Chapter 15 - Secrets in the Moonborn Archives

The wind carried a chilling whisper through the dense forest as Celestia, Darius, Lucien, and Elias pressed forward. The trees grew taller and thicker the deeper they ventured, their twisted branches forming a suffocating canopy above. Shadows flickered around them, and every rustling leaf felt like a whisper of something unseen.

They had been walking for hours toward their destination—the Moonborn Archives, an ancient ruin that held secrets about their kind, secrets Celestia needed to uncover.

Celestia's heartbeat quickened as she stepped carefully over the uneven forest floor. Ever since the battle against Aldric, she had felt something inside her shift. A power had awakened—but she had no idea what it truly was, or how to control it.

Darius led the way, his golden eyes scanning the area for danger. His grip on his sword was firm, every muscle in his body tense.

Lucien was just behind him, ever alert, his twin daggers glinting under the moonlight. "This place feels… wrong," he muttered.

Elias, at the rear, had an arrow nocked, his sharp gaze darting around. "We're being watched."

Celestia stiffened. "By what?"

Elias didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a slow breath and whispered, "I don't know yet."

A cold shiver ran down Celestia's spine.

They moved in silence, senses on high alert.

Then, suddenly—a sound.

Not footsteps. Not an animal.

A whisper.

"Turn back."

Celestia froze. The words didn't come from the forest. They echoed inside her head.

Lucien's hand was already on his weapon, but he hadn't reacted to the voice. Neither had Darius or Elias.

Celestia clenched her fists. "Did you hear that?"

Darius frowned. "Hear what?"

Celestia hesitated. She wasn't imagining it. The voice had been real—but why was she the only one who heard it?

Before she could speak again, a sudden gust of wind howled through the trees. The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet, and the shadows around them… shifted.

Darius's eyes narrowed. "Move. Now."

They didn't need to be told twice.

After what felt like an eternity, the thick forest finally opened up, revealing the ruins of an ancient temple.

The Moonborn Archives were a breathtaking sight—crumbling stone pillars stretched toward the sky, their surfaces covered in glowing carvings of wolves, moons, and lost symbols. The air itself seemed alive, humming with an energy older than any living werewolf.

Celestia felt something deep inside her stir.

She took a slow step forward, her fingers grazing one of the pillars. The carvings were warm to the touch. A connection.

"This place isn't dead," she whispered.

Lucien eyed the ruins warily. "It's watching us."

Elias kneeled beside a cracked stone tablet, brushing away the dust. "These inscriptions… they're written in the old tongue."

Celestia traced the letters with her fingertips. The moment she did, a pulse of silver light surged through the ruins.

The air crackled. The symbols began to glow brighter.

Then—a voice.

"Daughter of the Moon… you have come."

A shimmering figure materialized before them—a woman with silver eyes, mirroring Celestia's own.

Darius moved to protect Celestia, but she stepped forward, her breath catching.

"Who are you?" she asked.

The spirit's voice was calm, ancient. "I am a memory of what was lost. And you, child, are the key to what must be found."

Celestia swallowed. "What does that mean?"

The spirit raised a hand, and suddenly, the carvings along the walls shifted, revealing scenes from the past—images of wolves bathed in moonlight, of wars fought in blood and fire.

"You are Moonborn," the spirit whispered.

Silence.

Lucien stiffened. "That's impossible."

Darius's eyes darkened. "The Moonborn were wiped out centuries ago."

Elias exhaled sharply. "Then how is she—?"

The spirit's gaze didn't waver. "Not all was lost."

Celestia's heart pounded.

If she was Moonborn, then she wasn't just another werewolf. She was something more. Something forgotten.

And Aldric had known all along.

Before Celestia could ask more, a thunderous explosion rocked the ruins.

The ground shook violently. Dust and debris filled the air.

Elias cursed. "We're under attack!"

Darius's expression darkened. "Lycans?"

Lucien's eyes narrowed. "No." He pointed toward the entrance.

Through the settling dust, a figure emerged.

Tall. Confident. Smirking. Golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Aldric," Celestia whispered.

The Lycan King laughed softly, brushing off his coat. "You know, I was going to wait a little longer before visiting these ruins myself…" His gaze locked onto Celestia. "But you just couldn't help rushing toward your destiny, could you?"

Darius snarled, stepping forward. "How did you find us?"

Aldric chuckled. "Oh, Saints, you should know by now—I always have my ways."

Celestia's breath hitched. He had followed them. He had been watching.

And now, he knew the truth.

Darius didn't wait. He lunged—his fist moving faster than a blur—straight for Aldric's jaw.

The Lycan King barely flinched. He had anticipated it.

With a flick of his wrist, Aldric blocked Darius's strike and countered, delivering a devastating blow to his ribs. Darius grunted, skidding backward.

Lucien attacked next, his daggers flashing. But Aldric moved like a shadow, dodging effortlessly.

Elias loosed an arrow—only for Aldric to catch it midair and snap it in half.

Celestia's pulse pounded. They couldn't beat him—not like this.

Aldric's gaze met hers. "You felt it, didn't you?" he mused. "The power in your veins. The truth you were never meant to know."

Celestia clenched her fists. "What do you want from me?"

Aldric's smirk faded. "I want to see how far you can go."

Then, he vanished.

Celestia barely had time to react before a hand wrapped around her throat, lifting her off the ground.

She gasped, power surging through her in panic.

"Show me, Moonborn," Aldric whispered.

Celestia's vision blurred. Her lungs burned. The power inside her began to break free.

And then—

Light erupted.

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End of Chapter 15