A yr of peace

Chapter 21 – A Year of Peace

One year,For one precious year, Mooncrest had known peace.

The scars of war had faded from the land. The broken walls had been rebuilt with stronger stone, the training grounds echoed with laughter instead of cries of battle, and the scent of smoke had long been replaced by wildflowers blooming across the valley.

Children chased one another through the village square.

Warriors laughed over friendly sparring matches.

The people smiled again.

From the highest balcony of the Alpha Manor, Lia rested her hands on the carved wooden railing and breathed in the cool morning air.

The forest stretched endlessly before her, bathed in silver mist beneath the rising sun. It looked beautiful.

Safe.

At least, that was what everyone believed.

Behind her, familiar footsteps approached.

"You've been out here since sunrise."

She smiled before turning around.

"I knew you'd find me."

Alpha Liam walked toward her, dressed simply instead of in ceremonial Alpha robes. Marriage had changed him in quiet ways. He still carried the commanding presence of an Alpha, but at home there was warmth in his eyes that few others ever saw.

He slipped an arm around her waist.

"You're worrying again."

"I've earned the right to."

He chuckled softly.

"I thought we promised no more running."

"We did."

"And no more facing danger alone."

She looked up at him.

"We did."

He kissed her forehead gently.

"Then trust that promise."

Lia wanted to.

She truly did.

Yet for several nights she had awakened from the same dream.

A moon stained red.

A forest swallowed by darkness.

And two silver eyes watching from somewhere beyond the trees.

She hadn't told Liam.

Not yet.

Not until she knew it was more than fear refusing to let go.

A loud shout from below interrupted her thoughts.

"Last one to the river loses!"

Ethan's voice.

Lia laughed.

Some things never changed.

She looked over the balcony just in time to see Ethan sprint across the courtyard with Elena close behind him.

"You cheated!" Elena called.

"I used strategy!"

"You pushed me!"

"I encouraged you."

"You definitely pushed me."

Their playful argument echoed across the estate, drawing smiles from everyone nearby.

Liam folded his arms.

"They've grown."

"They have."

"They're becoming stronger."

The smile slowly left Lia's face.

"That's what worries me."

Liam followed her gaze.

Ethan had become taller, broader in the shoulders, and far more disciplined in his training. Elena had changed too. Her confidence had grown, but so had the strange moments when she seemed to hear things no one else could.Sometimes she would stop in the middle of a conversation and stare into the forest.

Listening.

As if someone far away had whispered her name.

...

That afternoon, the annual Moon Festival began.

Lanterns hung from every rooftop.

Music drifted through Mooncrest.

Children painted silver moons on one another's cheeks while elders shared stories of ancient Alphas around great bonfires.

For the first time in years, the entire territory celebrated without fear.

Victor raised his cup.

"To peace."

"To peace!" Everyone answered.

But just as the toast ended—

Every lantern went out.

At once.

Darkness swallowed the square.

The laughter died instantly.

A cold wind swept through the crowd.

Then the wolves began to whine.

Not growl.

Whine.

Their ears flattened against their heads as if sensing something older than fear itself.

Elena froze.

Her eyes widened.

"Do you hear that?" she whispered.

Ethan frowned.

"Hear what?"

"A voice..."

She turned slowly toward the forest.

"It's calling."

Lia felt the hairs on her arms stand up.

Liam stepped in front of his family.

"What voice?"

Elena didn't answer.

Her pupils had turned completely silver.

Then, in a voice that wasn't entirely her own, she spoke.

"The forgotten Alpha has awakened."

The words echoed unnaturally through the silent square.

Before anyone could react—

Elena collapsed.

"Elena!" Lia cried, rushing forward.

Liam caught their daughter before she struck the ground.

She was unconscious.

Her breathing was steady.

But her skin felt ice cold.

The crowd stood frozen.

No one spoke.

Even Victor looked shaken.

"What did she mean?" Ethan asked quietly.

No one had an answer.

Far beyond Mooncrest...

Beyond the mountains...

Beyond lands that appeared on no map...

An ancient stone coffin cracked.

A single hand emerged from the darkness.

Ancient.

Scarred.

Powerful.

A pair of glowing silver eyes slowly opened.

A deep voice, rough with centuries of silence, whispered into the darkness—

"They have finally returned." And this time it's not going to be easy cuz what Elina sensed is far more worse than anyone could think .

Even alpha Victor is silent and unable to say what had happened everyone awaits Elina to wake up and explain further.