Chapter 42 SEVEN DAYS UNTIL BLOOD MOON

Chapter 42 SEVEN DAYS UNTIL BLOOD MOON
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

The journey back to Blood Moon was the longest of Steve's life, not because of exhaustion but because of the weight of what he had learned.

Every second that passed brought them one step closer to disaster an now only seven days remained before the Blood Moon.

Seven days before whatever ritual he had planned.

If Steve's instincts were right… Blood Moon wasn't ready.

The first rays of dawn were breaking across the mountains when he finally crossed into pack territory.

The guards at the perimeter immediately straightened. "Beta."

Steve barely slowed. "Wake the Alpha."

The urgency in his voice made the warriors exchange worried glances. "What happened?"

Steve looked toward the Whitmore House. His expression turned grim. "Everything."

~

An hour later, every senior member of Blood Moon had gathered inside the council hall. The atmosphere was tense with anxiety.

The room had barely settled before Steve began his report. He stood beside the map, exhaustion was visible in every line of his face.

Chris noticed immediately. "You didn't sleep."

Steve gave him a deadpan look. "You're adorable if you think sleep was involved."

A few wolves chuckled nervously, the humor died quickly. Chris folded his arms. "Tell us."

The room fell silent. Steve pointed toward the northern mountains. "We found the camp."

Anna immediately sat straighter. "And?"

Steve's jaw tightened. "There were thousands of them."

Several wolves swore silently. Nobody seemed surprised though they already suspected as much.

Then Steve delivered the part that mattered. "The army isn't the problem."

That got everyone's attention.

Chris frowned at him "What do you mean?"

Steve looked toward Anna then back at the Alpha, at the elders and at every wolf gathered in the room.

His voice became very quiet. "I found a ritual site in the camp."

The words hit harder than any estimate of enemy numbers.

Steve continued, "A large one."

Anna felt dread settle into her stomach. The pendant hanging around her neck suddenly felt heavier.

"I saw Moonborn symbols."

Several elders exchanged uneasy looks at one another.

Chris's expression darkened immediately. "And Draven?"

Steve nodded. "He was there."

The room seemed to grow colder. "What was he doing?" Anna asked.

Steve hesitated, then answered. "Waiting..."

The simple word somehow made everything worse because waiting implied certainty.

Chris leaned forward. "What else?"

Steve's gaze met his. "The Blood Moon rises in seven days."

Nobody moved or spoke as Steve delivered the final blow. "He said that's when he'll take the Luna."

~

The council hall erupted, voices filled the room instantly.

Chris slammed a hand onto the table, the impact silenced everyone.

"Enough..."

The room obeyed immediately but the tension remained.

Anna sat quietly trying to process everything. A week ago, she'd been worried about fitting into pack life.

Now an ancient Alpha wanted her blood for a ritual. Life had become absurd.

Chris rubbed his temples. "What exactly is this ritual?"

Nobody answered because nobody knew.

At least not until Anna spoke. "I might."

Every head turned toward her, the attention made her uncomfortable but she couldn't stay silent.

She looked toward Chris, then Steve. "I had another vision."

The room instantly went still. Anna took a slow breath. Trying to remember everything Selene had said.

"The first Moonborn Luna appeared again."

Several wolves looked startled. Steve listened with concern. "What did she tell you?"

Anna swallowed, then quietly answered. "Draven needs my blood."

Heavy silence fell across the hall.

The words seemed to suck all the air from the room.

Chris's expression immediately hardened. "No..."

Anna looked at him. "Chris…"

"No…" His voice became dangerously possessive.

"We are not discussing sacrificing you Anna." The intensity behind his words startled her. His first instinct remained protecting her.

Anna's heart ached but she continued anyway.

"She said he can't complete the ritual without me."

Steve frowned. "Then why hasn't he attacked already?"

A terrible realization settled over Anna because she already knew the answer.

"The Blood Moon." The room grew quiet again.

"He needs the Blood Moon."

Nobody liked that explanation, it meant they had a deadline. A very real one.

Seven days. Then everything changed.

~

The next few days became a blur. Blood Moon transformed into a fortress. Every warrior trained hard. Every scout patrolled and every healer prepared for casualties. Nobody wasted time.

Least of all Anna. If her powers were truly connected to the Moonborn bloodline… She needed to understand them Which was easier said than done.

"Concentrate Anna…" Anna glared at Steve.

"I am concentrating." Anna said frowning at him.

"No, you're glaring."

"That's because you're annoying."

Steve sighed dramatically. Chris watched them from the sidelines. Entirely too amused.

The training field had become Anna's second home.

Every morning she attempted to control the strange silver energy. Every afternoon she failed.

Sometimes nothing happened. Sometimes she accidentally healed nearby flowers.

Once she caused an entire patch of grass to glow for an hour. Nobody understood why. Least of all her.

Steve rubbed his face. "Try again."

Anna groaned, then closed her eyes. Focusing hard and reached for whatever power lived inside her.

For several seconds, nothing happened. Then, Silver light flickered around her hands.

Steve immediately straightened. "That's it."

Anna concentrated harder.

The glow strengthened, brighter and warmer. More controlled than before.

Excitement surged through her. Finally.

Then the light exploded.

A shockwave blasted across the training grounds.

Steve was thrown backward. Chris barely caught himself.

Several nearby warriors hit the dirt. Silence followed.

Anna opened her eyes. Mortified.

Steve lay flat on his back, staring at the sky.

After several seconds he sighed. "I blame Chris."

Chris laughed.

Anna covered her face. "I am so sorry."

Steve pointed accusingly at her. "You're buying me dinner."

Despite everything happening around them… despite the war and the fear of Draven.

The three of them laughed and for a brief moment… Things felt normal.

~

The moment didn't last. That evening, tragedy struck Blood Moon.

A patrol was returning from the eastern border when the attack happened.

By the time reinforcements arrived… It was already over.

Five wolves were found dead, three injured and one missing.

The news spread through the territory like wildfire. Shock and grief.

The entire pack felt it but the missing wolf hit especially hard. Tyler.

Anna's heart sank when she heard.

The young warrior had become one of Blood Moon's brightest fighters. Though stubborn he was loyal to the pack.

He had survived every battle so far and now… He was gone.

Chris immediately organized search parties. They searched throughout the night and through the next day but still nothing. There were no tracks or sign of Tyler. It was as though he had vanished.

The uncertainty haunted everyone, especially Chris because he had sent Tyler on that patrol and Chris never handled loss well.

Anna found him late that night standing alone near the memorial stones.

The moonlight illuminated his face, the grief there broke her heart.

"You couldn't have known."

Chris didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the forest. "He trusted me."

The words came out quietly. "He still does Chris..."

Chris finally looked at her, pain flashed across his face. "What if he's already dead?"

Anna stepped closer then took his hand. "If Tyler's alive..."

She squeezed gently. "...we'll bring him home."

Chris stared at her and slowly nodded because he wanted to believe her. Neither of them noticed the shadow watching from the trees.

Far beyond the territory, a chained figure knelt inside Draven's camp. Bruised and bleeding. Barely conscious.

Draven stood before him, smiling. The ancient Alpha crouched down near Tyler. His golden eyes gleamed beneath the firelight.

"You have seven days."

Tyler spat blood at his feet but Draven laughed.

A deep, amused laugh, then rose to his feet. "Excellent."

His gaze shifted south toward Blood Moon. nd his smile widened more because the final phase of his plan had already begun.