Page 39 of Moonlit Fate

“The path leads where shadows twist and memories turn to dust. Are you truly prepared to walk it?” Hale asked.

“I don’t have time for games, Hale,” I said. “Seren and I are currently not where we are supposed to be.” I looked across at my best friend’s sleeping form, my voice gentling so as not to wake her. “If my father were to find out we’re here… the repercussions are too distressing to think about.”

Hale’s grin was starting to grate on my nerves, but perhaps realizing I was losing my patience, he provided us with the directions.

“At the human realm, where the four territories meet the horizon, a seer patiently stands. Follow the liquid thread of life that dances and twists, a silver serpent weaving its way upstream. Let the gurgling music be your guide, a melody beckoning you farther. Here, the wind whispers tales of forgotten magic, and the very earth hums with an unseen energy. Where the current stills and the water mirrors the endless sky, the silent sentinels await. The stones, weathered by time, stand tall and proud, their surfaces etched with the stories of the past, safeguarding that which cannot be identified. Do notfalter at their ancient gaze. Seek what cannot be seen, for that is where the truth lies.”

“Fantastic.” I pushed my hands through my hair in exasperation. “More riddles on riddles. Why does it always have to be so cryptic and obscure? Just once, I’d appreciate a straight answer.”

Hale raised his hand in defense. “Aria, I swear, I heard there was a seer a while back, so I did my research—you’re never sure what might come in handy, you know? This was the only reference to the seer’s residence I found. I made certain to copy it down.”

Atticus and I carefully studied the directions, analyzing each line until we had them memorized and a good idea of which direction to head in. We ventured out of the den into the soft radiance of a crescent moon that hung low in the sky, accompanied by a symphony of sounds from the nocturnal creatures that resided in the trees and undergrowth.

The night air was cool and damp against my skin, heightening every sense as we moved. Hale’s instructions ran through my head as we set off towards the human realm, where the Silver Claw, Crimson Fang, and unclaimed territories met.Liquid thread of lifecould only mean water. I wasn’t sure if Hale had made these directions infuriate me or if this was how the seer stayed in the shadows.

“Stay close,” Atticus said, his hand making a fleeting, electrifying connection with mine.

I tried to steady my balance as we maneuvered through the rugged terrain. The forest seemed to watch us, trees whispering words I strained to understand. Eventually, we shifted into our wolf forms, relishing the freedom and agility that came with traveling on four legs for long distances.

I tore through the dense thicket, my paws a blur against the soft forest floor. The world was different in wolf form—it wasall impulse, every scent a story, every sound a signal. Though I’d promised myself I’d keep my distance, I couldn’t help but be captivated by Atticus’s elegant movements as he ran beside me. His coat was a beautiful contrast against the lush, emerald-green underbrush.

We stopped at our familiar territory, taking a moment to delight in the cool night breeze that playfully ruffled our fur. With an eerie synchronicity, our bodies reacted to an invisible cue, and with a shudder that rippled through our forms, we shifted back, bones rearranging, skin replacing fur. There we stood, two souls in the wilderness.

“Are we close?” I asked.

“Very.” He scanned the surroundings with a predator’s precision. As instructed, we let the river lead the way. When it disappeared from sight, we relied on the sound of rushing water to navigate our path. The current became stronger and the vegetation became denser, indicating that we were heading farther upstream.

With every step I took, the call of destiny grew louder, pushing me onward.

“Through here.” Atticus pointed to a hidden entrance obscured by overgrown vines.

We followed the trail, the world bending in ways that defied logic. This was a place of immense magic, where the veil between the seen and unseen was gossamer-thin. What had Hale said?The wind whispers tales of forgotten magic, and the very earth hums with an unseen energy.

When we got back, I’d have to apologize to him. When he’d recited the lines, I thought he was being overly dramatic. But now? Now I wasn’t sure what to believe anymore.

“You’re feeling this, right?” I asked.

“Every step,” Atticus said, and the expression on his face could only be described as wondrous. No surprise there, as this wasimmenselywondrous.

“I thought Hale was bullshitting us with some of those directions,” I admitted, “but I’m starting to think he was understating them.”

Atticus grinned. “Hale occasionally adds flair to situations, but his judgment has always been trustworthy.”

With each step, the sense of urgency grew louder, like a silent symphony reaching its crescendo. We were so close now, so close to answers, to truths, to the very core of the prophecy that had haunted my dreams.

“Almost there,” Atticus said.

I squeezed his hand, grateful for the connection, for the unspoken promise that we would face whatever lay ahead together. Even with the need to maintain distance, I found it impossible to deny the magnetic force pulling our destinies together. Every time we tried to put space between us, the threads of fate became even more entangled, resisting any attempts to untie them.

“Atticus, why did you choose to leave your pack and become a rogue?” I suddenly asked.

He faltered. “Pack life wasn’t for me.”

My wrist was suddenly warm where the bracelet he had given me clung. I glanced down, noting the subtle glow that affirmed his honesty. But his response was lacking, and I could sense the grief in his tone.

There was no deceit in him, and for that reason alone, I didn’t press. He would tell me when the time was right, if there ever was a right time.

“Thank you. For being honest,” I said, internally berating myself for my curiosity about his past. Understanding his true nature wasn’t the most successful strategy to uphold emotionaldistance. It only made it more challenging to preserve the walls shielding my heart.

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