"I'm not going anywhere."
The words came out stronger than I felt.
Darius didn't react immediately.
He just watched me.
Silent.
Measuring.
Like he was trying to decide something.
"You don't understand what this is," he said finally.
"Then explain it," I shot back. "Because from where I'm standing, I've been kidnapped by monsters who think they can decide what I am."
A flicker of something crossed his face.
Annoyance.
Or maybe… restraint.
"They're not asking for your permission."
"And you are?"
His jaw tightened.
"No."
"Then I'm not going."
The room went still.
Dangerously still.
For a moment, I thought he might force me.
Drag me out.
Prove that I really didn't have a choice.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Slow.
Controlled.
My pulse quickened, but I refused to move.
"If you don't go willingly," he said quietly, "they'll come in here and take you anyway."
A chill ran down my spine.
"They wouldn't dare," I whispered.
His eyes darkened.
"You don't know what they're capable of."
Silence stretched between us.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
I swallowed hard.
"What is this test?"
Darius didn't answer right away.
And that scared me more than anything.
"It's an ancient ritual," he said finally. "Used to reveal what someone truly is."
My stomach twisted.
"I already know what I am."
His gaze sharpened.
"Do you?"
Something in his tone made my confidence falter.
I shook my head quickly. "Yes. I'm human."
He didn't respond.
That silence felt louder than any words.
Fear crept in.
"What happens if I refuse?"
His voice dropped.
"You won't."
I clenched my fists.
"You don't get to decide that."
For a split second, something dangerous flashed in his eyes.
Not anger.
Something deeper.
Possession.
Then he stepped back.
"Fine."
The single word caught me off guard.
"Fine?" I repeated.
"Yes."
Suspicion filled me. "That's it?"
"That's it."
This didn't feel right.
Not at all.
Before I could question it, the door behind him opened again.
Three figures stepped inside.
Older.
Stronger.
Their presence alone made the air feel heavier.
The first was a tall man with silver hair and piercing gray eyes. The second, a woman with sharp features and a cold expression. The third stood slightly behind them, silent but watchful.
Elders.
I didn't need to be told.
I could feel it.
The power in the room shifted the moment they entered.
Their eyes locked onto me.
Studying.
Judging.
Like I was something to be examined.
The silver-haired man spoke first.
"So this is the girl."
I stiffened.
"I have a name."
He ignored me.
Of course he did.
His gaze moved to Darius.
"You're certain?"
Darius didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The woman stepped forward.
Closer.
Too close.
Her eyes scanned me slowly.
From my face…
To my hands…
To the cross still hanging around my neck.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"She doesn't smell like one of us."
My heart skipped.
Of course I didn't.
Because I wasn't—
"She's human," I said quickly.
The woman's gaze snapped to mine.
Sharp.
Cold.
"Then this will be quick."
Fear crawled up my spine.
"What are you going to do?"
No one answered.
The third elder moved forward, carrying something in his hands.
A bowl.
Dark.
Carved with strange symbols.
Inside it… a liquid.
Thick.
Silver.
It shimmered under the light in a way that didn't look natural.
My breath caught.
"What is that?"
The silver-haired elder spoke calmly.
"Moon essence."
My stomach dropped.
"That doesn't exist."
"It does."
The woman reached for my arm.
I jerked back instantly.
"Don't touch me!"
Her grip tightened before I could move again.
Too fast.
Too strong.
"Hold still," she said coldly.
Panic surged through me.
"Darius!"
The name left my lips before I could stop it.
I didn't even know why I called for him.
But I did.
And he moved.
In an instant, he was beside us.
His hand wrapped around the woman's wrist.
Firm.
Warning.
"Careful," he said, his voice low.
Her eyes flickered with irritation.
"She needs to be tested."
"I know."
"Then don't interfere."
His grip didn't loosen.
"I said be careful."
The room tensed.
Power pressing against power.
For a moment, I thought they might fight.
Then slowly…
The woman released me.
Darius let her go.
But he didn't step away.
He stayed close.
Too close.
Like he was ready to step in again if needed.
My heart raced.
I didn't understand any of this.
Why he was protecting me.
Why I felt safer when he was near.
None of it made sense.
The silver-haired elder gestured toward the bowl.
"Drink."
I stared at it.
"No."
His expression didn't change.
"It will reveal the truth."
"I don't need it to."
"You do."
"I'm human," I insisted.
"Then prove it."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
I looked at Darius.
He met my gaze.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
"Don't," I whispered.
For a second, I thought he might agree.
Might stop this.
Instead, he said quietly—
"It's the only way."
My chest tightened.
Betrayal burned through me.
"You said I had a choice."
His voice was low.
"You do."
"This isn't a choice!"
"No," he admitted.
"It's not."
Tears stung my eyes.
I turned back to the bowl.
My hands trembled.
"This won't change anything," I whispered.
No one answered.
Slowly…
Reluctantly…
I reached for it.
The liquid shimmered as I lifted the bowl.
It felt… warm.
Alive.
My heart pounded.
"Just drink," the elder said.
I hesitated.
Every instinct screamed at me not to.
But there was no escape.
No way out.
So I closed my eyes…
And drank.
The moment the liquid touched my lips—
Everything went wrong.
Fire.
It burned down my throat like liquid flame.
I gasped, dropping the bowl as pain exploded through my body.
My knees hit the ground.
"No—" I choked.
My chest tightened.
My heartbeat sped up.
Faster.
Faster.
Too fast.
Something was happening.
Something inside me—
Cracking.
Breaking.
Changing.
I screamed.
The sound tore from my throat before I could stop it.
My vision blurred.
The room twisted.
And then—
My eyes snapped open.
The world looked… different.
Sharper.
Clearer.
Alive.
I could hear everything.
Every breath.
Every heartbeat.
Every movement.
And then I heard it.
A sound I had never heard before.
Low.
Deep.
Inside me.
A growl.
My breath hitched.
"No… no, that's not possible…"
The elders stepped back.
Shock flashing across their faces.
The woman whispered—
"It's awakening…"
My heart pounded.
"What is happening to me?!"
No one answered.
I looked at Darius.
His expression had changed.
Completely.
No confusion.
No doubt.
Only certainty.
And something else.
Something terrifying.
Awe.
Then the silver-haired elder spoke.
His voice filled with disbelief.
"It's true…"
The room seemed to stop breathing.
I shook my head, panic rising.
"Stop saying that—what's true?!"
His eyes locked onto mine.
And he said the words that shattered everything.
"She's not just a wolf."
My blood ran cold.
"Then what am I?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Then—
He answered.
"She's the one from the prophecy."
My breath caught.
"No…"
The elder's voice dropped.
Reverent.
Fearful.
"The Luna Queen."
The room exploded into chaos.
Voices.
Shouts.
Disbelief.
But I couldn't hear any of it.
Because all I could feel…
Was the thing inside me.
Awake.
Watching.
Waiting.
And then—
Darius stepped forward.
His gaze locked onto mine.
Dark.
Possessive.
Unshakable.
And he said something that made my heart stop completely.
"Now they'll all come for you."
My breath trembled.
"Who?"
His answer came like a death sentence.
"Every Alpha in existence."