The air in the Sanctuary was heavy with tension when Selene woke.
The crimson light of the fading Blood Moon still lingered in the stone halls, a faint glow that seemed to seep into her skin. Her chest still pulsed with the bond to Elias, a constant rhythm she could no longer ignore. But something had shifted overnight.
She rose quietly, her feet bare against the cold stone. The Sanctuary was silent, save for the faint hum of energy that seemed to vibrate through the air.
When she stepped into the training hall, Elias was already there, standing in the center as if waiting for her. His golden eyes were fixed on her, unblinking, intense.
"You're awake early," he said softly.
"I couldn't sleep," Selene admitted. Her voice was quiet. "The dreams… they're louder now. Clearer."
He nodded slowly. "The bond deepens. The prophecy calls to you."
Selene frowned. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Elias said quietly, "that soon you will have to make a choice. One that will change everything."
Her chest tightened. "Choice about what?"
He stepped closer. "About whether to embrace your destiny… or deny it."
Selene's breath caught. "And what happens if I deny it?"
Elias's gaze hardened. "You lose yourself. And the prophecy dies with you."
The words hit her harder than she expected. Something deep inside her stirred fear, defiance, and an undeniable pull toward him.
The Training Intensifies
That day, Elias pushed her harder than ever. Her body ached, her muscles trembling from exertion, but the bond inside her throbbed with new strength.
"You must trust yourself," he said quietly, guiding her through a ritual under the dim glow of moonlight. "The bond will show you the path, but only you can choose to follow it."
Selene's hands trembled as she closed her eyes. The pull was fierce now, a tether she could no longer deny. She felt the power surge beneath her skin, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"You are stronger than you know," Elias said softly. "And soon you will have to prove it."
Selene opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. There was something in his look, pride, desire, and something deeper she could not name.
The Vision Returns
That night, the dreams came again.
This time, they were sharper, more vivid. Selene saw herself standing in the heart of a battlefield, wolves surrounding her under a sky torn with fire. Above them, the blood moon shone red and full. Elias stood beside her, his golden eyes blazing.
A voice echoed through her mind deep, ancient: The Choice of Blood is yours. Accept it, or be lost.
Selene's breath caught. "Choice of blood? What does it mean?" she whispered.
The voice answered without words, a deep resonance in her soul: The bond is your fate. But fate is not without cost.
She woke trembling. Elias was there, watching her.
"You dreamed again," he said softly.
She nodded. "It felt… real. Like it wasn't just a dream."
"That is because it isn't," he said. "It is a vision. The bond calls to you, Selene. The prophecy calls. And soon… you will have to decide."
The Hunters Strike Again
The next night, the Sanctuary was under siege.
Selene had barely slept. Her mind was restless with visions and the weight of the choice she knew was coming. The air was thick with tension when a low growl echoed through the forest.
"They're here," Elias said, shifting instantly into his wolf form. His golden eyes burned in the darkness. "The hunters. They know the bond is growing. They will not stop."
Selene's chest tightened. "Why won't they leave me alone?"
"Because you are the last Moonborn," he said simply. "And they fear what you can become."
The shadows moved, and the hunters emerged wolves larger and darker than before, their eyes glowing red in the bloodlight.
Elias stepped in front of her. "Stay behind me," he growled.
Selene felt the bond tighten, pulling at her chest. She stepped forward instead, her skin glowing faintly under the moonlight. The power inside her was rising, fierce and undeniable.
One of the hunters charged. Selene called to the bond. Her voice broke the silence. "I'm ready."
A wave of silver light erupted from her, throwing the hunters back. Elias fought beside her, their movements perfectly in sync. The bond was no longer invisible it was a force that bound them together, their power intertwined.
When the light faded, the hunters were gone. Silence fell over the forest. Elias shifted back to human form, his eyes fixed on her.
"You did it," he said softly. "You called it fully."
Selene's breath caught. "I… I don't know how."
"You know," he said softly. "Because it is in your blood. Because it is yours to command."
Her chest tightened. "What happens now?"
"Now," Elias said, stepping closer, "you choose. The prophecy demands it. And the choice will decide everything."
The Choice of Blood
The words echoed in her mind long after the battle. That night, Selene could not sleep. The bond pulsed in her veins, her dreams heavy with visions.
She found Elias waiting for her in the training hall, his expression unreadable.
"The choice is yours," he said softly. "Embrace the prophecy… or deny it."
Selene's breath caught. "And what if I deny it?"
"You lose yourself," he said simply. "But more than that… you lose me."
The weight of his words settled between them. She looked at him, her chest tightening. Something deep inside her desire, fear, destiny pulled her toward him.
"I don't know if I can," she whispered.
Elias stepped closer, his hand brushing hers. "You already are. That is why you must decide."
The air between them thickened. Outside, the forest whispered under the moonlight.
Selene's heart pounded. The pull of the bond was irresistible now. The choice was coming. And whatever she decided… nothing would ever be the same again.