His Rejected Luna

The Power Inside Me: The Weight of the Unknown

Caelum's words haunt me.

"Why did the elders fear you in the first place?"

It's a question that burrows into my mind, unsettling and relentless. My whole life, I thought I was just another she-wolf, another Luna-to-be—nothing more, nothing less.

But if what Kieran said was true, if the pack knew something about me before I was even born...

Then who am I really?

The forest stretches before me, endless and dark, but I don't stop walking. The thick canopy above swallows the moonlight, leaving only slivers of silver to illuminate the overgrown path ahead.

The night is alive with the distant rustling of unseen creatures, the whisper of the wind curling through the trees.

But none of it matters.

Not when my mind is still reeling from everything I've just learned.

Behind me, I hear footsteps.

I don't turn.

"Where do you think you're going?" Kieran's voice is calm, but there's an edge to it—tight, restrained.

I grit my teeth. "Away."

A beat of silence. Then—

"You don't even know where you're going."

I whirl around, my pulse hammering. "I don't need to know. I just need to get as far away from you as possible."

Kieran's golden eyes glint in the darkness, unreadable. "You think running will change what you are?"

Something in his voice makes my breath catch.

He knows.

Not just about the prophecy. Not just about the rejection.

He knows what I am.

And he's not telling me.

Anger flares in my chest, burning hotter than my confusion. "If you know something, Kieran, just say it. Stop talking in riddles. Stop acting like you're protecting me when all you've ever done is hurt me."

His jaw tightens. "You think I wanted to reject you?"

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Oh, I don't think, Kieran—I know. You stood there, in front of everyone, and you threw me away like I meant nothing."

Kieran's hands clench into fists at his sides. "I did it to keep you alive."

I shake my head. "Bullshit."

"Aria."

My name is a plea, but I refuse to hear it.

Because it's too late.

He had the chance to tell me the truth before. He had the chance to fight for me. And he chose to let me go.

"You don't get to act like you care now," I whisper. "You don't get to stand here and tell me this was all for my sake."

Kieran exhales sharply, running a hand through his dark hair, but he doesn't argue.

Because deep down, he knows I'm right.

A rustle in the trees draws my attention. My body tenses, instincts kicking in, but before I can react—

A sharp pain lances through my skull.

I stumble forward, clutching my head as a sudden wave of dizziness crashes over me.

A rush of images flood my mind.

A temple buried in shadows. The flicker of candlelight against ancient stone. A woman with piercing silver eyes whispering words I don't understand.

Then—

Fire.

A wall of golden flames consuming everything in its path. A deafening roar shaking the ground beneath my feet.

My breath shudders as the vision fades.

Kieran is in front of me in an instant. "Aria?"

His hands hover near me, but he doesn't touch me. "What's wrong?"

I squeeze my eyes shut, willing my heartbeat to slow. "I—I don't know."

The images were so real, so vivid, like memories that weren't mine. But that wasn't possible… right?

A warm hand brushes my arm.

The moment Kieran's skin touches mine, another wave of pain crashes over me.

And then—

The forest around me disappears.

I'm somewhere else.

Somewhere old.

A grand chamber stretches before me, lined with towering stone pillars. A massive emblem is carved into the floor—a crest I don't recognize but feels familiar.

At the center of the room stands a woman cloaked in white, her silver eyes glowing like stars.

"You are not ready yet."

Her voice is soft, yet it echoes like thunder in my mind.

My pulse pounds. "Who are you?"

The woman tilts her head, studying me. Then, she smiles.

"Your blood remembers."

I jolt back, gasping.

The vision shatters.

I'm back in the forest, the cold night air rushing over me. Kieran's grip on my arms is firm, steadying me. His golden eyes are wide with something I can't name.

"You felt that, didn't you?" he murmurs.

I don't answer.

Because I don't know what I just felt.

I only know one thing.

Something inside me is waking up.

And for the first time, I wonder if the pack was right to fear me.

Aria's powers are starting to awaken, but what is she truly capable of? And why does Kieran seem to know more than he's saying?