Under the blood moon

Under the blood moon
Selene’s POV

The sky outside was bruising with dusk, the first hint of red already staining the horizon. Only hours remained before the Blood Moon rose, and the air itself seemed to tremble in anticipation.

They had bound me to the altar in the center of the ritual chamber—stone cold against my back, wrists lashed so tightly I could feel my pulse beneath the rope. The scent of burning sage and blood hung thick in the air. Around me, Eleazar, Luna and her two maids moved like shadows, their faces alight with unholy excitement.

“This night,” Eleazar said, lifting a silver bowl etched with runes, “will bind the fates of gods and wolves alike.” His voice slithered through the chamber, calm and cruel.

I tried to pull free, but the silver threads seared my skin. The pain burned through my veins like fire.

He pressed a blade to my wrist. I bit back a cry as the cut opened, warm blood spilling into his bowl. My vision wavered, black spots dancing before my eyes. The smell of iron filled my nose.

“That’s enough!” I hissed weakly, but he only smiled, watching as the bowl filled with red.

And then—

A thunderous crack tore through the air. The heavy doors burst open, splinters flying like arrows. Lira and Zach stood there, half-shifted into wolves, their eyes glowing fiercely.

“STOP!” Lira’s voice shook the chamber. Her bow was already drawn, the arrow tipped with silver, aimed straight at Eleazar’s chest. “If you touch her again, I’ll kill you myself!”

Chaos exploded. Zach lunged forward, clashing with the maids who shifted instantly into wolves. Their snarls echoed off the stone walls. Luna Seira grabbed me, pressing a blade to my throat as a twisted smile curved her lips.

“Drop it, girl,” Luna hissed. “Or I’ll slit her neck right here.”

Lira froze, her arm trembling.

“Do it,” I whispered hoarsely. “Don’t mind me—just stop them!”

But before anyone could move, Lira loosed the arrow—not at Eleazar, but at Luna. The shaft struck her shoulder. Luna screamed, stumbling back. The knife slipped from her hand as she clutched her wound. Lira sprinted toward me, tearing at the ropes.

“Selene! We have no time!” she panted. “You have to run—now!”

Her fingers worked fast, freeing my wrists. The ropes fell away, my skin raw and bleeding. But before I could rise, Luna let out a roar of fury, her body twisting, cracking—bones reshaping.

In seconds, a monstrous black wolf stood where she had been. Her eyes glowed red as coals.

“Go!” Lira shouted as she shifted, her brown fur bristling. The two wolves clashed violently, teeth and claws flashing in the dark. I stumbled to my feet, my body weak, but I forced myself to run.

I pushed through the tunnel, the air thick with smoke and dust. Behind me, the sound of snarling and stone breaking filled the corridors. My lungs burned, my legs barely holding me upright.

Then I heard the sound of boots—Eleazar’s voice echoing down the passage. “You cannot run from destiny,red girl!”

I didn’t look back. My breath came ragged, my heart hammering. The tunnel opened into the outer field, and I froze.

Before me the king stood, surrounded by rows of soldiers. Their armor gleamed under the dim red light of the rising moon. Leonora was there too, standing beside the king with tears in her eyes.

“Eleazar!” the king’s voice thundered as he appeared behind me, blood seeping through his white cloak where Lira’s arrow had struck him. “You traitor! Your lies end tonight!”

I turned, stunned. Eleazar’s face twisted in disbelief. “You don’t understand—”

But the king raised his sword. “I understand enough. You used the goddess’s name for your greed. For power.”

The soldiers lifted their spears toward Eleazar.

For a heartbeat, the world held its breath.

And then—

A roar tore through the night.

Aeron burst from the shadows with his warriors pack, the moonshine. His eyes met mine across the chaos, filled with fear and fury and love.

“Selene!” he called.

He took a step forward—but the Blood Moon rose.

You shouldn’t have come back, Aeron.”
My voice trembles, my eyes glowing beneath the rising Blood Moon. “They’ll kill you for this.”

“Let them try.” His hand cups my cheek, rough from battle, tender with regret. “I’ve already died once— the day I let you go.”

I turns away,“I’m cursed, Aeron. My blood is poison. You should’ve marked Amera… saved your pack.”

He leans closer, his voice a growl of truth. “You are my pack. My curse. My salvation.”

“Then you’ll burn with me.” 

“Then I’ll burn gladly.” 

It climbed above the horizon, vast and red, washing the field in its light. The air thickened, heavy and electric. I gasped as a burning heat flooded through my veins.

Pain—then something beyond pain. My body arched, trembling as power ignited inside me. My bones ached, my skin shimmered. I felt my claws extend, my fangs lengthen, white fur breaking through my flesh.

Light poured from me like liquid moonfire.

I shifted—completely, utterly—into a wolf of silver and white. My howl echoed through the valley, powerful and haunting. The world seemed to bow beneath its sound.

Gasps filled the air. Soldiers fell to their knees. Even the king stared in awe.

“The Luna’s Lightbearer…” he whispered.

Leonora knelt first. Then the others followed—one by one, until the entire field was bowed before me.

“The holy Lightbearer… forgive us,” they murmured, their voices trembling.

Aeron stood frozen, his face pale in the moonlight. His eyes met mine—and in them I saw pride, relief, and love all at once.

But then my gaze fell to Eleazar. He stumbled back, terror in his eyes.

“No… this isn’t possible,” he muttered. “You were meant to die!”

Rage surged inside me, but it wasn’t just mine—it was hers. The Moon Goddess within me. Her voice filled my mind, calm and terrible.

He has defied the balance. Burn his shadow from this world.

Light flared around me. I didn’t need to move—only to will it. Fire, pure and white, burst from the air and wrapped around Eleazar.

He screamed as the flame consumed him. “No! Mercy—please!”

But there was no mercy left. His form crumbled into ash, scattered by the wind.

The world fell silent.

The Blood Moon faded, replaced by the gentle silver of the full moon. My power ebbed, the divine light withdrawing like a tide. I felt the shift recede—my fur vanishing, claws retreating, until I was myself again.

But my strength was gone. My knees buckled. The world tilted and blurred.

Before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me. Aeron.

“Selene…” he breathed, his voice trembling. His hand cupped my face as my eyes fluttered. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”

I tried to speak, but only a faint sound left my lips. My vision faded, the moonlight softening into silver mist.

And as darkness took me, the last thing I felt was Aeron’s heartbeat—steady, fierce, and warm against mine.