Chapter three
The elders' voices thundered above the crowd.
"Silence!" one commanded, and the murmuring died. My chest tightened, my palms slick against my dress.
"Let the Awakening begin."
One by one, names were called. Whoever was chosen stepped forward and placed their hands on the glowing orb. Each color revealed a trait—blue for sharp eyesight, red for speed, black for stealth, white for rare telekinesis, green for healing. Everyone whispered in awe each time the orb lit up.
When my brother Tom's name was called, I squeezed his arm. "Good luck," I whispered, though my voice trembled. Father—Isaac—looked more nervous than both of us combined, his fists clenched at his sides.
Tom stepped forward, shoulders squared, and pressed his hand to the orb. For a long second, nothing. Then suddenly, it blazed white. Gasps echoed, and Father shot to his feet, shouting, "Yes! Finally—a genius from my bloodline!"
The elders exchanged glances, one nodding. "Congratulations, Isaac. Your family is about to rise."
I had never seen my father's eyes so bright, so full of pride.
More names were called. Most awakened only the common traits—blue for eyesight, red for speed. I tried to calm my racing heart, telling myself I'd be fine with even one. Just one. Enough not to shame my father. Enough not to stand out.
And then—John's name.
I froze as he walked onto the platform, wearing a black leather jacket that made him look older, sharper, untouchable. His posture was dominating, like every step belonged to him. When his hand touched the orb, it didn't shine once. It flared with two colors—red and black. Speed and stealth. A dual trait.
The crowd erupted. My heart sank. I remembered the night in the forest—the blur of his movements, the blade flying with deadly accuracy. He was already terrifying. Now, with dual traits, he was unstoppable.
When my name was called, my stomach dropped.
I walked forward slowly, every step a drumbeat of fear. My hands shook as I reached for the orb. Just one trait, I begged silently. Please, Moon Goddess—just one.
I pressed my palm against the surface. Nothing. The orb stayed cold, dead. Laughter rippled through the crowd. Heat burned my cheeks as I fought the sting of tears. I could feel John's eyes on me, and when I dared to glance up, his expression was unreadable—but I swore I saw disappointment flicker across his face before he turned away.
Humiliation crushed me. I began to step down.
Then, suddenly, the orb pulsed. Once. Twice. And then it exploded with light.
So bright, the entire hall had to shield their eyes. I stumbled back, blinded, but I couldn't move. Colors—every color—swirled together. Blue, red, black, white, green. All five, dancing and twisting until they fused into a blinding silver glow.
The light of the Moon itself poured through the roof, wrapping me in its glow. My breath caught, my chest tightening. What was happening to me?
Gasps filled the silence. "All five…?" someone whispered.
A blur shot through the darkness. The supreme elder himself appeared, robes whispering against the floor, his eyes sharp and ageless. He almost never showed himself, yet now he stood before me, stroking his beard as he studied me.
"I cannot believe it," he said slowly, his voice carrying like thunder. "The Moon Goddess has chosen her. She is the Moon Saint."
The crowd erupted in chaos—shock, awe, envy. Some dropped to their knees, others whispered frantically. Even the other elders stared, frozen in disbelief. My father's eyes brimmed with tears, his shoulders shaking.
"From this moment forward," the supreme elder declared, "she is the Saint of the Clan. Any who defy her will be punished by law."
My heart raced, my breath shallow. The Moon Saint? Me? I couldn't even make sense of it.
I scanned the crowd instinctively, looking for John, but he was gone. He had left—before it happened.
The elder turned back to me. "Staying in this clan will only slow your growth. Come with me to Astex."
The words sent a ripple of fear through the crowd. I knew that name—Astex. Another dimension, a land of impossible resources, where only the strongest of all clans could enter with their heirs. It was every wolf's dream.
"I…" My throat tightened. "I can't. Not yet. I need to say goodbye to my family. I… I have unfinished business." My thoughts betrayed me, whispering John's name over and over.
The elder studied me, then pulled a token from his robes—a carved wolf's face etched in silver. He pressed it into my hand. "I will wait for you three days. After that, I leave." His form dissolved into shadow, vanishing into the night.
The token burned cold in my palm. Around me, I felt the stares. Hungry. Dangerous. I didn't need to guess what they were thinking. This token was worth more than gold. Worth killing for.
I clutched it tighter, heart pounding. How the hell does he expect me to survive this test?
Tonight was going to be a night in hell.