Embers of the Forbidden Moon

Chapter 9: Elder Thorne's Plot

The tension within the Nightshade Pack had been steadily growing, like a simmering pot on the verge of boiling over. The prophecy Aria had uncovered hung over the pack like a storm cloud, darkening the moods of those who had heard whispers of its potential implications. But few were more troubled by its contents than Elder Thorne.

Thorne was a man steeped in tradition, his loyalty to the old ways unwavering. He had served as an advisor to the pack for decades, guiding them through times of peace and turmoil. But the emergence of Aria's powers and the prophecy that hinted at her crucial role in the pack's future unsettled him deeply. He saw in her a threat to the balance of power, a disruption to the status quo that he had worked so hard to maintain.

Aria, with her elemental powers and her growing influence over Kael, was not just a threat to the old ways; she was a wild card. Thorne knew that if she was allowed to rise unchecked, she could change everything he held dear. And so, he resolved to act, to stop Aria before she could fulfill whatever destiny the prophecy foretold.

It was with these thoughts that Thorne sought out Lydia, the ambitious and cunning female who had long coveted the position of Luna. Lydia, who had once been the favored candidate for Kael's mate, had been watching Aria's rise with a mixture of envy and disdain. Thorne knew she would be a willing ally in his plan to undermine Aria.

He found Lydia in her private quarters, her expression dark as she gazed out of the window at the forest beyond. The fire that Aria had inadvertently started had scorched the land, and though it was healing, the memory of the blaze lingered. Lydia turned as Thorne entered, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Elder Thorne," Lydia greeted him, her tone guarded. "What brings you here?"

Thorne closed the door behind him and stepped closer to her, his voice low and conspiratorial. "We have much to discuss, Lydia. I've been observing the way things are unfolding, and I believe it's time we take matters into our own hands."

Lydia raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "What do you mean?"

Thorne's expression hardened. "Aria's powers are growing stronger, and the prophecy she discovered—well, let's just say it doesn't bode well for those of us who believe in maintaining the order of things. I fear that if we allow her to continue unchecked, she will disrupt the balance of power in this pack. And Kael... he's already showing signs of being swayed by her. We cannot let this happen."

Lydia's lips curled into a sneer. "I've noticed the way he looks at her. It's disgusting. She's not fit to be Luna. She's a liability."

Thorne nodded in agreement. "Exactly. But we need to be strategic in how we handle this. We can't afford to make a move against her openly. Kael is too protective of her, and the pack is already divided. We need to undermine her quietly, to turn the pack against her without arousing suspicion."

Lydia's eyes gleamed with malicious intent. "What do you propose?"

Thorne leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We spread doubt. We highlight her instability, her inability to control her powers. We make the pack see her as a danger, someone who cannot be trusted to lead alongside Kael. And when the time is right, we expose the prophecy in a way that makes her seem like the harbinger of doom rather than salvation."