Page 199 of Moonlit Fate

His condescending tone was a punch to the gut, but I stood rooted to the spot, my hands clenched at my sides.

“I would be happy to allow you to continue using your rooms. Consider it a gift.”

“Your generosity knows no bounds,” I said through gritted teeth, turning away to search for the book once more. “Every alpha serves their time. I did what I thought was right for the pack. And I’ll continue to do so, with or without the title.”

A sudden chill swept into the room just then, and from the corner of my eye, I caught a bit of movement, a wisp of ethereal light that hadn’t been there before. Lorian. He hovered by the bookshelf, his translucent gaze fixed on Miren. Seren must have wondered where I was and sent Lorian to chase me on.

Miren’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling in disgust. “What is this? Your ghost pet?” he spat out, clearly agitated by Lorian’s silent judgment. “Get out,” he barked, pointing toward the door. “Take your ghost with you. You’re wasting your time with all of this spiritual nonsense.”

Arguing would be pointless, so I kept my attention on the shelves. Finally, I spotted the green leatherbound tome and took it off the shelf. Miren’s disdain pressed down hard, but I keptmy spine straight. Without a word, I walked past him, held head high, Lorian’s reassuring presence at my back.

Mirin’s rudeness fueled the fire in me. I would fight for my pack. For Atticus. And I’d start with every clue this book had to offer.

I ran back up to my room and gave Seren the book.

“Are you okay?” she asked, observing the subtle change in my mood as only a longtime friend could.

My magic built restlessly under my skin, matching the agitation Miren and his need to assert dominance had stirred.

“I’m fine, just our newalphaletting me know my place in the pecking order.” I rubbed a hand over my face.

Recognizing the need to let out the pent-up magic, I excused myself and went to the one place in the pack’s grounds I’d be guaranteed no audience.

I walked through the forest and thought of everything Philesia had said in our last training session. My emotions were my strength, so I had to channel this irritation Miren had caused. Fucking idiot.

I inhaled deeply, then exhaled, repeating it until I felt calmer and more in control. When I finally reached the graveyard, I stood in the center, letting the turmoil inside me settle and focused on my magic. Stones marked with ages of wear surrounded me, silent witnesses to my growing strength.

“I enjoyed watching Alpha Thea,” Lorian said, and I jumped, putting a hand to my chest. I hadn’t realized he’d followed me.

“I apologize for startling you. I wonder if I might make some suggestions, Miss Aria?”

I nodded and found a comfortable spot on a weathered tree stump, watching as he floated, translucent and serene, beside me.

“Meditating helped her tap into the deep well of magic. She would search herself, tracing the tendrils of magic, carefully molding them in her mind to suit her exact intentions.”

“That’s kind of like my shielding practices,” I said. Standing, my confidence surged alongside my power. The air buzzed around me, charged with energy that responded to my call.

“Concentrate, Aria,” Lorian said. “Visualize your goal. Let the energy flow through you.”

I closed my eyes and sought that calm center, the eye of my internal storm where my power lay coiled. When I opened my eyes, the world seemed sharper, more defined.

“Good, now reach out with your senses,” Lorian instructed.

My hands lifted of their own accord, palms up to the darkening sky. Focusing on the space above me, I beckoned to the dormant air. At first, there was only a whisper, a suggestion of movement. Then, as if answering my silent command, the breeze picked up. It swirled around me, gaining momentum, a tangible force directed by nothing but my will and the magic coursing through my veins.

“Yes! Just like that,” Lorian exclaimed, his spectral form shimmering with excitement. “See, you’re a natural! Now reach out with your senses. Remember, you control it. Don’t let it control you.”

My hands lifted of their own accord, palms up to the darkening sky. Focusing on the space above me, I beckoned to the dormant air. At first, there was only a whisper, a suggestion of movement. Then, as if answering my silent command, a breeze picked up. It swirled around me, gaining momentum, a tangible force directed by nothing but my will and the magic coursing through my veins.

“Feel it? That’s it, Aria. You’re doing it,” Lorian said.

The leaves spun, creating a cyclone of autumn colors around me. I controlled each one with a thought, my mind racing fromthe thrill of it. Not all that long ago, I would have been terrified, but now, I was fueled by the success, the newfound steadiness in my grasp of this power.

“Look at you. If those leaves were enemies, they’d be begging for mercy.” Lorian laughed.

“That’s a bit of a stretch.” I chuckled, letting the leaves flutter gently back to the ground. “Anyway, it’s not enemies I’m practicing for.”

My words were steady, my mind clear. I stepped over to a weathered headstone, tracing the name engraved on it. This place, these silent witnesses of time, were part of my legacy, along with the very magic pulsating through my veins.

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