Moonfire

The forest erupted into chaos.

Dark vines burst from the earth like living serpents, tearing through the clearing with terrifying speed.

“Protect the Alpha!” Damon shouted.

The Shadow Pack charged.

Steel clashed against enchanted vines while wolves leaped through the air, ripping apart the thorny tendrils before they could reach Clover.

Selene didn’t move.

She watched the battle with an amused smile.

“You’ve grown soft, Kael.”

Kael drew his sword.

“I’ve learned the difference between strength and cruelty.”

Selene laughed.

“Have you?”

With a flick of her wrist, the black flames surrounding the trapped wolves flared higher.

One of the scouts cried out in agony.

Clover took an instinctive step forward.

“They’re dying!”

Kael caught her arm.

“It’s a trap.”

“But if we don’t help them—”

“I know.”

His voice was calm, but his jaw was tight.

“There has to be another way.”

Clover looked at the imprisoned wolves.

Their pain echoed inside her chest.

She closed her eyes.

Please…

If this magic is really mine…

Help them.

A strange warmth spread through the silver clover pendant resting against her heart.

The forest answered.

Tiny silver lights drifted from the trees like glowing fireflies.

One by one, they surrounded Clover.

Lila gasped.

“What are those?”

Damon stared in disbelief.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The lights circled faster.

Wind swept through Raven Hollow, carrying the scent of blooming jasmine.

The dead trees began to tremble.

Then—

A brilliant beam of silver light shot into the sky.

The pendant glowed so brightly that everyone shielded their eyes.

Clover opened them.

Her emerald irises now shimmered with silver.

She slowly lifted her hands.

The silver lights rushed toward the black flames.

Instead of colliding…

They embraced them.

Darkness and light twisted together until the flames dissolved into harmless ash.

The three trapped wolves collapsed onto the ground, finally free.

Silence filled the clearing.

Even Selene’s smile faded.

“No…”

She took a slow step forward.

“Impossible.”

Clover lowered her hands, breathing hard.

“I… I did it?”

The rescued wolves struggled to their feet.

One by one, they bowed their heads toward Clover.

Not to a witch.

To their savior.

Kael watched her in stunned silence.

The stories were true.

Moon Witches didn’t command nature.

Nature chose to answer them.

Before anyone could speak, Selene’s expression darkened.

“So the legends were incomplete.”

She raised both hands toward the sky.

“If I can’t capture you today…”

“I’ll make sure you remember this day forever.”

The ground shook violently.

Cracks split open across Raven Hollow.

From beneath the earth came a deafening roar.

The warriors froze.

“What was that?” Lila whispered.

A massive claw burst through the ground.

Then another.

A creature unlike anything Clover had ever seen dragged itself into the light.

Its body was made of black stone wrapped in crimson fire.

Its eyes burned like molten lava.

Damon’s face turned pale.

“Earth Guardian…”

Kael’s voice was grim.

“No.”

He tightened his grip on his sword.

“That’s no guardian.”

Selene smiled triumphantly.

“It’s a Corrupted Ancient.”

The beast roared, shaking the entire valley.

Trees splintered.

Horses bolted in terror.

Several wolves were thrown off their feet.

The monster fixed its burning gaze on Clover.

Then it charged.

Without hesitation, Kael stepped in front of her.

“Run!”

“I won’t leave you!”

“You have to!”

Before Clover could answer, the Corrupted Ancient slammed one enormous fist into the earth.

The impact sent Kael crashing into a boulder.

His sword flew from his hand.

“Kael!” Clover screamed.

The monster raised its burning claw for the killing blow.

Time seemed to stop.

Clover’s heart pounded.

Fear.

Anger.

Grief.

Every emotion surged through her at once.

The silver clover pendant blazed with light.

A voice—soft, ancient, and unmistakably female—echoed inside her mind.

“Do not fear your power, my child.”

The mark on Clover’s wrist burst into brilliant silver.

Moonlight pierced through the storm clouds, bathing the battlefield in radiant light.

Everyone looked up.

Even Selene.

Her confident smile vanished.

“It can’t be…”

“The Moon Crown…”