The moon shrine

Isabella’s POV

I cried as I checked his pulse and discovered that he wasn’t breathing. 

“No, moon goddess! This can’t be!”

Then, as though the moon goddess could hear me, he moved his arms. 

The forest loomed ahead as Rowan and I  walked deeper, its shadows deepened by the pale light of the moon. I raced through the underbrush, the scent of pine and damp earth filling my lungs. Behind me, Rowan stumbled, his breaths ragged, the poisoned arrow still lodged in his shoulder.

"Keep moving," I urged, glancing back to ensure he was still on his feet.

He nodded, his face pale but determined. "The shrine... it's close." He managed to speak, he had told me about it. That it was the only place that could cure him. 

Branches whipped against my arms, leaving stinging welts, but I pressed on. The path narrowed, the trees closing in as if to guard the secrets beyond.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed ahead. I skidded to a halt, my heart pounding. From the shadows emerged a massive wolf, its eyes glowing with a feral light.

"Draco," Rowan whispered, his voice laced with fear.

The wolf snarled, baring its teeth. Behind it, more wolves appeared, forming a semicircle that blocked our path.

I stepped protectively in front of Rowan, my own wolf stirring within me. The air crackled with tension, the line between friend and foe blurred.

A sudden rustle behind us made me spin around. Trenton and Darcy burst through the underbrush, their expressions a mix of relief and anger. 

"What the hell is going on?" Trenton demanded, his eyes scanning the wolves. From the way he spoke, it was obvious he knew the wolves. It was obvious that their paths had crossed in the past. 

"You know that Rowan's been poisoned," I explained quickly. "We need to get him to the shrine."

Darcy's gaze fell on the wolves, a sense of knowing flickering in his eyes. "They're not going to let us pass."

Trenton stepped forward, his posture dominant. "Stand down," he commanded. The wolves hesitated, but still on their way, their growls subsiding slightly.

Draco growled again, but this time, it sounded more like a warning than a threat.

"We don't have time for this," I said, my voice firm. "If we don't reach the shrine, Rowan will die."

The wolves exchanged glances before slowly stepping aside, creating a narrow path. 

"Thank you," I murmured, leading Rowan forward. Turns out that the Slade brothers knew more than I thought they did. Like, what business do they have with those wolves?

The shrine stood in a clearing, bathed in moonlight. Ancient stones formed a circle, each etched with glowing runes.

As we stepped into the circle, a warmth enveloped us, the air humming with energy.

Rowan collapsed to his knees, his body trembling. "The altar," he gasped, “take me to the altar.”

I helped him to the center, where a stone altar stood. As we approached, the runes on the stones flared brighter, casting dancing shadows around us.

Trenton and Darcy stood at the edge of the circle, their eyes wide with awe.

Suddenly, a chorus of whispers filled the air, the voices of ancestors long past. They spoke in a language I didn't understand, yet their meaning resonated within me.

Rowan reached into his cloak, pulling out the talisman that glowed with the same light as the runes. He placed it on the altar, and the ground beneath us trembled.

A hidden compartment in the altar slid open, revealing a scroll sealed with wax. The parchment was tinged with red, as if stained with blood.

I reached out, my fingers brushing against the scroll. The whispers grew louder, urging me to take it.

As I lifted the scroll, the voices fell silent, leaving only the sound of my own breathing.

I turned to Trenton and Darcy, holding the scroll tightly. "This... this changes everything."