Chapter 200

AURORA

Trajan’s smile sends a shiver down my spine. Something about it feels off, though I just can’t place why.

The pack surrounds him, cheering, relieved at his return to health, but there’s a shadow in my chest. “Welcome back,” I say, my voice even, but inside, my spine is crawling.

Trajan nods, his face warm, yet faintly removed. “It’s good to be back.”

But when his eyes briefly lock with mine, something cold and detached flashes through them. My chest tightens at the image, but I don’t get to dwell on it.

Later, as the pack scattered, I stepped to the edge of the forest for some peace.

My pendant rests against my chest, its soft glow a gentle reminder of what’s still to come.

The Moon Goddess’s warning seems to echo in my mind: Your choices will decide the course of all.

But tonight, the silence is broken.

“Are you ready to embrace what lies within you?” a voice says from behind me.

I whirl around, dagger in hand, but there’s no one there. The pendant heats up instead, and everything around me blurs. When I blink again, I’m not in the forest anymore.

I’m standing in a great silver-lit meadow, the air shining with power. Before me stands the Moon Goddess herself, serene and overwhelming.

“Aurora,” she says, her voice like a melody.

My throat tightens. “Goddess… why am I here?”

“You are at a crossroads,” she says, stepping closer. “The essence within you is awakening. To defeat the Nameless, you must fully embrace it.”

The weight of her words crashes down on me. “And what happens if I do? What will it cost me?”

Her gaze softens, but there’s a sadness in her eyes.

“The power will grant you strength beyond measure. But it will also test your humanity. If you lose yourself to it, you may become something… other.”

My stomach turns. “Other? What does that mean?”

“You will no longer be entirely mortal. The lines between who you are and what you become will blur. This path is not without sacrifice.”

I close my eyes, my mind racing. “How can I make this choice? How do I know it’s worth it?”

“You must trust your heart,” she says, her voice gentle. “Speak to those you hold dear. Seek their guidance. But ultimately, the decision is yours alone.”

The vision disappears, and I’m back in the forest. The pendant feels heavier on my chest as I walk toward the packhouse, my thoughts a jumbled mess.

I gather in the war room, calling in the people I trust most: Piper, Warrick, and Dane. The strain of the day is etched into their faces, but they listen intently as I repeat what the goddess said.

“This power… it could turn the tide,” I say, my voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at me. “But the cost…”

“You’re afraid of losing yourself,” Piper says, her tone understanding.

I nod. “If I become something unrecognizable, how can I lead this pack? How can I protect you all?”

Dane steps forward, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering resolve. “Aurora, you’ve always been our strength. Even when things seemed impossible, you never wavered. If anyone can hold onto who they are, it’s you.”

“But what if I can’t?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

“You won’t be alone,” he says firmly. “We’ll be here to remind you of who you are.”

Warrick leans against the wall, arms crossed. “Power like that is a double-edged sword. But if the goddess believes you’re capable, maybe you should trust her judgment.”

Piper places a hand on my shoulder. “We trust you, Aurora. And we’ll stand by you, no matter what.”

Their words set something inside me, but the fear remains. Yet I also know exactly what I must do.

That night, in the heart of the forest, I sat alone and watched the pendant grow brighter by the minute.

“I’m ready,” I whisper.

The pendant pulses and the light envelops me, seeping into my skin, filling every inch of me with warmth and energy.

My senses heighten, the rustle of leaves a symphony, the moonlight a raging beacon.

But with that power comes the shadow.

A whisper at the edges of my mind, begging me to let go completely.

You don’t need them, it murmurs. You are enough.

“No,” I say aloud, my voice firm. “I won’t lose myself.”

Louder, the whispers become a cacophony of promises and threats. My heart pounds as I clutch the pendant, its light flickering like a dying flame.

Finally, when the light has gone, I collapse to the ground, trembling. The power is overwhelming, but I’m still me… for now.

The next morning, I called the pack together. A sea of faces greets me, their expressions slipping from awe to unease as they sense what has changed.

“We have a chance to end this,” I say, my voice carrying a new weight. “But we must be prepared.”

We spend hours devising strategies, fortifying defenses, and assigning roles. Every detail was scrutinized, every possibility weighed.

But even as we make our plans, I have this feeling of being watched.

Later that night, while the pack rests, I see a figure moving in the darkness. Trajan. His eyes aglow with unnatural light and watching us. His movements were too fluid, too calculated.

Unseen, he disappears into the woods, his feet making no sound. The Nameless’s hold is insidious, a tenuous thread of control carefully woven into his mind.

I dream that night. I am standing on a battlefield: charred earth, fallen bodies everywhere. Heavy smoke and ash weigh down my every breath, the cries of the wounded on every side.

And then I see myself with a sword in my hand, hurting someone I love. The details are hazy; the face is hidden, but the pain feels so real.

I woke up sharply, a heavy feeling in my chest. The vision clings to me, scaring me. The rest are getting ready for what’s next, even as danger stands among them now.

The Nameless continues to see out through the eyes of Trajan as his shadow falls larger over Broken Ridge.

The fight’s coming. None of us were ready for what that was going to take.