Chapter 20
982 Words
_Lyla's POV_
The room was dimly lit by flickering candles placed haphazardly across wooden shelves. The shelves themselves were filled with glass jars, some containing dried leaves, others holding strange liquids that shimmered unnaturally under the candlelight. Bundles of herbs hung from the ceiling, their earthy aroma mixing with the scent of burning incense. The walls were lined with aged books, their covers cracked and worn with time.
In the center of the room stood a wooden table. Its surface was covered in intricate carvings. A large, black cauldron sat upon it. Its contents were bubbling softly and releasing a faint and glowing mist.
The fire beneath it crackled, casting eerie shadows across the floor. To the right, a worn-out chair sat beside a smaller table, where a deck of tarot cards lay scattered.
Adeline moved with a grace that didn't match her age. Her silver hair swayed as she walked toward the center of the room. She gestured for me to follow. I hesitated, my fingers trembling as I stepped deeper inside.
"You are afraid," she noted, her voice softer now, but still carrying a sharp edge.
I swallowed hard. "I don't know what to expect."
She hummed, tilting her head. "Good. That means you understand the weight of what you claim."
I clenched my hands into fists, forcing myself to stand tall. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't sure."
She studied me for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Sit."
I hesitated before lowering myself onto a wooden stool near the table. Adeline turned toward one of her shelves, gathering a few items—dried leaves, a vial filled with dark liquid, and a small silver dagger. My stomach twisted as I watched her bring them over.
She placed them down in front of me. "To know if you truly are the Lunar Wolf, we must perform a ritual. It is old magic—older than all the packs, older than me. If you are lying, this will expose it. If you are telling the truth… then the Moon Goddess herself will reveal her mark upon you."
I nodded, though my throat felt dry. "What do I need to do?"
Adeline picked up the dagger, its silver blade gleaming in the candlelight. "Your blood is required."
I stiffened but forced myself to nod again.
She held out her hand. "Give me your arm."
I hesitated for only a moment before rolling up my sleeve and extending my arm toward her. She took it gently and positioned the dagger against the inside of my wrist.
"This will sting," she warned.
Before I could brace myself, she made a small cut. A sharp pain pricked my skin, and a few drops of blood welled up before falling into a stone bowl. Adeline muttered something under her breath, words I couldn't understand. The blood in the bowl swirled unnaturally, mixing with the dark liquid she had poured earlier. The mixture began to glow and was casting an eerie silver light across the room.
My breath caught in my throat.
Adeline sprinkled the dried leaves into the bowl and the glow pulsed. She lifted the bowl and brought it close to my arm.
"Close your eyes," she instructed.
I obeyed. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. The moment she pressed the mixture onto my skin, a strange warmth spread through my body. It wasn't painful, but it was unlike anything I had ever felt before. My heartbeat slowed, my breathing deepened, and I felt as though I were floating.
Whispers filled the room. I wasn’t sure if they were real or only in my head. They spoke in hushed tones. My fingers trembled. My body was tingling with energy.
Then, suddenly, a sharp jolt shot through me. My eyes flew open and a gasp escaped my lips.
A soft glow emerged from my skin and spread up my arm. My breath hitched as I watched it take shape—slowly, delicately, forming a crescent moon. The mark shimmered, silver and beautiful, as if the light of the moon itself had been etched onto my skin.
Adeline’s eyes widened. I could see genuine shock flickering across her face. For a moment, she said nothing. Then, slowly, she exhaled.
"It is true," she murmured. "You are the Lunar Wolf."
"I told you," I whispered.
Adeline remained quiet, her gaze lingering on the mark as if trying to make sense of it. Then, with a slow nod, she finally looked up at me.
"Your journey has only just begun," she said, her voice softer than before. "The Moon Goddess has chosen you for something far greater than you realize. But with great power comes great danger."
A lump formed in my throat. "What kind of danger?"
Adeline’s expression darkened. "There are those who will want your power for themselves. Others who will seek to destroy you before you can fulfill your purpose. The Lunar Wolf is a gift—but also a curse. You must be ready for what is to come."
A shiver ran down my spine. I had expected answers, but now I only had more questions.
Adeline sighed and turned toward the shelf, pulling down an ancient book. She set it on the table with a heavy thud. "This book contains knowledge of the Lunar Wolves. There have been few before you. Their stories are here. Learn from them."
I reached for the book, my fingers brushing against the worn leather cover. "Thank you," I murmured.
Adeline nodded but said nothing more. I knew she had given me as much as she was willing to for now.
Taking a deep breath, I rolled my sleeve back down, glancing at my arm one last time. The crescent moon remained. It was a reminder that my life had changed forever.
I wasn’t just an ordinary omega anymore.
I was the Lunar Wolf.
- Writer
