Celestial stood in the quiet of the One Order stronghold. The remnants of her father's pack, the Everscent, had been wiped out in the battle, and Marcus, her father, her protector, the alpha who had always been her strength, was gone. The howls of the wolves, the cries of her pack, still echoed in her mind, haunting her in the silence of the stronghold.
She had never felt more alone.
Her small hands clutched the pendant that Marcus had given her, a simple token, a gift from a father to his daughter, a symbol of the bond they had shared. Tears rolled down her face, her eyes red and swollen, but the grief felt too vast to ever be fully contained.
The night had come and gone, but the darkness inside her had not lifted. There was no solace in the halls of the One Order stronghold, despite the efforts of the soldiers who had tried to comfort her. Nothing could replace the loss of her pack, her family, and the safety she once knew. She had heard the stories of the One Order, but they felt foreign, distant. The faces around her were kind, but they weren't hers.
Lord Arin, the One Lord and leader of the One Order, had watched her from afar in the days following the battle, his heart heavy with sorrow for the young girl who had lost so much. He had seen the pain in her eyes, and it mirrored the grief he had once felt when he lost everything he loved. Yet he knew that Celestial's journey was far from over. She had a future, one that was both powerful and dangerous, but it was a future nonetheless.
Arin approached Celestial in the garden of the stronghold, where she had wandered in solitude. He had not seen her for hours, and he knew she needed him now more than ever.
"Celestial," his voice was gentle as he stepped forward, his presence a quiet strength behind her. "You've been through so much, and I know words cannot fill the space that your grief has created."
Celestial didn't turn to face him, but the sound of his voice made her shoulders stiffen. She had been trying to forget that anyone else existed in the world. But deep down, she knew that Lord Arin was right. There were no words that could heal the ache in her heart.
"Why did this have to happen?" Celestial's voice was barely above a whisper, fragile as glass. "Why did my father have to die? Why did my pack have to be destroyed? Everything is gone."
Arin knelt beside her. His gaze softened as he placed a hand on her shoulder. He could feel the weight of her pain, the sense of lost purpose that hung in the air.
"It's hard, Celestial. I won't lie to you. The loss you feel, no one can understand it unless they've experienced it themselves. But I can tell you this; you are not alone. You have a great future ahead of you, one that can change the course of this world."
Celestial's eyes met his then, tears still shimmering in them. "How can I change anything when everything I knew is gone? My father, my pack... they were everything to me."
Lord Arin sighed deeply, his face a mask of wisdom and sorrow. He had seen many warriors grieve, many leaders fall, but he knew Celestial was different. She was stronger than she realized, and the blood of both her parents flowed through her, a bloodline that was destined for greatness, even if she couldn't see it yet.
"The future I speak of is not just about power, Celestial. It is about finding your place in a world that is changing. Your father knew this. He knew that your destiny was not just to lead a pack, but to protect something far greater. The moon gems are part of your legacy, and they will lead you to a future you cannot yet imagine."
Celestial's brow furrowed as she took in his words. "The moon gems," she whispered, almost as though the very mention of them stirred something inside her. "How do you know about them? My father never spoke of them..."
Lord Arin's gaze darkened slightly, but he remained calm. "The One Order has kept many secrets over the years, Celestial. But your father knew, and he protected you. The moon gems hold unimaginable power. But they are also dangerous, and there are those who will stop at nothing to possess them. That is why you must be strong, not just for yourself, but for all those who depend on you."
Arin rose to his feet, offering Celestial his hand. She looked at him, uncertain, but took it with trembling fingers. As she stood, Arin's voice softened again, filled with a quiet resolve.
"The loss you feel will never truly fade, Celestial. But the future ahead of you, the future your father would have wanted for you, can still be yours. I will help you, guide you, and together, we will make sure his legacy lives on."
"I don't know if I'm ready," Celestial whispered, her voice still heavy with grief, but now laced with a tinge of resolve. "I don't know if I can ever be what my father wanted me to be."
"You will be," Lord Arin said, his voice firm with belief. "You already are. But you must allow yourself to heal first. In time, you will see it. I promise you, Celestial. Your father's spirit lives on in you, and that spirit is stronger than you can possibly understand."
Celestial nodded slowly, her eyes lifting to the sky. She would never forget her father, and she would never stop grieving.
She squeezed Lord Arin's hand as they stood together, and in that moment, Celestial understood, her journey was just beginning.