CHAPTER 4

The moment I stepped into the room, a wave of unease swept over me. The space was vast, almost overwhelming, with grand stone pillars reaching up to a high ceiling. The atmosphere felt heavy, as if the walls themselves were alive and watching. Creatures filled the hall—some half-human, others entirely otherworldly. My gaze caught on one figure with goblin-like features, its piercing yellow eyes fixed on me.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening around Giovanni's hand.

“Good evening, Elders,” a man’s voice echoed through the hall, breaking the tension. It was the same man who had greeted us earlier. “Tonight, the Alpha has brought his mate!”

A ripple of murmurs spread across the room, each word too low to catch but heavy with judgment.

“Congratulations, my Alpha,” one elder said, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion. “A mate is a blessing indeed.”

“And she’s pregnant,” the man continued, his words sharp and deliberate. “Carrying a royal baby!”

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Goosebumps spread across my arms as every pair of eyes in the room turned to me.

“What?” I managed to whisper, barely able to form the word.

“That’s right,” Giovanni said smoothly, his voice unwavering. His hand tightened around mine as if to reassure me—or keep me from bolting. “Elders, let us welcome my mate. Your Luna. The mother of the royal family.”

The murmurs grew louder, and my head spun as the weight of his words sank in. Luna? Royal family? This wasn’t part of the plan.

“If this is true,” one elder said, his voice commanding silence from the others, “then let the initiation of the Luna begin.”

My stomach churned. “What? What initiation?” My voice cracked as I glanced at Giovanni, but he didn’t answer.

A woman dressed in white robes stepped forward, her movements slow and deliberate. She extended her hand toward me, her expression serene yet unreadable.

My pulse thundered in my ears as I stared at her outstretched hand. Whatever this initiation was, I had the sinking feeling it would change my life forever.

The woman in white tilted her head, her pale eyes piercing into mine as if she could see my soul. “This way, Luna,” she said, her voice a calm whisper that somehow silenced the murmurs in the room.

Reluctantly, I followed her. The crowd parted like the Red Sea as we walked, their eyes a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. My heart pounded with every step, my legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

We stopped in front of an archway that glimmered with faint golden light. The woman turned to me. “Beyond this gate lies the Sacred Hall of Truth. Only the rightful Luna may step inside. The spirits will guide you.”

“What am I supposed to do in there?” My voice trembled as I looked at her, hoping for a shred of reassurance.

She handed me a small silver vial filled with a glowing, silvery liquid. “Drink this. It will awaken your senses. Then, you will step into the sacred pool and follow the whispers of the ancestors. They will instruct you. Do not question, do not resist.”

“That’s… vague,” I muttered, eyeing the vial.

She ignored my comment and opened the archway. A cool rush of air spilled out, carrying with it a faint hum, like a distant melody. “Go. Your path awaits.”

I hesitated, looking back at Giovanni. His eyes met mine, unwavering. “You’re stronger than you think,” he said. “Now go.”

With a shaky breath, I stepped through the archway.

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The Sacred Hall was like stepping into another world. The air shimmered with golden light, and the floor beneath me felt like smooth glass, reflecting the stars above. At the center was a glowing pool, its surface rippling with silver light.

“Okay, Sophia,” I whispered to myself. “Just… follow the whispers.”

The vial felt cold in my hand. I uncorked it and drank. The liquid was warm, tasting faintly of honey and spices. Almost immediately, a rush of energy coursed through me, and the faint hum grew louder. Voices—soft, indistinct—filled my ears, guiding me toward the pool.

Kneeling at the edge, I placed my hands on the surface. The moment my fingers touched the water, it glowed brighter, and the voices became clearer.

“Step in,” they whispered.

I obeyed, the water lapping at my ankles as I waded in. It was warmer than I expected, almost comforting. As I reached the center, the whispers grew into a chant, echoing all around me.

“Prove your worth,” they said. “Reveal your truth.”

The pool began to swirl, pulling me into its depths. Panic rose in my chest, but the warmth of the water kept me calm. Images flashed before my eyes—memories of my childhood, my parents, the betrayal I’d suffered. And then, something new. A wolf—silver and majestic—emerged from the shadows of my mind, its piercing eyes locking with mine.

“You are more than you know,” the wolf said, its voice a deep growl.

Before I could respond, the vision faded, and I found myself standing back in the pool. The water stilled, and the whispers quieted. On my wrist, a glowing mark appeared—a crescent moon surrounded by intricate patterns.

The woman in white reappeared, her expression unreadable. “It is done,” she said, bowing her head.

“What’s done?” I asked, my voice shaky.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she led me back to the hall. As we stepped through the archway, the murmurs stopped. Every pair of eyes turned to me, then lowered in unison.

“She bears the mark,” the woman announced, her voice ringing through the hall. “The rightful Luna stands before you.”

Giovanni stepped forward, his expression triumphant. “Bow to your Luna,” he commanded.

One by one, they obeyed, their heads lowering in submission.

I stared at the crowd, my heart racing. I was no Luna. I was just a human. But as their voices rose in unison, chanting my name, I realized there was no turning back.

The game had begun.

As the chanting reached its peak, the woman in white gave me one last, cryptic look before she stepped back. The air around me felt heavier, as though something invisible had shifted.

I turned to Giovanni, searching his face for any sign of what was to come, but his expression was unreadable, too calm. He reached out to touch my arm, his fingers cold against my skin.

“Now that the mark has been revealed,” the woman said, her voice cutting through the thick silence. “The path forward is sealed.”

I didn’t understand. "What path?" I whispered, but she didn’t answer.

The ground beneath me shifted again, this time more violently, as though the very foundation of the hall was reacting to the change. For a split second, I thought I saw something in the shadows—something dark, watching. But when I looked again, it was gone.

Giovanni’s grip tightened, pulling me closer. “Stay close,” he murmured, his voice suddenly low, urgent. “The real test begins now.”

And then, the door behind us slammed shut.