The Moons Promise

The call of the moon. Aria’s POV The scent of blood, cloying and sharp, filled my nostrils as I leaned over the mangled body of the rogue wolf. His breath was shallow, each inhale causing him pain. He winced as I touched where it hurt, causing me to wince too. I could feel his pain. “Don’t move,” I breathed out, in an attempt to soothe him. But in reality, it felt like I was talking to myself. The moon shone bright that night, casting eerie shadows over the window. Its pale light streaked through the cracked shutter. Suddenly, the rogue opened his eyes. They were golden brown and the intensity in them caused me to shiver. “It’s you!” He rasped out, his voice strained and hurt. “Yes, it’s me. The healer. Now if you’d just hold still…” I started, trying to be gentle with him. “No, it’s you! You’re her.” His cryptic messages left me feeling off guard. “I’m her who?” I asked carefully, my fingers freezing momentarily as they were mere inches away from him. He gripped my hand with such strength that I doubted if he was even wounded. His eyes burned into mine, and they were filled with reverence and terror. “You’re the moon’s choice.” I giggled, “Looks like that huge gash across your chest has left you delirious.” I muttered as I broke free from his stronghold. The severity in his expression, despite the pain contorting on his face, made my smile falter. “The alpha will come for you. They all will, and then they’ll try to destroy you.” Chills ran down my spine, paralyzing me for a moment. I glanced at him again and as I opened my mouth to speak, his body convulsed. His golden eyes rolled back, and his lips parted in a silent scream. I immediately charged into action and placed my hand on him, pouring the little energy I had left TL into stabilizing him, but it was of no use. The door to the infirmary slammed open, the suddenness causing me to startle. “Aria!” The commanding voice of my alpha, Victor Vale, pierced through the tense air. He strode in, an aura of pride surrounded him like a halo. “Leave him be. He’s not yours to worry about anymore.” I stared at the rogue’s body, convinced that I could still save him. “He just needs…” “He’s dead!” Victor snapped, “And you’ve got bigger problems.” My brows furrowed in confusion as I reluctantly stood up. “Is everything alright?” I questioned as I straightened my frayed dress. Victor didn’t answer immediately, instead, he stepped back and revealed a messenger dressed in a black cloak whose face was obscured by the hood. “You have been summoned by the High Council,” Victor announced, his voice low. I felt my heart skip a million beats. What could the high council possibly want with me? “I don’t understand. I haven’t done anything, I’m just a healer. What could they possibly want with me?” I rambled out a series of questions, making sure my confusion was palpable. “I don’t remember, requesting you Aria. It was a direct order and you’re going. Do well to pack a bag.” Victor ordered as his expression darkened. The messenger stepped forward, “the alphas need her immediately. She has no time to pack.” “Alphas?” I questioned as I felt a knot of dread forming in my stomach. “Why would the alphas care about me?” Victor hesitated before he spoke up, “because of the prophecy.” The words hit me like a train wreck and I tried to swallow my nervousness. The prophecy. The one thing that was the most talked about in whispers was because it was abominable to speak about it out loud. It was something about a wolf born under a rare lunar alignment, destined to unite or destroy the packs. “But that’s absurd, don’t you think? What does the prophecy have to do with me?” I queried, my voice trembling in the process. I looked at the duo in front of me and neither of them said anything, but their unspoken words were enough for me to understand what they were implying. “No, you don’t think I’m…” my voice trailed off as the reality of what could be crashed heavily on me. “Aria, you were born twenty years ago, weren’t you? And exactly when you were born was when the second lunar eclipse in one thousand years was happening.” I felt the blood drain from my face. The messenger grabbed my arm, his grip cold. “Let’s go. The council awaits.” As we left the packed house, my mind spiraled out of control. I wondered what the future held and what my fate was going to be. Later that night, the moon was higher and the glow it cast over the forest path was eerie and unnervingly warm. The messenger led me through the forest, his silence more disturbing than the buzzing crickets that sang. “You know you could at least tell me what this is all about,” I tried, my voice coming out sharper than intended as I hoped to at least spark a conversation between us. The messenger didn’t respond, he - I hoped-moved with precision and silence. His presence became more disturbing and unsettling by the minute. The forest drew darker and the moon's rays began to disappear. The trees seemed to grow thicker and suffocate us in the process. I suddenly heard the snap of a twig behind me which caused me to whirl around. There was no one there, but I didn’t feel comfortable. “We’re being followed,” I stated without preamble. “Just keep moving,” the messenger stated simply, only after he had tilted his head to get a good look at his surroundings. “No!” I was defiant. “I heard something.” Another snap and this time it was closer - the messenger heard it too. He took his stand and placed his hand by his side where his blade was. “Stay behind me.” Before I could protest, a low growl rumbled through the air which caused me to yelp in surprise. My heart lurched into my mouth as a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from within the shadows. My pulse quickened in fear as I involuntarily took a step back. Then suddenly, another pair of eyes emerged, and then another, and then another. “Rogues!” The messenger hissed before I could fathom what was going on. The first wolf lunged towards me, causing me to stumble back, but the messenger immediately met it head-on with a blow from his blade. “Run!” The messenger yelled, his voice filled with urgency. I didn’t need to be told twice, but my legs wouldn’t work with me as I became momentarily paralyzed by fear. The messenger grabbed me and we both took off running. The sound of snarling wolves filled the air behind me. We couldn’t fight them all if we wanted to, neither could we outrun them. They were everywhere. My breath came out raspy as branches of trees tore through my shirt. The forest blurred around me, and it soon felt as though there was lead on my feet. A heavy weight slammed into my back, knocking me to the ground. I rolled over, my eyes widening in shock as a rogue wolf loomed over me, its fangs baring out at me. And then suddenly, from out of nowhere, a figure moved faster than I could comprehend and yanked the wolf off of my body, the body of the wolf hitting the ground with a sickening thud. “Stay down!” The figure growled, its voice gruff and commanding. I didn’t have the chance to protest before the rogue wolf lunged at me again but was met with a sharp claw from the figure. The battle flashed before my eyes and just like that it was over. The lifeless body of the rogue crumpled to the ground and the healer in me wanted to go up to it and see if I could save it. “Are you hurt?” The figure questioned and just like that, the Ray of the moon shone again and I could somewhat see his features. His scent reeked with superiority and I could instantly tell he was an alpha. “No, I’m not hurt,” I replied truthfully. “Good,” he said. “You’re coming with me.” “And you are?” I managed to whisper. “Kieran Nightshade,” he said, his tone carrying an air of power. “And if you want to live, you’ll come with me.” My legs felt like jelly as I staggered to my feet, causing me to lean heavily against a nearby tree. The rogue’s blood stained my hands, a stark reminder that I was this close to dying. “Kieran nightshade,” I repeated his name, my voice trembling. This wasn’t a name you just mentioned offhandedly, especially when it belonged to the alpha of the shadowfang pack. The most feared pack in all of Lunaris. He was ruthless, unforgiving, and dangerous. He stood above me- tall, his dark shoulder-length hair brushing the top of his shoulders as they framed his features. His golden eyes flickered with irritation and something else I couldn’t place. “There’s no time for introductions. We need to keep going.” “But the messenger…” “He’s dead. More rogues are coming, and we need to get going. Now!” He barked, but I hesitated, not comprehending the urgency in his tone. He grabbed my hand, and we walked through the thick forest, the faint light of the moon seeping through the curtain of trees that had veiled us. “What are you doing? Where are you taking me to?” “I’m protecting you.” “Protecting me? From what?” “The council wasn’t wrong to send for you,” he uttered without looking back. “You’re more valuable than you realize.” Before I could ask what he meant by that, a defeating howl pierced the night. Kieran stopped abruptly, sniffing the air and turning his head towards the sound. It was close— too close. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, leaving no room for argument as his voice was low and dangerous. The shadows shifted, and a massive wolf emerged from within. Its blazing orange eyes glowed like embers. I gasped at its size and slapped my hand across my mouth to stop me from yelling. “Hello, Kieran.”