Page 76 of Moonlit Fate

His words conjured up images of Atticus and his chosen family, a tapestry of individuals, each thread unique yet indispensable. They were disparate pieces, yet together, they formed a picture of harmony I yearned to replicate in my own pack.

They supported each other without question, their faults acknowledged but never used as weapons. They carried one another’s burdens, their shoulders broad enough for the weight of shared troubles. In every trial, they found encouragementand love, an unspoken pledge to uphold one another against the struggles of life.

“Atticus has shown you another way, hasn’t he?” Ilaric broke into my reverie with uncanny perception.

“Yes, he has,” I answered. “And perhaps it’s time we learn to be more like the rogues. To truly see and accept each other, to foster the gifts we’ve been hiding.”

“Then let that be your guiding star,” Ilaric advised. “Unity in diversity, strength in acceptance. That’s how you’ll heal the fractures. How you’ll prepare the Silver Claw for whatever lies ahead.”

And then, I understood. The way forward was fraught with challenges, but it was also aglow with possibility.

“Heal the pack, and Larkin’s influence will wane,” Ilaric said with an unshakeable calm. “But be vigilant, for his ambition will not fade easily.”

I nodded, feeling the truth of his words deep in my bones. It was a directive that was both monumental and elusive. To heal the pack was akin to mending a tapestry of souls, complex and interwoven.

“Have you been practicing your water bending?” Ilaric’s sudden change of subject caught me off-guard.

“Practicing?” I repeated, almost laughing. “Well, if you count making whirlpools in the bathtub an extensive routine, then sure.”

My attempt at humor fell flat when he raised an unamused eyebrow.

“According to the books I’ve found, I’ll need to create a water barrier around the triskele,” I said. “But that shouldn’t be too difficult.”

The triskele. A symbol of protection, of unity—exactly what I needed to bring to our pack. I swallowed, my mouth suddenlydry. The notion of wielding such power was daunting, yet somehow, I knew I could do it.

“Practice,” Ilaric said. “Your abilities are not just parlor tricks for idle amusement. They’re a part of you, as much as the blood that runs through your veins. Do not neglect them.”

“You’re right. I’ll practice,” I said. “I won’t let this pack, our family, succumb to division.”

Ilaric offered a curt nod, satisfied with my commitment. “Good. Remember, focus is key. Let the energy flow from inside, guide it with purpose.” He studied Seren now. “Stop fighting yourself. Embrace the spirits, or they’ll consume you.”

I watched how despair seemed to drape over her. “You are the wielder,” I said, my words borrowed from Ilaric’s wisdom. “Your power is profound, a gift bestowed upon you. Not many can claim such a connection to the ethereal world.”

Seren wrapped her arms around herself. “A gift?” she scoffed, laughing bitterly. “This ‘gift’ feels more like a curse, a constant whispering madness that I can’t escape.”

“Let him help you,” I urged. “Ilaric’s guidance will help you control the chaos. He sees the splendor in what haunts you.”

She met my gaze, searching for my certainty. “And what if I can’t master it?”

“Then we’ll figure it out,” Ilaric said. “Find another way.”

Seren nodded a tentative acceptance. She stood. “I will try,” she said, the iron in her tone belying her previous unease. She walked out of Ilaric’s cabin without another word.

As the door closed behind her, the silence returned, but it was no longer oppressive.

“I will try as well,” I said softly, then leaned down to press a soft kiss to Ilaric’s wrinkled temple. “Thank you.”

After leaving the cabin, I entered the communal area of Silver Claw pack lands, a place that had always been a stronghold of unity and shared purpose for our kind. The tension woundaround me like a serpent, squeezing tighter with each step I took. The familiar murmurings of my pack, once filled with camaraderie and laughter, had fallen silent, replaced by a heavy stillness that clung to my skin and threatened to suffocate me.

I sensed it then, the simmering disquiet that bubbled just beneath the surface, waiting for the trigger that would make it erupt. They were questioning, probing, seeking answers I wasn’t sure I had. But I was the future alpha; I couldn’t let my uncertainty show. So, I squared my shoulders, my stance firm.

“Problems, Aria?”

The challenge came from a broad-shouldered shifter whose piercing ice-blue eyes held betrayal. His words carried across the crowd, stirring whispers among the rest.

“Concerns,” I corrected him smoothly. “Concerns that are being addressed.”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” said another, who came forward with a defiance that matched the set of her jaw. “Ragnar’s leadership is in question, and you...” Her accusatory gaze raked over me. “You’ve been absent when we needed you most.”

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