Luna stared at the map, her heart pounding in her chest. The "X" marked deep within the woods taunted her, promising answers but also danger. Her mother's note beneath it, "The truth lies here," replayed in her mind, over and over.
She folded the map and tucked it back into the journal, glancing toward the locked door of her room. The mansion felt quiet now, too quiet. She wasn't sure if Adrian had gone to report the rogue attack or if he was still patrolling outside, but she knew one thing—this wasn't something she could ignore.
Grabbing her coat, she slipped the map into her pocket and peeked out the door. The hallway was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the moon through the tall windows. Shadows stretched across the walls, making every corner seem alive.
Her bare feet made no sound as she crept toward the back staircase. She kept her breathing shallow, listening for any signs of movement. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she paused.
A faint voice carried from the study—a low, hushed conversation. Luna pressed herself against the wall, her curiosity piqued.
"She doesn't know yet," a man's voice said. She recognized it as Gideon's.
"She's getting too close," another voice replied. It was Adrian, his tone sharper than usual. "Tonight proved that."
Luna bit her lip, her pulse quickening. They're talking about me.
"She needs more time," Gideon said firmly. "The truth will only make things worse right now."
Luna clenched her fists, anger bubbling inside her. What truth? Why won't anyone just tell me?
Before she could hear more, the sound of footsteps approaching made her retreat. She darted down the hall and slipped out the back door, her heart pounding. The cool night air hit her skin, grounding her as she hurried toward the woods.
The forest was alive with sounds—the rustling of leaves, the occasional hoot of an owl, and the distant howls of wolves. Luna shivered, pulling her coat tighter around her as she unfolded the map.
The path marked on the map was faint but visible. She traced it with her finger, squinting in the moonlight. The "X" was far, deeper into the forest than she'd ever gone before.
Her mother's words echoed in her mind: "The truth lies here."
Determined, she followed the map, her feet crunching softly against the forest floor. The trees grew denser as she ventured further, their branches weaving a canopy that blocked most of the moonlight.
A sudden snap of a twig made her stop. She froze, her ears straining to catch any sound.
Nothing.
She shook her head, forcing herself to keep moving. It's just nerves, she thought.
But a few steps later, she heard it again—this time closer.
"Who's there?" she called out, her voice steady despite the fear creeping into her chest.
Silence.
Luna turned in a slow circle, scanning the shadows. Her heart hammered as she caught a faint movement in the corner of her eye.
"Luna," a voice whispered.
She spun around, her breath catching. A figure emerged from the shadows—Darius.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked, his voice low but filled with concern.
Luna hesitated. "I could ask you the same thing."
He stepped closer, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. "I heard the rogue attack earlier. I've been patrolling to make sure the pack's territory is safe."
Luna folded her arms. "Convenient timing."
Darius frowned. "Do you think I'm following you?"
She didn't answer, instead holding up the map. "What do you know about this?"
His expression darkened as he took the map from her hands, his eyes scanning it quickly. "Where did you get this?"
"My mother's journal," she replied, watching him carefully. "Do you know what's at the 'X'?"
Darius didn't answer immediately. Instead, he folded the map and handed it back to her. "You shouldn't be out here alone, especially not tonight."
"That's not an answer," Luna snapped, stepping closer to him. "You know something, don't you?"
Darius sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There are things I can't tell you, Luna. Not yet."
She clenched her fists. "Why does everyone keep saying that? My mother left this map for me. She wanted me to find whatever's out there."
Darius looked at her, his jaw tightening. "And what if it's something that puts you in more danger than you already are?"
"I don't care," she shot back. "I deserve to know the truth."
He stared at her for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. But I'm coming with you."
Luna hesitated. She didn't trust him completely, but she also knew she couldn't make it through the forest alone. Finally, she nodded. "Just don't try to stop me."
They walked in silence, the tension between them palpable. Darius led the way, his movements quiet and deliberate. Luna kept her eyes on the map, checking their path every few minutes.
As they got closer to the "X," the air seemed to change. It grew colder, heavier, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
"Do you feel that?" Luna asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Darius nodded. "We're getting close."
The trees opened up into a small clearing, and Luna's breath caught. At the center of the clearing was an old, crumbling stone structure—what looked like the remains of a temple or shrine.
"This is it," she said, stepping forward.
Darius grabbed her arm. "Wait."
She looked at him, her brow furrowing. "What now?"
"There could be traps," he said, his voice serious.
Luna pulled her arm free. "If my mother wanted me to find this, I doubt she'd set traps for me."
Darius didn't look convinced, but he let her go. Luna approached the structure, her heart racing. The stones were covered in moss, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth.
At the base of the structure, she found a small, weathered chest. Her hands trembled as she reached for it, brushing away the dirt and leaves.
"What is it?" Darius asked, stepping closer.
"I don't know," she murmured, lifting the lid.
Inside was a bundle of old papers and a small pendant shaped like a crescent moon. Luna picked up the pendant, her fingers tracing its smooth edges. It felt warm, almost alive, against her skin.
"What does it mean?" she whispered.
Darius crouched beside her, his eyes narrowing as he studied the pendant. "I don't know. But I think this is only the beginning."
Luna looked at him, her grip tightening on the pendant. "Then we'd better be ready for whatever comes next.
As Luna tucked the pendant into her pocket, a low growl echoed from the shadows. She and Darius both froze, their eyes snapping to the edge of th
e clearing.
A pair of glowing red eyes stared back at them.