words in my tongue. “Do not delay me.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Kaia, the head of my shadow guards, replies, bowing her head.

She vanished into the shadows, and I relax.

If it is to be that our kind faces possible destruction, we must prepare.

Work is unending, but so is the fear.

It whispers the prophecy into my heart, second by second.

As I walk out of my study after another round of meetings, I am met with soft laughter that is both familiar and pleasing to my ears.

“What a sight,” eyes alight with amusement and ease land on me. “Alpha Kael, what plagues your mind?”

“Eurielle,” Her name rolls off my tongue, and she approaches, honey blond hair haloed by the light of the sun.

The only one who knows how to soothe my mind.

I pull her into a hug, and she laughs, a loud, tinkling sound that echoes down the halls.

“It is wonderful to see you again, Kael,” she effuses with warmth. “I missed you so much.”

I smirk; she has been by my side ever since we were young. Childhood playmates. Until three years ago.

“It has been a long time, dear friend,” I say, and her smile widens.

“Too long,” she replies.

A cough interrupts, and I tense, turning to see Callum. His face is pale. But what sparks my alarm is the blood splattered over his hands.

Something has happened.

…