THREE NIGHTS

Luna didn't sleep.

She lay awake beneath the heavy blankets, staring at the ceiling while the words of the council repeated themselves in her mind.

Three nights.

Three nights until the test.

Three nights until everyone decided whether she was a threat worth destroying.

She turned onto her side.

The room was silent.

Too silent.

She sat up.

Moonlight slipped through the curtains, painting the floor silver.

Her wrist tingled.

Luna looked down.

The crescent mark was faintly glowing.

Again.

She pulled the blanket away and stood.

Something was drawing her toward the window.

She didn't know why.

She simply followed the feeling.

When she opened the curtains, she saw the forest.

Dark.

Still.

Waiting.

Then she noticed someone standing beneath the trees.

A man.

Luna's heart jumped.

She leaned closer to the glass.

The figure didn't move.

She couldn't see his face.

But somehow, she knew he was looking directly at her.

Her mark burned.

The stranger lifted one hand.

Luna stepped backward.

Then the figure disappeared.

She rushed to the window.

Nothing.

Only trees.

A soft knock came from the door.

Luna turned.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

Kael.

She opened the door.

He stood in the hallway wearing a dark shirt, his hair slightly messy.

"You should be sleeping."

"So should you."

"I wasn't tired."

"You always say that."

He almost smiled.

"Can I come in?"

Luna stepped aside.

Kael entered.

He looked around the room before closing the door.

"Did you see something?"

Luna frowned.

"How did you know?"

"Your heartbeat changed."

She stared at him.

"You're serious?"

"Yes."

"I saw someone in the forest."

Kael immediately became alert.

"What did he look like?"

"I couldn't see his face."

"What was he wearing?"

"Black."

"Did he speak?"

"No."

Kael walked to the window.

He looked into the darkness.

"Where?"

Luna pointed.

"There."

Kael stared for several seconds.

Then his jaw tightened.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You saw something."

"No."

"Kael."

He looked at her.

"Stay away from the windows tonight."

"Why?"

"Because the boundary is weak."

"What does that mean?"

"It means something may have crossed into our territory."

Luna swallowed.

"Something like the red-eyed man?"

"Maybe."

"Do you know who he is?"

"No."

"You're lying again."

Kael sighed.

"I know what he is."

"What?"

"A Shadowborn."

The word sent a strange chill through Luna.

"What is that?"

"Something created by the Lunar Gate."

"Created?"

"Long ago."

"How long?"

"Centuries."

Luna stared at him.

"Then how is he still alive?"

"That's the problem."

She sat on the edge of the bed.

"Tell me everything."

Kael remained standing.

"The Shadowborn were guardians."

"Guardians of what?"

"The Lunar Gate."

"Then why are they attacking me?"

"They aren't supposed to."

"What changed?"

Kael looked at her.

"You."

Luna's stomach tightened.

"Because I'm Moonborn."

"Because you're the first Moonborn born in generations."

She lowered her eyes.

"I don't want any of this."

"I know."

"I didn't ask for it."

"I know."

"I just wanted a normal life."

Kael's expression softened.

"I know."

Luna looked up.

"Then why do you keep protecting me?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Finally, he said, "Because I promised your mother."

"Only because of her?"

Kael's eyes met hers.

"At first."

Luna's heart skipped.

"And now?"

He looked away.

"Now it's more complicated."

Before Luna could ask what he meant, a loud howl came from outside.

Kael immediately turned toward the door.

"Stay here."

"Where are you going?"

"To check the perimeter."

"I'm coming."

"No."

"Kael—"

"Promise me."

Luna stared at him.

He was serious.

"Fine."

He opened the door.

Then stopped.

"And Luna?"

"Yes?"

"Don't open the door for anyone."

He left.

Luna listened to his footsteps disappear.

She waited.

Five minutes.

Ten.

Nothing.

Then she heard footsteps again.

Coming toward her room.

Luna stood.

"Kael?"

No answer.

The footsteps stopped outside her door.

She held her breath.

A voice whispered.

"Luna."

She froze.

It was her mother's voice.

Again.

"Luna, open the door."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Mom?"

Silence.

Then:

"Please."

Luna moved toward the door.

Her hand reached for the handle.

She stopped.

Kael's warning returned to her mind.

*Don't open the door for anyone.*

The voice spoke again.

"He's lying to you."

Luna stepped backward.

"Who?"

"Kael."

Her stomach tightened.

"What do you want?"

"I want to tell you the truth."

"What truth?"

"The truth about your father."

Luna's breathing changed.

"Tell me."

"Open the door."

"No."

Silence.

Then the voice changed.

It became distorted.

"You are just like her."

Luna stepped away.

The door handle slowly turned.

Luna's heart raced.

The lock clicked.

The door opened an inch.

A hand appeared.

Luna screamed.

The door slammed shut.

Something struck it from the other side.

Then everything went silent.

Luna backed away.

Her mark began glowing.

She felt the strange pull again.

Not fear.

Power.

She raised her hand.

"Leave."

The word came out quietly.

The door shook.

Then the pressure disappeared.

The hallway became silent.

Luna stood frozen.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Kael rushed inside.

"What happened?"

Luna pointed.

"Someone was outside."

Kael looked at the door.

"What did they say?"

"My mother's voice."

His face changed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"What exactly?"

"They said you were lying."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"They're trying to manipulate you."

"How?"

"By using memories."

"What does that mean?"

"The Shadowborn can imitate voices."

Luna swallowed.

"So it wasn't my mother."

"No."

She looked down.

"Good."

Kael noticed her expression.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You wanted it to be her."

Luna looked away.

"Maybe."

Kael's voice softened.

"She wouldn't come back like that."

"You don't know."

"I do."

"How?"

"Because I knew her."

Luna looked at him.

"Tell me about her."

Kael was quiet.

Then he sat down.

"Your mother was stubborn."

Luna smiled faintly.

"Sounds familiar."

Kael nodded.

"She was also brave."

"Was she afraid?"

"Of many things."

"Like what?"

"Losing you."

Luna's smile disappeared.

Kael continued.

"She wasn't afraid of dying."

"She should have been."

"Maybe."

He looked down.

"But she was afraid of leaving you alone."

Luna's eyes filled with tears.

"Did she say anything about me?"

"She said you'd be stronger than she was."

Luna wiped her face.

"I don't feel strong."

"You are."

"I was terrified tonight."

"Being afraid doesn't make you weak."

Luna looked at him.

"Then what does?"

"Giving up."

She was silent.

Kael stood.

"You should sleep."

"Will you stay?"

He paused.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to be alone."

Kael looked at her for a long moment.

Then he nodded.

"I'll stay outside."

"Inside."

His eyebrows lifted.

"You're asking a lot."

"I'm scared."

He sighed.

"Fine."

Kael sat in the chair beside the door.

Luna returned to bed.

For the first time that night, she felt slightly safer.

But neither of them noticed the shadow moving across the window.

Watching.

Waiting.

And smiling.

---

The next morning began with an alarm.

Luna woke to the sound of wolves howling.

She rushed downstairs.

The entire mansion was awake.

Elena stood near the entrance.

"What happened?"

"We found something."

"What?"

Elena hesitated.

"Come."

They walked outside.

A group of wolves stood near the edge of the forest.

Kael was there.

He looked serious.

Luna approached.

"What happened?"

He pointed toward the ground.

There were footprints.

Human footprints.

But they stopped suddenly.

Luna crouched.

"How?"

Kael shook his head.

"We don't know."

She looked at the prints.

Something about them felt familiar.

Then her wrist burned.

Luna pulled her sleeve down.

Kael noticed.

"You felt something."

"Yes."

"What?"

"I don't know."

He looked at the footprints.

"Try."

Luna closed her eyes.

She listened.

The forest was full of sounds.

Leaves.

Birds.

Wind.

Then she heard something beneath them.

A heartbeat.

Faint.

Far away.

"He's still here."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

"The person who left these."

"Where?"

Luna pointed.

"North."

Kael immediately ordered several wolves forward.

"Stay here."

Luna shook her head.

"No."

"Luna."

"I can find him."

"It's too dangerous."

"You need me."

Kael stared at her.

She knew he hated that she was right.

Finally, he nodded.

"Stay beside me."

They entered the forest.

The trees became thicker.

The farther they walked, the quieter everything became.

No birds.

No insects.

Nothing.

Luna felt the temperature drop.

"Something's wrong."

Kael nodded.

"I know."

Then they heard a voice.

"Alpha."

Kael stopped.

A figure stepped between the trees.

It was Marcus.

Luna frowned.

"What are you doing here?"

Marcus looked at Kael.

"The council wants you back."

"Not now."

"They're concerned."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Marcus looked at Luna.

"Because the boundary was breached."

Kael's expression changed.

"How do you know?"

Marcus didn't answer.

Luna suddenly felt something.

She stepped forward.

"Marcus."

He looked at her.

"You were here last night."

His face remained calm.

"No."

"You're lying."

Kael looked at Luna.

"Why?"

"I can smell him."

Marcus's expression changed.

Kael immediately drew his weapon.

"Marcus."

The man stepped backward.

"You don't understand."

"Explain."

"I had no choice."

"Choice about what?"

Marcus looked at Luna.

"They promised to spare the pack."

Kael's eyes turned gold.

"Who?"

Marcus shook his head.

"The hunters."

Luna's stomach dropped.

"You betrayed us."

"I saved them."

Kael moved forward.

Marcus suddenly transformed.

He became a huge gray wolf.

The wolves around them growled.

Marcus ran.

Kael chased him.

Luna stood frozen.

Then a voice whispered behind her.

"Good."

She turned.

The red-eyed stranger stood between the trees.

Luna's blood ran cold.

"You."

He smiled.

"Hello, Moonborn."

Kael stopped in the distance.

His head snapped toward them.

"Luna!"

The stranger moved closer.

"Do you know why your mother hid you?"

Luna didn't answer.

"Because she knew what would happen when you awakened."

"What?"

"Everyone would come for you."

Kael rushed toward them.

The stranger lifted his hand.

A dark wave struck Kael and sent him backward.

Luna screamed.

"Kael!"

The stranger smiled.

"Your Alpha cannot protect you."

Luna's fear became anger.

"Leave him alone."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

The stranger laughed.

"You still don't understand your power."

Luna raised her hand.

The crescent mark blazed silver.

The forest shook.

The stranger's smile disappeared.

"What are you?"

Luna didn't know.

But the answer came from somewhere inside her.

"I am Moonborn."

The stranger stepped backward.

For the first time, he looked afraid.

Then the moon appeared through the clouds.

Even in daylight.

A silver beam fell directly onto Luna.

Her eyes turned completely silver.

Every wolf in the forest dropped to the ground.

Kael stared.

The stranger whispered:

"She's awakened."

Luna lifted her hand.

And the entire forest went silent.