"You have no idea what you are handling."
With his golden eyes shining and he is approaching, the rival Alpha's voice rang over the clearing. His presence exuded strength, a repressive force that chilled my spine.
"And you don't know who you're dealing with," Luca snapped back, his tone calm in spite of the tension in the room.
The Alpha grinned and looked at me. "Your relationship is powerful but also brittle. It will break one mistake, one treachery.
My mark burned at his words, the fire scorching across my flesh as if in warning. "What are you looking for? I insisted, moving ahead despite the anxiety closing in my chest.
"What I've always wanted," the Alpha muttered, his voice low and threatening. Power. And the secret to opening it is you, sweetheart.
The mark on my wrist burnt brighter before we could react; the necklace around my neck flashed with light. A voice rang in my head, gentle and musical yet with great intensity.
"Be careful with the temptation of truth." The connection has to stay whole.
"What does it indicate? With my heart pounding, I murmured.
The competing Alpha bent his head, as if he heard the same voice. His smile wavered, then flicked with something I couldn't quite identify—perhaps fear, maybe recognition.
"You've heard her," he replied, his voice more pointed now. "The Moon Goddess speaks to you, don't she?„
I didn't respond, but my quiet appeared to validate his misgivings.
The Alpha surged at us with a roar, his motions quick and vicious. Luca faced him squarely, their collision rattling the clearing.
"Go! Luca yelled, his voice strained as he battled to rein in the Alpha.
I could not, however, abandon him. The light of the pendant pulsed, pointing me towards the middle of the clearing, where the earth bore an odd circular mark.
"What is this? "I mumbled, knelt to study it. The softly glowing earth's stones radiated silver light, their brightness rising as the glow of the pendant became stronger.
"It's the key," Kels replied, showing up at my side. Though blood soiled his clothing and his voice sounded labless, his golden eyes were steadfast. "The prophecy referred to a seal. This is definitely it.
"What happens when we unlock it? With fear wriggling in my gut, I asked.
Keal stopped. "Power." Enough to wipe out the competing pack, or us.
The fight raged behind us, the sound of claws hitting flesh filling the air. Snarls. Turning to watch Luca struggle against the competing Alpha, his motions slowed now as the battle wore on.
"He can't hold him off much longer," Kael stated in an agitated voice.
Aria, you have to make decisions. Open the seal or permit it to stay sealed.
The pendant scorched against my breast, and the mark on my wrist blazed with terrible fire. Once again, the voice of the Moon Goddess permeated my thoughts:
Unity or destruction. You have to make the decision.
I inhaled deeply, hands shaking as I laid them over the brilliant markings. I questioned if I could manage the overpowering force pounding under the surface for a second.
"Aria, wait," Luca screamed, tense but directive.
Turning to see him towering over the competing Alpha with blood streaming from a cut on his side, I saw his unwavering stance.
Opening that seal means you cannot go back.
And should I neglect? With a quivering voice, I asked.
"The pack falls," Kael remarked, his voice dark.
The competing Alpha laughed quietly, his golden eyes narrowing as he forced himself to stand. You believe the seal would rescue you? He laughed, taunting. It will only bond you to her will. The Moon Goddess tests and takes; she blesses nothing.
"Enough!" says Luca snarled and moved between the Alpha and me. "Aria, I trust you whatever happens. You have to, however, start trusting yourself.
His comments warmed me and helped me to calm the doubt tempest in my chest. I looked back to the seal; every second the runes shone more brilliantly.
Quietly more to myself than anybody else, "I'm doing this for the pack."
I inhaled deeply, then pushed my palms to the seal and the earth shook under us. The mark on my wrist burned as the pendant blazed with blinding brightness and the runes surged with force.
The light surrounded the meadow, and as the seal's power flooded over the competing Alpha, I heard his enraged yell.
The clearing stayed calm even as the light darkened. The competing Alpha lay still on the ground, as the pack came out of the shadows, looking both amazed and confused.
"What action did you take? Luca questioned, his voice kind yet firm.
My chest heaving, I said, "I'm not sure," trying to regain my breath.
But I suppose... We have released something more than we could have imagined.
The symbol on my wrist flashed once again as we turned to go out from the clearing, and an image tore over my brain.
A blood-red moon loomed in the heavens, throwing its menacing light over a wolf-filled battleground. At the middle stood a shadow-covered man with terrible light shining in his eyes.
My voice shook as I looked at Luca as the picture disappeared. "This isn't the last."
"No," he answered, his face austere. "It's only starting."