The Sanctuary was silent except for the sound of Selene's breath and the soft hum of the moonlight that filled the chamber.
Elias led her through winding corridors carved from living stone. Every step seemed purposeful, as if he knew exactly where they were going. Selene followed quietly, her mind still reeling from the revelations of the Room of Truth. The weight of the prophecy pressed on her chest, making each breath feel heavy.
Finally, they arrived at a large hall unlike anything she had ever seen. The walls were covered in silver runes that glowed softly under the crimson light of the Blood Moon. In the center of the room was a pool of liquid light, shimmering like liquid glass.
"This is where it begins," Elias said softly, turning to face her.
Selene frowned. "Where what begins?"
"Your awakening," he said, his voice deep, steady. "Your training as Moonborn."
She blinked. "Training? I don't even know how to control… whatever this is."
"You will," he said simply. "But you must first understand the bond you share with me. It is ancient, unbreakable, and dangerous. Tonight, it begins."
He stepped closer. The air between them seemed to hum with energy, thick and electric. Selene could feel it in her bones something pulling her toward him she could not resist.
"You feel it, don't you?" Elias murmured. "The bond. It calls to you. As much as you deny it, it is part of who you are."
Selene swallowed hard, her chest tightening. "I… I feel something. But I don't understand it."
Elias's golden eyes softened. "You will. But first, we begin the awakening."
The Ritual
He gestured toward the pool of liquid light. "Step in."
Selene hesitated. "Why?"
"Because your power lies within the moon's light," he said simply. "The pool will awaken it."
Her instincts screamed caution, but something deeper, primal urged her forward. Slowly, she stepped into the pool. The liquid was warm, shimmering under the crimson light, and as soon as her skin touched it, a rush of energy surged through her body.
Her breath caught. It was as if the blood in her veins had been set on fire. A warmth spread from her chest outward, and a soft glow began to emanate from her skin.
Selene gasped, stumbling forward. Elias caught her, his touch firm and grounding.
"Steady," he said softly. His hand pressed against her back, and she felt her heartbeat sync with his.
The glow from her skin intensified. Shapes began to form in her mind visions of forests under moonlight, wolves running across silver fields, her standing at the center of it all, a crown of light upon her head.
She cried out softly. "What… is happening to me?"
"This is the awakening," Elias said, his voice low. "You are drawing on your bloodline. The power of the Moonborn is rising in you."
Her knees buckled, and Elias caught her again. His eyes locked on hers, molten gold in the crimson light. "It will be painful," he said. "But necessary."
Selene swallowed hard. Pain flared through her chest again, sharp and burning. But beneath the pain, she felt something else strength. Power. Something ancient stirring inside her.
"I don't know if I can" she began.
"Yes, you can," Elias interrupted softly. "Because I am here. And because you are mine."
His words sent a shiver down her spine, and her breath hitched. She looked away, her cheeks burning. But the truth was undeniable she did feel drawn to him. Something about him called to her in a way she could not resist.
The Bond
After what felt like hours, Selene stepped out of the pool, her skin glowing faintly under the crimson light. Elias's eyes were fixed on her, filled with an intensity she could barely bear.
"You've begun," he said softly. "The bond is forming stronger. You will begin to hear it soon the call. The pull between us."
Selene's breath hitched. "The call?"
He nodded. "The bond between a Moonborn and their Alpha is not just physical. It is spiritual. It is eternal. When it awakens fully, you will know it. You will feel it in every breath, in every heartbeat."
Selene stared at him, her thoughts swirling. "And what if I don't want it?"
Elias's lips curved into something close to a smile. "You already do."
Selene swallowed hard. His words echoed in her mind. She hated to admit it, but there was truth in them. Somewhere deep inside her, something answered to him. Something ancient. Something dangerous.
Training Begins
The next days blurred into each other. Elias trained her in the ways of the Moonborn. She learned to channel her energy through the moonlight, to call upon it, to hear its voice. It was exhausting physically and mentally. But every moment was accompanied by Elias's watchful gaze, every movement steeped in tension neither of them denied.
At first, Selene resisted, terrified of the bond forming between them. But slowly, she began to surrender. The pull in her chest grew stronger, a tether she could not break.
One night, under the full crimson Blood Moon, Elias took her out to the edge of the Sanctuary. The forest beyond was alive with whispers, shadows moving in the silver light.
"Selene," he said softly, taking her hand. His touch was warm, grounding. "Do you feel it?"
She nodded. "The pull."
He smiled, a slow, dangerous curve of his lips. "Good. That means the bond is growing. Soon, it will be unbreakable."
Her heart thudded. "And then what?"
"Then," he said, his voice low, "you will be mine. And I will be yours. For eternity."
The words hung between them. Selene's breath hitched. She wanted to pull away, but her body betrayed her, leaning closer toward him. The world seemed to narrow to just the two of them under the blood moon, the air thick with power and something unspoken.
Dreams in the Bloodlight
That night, Selene dreamed again.
But this dream was different. It was sharper, more vivid. She saw herself standing in the heart of a battlefield. Wolves surrounded her, eyes glowing under the blood moon. She saw Elias beside her, his golden eyes blazing. His voice echoed in her mind: "This is your destiny. We are bound. And nothing can change it."
She woke with a start, breath ragged, heart pounding. Her skin still glowed faintly under the moonlight that seeped through her chamber.
Elias was there, watching her. His expression unreadable.
"You dreamt again," he said softly.
Selene stared at him. "It felt… real."
"Because it is," he said simply. "The dreams are your bloodline speaking to you. They will guide you. But they will also warn you."
Selene's gaze dropped. "Warn me of what?"
Elias stepped closer. His presence filled the room, overwhelming her senses. "Of the war to come. And of the choice you will have to make."
Her breath hitched. "Choice?"
He nodded slowly. "The prophecy demands it. And soon, Selene… soon, the awakening will be complete. And with it, so will your fate."