Page 29 of Moonlit Fate

What illness could rob a shifter of their vitality and make them just as fragile as any mortal being? In the somber hues of morning, I felt the first stirrings of suspicion, a niggling doubt that perhaps we were not merely victims of a tragic anomaly but participants in a larger design, one tied with threads of a prophecy yet to be fully understood.

The weight of my responsibility as the future alpha bore down on me, the conflicting emotions I felt for Atticus adding another layer of complexity. The prophecy he had mentioned cast a cloud of uncertainty over everything.

Drained from crying, I settled into the peaceful stillness of the graveside. “So much is happening, Mom. I’ve never needed you more,” I admitted softly, longing for my mother’s comforting presence, holding on to the hope that, in some way, she could offer me guidance from across the veil.

A breeze stirred a brush of reassurance against my cheek. I would face the unknown and draw strength from the legacy of a luna who had been admired for her strength and grace.

With a newfound strength, I pushed aside the grief and sorrow. A determination born of love and loss, of fate and dread, settled in my bones. I tucked away the tendrils of the mystery. Whatever secrets lay hidden in the folds of the forest, in the legacy of my lineage, I would uncover them.

I placed a hand-picked bouquet of wildflowers on my mother’s grave. Tracing her name one last time on the cold stone, I let out a heavy sigh before reluctantly turning away and leaving the clearing.

Filled with a sense of purpose, I returned to the house, determined to uncover whatever I could about the prophecy. Knowledge was power. Wasn’t that what they said? Whoever “they” were. I needed a solid foundation of support to tackle the challenges that awaited, and I was determined not to face them alone.

I had a strong desire to have Atticus by my side in the manor’s library, but my father would never allow a rogue into our home. But I had friends, friends who were like vaults and would guard my secrets with unwavering trust.

The manor halls were dimly lit, and I could hear the staff’s distant whispers as I searched for Eldan and Seren. I found Eldan first. He was in the kitchen, assisting the cook with storing freshly baked pastries. I leaned against the doorpost, watching him work. For every pastry he put in the pantry, he ate at least two.

“Can you lend me a hand with some research?” I asked from my vantage point. “Or are you currently on a mission to see if you can break the record for most pastries eaten?”

He turned, his mouth covered in chocolate, eyebrow raised. “What pastries? I’m not eating pastries, Aria. I have a crucial task helping Cook ensure these delicious delicacies are stored away so they can be served to your father and the elders later this afternoon. I’d never stoop so low as to steal them.” He flashed me a toothy grin.

I couldn’t help but laugh, and it eased some of the tension that I was carrying on my shoulders. “Come on, you big goof. We need to find Seren.”

As we walked, we talked about strategies to use in the next training session. I knew Seren was in the manor, as I’d asked both her and Eldan to remain close, but the manor was large, and she could be anywhere. We found her in my rooms, talking with Tati as they tackled a large bag of sewing, which was fine byme. I hated anything to do with laundry—washing it, mending it, ironing it. Seren was cut from a whole different cloth.

Ha, no pun intended.

Eldan spoke before I could. “Seren, Her Highness, Princess Aria, would like our presence in the library.”

I elbowed him in the ribs and was satisfied when he let out a pained groan.

Seren looked over at me, concerned. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” I said. “Eldan’s being dramatic because I stopped him from eating his weight in pastries.”

I flicked my eyes to Tati, silently conveying my apprehension about speaking in front of her, fearing she might divulge anything to my father. Seren gave a brief nod of understanding. Relief flooded me. Knowing I was not alone meant everything to me.

The three of us walked to the library, and I briefly explained the situation I found myself in.

“It’s been brought to my attention...” I began in a hushed tone. “That there is a prophecy. It contains information about two shifters, both with a birthmark shaped like a crescent moon, who are set to bring about great change.” I provided them with a brief overview of what Atticus had told me, giving them the essential details. “There is a wolf, a rogue named Atticus, who believes it is about us.” I gestured towards my collarbone. The birthmark served as a brand, a constant reminder of my new reality. “We both have the same birthmark, but I wanted to dig into the library to uncover concrete details about the prophecy. Currently, all I have is mere hearsay and speculation.”

“You believe him?” Eldan screeched. “A rogue? What the fuck, Aria. Fairytales. He’s got you believing fairytales. Sometimes I think you’re even more foolish than I give you credit for.”

“It could all just be stories, but there’s something to it, Eldan. Something beyond myth and fantasy. I owe it to myself to check out the library and see if there is any truth in it,” I explained with as much calm as I could muster.

“She’s right,” Seren said, and her unexpected support caught me off-guard. “Eldan, listen. Instead of impulsively running away with him, she’s doing the responsible thing by taking the time to investigate and gather more information. It won’t hurt to look in the library, will it?”

Eldan said nothing, but he walked into the library and began pulling books off the shelves. With a grateful look at Seren, I started doing the same.

Another storm raged outside, the thunder and lightning pounding through the stone walls of the library nestled beneath the grand meeting hall. The room was a sanctum of knowledge, with bookshelves reaching towards the ceiling. The scents of aged leather and ink reminded me of the countless hours I spent here as a child, immersed in lessons about the pack’s heritage and my responsibilities. My fingers brushed over endless books, searching for more information on the prophecy. Yet, my thoughts were ensnared by an allure far more perilous than any forbidden knowledge these tomes could offer.

Atticus. I chastised myself as the memory of our kiss pulsed through me, a wild force. It was absurd, dangerous, a transgression that defied reason. How could I entertain such an impetuous desire? The very notion of my father finding out about that indiscretion chilled me. If he learned of that stolen encounter, it would be his undoing.

“Ridiculous,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head to clear it of the intoxicating haze that threatened my will. With great effort, I wrenched my attention back to the task at hand.

The kiss with Atticus would remain nothing more than a singular lapse in my judgment. It had to. There was no placein my world, nor in my future, for a love so fraught with peril. Despite our undeniable magnetic connection, the rogue represented everything I stood against. Or at least what I was forced to stand against.

“Can’t say I envy your current situation,” Eldan said. I was glad to see a faint smile gracing his face, his eyes earnest after his earlier outburst.

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