Chapter 5: A Gathering Storm

The wind howled through the fortress walls, carrying the scent of an oncoming storm. Celestia stood on the balcony outside her chambers, gazing into the dark expanse of the forest. Somewhere beyond the thick canopy of trees, the Lycans were gathering. Preparing. For what, she wasn't sure, but every instinct told her that time was running out.

Her mind replayed Elder Magnus's warning from earlier:

"When the moon is shadowed by blood and the Alpha and Luna rise with the power of the forgotten, the war shall begin anew."

Her grip tightened around the stone railing. If she and Darius were truly meant to be part of this prophecy, why did she feel so unprepared? There was power inside her—she could feel it—but it remained just out of reach.

A familiar presence approached. She turned just as Darius stepped onto the balcony. His silver eyes met hers, scanning her face with an unreadable expression.

"You're thinking about the prophecy," he said.

She nodded. "It feels like we're missing something. The Lycans are moving too fast."

Darius exhaled. "They wouldn't risk a full-scale attack unless they had an advantage."

Celestia frowned. "What kind of advantage?"

He hesitated. "That's what we need to find out."

They stood in silence, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on them. The Saints Moon Pack was strong, but strength alone wouldn't win this war. They needed knowledge.

And knowledge came with a price.

---

Morning arrived with an urgent summons. The council had gathered in the great hall, a circular chamber lined with towering windows that bathed the stone walls in golden light. Despite the warmth of the sun, the atmosphere was tense.

Elder Magnus stood at the head of the table, his hands resting on an ancient map spread before him. His expression was grim. "The Lycans have begun rallying their forces. Our scouts report increased activity near the eastern ridge."

Murmurs filled the room. Celestia exchanged a glance with Darius. The eastern ridge wasn't far—it was dangerously close to their borders.

Elder Selene, seated beside Magnus, cleared her throat. "There is more. We have received word that King Aldric has summoned his warlords."

A hush fell over the room.

Darius's voice was deadly calm. "Warlords?"

Magnus nodded. "Kael Drax leads the charge. Wherever he goes, blood follows."

Celestia's stomach twisted. She had heard the name before—Kael Drax, the Butcher of Eldren Pass. A ruthless warrior known for his brutality. If he was leading the Lycans, it meant this war had already begun.

Darius straightened. "We need to be ready. If they attack, we defend with everything we have."

Elder Magnus hesitated. "There is… another option."

Everyone turned to him.

Magnus's gaze settled on Celestia. "You must seek out Vera Nightshade."

A chill ran down Celestia's spine.

"The witch seer?" she asked.

Selene nodded. "She is one of the last who still holds knowledge of the old prophecies. If there is any way to unlock the full truth, she will know."

Darius's expression darkened. "You expect us to trust a witch?"

"She is no friend to the Lycans," Magnus countered. "She has no allegiance beyond the old ways."

Celestia inhaled deeply. "Where can we find her?"

Selene hesitated. "She resides in the Ashen Ruins."

A tense silence followed. The Ashen Ruins were a cursed place, abandoned long ago after a battle that left it soaked in dark magic.

Darius shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

Celestia met his gaze. "And if it's our only chance to understand the prophecy?"

His jaw tightened. He didn't like it—but he knew she was right.

Finally, he sighed. "We leave at dusk."

---

*Into the Ashen Ruins

The journey to the Ashen Ruins was treacherous. The dense forest gave way to jagged cliffs and blackened trees, their branches twisted like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and even the animals had abandoned this place.

Celestia pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. The ruins loomed ahead—crumbling stone structures covered in vines and mist. A hollow wind whispered through the empty corridors, carrying voices of the past.

"This place is cursed," Rhea muttered.

Elias nodded. "Let's make this quick."

They stepped into the ruins cautiously, their senses on high alert. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, littered with remnants of a forgotten time.

Then, a voice echoed through the mist.

"I was wondering when you'd come."

Celestia spun around.

A woman stood at the heart of the ruins. Tall and draped in midnight-blue robes, her silver hair fell in wild waves down her back. Her violet eyes shimmered unnaturally, as if seeing into a world beyond this one.

Vera Nightshade.

She smiled. "The Luna of the Saints Moon Pack. And the Alpha." Her gaze flickered to Darius. "You have your father's eyes."

Darius stiffened. "You knew my father?"

Vera chuckled. "I have known many Alphas before you, boy."

Celestia stepped forward. "We came for answers."

Vera tilted her head. "And I may give them. But knowledge comes with a price."

Celestia swallowed. "What do you want?"

Vera's smile faded. "A glimpse into what is coming."

Before anyone could react, she lifted her hand. A flash of violet light engulfed Celestia.

Images burst into her mind—

A battlefield drenched in blood. Darius standing over a fallen warrior, his hands trembling. The Lycans howling under a crimson moon. Shadows rising from the ground, engulfing everything in darkness.

And at the center of it all—Celestia, standing alone, power surging through her veins.

Then, the vision shattered.

Celestia gasped, stumbling back.

Darius caught her. "Celestia—"

Vera's voice was distant, almost sorrowful. "You have seen it now. The storm that comes."

Celestia's breathing was ragged. The vision had felt so real. "What does it mean?"

Vera's gaze was unreadable. "It means the prophecy is unfolding. And if you are not ready, everything you love will be consumed by darkness."

Silence hung between them.

Finally, Vera turned away. "Go. The war comes whether you seek it or not."

Darius tightened his grip on Celestia's arm. "We're leaving."

They turned away from the ruins, but Celestia's mind was spinning. The vision. The power she had felt surging through her.

She wasn't sure what scared her more—the Lycans' coming war.

Or the fact that, in the vision, she had been alone.

---

End of chapter 5.