All Chapters of “The Luna They Betrayed: Rise of the Forsaken Wolf”: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Arielle closed her eyes.The question remained inside her.If you had known you could choose both...Would you have chosen differently?For the first time in longer than she could remember, Arielle did not search the universe for an answer.She did not ask Adrian to show her the future.She did not ask Aurel what he remembered.She did not ask Elian what she wanted.She did not ask the Creator what had truly happened.She simply stood there.And remembered.Two lights.Two children.Two possibilities waiting before her.Aurel.Elian.She remembered the fear.The terrible certainty that choosing one meant losing the other.She remembered believing that love was a door with only enough room for one person to walk through.She remembered looking at Aurel and feeling something inside her reach for him.And then she remembered the other light.Elian.Waiting.Not crying.Not demanding.Simply existing beside her brother.Waiting for Arielle to understand something she had not yet learned.

Arielle stared at her empty palm.The mark was gone.The child was gone.Yet the word remained inside her.Wait.She had spent an eternity learning how to choose.She had chosen life when existence had not yet decided whether it wanted to begin. She had chosen Aurel. She had chosen Elian. She had chosen Cassian. She had chosen children who had arrived from futures, memories, impossible worlds, rejected possibilities, and places that should never have existed.She had chosen again and again because she believed choosing was the answer to everything.Now a child had appeared before her and asked her not to choose him.Somehow, that was the hardest choice of all.Arielle slowly lowered her hand.Cassian watched her carefully.What did he say?Arielle looked at him.He told me not to choose him yet.Silence settled over the family.Elian was the first to speak.Then we wait.Arielle looked at her.That's all?Elian shrugged.What else can we do?Arielle almost laughed.Once, that answer w

Arielle could not breathe.She stared at the older version of herself.Then at Elior.Then back at the woman who looked like her.The promise echoed through her mind.I will find you.She remembered saying it.She remembered the small hand reaching for hers.She remembered the darkness.But she could not remember what came before.Or what came after.Arielle took one careful step forward.Where did I meet him?The older Arielle did not answer immediately.Before the First Question.Arielle's heart tightened.That was impossible.The older woman smiled sadly.You have used that word many times.And you have been wrong every time.Cassian moved closer.Who are you?The older Arielle looked at him.You already know.Cassian frowned.I don't.You do.She looked at Arielle.He was there too.Arielle's eyes widened.Cassian?The older Arielle nodded.Not as Cassian.Not yet.Cassian stared at her.Then how?The older Arielle looked toward the stars.Before names, there were intentions.Befo

The laughter continued in the darkness.Soft.Childlike.Almost joyful.Arielle held Elior closer.Nobody moved.Nobody spoke.Then a small light appeared in the center of the room.A candle flame.It hovered above the floor without a candle beneath it.The flame grew brighter.And Arielle saw a child sitting beside it.A little girl.Perhaps five years old.She had golden-brown skin, dark curls, and Arielle's eyes.Arielle's breath caught.The child looked up.Mum?Elior stiffened.Arielle slowly released him.Who are you?The girl smiled.You know me.Arielle shook her head.No.The child tilted her head.Then why are you crying?Arielle touched her cheek.She hadn't realized tears were falling.The girl stood.She walked toward Arielle.I am the one you never regretted.Arielle's heart stopped.The Witness had said it would show her something she never regretted.A child she never regretted.But Arielle did not understand.She looked toward the Creator.The Creator's face had gone

The universe remained silent.Not peaceful.Not calm.Silent in the way a room becomes silent when everyone inside is waiting for one person to speak.Arielle stood at the gate with Cassian beside her, Elior slightly ahead of them, and the rest of their family gathered behind.Beyond the gate stood children.Dozens of them.Some looked no older than toddlers. Others were old enough to carry themselves with the guarded posture of teenagers who had already learned that the world did not always make room for them.They were different in every possible way.One had silver hair and dark skin.Another had skin so pale it almost seemed transparent.One girl had wings folded tightly against her back.A boy near the edge of the crowd had eyes that constantly changed colour.There was a child who appeared to be made partly of shadow, another who shimmered whenever someone looked directly at him, and a tiny girl clutching a worn brown bag with both hands.Yet none of them looked dangerous.They