Fated by Blood and Moon

Chapter 35: Unmasking the Shadows

Maya’s POV

The night stretched on as we pushed deeper into the forest, the rogue attack still fresh in our minds. Despite the swift victory, the tension in the air hadn’t eased. Every instinct I had screamed that this wasn’t over. The rogues we had defeated weren’t acting on their own. Someone—or something—was pulling the strings.

We need to find out who’s behind this, I said to Lyra as we navigated the dense woods.

Agreed. This feels like a test, she growled, her ears twitching as we moved silently. But who would want to test the Silvermoon Pack?

We’ll find out soon enough.

Leo was in the lead, his silver fur gleaming under the moonlight as he moved with calculated precision. Fenrir was in control, his mind linked to mine and Lyra’s as we worked together, tracking the faint scent trails left by the rogues. Every step we took brought us closer to the heart of the threat, but there was something in the air—something that felt… off.

Suddenly, a sharp pang hit me, not physical, but mental—like an invisible thread being tugged violently. I stumbled, my breath catching as a wave of darkness washed over me.

What is that? Lyra gasped, her voice strained.

Leo turned to me, his silver eyes glowing. “Maya, are you alright?”

I nodded, though the feeling hadn’t left. “Something… something just pulled at me. It’s like a presence… but I can’t place it.”

Fenrir growled low, his head snapping toward the northern ridge. “There. It’s coming from there.”

The ridge was cloaked in shadows, the terrain jagged and foreboding. I could sense the energy now, faint but growing stronger the closer we got. It was dark, twisted, and full of malice.

This is it, Lyra said, her voice steely. We’re close.

We followed the pull, my heartbeat quickening as the forest around us thickened, the moonlight struggling to break through the canopy above. Every instinct told me we were walking into a trap, but we couldn’t stop now. Whoever was behind the rogue attacks was there, waiting.

---

Leo’s POV

The ridge loomed ahead, its jagged rocks casting long shadows in the moonlight. As we approached, the scent of rogues grew stronger, mixed with something far more sinister. The darkness here wasn’t natural—it was deliberate. Controlled.

They’re here, Fenrir growled. Whoever’s behind this is close.

Maya moved beside me, her wolf, Lyra, on edge. I could sense her tension, her mind working as fast as mine to figure out what we were dealing with. She had felt the pull too—something or someone was trying to manipulate her, to draw her in.

We crested the ridge and stopped, staring down into a clearing below. At first, it seemed empty, but then my eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I saw them—figures, shrouded in shadow, standing in a half-circle at the edge of the clearing. Rogues. But there was something else… a presence that felt cold and ancient.

From the center of the group, a figure stepped forward, tall and imposing, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

“So, the mighty Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack has come,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery.

I bared my teeth, Fenrir’s growl reverberating in my chest. “Who are you?”

The figure smiled, his lips twisting in a cruel smirk. “You’ll know soon enough, Alpha. But for now, consider this… a demonstration. We’ve been watching you and your Luna, testing your strength. And while you’ve proven capable, you haven’t faced a threat like this before.”

Maya growled beside me, her eyes fixed on the rogue leader. “Why target us? What do you want?”

He chuckled darkly, his eyes flicking to Maya. “What I want is simple—power. Your pack has stood in the way of too many for too long. It’s time to change the balance. And you, Luna, are part of that balance.”

My hackles raised as his gaze lingered on her, an unmistakable threat in his tone. Fenrir surged forward, but I held him back, focusing on the situation at hand.

“You won’t touch her,” I snarled. “You won’t touch my pack.”

The rogue leader tilted his head, unfazed by my threat. “We’ll see.”

Before I could respond, he raised his hand, and the rogues behind him lunged forward. But these weren’t like the ones we’d fought before. Their movements were unnaturally fast, their strength enhanced by whatever dark force was controlling them.

“Prepare yourselves,” I said through the mind-link. “This is different.”

---

Maya’s POV

The rogues came at us with terrifying speed, their eyes glowing with the same unnatural light as their leader. I barely had time to react before they were on us. Lyra and I fought back with everything we had, our claws slashing through the air, but these rogues were stronger, faster, and more relentless than anything we had faced before.

There’s magic in this, Lyra growled as she tore into one of the rogues. Something dark is controlling them.

I knew she was right. The air was thick with it, a suffocating force that made it hard to focus. Every time I struck down one rogue, another seemed to take its place, their strength unwavering.

Leo fought beside me, his movements powerful and precise, but even he was struggling against the sheer number of enemies. Fenrir was a force of nature, tearing through the rogues with brutal efficiency, but the odds were stacked against us.

We need to get to the leader, I said through the link, my eyes locking on the rogue commander who stood at the edge of the clearing, watching us with cold amusement.

Agreed, Leo replied, his voice strained with effort. But he’s waiting for us. This is all part of his plan.

Then let’s ruin it.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I pushed through the mass of rogues, Lyra snarling as we carved a path toward the leader. Leo was right behind me, his silver fur flashing in the moonlight as he fought his way forward.

The rogue leader watched us approach, his smirk never wavering.

“Impressive,” he said, his voice carrying over the sounds of battle. “But this ends now.”

He raised his hand, and the ground beneath us shook. Dark tendrils of energy erupted from the earth, wrapping around my legs, pulling me down.

No! Lyra howled, fighting against the force.

I struggled, but the darkness was too strong, its grip tightening around me.

“Maya!” Leo’s voice echoed in my ears as he lunged toward me, but the rogue leader moved faster, a blast of dark energy hitting him square in the chest, sending him flying backward.

“Leo!” I screamed, panic flooding through me as I saw him hit the ground, Fenrir’s howl of pain echoing in my mind.

The rogue leader chuckled, stepping closer. “You can’t win this, Luna. Not alone.”

I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in to the darkness. Lyra, we have to break free. We can’t let him win.

I’m with you, Lyra said, her voice fierce. Let’s finish this.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I fought against the dark energy, feeling Lyra’s power surge through me. Together, we broke free of the tendrils, my body shaking with the effort.

The rogue leader’s eyes widened in surprise. “Impossible…”

“Nothing’s impossible,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “Not when you’re fighting for your pack.”