LOGIN"That is a shard," Kieran said, and there was hunger in his voice now, barely restrained desire that made the Alpha in him surface more prominently. "A fragment of the original Oath, scattered when the promise broke and the first Luna died. Each one contains power proportional to its size and purity. That one is relatively small, suitable for teaching purposes but not substantial enough to fundamentally alter the balance of power."
The shard drifted closer, drawn by Aria's presence and the mark that branded her as Luna. She felt it calling to her with voices that were not quite sound, promising understanding and capability and strength beyond mortal limitations. Her hand lifted without conscious volition, reaching toward the crystal even as part of her screamed warnings about things too powerful to safely touch.
"Do not fight the call," Kieran instructed, his hand on her shoulder providing a steady anchor. "Let the shard come to you, let it test your worthiness and det
"Agreed," Aria said, accepting the compromise. "Gather your wolves. I will prepare whatever basic defenses I can manage with my limited training. And someone should probably find proper weapons, since I suspect my ignorance of combat techniques will be a significant liability even with Luna power available."The next ten minutes passed in organized chaos as Kieran assembled a strike force and Aria tried desperately to center herself for what was coming. She reached for the integrated shard, feeling its power respond with eager readiness that was both reassuring and terrifying. The mark on her hand pulsed with heat that suggested the shards themselves approved of her choice to intervene, that using her developing abilities to protect innocent lives aligned with their fundamental purpose.When the strike force was assembled… fifteen wolves in various forms, all armed and radiating deadly competence… Kieran returned to Aria's side. He had changed into combat
"Tomorrow," Kieran agreed. "Tonight you simply rest and recover. The shards have waited millennia; they can wait one more night for you to be strong enough to properly receive whatever messages they wish to convey."This time when sleep claimed Aria, it was mercifully free of visions and prophetic overload. She sank into dreamless darkness, her consciousness finally granted respite from the constant barrage of information and sensation that had defined her existence since awakening. And through it all, Kieran maintained his vigil, a steady presence keeping watch against threats both physical and mystical.Dawn came gently, light filtering through curtains to paint the room in shades of gold and amber. Aria woke slowly, feeling more rested than she had since her awakening despite the traumatic visions of the previous night. She opened her eyes to find Kieran still in his chair, though he had apparently dozed at some point because he startled slightly when she stirred.
Aria dreamed of crystal and starlight, of voices singing in frequencies that human ears were never meant to perceive. She walked through landscapes that existed in multiple dimensions simultaneously, where up and down lost all meaning and distance became a matter of will rather than physical space. And throughout it all, the shards called to her with desperate urgency, each one a fragment of broken promise crying out for recognition and reunification.In the dream, she could see them scattered across impossible vast lands… some buried deep in earth, others suspended in void, a few clutched in hands both living and dead. Each shard pulsed with its own unique frequency, and together they formed a symphony of longing that pulled at something fundamental in Aria's consciousness. They wanted to be whole again, wanted to return to the unified state they had occupied before betrayal shattered divine promise into uncountable pieces.But the dream held darker elements as
It was another wolf, this one in full lupine form, massive and dark-furred with eyes that held far too much intelligence for a simple animal. It padded into the clearing with casual confidence, seemingly unconcerned by Kieran's obvious readiness for violence. When it reached the center of the space where Aria had just completed her purification, it paused and shifted.The transformation was fluid and beautiful in ways that Aria's human-raised sensibilities struggled to fully appreciate. The wolf's form rippled and reformed, flesh and fur rearranging themselves according to principles that defied physics and common sense, until a man stood where the wolf had been. He was tall and lean with sharp features and hair that held the same dark coloring as his wolf form. And when he looked at Aria, she saw amusement dancing in eyes that were still slightly more lupine than strictly human."So this is the famous newly awakened Luna," the man said, his voice carrying a cultured a
"Probably both," Aria said, managing a weak smile despite the strain. "Mom was always teaching me meditation and awareness techniques, claiming they would help with stress management and academic performance. I suppose she was actually preparing me for exactly this kind of integration challenge.""Then we are fortunate she was so thorough," Kieran observed. He stepped back, giving her space again. "Now comes the practical application. Maintaining balance while stationary is useful, but you need to learn to hold it while moving, while engaged in an activity that would normally fragment your attention. We are going to run together through the forest, and you are going to maintain your enhanced senses and capabilities throughout the exercise without losing control to instinct."Aria felt her stomach tighten with apprehension. "And if I do lose control? If the running triggers chase instincts or territorial responses I cannot manage?""Then I intervene," Kieran said
The forest was different in daylight, Aria discovered. Less ominous perhaps, but somehow more alive… more aware of her presence as she moved through it with Kieran at her side. Every rustle of leaves felt like acknowledgment, every shaft of sunlight breaking through the canopy seemed to illuminate her path deliberately. The mark on her hand pulsed with a gentle rhythm, synchronized with her heartbeat and the deeper pulse of energy flowing through the earth beneath her feet."You are feeling it now," Kieran observed, watching her with that intense attention she was beginning to recognize as his default state around her. "The connection between Luna and land. The territory recognizes you through our bond, accepts your presence not as an intruder but as something that belongs here."Aria paused to press her palm against the rough bark of an ancient oak, feeling energy flow through the contact point in patterns that resembled communication more than simple power exc







