Chapter 10: The Hidden Kingdom

The valley below shimmered beneath the golden light of the setting sun.

Lyra stood at the edge of the cliff, unable to tear her eyes away.

The hidden town looked like something from a dream.

Stone cottages with silver rooftops lined winding cobblestone streets. Crystal-clear streams flowed through blooming gardens, while children laughed as they chased glowing butterflies that danced in the evening air.

It was peaceful.

Too peaceful.

She looked at Arnold.

“I’ve never seen a place like this.”

Arnold smiled.

“Very few people have.”

“What’s it called?”

He hesitated.

“For now…”

“You can call it Moonhaven.”

Lyra nodded slowly.

Moonhaven.

The name itself sounded comforting.

For the first time in days, she felt her tense shoulders relax.

“Come.”

Arnold gestured toward a narrow path leading down the mountain.

“We’ll be there before nightfall.”

Far behind them…

The hooded man watched through his spyglass until they disappeared into the valley.

A cruel smile spread across his lips.

“So that’s where you’ve been hiding.”

He lowered the spyglass.

“Send ten scouts.”

One of the rogue hunters frowned.

“Only ten?”

“We don’t know what protects that place.”

“I want information before bloodshed.”

The hunters bowed.

“Yes, Commander.”

Within seconds, ten shadows disappeared into the forest.

Inside Blackwood Manor…

Karl hadn’t left his office all day.

Stacks of reports lay untouched across his desk.

His mind wasn’t on rogue attacks.

Or council meetings.

Or pack affairs.

Every thought returned to one person.

Lyra.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in.”

Beta Damien entered carrying a sealed letter.

“It arrived from the Northern Alliance.”

Karl accepted it.

“What is it?”

Damien’s expression was serious.

“A warning.”

Karl broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.

His eyes scanned the page.

Then his expression darkened.

“Impossible…”

Damien stepped closer.

“What happened?”

Karl handed him the letter.

The message read:

Unknown hunters have entered the Northern Territories.

Their target is believed to be a young woman whose identity remains unknown.

If found, protect her at all costs.

Failure could threaten every supernatural kingdom.

Karl’s heartbeat quickened.

A young woman.

His wolf growled.

Lyra.

Karl folded the letter carefully.

“Prepare my horse.”

Damien looked surprised.

“You’re leaving again?”

Karl’s silver eyes hardened.

“If someone is hunting her…”

“I won’t let them reach her first.”

Meanwhile…

Moonhaven welcomed Lyra with warm smiles.

Villagers greeted Arnold respectfully.

“Welcome home, Arnold.”

“You’re back!”

“We’ve missed you!”

Lyra blinked in surprise.

Everyone seemed genuinely happy to see him.

An elderly woman hurried over carrying a basket of fresh bread.

“Oh, Arnold!”

She wrapped him in a warm hug.

“You’ve grown thinner.”

Arnold laughed.

“I’ve only been gone for two weeks.”

“That’s two weeks too long.”

The woman finally noticed Lyra standing behind him.

Her kind eyes softened immediately.

“Oh, dear.”

“What happened to you?”

Lyra instinctively touched the fading bruise on her cheek.

“I…”

Before she could answer, Arnold spoke gently.

“She’ll be staying with us for a while.”

The woman smiled warmly.

“Then she’s family.”

The simple words struck Lyra harder than she expected.

Family.

No one had ever used that word for her.

Not once.

Her eyes stung with tears.

That evening…

Arnold showed Lyra to a small cottage overlooking a lake.

It wasn’t grand.

But it was beautiful.

Wildflowers surrounded the porch.

The windows overlooked the water.

Inside, a fire already crackled in the fireplace.

“It’s lovely,” Lyra whispered.

Arnold smiled.

“It belonged to someone very important to me.”

She turned to him.

“Who?”

“My mother.”

He looked around the cottage fondly.

“After she died…”

“I couldn’t bear to let anyone else live here.”

Lyra’s eyes widened.

“You want me to stay in your mother’s home?”

Arnold nodded.

“I think…”

He paused.

“…she would have wanted that.”

Lyra didn’t know what to say.

No one had ever trusted her with something so precious.

She lowered her head.

“Thank you.”

Arnold smiled.

“You don’t have to thank me every time.”

A small laugh escaped her lips.

“I know.”

As night settled over Moonhaven…

Lyra stepped outside onto the wooden porch.

The moon reflected across the calm lake.

The cool breeze carried the scent of lavender.

For the first time in years…

She felt safe.

She closed her eyes.

“I wish this could last forever.”

Suddenly

A sharp pain shot through her left wrist.

“Ah!”

She gasped, clutching her arm.

The silver mark blazed beneath her skin once more.

Only this time…

It spread farther than before.

Strange glowing symbols appeared along her forearm.

The air around her shimmered.

The lake rippled violently despite the absence of wind.

Inside the nearby woods…

Arnold’s eyes snapped toward the cottage.

He felt it.

“The mark…”

His expression turned grave.

At that exact moment…

Miles away in the Sacred Moon Temple…

High Priestess Elara dropped the ancient scroll she was reading.

“The second awakening…”

She looked toward the moon, fear filling her eyes.

“It’s happening much sooner than I feared.”

Back outside the cottage…

The pain vanished as suddenly as it had begun.

Lyra stared at her wrist.

The glowing symbols had disappeared.

“What…”

“…is happening to me?”

Hidden among the trees beyond the lake, ten pairs of crimson eyes watched in silence.

One of the rogue hunters smiled.

“We found her.”

He quietly drew a black arrow from his quiver.

“Tonight…”

“The hunt begins.”