Chapter 41: The Awakening of the Moon
The skies above Artesian stretched wide and pale, a canvas of soft gray clouds hanging heavy with the promise of rain. The northern winds blew colder than usual, carrying with it the scent of pine and the faint echoes of distant howls. It was a reminder that the world outside the mansion never truly slept—wolves stirred in the shadows, packs moved in silence, and enemies plotted behind veils of secrecy.
Zachary Artesian knew this better than anyone. He stood by the stone terrace of the Artesian stronghold, his eyes fixed on the mountains to the north. His jaw tightened as he recalled the faces of those who had fallen in the last battle. The scars of war did not fade quickly, neither from the land nor from the heart.
Behind him, several warriors gathered, awaiting his command. They came from different corners of the Northern and Southern Regions—scouts, hunters, and loyal wolves who had sworn their lives to his leadership. Some bowed their heads in respect, others looked at him with quiet expectation.
"We cannot wait for another strike," Zach said at last, his deep voice breaking the silence. "The Embers Council is watching. The rogue packs are gathering. If we stay idle, we risk everything."
One of the younger warriors, a man named Orion, spoke hesitantly. "Alpha, do you truly believe they will challenge us again so soon? We only just defeated Jaguar."
Zach's piercing blue eyes narrowed. "Jaguar was only one piece of the fire. His death will not stop the council, nor Liza Conri's thirst for vengeance. They will come—and when they do, they will not strike at me first." His tone hardened, his gaze drifting southward. "They will strike at her."
The name was not spoken, but everyone knew whom he meant.
Amber.
The room grew heavier at the soundless thought. Every wolf present knew that Amber, though not born of the council, was bound by blood and fate to something greater. Some saw her as a gift. Others whispered that she was a curse waiting to unfold.
"We strengthen our borders," Zach commanded. "Every trail from the Northern pines to the Southern rivers must be guarded. No one enters, no one leaves without my word."
The warriors nodded, their voices low in unison. "Yes, Alpha."
Zachary dismissed them, though his mind remained restless. For the first time since he had taken his throne, his instincts screamed louder than his certainty. The Northern Region was no longer safe. The Southern lands trembled. And Amber—his Luna—was unknowingly becoming the very flame that might set everything ablaze.
⸻
Meanwhile, within the quiet walls of the Artesian mansion, Amber moved through the halls like a shadow. Her steps were slow, her presence soft, but her heart heavy.
Zach had been gone for days—always out in the forests, in meetings, or commanding patrols. He left early, returned late, and when he was present, his mind seemed elsewhere. She understood his burden, yet her chest ached at the growing distance between them.
Amber pressed her palm against the cold glass of the window, staring out at the endless stretch of woodland. The world outside was alive with movement, yet she felt trapped within a stillness she couldn't escape.
Why does it feel so lonely, even when I am surrounded by so many people? she thought.
Her hand trembled slightly, her thoughts racing faster than her heartbeat. She missed him—the warmth of his presence, the safety of his arms, the steadiness of his voice calling her name.
The silence of the mansion was broken when Mamita entered with a tray of tea. "My lady," she said softly, bowing her head, "would you like me to keep you company?"
Amber forced a smile. "Thank you, Mamita. But I'll be fine."
Mamita hesitated, glancing at her with worry, then placed the tray on the small table before leaving.
"It's okay, Mamita. Go ahead," Amber said with a gentle smile.
Amber exhaled slowly. She walked toward the table, her fingers brushing against the delicate rim of the teacup. But as her thoughts drifted once more to Zach, her hand slipped.
The cup tipped over, and the glass teapot swayed dangerously on the edge of the tray.
Her eyes widened. Instinctively, she reached out—not with her hands, but with something deeper, something buried within her.
The world seemed to slow. The teapot hovered in midair, frozen inches from the ground. The cup, too, stopped its fall, suspended as though an invisible hand had caught it.
Amber gasped, her breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded wildly, her body rooted to the floor as her mind screamed for an explanation.
"No..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "This isn't real..."
But it was real. She could feel it—an invisible current flowing from her mind, her chest, her very soul. It was as though the walls of the mansion, the wind outside, and the stillness of the air all bent to her will.
The objects trembled in the air before her, shaking as if resisting her grasp. Her thoughts wavered, and with a sharp gasp, she released them.
The teacup landed softly on the rug instead of shattering. The teapot settled on the tray, as though gently placed by unseen hands.
Amber stumbled back, her hands trembling, her breaths uneven. She pressed her palms against her chest, feeling the wild rhythm of her heartbeat.
"What... was that?" she whispered.
Her mind raced. She remembered the stories—of hybrid Lunas born with gifts beyond comprehension, of powers that could command the world itself. But she had never believed those whispers applied to her.
Tears pricked her eyes, unbidden. It wasn't just the fear of what she had done—it was the ache that had unlocked it. She realized in that moment that the gnawing emptiness inside her, the longing for Zach's presence, had cracked something open within her. In her every extreme emotion, something magical happened.
Her loneliness had birthed her awakening.
Amber sank to the floor, clutching the hem of her dress, her breaths shallow. "Zach..." she whispered his name, her voice breaking. "Where are you? I can't do this alone..."
For a moment, the room answered her. The curtains shifted though no wind entered, the flame of the nearby candle flickered higher, and the wooden frame of the window groaned as though alive.
Amber's eyes widened, realization dawning slowly but surely. She had not imagined it. She was not losing her mind.
She was awakening.
And though she did not yet know how to master it, one truth burned clear in her heart:
Her power had come alive not in battle, not in fury, but in longing. The emptiness of missing Zachary had stirred the force of nature itself within her.
The Luna's gift was no longer a whisper of legend.
It was real.
It was hers.
And it had only just begun.
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✨ Author's Note:
Amber's loneliness has awakened something deep within her—the hidden gift of the Luna. 🌙 But will she learn to control it, or will it consume her before Zach returns?
What do you think will happen when Zach finally senses this change in her? 👀💭
Stay tuned for Chapter 42: