chapter 28

The words echoed in Elsie's mind long after Rowan had spoken them.

"Your wolf never left."

It couldn't be true.

Ever since the day of her first shifting ceremony, everyone had watched in anticipation as one by one, the children transformed into their wolves.

Everyone except her.

She remembered the whispers.

"She's cursed."

"The Beta's daughter can't shift."

"The Moon Goddess abandoned her."

For years, she had convinced herself those whispers were true.

Yet Rowan was now telling her that her wolf had been there all along.

Waiting.

Within minutes, the palace was awake.

Frank had assembled a small escort of Nightcrest's elite warriors.

The stable hands saddled two magnificent black horses while servants hurried to prepare cloaks and supplies for the unexpected journey.

Rose came running toward Elsie, carrying a thick fur-lined cloak.

"My Luna."

She carefully fastened it around Elsie's shoulders.

"It's cold in the northern mountains."

Elsie smiled softly.

"Thank you."

Rose hesitated before hugging her tightly.

"Please come back safely."

"I will."

Although Elsie tried to sound confident, she couldn't ignore the strange feeling growing inside her.

Something was calling her.

Pulling her toward the mountains.

The journey began beneath a sky filled with dark clouds.

Only Rowan, Frank, four elite guards, and Elsie rode into the night.

No one spoke much.

The forest surrounding Nightcrest was eerily quiet.

Even the usual sounds of insects and nocturnal birds were absent.

Almost as if the forest itself was waiting.

After nearly two hours, Elsie noticed something unusual.

The further they rode, the brighter the moonlight became.

Yet when she looked up...

The moon was hidden behind thick clouds.

"Rowan..."

"Yes?"

"Where is this light coming from?"

He glanced ahead.

"We're close."

The forest suddenly opened into a vast clearing.

Elsie gasped.

At its center stood an enormous ancient tree unlike anything she had ever seen.

Its bark shimmered silver.

Its leaves glowed softly beneath the night sky.

Surrounding the tree were towering white stone pillars engraved with symbols that seemed to pulse with faint blue light.

In the very center stood a circular altar carved from pure white stone.

The moment Elsie laid eyes on it...

Her heart skipped.

"Come..."

The whisper returned.

Clearer than ever.

Frank immediately dismounted.

"The Moon Shrine."

Even the hardened Beta lowered his head respectfully.

The Nightcrest warriors followed.

Only Rowan remained beside Elsie.

He climbed down from his horse before offering her his hand.

"It's time."

She accepted it.

His hand was warm.

Steady.

It gave her courage.

Together, they walked toward the altar.

The closer Elsie came, the stronger the strange pull became.

Her heartbeat quickened.

The air itself seemed alive.

Tiny silver lights floated around them like fireflies.

The wind gently lifted her hair.

Then...

Without warning...

Every glowing light rushed toward her at once.

The entire clearing erupted in brilliant white light.

The guards instinctively stepped backward.

Frank shielded his eyes.

"My Alpha!"

But Rowan never moved.

He simply watched.

The light circled Elsie like a storm.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Suddenly—

She wasn't standing in the shrine anymore.

She stood inside an endless white world.

There was no sky.

No ground.

Only light.

"Where am I?"

Her voice echoed into the emptiness.

"You are where you were always meant to return."

A calm female voice answered.

Elsie slowly turned.

Standing several steps away was the most beautiful wolf she had ever seen.

Its fur was pure white, almost glowing like moonlight.

Its eyes...

They were the exact same shade of emerald green as hers.

The wolf smiled.

Or at least...

It somehow felt like it did.

Tears filled Elsie's eyes.

"No..."

She whispered.

"It can't be."

The wolf slowly approached.

"It can."

"I searched for you..."

Elsie's voice trembled.

"For years."

"So did I."

The wolf gently touched its forehead against hers.

"You were never abandoned."

"You were protected."

Elsie frowned.

"Protected?"

"The Moon Goddess sealed my strength."

"Because if I had awakened too soon..."

The wolf looked into her eyes.

"...you would have been killed as a child."

Elsie's breathing stopped.

"What?"

"There were people searching for us."

"For centuries."

"They believed our bloodline had disappeared."

"They were wrong."

The wolf lifted her head proudly.

"We are the last."

"The last what?"

The wolf's eyes seemed to glow even brighter.

"The last Moonborn."

The words sent chills through Elsie's entire body.

"What... is a Moonborn?"

Before the wolf could answer—

A loud crack echoed through the white world.

The ground beneath Elsie began to shake violently.

The wolf immediately stepped in front of her.

"They found us."

"Who?"

The wolf's expression became serious.

"The ones who fear our return."

Dark shadows suddenly appeared in the distance.

Hundreds of them.

Moving closer.

Fast.

The wolf looked back at Elsie one last time.

"You don't have much time."

"When you wake..."

"Trust Rowan."

"He knows more than he has told you."

The shadows were almost upon them now.

The wolf gave Elsie one final gentle nudge.

"And remember..."

"No matter what happens..."

"We are one."

The white world shattered like glass.

Elsie gasped as her eyes flew open.

She was back at the Moon Shrine.

Still standing on the altar.

The glowing lights had vanished.

Her breathing was uneven.

Rowan was already beside her.

"What happened?"

Elsie looked at him, tears streaming silently down her face.

"I..."

Her voice barely worked.

"I met her."

Rowan froze.

"You... saw your wolf?"

Elsie nodded.

Then whispered the words that made Rowan's face lose all color.

"She said..."

"...I'm the last Moonborn."

Silence consumed the shrine.

Even Frank's expression changed.

Because every person standing there knew one terrifying truth.

The Moonborn weren't supposed to exist anymore.

They had all been slaughtered...

Hundreds of years ago.