Chapter 22: The Moon's Warning

Rayna’s sleep was plagued by shadows.

She tossed and turned in the oversized bed in her temporary quarters, the silken sheets twisted around her legs like chains. The air felt heavy, as if the very walls of the castle pressed in around her. She had dreamed of fire, of wolves with glowing red eyes, of a full moon bleeding light onto a battlefield. And worst of all—Kael. Standing among the ruins, expressionless, with blood dripping from his fingers.

She shot upright, gasping. A cold sweat clung to her skin.

What the hell was that?

Climbing out of bed, she didn’t bother with slippers or a robe. Something tugged at her—an invisible thread pulling her out of her room, down the darkened hallways, toward a part of the castle she had never dared to explore.

The Forbidden Wing.

She’d heard rumors from passing Omegas: that it was sealed by the former king, that only those with royal blood could enter without consequences.

But she wasn’t just anyone anymore.

Even if Kael had rejected her, something ancient stirred within her veins—something that refused to sleep.

The deeper she walked, the colder it became. The torches along the stone walls flickered weakly as if protesting her presence. Then she saw it—the heavy blackwood door adorned with silver crescent carvings and etched runes that glowed faintly in the dark.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the handle.

The moment she touched it, a wave of icy energy surged through her. The door creaked open with a groan that sounded too much like a warning.

Inside was a domed chamber bathed in blue moonlight that didn’t seem to come from any visible window. In the center of the room was a raised platform, and on it sat a basin filled with shimmering liquid that pulsed softly, like a heartbeat.

She stepped toward it, heart hammering in her chest.

Suddenly, a voice—not quite male, not quite female—echoed around the room:

"The daughter of ash and the wolf of fire. When they unite, kingdoms shall tremble."

Rayna froze. “What…?”

The liquid in the basin rippled, and scenes began to emerge:

Kael, chained and bloody, kneeling before a dark figure cloaked in shadows.

Herself, eyes glowing silver, standing atop a battlefield surrounded by werewolves and flames.

A shattered crown.

A dying moon.

She gasped and stumbled backward.

“Rayna!”

She spun around to find Kael standing in the doorway, eyes wild with shock and something else—fear.

“What are you doing here?” he barked, striding toward her.

“I don’t know,” she said breathlessly. “Something brought me here. That basin—”

“You weren’t supposed to see that!” Kael grabbed her arm, more urgently than aggressively. “This wing is protected for a reason.”

“And yet I walked in without resistance,” she said, pulling free. “What does that tell you?”

Kael’s jaw clenched. “That something dangerous has been awakened.”

She studied him. There were shadows under his eyes, lines of exhaustion and worry etched into his usually cold features. He was unraveling—slowly, carefully—and trying desperately to hold the pieces together.

“What aren’t you telling me?” she asked. “What is all of this?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned to face the basin. “This is a Vision Pool. It reveals the truths of fate, of bloodlines, of curses and prophecies. It only reacts to those tied to the old magic.”

“And I’m one of them?” she asked softly.

Kael nodded, his shoulders heavy with the weight of centuries.

“There’s a prophecy,” he began, voice low. “Passed down from the Ancients. It speaks of a daughter born of rejection and fire, who would either bring salvation or destruction to the werewolf realm. She would be mated to a king of cursed lineage. Together, they would either restore balance… or destroy the bloodline completely.”

Rayna’s breath caught. “You think I’m that daughter?”

“I don’t think,” he said, turning to her. “I know.”

She stared at him, blood roaring in her ears.

“Then why reject me?” Her voice broke. “If we’re supposed to be fated—if we’re supposed to save this world—why push me away?”

Kael’s eyes darkened. “Because the prophecy isn’t clear. It speaks of ruin and war. If I accepted the bond without knowing how to stop what’s coming… I could be condemning us all.”

“But pushing me away is tearing us apart anyway,” she whispered.

They stood in the eerie silence, the basin pulsing beside them like the beat of destiny itself.

Kael moved toward her. “I never wanted to hurt you. But the bond—it’s volatile. If we complete it, it could amplify everything. Love. Rage. Power. If we lose control…”

“I’d rather face that than face this alone,” she said, eyes burning.

Kael looked away. “I was trying to protect you.”

Rayna stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest. “I didn’t ask for protection. I asked for truth.”

Their eyes met. The tension between them crackled like a storm waiting to break. For a heartbeat, Kael leaned in, as if drawn to her despite everything.

But then the basin flared bright white, and the ground shook.

Kael grabbed Rayna, pulling her to his chest as runes on the walls began to glow. A voice thundered through the chamber:

“The bond has awakened. Balance must be restored. The trial begins.”

The light exploded, engulfing them both.

Rayna opened her eyes to find herself no longer in the chamber—but in a strange forest bathed in silver light.

Kael was beside her, equally stunned.

“Where are we?” she asked.

He shook his head slowly. “The Trial Plane. We’ve been pulled into the magic’s test.”

A wolf howled in the distance—deep, guttural, and angry.

From the shadows, figures emerged—ghostly versions of werewolves long gone. Their eyes glowed red. Their jaws were open in silent rage.

Rayna turned to Kael. “I’m not ready for this.”

“You don’t need to be,” he replied. “You just have to survive.”