Chapter 9: The Elder’s Truth

Celestia's hands clenched into fists as she faced Elder Selene. The dim candlelight flickered in the library, casting long shadows across the stone walls. The book, The Moon's Oath, lay between them like an unspoken challenge—proof of a past that had been deliberately erased.

"You knew," Celestia said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Selene sighed, the weight of years pressing into her tired eyes. "I knew pieces. I knew there was a reason the prophecy was buried. But even I was not told everything."

Celestia exchanged a look with Rhea, who was shifting uncomfortably beside her. They had risked everything sneaking into the forbidden archives, and yet it seemed that Selene had expected this moment to come.

"Then tell us what you do know," Celestia demanded. "Who was Astraea? What happened to her? And why—" She took a deep breath. "Why does this prophecy point to me?"

Selene hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward and placing a hand over The Moon's Oath. When she spoke, her voice was softer than before, tinged with something that sounded like regret.

"Astraea was the first true Luna of the Saints Moon Pack," she began. "She was not just an Alpha's mate—she was a ruler in her own right. Unlike any before her, she wielded the moon's gift in ways no one could comprehend. She was a Saint, chosen by the goddess herself."

Celestia's heart pounded. "And then she vanished."

Selene nodded gravely. "Yes. But not because she was taken, nor because she betrayed the pack. She was erased."

Rhea sucked in a breath, but Celestia already knew the truth before Selene even said it.

"The elders feared her," Celestia murmured. "They feared what she could become."

Selene's silence was confirmation enough.

"Astraea's power was unlike anything the werewolf world had ever seen," Selene continued, her fingers trailing along the book's worn cover. "She could heal wounds that no one else could. She could command the stars themselves in battle, guiding warriors to victory. And… she could wield the shadows."

Celestia's breath caught in her throat.

That power. That ability.

It sounded exactly like what she had begun to experience.

"She was not just the Luna of the Saints Moon Pack," Selene said. "She was a bridge between the light and the dark, a force beyond what any pack had ever known. But that power made her dangerous in the eyes of the elders. Even those who followed her began to fear her."

Celestia swallowed hard. "So they erased her." Selene said.

"Her name. Her deeds. Her bloodline. They even changed history to make it seem as though she had never existed. Only the oldest among the elders knew the truth—and they took that knowledge to their graves."

Celestia felt her stomach twist. "Then why am I here?" she asked. "If they destroyed everything, how am I still alive?"

Selene's expression turned somber. "Because Astraea didn't disappear completely."

The air between them felt thick with tension.

"She left behind a legacy," Selene whispered. "A hidden bloodline. And you, Celestia Ace—you are her descendant."

Silence.

The words echoed in Celestia's mind, her entire body turning numb.

"I…" She struggled to find words, but they stuck in her throat. "I'm related to her?"

"Yes," Selene confirmed. "And if the prophecy is correct, then you are not just a descendant. You are her successor—the next Saint."

Rhea let out a low whistle. "Well. That's… a lot."

Celestia barely heard her. She was too busy piecing together everything—the visions, the strange power coursing through her veins, the way her body seemed to resonate with the moon itself. It all made sense now.

She had been chosen. Not just as Luna. Not just as Darius's mate.

But as something far greater.

And that terrified her.

"If this is true," she said slowly, "then the Lycans must already know."

Selene's expression darkened. "Yes. And that's why King Aldric has started to move."

Celestia's stomach twisted. "He's looking for me."

"He doesn't just want you," Selene corrected. "He wants your power."

Celestia gritted her teeth. "Then we don't have time to waste. If Aldric knows who I am, he'll come for the pack next."

Rhea frowned. "But why would the Lycans care about the Lunar Saints? I get that Cel's powerful, but aren't they supposed to be all brute strength and war?"

Selene turned to her with a solemn look. "Because, child, the Lycans were the first to betray Astraea."

Both Celestia and Rhea froze.

"What?" Celestia asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Selene nodded. "It was the Lycans who revealed her power to the other packs. It was the Lycans who struck first when the war began. And now, history is repeating itself. Aldric doesn't just want to stop you—he wants to control you."

Celestia's hands curled into fists. The room suddenly felt suffocating.

For so long, she had believed that she was just another Luna, another leader bound by duty and tradition. But now, everything was different.

She wasn't just a Luna.

She wasn't just Darius's mate.

She was Astraea's heir.

And the war had already begun.

Rhea exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "So, what do we do?"

Celestia didn't hesitate. "We prepare. If the Lycans want a war, then we make sure The Saints Moon Pack is ready to fight."

Selene studied her for a moment before nodding. "Darius must be told the full truth. No more secrets."

Celestia clenched her fists, determination burning in her chest. "I'll tell him."

Rhea raised an eyebrow. "You sure? He's not exactly the best at handling surprises."

Celestia smirked slightly. "Then he'll have to learn."

But as she turned to leave, a chilling thought entered her mind.

The prophecy had foretold her rise.

But it had also foretold a great sacrifice.

And deep down, Celestia knew—before this war was over, she would have to give up something she could never get back.

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End of Chapter 9