The creature addressed me by my title as if it were already familiar with me.
"…Luna…" The sound resonated through the shattered arena, sufficiently deep to vibrate within my bones. Every wolf present became completely still.
Fear spread more rapidly than panic, for predators instinctively understood one thing: Something beneath the arena was more powerful than all of us.
Kaiden immediately positioned himself in front of me, his aura intensifying to the point of distorting the air.
"You do not speak to her," he growled toward the darkness below.
The creature emitted a laugh. The sound was ancient, fractured, inhuman.
"Protective…" it rumbled. "Just like the first one."
My mark burned intensely. Suddenly, another flash surged within my mind—a battlefield engulfed in silver fire, with an Alpha kneeling beside a woman bearing a glowing crescent mark. Blood, chains, and screams characterised the scene.
I gasped and nearly collapsed. Kaiden immediately caught me, wrapping his arm around my waist to steady me.
"Selene!" he exclaimed.
"I saw something," I whispered unsteadily. "A woman… she bore the same mark."
Lucien's expression paled.
"The First Luna."
The elder nearest us turned sharply. "What exactly did you see?" Before I could respond, the ground erupted. An enormous claw tore through the stone floor as dark energy surged upward in a violent wave, scattering wolves instantly.
The creature was ascending. Its form emerged gradually from the pit—towering, monstrous, covered in blackened, armour-like scales. Silver chains encased its limbs, glowing with ancient runes barely restraining it.
Its eyes focused on me once more. They were not hostile but appeared hungry.
"You carry her blood," it stated.
My breath halted. The entire arena was filled with whispers.
"Bloodline…"
"Is it true?"
"The legends…" The expressions on the elders' faces grew increasingly serious.
Kaiden's expression darkened dangerously. "Enough." The creature ignored him entirely.
"She sealed us away," it continued. "But blood always finds its way back."
One of the elders stepped forward hesitantly. "The prison should not have been opened." The creature's glowing eyes shifted slowly toward him.
"And yet… your greed weakened the seal," it replied.
The elder grew pale, while Orion immediately narrowed his eyes. "Greed?"
Lucien looked sharply toward the Council platform. "What action did you take?" Silence ensued, speaking volumes.
Kaiden's voice became lethal. "Answer him."
Finally, the lead elder responded, "We utilised the prison's energy beneath the arena to strengthen the barriers controlling the Council."
Ragnar swore under his breath. "You used forbidden power?"
"We controlled it for decades," another elder retorted defensively. "No incidents or instability occurred." The creature chuckled again.
"You fed the prison..." Its chains shook violently.
"And now it awakens." Cracks appeared across the glowing restraints around its body. The chains began to fail.
My mark pulsed painfully once more. The creature tilted its head slightly.
"It calls to you as well… does it not?" I instinctively stepped backwards. Kaiden tightened his grip protectively.
"You are not touching her," he warned.
The creature smirked slowly.
"Do you believe this is about touch?" Darkness spread across the arena floor.
"This is inheritance." The word struck with formidable force.
Inheritance.
Bloodline.
First Luna.
The pieces were beginning to connect, and honestly, that terrified me more than the monster itself.
Lucien moved beside Kaiden, energy gathering around his hands.
"We must reseal it now," he declared.
The elder looked grim. "That seal requires Luna's blood."
Silence. Then all eyes turned to me.
My stomach sank.
"No," I responded before anyone else could.
"She will not do it," Kaiden asserted.
"The prison will fully break without her," the elder warned.
Another chain snapped. The creature's power surged outward, forcing several Alphas backwards, even causing Ragnar to stumble.
The monster's wider smile indicated that it was too late.
Suddenly— the last chain shattered. The roar that followed shook the entire mountain, and the creature lunged directly at me.