Chapter 17 - The Alpha’s Oath

The moon hung high over the Saints Moon Pack, its silver glow washing over the land like a quiet promise. Yet, within the pack's great hall, the air was heavy with tension. The elders had dispersed after long discussions, but for Celestia, rest felt impossible.

She stood on the balcony of the Alpha's residence, staring out over the darkened forests. The energy within her still pulsed beneath her skin, a constant hum of something both foreign and familiar.

Darius stepped beside her, his presence a steady anchor. "You should be resting."

Celestia exhaled. "I can't."

He leaned against the railing, golden eyes watching her closely. "You're thinking about what comes next."

She turned to him, searching his expression. "Aldric knows what I am, and now the pack does too. They looked at me differently, Darius."

His jaw clenched. "They're just… processing it. The Moonborn are legends to most. The idea that you're real, that your power is waking up—it changes things."

Celestia swallowed. "And if they fear me?"

Darius turned fully to her, placing a hand on her cheek. "Then they'll learn. You are my Luna. Our pack will stand with you." His voice softened, but there was a fierce promise behind it. "And if anyone dares to challenge you, they answer to me."

A small smile tugged at her lips despite the weight in her chest. "You always make things sound so simple."

"Because for me, they are," he murmured. "I swore to protect you, Celestia. No matter what comes, I'll be by your side."

She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against his. "Then let's be ready for what's next."

---

Morning came swiftly.

The training grounds were already bustling when Celestia arrived, dressed in light battle leathers. Warriors paused their sparring to watch her, murmurs rippling through the crowd.

Lucien was the first to break the silence. "Well, if it isn't our Moonborn prodigy." He smirked, twirling his twin daggers. "You here to put us all to shame?"

Celestia rolled her eyes. "I'm here to make sure I don't accidentally blast anyone into a tree."

Lucien chuckled. "Fair enough."

Elder Mira approached, her silver-gray hair tied back, her stance firm. "Your training will be unlike anything the others go through," she stated. "Your power is not just about physical combat—it is tied to the moon, to something ancient. You must learn to command it, or it will command you."

Celestia took a deep breath. "Then let's start."

Mira nodded. "We begin with control."

---

The training was unlike anything Celestia had experienced before.

Mira led her deep into the forest, away from the curious eyes of the pack. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the towering trees created a quiet sanctuary.

"Your power is instinctual," Mira explained, standing before her. "But instincts alone are not enough. You must learn to call upon it at will."

Celestia closed her eyes, focusing inward.

She reached for the energy within her, the same force that had exploded from her in the ruins. At first, there was nothing. Then—

A spark.

Silver light flickered at her fingertips, dancing like a restless flame.

Mira observed with careful eyes. "Good. Now shape it."

Celestia gritted her teeth, trying to mold the energy into something tangible. It flickered, wavered—then flared too brightly. A sudden pulse of power erupted, shaking the trees and sending a gust of wind outward.

She gasped, stumbling back. "Damn it."

Mira remained unfazed. "Again."

Celestia clenched her fists. This power was a part of her—she had to control it.

Again and again, she tried.

Each time, the light reacted differently. Sometimes too strong. Sometimes too weak. But she refused to stop.

By the time the sun began to dip, sweat dripped down her back, her breaths came in gasps, but she had finally done it—formed a small, controlled sphere of moonlight in her palm.

Mira smiled. "You are beginning to understand."

Celestia exhaled. "Barely."

The elder chuckled. "Control takes time. But you are on the right path."

And for the first time in days, Celestia believed it.

****

[Shadows Stir in the Distance

Far beyond the Saints Moon Pack's borders, hidden beneath the shroud of dusk, Aldric stood upon a cliffside, watching the lands below.

The ruins had given him what he needed—proof.

Celestia Ace was Moonborn.

And the power within her was waking.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across his lips. "So it begins."

A figure stepped forward from the shadows. "What are your orders, my king?"

Aldric's golden eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Prepare the hunters. It's time we remind the Saints Moon Pack that legends always come with a price."

The wind howled around them, carrying the promise of war.

---

End of Chapter 17