Chapter 18 The journey Begins
Morning came too fast.
Mara woke to find Zevran already awake. He was standing at the window, looking down the mountain.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
"Wolves. Hundreds of them. Coming from all directions." Zevran's voice was tense. "Word spread fast. Everyone wants to see the trial."
Mara stood and looked out the window. He was right. Wolves filled the mountain paths. Some were in human form. Most were in wolf form. All were heading toward the Great Stone Circle.
"Are you nervous?" she asked.
"Terrified," Zevran admitted. "What if the trial goes wrong? What if the packs decide to support Darius's allies instead of us?"
"Then we fight. Or we run. We figure it out." Mara took his hand. "Together."
"Together," he agreed.
A knock on the door interrupted them. Riven entered without waiting for permission.
"We need to leave," he said. "Now. If we wait any longer, the paths will be too crowded."
"How long until we reach the Great Stone Circle?" Mara asked.
"Two days on foot. Maybe less if we push hard."
"Then we should bring supplies. Food. Water. Medicine."
"Already packed," Luna said from the doorway. "Nyra helped. She is scary when she is being helpful."
"I heard that!" Nyra's voice called from downstairs. "And you are welcome!"
Everyone gathered outside the safe house. The group was bigger now. Riven's remaining wolves. Kira's Eastern Pack wolves. Some of the soldiers who had surrendered. Even Elder Marcus.
And Shade, the Shadow Wolf, who stayed close to Mara's side.
"That thing is coming with us?" one of Kira's wolves asked nervously.
"Shade is part of my pack now," Mara said firmly. "If anyone has a problem with that, speak now."
No one spoke.
"Good. Then let us go."
They started down the mountain. The path was steep and rocky. Mara's legs hurt from yesterday's battle but she did not complain.
Isla walked beside her. "Are you really going to testify at the trial?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Because you are going to tell everyone you were a slave. That you are half human." Isla's voice was quiet. "Some wolves will hate you for that."
"Let them hate me. I am tired of hiding what I am."
"You are braver than I ever was."
"You came with me into danger. That is pretty brave."
Isla smiled. "I suppose it is."
They walked for hours. Other wolves joined them on the path. Some came to offer support. Others just wanted to see the Moon Wolf.
"Is it true you glow like the moon?" a young wolf asked.
"Sometimes," Mara said.
"Can you really tame Shadow Wolves?"
"Just one so far."
"Will you be our queen?"
Mara stopped walking. "I am not anyone's queen. I am just Mara."
But even as she said it, she knew it was not completely true anymore.
The Moon Goddess had chosen her. Given her power. Made her special.
And with that power came responsibility.
By evening, they reached a river. The water was cold and fast.
"We camp here tonight," Riven announced. "The Great Stone Circle is still a full day away. We need rest."
Everyone spread out along the riverbank. Some wolves hunted for food. Others gathered wood for fires.
Mara sat by the water with Zevran. Shade lay behind them like a silent shadow.
"How do you feel?" Zevran asked.
"Scared. Excited. Confused." Mara splashed water on her face. "All of it at once."
"That is normal. Big changes are coming."
"Do you think we are doing the right thing? With the trial?"
"I think we are doing the only thing we can do. Whether it is right remains to be seen."
A wolf approached them. It was one of the soldiers who had surrendered. A young male with brown fur.
"Excuse me," he said nervously. "Can I talk to you?"
"Of course," Mara said. "What is your name?"
"Garrett. I served under King Darius for five years." He looked ashamed. "I did things I am not proud of. I hurt people because he ordered me to."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want to change. I want to be better." Garrett knelt down. "I want to serve you instead. If you will have me."
Mara did not know what to say. She looked at Zevran for help.
"Why should we trust you?" Zevran asked. His voice was hard. "How do we know you are not a spy?"
"You do not. But I am asking for a chance to prove myself." Garrett looked at Mara. "You showed mercy to King Darius. You tried to help him even after everything he did. That kind of kindness is rare. I want to fight for someone who has that kind of heart."
Mara studied the young wolf. He seemed sincere. But Isla's warning echoed in her mind. Not everyone would accept her.
"Stand up," she said.
Garrett stood.
"I do not need servants. Or guards. Or soldiers." Mara's voice was firm. "But I do need friends. People I can trust. Can you be that?"
"Yes. I swear it."
"Then you are welcome in my pack." Mara held out her hand. "But if you betray me, Zevran will tear you apart. Understood?"
"Understood."
They shook hands. Garrett smiled and walked away.
"You are too kind," Zevran said.
"Maybe. But I would rather be too kind than too cruel."
"Even if it gets you killed?"
"Even then."
Zevran shook his head but he was smiling. "You are going to be an interesting queen."
"I am not going to be queen!"
"Keep telling yourself that."
That night, Mara could not sleep. She lay by the fire, listening to wolves snoring around her.
Shade was curled up at her feet. The Shadow Wolf did not sleep. It just watched. Silent and still.
"Can I ask you something?" Mara whispered.
"Yes," Shade replied in its grinding stone voice.
"Why did you really agree to serve me? You could have kept fighting."
"Because I was tired," Shade said. "For a thousand years, I slept in darkness. When I woke, I was told to destroy. To consume. To hate. But you offered me something different. You offered me purpose beyond destruction."
"So you do not want to kill me anymore?"
"Oh, I still want to kill you sometimes. The hunger is always there." Shade's empty eyes looked at her. "But I want to protect you more. That is new. Strange. But not unpleasant."
"I am glad you chose to stay."
"I am too. Though the other Shadow Wolves will call me traitor when they arrive."
"Let them. We will face them together."
"Brave words, Moon Wolf. But the Shadow King does not lose. Ever. He has killed three Moon Wolves before you. He will kill you too."
"Then I will be the first one to survive him."
Shade made a sound like grinding rocks. Mara realized it was laughing. "Your confidence will get you killed. But it is admirable."
Mara closed her eyes and tried to sleep. But her mind kept racing.
Three more Shadow Wolves coming. A war brewing. A trial that could go horribly wrong.
And somewhere out there, Prince Ronan was still alive. Still running. Still dangerous.