81

81
POV Elowen Starfire. 

I held her, afraid that something bad would happen to my sister.
Aeloria continued to wrap her thin arms around my neck, as if she feared that if she let go, everything would fall apart, that it was all a dream.

I felt the trembling in her body subside a little, and I realized how exhausted she was, her eyes closed for a moment, her breathing slow... it worried me—my sister needed her home; she needed to rest after all this—but what comforted me was knowing she was alive. We would escape this place, and soon.

“It’s all right… I’m here,” I murmured, more to myself than to her.
Victor stepped away from the cauldron, breathing with difficulty. His face was pale, but his eyes remained alert, scanning every shadow in the cave.
“We need to get out of here,” he said quietly. “They’ll realize the spell has been broken.”
I nodded. I felt it too—the ancient magic that wrapped that place was unraveling like ashes in the wind. It was no longer safe to stay.
Render appeared first at the entrance to the chamber, his sword still stained with blood. Right behind him, Ronnie and Aric emerged, both wounded but still standing. When Aric saw me with Aeloria in my arms, his eyes darkened with relief.
“She did it,” he said hoarsely. “You did it.”
I nodded, then spoke firmly.
“We’re leaving. And it has to be now.”
Victor moved ahead, walking toward a narrow fissure between the rocks, almost invisible unless you knew exactly where to look. He brushed aside some dry branches and loose stones, revealing a low, dark passage.
“This way,” he explained. “It’s old. We used it for stealth movement. Orcs hate tight spaces, and the human warriors don’t know this route.”
Aric nodded immediately.
“Render, Ronnie, with me,” he ordered. “We’ll take the rear.”
“No,” I protested instinctively.
Aric stepped closer, touching my arm gently.
“You need to get her out safely,” he said softly. “That’s your role now. Ours is to make sure no one gets near you.”
I held his gaze for a second too long. I wanted to argue. I wanted to fight at his side. But Aeloria shifted weakly in my arms, and that was enough.
“Be careful,” I murmured.
Aric inclined his forehead until it touched mine—quick, intense.
“Always.”
Victor went into the passage first. I followed, Aeloria wrapped in my cloak. The tunnel was narrow and damp, the ground uneven. At times, I had to bend low, shielding her head with my hand. Behind us, I could still hear the sounds of battle—steel clashing, howls, distant screams.
But they faded.
Hours passed in that silent crossing. At some point along the way, Aeloria fell asleep in my arms, her body finally surrendering to exhaustion. Victor guided us with precision, even worn out, alert to every sound, every shift in the air.
When the passage finally opened into the forest, the sky was beginning to lighten.
The castle of Aetheria rose among the trees, and, well… it was a relief.
As we passed through the gates, servants, guards, and elven healers rushed to meet us. Aeloria was immediately taken, with the utmost care, to the healing chambers. Herbs, clean cloths, gentle magic. I followed as far as I could until kind hands guided her inside.
“She’ll be fine,” one of the healers assured me. “Now she just needs rest.”
I nodded, though my heart was still racing too fast to fully believe it.
As soon as I stepped away, I felt them.
The enemies.
Not inside the castle—yet—but close enough to make the air feel heavy. Elven sentinels were already moving along the walls.
I took a deep breath and raised my hands.
Ancient runes began to form in the air, silvery and bluish lines weaving together like luminous roots. Other elves approached, recognizing the call.
“Focus,” I ordered. “We’re sealing the perimeter.”
Together, we wove a protective enchantment around the entire castle. The magic pulsed—steady, alive—strengthened by dozens of elves bound to the same purpose.
No surprise would cross those barriers.
Only then did I allow my legs to give way for a brief moment.
Aric was taken to one of the upper chambers, treated carefully by the healers. From a distance, I watched as they laid him down, removed his armor, and tended to his wounds. He was conscious, though exhausted. When our eyes met, he gave me a faint smile.
That was enough.
Later, before nightfall, when the castle had grown quieter, I sensed familiar footsteps behind me. My father’s beta and other wolves approached, Render at their head.
They were weary, marked by battle, but there was something different in their eyes.
Respect.
“We need to speak with you, Princess,” Render said.
“Not as a princess,” I corrected before I could think. “Speak.”
They exchanged glances.
“The Moon Goddess will reveal herself soon,” Render said seriously. “We can feel it. The energy is changing.”
My stomach tightened.
“Your destiny is approaching,” the beta continued. “And you must be ready.”
“Ready for what?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
“To lead,” he said. “To accept what you are. You are our alpha, Elowen. Not only by blood… but by essence.”
I drew in a deep breath, feeling something stir within me. Something ancient. Something I had been trying to ignore.
“Your wolf side can no longer be denied,” Render concluded. “You need training. You need to accept the moon within you.”
I looked up at the sky through the tall castle window. The moon was beginning to rise, pale and watchful.
My heart beat faster.
Maybe they were right.
Possibly it was time to stop running.
Maybe… my destiny was finally catching up to me.