Chapter 7: A path unfolds
Aria sat in silence, staring at the faded illustration of the glowing white wolf in Elder Miriam's ancient book. The words the elder had spoken still echoed in her mind.
Lunaris Bloodline. True-born Luna Queen. Hunted. Feared.
She had spent years believing she was nothing—a rogue without a home, abandoned to the wild. But now, the truth stood before her, undeniable. Her power wasn't a curse or an accident. It was her birthright.
And that meant everything she had lost, everything that had been taken from her, was because of what she was.
She clenched her fists.
For the first time, she had a reason. A purpose.
But she also had enemies.
Unraveling the Past
Elder Miriam watched her, waiting. The silver-haired woman—whom Aria now knew as Lyra, Miriam's granddaughter—leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"You must have questions," Miriam said finally.
Aria exhaled slowly. "Too many."
Miriam nodded, turning the pages of the book. "Ask, child."
Aria hesitated. There were a thousand things she wanted to know, but one question burned the brightest.
"Why didn't I know any of this before?"
Miriam's expression darkened. "Because your parents wanted to protect you."
The words sent a pang through Aria's chest.
"When your family was betrayed, the ones who feared the Lunaris Bloodline thought they had wiped it out completely. But your mother… she hid you. She sealed away the full extent of your power, hoping that if you lived as an ordinary wolf, you would be spared."
Aria's throat tightened. My mother… she protected me until the end.
"But power like yours cannot stay hidden forever," Miriam continued. "Now that it is awakening, the world will come for you."
Aria swallowed hard. "That's why Kieran's warriors are after me."
Lyra's expression was unreadable. "They are either afraid of you—or they want to control you."
Aria's gut twisted. Kieran had spared her life once before. Had he known what she was even then? Was that why he hadn't killed her?
Or had he planned something worse?
A Dangerous Choice
Miriam shut the book and met Aria's gaze. "You must decide your path."
Aria frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You can keep running, trying to stay ahead of those who hunt you," Miriam said. "Or… you can take control of your destiny."
Aria tensed. "How?"
"By mastering your power," Miriam said simply. "By learning what it means to be Lunaris."
Aria's heart pounded.
For years, she had survived on instinct, on sheer will. But this? This was something else entirely.
If she chose this path, she wouldn't just be fighting to stay alive—she would be fighting for something bigger.
Fighting for herself.
For the family she lost.
For the throne that should have been hers.
Lyra stepped forward. "You have the blood of a queen, Aria. But if you want to claim it, you have to be strong enough to stand against those who would see you fall."
Aria took a shaky breath.
She had spent so long believing she was nothing.
But now, for the first time, she saw the truth.
She wasn't weak.
She wasn't alone.
And she wasn't running anymore.
She lifted her chin, eyes burning with determination.
"Teach me."
End of Chapter 7