On the border of the fangmoon
When we arrived at the Fangmoon Pack territory, we were immediately stopped by two men waiting at the gate. Their skin was dark, as strong as the trees standing around. Their bodies were bent for battle, and their eyes were sharp, like daggers ready to stab at any move we made that they didn’t like.
“Are you from the Moonshine Pack?” one asked coldly, his voice low as if it were echoing in the air.
Elder Marvic nodded, his stance straight and without a trace of hesitation. “Yes, we are. And Luna Seira and I have an invitation.”
The two guards looked at each other, before moving a little closer to sniff us. Their noses twitched, and with each breath they took it was as if they were skinning us with their sense of smell. When one of them approached me, he stopped. His eyes narrowed, and his face filled with persecution.
“Are you with… human?” he asked firmly.
I immediately became nervous, but before I could answer, Elder Marvic spoke. “He is one of us. Until now, his wolf is still dormant inside.”
A silence fell between us. I noticed the guard’s eyes narrow slightly, before he glanced at me again. “Cursed?” the word was almost a whisper but full of weight.
I looked at Elder Marvic. He studied my face for a moment, and in the end I could do nothing but nod slowly. It was true. Cursed. A truth I didn’t want to admit but always carried with me. I felt the air around me grow heavier, and in the eyes of the guards, I seemed like a disgrace.
The two men exchanged glances before one spoke again. “You may enter. But remember—the eyes of the Fangmoon are always watching.”
Elder Marvic nodded slightly, and we continued inside. But with every step I took, I could still feel the guards’ gazes like shadows clinging to my back.
⸻
As we entered the territory, I couldn’t help but be impressed. Unlike Moonshine Pack which seemed like a quiet village in the middle of the forest, Fangmoon was a palace-like settlement. The houses were made of stone and wood that were polished to a shine like gold under the sun. The stairs and paths were wide, and in the middle of their place was a large hall that looked like a king’s fortress.
“It’s beautiful…” I whispered softly, unable to hide my admiration.
But my feelings of nervousness quickly turned to anxiety when I saw the wolf people there. Their eyes quickly landed on me. Some were whispering, some were frowning, and some were clearly blaspheming me with their gazes.
“Dormant…” I heard a woman whisper.
“Cursed blood,” another added, almost with a mocking laugh.
They sense me. I bowed my head. No matter how much courage I mustered, it still hurt to hear it. I felt like a stain they were trying to wipe away but couldn’t remove.
“Selene,” Elder Marvic called, softly but with emphasis. “Stand up straight. Don’t let the gaze of others crush you.”
I nodded and tried to raise my head. But I couldn’t help but glance at Aeron. He was silent, but I could feel his jaw twitch with every whisper against me. I saw his fist clench—as if he was preventing himself from answering for me.
As we walked closer to the hall, I felt the difference between the two packs more. The people who lived here seemed to be warriors who had grown up with the pampering of power. Their robes were more elegant, their homes more solid, and their manners more haughty.
“I don’t feel comfortable here,” I whispered to Aeron, who walked beside me.
He turned slightly, but immediately turned his gaze back to the front. “Watch yourself. These kind, not everyone will understand.”
There was weight in his voice, and even though it was short, I could sense that it was his way of showing concern.
⸻
When we reached the front of the hall, two women descended the stairs to greet us. Both of them were wearing long robes with silver ornaments, and on their foreheads was a moon mark carved.
“Is this Luna Seira’s guest?” one asked, her tone cold.
“Yes,” Elder Marvic replied, pointing at me. “She is Selene, the reason we are here.”
The woman examined me from head to toe for a moment, before she grinned slightly—a smile that was not one of joy, but of doubt. “In that case, come and join us. Our Luna awaits you.”
They led us into the hall. The inside was even more impressive than the outside: marble columns carved with wolves and moons, red and black curtains, and in the center a long table made of polished wood. At the end of the table, on a high chair, sat a woman—elegant in posture, and her eyes seemed to peer into the soul.
She was Luna Seira.
She stood up slowly. Her hair was long and silver, sparkling in the torchlight. Her eyes were gray, cold but full of wisdom. With each step she took down the stairs, the surroundings seemed to sink into her presence.
“Selene,” she said, her voice low but resonant. “You are the one chosen to face me.”
I bowed in respect. “Yes, Luna.”
She approached quietly, and when she was in front of me, she gently placed her hand on my shoulder. The coldness of her palm seemed to go straight to my soul.
“I feel a strange vitality within you,” she whispered. “But there is a cover… a shadow that does not want to show itself. It will not be long, Selene, and you will face it—whether you like it or not.”
I was terrified by her voice. I did not know if it was a warning, or a promise of a fate I could not escape.
And behind it all, I could feel Aeron’s sharp gaze, as if he was ready to rush in if something bad happened.