The Rising of the Moonbrone

*****Elara's point of view****

The moon blared low and burning in the sky, its silver sheen washing the clearing in an ethereal glow. Wolves from the pack stood in a tightly bound circle, air crackling with electric tension, eyes turned toward the dais just ahead, where the Ceremony of Fates would take its claim in moments. My heart raced in my chest loudly enough to drown out the whispers around me. I tugged at the sleeves of the ceremonial dress I wore, the fabric heavy with sigils of a line that felt less like a heritage than a curse.

Clothed in dark indigo robes, the Elders lifted their hands to silence those gathered. Their steady, somber voices chanted the ancient words that will forever bind us with our fated mates. I swallowed, forcing myself to stand tall as Elder Mathias's gaze fell on me.

"Elara," he said, his voice as hard and unmoving as the mountains. "Step forward."

The whole pack was watching me. Their eyes were heavy on my shoulders, but I was not about to reveal that I was buckling. As I stepped into the circle, cool and solid ground rose beneath me, a brittle counterpoint to the turbulence swirling in my body. My gaze hit Kael, the future alpha, as his was proud on the dais. And when his sharp-cut features and confident mien commanded every whispered word and darting eye to his space. He was all that the pack respected and my property.

The Elders' chant crescendoed until it might have shattered glass, and a golden glow began to shimmer between Kael and me. It shimmered, alive and prescient, drawing close around us like an invisible thread. Cramps of hope filled my chest. This was it. The bond was forming. Kael and I were meant to be. And still the universe had chosen me, through it all.

Then Kael's jaw tightened. Something nameless passed over his face before it hardened. He fetched the golden-thread, which he had learned to keep at the end of his belt, and suddenly cut it.

"Elara Lyris," he said, his tone cold enough to freeze the air. "I reject you."

The words knifed through me, left me gasping for air . A murmur passed through the pack, and the golden light wavered, then vanished. My legs were trembling, but I resisted the urge to sag. I searched Kael's face for some sign of hesitation, for a crack in his resolve, but his face was a mask of indifference.

"Kael," I said, unsure if my words would reach over the murmur. "Why?"

He locked eyes with me, and I sensed a flicker of regret. But it was gone as fast as it came. He turned his back on me just enough, and in that single action, my fragility shattered.

"Elara Lyris," Elder Mathias intoned, his tone heavy with gravity. "You are hereby exiled."

Exiled. The word cut through my mind, sharp and savage. When I leaned back against the wall, the crowd parted, their faces a mask of judgment and pity. Shame burned on my skin, but beneath it something darker, something hard and unforgiving. Betrayal.

I fled into the woods; the shadows consumed me. I thought of rain gutters and satellites, and my subconscious went from mess inescapable. Why had Kael done this? What had I done to deserve this rejection? It just didn't make sense to me and the questions just fuelled my anger."

A distant howl split the night, grating and off-putting. My breath caught. They pack Why will not allow me to get out that simply. Exiles were not often afforded a clean exit.

I rushed through thick underbrush, my heart pounding in my chest. The forest hummed with night sounds-the swish of leaves, the hoot of an owl. But underneath it all, I think there was something else. A presence. (That raised my hackles; it was a tingle in the back of my neck.)

"Elara," a voice spoke from the darkness. My heart in my throat, I turned around. From the shadows sprang three wolves, eyes aglow with any kind's hunger. The leader, a callused wolf smeared with a sadistic smile, marched.

"The Elders told me to bring you back alive," he said derisively. "They said that they did not indicate the state."

Panic constricted my chest, but I willed my body to stand tall. "Don't come closer," I said, trembling. "I... do not want you to fight me."

The leader chuckled, a dark sound. "Are you able to take on us? You're nothing, Elara. A disgrace."

They lunged, and instinct took over. I sidestepped the first attack, fumbling my limbs but moving with desperation. I raked my claws along one wolf's face, and blood pooled there, but it was a temporary victory. A second wolf knocked me down, the weight of him crushing.

"This is how everything will end," the leader hissed, teeth shining. But then a blur of movement crashed into him, knocking him over.

I regained my breath as my assailant hurled from atop me. A new figure had come between me and the wolves, dangerous in his stance. Moonlight glinted in his eyes-a renegade, a force.

"if you want her," the rogue growled, dangerously low, "you'll have to go through me first."

The wolves held back, exchanging doubtful glances with each other. There was no room for a reply from the rogue. His movements were deadly; strikes were quick and unrelenting. The wolves were ebbing while they disappeared slowly into the shadows, yelping from pain.

Once the last of the surrounding men had retreated, the rogue turned to me. His gaze was penetrating and evaluating, but it was no generous gaze. "Get up," he ordered. "They're going to be back any minute, and I ain't going to stick around to save you twice."

I stood there with my jaw dropping and my head spinning. I had no idea who he was or why he'd saved me, but one thing was certain: my fight for survival had only just begun.

Shadows of the woods were moving in, wind shuddering through the leaves, owls calling out in the distance. Every sound, magnified; every flicker of movement a potential threat. My legs were on fire running, my breaths shallow gasps, but I didn't dare stop. The pack still hunted somewhere behind me.

The rogue who'd saved me stayed a few paces ahead, striding with an easy purpose. He said nothing, and I wasn't sure if I was relieved or disturbed by the silence. I tried to go through my thoughts, but the sequence of events that led me to this moment the rejection the horrid shame the assault all seemed like a wild, swirling whirlpool. Now, this stranger. My stomach churned.

I knew that it was the silence that would unravel me. "Who are you?" I demanded, my voice hoarse.

The rogue turned back to me, amber eyes narrowed. "You're not to ask questions" he said flatly. "Keep moving."

Anger flared in my chest. "And I didn't ask for your help," I said curtly. "If you're going to drag me through the woods, the least you can do is give me your name."

He came to a sudden halt; I nearly ran into him. "My name's Ryker," he said after a long pause. "Now shut up and stay close. They're still out there."

We rode on in silence, tensely, my body aching from the night's ordeal. Part of me just knew not to trust him, but for now, he was all I had. The alternative was too frightening to contemplate.

As the minutes stretched into hours, my thoughts wandered. Questions buzzed like angry hornets: Why had he rushed to my rescue? What did he want? And why did he feel so familiar, like a shadow I should know but couldn't quite place?

Ryker suddenly stopped and held his hand up. I froze, my senses straining. To our left, out of the underbrush, came a faint rustle. He was fast; he pulled me behind a tree and hunkered down. When I opened my mouth to speak, his hand closed over it.

A patrol of wolves materialised from the fringes of dusk, noses to the earth, smelling me. My heart pounded, a drumbeat of terror in my chest. "I won't let them hurt you," Ryker's jaws grated around me, his body wound tight as a coil.

One of the wolves paused, lifting his head to catch the scent of the air. He turned around, his eye roving dangerously close to our hiding spot. I did what I could, holding my breath, wishing I could be invisible.

His palm was callused but firm against my mouth, his fingers the grip of Ryker's hand. The wolf next to us moved a little closer, nose twitching as he caught faint traces of my scent. My muscles tensed tight as every instinct begged me to run, and yet I was frozen where I stood by Ryker's steely hold. He leaned forward the slightest bit, so impassively it was as if he were a shadow evaporating-just one more ghost drifting into the woody ghost of the tree's bark.

It was the patrol leader's growl that broke the silence. "She's close. Spread out!" He spoke with authority, underlined with irritation. The others fell into line, spreading out for a methodical sweep of the area.

The wolf nearest to us stepped, and the glimmer of its eyes, yellow, lustrous, keen as they scanned the dark, caught my own. He sniffed again, towards where we were hiding. My pulse quickened so loudly I could swear he could hear it. My lungs felt as if they were on fire, but I did not want to move, did not want to breathe.

Ryker's hand twitched slightly, his lips at my ear. "Trust me," he said, so low it was nearly a whisper. Before I could say anything, he released me and hopped like a dart, the motion blurring my brain.

Ryker stepped out of the shadows and shifted mid-step with perfect, seamless motion. The wolf patrol turned, surprised, but there was no time to retaliate. Ryker barreled into the nearest one, his powerful jaws sinking into the wolf's shoulder. There was a twisted yowl that hacked the air.

He sprang up and growled and snapped at Ryker, and the others followed suit. His movements were deliberate, almost surgical. He fought like a wolf that had nothing to risk, and it was terrible to see his ferocity. Blood sprayed as one of the patrol wolves fell, clutching a cut down his flank.

I stayed frozen behind the tree, trapped in a place of fear and awe. Who is this rogue? And why had he risked his life for me?

The largest wolf lunged at Ryker, teeth bared. They collided in a wild tempest of fur and ripping claws, their growls reverberating in the woodlands. Ryker's amber gaze burnt with a ferocity that made the wolf hesitate for a fraction of a second, just long enough for Ryker to roll and body slam him into the ground.

The other wolves faltered; the tornado kill thing was too shocking to a somewhat simple pack to fully wipe out. The patrol leader barked, giving an order. "Retreat!"

The wolves leaped away and into the underbrush. Ryker exchanged glances as his chest slowly rose and fell, watching them walk away. Then he gradually faced me again.

"Do you want to die? he said, squeezing his voice yes-tense as he inched closer. As he returned to human, melting the wolf attire off himself, his bright eyes found me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. Closer, I could see the pale scars that slithered across his face, the hard line of his features. Here was a wolf who had staked down many more fights than I could comprehend.

"I-I didn't," I stuttered, but he cut me off.

"You froze," he said bluntly. "Well, if I hadn't been there with you, they would've dragged you back to the pack-or worse."

My cheeks flushed with a weird mix of anger and embarrassment. "I didn't ask for your help."

Ryker let out a soft, humorous chuckle. "You didn't have to. You're alive thanks to me, so maybe keep the attitude for someone else."

The truth hurt, but was indisputable. I looked down, my hands in tight fists at my sides. "I'm sorry," I said. The words turned sour on my tongue as I spoke them.

Ryker took me in, his features impossible to read. Then he sighed and raked his dark hair with a hand. "Come on. We can't stay here."

It made me pause, then I shivered at the thought of patrol wolves. With a hesitant nod, I followed him further into the woods outside.

The woods seemed to be blacker at this hour, the long trees casting cruel shadows over the dirt. Guided by the beat of the wood, Ryker trod lightly, even through the heavy underbrush. I struggled to keep up, my legs aching and my lungs burning.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

"There's a safe place a bit in here," Ryker said without turning. "A place they won't find us."

I frowned, suspicion stinging the edges of my thoughts. "And why should I trust you?"

Ryker swivelled to face me sharply. "You don't have to trust me," he said evenly. "But unless you have a better plan, I suggest you keep on moving."

His tone left no room for debate. I heaved an exasperated huff, trailing behind him, but dread snaked through my belly.

Hours or maybe it just felt like hours later, we stumbled into a small clearing between two shredded cliffs. They stumbled on a shallow cave, its mouth buried under thick vines. Ryker gestured for me to step inside.

The cave was dimly lit, the sparkle of bioluminescent moss casting a dreary glow across the walls. Ryker moved to the back, digging out a trove of supplies: blankets, bits of worn clothing, and a sack of dried meat.

"Here," he said, tossing a blanket and some food at me. "Eat. Rest. You'll need your strength."

I clumsily caught the bundle, keeping a close eye on him. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?"

Ryker hesitated, looking in my direction. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something softer regret; perhaps then it was gone like it never registered.

"Well, let's just say I have my reasons," he said cryptically. You're not the only one with enemies, Elara.

He mounted my name on a shelf, and it sent a pulse through me. "How do you know my name?"

Ryker didn't answer. He instead walked away with his back to us, straight-backed. "Go get some sleep," he said hoarsely. "We leave at dawn."

I wanted to press him for answers, but I was a nameless burden of fatigue. I pulled the blanket to me and leaned on the back of the cave, so many questions racing in my head.

As I sunk back into another restless sleep, one thought echoed in my head: Who the hell is Ryker, and what is he hiding?

Eventually the wolves moved on, growling in annoyance as they slipped into the concealing scrub. Ryker finally dropped me, face hard, and I'd gasped out shaky in my trembling breaths.

"We don't have a great deal of time," he said shortly. "They'll circle back."

"Appreciate the warning," I said, still wheezing. I wanted to rip his head off for being so cold, but he had just saved my life - again. Instead I skulked behind as he charged away, dashing easily through the trees as if he had done it his whole life.

We climbed up into the hills, the ground increased its slope, and the air grew thicker. The night hung without end, the stars vanished behind swollen clouds. Or I had, but there was silence from Ryker, and my patience thinned as every second passed.

"Are you ever going to tell me what the fuck is going on?" I blurted out. "Why are you helping me?"

Ryker slowed his steps and craned his neck to glance back at me, trepidation shining in his eyes. "You would not believe it if I told you."

"Try me."

For a moment he hesitated. Then he sighed, flinging his dark hair back with his fingers. "Let's just say you weren't the only one who got fucked over by the pack. I have my reasons for wanting you to live."

"Not an answer," I snapped back, full-on frustrated. "What reasons?"

Ryker's gaze darkened. "You look like you are doing just fine, but you're also very inquisitive."

His words stung, but I would not recoil. "I have a right to know what I'm walking into."

Ryker didn't answer immediately. He pivoted instead and walked on, his shoulders tense. "You'll know soon enough."

Just before dawn, we reached a small clearing. The rocks slid apart to form a narrow cave, cloaked in the thick vines. Ryker pushed them aside and signalled for me to follow.

Inside, the cave was cool and dry, its walls covered with long streaks of thin scratches that might have been claw marks. Ryker rummaged through a supply cache in one corner a heap of blankets, some jerky and a few battered weapons.

"Eat," he told me, tossing me a piece of meat. "If you go down, you can't help anybody."

I had observed it, gazing at him suspiciously. "Who else is here?"

"No one," Ryker said tersely. "Just me. This way is off their radar for now.'

With reluctance, I bit into the meat hunger won over distrust. We were quiet, the silence thick with so many questions neither of us was willing to ask. And finally, I just, I could not hold myself back anymore.

"What is your connection to the pack?" I asked. "Why do they hate you?"

Ryker froze, his jaw tightening. For a long beat, I didn't think he was going to respond. Then he turned and looked at me, his amber eyes brewing a storm of emotions I couldn't interpret.

"Let's just say that the pack does not appreciate wolves who think or act independently," he said bitterly. "And I was naive enough to believe I could challenge them."

I furrowed my brow, sensing there was more to the story. "What did they do to you?"

Ryker's expression hardened. "That's not your business."

His observations were sharp, but I didn't push him further. The exhaustion of the night gremlins began to finally kick in, and I sat pressed against the wall of the cave, wrapped in a blanket. Even while symptoms concerned me, sleep beckoned, my body pleading for a break after the ordeal.

My eyelids fluttered closed, but a singular thought remained: Ryker could be my best chance in this battle, but he possessed secrets-and I had to find out what they were before it was too late.

I don't know how long it was until I awoke to dim dawn light filtering through the mouth of the cave. Ryker sat close to the entrance, his profile shadowed by the dim light. He had stiff posture, and his head was cocked as if he were hearing something I wasn't.

"You're awake," he said, not looking back.

My muscles taut, and I slowly sat up. "Barely. What's the plan now?"

Ryker looked over at me, his expression unreadable. "The plan is simple. Stay alive. Which means you listen to what I say and quit asking a million questions."

I crossed my arms and held his eyes. "I owe you to my life, but I'm not some pathetic little puppy. I can handle myself."

A flicker of amusement crossed his face, only to vanish as soon as it had appeared. "Is that so? Because judging from what I saw last night, you're definitely not winning any survival awards."

My cheeks warmed, but I wouldn't give up. "You know nothing about me."

"Maybe you will," he said, getting up. "But I know enough to stay alive for the both of us. "And if you want to be out of this mess, you will do what I say."

Before I could protest, he grabbed a small pouch and flung it over his shoulder. "We leave in ten minutes. If you haven't, my friend, eat something. We have a long day ahead."

I kicked my legs while shooting daggers at his back as he exited the cave. "Bossy much?" I muttered under my breath. But as much as it pained me to admit, he was right. For the moment, survival became playing along. But whatever their motives for aiding me, Ryker's were his own, and though I'd learn soon what they were, I could not protest.

As the day drifted, we inched carefully, the forest a ban all wilderness of shades and light. Ryker would pause every now and then, his head cocked as though he could hear things that I couldn't. At one point he had raised a hand to silence me, his body so stiff that it felt he had turned to marble, too.

"What is it?" I whispered.

At first he didn't answer, his eyes skipping between the trees. Then he suddenly waved to me to follow him. "SHUT UP," he hissed, threateningly. "We're not alone."

We got moving fast, Ryker taking us into deeper shadows. Heaviness hung in the silence, and my heart beat against my ribs. Then out of the silence came a growl, low and dangerous. This wasn't a patrol wolf; it was a larger creature. Something was definitely wrong.