Chapter 5 5

The fortress was alive with tension when they returned. Word of the attack had spread, and every warrior they passed wore the same grim expression. Conversations hushed as Alaric strode through the halls, his presence a mix of authority and restrained fury. Selene followed a step behind, her thoughts swirling with unanswered questions.

In the war room, maps and charts cluttered the massive table at its center, illuminated by flickering torchlight. Alaric dismissed his guards with a curt nod and turned to face her, his expression unreadable.

"You said there are parallels between the fall of your pack and these attacks. Explain them," he demanded, his tone leaving no room for evasion.

Selene hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of the table as if grounding herself. "The night my pack was destroyed, I overheard my parents arguing. My mother mentioned the Moon's Favor, and my father dismissed it as a myth. Hours later, the attack began. They came out of nowhere, striking with precision, and left no survivors. The symbols you found-they match the ones I saw carved into the trees that night."

Alaric's jaw tightened. "Why would rogues care about an ancient power? It's a legend at best."

"Or a threat," Selene countered. "Something about the Moon's Favor terrifies them, and they're targeting packs they believe are connected to it."

His sharp gaze searched her face, weighing her words. "You think the Duskwind Pack was marked because of this connection?"

"It's possible," she admitted. "But I don't know why. If the Moon's Favor is real, someone might be manipulating these rogues to destroy any chance of it resurfacing."

The weight of her theory hung in the air. Alaric turned away, his fingers gripping the edge of the table as he stared at the maps. "If you're right, this isn't just about revenge or territory. It's about control-over the packs, over our future."

Selene stepped closer, her voice softening. "Then we need to find out who's behind it and why."

A knock interrupted them. A young warrior entered, his face pale. "Alpha, the healer found something strange on one of the rogues' bodies."

Alaric motioned for him to continue.

"There's a mark burned into the rogue's skin. A crescent intertwined with a claw, similar to the carvings."

Selene's stomach dropped. "They're branding their own?"

"It's more than that," the warrior added. "The healer says the mark wasn't made by fire or blade. It's... unnatural."

The room fell silent. Alaric's expression darkened, and he nodded sharply. "Take us to the body."

The healer's chambers were dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of herbs and poultices. The rogue's corpse lay on a stone slab, its twisted form a grim reminder of the battle. Selene tried not to look at the lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.

The healer, an older woman with steady hands and a calm demeanor, pointed to the rogue's shoulder. "Here," she said, pulling back the torn fabric to reveal the mark.

The crescent and claw were unmistakable, etched into the flesh with unnerving precision. The edges of the mark pulsed faintly, as though alive, and Selene felt a shiver crawl down her spine.

Alaric leaned closer, his lips pressing into a thin line. "What did you mean when you said it was unnatural?"

The healer met his gaze evenly. "This mark wasn't made with any tool or weapon I've ever seen. It's as though the symbol formed from within, burning through the skin without leaving external burns."

Selene stepped forward, her voice steady despite the unease swirling in her chest. "Could it be magic?"

"Perhaps," the healer replied. "But it's not like any magic I've encountered before. It feels... old. Ancient."

The word hung in the air, heavy with implication. Selene's thoughts raced, fragments of forgotten stories and warnings from her childhood resurfacing.

"What if it's connected to the Moon's Favor?" she suggested, her gaze shifting to Alaric. "If the power is real, and someone is trying to claim it, they might be using these marks to control the rogues."

Alaric straightened, his expression hardening. "Then we need answers-and fast. If there's magic involved, we'll need someone who understands it."

The healer hesitated. "There's someone who might help, though she's not easily convinced. An old seer lives near the Blackwood Grove. They say she can read the threads of fate."

Selene frowned. "The Blackwood Grove is dangerous territory. Even rogues avoid it."

"That's why she's still alive," the healer said. "But if you want the truth, she might be your best chance."

Alaric didn't hesitate. "Prepare the horses. We leave at dawn."

The healer nodded, but Selene caught the flicker of worry in her eyes. Turning to Alaric, she lowered her voice. "You're willing to risk entering a cursed forest on the word of a seer?"

"I don't have a choice," he replied. "If this curse is spreading, the packs won't survive another season. I won't let my people fall."

The determination in his voice left no room for argument. Selene swallowed her doubts, knowing she had little choice but to follow.

Later that night, she stood on the balcony outside her room, staring up at the full moon. Its light bathed the fortress in a silver glow, but instead of comfort, it brought a sense of foreboding.

Memories of her family surfaced unbidden, the warmth of her mother's laugh, the steady strength of her father's embrace. They had believed in the Moon's Favor, though they'd hidden that belief from the world. If there was truth to the legends, had their faith been their downfall?

A knock at the door broke her reverie. She turned to see Alaric standing there, his expression unreadable.

"Can't sleep?" he asked.

"No," she admitted, stepping back to let him in. "Too many thoughts."

"Welcome to leadership," he said dryly, though there was no humor in his tone.

Selene studied him for a moment. "Do you ever wonder if you're chasing ghosts?"

"Every day," he admitted. "But if those ghosts can save my pack, I'll chase them to the ends of the earth."

His honesty caught her off guard, and for a moment, the tension between them eased.

"We'll find the answers," she said, more to herself than to him. "One way or another."

Alaric nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned to leave. "Get some rest, Selene. Tomorrow, the real hunt begins."

She watched him go, the weight of their journey pressing down on her shoulders. Turning back to the moonlit forest, she whispered a silent vow to the spirits of her family.

Whatever secrets the Blackwood Grove held, she would face them head-on.