Embracing the Moon

The moon hung heavy and bright in the dark sky, bathing the forest in silver light. The air was cool, carrying the faint rustle of leaves and the distant call of night birds. Cinder stood at the edge of the clearing, her heart steady for the first time in what felt like forever. The full moon, once a symbol of fear and chaos, now felt like a beacon of strength.

She took a deep breath, letting the crisp air fill her lungs. This night was different. She wasn't running from the power within her, nor was she trying to suppress it. Instead, she stood tall, ready to embrace it fully. The pack gathered behind her, their presence a reassuring warmth against her back. They had come to witness something extraordinary—something that had taken Cinder a long time to accept.