CHAPTER 004_WAR FOR THE LUNA
I woke up in pain. My body felt like it had been dragged through rocks. Every bone ached and the ground under me was cold. When I opened my eyes, the forest trees above me spun like I was still dreaming.
For a moment I didn't know where I was. Then it came back. The golden wolf. The blood moon. The voice that called me Chosen Luna.
I sat up fast but my head spun. My arms shook and my hands were dirty. When I looked down, I froze.
There was blood on my wrist and right under the skin was a faint silver mark shaped like a small moon.
What the hell
The mark glowed once, like it had a heartbeat, then dimmed. I rubbed it hard but it stayed.
Footsteps came fast behind me.
"Leah"
I turned and saw Sofia running toward me, her hair messy and face pale. Mia followed with a stick like she was ready to fight something.
"What happened to you?" Sofia gasped, kneeling beside me. "You look like you've been in a fight"
"I fell." I said, forcing a smile.
"Fell into what" Mia raised a brow. "A mountain"
"I don't know. I was picking mushrooms and then I blacked out"
Sofia frowned. "You sure"
"Yeah" I lied.
The mark burned the second I said it. I hissed and pulled my hand back.
"What's that?" Sofia asked, grabbing my wrist before I could hide it.
"It's nothing"
"Nothing doesn't glow." Mia muttered.
I glared at her but she wasn't wrong. The light on my skin flickered again.
"Leah, we need to get you back." Sofia said gently.
She helped me stand. My legs shook as we walked through the trees. By the time we reached camp I could barely keep my eyes open.
Enoch was back.
He stood near the fire, his gray cloak brushing the dirt. His eyes found mine the moment I stepped out of the trees.
"You found her." he said. "Good"
Sofia helped me sit beside the fire. "She passed out near the woods"
Enoch knelt and looked at my wrist. "So it begins"
I pulled away. "What's that supposed to mean"
"The mark. The prophecy has accepted you"
"Accepted me. I didn't ask for it"
He smiled a little. "Fate doesn't wait for permission"
"Don't call me child" I snapped.
Mia folded her arms. "So now she's part of some prophecy. You said this before and people died. You really think we'll stay here while the world burns again"
Enoch didn't even blink. "You can run. But every pack will soon feel her awakening. They'll come for her"
"Why?" I asked.
"Because power calls to power"
The fire cracked. No one spoke for a while.
"So I'm supposed to believe I'm some chosen person because of a mark" I asked.
"You will see soon enough." he said quietly.
I wanted to scream but no words came out.
Later that night, when Mia started packing and Sofia tried to convince me to move, I sat staring into the fire.
"We can't stay here Leah." Sofia said. "If he's right, they'll find us"
"We can't keep running"
"Please. We just found peace. Don't lose it again"
Peace. The word meant nothing anymore.
I lay down but couldn't sleep. My wrist burned on and off like it was alive. Every time I touched it I felt a faint heartbeat.
Then I heard it.
Leah
I froze.
The voice was deep and soft at the same time.
"Who's there?" I whispered.
There was no answer.
Leah
My heart jumped. It was inside my head.
"Stop." I said quietly. "I'm losing it"
You're not
I gasped and stumbled out of the tent. The night air was cold. I followed the voice into the woods without even thinking.
And then I saw Dante.
He stood near a tree, human again, covered in dirt and blood. His golden eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
"Dante." I whispered.
He looked up slowly. "Leah"
"You're hurt"
"It's nothing"
"You're bleeding"
"I've had worse." he said with a weak smile.
"What happened"
"Hunters. They were after the Moon Blessed. They are after you"
"Me! Why would they…" Some voices cut me off.
"Over there" someone shouted. "Don't let her escape"
My chest tightened. Figures moved between the trees, holding silver blades that shimmered under the moonlight.
Dante growled, his eyes glowing gold again.
"Stay behind me"
"What's going on?" I whispered.
"The prophecy. They want to kill you before it begins"
One of the men pointed at me. "That's her. The Moon Blessed. Capture her alive"
They rushed forward.
Dante shifted before I could blink. His body turned gold, fur bursting from his skin. He slammed into the first soldier and threw him aside.
I stumbled back, terrified. The mark on my wrist glowed so bright it lit up the whole forest.
Everyone froze.
The mark pulsed again. My body felt heavy. The air thickened.
Thunder rolled. The sky flashed with light.
Dante stood in front of me, his golden fur bristling. "Leah, listen. Don't fight it. Let it happen"
"Let what happen." I shouted.
The ground cracked beneath us.
A deep roar came from the earth, shaking everything. The clouds turned white and lightning split the sky.
The men screamed. Some dropped their weapons. Others ran.
Then a voice filled the air.
"The war for the Luna begins."
The ground broke open. I screamed as I fell through the crack.
"Leah" Sofia's voice echoed above me.
I couldn't breathe. Darkness swallowed me whole.
Then something inside me snapped.
And I stopped falling.
I stood again, right on top of the broken ground. Light poured from my skin. Everyone stared in shock.
Sofia's eyes widened. Mia covered her mouth. Enoch just smiled.
I lifted my hand without effort and snap my finger.
With one small motion, the earth sealed itself shut.
There was a long pause.
Even Dante froze, having a look of confusion.
My heart thumped hard.
"What just happened?" I whispered.
Enoch's voice broke the silence. "The prophecy has chosen its Luna"