Chapter 2 MESSAGE FROM THE LUNA

The moon made strange shadows on the forest ground on which trees whispered, whipping the wind. There was something eerie stillness in the area, interrupted only by a howl of a far-off wolf. Bitter leaves flung their wild fragrances into my nostrils; the burden of all the forest's secrets weighed down on me.

A creepy feeling settled over me: a shroud to be discarded. The trees were closing, branches slamming against each other like fingers. Each twig creak or leaf sound slammed into my brain; my heart would pound in expectation. It was as if the wood itself was holding its breath, waiting for some fate to occur.

I rushed to greet him, my beating heart swelling with joy. The loner stood rigid, his face as hollow as a jarring counterpoint to that glowing fire in his eyes.

"You're the one I've been seeking," I dared to utter, not wanting to shake.

He shook his head, producing that sharp attention which pierced one. "What leads you to believe so?

I edged closer to him; I was watching him now. "Message from Evelyn. She told me I had to find somebody first before Aria."

The face of the wolf did not change, but I saw a fading wave of interest. "What does Aria want from you?"

My mind was uncertain. "I'm not sure. But I know it can't be good."

The wolf's eyes narrowed. "You're in a bind, Sophia. Aria's not someone to mess around with."

I nodded, my thoughts firing at me. "Who are you? How do you know Aria?"

The wolf's eyes wandered off from mine, and I didn't think he'd respond. But then they returned to me, holding onto mine. "My name's Liam. And I've been tracking you, Sophia."

"Spied on me?" I echoed, attempting to hold my voice steady.

He nodded, his eyes far into mine. "I have had you under surveillance since.since the attack."

My memories flashed back to the night of the rogue attack, the events clear in my head. "You were there?" I whispered, my voice no louder than a tremor.

A flicker of pain crossed his features. "I rescued you that night. And I've protected you ever since."

I was torn: I felt thankful, shocked, and a little afraid. "Why?" I barked, attempting to read into his eyes.

"Because you matter, Sophia. And I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," he stated plainly.

His resolve gave my heart a stutter. This time, I let it catch up. I breathed deeply, trying to absorb everything. "Aria's plan?" I asked, bringing things back on track.

"Aria's after your title of Luna. She won't hesitate to get it," he replied, his voice soft and scratchy.

I balled my hands into fists in rage, resolving burning through me. "Not if I have a say."

I nodded to myself and made the change in terms to avoid duplication. Following is the edited continuation:

I stood up straight and had a firm voice. "I'll get Aria, no matter the price."

He agreed. "I'll help you, Sophia. We can bring her down together."

I never had a decision. Maybe I am expected to trust him, but whatever he said made me feel confident. "Let's go on."

There was an understanding between us, and off we went into the dark. The trees loomed above us, their high, dark silhouettes stretching out across the ground. I was scared, but having him with me, I was a little bolder.

We were walking around that side when I looked deep into his eyes. "What exactly is your name?" I asked, not remembering.

"Liam," he replied, his breath making shivers run down my spine.

I nodded, remembering the name. "Thanks for rescuing me, Liam."

Liam smiled, a burst of heat that was fleeting. "You're welcome, Sophia."

The farther we walked, the more our silence between us grew, but for creaking leaves and cracking twigs. I would catch myself seeing we were being watched. Intermittently, I could see Liam's eyes cross towards the dark spots, the eyelids full of cloudy substance.

And then he tightened his stance, shook his head, attending to the noise he heard. "Do you hear that?" he whispered.

I put my ears on high alert, and the low noise-making sound passed through my ears. It was quiet, but getting louder. Liam's hand had subconsciously landed on my arm, fingers crossed. "Stay close," he whispered.

I pounded with terror in my chest and shivered against him, my senses alert. The rustling was approaching, and the earth shook beneath me. What were we going there to do?

Liam kept looking at me. "Let me tell you what I can," he said. "But, I want you to be careful. There are some individuals who would do just about anything within their power to ensure that the truth never comes to light."

I nodded, my heart beating with every strong sound-clap. I would make it through whatever deceptions were about to be uncovered, as long as Liam remained loyal to me.

"Let's start with Aria," I told him, my tone harsh. "What do you know about her motives?"

Liam's face darkened. "Aria's gathering followers, whispering things in pack members' ears. She's a pro, Sophia. She can work with people."

I twisted my hands together in front of me, determination rising in my heart. "We can't let her escape with it."

Liam nodded. "I want us to do everything we can to ensure she is secure. But first, we need to know why her motive for doing what she's doing. There's more to Aria's scheme than what we think."

I bent forward, feeling a strong sense of emotions. "What do you mean?"

Liam's voice fell to a whisper. "I believe Aria is being manipulated by someone other than herself. Someone with so much power and influence."

I blinked, the implication falling into place. "Who?" I whispered, my voice almost a sigh.

The silence between them expanded into the mist. I could sense the tension of unspoken words hanging in the air and knew that Liam was walking softly with his words. His eyes crossed through mine, as if searching for something.

The trees surrounding us seemed to be strangely arranged, their branches tense in the calm. A shiver ran down my spine when we recognized that we were completely alone, open to whatever evil hid in the shadows waiting to fall upon us.

Liam's voice had been hardly a whisper when he finally said something. "Aria's plan is more complex than I initially realized. She's been enlisting some of the older pack members, and I have no doubt she has one or two tricks up her sleeve."

And then Liam's eyes had flashed into mine, full of warning. "That is what we have to figure out."