Ante Tu Altar Novels & Stories

The Northern Plains may not be as prosperous as Valoria, but here you will have true respect and freedom. I looked into his sincere eyes, my heart softening. Kael leaned closer, his breath brushing against my ear. "My Queen, it's late."

“What in the goddess’s name do you need an altar for? He’s not some offering to be laid at your feet!” Rowan threw me a quick glance but stayed silent. The disciple remained calm, too calm for my liking. “The altar is not for him, Alpha Kai,” she explained, folding her hands serenely. “Your brother will rest on a mat beside the altar. The altar is for our communion with the moon goddess herself. We need her guidance if we are to intervene on your brother’s behalf.” I narrowed my eyes at her, not trusting a word, but I motioned for Rowan and Damien to follow.

I filed it away, trailing Taehyung into the crisp outdoor air. The gathering grounds lay in a clearing ringed by ancient oaks, their branches twisted like guardians. The full moon altar stood at the center—a raised stone platform etched with runes, surrounded by fire pits that would blaze tonight. Taehyung strode to it, inspecting the chains bolted to the stone, testing their strength with his good hand. "Strong enough to hold even your spirit," he muttered, glancing back at me. "Kneel here now. Practice."

With a ferocious roar, I threw my weight forward, and the doors splintered inward. The room beyond opened, and an altar squatted at the center, black stone slick with dried blood. Candles burned in a ring around it, their flames green, their smoke filling the chamber with a reek of rot. Dozens of hooded figures knelt, their voices raised in a sick hymn. And right in the middle of the altar, were two familiar faces that turned toward me. Jacob and Lucas. Jacob’s smile was sharp and mocking. “Well, well. The Alpha himself comes knocking. How thoughtful of you to deliver your Luna to slaughter.”

Her big, blue eyes, looked at me worriedly. "He told me to bring Mira to the Elden Wood's altar." They all looked at each other. Adam looked at me with his usual flat face. But in his eyes, it implied something else. He seemed to know about this. "Altar?" Ni whispered to herself. "You know about the Altar?" Luca asked her, Ni looked at us with doubtful eyes. "Well, yes actually..." She said hesitantly. "Where is the altar?" Ni glanced at Mira lying on the ground, in the heavy trap net. Her body didn't move an inch, she didn't even seem to be breathing. She looked like she was dead, but all of us who were there were sure that she was still alive.

“And we all understand if you find it hard to believe that you are special.” He pointed toward a stone altar positioned at the center of the hall. The altar was exquisitely carved with countless ancient runes that glowed faintly beneath the surface. It looked old. Very old. As though it had existed for thousands of years. “This altar has stood here for ages,” Karl explained. “Only the Chosen One can awaken it with their blood.” He walked forward and bit his thumb. A drop of blood landed upon the altar. Nothing happened. The blood simply vanished.

Too wrong. The priest murmurs his final prayer, his Latin words carried away by the wind. The last of the soil is poured, flattening the earth. Victoria lets out another broken sniff, leaning into Wade, while Adrianna stiffens, forcing herself to remain upright though every nerve in her body screams with pain.

Just Alaric. Just ours.

There was nothing left with me from there: no clothes, no titles, only the memories. From then on, I would be the Luna of the Karin. I took a deep breath and lifted my chin with authority. If that was what I would be, then let it be in the most dignified way possible. Knocks on the door echoed and were soon followed by the familiar voice of the one who had been my first friend there, Hertor. “We are ready.” He said, stopping before the door. “The moon is high and the Alpha already awaits you at the altar.” Hertor’s eyes revealed a deep admiration, he was enchanted, I knew it.

But I remembered why I was here and why I had to take this step. “Alpha,” the man’s voice called out for Ryder and Ryder responded, “Wise one.” “You may proceed,” he commanded. Ryder nodded in agreement and bowed in appreciation. I watched him walk in counted steps before he stopped in front of the altar. He proceeded to arrange the offerings in a coordinated way, placing each of them slightly on the ground, and bowed each time he offered the sacrifice. First, he raised them to the sky, then he placed them gently on the ground, and he bowed in appreciation to the goddess. As Ryder did this, Brandon circled the altar, holding a thurible that contained burning charcoal and some herbs. He moved