Echoes of the Past

The forest was quiet again, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. Luna sat on a fallen log, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared into the flickering flames of the campfire Kael had built. The warmth of the fire did little to ease the chill that had settled deep in her bones.

Kael moved silently around the campsite, his movements precise and efficient as he checked the perimeter. He had barely spoken since their encounter with Selene, his expression dark and unreadable. Luna wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but the words caught in her throat.

Instead, she focused on the pendant around her neck, its weight a constant reminder of the power she carried—and the danger that came with it. The magic inside her felt different now, more alive, as if it had been awakened by the fight. She could feel it humming beneath her skin, a steady, pulsing rhythm that matched the beat of her heart.

"You should rest," Kael said, his voice breaking the silence.

Luna looked up to find him standing a few feet away, his golden eyes reflecting the firelight. "I can't," she admitted. "Every time I close my eyes, I see her. Selene. And the way she looked at me…"

Kael's jaw tightened, and he stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "She won't touch you again. I won't let her."

Luna wanted to believe him, but the memory of Selene's glowing eyes and cruel smile was burned into her mind. "What if she's not alone? What if the rest of the Bloodfang Pack is out there, waiting for us?"

"Then we'll be ready," Kael said, his voice firm. "But you can't fight if you're exhausted. You need to rest."

Luna sighed and nodded, though she knew sleep would be impossible. She watched as Kael sat down across from her, his movements graceful despite the tension in his body. The firelight danced across his face, softening the hard edges and highlighting the faint scars that marked his skin.

"Kael," she said after a moment, her voice soft. "What happens now?"

He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Now, we keep moving. The Bloodfang Pack won't stop until they have the pendant, and we can't let that happen."

"I know," Luna said, her fingers brushing against the pendant. "But what about me? What happens when we reach the temple? What if I'm not strong enough to control the magic?"

Kael's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. "You're stronger than you think, Luna. And you're not alone. I'll be with you every step of the way."

Luna's breath caught at the intensity in his voice, at the way his eyes seemed to see straight through her. She wanted to believe him, to trust him, but the fear was still there, lurking in the back of her mind.

"Kael," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?"

He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the fire. For a long moment, he didn't speak, and Luna wondered if he would answer at all. Then he looked back at her, his eyes filled with a raw emotion she couldn't name.

"Because I made a promise," he said, his voice low and rough. "To protect the temple. To protect you. And I don't break my promises."

Luna's heart ached at the pain in his voice, at the weight of the burden he carried. She wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him, but before she could, a sound broke the silence—a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down her spine.

Kael was on his feet in an instant, his body tense and ready. Luna stood too, her hands glowing faintly as she called on her magic.

"Stay behind me," Kael said, his voice sharp with warning.

But before Luna could respond, a figure stepped into the firelight. It wasn't Selene or another werewolf. It was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and eyes that glowed like embers.

"Well, well," the man said, his voice dripping with malice. "Look what we have here."

Kael's growl was low and menacing, his body shifting as he prepared to attack. But the man just smiled, a cruel, twisted smile that made Luna's blood run cold.

"Relax, Kael," the man said, his tone mocking. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to deliver a message."

"What message?" Kael demanded, his voice a snarl.

The man's gaze shifted to Luna, and his smile widened. "The Bloodfang Pack isn't the only one looking for the Moon Priestess. And if you want to keep her safe, you'd better move fast. Because the others… they're not as patient as we are."

Before Kael could react, the man turned and disappeared into the shadows, his laughter echoing through the trees.

Luna's heart pounded as she looked at Kael, her mind racing. "Who was that? What did he mean?"

Kael's expression was grim, his jaw tight with tension. "It means we're running out of time. And we're not the only ones who know about the temple."

Luna's stomach churned at the thought. "What do we do?"

Kael looked at her, his eyes filled with determination. "We keep moving. And we get to the temple before they do."