Luna Reborn

Morgan's Pov

I strolled among the woods. My boots made gentle contact with the earth. Along with me, the wind moved. Over my head, the leaves murmured. They were aware of my return. It had been years since I had visited this location. The sky remained unchanged. The hills remained high. However, I was different. I peered down at the pack as I emerged from the woods. My former residence. There was silence in the houses. From the chimneys came smoke. The fields were traversed by wolves. A few chuckled. A few were effective. A few gazed up at the sky. Nobody gave me a look. That was excellent. I wasn't yet prepared to be seen. I reached into my pocket and touched the ring. It was chilly. I stopped wearing it. It served simply as a reminder of what had been lost. I stood next to Asher the last time I wore that ring. At the time, we were friends. In front of the moon, we stood together. He grasped my hand. He gave me a smile. When he stared at me hatefully, that smile had vanished. when he accused me of lying. when he instructed me to go. I had trembling hands. I inhaled and closed my eyes. Not right now. Now I needed to be powerful. I continued walking till I came to the gate, which was through the edge of the trees. It was wide. I had no acquaintance with the guards. I had on a cloak. I wore a hood. Morgan wasn't my name here. I was the only one who traveled. I was stopped by one guard. He inquired about my origins. I gestured behind me. "Why am I here?" he asked. I raised my hands to indicate that I was unarmed. I then uttered a single syllable. Challenge. His eyes widened. He took a step back. Then he let the gate open. I entered the pack after passing through the barrier. My heart pounded rapidly. My feet continued to move. A few wolves gave me a look. A few turned away. I was unknown to them. However, the wind did. Around me, it danced. My cloak was pulled. In my ear, it whispered. You've changed. And that was accurate. There was just one reason I had returned. The truth. And perhaps more. However, I wasn't yet prepared to consider it. I went to the square on foot. The pack assembled there. That was the Alpha's position. He would be in that location. I caught a glimpse of him. Asher. In the center, he stood tall. He had a straight back. His hair had darkened. His eyes were weary. He still had a strong face. He remained my partner. Not my heart, though. No more. I paused and gave him a glance. He pivoted. We looked at each other. He gave one blink. But then again. His expression remained unchanged. But something caught my attention behind his eyes. A query. He remained silent. I took a step forward. The audience pivoted. The voices ceased. I held up my hand. I gestured toward him. Challenge. Quiet was the word. But it was heard by all. Shocks. Whispers. Take a step back. Asher gave me a glance. He then entered the ring. I made my way to the center. The soil was arid. The silence reigned. We were on opposite sides of each other. Nobody made a move. Then he bowed. I also bowed. The battle started. He was the first to rush. I quickly turned. I hid beneath his arm. I took a step back. He returned. I sprang to one side. He didn't make it. I walked quickly. I struck him on the shoulder. He faltered. Once more, the audience gasped. He gave me a glance. I noticed the question once more. He was aware. He simply wasn't convinced yet. He hit once more. I blocked. Our palms made contact. A sensation of warmth rushed through my chest. The connection. It's still there. I shoved him away. He remained still. I didn't hit again. Whispering started among the audience. Then there was a shout. The Beta was the one. Silas. Into the ring he ran. He gestured toward me. I was trouble, he claimed. I had no right, he said. I should go, he said. I said nothing. I turned around and left the ring. The crowd dispersed. I was not stopped. I passed the residences. beyond the fields. Returning to the wood's edge. By the trees, I knelt down. I pulled the ring out of my pocket and examined it. It was bright once. It was boring now.

similar to me.Once. Not right now. Behind me, I heard footsteps. I remained upright. Kaya was the one. She had on her scarlet scarf. She has keen eyes. She grinned. I didn't return the smile. "Are you ready?" she said. "Not yet," I responded. She extended a letter. It was ancient. The corners of the paper were bent. I took it open. Silas held the words in his hand. They mentioned the poison. They discussed the plan. They mentioned me. Kaya gave a nod. "The others are coming," she said. The bottle had been recovered by Thorne. There was more truth to come. I returned the nod. Once more, the wind shifted. It was cold, though, this time. In the trees, something changed. Kaya raised her head. She stopped smiling. We weren't alone, she said. I quickly turned. In the trees, a shadow moved. It didn't move. It was afloat. The leaves dropped slowly. The air had an ancient fragrance. My chest ached. The goddess, but not in the same way. She had a darker shine. She had an odd shape. She had her face covered. She gave me a look. And I sensed her words without hearing them. It was too late to speak the truth. I took a step back. Kaya took hold of my hand. The deity held up her arm. The earth trembled. The trees hung low. In my head, a voice shouted. The link was broken by the pack. The woodland now separates the pack. Then she was gone. The wind cried out. And I heard a wolf cry in the distance. Fear wasn't the reason. It was a warning. And my name was being called. The cry of the wolf reverberated. It originated in the hills. Not your typical wail. Not a cry for assistance. A caution. I hadn't heard the sound in years. Kaya tightened her grip on my hand. Now her fingertips felt cold. I examined her face. She appeared frightened. She never showed signs of fear. There was more wind. Now stronger. It tugged at our garments. Once more, the trees bowed. The sky grew dimmer. That cry seemed familiar to me. The night the goddess discovered me, I had heard it. She gave me fresh life that night. It was the ancient forest's call. An invitation to return. However, go back to what? I had no idea. Not quite yet. Kaya drew me away. We dashed into the deeper forest. The wind came after us. All around us, leaves were flying. Behind us, branches snapped. We continued. The trees parted. A circle of stone was formed by the ground dropping down. I had previously encountered the goddess here. It didn't feel the same, though. There were cracks in the stones. The air was heavy. The ground gave off a gentle glow. Kaya was the first to halt. She gestured toward the middle. Something was on the ground. Something that isn't moving. I moved in closer. Thorne was the one. He had his eyes closed. He had scrapes on his arms. His face was smeared in dirt. I knelt next to him. Kaya felt his heartbeat. He was still alive. Just almost. I noticed that he was holding the bottle tightly. The poison. It is still full. sealed. He had attempted to introduce it to the group. However, he was stopped by someone. I raised my head. Now the trees were silent. Too silent. Kaya glanced around. She spoke something in a whisper that I couldn't hear. I turned to face Thorne again. His eyes opened. He noticed me. He opened his mouth to speak. I leaned in. He spoke in a feeble voice. "Name," he said. Not mine. Not Asher's. Not Silas. "Elira," he said. The goddess. Then his hand fell away. He fainted once again. I got up slowly. I remembered the name. Elira. There was a problem. She had changed in some way. The present she gave me wasn't just hers. It had been touched by something darker. Perhaps a long time ago. Perhaps right now. Thorne's arm was taken by Kaya. I assisted her in raising him. Together, we were powerful, even if he was heavy. We made our way through the woods to the cave. a secure location. A hidden location. The wind slowed. The sky remained drab. We placed Thorne on the plush moss within the cave. Kaya started using her medicines to heal him. I was standing close to the cave's entrance. I observed the trees. They had stopped moving.

However, something inside of me did. A part of myConnection to the forest had ceased to exist. As if a thread had been cut. It had never occurred before. I put my hand to my chest. My skin had a dull hue. When danger arose, it had always shined. It was quiet now. Too silent. I shut my eyes. I grabbed the bond. Nothing. I quickly opened my eyes. The woods remained. But I was unable to sense it. I gave Kaya a look. Now she was observing me. She was aware. She also witnessed it. The woods were retreating. Not all of them. only from me. I went out of the cave. I turned my gaze to the moon. It's half full. Three nights remained before the next full moon. I had intended to reveal the truth to the pack at that point. Now, though, I wasn't sure if I would survive. Not without the bond. Not without the forest. Not without the present I received from Elira. I walked farther into the forest after turning. After me, Kaya called. I remained silent. I needed to locate her. Elira. She changed, and I had to know why. What she gave me, I had to beg for. And what she retracted. I had trembling hands. Not out of fear. from another source. I had a warm ring in my pocket. It's too hot. I removed it. It was glowing. First gold, then crimson. similar to fire. That was the first time it had done that. Once more, I heard the wolf scream. However, it was closer this time. Much nearer. I pivoted. A figure stood between the woods. Not a wolf. Not a goddess. Not a guard. Someone I hadn't seen in a decade. He took a step forward. He had anguish and light in his eyes. Asher. He wasn't alone, though. There was Silas behind him. And there was something in Silas's hand. Something dark. A sharp object. Additionally, it was aimed directly at Asher's back.