CHAPTER 4

Chapter Four: The Lie She Chose to Believe

The ribbon still smelled of ash and blood,

Luna had tucked it under her pillow the night before, but it refused to let her rest, the strange images it stirred haunted her, flames licking through trees, the distant cries of a woman, and visions of smoky atmosphere was all so weird,

Her heart was filled with desire to know what all these truly mean and why she is so restless about it, she made a choice to comfront here Were-Mother once more,

But when she stood before Laura, holding out the ribbon with trembling hands, she was prepared for whatever she would tell her,

She didn't get it,

Laura's face stiffened the second she saw it,

"Where did you find this?", she asked softly almost too calmly,

"In the forest, near the edge of the border",

"What!!! And… what happened?" Laura asked carefully with little mix of stammer in her tone,

"I touched it and…" Luna's voice dropped, "I saw things, people, fire and a woman…..it all doesnt make sense to me, what does it mean?" Luna asked,

Laura hesitated for just a breath, just long enough for Luna to feel it,

But then she smiled, small and sad,

"It must have been a dream my love, Maybe your heart created something because of how badly you want answers, but its not real",

"But it felt real"

"Dreams can feel real too my dear but you need to understand that thay can never, be reality", Laura stated

Luna swallowed, she didn't want to believe her mother was lying, that it was the truth, but the seed of doubt had already been planted, she could feel the ribbon like a pulse against her skin, calling to a piece of her she didn't understand,

"Then… you're sure Were-mother", she asked, softer now, "I was just abandoned?",

Laura stepped forward and cupped her face,

"Yes my love, you were abandoned, but I found you and I raised you, that is what matters",

Luna let Laura's words wrap around her like a thin blanket warm, but never quite enough, she believed it because she loved Laura alot, but still deep inside, she felt it: something in that vision was real,

Something important.

Something she wasn't meant to forget, she pretended to let it go as Laura kissed her fore head gently, she knew her Were-mother loves her, but why did she still fill incomplete?

Meanwhile, the courtyard rang with the sound of steel on steel,

Lucien grunted as he blocked another blow, the force driving him backward across the stone training ground, his blade came around in a wide arc, parried fiercely by his opponent,

"Again" Adolphus barked, "You're too slow"

Lucien spun, snarling as he attacked once more, his strikes sharp, fast, but he is angry, infact, too angry,

"Focus!" Adolphus shouted, stepping in to disarm him with a brutal swipe, Lucien's blade clattered to the ground,

The Alpha's golden eyes narrowed at him,

"If you want to be ruler one day, act like it, a true Alpha doesn't let emotion rule his hand, Lucien",

Lucien picked up the blade, breathing heavily as rage simmering in his chest,

"You keep telling me I'm not ready, but how can I become Alpha if you never give me the chance Uncle"?

Adolphus circled him,

"Because your heart isn't ready, a leader doesn't fight to prove himself, he fights to protect his people, you let yourself get distracted by your emotion", he was very firm,

Lucien stepped forward, his eyes burning,

"By what? I train harder than anyone in this Dynasty, I've led hunts, taken down rogue beasts, stood guard at the gates and still, you treat me like a boy!",

"You are a boy!" Adolphus snapped at him, "Strong? Yes, Skilled? Of course, but you still don't understand the weight of leadership",

Lucien's fists tightened around the hilt of his sword, "Then teach me, let me prove I can handle more, let me help with the Fox Clan situation",

Adolphus's expression turned cold, "You will not go near the Fox border, Lucien",

"Why not?!"

"Because your anger clouds you, and the Foxes are cunning and very calculated, you walk into their territory hot headed, they'll twist you up and send you back in pieces",

"I'm not a child anymore", Lucien growled at him, "I'm 124 moons old, I've earned my right",

Adolphus stepped close, towering, "Then act like it, until you learn to control your temper, you will remain in training, that's final",

Lucien's teeth ground together, his jaw clenching so tightly it ached,

"So no matter what I do, it's never going to be enough for you Uncle",

"You think I don't want you to succeed?" Adolphus barked, "I do, but I won't hand you leadership because you want it, you will take it when you are ready, when you can protect not only your pride, but your people, Lucien",

Silence hung between them like thunder waiting to strike,

Lucien didnt utter a word instead he turned away, furious, the storm in his chest building up quickly, he just left the courtyard with his blade in hand and fire in his eyes, and he needed to get the built up anger out of him,

That night, he hunted again, innocent animals, his speed and the gnashing of his teeth prove how much his anger issue has affected him, he hunted as much as he wanted,

Not for food but not for sport either, but for the essense of calming himself, it was his thing,

He chased shadows, tore through the woods in his wolf form, claws and fangs flashing in the moonlight, until the anger bled out of him one breath at a time, he looked around seeing all the damage he has caused and not one spec of regret was in him.

Back in the Dynasty, Luna sat beneath the stars on the outer balcony, the red ribbon now tied around her wrist like a secret reminder of something she didn't understand,

Why do I feel connected to this?

Why do I feel like I don't belong, even now?

She closed her eyes and whispered to the stars,

"Am I the lie… or the truth?", she wispered,

But she tried her best so much, she wanted to stay at the Dynasty, she wanted to forget everything, to forget the vision, she wanted to believe her Were-Mother's words,

But something inside her knew this ribbon held more than a just a piece, it was a key of something she hasnt yet unlocked,

She didn't know what it opened yet, what it will reveal to her,

But her heart whispered something she couldn't ignore:

This isn't over.

The ribbon felt heavier around Luna's wrist as the hours dragged on.

She paced across her chamber, staring out into the moonlit courtyard beyond her balcony, the vision still burned behind her eyes, the fire, the voice, the haunting sense of loss, her heart ached with questions no one would answer,

Who am I really?

Why does no one want me to find out?

Just then, a gentle knock sounded at her door,

She turned to see Collin leaning against the frame, with his messy hair and smiling softly like he always did when he knew she needed him,

"You've got that storm-in-your-eyes look again" he said stepping in,

She offered a weak smile,

"I guess I've been thinking too much",

"Want to talk about it?", he asked,

Luna hesitated a little, but then she told him everythin, about the ribbon, the vision and Laura's words to het, the confusion clawing at her from inside,

By the time she finished, Collin's expression was full of worry,

"Luna… you can't go out there alone anymore, not after seeing something like that", he said, his eyes sparked with protectiveness, "What if someone was watching you? What if the Fox Clan is creeping closer and you didn't even know?",

"I can take care of myself Collin", she insisted gently,

"No you can't", he said firmly, "You're not a wolf, Luna, that's not an insult, it's just fact, although, you're stronger than you think, but out there… it's too dangerous",

She laughed, just a little, "Look at you being all overprotective, I'm older than you, remember?",

"With two moons?" he snorted, "Barely counts, Luna",

Still, when she tried to brush it off, he stepped closer and uses his nose to brush hers in a wolfish gesture of comfort,

"You belong here" he murmured, arms wrapping around her, "Even if you feel like you don't, I see you Luna and I care about you alot",

She leaned into his warmth, grateful for the light he brought into the growing shadows of her mind, she hugged him and smiled softly cause after Laura, she had Collin her bestfriend and she was happy he was there for her, making her feel wanted.

Later at mid-night, Luna couldnt sleep, she wandered the quiet stone halls of the Den Dynasty, wrapped in a shawl, the cool breeze kissing her skin,

She needed air, space and silence,

She needed to think, her mind was elsewhere, she wasnt her self right now, Luna thought she might end up depressed if she over thinks too much, so she tried her best to calm herself, the wind was singing rhydyms with her long hair,

'Breath in, breath out', she told herself as she did so, she felt a little better, it was late indeed so she decided to finally get some shot eye, tomorrow awaits her.

****

The soft orange of early dawn spilled across the sky, casting long shadows over the ancient stone courtyard of Den Dynasty, the wolves were already assembled in the war chamber, torches burning low, blades sharpened, and their eyes alert,

Adolphus stood at the front, commanding presence tall and grim, his silver streaked hair pulled back, golden eyes burning with fire and foresight,

"The Fox Clan are definately planning their next move" he said, his voice low but firm, "They haven't attacked yet but make no mistake, this is no peacekeeping gesture, they're watching, testing too",

Murmurs began rippling through the gathered warriors,

"They want part of our land, our forests and our resources..." he continued, "And they think we're distracted, weak and divided",

He looked each warrior in the eye as he spoke,

"We will not give them what they want, but we will be smart, they are cunning creatures, masters of traps, illusions and poison, this isn't a battle to be won by brute strength, it's a game of strategy, precision and discipline",

Outside, hidden just beyond the stone archway, Lucien leaned against the wall, his jaw tight and his heart pounding,

'Why am I not in there?' he thought bitterly,

His fingers curled around the edge of the cold stone, ge'd trained, bled, proved himself a hundred times over, What more did Adolphus want?

'It's not even that complicated' Lucien thought, 'They're foxes, not gods',

He gritted his teeth,

Each word his Were-Uncle said felt like another blade slicing through his pride, Adolphus spoke of war, of legacy, of danger but never once had he called Lucien into the circle, never once had he asked him to lead, to plan or to even stand beside him,

He still thinks of him as a boy, and it angered him,

Lucien clenched his fists, fury simmering beneath his skin,

'Fine!!!' he thought, 'If he won't let me prove myself in the light, maybe I'll have to do it in the shadows',

Lucien's thoughts was deep and it controlled him to do something unbelievable, he was planning to invade the Fox border, he didnt think, all he wanted to do was react, he was mature now, he told himself and wasnt letting anything stop him,

Meanwhile Luna, felt a call out in the wilds, like she needed to be out there one more time, to see if she could at least find something, anything, maybe some clue or answers, she would be back before anyone woule notice, that she left the Dynasty. . . . . . . . .