Echoes under the Moonlight

Ava looked around, and everything seemed different. The trees, the sky, even the air felt tense. It was as if the whole forest was holding its breath. Shadows stretched unnaturally under the silver moonlight, twisting in ways that made her uneasy. Lucien guided her deeper into the woods, his steps careful, his body tense. She could tell he was listening for something—watching. The silence was too thick, too unnatural.

Her mind reeled with everything she had learned tonight. The power in her blood. The hunters after her. The war coming. It was too much to take in, but deep down, she knew it was all true.

Her old life was slipping away, fading like a dream at dawn. And something dark was waiting for her on the other side.

Lucien suddenly stopped. Ava almost bumped into him. She followed his gaze and gasped.

A massive stone altar stood before them, worn by time but still powerful. It was surrounded by a ring of stones, their surfaces carved with ancient symbols that glowed faintly in the moonlight. The air around it felt charged, alive with an invisible force.

"This is where it starts," Lucien said quietly.

"Starts?" Ava asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucien didn't answer immediately. He stepped forward and ran his fingers over the glowing symbols. They pulsed beneath his touch. "The path ahead, Ava. The path to understanding your power and your role in this world."

Ava's hands clenched into fists. "What if I don't want this?" she asked. "What if I want to go back to my old life?" Her voice shook, but she had to ask. Could she really go back?

Lucien turned to her, his golden eyes serious. "You can't go back. Once you were marked, everything changed. The hunters will never stop coming. They don't let people like you walk away."

His words felt like a punch to the stomach. She wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong. But she knew he wasn't. She'd felt it—the danger, the invisible eyes watching her since that night.

"What do I do?" she asked quietly. "How do I fight this?"

Lucien's expression softened. "I'll help you. But remember, the hunters aren't your only threat."

Ava frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lucien hesitated, his jaw tightening. "You've been chosen by the Alpha."

Ava's breath caught. "The Alpha?"

"Yes," Lucien said. "He leads the pack. He controls everything." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "And you're more connected to him than you realize."

Her heart pounded. "Why? What does that mean?"

Lucien exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. "The Alpha controls the magic of the moon. He's the key to all of this. And he's coming for you."

Ava took a step back, her body trembling. "Coming for me?" Her throat went dry. "Why? I don't even know him."

Lucien's eyes darkened. "You will. He's been searching for you. The mark on your wrist, your bloodline… it all leads back to him."

Ava's breath hitched as realization slammed into her. "Kael… he's the one who rejected me."

Lucien nodded grimly. "Yes. He's the Alpha. He doesn't take rejection lightly."

Her chest tightened. "Then why wouldn't he just kill me?" she whispered. "Why now?"

Lucien hesitated before answering. "The Alpha is bound to you now. Once you were marked, your fates became entwined. He can't just erase that."

Ava shook her head, her pulse roaring in her ears. "I don't want this. I didn't ask for it. I didn't ask for him."

Lucien's gaze softened. He reached out a hand. "I know it's hard. But you must face the truth. Kael will come for you. You'll have to choose—fight for your freedom or accept your fate."

Ava took another step back. "I don't know if I can do this," she whispered. "I don't even know how to fight."

"You won't be alone," Lucien said firmly. "I'll help you. I'll teach you what you need to know. But you have to be ready."

Before Ava could respond, a sudden gust of wind rushed through the clearing, scattering leaves and sending a shiver down her spine. The glowing symbols on the stones flickered.

Lucien cursed under his breath and grabbed her arm. "We need to move. Now."

Ava's skin prickled. "What? Why?"

He didn't answer. His eyes darted around the clearing, his body tense. The wind grew stronger, carrying with it the scent of something sharp—something wild.

Then she heard it.

A deep, guttural growl.

It came from the trees beyond the altar, low and menacing. A shadow moved between the trunks, something massive lurking just out of sight.

Ava's heart slammed against her ribs.

Lucien pushed her behind him. "Don't move," he whispered.

Another growl, closer this time. A second shadow joined the first. Then a third.

"We're surrounded," Ava realized, her voice barely audible.

Lucien's hand tightened around her wrist. "Stay close."

From the darkness, glowing red eyes emerged. Not just one pair—several. They were watching. Waiting.

Ava's breath came in sharp gasps. "What are they?"

Lucien's jaw clenched. "Rogues. And they're not here by accident."

Ava's stomach twisted. "You think Kael sent them?"

Lucien didn't answer. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a silver blade, the metal gleaming under the moonlight.

"Whatever happens," he said, voice steady, "don't run. They'll chase you. Stay behind me."

The moment he finished speaking, the first rogue lunged.

Lucien moved fast, meeting the beast head-on. His blade slashed through the air, catching the rogue in the side. It howled but didn't stop.

Another rogue charged from the left.

Ava barely had time to react before it was on her. She stumbled back, her feet catching on the uneven ground.

A sharp pain seared across her arm as claws tore through her sleeve. She screamed, falling to the ground.

Lucien snarled something in a language she didn't understand and threw his blade. It struck the rogue's neck, sending it crashing to the ground.

Ava clutched her arm, her vision blurring. The wound burned.

Lucien was beside her in an instant. "Are you hurt?"

She nodded, barely able to speak. "It—it burns."

Lucien's expression darkened. "Damn it."

Before she could ask what was happening, another howl echoed through the night—this one deeper, more powerful.

The rogues froze.

Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, they turned and fled into the woods.

Ava gasped for breath, struggling to sit up. "What—what just happened?"

Lucien's face was pale. "He's close."

Ava's blood ran cold.

"Kael?" she whispered.

Lucien nodded, his eyes flickering gold. "He's coming."

And in the distance, beyond the trees, a pair of piercing silver eyes glowed in the darkness.