MOONBRAND GLOWED

CHAPTER 7: MOONBRAND GLOWED

The air in the councilor’s office was too cold, like the walls were holding their breath. Alpha Rael stood behind the wide wooden desk, his jaw tight, eyes fixed on the old moon crest that is carved into the floor. The candlelight flickered.

The door creaked open, and Councilor Matthias stepped in, his robe dragging behind him.

“Alpha,” he said, his voice uneasy. “Something happened last night. The Moonbrand bronze... it glowed.”

Rael lifted his head slowly, his eyes narrowing. “Are you sure?”

Matthias nodded. “I saw it myself. The color wasn’t dull. It shines bronze like fire in moonlight.”

For a long time, Rael said nothing. Then he turned to the window. “That mark hasn’t glowed in centuries,” he muttered. “It only reacts when a Moonborn’s blood stirs again.”

Matthias stepped closer. “But that’s impossible. We exiled her. She drank wolfsbane and no one survives that.”

Rael’s voice dropped low. “And still the bronze glowed.”

Silence filled the room again. Matthias swallowed hard. “Do you also think she’s alive?”

Rael turned, his eyes cold. “I think fate is stubborn and if Mira truly carries the Moonbrand, then the we exiling her didn’t kill her, it only woke her up.”

Matthias shook his head. “Alpha, if she’s alive and the Council finds out, and then everything changes. The pack won’t stand with you once they know.”

Rael leaned against the desk, his claws tapping the wood. “Then we make sure they don’t find out. If she’s alive, we hunt her down before word spreads.”

Matthias hesitated, glancing at the Rael again. “And if we don’t find her first?”

Rael’s jaw tightened. “Then the world will find out what we did and I’m not ready for that.”

“But you and Kira and the other council did well in framing her and exiling her." Matthias said.

“And we know what she might be capable of, we know she has the capability." Rael explained.

" Does Kira know?” Matthias asked, his brow furrowing.

" No… I'm gonna tell her after the pack meeting." Rael said dismissing Matthias.

*******

Later in the afternoon, deep in the woods, the forest was darker that morning. My legs ached from walking. Every step sank into damp leaves. Elara kept scanning the trees ahead, one hand tight on her blade, the other resting on her hip like she was fighting the urge to punch someone.

“We’ve been running in circles,” she said. “The rogues will catch up if we don’t move faster.”

“I know,” Elric replied, his voice calm but sharp. He walked beside me, watching the shadows. “But moving fast won’t help if we’re running the wrong way.”

I stopped walking. My breath hitched. “You two should go,” I said quietly. “I’ll slow you down.”

Elara turned fast, her eyes flashing. “What did you just say?”

“I said go.” I looked between them. “You’ve done enough. I can find my own way.”

Elric frowned. “You’re injured, Mira. You can barely stand without shaking.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. My hands trembled, betraying me.

Elara scoffed. “You survived exile, poison, and a pack that wanted you dead, and now you want to play the lone wolf? Brilliant plan.”

Her sarcasm hit harder than I expected. “I don’t want to be anyone’s burden,” I muttered.

Elric stepped closer. “You’re not a burden.”

“I was wondering." Elara muttered and rolled her eyes.

I looked up at him, catching the faint light in his eyes. “You don’t even know me.”

“I don’t need to,” he said softly. “I know what it’s like to be hunted.”

His words cut through something inside me. For a heartbeat, neither of us spoke. I couldn't help but feel good for meeting Elric at this moment, he was better than Rael.

Elara rolled her eyes. “Oh please, not now. Can we flirt later and um maybe when we’re not one howl away from getting eaten?”

Elric shot her a glare. “No one’s flirting.”

“Sure,” she said, smirking. “And I’m the Moon Goddess herself.”

Despite everything, a small laugh escaped through my lips. It felt strange, laughing after so much pain but it faded so quickly.

“Elric,” I said, my voice low. “You don’t understand. The Ashback will kill anyone who helps me. You and Elara could lose everything.”

He didn’t back off. “You think I care about their laws?”

“I think you care about your pack,” I whispered.

He hesitated. That silence told me I was right.

“I’ll go alone,” I said again. “At least then, if they come, it’s only me they’ll find.”

Elara sighed and kicked a stone. “You’re stubborn as hell.”

“I learned from the best,” I said, glancing at her.

That made her snort, a reluctant smile twitching at her lips but it didn’t last long. The forest suddenly went quiet and the wind stopped moving.

Elric’s body stiffened beside me. “Something’s wrong.”

He stepped forward, nose lifting as he sniffed the air. “Magic,” he said. “Old magic.”

Before I could ask what he meant, the air shifted. A faint shimmer rippled between the trees like heat rising off desert sand.

“Elara?” I whispered.

“I see it,” she said, drawing her blade. “Stay behind me.”

But it was already too late. The shimmer thickened, spreading fast, forming a wall of glowing air around us. It pulsed once then twice before bursting into a blinding flash.

“Get down!” Elric yelled, pushing me aside.

The blast hit like a storm. The ground shook. I felt the world tilt and then a sharp pain shot through my chest. I flew backward, slamming into a tree. The breath left my lungs in one violent gasp.

“Mira!”

Elric’s voice sounded far away. My vision blurred. The air was alive with silver sparks and tiny threads of light swirling around me like fireflies.

“What the hell is that?” Elara shouted.

Elric ran to me, dropping to his knees. His hands hovered near my shoulders, unsure whether to touch. “It’s her,” he said, voice trembling. “It’s reacting to her blood.”

I tried to speak, but my throat burned. The marks on my arm, the same one that had glowed during the time they were fighting those unknown packs, were shining again and brighter than before.

“Elric,” I whispered. “What’s happening to me?”

He didn’t answer. The light grew stronger, spreading from my arm to my chest, until my whole body felt like it was burning.

Elara took a step back. “That’s not normal, Elric. She’s… she’s going to explode or something!”

Elric ignored her. “Mira, listen to me. You need to breathe. You need to focus.”

“I can’t…” My voice cracked. The energy was too much. It felt like the force was pressing on my skin, trying to break through.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the light flickered and died. I collapsed against the ground, shaking.

For a moment, everything was silent. Then Elara spoke, voice tight. “That wasn’t a force field... that was a boundary.”

Elric looked up sharply. “A boundary?”

“Yeah,” she said, scanning the area. “Someone… or something… doesn’t want us or you leaving this forest.”

Elric’s eyes darkened. “You mean it’s keeping us or her trapped.”

She nodded slowly. “Or keeping her in.”

My stomach turned cold. I pushed myself up, wincing. “Why would anyone want to keep me here?”

Elric met my eyes. “Because, Mira... maybe you’re not supposed to leave yet.”