. The clearing, bathed in the eerie glow of the full moon, felt like a world apart from everything she had

ng leaves, the distant howls of wolves, and the ever-present hum of magic. Elara's heart raced as her

ady and firm, though his gaze softened as he saw the fear in he

ould she, with the strange symbol glowing on her skin and the pull she felt toward the Alpha King? Her instincts screamed at

oice shaky. "I don't understand any of this.

eness in his eyes that made Elara pause. "You are much more than that," he said, his voice low and calming. "The power within

don't know anything about being a Luna-about l

ses when the Luna is revealed, not us. You've been chosen because you

people? I don't even know who your people are. L

"You will learn," he said. "And I will

c and Elara. She could feel their anticipation, their unspoken expectation that she woul

the tension, one filled with skepti

his is the righ

Lycans. His hair was dark, his eyes cold and calculating. He carried himself with

e glance at Elara. "She looks weak. She smel

in his throat. "Careful, Kael," he warned. "The stone has

t I am thinking of the future of our pack. We need strength, not

know who this Kael was, but his condescending tone made her blood boil. She wasn't sure how s

"You will have time to prove yourself, Elara," he said, his voic

w furrowed.

place in it. There are many who will seek to challenge your claim as Luna. T

nting her dead was terrifying, but the thought of leaving

" Elara said, her voice sha

have time, but not much. We must leave before sunrise. The enemies of

back to the life she had once known. The mark on her arm, the ancient

a choice, do I

ice, Elara. But know this-the path of the Luna is not an easy one. If you stay, you will face trials

oak. She felt the pressure of the decision pressing down

etend none of this had ever happened. She could hide

e she hadn't heard before-whispered that this was her destiny, that this was

ned her shoulders and met Aldric's

red with approval, a

ms across his chest. "Let's see if you

r in the capital, or what kind of power was awakening inside her, but she was deter

ce she had made. And as the moon began to dip below the horizon, Elara couldn't help but feel