C4 The Three Trials of the Future Luna

The news spread across the Blackwood Pack before Aria even left the Alpha's manor.

Three days.

That was all the time she had been given.

Three days to prove she was worthy of becoming the future Luna.

Three days before Damon Blackwood could legally reject the Mate Bond.

By the time Beta Gideon escorted her through the courtyard, dozens of wolves had already gathered outside the manor gates.

They watched in silence.

Some pitied her.

Others smirked openly.

"Three days?"

A warrior folded his arms across his broad chest.

"She won't survive one."

"I heard the Council is making her complete the Luna Trials."

"Luna Trials?" another wolf laughed. "Those haven't been held in over fifty years."

"They'll bury the poor girl."

Aria kept walking.

Every word reached her ears with painful clarity.

Her heightened senses were still unfamiliar.

She wished she could shut them off.

"Don't listen."

Lyra's calm voice settled over her thoughts.

"I'm trying."

"No."

"You're enduring."

"There's a difference."

Aria looked down at the stone path beneath her feet.

"I don't know how to do this."

"Neither did I..."

Lyra's voice softened.

"The first time I stood before my own people."

Aria blinked.

"What do you mean?"

But Lyra fell silent again.

Another unanswered question.

Another mystery.

She was beginning to think her wolf enjoyed speaking in riddles.

As they reached the front gates, Beta Gideon stopped.

"You may go."

Aria hesitated.

"Aren't you coming?"

"My orders were to escort you safely from the manor."

He paused.

Then lowered his voice.

"Miss Nightshade..."

She looked up.

"I have served this pack for twenty-three years."

"I've watched many wolves rise."

"And many fall."

His expression remained stern, but there was no cruelty in his eyes.

"Whatever happens over the next three days..."

"...don't lose yourself trying to become the person everyone else expects."

Before Aria could thank him, he turned and walked back toward the manor.

She stood alone.

Completely alone.

Or so she thought.

A little girl suddenly ran toward her from across the road.

She couldn't have been older than seven.

Her brown curls bounced wildly with every step.

Ignoring the horrified gasp of her mother, she stopped right in front of Aria.

"You really found your wolf?"

Aria smiled nervously.

"I did."

The little girl's eyes sparkled.

"I knew you would."

"You... did?"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"My brother said you were cursed."

"My daddy said you were weak."

"My mommy said the Moon Goddess forgot you."

She leaned closer and whispered,

"But I didn't believe any of them."

Aria felt her throat tighten.

"Why not?"

The little girl shrugged as though the answer were obvious.

"Because every time I saw you..."

"...you smiled at me."

"You always smiled."

"Even when nobody smiled back."

For a moment...

Aria couldn't speak.

A lump formed in her throat.

The little girl reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny white wildflower.

"I picked this."

"It's for good luck."

Aria accepted it with trembling fingers.

"Thank you."

"My name is Lily."

"I'm Aria."

"I know."

Lily grinned.

"You're going to win."

Before Aria could respond, Lily's mother hurried over.

"I'm so sorry!"

She gently pulled her daughter back.

"Lily, we have to go."

"But—"

"Now."

The woman offered Aria an apologetic smile before leading her daughter away.

Lily waved enthusiastically until they disappeared around the corner.

Aria looked down at the tiny flower in her hand.

It wasn't much.

But somehow...

It felt like the first genuine kindness she'd received from anyone in years.

"See?"

Lyra whispered.

"Not everyone fears you."

Aria carefully tucked the flower inside the pocket of her dress.

"I'll keep it."

She had barely taken another step when hurried footsteps approached from behind.

"Aria!"

She turned.

Elder Rowan was almost out of breath.

That alone was enough to alarm her.

He rarely hurried.

"Elder?"

"There isn't much time."

His eyes darted around the nearly empty street before he motioned for her to follow.

"This way."

Curiosity overcame caution.

He led her away from the village and toward the old eastern forest.

The deeper they walked, the quieter everything became.

Towering pines blocked the morning sunlight.

Ancient roots twisted across the ground like sleeping serpents.

Finally...

They arrived at a forgotten stone shrine covered in moss and climbing ivy.

Aria had never seen it before.

"What is this place?"

Rowan gently brushed years of dust from the weathered altar.

"This..."

he said quietly,

"...is where your real journey begins."

Aria frowned.

"I thought the Council decides the trials."

"They do."

"But the Council only tests what already exists."

He turned toward her.

"I intend to help you awaken it."

Before Aria could ask another question, Rowan reached into his robe and removed a small wooden box.

The carvings covering its surface shimmered beneath the sunlight.

Ancient symbols.

Older than the Blackwood Pack itself.

He held it out.

"For eighteen years..."

"I have protected this."

"For you."

Aria's heart skipped.

"What is it?"

Rowan's hands trembled ever so slightly.

"The first truth."

He slowly opened the lid.

Inside...

Resting on deep blue velvet...

Lay a silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon.

The moment Aria looked at it...

A blinding pain exploded inside her head.

Visions flashed before her eyes.

A woman dressed in silver armor.

A palace carved from black stone.

A crown.

A battlefield stained with blood.

And a voice...

Powerful.

Heartbroken.

Running through the darkness.

"Find her!"

"Protect the child!"

The pendant slipped from the box.

Before it touched the ground...

It burst into brilliant silver light.

***

The silver light exploded outward.

It swallowed the forgotten shrine, the towering pines, and the moss-covered stones until Aria could no longer see anything around her.

The world disappeared.

A sharp ringing filled her ears.

Then—

Silence.

When the light finally faded, she found herself standing in a place she had never seen before.

An endless lake stretched beneath a sky filled with stars.

There was no wind.

No sound.

The water was as smooth as polished glass, reflecting the moon so perfectly that it looked as though two moons existed at once.

Aria slowly turned in a circle.

"Elder Rowan?"

No answer.

"Lyra?"

Only silence greeted her.

Fear tightened around her chest.

She was completely alone.

A soft splash echoed somewhere behind her.

Aria spun around.

A woman stood several feet away.

She wore flowing silver robes that shimmered like moonlight, and her long white hair danced in a breeze Aria couldn't feel.

Her face was impossible to remember.

Every time Aria tried to focus on it, it blurred like a reflection on disturbed water.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled.

"You have grown."

The words struck Aria like lightning.

It was the same voice she had heard in her vision.

"You know me?"

"I have watched you since the night you were born."

Aria's heart pounded.

"My parents..."

The woman lowered her gaze.

"They loved you more than their own lives."

Tears burned Aria's eyes.

"I don't remember them."

"You weren't meant to."

"What does that mean?"

Before the woman could answer, the lake beneath their feet began to ripple.

Darkness spread across the water.

The peaceful reflection shattered.

The woman's expression changed instantly.

"There isn't much time."

She raised one elegant hand.

A silver thread appeared between her fingertips.

It stretched toward Aria's chest before disappearing into her heart.

"You carry an ancient bloodline."

Aria shook her head.

"No..."

"I've always been ordinary."

"No."

The woman's voice became firm.

"You were hidden."

"There's a difference."

A violent roar echoed across the lake.

The stars overhead dimmed.

The woman looked toward the horizon.

"They're searching."

"Who's searching?"

"The ones who fear what you will become."

The lake trembled violently.

Cracks spread beneath Aria's feet.

The woman stepped closer.

"Listen carefully."

"You must trust your wolf."

"You must trust your heart."

"But above all..."

She placed two fingers gently against Aria's forehead.

"...never allow anyone to define your worth."

A brilliant flash of silver erupted.

The vision shattered.

Aria gasped as she stumbled backward onto the forest floor.

She was back at the shrine.

Breathing hard.

Sweat covered her forehead despite the cool morning air.

The pendant lay in the palm of her hand.

Its silver glow had faded.

Elder Rowan caught her before she lost her balance.

"What did you see?"

Aria struggled to steady her breathing.

"I..."

She looked down at the pendant.

"There was a woman."

Rowan's face paled.

"What did she say?"

"She said..."

Aria hesitated.

"...that I carry an ancient bloodline."

The old elder closed his eyes.

His shoulders sagged.

"So..."

he whispered.

"It has finally begun."

Aria looked at him in confusion.

"You know who she was, don't you?"

"I do."

"Then tell me."

"I can't."

Frustration flashed across her face.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because the truth is dangerous."

"Dangerous for who?"

"For everyone."

Rowan looked toward the forest surrounding them.

His years of wisdom had taught him to trust his instincts.

At that moment...

Every instinct screamed the same warning.

They were no longer alone.

"Come out."

His voice rang through the trees.

"I know you're there."

Silence.

Then...

A figure stepped from behind a massive oak.

He wore a dark green traveling cloak.

A bow rested across his back, and two hunting knives hung from his belt.

He couldn't have been much older than Damon.

His sharp amber eyes settled calmly on Aria before shifting to Rowan.

"I was hoping we could speak without alarming the young lady."

Rowan moved protectively in front of Aria.

"State your name."

The stranger smiled faintly.

"My name is Lucien."

"I'm only a messenger."

"A messenger for whom?"

Lucien reached into his cloak.

Rowan immediately gripped his staff.

Aria instinctively stepped back.

Instead of drawing a weapon, Lucien removed a folded piece of black parchment sealed with silver wax.

The seal bore the image of a wolf wearing a crown.

Rowan's eyes widened.

"No..."

Lucien extended the letter toward Aria.

"This belongs to you."

She hesitated.

"I've never seen that symbol before."

"You weren't supposed to."

His voice remained calm.

"Not yet."

Rowan's expression darkened.

"You should leave."

Lucien looked at the old elder.

"I intend to."

"But before I go..."

His gaze returned to Aria.

"My king asked me to tell you one thing."

"My... king?"

Lucien nodded.

"When the world begins telling you who you are..."

"...do not believe it."

"Because the truth..."

He smiled knowingly.

"...is far greater."

Without another word, he disappeared into the forest.

His movements were so swift and silent that within seconds, he was gone.

Aria stared at the unopened letter in her hands.

"Who was that?"

Rowan didn't answer immediately.

His eyes remained fixed on the direction Lucien had vanished.

Finally...

He spoke.

"The beginning of a storm."

***

Back at the Alpha's manor...

Selena stood before a large mirror inside her room.

She removed a jeweled hairpin and set it carefully on the dressing table.

A knock came at the door.

"Enter."

Gamma Victor Frost stepped inside.

His expression was grim.

"You embarrassed yourself before the Council."

Selena turned slowly.

"I spoke the truth."

"You spoke with emotion."

"I spoke because no one else would."

Victor sighed.

"Listen to me carefully."

He walked closer until they stood face-to-face.

"If Aria succeeds..."

"...everything we've worked toward disappears."

Selena's jaw tightened.

"I won't let that happen."

"I know."

He reached into the inner pocket of his coat and produced a small glass vial filled with a shimmering crimson liquid.

Selena frowned.

"What is it?"

"A gift."

"From an old friend."

She accepted the vial carefully.

The liquid swirled unnaturally inside the glass.

"What does it do?"

Victor's voice dropped to a whisper.

"It won't kill her."

"It won't even leave a mark."

"But if she drinks it..."

"...her wolf will lose control."

Selena stared at the vial.

Realization slowly dawned in her eyes.

"If Aria loses control during the trials..."

"No one will ever accept her as Luna."

Victor smiled.

"For the good of the pack..."

Selena closed her fingers around the vial.

For the first time since the Mate Ceremony...

She smiled too.

Far away...

On the highest balcony of the Lycan Palace...

Kael Draven stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

Snowflakes drifted silently through the mountain air.

One of his generals approached and bowed.

"Your Majesty."

"The horses are ready."

Kael never looked away from the distant horizon.

"Good."

"The journey will take three days."

"I know."

The general hesitated.

"Should we inform the neighboring kingdoms?"

"No."

Kael's golden eyes hardened.

"If they discover who she is before I reach her..."

"...they will come hunting."

He slowly turned.

Power radiated from him like an approaching storm.

"No one touches what the Moon has entrusted to me."

He descended the palace steps.

Behind him...

Hundreds of elite Lycan warriors fell into formation.

The gates of the ancient kingdom opened for the first time in centuries.

And the march toward Blackwood Pack...

Had begun.