Chapter 19: MY FIRST HUNT.

AUREN'S POV

"What is everyone doing?" I asked.

Maelis smiled as she adjusted the shawl over my shoulders. Her old fingers tucked the fabric around my neck before giving it one last pat.

"You've never seen a First Hunt before?"

I shook my head.

Outside the palace windows, Emberfall was already awake.

Warriors crossed the courtyard carrying bows, spears, and leather packs. Stable hands tightened saddle straps while cooks carried steaming pots toward long wooden tables. Children darted between the adults until their mothers caught them by the arms, laughing as they pulled them back.

The smell of roasted meat drifted through the open window.

"It feels like everyone is leaving," I murmured.

"In a way, they are."

She picked up a basket filled with fresh herbs and placed it in my hands.

"Today is Emberfall's First Hunt."

I frowned. "The first hunt?"

"The first hunt after every full moon." Her eyes followed the warriors below. "The hunters provide for the pack, the younger warriors earn their place among the patrols, and before anyone enters the forest..." She smiled softly. "...they thank the Moon Goddess for another season."

My fingers tightened around the basket.

"In Thornridge..." My voice trailed away.

Maelis looked at me.

"You never watched one?"

I swallowed.

"No."

She didn't ask why, she simply cleared her throat and nodded.

"Come with me."

"I shouldn't."

"You've spent enough days hiding behind these walls. Aren't you tired?"

"I don't think—"

"Auren."

Her voice was gentle.

"Let yourself see something different."

Before I could answer, a deep horn echoed through the palace. It was a long blast, then another.

The courtyard fell silent, warriors stopped talking, children stood still.

Every face turned toward the palace steps.

"What was that?" I whispered.

Maelis smiled. "It's the Alpha's call."

She started walking, after a moment, I followed.

***

The village square was larger than it had looked from my window, people filled every corner.

Hunters stood in neat rows, children sat on wooden fences with excitement shining in their eyes.

Older wolves leaned on carved staffs, talking quietly among themselves, no one shoved for the best view.

No one shouted over another, the crowd simply... waited.

Ronan stepped out of the palace, he wasn't wearing his usual dark coat.

Instead, leather hunting armor fitted his broad shoulders. A bow rested across his back while a hunting knife hung at his side.

He walked through the crowd without guards surrounding him.

People greeted him as he passed.

"Alpha."

He nodded. "Morning to you and your loved ones "

A little girl ran toward him before anyone could stop her.

She wrapped both arms around his leg.

"You promised you'd bring me rabbit this time."

A few warriors laughed.

Ronan crouched until they were eye level.

"I did."

"You brought deer last season."

"I know."

"You said rabbit."

"I also remember that."

The little girl narrowed her eyes.

"So?"

He reached behind his back and produced a small carved wooden rabbit from one of his pockets.

"I figured this one was easier to catch."

The girl's mouth fell open. She grabbed it and threw her arms around his neck.

"You remembered."

"I said I would."

She ran back toward her mother, proudly showing everyone the carving.

Something warm stirred inside my chest.

An Alpha...who remembered promises made to children?

Ronan stood and his gaze found mine, for a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Then he walked over.

"I see Maelis finally convinced you to leave your room."

"I only came because she insisted."

"Of course."

His mouth twitched. Maelis hid a smile.

"I'll leave you two."

Before I could protest, she disappeared into the crowd.

I looked after her.

"She planned this."

"I imagine she did."

Silence settled between us.

"I've never seen anything like this," I admitted.

His eyes swept across the gathering.

"This hunt has happened every season for nearly two hundred years."

"The entire pack comes?"

"The hunt feeds everyone."

His gaze returned to mine.

"So everyone has a part."

A horn sounded again.

An elderly woman stepped into the center of the square carrying a carved wooden bowl filled with gray ash.

The hunters formed a circle. One by one, they dipped two fingers into the ash and drew a line across their foreheads.

"What does the ash mean?" I asked.

"It reminds us where we return."

I looked at him.

"The earth gave us life."

His voice was quiet. "The earth receives us again."

I watched as the oldest hunter marked the forehead of the youngest.

There was no rank, no pride, only respect.

Another elder raised both hands.

"The forest feeds us." Every hunter bowed their heads. "We take only what we need."

There was silence.

"We protect the wolf beside us."

Each hunter rested a hand on the shoulder next to them. The circle became one.

"We will return together."

Every voice answered.

"Together."

The sound rolled across the valley. A lump rose in my throat before I knew it was there.

Nobody stood alone, nobody fought to prove they deserved a place.

They already belonged, the ache inside my chest deepened, it almost forced a tear out of my eyes, I blinked it off and quickly looked away.

"You okay?"

Ronan's voice was so quiet only I heard it.

I nodded too quickly.

"I just..." The words refused to come, he didn't ask again.

He simply stood beside me.

Somehow, that helped more. A sharp whistle cut through the ceremony, heads turned toward the eastern gate.

A horse burst through, foam covered its neck.

Its rider barely stayed in the saddle.

"Move!"

The horse stumbled, the rider crashed onto the ground, gasps spread through the crowd.

Blood soaked through his sleeve. Another warrior jumped from a second horse.

"Alpha!"

Ronan was already moving, the crowd opened before him.

I found myself following without thinking, the injured warrior struggled to breathe, his face had gone gray.

"It wasn't..." he stammered.

Ronan knelt beside him.

"What happened?"

The warrior grabbed his arm with strength.

"It wasn't rogues."

His body shook violently.

"It wasn't bears."

"What attacked you?" Ronan asked with eyes wide, he couldn't hide the fear in his eyes.

The man's eyes darted wildly toward the forest.

"I..."

His lips trembled.

"It had..."

He swallowed. "...too many eyes."

The crowd exchanged uneasy looks. Someone muttered,

"He's lost too much blood. Please take him to the healer's wing."

The warrior shook his head so hard blood splattered across the dirt.

"No. My injury can wait."

His breathing became ragged.

"It spoke."

The crowd gasped

"It..." He squeezed Ronan's arm until his knuckles turned white. "...called my name."

The hairs on my arms stood up. Ronan froze, he didn't blink for a second.

"What did it say?"

The warrior's breathing stopped for one terrifying second.

Then he slowly turned his head.

His eyes landed on me, every face followed. The world seemed to hold its breath.

His trembling finger lifted, pointing directly at me.

"It asked..." His voice cracked. "...where the girl with the hidden moon was."

A sharp pain tore through my collarbone.

I gasped, my knees buckled, heat spread beneath my skin. Suddenly, a golden light seeped through the fabric covering my birthmark.

Someone screamed.

"Her mark!"

The basket slipped from my hands. Herbs scattered across the ground.

I pressed my palm against my collarbone, but the light only grew brighter.

The warrior stared at me in horror, then his eyes rolled back, his entire body arched.

Black veins exploded across his neck. Maelis's face was drained of color.

"Everyone get back!"

No one moved, the warrior opened his eyes again, they were completely black.

His face lightened up with a smile that wasn’t his.