The scent of blood filled the air, it was undeniable. It laced the morning breeze with something darker, something wrong.
Liora froze, her sharp blue eyes scanning the trees and the whole area , surely, Something felt off.
Beside her, Sera tensed. "What?"
Liora inhaled deeply. The air carried more than just the lingering scent of their earlier fight. There was something fresher, something metallic and sick.
Blood.
Not theirs.
"Tell me you smell that too," Liora murmured.
Sera stiffened. "I do."
Liora's heart pounded. The scent was coming from the dense and darker part of the forest , a little deviating from the part leading to their pack.
Liora slowly walked towards the scent.
Sera followed without hesitation, moving swiftly through the dense forest. The closer they got, the stronger the scent became. It wasn't just blood—it was death.
Liora already knew what she would find before she saw it.
And then—there it was.
A body of a Moonveil Warrior.
Motionless. Sprawled across the forest floor, surrounded by the dark stain of fresh blood. The remains of a Moonveil uniform clung to the figure, shredded beyond recognition.
"Why didn't he scent like a moonveil" Sera asked
Liora's stomach twisted at the sight.
Sera exhaled sharply. "i think this is a rogue attack"
Liora crouched beside the body, carefully turning it over. Lifeless eyes stared back at her, frozen in permanent terror. The throat had been slashed clean through.
Precise. Merciless.
A trained killer's work.
"No not rogue" they wouldn't shred it to unrecognition.
Sera's voice was tight. "Lunarion?"
Liora wanted to say yes. She wanted to believe this was Zyra's doing, that this was just another strike in their endless war.
But something didn't fit.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "Zyra doesn't kill like this , at least I haven't seen her do it and If she wanted to send a message, she'd do it where everyone could see, also this is very fresh"
Sera frowned. "Then who"
The wind shifted.
Liora's instincts kicked.
Her insicts never lie , at least not today , but she was certain of one thing.
They weren't alone.
A shadow moved in the trees with speed and darkness. Cold air rushed past her as something… No, someone landed silently on the opposite end of the thick forest. The sun couldn't hit the figure.
A figure in the shadows.
Tall. Cloaked in black. Their face covered by the forest trees , the presence sends a chill down Liora and Sera's spine.
But words cut through the night like a blade.
"What are you two doing there?"
Liora and Sera whipped around, "ahhhh" startled
"Father", Liora called out in relief
Aldric.
Her father stepped forward, his gaze sharp as it flicked between her and Sera.
"I've been trying to mind-link you," he said, his tone edged with impatience.
The looked back at the place the figure was and it was gone..
They exchanged a tense glance before scanning the trees again, searching for any trace of movement. Nothing. Just the quiet whisper of the wind and the rustling leaves.
"What are you two looking at over there?"
He asked trying to see what they were focused on.
Liora straightened quickly, masking her unease. She forced a small smile and stepped toward him.
"Nothing, Father," she chipped in lightly. "We were just on our way back to the pack."
Aldric's stared at Liora and sera for a moment longer, as if he didn't believe her.
But he had better things to think about or deal with rather.
"You need to get to the pack now," he urged her . "The elders and I had been waiting for you , since you ran off to the borders, look at yourself so messy , bloody and injured , come let's go , you need to clean up and rest, you know what today is my dear."
Liora's stomach twisted. She knew what that meant. The Fated Moon is tonight and it's a once In 20 years thing and they had to tolerate being in the same grounds as Lunarion because of a certain moon Goddess. "I know what today is." she let out with a sigh.
Aldric gave a firm nod " You need a mate, quit your Sera is here to support you speech.You will make a fine Luna and you won't have to rule the pack alone , you will get a fine, strong Alpha , this is once in 20 years and you are 25 already, you are a woman now. you can handle a mate ,liora", he said before turning back toward the packhouse. His posture was rigid, unreadable, as he walked ahead of them.
Sera cast her a wary glance. "don't worry , I am here for you, just be ready, I don't enjoy these fate things but if your father believes it, who am I? Luckily Fated Moon doesn't really concern beta's ,we can fall in love anytime and just mate and bond.
Liora forced a small, humorless smile. "Do I even have a choice? And lucky you Sera, you can't relate to my pains."
Liora sighed, her steps slow as they made their way back toward the packhouse. The weight of Aldric's words pressed down on her, heavier than the bruises Zyra had left on her body.
Tonight, under the Fated Moon, her mate would be revealed.
She clenched her fists, her pulse was more quicker.
Moon Goddess, at least let me choose by myself.
Beside her, Sera walked in silence for a while before finally speaking. "You're thinking too hard about it."
Liora scoffed, kicking at a stray stone on the path. "Hard not to think about it, Sera. Tonight, my entire future is decided. I don't get a say. I don't get to choose , so frustrating"
Sera shrugged. "Neither does your mate, technically. Maybe they'll be just as miserable about it and frustrated"
Liora shot her a glare, Miserable, frustrated, for me? , liora veylan, hot ,sexy ,enchanting omega, no one doesn't want me , it's rather miserable, for me than for them ,but Sera only grinned.
"Ahh you're not helping." liora kicked another rock
"I wasn't trying to help anyways ." Sera shrugged
Liora sighed again, rubbing her temples. "What if it's a man, Sera?" Her face twisted in discomfort. "I love women."
Sera snorted. "Then the Moon Goddess has a terrible sense of humor." But I have seen how Ciara looks at you, she even gets you gifts and she is an Alpha , you can get her if the moon Goddess has a good sense of humour. Sera laughed hard, her voice echoing through the forest.
Liora groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "This isn't funny. How do we inform the Moon Goddess that I love women? What if it's some overbearing Alpha who expects me to be some submissive little Omega? I swear on the Moon, i will end him."
Sera laughed. "I'd pay to see that and it's not like anyone is against two mated women. According to history , two women have been mated ,not once or twice, it's just maybe the Moon Goddess won't want a woman for you, you know Fated things" Sera burst out into laughter again.
Liora didn't laugh.
They walked in silence after that, the packhouse grew closer with each step. The distant chattering and noises of pack members could slightly be heard. Though, Liora barely heard it over the thoughts racing through her mind.
Sera nudged her playfully. "You know, it wouldn't be that bad , it is someone from the pack. At least you know them."
Liora made a face. "That doesn't help. What if it's someone annoying and i dont like ?"
"Like Jorin?" Sera teased.
Liora gagged. "Don't even joke about that."
Sera smirked. "Or maybe it's one of the Elders' sons. You know, the Alpha's who stare at you like they're already undressing you in their heads."
Liora rolled her eyes. "If that happens, I'll challenge the bond and let them suffer the humiliation of rejection."
Sera laughed. "Damn that is Brutal, But you don't even like anyone anyways so where are you expecting the someone you like to come from?"
Liora looked at sera in a defeated way , and didn't respond.
They reached the surrounding area of Moonveil's main grounds; the packhouse was visible in the distance. But just as they stepped into the grounds, that familiar earlier sensation hit her again"
She stopped.
Her gaze shifted to the tree line, where the shadows seemed darker than they should be. She felt a presence , like someone had been following them.
Sera noticed her hesitation. "What is it?"
Liora's blue eyes scanned the trees. The feeling of being watched over took her. She sighed nevertheless as she saw no-one.
Nothing.
But just as she turned away, a figure shifted in the darkness.
And then
A smirk flashed from the shadows.