The old hut, under the giant oak tree, became my whole world. It felt alive with history. Its walls seemed to hum with old magic. The air inside smelled of dried herbs and Maeve.
Maeve's scent was earthy, a mix of wisdom and wildness. I was fully committed to my training now. I soaked up every word, every lesson, every small detail Maeve shared.
Maeve, with her sharp blue eyes and silver braids, was like a living book. She was a direct link to a past that had been hidden on purpose. "The Lunas," Maeve began one clear morning.
Her voice was a low hum. It seemed to make the very floorboards shake. "They were not just mates to Alphas. They were the heart of the pack. The spiritual anchors. The ones who kept things balanced."
"Their power came straight from the Moon Goddess herself," she explained. "It wasn't from their male partners. They were the First Lunas. And their abilities were huge. Much more than just healing or feeling others' emotions."
I listened, my heart pounding. I felt a mix of wonder and a growing sense of unfairness. I had always been taught that a Luna's job was to support her Alpha. To care for the pack. To be gentle.
The idea of Lunas having huge power, leading packs, and shaping futures was new. Almost forbidden. But as Maeve spoke, a deep truth echoed inside me. It felt right. Like coming home.
Maeve started to explain the First Lunas' true powers. Each new thing she said felt like an electric shock through my body. "They could control energy," Maeve said, tracing shapes in the air with her gnarled fingers.
"Not just the wild bursts you felt. But a careful, exact control over life force itself. They could make shields of pure energy. Blasts that could knock down a rogue. Or gentle touches that could calm a storm inside a wolf."
"They could pull energy from the moon, from the earth, from the air around them. And use it for many things." I remembered the bright light. The force that pushed away the rogue. A shiver went down my spine. This was what I had seen a small part of.
"Then there was advanced healing," Maeve continued, her voice softer. "Better than any pack healer. They could fix broken bones in moments. Close bad wounds. Even pull out poisons that would kill others."
"Their touch was like a channel for the Moon Goddess's healing power. A comfort for both body and soul." I thought of all the times pack members suffered from injuries that took ages to heal. The idea of such fast, deep healing seemed almost impossible.
Yet, I felt I understood it. "Empathy wasn't just a feeling for them," Maeve said, looking deep into my eyes. "It was a strong connection. They could feel others' emotions. And gently change them."
"Calming fear, giving courage, bringing people together. They were the emotional anchors of their packs. They could weave together understanding and strength. This also meant a deep bond with their fated mates. A true joining of souls."
I remembered the confusing empathy I felt for Kael, even after he rejected me. Now, it made sense. "Their connection to nature was complete," Maeve added, waving her hand towards the forest.
"They could talk to animals. Understand the whispers of trees. Feel the flow of rivers. They protected the wild. They kept the balance between wolves and nature. The forest was their friend. Their strength."
I had always felt close to the wild. A peace I rarely found among my own kind. This made that connection even deeper. The forest felt like a part of me now.
"And finally," Maeve said, her voice almost a whisper, "they could see spiritually. They could see beyond what was real. Feel old energies. Talk to their ancestors. Even see bits of the future."
"This was perhaps their most dangerous gift. Because it let them see the truth. Even when others tried to hide it." I remembered my vivid dreams of the Ancient Luna. The clear guidance I got. It wasn't just a dream. It was a direct message.
As Maeve spoke, I saw clear visions. Not just pictures in my head, but full experiences. I was back in time. I saw the First Luna, a grand silver wolf. She stood tall among Alpha leaders.
Her voice was strong as she made peace between fighting packs. I saw her heal a badly hurt warrior with a touch. Light flowed from her paws, fixing his broken body. I felt the unity as her empathy brought her pack together.
I saw her talk to a majestic stag, learning its old wisdom. Then, a chilling vision: the First Luna, her silver eyes sad. She saw the first signs of betrayal. Ambitious male Alphas whispering. Plotting.
Their faces twisted with fear and greed. Their words were full of poison. They talked about power. About needing to control. To rule. They saw the Lunas' power as a threat to their own authority.
"They feared what they couldn't control," Maeve said, her voice cutting through my vision. It was as if she knew my thoughts. "The Lunas were too strong. Too free. They challenged the Alphas."
"So, they slowly destroyed their history. They changed the stories. Made the powerful Lunas seem like weak mates. They hid the truth about their powers. Called them myths. They made people afraid."
"They made sure no Luna would ever fully wake up again. They took away their power, bit by bit. Until only a shadow of their past glory remained." The unfairness of this history hit me hard. It was a huge betrayal. A deliberate act of cruelty that lasted for centuries.
My own rejection, I realized, wasn't just bad luck. It was part of this old plan. Kael, in his ignorance, was just a pawn. A small piece in a much bigger game. A game played for generations.
The anger I felt since my rejection burned hotter now. But this time, it wasn't just about my pain. It was a fierce anger for all the Lunas whose power was stolen. For the balance that was broken. For the truth that was buried.
"But the Moon Goddess doesn't forget," Maeve said, her voice firm. She pulled me back to the present. "And the bloodline of the First Lunas, though quiet, never truly died. It just waited."
"It waited for the right time. For the right person. For the one who would dare to challenge the old ways. To take back what was lost. That person, Elara, is you." I looked at my hands. Then at Maeve.
My silver eyes shone with new purpose. The weight of history, the burden of a hidden past, settled on my shoulders. But it wasn't heavy. It was like a cloak. A calling. A reason to be.
I was not just Elara, the rejected mate. I was Elara, the awakened First Luna. The one who would get back a forgotten power. The one meant to bring balance back to a world that had lost its way.
The truth, once hidden, was now clear. And with it, came a clear purpose. It would guide my every step. My training had just begun. But my destiny was already set. The path ahead was dangerous.
But I, armed with the knowledge of my true past and Maeve's guidance, was ready. The male-dominated world of the werewolves was about to be shaken. And the rejected Luna would be the one to do it. The air in the hut crackled with the energy of my resolve. I felt a surge of power, not just from Maeve's words, but from deep within myself. The fight was coming, and I was ready to lead it.