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Aria Bell spent her life chasing myths, until she became one. Searching for a cure to save her dying sister, she stumbles into the Veiled Realm, a hidden world of werewolves, and is claimed as Luca Thorne's fated mate. But when war erupts and the Alpha is murdered, Luca betrays her, breaking their sacred bond. Imprisoned and abandoned, Aria prepares for the end, until the Moon Goddess awakens within her. Now, as war rages and darkness rises, one question remains Will Luca fight beside her, or will love be lost to war?
Chapter 1 PROLOGUE: Lucas's Dream
The forest was alive with shadows, each moving in time with the gentle sway of the trees. The night was deep, the air thick with the weight of something unseen, and the full moon hung low, casting its silver light across the clearing. In the center stood an ancient stone temple, half-buried in creeping vines and moss, a place known only to those who followed the moon's whispered secrets. A soft glow from the moon bathed everything in a pale, ethereal light, as if the night itself had paused to watch.
Cloaked figures moved in a slow, deliberate circle, their dark robes merging with the shadows, making it impossible to see their faces. The only sound was the faint rustle of the trees, as if they, too, were holding their breath. The figures stopped, and all at once, they turned to face him, eyes hidden, yet he felt the weight of their gazes pierce through him.
As one, they pulled back their hoods, revealing blank, faceless masks that shone faintly under the moonlight. A chill gripped Luca's spine, his heart quickening as the ritual began. He could feel the power in the air, a hum that thrummed through his veins, and he realized he was caught in something ancient, something he could not control.
The figures began to chant, their voices rising and falling in a haunting melody that sent shivers down his spine. The words, both familiar and strange, echoed through the clearing, filling the air with a sense of foreboding and awe.
Above the world, she casts her light,
A queen of shadows, born of night.
With silver robes that softly gleam,
She moves through stars, a waking dream.
Her crown is carved from a comet's glow.
Her eyes reflect the earth below.
A thousand secrets fill her gaze,
Of ancient worlds and endless days.
She bathes the forests, lakes, and seas,
In waves of light that bend the trees.
The wolves, howl her name with pride,
And oceans pulse beneath her tide.
She is the mother of the night,
The guardian of stars' faint light.
With every phase, her power grows,
From slender arc to full moon's glow.
A goddess born of dusk and dawn,
In shadows deep, she carries on.
She feels the ebb of life and death,
The cycles bound in every breath.
Her whispers float on the evening's breeze,
To dance with leaves and stir the seas.
She watches over dreams and fears,
And kisses softly unseen tears.
Beneath her gaze, the wolves transform,
Their form a blaze of fur and storm.
With howls that pierce the midnight air.
They race beneath her light, aware.
For in the moon's embrace, they change,
Their primal hearts, both wild and strange.
A bond of passion, fierce and true,
Awakens in the night's cool hue.
Two lovers meet beneath her glow,
In silent vows, their hearts will know.
Her light, a promise softly sealed,
In love's embrace, they're both revealed.
A fleeting kiss, a touch so pure,
Their souls entwined, a love that's sure.
The wolf, the goddess, and the moon,
In harmony, their hearts in tune.
Oh, ancient spirit, fierce and free,
The moon, our muse, our mystery.
In twilight's hush, we hear her call,
The Moon Goddess, who reigns us all.
With gentle grace, she guides the night,
A timeless force, serene and bright.
The world's dark veil, she gently lifts,
Her light-a goddess's sacred gift.
Luca's breath caught as the chant grew louder, the power in the words tightening around him like a vice. The moon seemed to pulse with each verse, glowing brighter, casting long shadows that danced across the forest floor. The cloaked figures raised their arms, pointing toward him as the final lines echoed in the clearing. His heart thundered in his chest, his senses overwhelmed, and then, with a sudden, jarring clarity, they all fell silent. The light of the moon flickered, and he was left staring into their empty faces.
A cold wind swept through the trees, and the moonlight dimmed. Panic rose in his chest as the shadows twisted, and before he could move, the ground seemed to give way beneath him. He gasped, jerking awake in his bed, drenched in sweat. His breathing was ragged, his heart still pummeling with the echoes of the ritual. The dream had felt real-too real-and the chant lingered in his mind like a warning.
He sat up, running a trembling hand through his hair, and looked out the window to see the moon still hanging low in the sky, casting its cold light over the darkened landscape. Something was coming, he could feel it in his bones, but he didn't know what. All he knew was that he couldn't shake the feeling that the dream had been more than a dream. It had been a glimpse of something waiting just beyond the veil.
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