Chapter 18 - A Warrior’s Burden

Celestia barely slept.

Though her body ached from training, exhaustion wasn't what kept her awake—it was the power thrumming beneath her skin, restless and untamed. Even as she lay in bed, staring at the wooden ceiling of the Alpha's residence, she could feel it—like an unseen force whispering beneath her veins.

It wasn't just strength. It was something alive.

She turned her head slightly, glancing at Darius, who lay beside her. His breathing was deep and steady, but his brow was furrowed even in sleep. He had always carried the weight of the pack on his shoulders, but now, with the looming war and her awakening power, that burden had doubled.

Celestia sighed softly. We don't have much time.

Slipping out of bed, she moved toward the balcony, letting the cool night air brush against her skin. The moon hung high above, bathing the territory in silver light. It felt different now—brighter, stronger, like it was watching her.

Her hands clenched at the railing. "What do you want from me?" she whispered, staring at the moon.

A breeze rustled through the trees, but no answer came.

"Celestia."

She turned to find Darius watching her, his golden eyes sharp even in the dim light.

"You felt it again," he said. It wasn't a question.

She nodded. "I can't ignore it, Darius. This power—it's calling to me."

He stepped forward, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear. "Then we answer it. We'll figure this out." His voice was firm, unwavering.

She sighed, leaning into him. "I just don't know if I have enough time."

Darius tightened his arms around her. "Then we make time."

---

At dawn, Celestia met Elder Mira again. This time, they weren't alone.

Elias, Lucien, and several other warriors had gathered at the training grounds. Their expressions were unreadable, but there was an unspoken tension in the air.

Mira nodded at them. "Your Luna must learn control over her abilities. But she must also learn to use them in battle."

Lucien smirked. "I was wondering when we'd get to the fun part."

Celestia arched a brow. "You consider getting blasted by unknown magic fun?"

"Oh, absolutely."

Elias sighed. "You mean dodging getting blasted."

Lucien shrugged. "Details."

Mira raised a hand for silence. "Enough." She turned to Celestia. "Your power is strongest under the moon, but you must learn to wield it at will. You cannot rely on the night alone."

Celestia took a deep breath. "Then what do I do?"

Mira gestured toward the warriors. "You fight."

Lucien grinned. "Now we're talking."

The first fight was against Elias.

They stood in the center of the training grounds, surrounded by warriors eager to see what Celestia was capable of. Darius watched from the side, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Elias twirled his bow, rolling his shoulders. "No offense, Luna, but I'm not going easy on you."

Celestia smirked, her muscles tensing. "Good. I don't want you to."

Mira raised her hand. "Begin."

Elias moved first. He was fast—faster than Celestia had expected. In a blink, he was gone, disappearing into a blur of motion.

Instinct kicked in. Celestia reached for her power, and for the first time, it answered immediately. Silver light flared in her vision, and the world around her sharpened.

There.

She spun just as Elias fired an arrow, the weapon slicing through the air with deadly precision. She dodged—barely—feeling the wind of its passing against her cheek.

Too slow.

Before she could react, Elias was behind her. His leg swept out, knocking her off balance. Celestia hit the ground hard, but she rolled, avoiding the second strike.

The warriors around them murmured.

Lucien whistled. "Not bad, Luna. But you're holding back."

Celestia gritted her teeth. He was right. She was relying on instinct alone, but that wasn't enough.

She took a deep breath. Control it. Call it.

She exhaled—and the world seemed to shift.

A silver glow erupted around her, crackling like lightning. Elias's next attack never landed. The moment he moved, the energy surged from Celestia's palm, forming a barrier between them. His arrow shattered against it.

Elias leaped back, eyes wide. "Whoa."

Mira smiled. "Now, hold it."

Celestia's arms trembled. The power was there, but it wanted to explode outward, to unleash itself fully. Keeping it controlled felt like trying to hold back a hurricane.

But she would.

She clenched her jaw, focusing. The silver energy rippled, shifting—then condensed into a solid form. A blade of light extended from her palm, shimmering with power.

The crowd gasped.

Lucien grinned. "Now that is interesting."

Elias took a step back. "Alright… now I'm worried."

Celestia's eyes locked onto him, determination burning in her veins.

"Let's try this again."

---

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of golden eyes observed from the treetops beyond the pack's borders.

Aldric had been watching for some time now, hidden in the shadows, unseen by the Saints Moon warriors. He had expected progress. But this?

He smirked.

"She's learning faster than I thought."

His lieutenant crouched beside him. "Shall we move?"

Aldric chuckled. "Not yet. Let them train. Let them think they're getting stronger." His eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "It'll make their downfall so much sweeter."

The Lycan King turned away, his figure vanishing into the darkness.

Soon, the Saints Moon Pack would learn what it truly meant to be hunted.

---

By nightfall, Celestia had barely enough energy left to stand. Every muscle ached, her limbs felt heavy, but she had done it.

She had controlled her power.

Darius found her sitting by the lake, staring at the reflection of the moon on the water.

"You pushed yourself too hard," he murmured, sitting beside her.

Celestia huffed a tired laugh. "Did I? Because I feel great."

He shot her a look.

She grinned. "Okay, fine. I feel like death. Happy?"

Darius smirked, but his expression softened. "You did well today."

Celestia glanced down at her hands. "It's still not enough."

He was silent for a moment before he reached over, lacing his fingers with hers. "We'll make it enough."

She turned to him. "You really believe that?"

Darius met her gaze, unwavering. "I swore an oath to protect you. To protect our pack. Whatever it takes, whatever comes next—I will not let us fall."

Celestia squeezed his hand. "Then we fight. Together."

The Alpha nodded. "Together."

But even as they sat there, staring at the peaceful waters, the storm was already gathering on the horizon.

And soon, the battle for the Saints Moon Pack's survival would begin.

---

End of Chapter 18