Chapter 5: The Awakening

The forest was silent.

Only the soft patter of rain echoed through the trees.

Hidden beneath the tangled roots of a fallen oak, Lyra wrapped her arms around herself, shivering uncontrollably. Her dress was torn, her hands were scraped raw, and blood trickled from the wound on her forehead.

She had never felt so alone.

The image of Karl standing before the rogues replayed over and over in her mind.

“Nothing.”

One word.

That was all it had taken to crush the tiny spark of hope she never knew she had.

She buried her face against her knees, letting the tears fall freely.

“I’ll never cry because of you again,” she whispered into the darkness.

“I promise.”

Miles away…

The Blackwood Pack was treating its wounded after the rogue attack.

Warriors filled the infirmary while healers rushed from one patient to another.

Inside the Alpha Manor, silence blanketed Karl’s office.

Karl stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the rain outside.

He hadn’t spoken since returning from the forest.

A knock came at the door.

“Enter.”

Beta Damien stepped inside.

“We’ve counted the casualties.”

Karl turned.

“Report.”

“We lost three warriors.”

Karl lowered his head respectfully.

“And the rogues?”

“Fourteen confirmed dead.”

Karl nodded.

“Anything else?”

Damien hesitated.

“There is something.”

Karl looked up.

“Our scouts searched the forest.”

“They couldn’t find Lyra.”

A strange pain twisted inside Karl’s chest.

His wolf growled anxiously.

Find her.

Karl ignored it.

“She probably left the territory.”

Damien folded his arms.

“Or she’s lying injured somewhere.”

Karl’s jaw tightened.

“Send another patrol.”

Damien raised an eyebrow.

“I thought she meant nothing.”

Karl’s expression hardened.

“I’m protecting everyone inside my borders.”

Damien sighed.

“You keep saying that.”

Without another word, he left.

The door clicked shut.

Karl closed his eyes.

For the first time in years…

He felt helpless.

Deep within the Sacred Moon Temple…

An elderly woman knelt before a glowing silver altar.

Her long white hair flowed to the floor like moonlight.

She was known throughout the supernatural world as High Priestess Elara.

No one remembered how old she truly was.

Some believed she had served the Moon Goddess for centuries.

Suddenly

A brilliant silver flame burst to life atop the altar.

Elara’s eyes widened.

“No…”

She slowly stood.

“It can’t be…”

Ancient symbols appeared across the stone floor, glowing one after another.

The prophecy…

It was activating.

With trembling hands, she opened a weathered scroll hidden inside a marble chest.

Its faded ink shimmered beneath the moonlight.

She read aloud in a trembling voice.

“When the Alpha rejects the Chosen Luna beneath the Blood Moon…

…the sleeping blood shall awaken.

The kingdoms shall burn.

The forgotten heir shall rise.

And the Moon shall choose again.”

The priestess closed the scroll, her face pale.

“So…”

“It has finally begun.”

Back in the forest…

Lyra’s eyelids grew heavy.

She hadn’t eaten since morning.

Her injuries throbbed with every breath.

“I just need to rest…”

She leaned against the tree roots.

Her vision slowly blurred.

Then…

She heard footsteps.

Crunch…

Crunch…

Crunch…

Her heart leaped into her throat.

The rogues found me.

She struggled to stand, but her legs gave way beneath her.

The footsteps stopped only a few feet away.

A deep male voice spoke.

“So…”

“I finally found you.”

Lyra forced herself to look up.

Standing before her was a tall man wrapped in a dark hooded cloak.

She couldn’t see his face clearly.

Only his striking golden eyes.

Unlike the rogues…

There was no hatred in them.

Only curiosity.

He looked at the blood on her forehead before letting out a quiet sigh.

“You’ve had quite a night.”

Lyra tried to crawl backward.

“Stay away from me.”

The stranger slowly knelt, keeping his distance.

“If I wanted to hurt you…”

He glanced around the empty forest.

“…I wouldn’t have waited until now.”

She remained silent.

The man reached into his cloak and carefully placed a small loaf of bread and a flask of water on the ground between them.

“I won’t force you.”

“You can decide whether to trust me.”

He stood and turned away.

“I’m going to build a fire.”

“If you wish to leave…”

“You may.”

Lyra stared at the bread.

Her stomach growled painfully.

She hadn’t realized how hungry she was.

The stranger sat several feet away, facing the opposite direction, giving her privacy.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Lyra reached for the bread with trembling hands.

She took one cautious bite.

The stranger smiled faintly without turning around.

“That’s better.”

“My name is… Arnold.”

He paused.

“And yours?”

Lyra hesitated.

Every instinct told her not to trust strangers.

But something about his calm voice felt… safe.

She swallowed before answering softly.

“…Lyra.”

Arnold nodded once.

“It’s a beautiful name.”

Before Lyra could reply

A silver glow suddenly spread beneath the sleeve of her left wrist.

She gasped.

The light pulsed brighter.

Arnold’s smile vanished.

His golden eyes widened in shock.

“Impossible…”

He stared at the glowing mark.

“The Royal Moon Mark…”

He whispered under his breath.

“So… it’s really you.”