Embers of the Forbidden Moon

Chapter 6: The Nightshade Feast

     The air was thick with anticipation as the Nightshade Feast approached, a celebration that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter's reign over the land. The pack had spent days preparing, and the village buzzed with activity. Lanterns adorned every doorway, their warm glow casting a golden light over the cobblestone paths. Tables were laden with food, and the scent of roasting meats and spiced wine filled the air.

       Aria had heard stories about the Nightshade Feast, tales passed down by the elders of her former pack. It was a time of joy and unity, a night when all grievances were set aside, and the pack came together to celebrate their bond. But this year, the feast felt different. There was an undercurrent of tension, a sense that something was brewing just beneath the surface. And Aria, despite her best efforts to integrate into the pack, couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a den of wolves with their fangs bared.

The trials had left her shaken, especially the second one, where she had nearly lost control of her powers. The memory of the flames licking at the edges of the clearing still haunted her, a constant reminder of how close she had come to disaster. She had spent the days leading up to the feast in near isolation, focusing on regaining control over her abilities and avoiding the judgmental stares of the pack. But even in the quiet of her own thoughts, she couldn't escape the looming shadow of the final trial.

Kael had been distant since that day, his normally warm and steady presence replaced by an icy detachment. He had spoken to her only when necessary, and though he never voiced his disappointment, Aria could feel it in the way he avoided her gaze, in the careful distance he kept between them. It hurt more than she cared to admit, and she found herself questioning whether she had ever truly earned his respect.

But tonight, was the Nightshade Feast, and Aria knew that her presence was expected. As the pack's Luna—albeit one still on trial—she had a duty to attend, to stand by Kael's side and represent the strength of their bond. The thought filled her with a mix of dread and determination. She would face whatever challenges the night brought, even if it meant enduring the coldness in Kael's eyes or the whispers of the pack members who doubted her.

The feast was held in the heart of the village, in a large open space surrounded by the towering trees of the forest. The full moon hung low in the sky, casting its silver light over the gathering, and the air was crisp with the promise of winter. Aria arrived just as the festivities were beginning, the sound of laughter and music greeting her as she stepped into the clearing.

She had dressed carefully for the occasion, choosing a deep green gown that clung to her form, the color reminiscent of the forest that surrounded them. Her dark hair was braided and adorned with small white flowers, a nod to the tradition of the feast, where the women of the pack would weave nightshade blossoms into their hair. The flowers were said to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune in the coming year.

     As she made her way through the crowd, Aria could feel the eyes of the pack on her. Some looked at her with curiosity, others with thinly veiled suspicion. She caught a few whispers as she passed, words like "unwanted Luna" and "dangerous" floating in the air around her. She forced herself to keep her head high, to ignore the murmurs and focus on the task at hand. She would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter.

Kael was already at the head of the gathering, standing with a group of elders and high-ranking warriors. He wore his usual stoic expression, his broad shoulders draped in a cloak of black fur that marked him as the Alpha. When he saw Aria approaching, his eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite identify—perhaps surprise, or maybe a flicker of pride—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the same cool detachment he had shown her for days.