the beast beneath the moon

Chapter 26 – The Beast Beneath the Moon

The growl came again.

Closer.

Deeper.

This time, the windows of the Alpha Manor trembled.

Every wolf in the courtyard went still.

Even the most experienced warriors felt the instinctive urge to retreat.

Noctis didn't move.

He simply stared toward the forest.

His expression had become unreadable.

Liam noticed.

"You know what that is."

Noctis's silver eyes remained fixed on the darkness.

"I know what it was."

A pause.

"And I know what it is becoming."

Lia tightened her grip on Elena's hand.

"What does that mean?"

Noctis finally turned toward them.

"It means the creature beyond those trees isn't here to attack."

Ethan frowned.

"Then why is it here?"

Noctis looked directly at him.

"To test whether the prophecy was wrong."

A sudden silence fell.

Before anyone could ask what he meant, the forest erupted.

Trees shook violently.

Branches snapped.

Something enormous moved between them.

The warriors raised their weapons.

Liam stepped forward.

"Hold your positions!"

Another roar thundered across Mooncrest.

This time, something answered.

Not from the forest.

From beneath them.

The ground cracked.

A line of glowing silver appeared across the courtyard stones.

Elena gasped.

"The Heart..."

The crystal in Noctis's hand began glowing brighter.

Noctis looked down.

"It has awakened."

The silver light spread from the crystal through the cracks in the ground.

Lia pulled Elena closer.

"What is happening?"

Noctis's voice dropped.

"The Heart of the Moon isn't merely a relic."

He looked toward the ancient forest.

"It is a key."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"A key to what?"

Noctis didn't answer.

Instead, the ground suddenly split open.

A powerful wave of energy threw several warriors backward.

Liam grabbed Lia before she fell.

"Ethan! Elena!"

"I'm here!" Ethan shouted.

Elena stumbled but remained standing.

Then she stared into the enormous crack.

Her face went pale.

"There's something underneath us."

Noctis nodded.

"The prison."

Liam's eyes narrowed.

"What prison?"

"The one created by the First Alphas."

Noctis looked toward the forest.

"And the one that should never have been opened."

A shadow moved beyond the trees.

Two enormous crimson eyes appeared.

Then a massive silhouette stepped into the moonlight.

It was unlike any creature they had ever seen.

It had the shape of a wolf, but something about it felt fundamentally wrong.

Its fur was almost black.

Ancient markings covered its body.

And around its neck hung a broken silver chain.

The creature stared at the Heart of the Moon.

Then at Elena.

Its lips curled.

Not into a snarl.

Into something almost resembling recognition.

Elena whispered,

"It knows me."

Liam immediately stepped in front of her.

"No."

The creature lowered its head.

The ground trembled.

Noctis raised one hand.

"Don't attack."

Liam looked at him sharply.

"You want us to stand here and do nothing?"

"No."

Noctis's gaze never left the creature.

"I want you to understand what you're facing."

The creature took another step.

"Its name is Veyra."

Victor's face was drained of color.

"I know that name."

Seraphina looked at him.You said it was destroyed."

Victor shook his head slowly.

"That's what the records said."

Noctis corrected him.

"The records lied."

Veyra suddenly opened its mouth.

A strange sound escaped.

Not a howl.

A voice.

Broken.

Ancient.

"Moon..."

Elena stepped forward unconsciously.

Lia caught her arm.

"Elena, don't."

The creature's crimson eyes shifted toward Lia.

Then its expression changed.

For the first time, it looked almost curious.

"You..."

Lia froze.

You carry the blood."

Her heart pounded.

What blood?"

Noctis closed his eyes.

I was hoping we wouldn't have to reveal that yet."

Liam's expression hardened.

"Reveal what?"

Noctis looked at Lia.

"The Blood of the Moon Guardian."

Silence.

Lia stared at him.

"I don't understand."

"You were never supposed to.

Noctis's voice was solemn.

Your family has protected the Heart of the Moon for generations."

Lia looked at the crystal.

"Then why was I never told?"

"Because the elders believed hiding the truth would protect you."

Lia laughed bitterly.

"And how did that work?"

No one answered.

Suddenly, Veyra lunged.

The warriors reacted instantly.

Liam's Alpha aura exploded across the courtyard.

The creature collided with the invisible force.

The impact shook the manor.

But Veyra didn't stop.

It pushed forward.

Liam's feet slid backward.

Ethan stared in disbelief.

His father was one of the strongest Alphas alive.

Yet this creature was overpowering him.

"Dad!"

Ethan moved.

Noctis caught his shoulder.

"Wait."

"But he's losing!"

"No."

Noctis looked toward Liam.

"He's learning."

Ethan frowned.

"What?"

"Watch."

Liam stopped resisting.

Instead of fighting Veyra's strength, he shifted his stance and redirected the force.

The creature stumbled sideways.

Liam moved instantly.

He struck the ground.

A wave of Alpha energy surged outward.

Veyra was thrown backward.

The courtyard erupted in cheers.

But Noctis didn't celebrate.

He was staring at the crack beneath them.

"It's too late."

Lia turned.

"What's too late?"

Noctis's expression became grim.

"The prison has opened."

From beneath the earth came a sound.

Thousands of voices.

Whispering.

Crying.

Calling.

Not from the forest.

From below Mooncrest.

Elena covered her ears.

"They're waking up."

Ethan looked at her.

"Who?"

She slowly looked toward the enormous crack.

Her silver eyes glowed.

"The forgotten ones."

The Heart of the Moon suddenly rose from Noctis's palm.

It floated into the air.

Then flew directly toward Ethan and Elena.

The twins reached for it together.

The moment their hands touched the crystal

Everything disappeared.

Ethan found himself standing in a vast silver forest.

Elena stood beside him.

Their parents were gone.

The warriors were gone.

Mooncrest was gone.

Only the two of them remained.

"What happened?" Ethan whispered.

Elena looked around.

"We're inside the Heart."

A figure appeared between the trees.

A woman wearing a silver crown.

Her eyes were identical to Elena's.

She smiled sadly.

"The heirs have finally arrived."

Ethan stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

The woman looked at him.

"I am the first Moon Guardian."

Then she turned toward Elena.

"And I am your ancestor."

Elena's breath caught.

"Why did you bring us here?"

The woman's expression changed.

"Because you have only one night to make your choice."

Ethan frowned.

"What choice?"

The forest around them began turning black.

The woman's voice became urgent.

"Save the Alpha world..."

A distant roar shook the silver forest.

"...or save your family."

Ethan and Elena looked at each other.

Then the woman disappeared.

And a final whisper echoed through the darkness.

"You cannot save both."

Back in Mooncrest, Liam caught Lia as she suddenly collapsed.

"LIА!"

Her eyes opened.

But they weren't her eyes.

They glowed silver.

And when she spoke

It wasn't her voice.

"Run."

Liam froze.

"What?"

Lia looked toward the forest.

Tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks.

"They are coming."

A deafening roar erupted beneath Mooncrest.

The entire manor shook.

And beneath the earth

something enormous began to awaken.