Moonbound: The Blood Pact

ite o

as Lira stepped barefoot onto the training grounds. Her skin prickled from the cold, but her focus was inward, on the gathering storm in her

rossed, clad in leathers stained by years of sweat a

asked, with his

ay," she

oo

ctable. Lira dropped low, sweeping his legs, but he sprang backward and drove his boot toward her chest. She rolled, re

re was no speech

nder the weak morning light as she snarled, her wolf form powerful but still lean. Kade shifted too, he is

panting in the dew-soaked gra

this time," Kade sa

to last, I'm

aster, the Hollowborn won'

h her jaw tight, "The

led with old glyphs, carved deep into the stone, glowing faintly with residual magic. Maelen sa

ngry," Ma

ied, "One of ours was torn ou

owborn don't waste gestures. Ev

nt me to

he Seer said. "Because they k

to fists, "Then let th

ngeance is a fire, child, it might

need th

face. "You think fury makes you strong, but it's the oath that matters, Not the ra

he weight of those words pres

of, the rite of blood is not just tradition, It's a bindi

Lira said, "Tell

into the whispering hollow. This was the first trial of the rit

ible shapes, and the earth reeked of old magic. Every leaf crunc

til she reached the bloodstone altar a jagged

neath it a

ow eyes blinked into view, A massive black-furred wolf stalked forward, lips

Her bones shifted again, her limbs lengthened, and the si

er and older, but Lira was faster. She used her environment, leaping over

ng, she didn't give chase. She stood at the a

est fel

one co

he Circle's magic a spiritual inferno only visible to the soul. Lira sat with

e yourself, all your trut

id of fire,"

grew harsh, "

ng everything. She saw herself as a child, blood on her hands, she saw her mother's

, colder, and alone, Standing

fate? the f

snarle

pro

not to extinguish them but to shape them. The fir

yphs had faded. Maelen sat in silenc

f out," the Seer sa

r skin smudged

few," s

on the third night, t

rcle's heart. Elders gathered, each carrying a shard of

stepped

of flesh, You are a child of the Pact. Speak yo

ang through th

eyna, granddaughter of Maelen, My blood runs w

s murmure

tect the clans, even when they turn away, I vow to never kneel befo

forward with

bleed wi

es

od dripped onto the central stone,

ons flooded her, wolves running across moonscapes, mountains sp

he bond settled

was

spersed, Maelen

Hollowborn will feel it

come," L

d thin, "You can't f

Lira replied, gla

idn't meet

very sound clearer and every scent deeper. The Rite had unlocked something, she cou

ut from the

she

a pup limped through the entra

gasped, "The Hollow

an arrow slammed into hi

tower bel

olf form, Silver fur flashed under torchlight as sh

saw

and their eyes burning with u

idn't

at the nearest one, w

she wasn't fighting as a

ng as a true h