Chosen by the moon, rejected by the alpha

Liora stood at the forest's threshold, Mira's cloak heavy on her shoulders, the runed dagger strapped to her hip. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and s

ders, even half-elves. Follow the path until you reach the shrine. The Moonstone will be

presence, distant but unyielding, a thread she couldn't fully sever. She pushed it down, focusing on the path ahead, a narrow tr

his eyes. "Come back with the Moonstone. Prove them

still a raw wound. She turned to the Fa

unds of the stronghold-distant voices, the clatter of steel-faded into silence. Only the rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of

Torin's warning about the spirits echoing in her mind. She'd expected movement-eyes in the shadows, whispers on the wind-but the forest was eerily still, a

-howl. On it rested the Moonstone, a fist-sized orb that glowed with a soft, silvery light, its surface rippling like water under moonlight. Liora's breath caught, the stone'

nslucent, their forms shifting between human and wolf. Their eyes burned with a cold, white ligh

, their words weaving through the air like s

eadying weight. "I am Liora Veyne, chosen by Selys as a Lunari. I seek the Moon

woman with a spectral crown of antlers, tilted her head, her eyes boring into Liora's. "Selys's chosen, yet y

. "I'm not frail," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "I've seen the

. "Words are wind," the antlered woman said. "

called on her magic. A pulse of light erupted from her, pushing the shadows back, but they reformed, their shapes now wolves w

he blade passed through the spirit, dispersing it into mist, but it reformed instantly, its growl shaking the ground. She stumbled, her magic flari

her. "Your light is weak, your heart divide

ge burning, Kael's cold eyes, the Void's black-starred figure from her dreams. Doubt clawed at her, but she gripped

fore, and the spirits recoiled, their forms wavering. The antlered woman's eyes narrowed, but a flick

cold, his voice echoing his rejection: "I will not be bound to one who cannot stand as my equal." The bond burned in her chest, a mix of

its pain, but its warmth, the faint thread that still connected her to Kael. She didn't need his approval, but she wou

ing reappeared, the Moonstone glowing brighter on the altar. The antlered woman stepped forward,

softer now. "But one test remains. The Moon

ooked at the Moonstone, its light pulsing in time with her heartbeat, she knew. "I offer my f

r, floating toward Liora. Its light enveloped her, warm and alive, and her magic surged, stronger, steadier, as if the stone ha

ing as their forms dissolved into mist. "Take the Mo

ating the path back to the stronghold. Her arm throbbed where the spirit's claws had struck, but the pain felt d

s, or pride. She pushed it away, focusing on the Moonstone's warmth. The stronghold came into view, its gates open,

with awe. Mira rushed forward, hugging her

ed but unbroken. "I t

eyes met hers, and the bond flared, a mix of fire and ice. She held his gaze, the Moonstone's light casting her shadow long an