177 The final truth…
She stared at me for a second and then lowered on her hind–legs, supporting herself with her foreleg. Everything must have worn her out. I took another step forward when suddenly, a group of warriors pushed their way through the crowd. They carried silver chains and wolfsbane powder,
And immediately, they rushed at her.
“Stop!” 1 shouted at the top of my voice, but the sudden commotion drowned my voice out as my grandfather and a few other elders arrived. The crowd parted like water before them, creating a path until he came to stand in front.
“Take her away,” he commanded again, staring pointedly at the warriors who were equally looking at me. I could see the confusion on their faces.
Before I could intervene, Mirriam stepped forward, standing in the path of the warriors, her white robes swirling around her feet. “We cannot allow this.”
“And why not?” My grandfather turned to her, his voice dripping with disdain.
“Today is the Harvest Moon, Miriam said cooly. “On this sacred night, we cannot permit such
violence:
He scoffed. “Are you trying to lecture me on what’s right on wrong, priestess? Being the messenger of the Moon Goddess doesn’t give you the right to deceive me or challenge me. We will only capture her, nothing more.
Miriam held her ground. “In matters like this, I have vast knowledge than you, Elder Eldric. If you had listened to us that night, perhaps tragedy wouldn’t have befallen you. Today is the Harvest Moon. To harm this creature now would invite the wrath of the goddess herself.”
My grandfather remained quiet for a few minutes before he gritted his teeth again. “What happened had nothing to do with what I had done that night?
“Your continuous disdain for werewolves, Elder Eldric, will cause you more harm than good.
“Spare me your theatrics. This creature threatens the pack, and I will take care of it.
Miriam stepped closer, blocking the warriors who tried to move past her. “You don’t understand. This wolf is.”
Beton
be could finish, the warriors pushed past her, their chains rattling as they closed in on the wolf
As I opened my mouth to speak, Nathan suddenly appeared by my side. His voice was low as he whispered into my car. “Ramsey, that wolf it’s Lyla”
If my mad already racing “How do you know that?”
Hr didur answer the He was already moving I could see he wanted to stop the warriors, but the wolf was sinarter than them all. As the warriors lunged at her. She let out a fierce snarl as
177 The final truth.
she fought back, avoiding the net they had brought out. She threw the first two warriors aside, their bodies crashing into the walls,
The remaining two hesitated, but the wolf didn’t give them a chance. It pounced on them immediately, her claws raking across their armor, sending them sprawling.
The crowd erupted into a collective gasp as the wolf turned, her eyes glowing, scanning the room. It let out a final snarl before leaping through the large window behind it. The warriors immediately rushed to the window, but I knew they’d find nothing. She was gone, leaving behind. only shattered glass.
My grandfather’s words from earlier took on a new meaning, and the arranged marriage to Cassidy felt less like tradition and more like a calculated move.
My grandfather’s voice broke through the silence, sharp and furious. “Seal the grounds! We must not allow that werewolf to escape!”
But I wasn’t listening. One name consumed my thoughts.
Lvia!
If what Nathan said was true, then everything I thought I knew had just been turned upside
down
As the chaos subsided, I caught Miriam’s eyes. Though there wasn’t much emotion on her face, there was something in her gaze–knowledge, warning, or perhaps both. While Nathan stood at the broken window with a thoughtful expression.
The room slowly emptied; some warriors stayed back to help the fallen warriors. But I refused to move. To think that the woman I loved was something out of legend, a being of immense power and mystery.
Tonight. I would have to make that decision. To decide what is more important to me. The White Moon Throne or following my heart.
I turned to Nathan, but he was already at the door of the room and our gazes met and held. After a few minutes, he muttered.
going after her. I will bring her back”
“How did you know it was her?” I asked, closing the distance between us.
Beland me, the priestesses were already moving, picking their way through the blood.
“Because I know!” he said with a belligerent tone. “Her birth mark–her wolf carries her
birthmark”
“And
“And you’re not surprised she has a wolf?”
His gaze daited past ine towards the priestesses and I knew it was an indication that he wanted to take this conversation risewhere. As I moved to follow hum, Mother Liora called out.
It’s time for the Harvest Moon ritual to start, Lycan Leader. You cannot leave.”
177 The final truth.
I gazed out of the window, noting the moon had grown bigger since the last time I saw it. I gazed at Nathan one more time, wondering just how much mystery I had to unveil tonight.
“Tell me!” I whispered, moving closer to him. “Tell me everything,” he arched his brow. “Please,” I added.
“When Lyla was 14, she had her wolf, on the day of the Harvest Moon like this. That was way before we started coming all the way to the White Mountains.”
“Seriously” My eyes widened. “I’m guessing she doesn’t know.”
He stared at me for a few seconds before nodding.
I heard a rustle by me, when I turned it was Miriam. All the other priestesses were filing out of the room, glancing at the three of us curiously. When it was just us, Miriam inhaled and exhaled shakily.
“Back then, it was just a normal wolf. On the day she got it, the wolf, because of its strength, killed her baby brother. He was only a month old, and it was all a mistake. Because of that, we had to suppress the wolf entirely. Two years later…” she trailed off, lowering her head.
“So, the side effect of that was her pheromones?” I asked.
“Yes, Miriam nodded. “It was either that or the wolf and we didn’t want to take risk or Luna Vanessa was hellbent on getting revenge for her dead son. That was the only way we could keep her away from Lyla”
rather,
“Damn! The Harvest Moon truly has a way of revealing secrets,” I chuckled dryly. “And now, that wolf developed into this? The two–tailed wolf?”
Miriam nodded. “I had my suspicion because it was neither an Alpha nor a Beta wolf. Plus, given the condition surrounding me and her father…”
“You slept with a married man, Miriam. There is no condition…”
“I did not know she bristled, her eyes mirroring tears. “I found out too late and there was nothing I could do except keep the baby”
after her now. She couldn’t have gone far, Nathan, who has been quiet, blurted.
think she’ll not be dangerous to you? Her wolf is clearly in control,” I said.
“And you thir
“Well, somebody needs to stop her before the ritual begins, Nathan replied and started walking away
