Chapter 37

Ariana

Finding Estella's bracelet in the forest yesterday always worries me, and a small voice interrupts my thoughts. Elara tugged at my hand with a pout on her face. "Mommy, Daddy, you've been so busy lately. You never have time to play with me."

I crouched down to her level, my heart melting at her adorable expression. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Mommy and Daddy have had a lot on our plates recently. But we promise to spend more time with you, okay?"

Elara's pout turned into a bright smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "It's okay, Mommy. I have a new friend to play with now."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "A new friend?"

Elara nodded eagerly. "Yes! His name is Ethan, and he's really nice. He's the grandson of Elder Dawson from the Blood Moon Clan."

Lucas chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Oh, really? And what do you and Ethan do together?"

Elara's face lit up as she recounted her adventures with Ethan. They would explore the woods, play hide and seek, and even have picnics. But what caught my attention was when she mentioned that Ethan would show her his grandfather's antiques.

"Ethan has the coolest stuff, Mommy!" Elara exclaimed. "He has all these old things that his grandfather keeps in a special room. We play with them and make up stories about them."

Lucas and I exchanged amused glances. It seemed that Ethan's "antiques" were actually precious items from Elder Dawson's collection. The thought of Elara and her new friend engaging in imaginative play warmed my heart.

Later that evening, as Lucas and I found a moment of quiet amidst the celebrations, I couldn't help but reflect on Elara's newfound friendship. Her innocence and joy were a reminder of the simple pleasures in life, the memories we create.

"She's growing up so fast," I mused, leaning against Lucas.

He wrapped an arm around me, a tender smile on his face. "Yes, she is. And she's already forming her own connections within the pack."

I sighed contentedly, my gaze drifting to the moonlit sky. "You know, Elara's new friend, Ethan, and the way they play with those 'antiques'... It reminds me of someone."

Lucas's brow furrowed in thought. "Who?"

I smiled wistfully. "Estella."

Lucas's eyes softened, understanding dawning on his features. "Ah, yes. Your best friend from before."

I nodded, memories of my childhood and the adventures Estella and I had shared flooding my mind. "We used to explore the woods, just like Elara and Ethan. And Estella was always full of stories and ideas, just like Elara is now."

Lucas squeezed my shoulder gently. "Estella must have been an incredible friend."

"She was," I replied, a mixture of nostalgia and longing in my voice. "I miss her."

Lucas's gaze met mine, his expression filled with understanding. "We'll find her, Luna. We'll uncover the truth about the Black Moon Clan and bring her back."

I leaned into his embrace, finding comfort in his words. "Thank you, Lucas. "

A month later

The air was thick with tension as the Silvermoon Clan gathered for the long-awaited Alpha selection ceremony. As I stepped into the center of the arena, I could feel the weight of their gazes upon me, a mixture of scorn and doubt.

“An Omega who can't turn into a wolf dares to compete with Seraphina for the position of Alpha. Can she get out of the ring alive?”

"Ariana, you can give up now. The Blood Moon Clan and the Silver Moon Clan will never coexist peacefully. Don't try to use your arrogance to solve everything." My father said without emotion, not even bothering to look at me, as if The result is set.

"I won't give up, Father." I replied firmly.

Seraphina's mocking laughter echoed through the crowd. "Look at her, the insignificant Omega," she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "Do you truly believe you stand a chance, Ariana I promise you, I won't be merciful."

Her words were a challenge, a direct provocation that tested my resolve. I met her gaze head-on, my eyes unwavering. The sacred ceremony began, the echoes of our footsteps mingling with the hushed whispers of the clan members.

As I transformed into a Silver Wolf, a wave of astonishment swept through the assembly. Gasps and murmurs filled the air, disbelief evident on their faces. The moon's mark gleamed on my forehead, a radiant symbol of the Moon God's favor. I stood before them as the embodiment of the Silver Wolf under the Moon, chosen by destiny.

"She can turn into a wolf, when did it happen?"

"Look, Ariana's forehead, that's the moon mark, my God, how could she have the moon mark?!"

The scene boiled up, and my father also gasped, staring at my forehead in shock, "The wolf under the moon prophesied by the goddess of the moon... Ariana, why do you have this?"

Seraphina's jeers turned to stunned silence, her confidence faltering for the first time. The moon's mark was a testament to a deep and powerful bond, an affirmation of my connection with the Moon God.

Without hesitation, she transformed into a majestic Silver Wolf, her eyes fixed on me with a dangerous glint. The challenge had been set, and the battle commenced with a flurry of fierce strikes and evasive maneuvers. Her attacks were swift and calculated, laced with an undercurrent of malice.

"This must be an optical illusion! What kind of trick have you pulled off?” she said.

I met her aggression with a controlled ferocity, my movements fluid and precise. The moon mark on my forehead pulsed with each strike, an undeniable declaration of my strength and determination. The arena became a battleground of clashing claws and snarls, our fur a blur of silver and moonlight.

Seraphina's envy and bitterness fueled her attacks, driving her to employ vicious and deadly tactics. Yet, I held my ground, countering her blows with a resilience that defied her expectations. The moon mark seemed to guide my movements, an invisible thread connecting me to a force greater than myself.

As the battle raged on, I could feel the gazes of the clan upon us, their initial skepticism replaced by astonishment and awe. My determination was unwavering, my heart set on proving that my strength was not to be underestimated.

With a final surge of energy, I executed a perfectly timed maneuver that caught her off guard. Her defenses faltered, and in that moment, I seized the opportunity. Our eyes locked, and I saw a flicker of fear and realization before her transformation was abruptly disrupted.

She fell to the ground, her form shifting back to human as she struggled to rise. The arena was filled with a stunned silence, broken only by the labored sounds of her breathing. I stood before her, victorious, the moon's mark glowing on my forehead like a beacon of triumph.

A chorus of astonished whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, their initial skepticism transformed into respect and admiration. Even my father, who had watched with a mix of disbelief and pride, now stared at me with widened eyes.

My sister, Seraphina, who has never regarded me as a rival in 23 years, has shock and devastation in her eyes at this moment, "No, this is impossible, what the hell have you done, bitch!"

The moon's mark continued to shimmer on my forehead, a constant reminder of the journey I had undertaken. As I looked around at the faces of the clan members, I felt a surge of gratitude and pride.

As the crowd's astonishment turned into admiration, my father approached me, his eyes glistening with a mixture of pride and wonder. "Ariana, what's going on here? So you are the wolf chosen by the moon god?!" he said, his voice filled with emotion.