Page 142 of Moonlit Fate

“Of course,” he said. “Be careful, stay vigilant. We still don’t know who attacked you. If they appear, don’t stay and fight. Communicate with me, let me know where you are. I’ll shadow walk and get you out of there before they can touch you. Please, Aria, promise me that.”

His intense gaze never wavered, and I could tell he was torn between protecting me while also respecting my need for space. I was tempted to let him take me back to Silver Claw territory, to prolong our time together and shut out the reality of everything that happened. But I had too much weighing on my mind and very little time to work through it all.

“I promise. Any sign of trouble, and I’ll let you know,” I said, standing up. “Thanks for breakfast.”

“Any time,” he replied, watching me leave.

I stepped through the curtain and shifted. Inhaling the reassuring fragrance of pine and earth that greeted me, I took off.

As I ran through the forest, the aftermath of my actions became painfully clear. In my haste to get Ilaric the previous afternoon, I hadn’t noticed the depth of my destruction. The once-majestic ancient trees—guardians of many generations, sturdy and resilient against the elements—were now snapped in half. The river’s ferns, torn from their natural habitat, draped over the trees that had withstood the force of my power.

Anxious about the upcoming meeting with Philesia, I held on to the hope that she could teach me how to control the raw energy. I couldn’t bear it if I caused any more devastation to the forest that had been home for our kind.

I sprinted towards the manor, desperate to avoid any pack members. Bursting through the door, I scanned the dimly lit corridors, making sure to avoid the staff bustling about. I’d intended to head straight to my rooms to change into my own clothes, but a sudden whim led me to my father’s study.

I shifted back into human form and stood in front of the door, hand hovering over the brass doorknob. Cold sweat slicked my palms. I was on a precipice, searching for answers buried in the past. I’d avoided this moment, this confrontation with my grief, for far too long. But now, the need for answers outweighed my sorrow. With a deep breath, I summoned the courage and pushed the heavy door open.

As the smell of old wood and leather-bound books hit me, I faltered. It was like Father was still here, sitting at his desk, poring over one ancient text or another. I locked my knees,afraid I would crumble under the emotional onslaught of the empty room.

“Are you all right?”

I jumped and slapped a hand to my chest. “Eldan, you startled me. And I’m fine, just tired,” I said, my tone betraying the anguish I was trying so hard to conceal.

He crossed the corridor in two strides and wrapped me in a hug. All it did was make me want to cry more. Another hand touched my shoulder, and a lump formed in my throat. When I looked up at Seren’s caring expression, the ache in my chest intensified.

“What are you two doing here?” I asked.

“We were waiting for you in the front room. One of the maids saw you coming this way,” Eldan murmured. “Ilaric told us what happened.”

I pulled away, needing space. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

“Okay,” he said simply, then changed the subject. “We spread the word that last night’s pack meeting was canceled.”

“Thank you.” It hadn’t even crossed my mind. Regardless of the circumstances, canceling a pack meeting would be more fuel for the old fucks to moan about, but at least I hadn’t stood up the entire pack.

We moved out of the doorway and into the office. I stood still, looking over the room. Books lined the shelves, loose sheets of parchment littered the desk, and the chair still held Father’s indentation. I smiled slightly. Father always called it his butt groove.. Other memories clawed at me, demanding attention, but I wasn’t ready to face them.

“Whenever you’re ready, Aria.” Eldan stepped back, giving me the space to explore my father’s sanctum.

I ran my fingers along the spines of books, pulling them out randomly and flipping through their pages before returningthem to the shelf. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. This was mere procrastination to quell the nervousness I felt about the upcoming meeting with Philesia.

“Your father had many secrets,” Eldan remarked, picking up an old, leather-bound volume. “I think he wanted you to find them when you were ready.”

“How the fuck am I supposed to know when I’m ready, Eldan? Because right now, I feel completely unprepared.” As quickly as it came, the flash of temper dissipated, leaving only the bitter aftertaste of guilt. “I’m sorry, Eldan, that was uncalled for.”

“Don’t apologize, Aria,” Elden said. “I can’t even imagine the courage it takes to get out of bed in your situation. Have confidence in yourself, and everything will work out.”

My attention shifted to the circle of ethereal figures that hovered around Seren. She sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes closed, hands resting gently on an open book. The hum of unearthly energy filled the space.

Intrigued, I watched as her lips moved soundlessly, her expression intense. When her lips stilled and her eyes fluttered open, I cautiously whispered, “What are you doing?”

She nodded at the ghostly figures, their eerie glow illuminating her face. “When we entered the room, I felt the spirits, but they weren’t powerful enough to manifest, so I gave them a boost.”

“A boost?”

“It’s basically the same thing I was doing in the forest the other day, just on a smaller scale,” she said.

I gestured to the ghosts drifting around her. “Who are they?”

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