The Ceremony of Marks
The first hint of evening painted the sky a bruised violet as Aria stood by the tall window of her room, staring at the distant forest. Her heart beat unevenly, a rhythmic drum of anticipation and dread. Tonight was the Moon Ceremony, the night every young wolf of the pack received their mark a glowing sigil that would reveal their destiny and bond them to their mate.
Aria's fingers twisted the hem of her tunic nervously. She knew the ritual well. She had watched older wolves step into the clearing in years past, marks blooming on wrists, faces lighting with pride and confidence. She had imagined it happening to her too, but the memory of her first failed attempt, the markless years, and her father's disappointed frown hovered like a dark cloud over her.
"Aria!" A sharp, refined voice cut through her thoughts. Selene, her stepmother, stood in the doorway, perfectly poised, a predatory smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes were cold, assessing.
"Are you ready?" Selene asked, though she already knew the answer.
"I… I'm ready," Aria whispered, voice trembling.
Selene's smirk widened. "I do hope so. It would be… unfortunate if you embarrassed the family again. Lyra has worked so hard. It would be a shame for her light to be overshadowed by your… darkness."
Aria's stomach churned. Lyra, her stepsister, leaned against the doorframe, wrist flicked toward the moonlight, the silver glow of her mark pulsing faintly. "Don't worry, little shadow," Lyra said mockingly. "We'll all be watching. Try not to ruin the moment for everyone."
Aria's lips pressed into a thin line. She wanted to speak, to defend herself, but words felt useless against Lyra's sharp tongue and Selene's calculated cruelty.
Her father, Alpha Rowan, entered the room, his broad frame casting a shadow across the floor. His face was calm, composed, but Aria knew that beneath the surface, disappointment simmered. He looked at her briefly, then away, toward Lyra. "Remember, tonight is not just a ceremony," he said. "It's a demonstration of your worth, of your bloodline. Do not fail us."
Aria swallowed hard. She had trained for this, but every lesson, every practice, every long night running through the forest alone had been for this moment and yet fear gnawed at her, sharp and insistent,like ice curling around her ribs. She wanted to scream, to cry, but the words lodged in her throat.
The walk to the ceremonial clearing was tense, each step heavy. The other young wolves had gathered, forming a wide circle under the silver light of the rising moon. The forest smelled of damp earth and pine, and the faint metallic scent of wolf blood hung in the air. Every pair of eyes turned toward her as she entered, curiosity, excitement, and judgment shining within them.
The ceremony began. One by one, young wolves stepped forward, wrists raised. Glowing marks bloomed effortlessly, shining with the promise of power and destiny. Applause, whispers of admiration, and the soft murmur of pride filled the clearing.
Lyra stepped forward confidently. Her mark flared immediately, silver and perfect, pulsing with energy. She threw Aria a triumphant glance, smug and sharp, and Aria felt her chest tighten.
Then it was Aria's turn.
Her legs trembled beneath her. She raised her hand, hoping to flicker, then… nothing.
Silence crashed over the clearing. Whispers began low, hesitant, then rose like a tidal wave: "Markless… cursed… she's dangerous…"
Her father's eyes fell to the ground, avoiding her. Shame burned in her chest hotter than fire.
Lyra's smirk stretched across her face. "Looks like the Moon Goddess herself rejected you," she sneered.
"Move aside," a warrior muttered, his voice tight with tension. The pack sensed something wrong, some dark energy emanating from her.
Aria's lips parted, but no words came. Only the growl, low and throaty, that came from deep within. Her wolf instincts were surfacing, untrained, uncontrolled. Shadows curled along her arms, whispering and twisting like living things. The pack stepped back instinctively.
"You're a disgrace!" Alpha Rowan's voice boomed. "I gave you life, and all you bring to us is disgrace!!" His face was pale, cold, and rigid with authority. "Stay hidden. Stay out of sight."
Aria's knees buckled. Shame, fear, and anger collided within her. Her wolf instincts surged. Pain tore through her body as her first shift began wild, uncontrollable, and magnificent.
Her shadowed wolf erupted, black as midnight, eyes glowing crimson, aura crackling with dark energy. The pack gasped. Some stumbled back; others murmured in fear.
"Cursed!" someone shouted. "The Moon Goddess has forsaken her!"
Aria's growl deepened, resonant and unnatural. She tried to calm herself, to take control, but the wolf inside her was fierce and relentless. Her claws raked the ground, her shadowed fur bristling, energy thrumming like lightning.
A warrior stepped forward, silvered blade in hand, ready to strike. Panic and terror surged through her. She lashed out instinctively, shadows striking, forcing him back. Wolves scattered, fear and chaos erupting across the clearing.
"Kill it!" another voice shouted. "It's dangerous!"
Aria's heart pounded. Her father's face was pale, full of fear and disappointment. Her stepsister's triumphant smirk faded into unease.
The instinct to survive, to escape, overwhelmed her. Without thinking, she bolted into the forest. Trees whipped past her, branches scratching, leaves tangling in her fur. Her wolf form was faster than anything she had known, shadows wrapping around her like a protective cloak.
Behind her, the pack's shouts faded, replaced by the rustle of pursuit. Hunters, armed with silver, closed in, relentless.
Aria stumbled to a riverbank, collapsing in exhaustion. Her crimson eyes reflected the moonlight, wide with terror and disbelief. She had survived but for how long? Alone, hunted, and abandoned, she realized the world she had known was gone. The forest whispered around her, shadows rippling along her fur as if alive, protective, promising power… but also danger.
I can't go back, she thought. They want me dead. Even my own family…
A distant crack of a branch made her tense. Her wolf growled low. Her instincts screamed to flee again. Somewhere, in the darkness, hunters stalked her, guided by fear, tradition, and the Council's cruel decree.
Aria rose slowly, shadows curling and twisting along her body, her powers reacting to her fear. Her legs shook, but determination hardened in her chest. I will survive. I have to.
The moon above shone cold and silver, illuminating the first step of a journey that would change everything. Alone, frightened, and hunted, Aria's shadowed wolf form pressed into the forest, disappearing into the darkness.
And yet, deep in her bones, something stirred an ancient pulse, waiting, watching.