The hidden grove was unlike anything Luna had ever seen. The trees were taller, their branches twisting together to form a canopy that blocked out the sun. The air was thick with magic, and the ground beneath her feet pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow.
In the center of the grove stood a stone altar, its surface covered in carvings that seemed to shift and twist as if alive. Resting on top was a crystal—a perfect sphere that seemed to contain the light of the moon itself.
"The Heart of the Moon," Lyra whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Luna stepped forward, her breath catching as she reached out to touch the crystal. But before her fingers could brush against it, a voice echoed through the grove—a voice filled with malice and triumph.
"I knew you'd lead me here."
Luna spun around, her heart pounding as Darius, the mysterious man from the temple, stepped out of the shadows. His dark hair shimmered in the dim light, his glowing eyes filled with a hunger that made Luna's blood run cold.
"Darius," Kael growled, his body tensing as he stepped in front of Luna.
Darius smirked, his gaze flickering to the crystal. "You've done well, little moonchild. But the Heart of the Moon belongs to me."
Before anyone could react, Darius lunged. Kael shifted in an instant, his powerful wolf form intercepting him mid-air. The two collided with a force that shook the ground, their snarls and growls filling the air.
"Luna, get the crystal!" Lyra shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.
Luna hesitated, her heart pounding as she watched Kael and Darius clash. But then she turned back to the altar, her fingers brushing against the crystal.
The moment she touched it, the world around her disappeared.