The council's presence lingered in the clearing long after they disappeared into the forest.
No one spoke.
Even Kael's warriors looked unsettled.
Ava could still feel the strange energy they had brought with them. It clung to the air like invisible mist.
Three days.
That's what the council had given her.
Three days to accept a decision she never asked for.
Ava exhaled slowly.
"Well," she muttered.
"That's officially the worst news I've heard this week."
Ronan rubbed the back of his neck.
"Honestly… it could be worse."
Ava stared at him.
"How?"
Ronan thought about it for a moment.
"Actually… no, you're right. That's pretty bad."
Kael didn't laugh.
His gaze remained fixed on the dark forest where the council had vanished.
His expression was colder than Ava had ever seen.
"They won't take you."
Ava glanced at him.
"They seemed pretty confident."
"They're arrogant."
"That's not the same thing as wrong."
Kael finally turned toward her.
"They believe power gives them control."
Ava crossed her arms.
"And you don't?"
His eyes softened slightly.
"I believe power should protect people."
Ava studied him for a moment.
Then she sighed.
"That's… surprisingly noble."
Ronan smirked.
"Don't tell him that too often. It'll go to his head."
Kael shot him a look.
"Go check the perimeter."
Ronan laughed quietly but obeyed.
Soon several warriors disappeared into the forest again, making sure no enemies were still nearby.
Ava kicked a small rock across the clearing.
"So," she said.
"You going to explain why everyone keeps calling me the Moon Queen?"
Kael hesitated.
"It's complicated."
"That's the second time someone has said that tonight."
"And it's still true."
Ava raised an eyebrow.
"Try anyway."
Kael sighed and leaned against a nearby tree.
"The Moon Queen wasn't just a leader."
"What was she then?"
"The source of balance."
Ava frowned.
"That sounds very dramatic."
"It was."
Kael looked up at the moon.
"Her power came directly from the moon itself. She could strengthen packs… heal wolves… even control transformations."
Ava blinked.
"Okay that definitely sounds dramatic."
"But that power also made her dangerous."
"To who?"
"Everyone."
Ava frowned deeper.
"That doesn't make sense."
Kael looked at her again.
"The Moon Queen could control alphas."
Ava froze.
"Control… alphas?"
Kael nodded.
"That's why the council existed. They were supposed to guide the Queen so her power wouldn't destroy the wolf world."
"And instead they just decided to control her."
"Exactly."
Ava sighed heavily.
"My life was way simpler when I thought I was just a rejected wolf."
Kael smiled faintly.
"You were never ordinary."
"Flattery will not fix this situation."
"I'm not trying to fix it."
"Then what are you trying to do?"
His voice turned quiet.
"Win."
Ava stared at him.
"Against the entire council?"
"If that's what it takes."
Before she could respond—
A sudden sharp pain shot through her chest.
She gasped.
Her knees nearly buckled.
"Ava!"
Kael caught her instantly before she hit the ground.
The pain burned through her body like fire.
Her wolf howled inside her mind.
The moon…
Silver light suddenly burst from Ava's skin again.
Brighter than before.
Stronger.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
Kael's warriors immediately stepped back in shock.
"What the hell—"
The light grew stronger.
Ava's eyes glowed bright silver again.
She couldn't control it.
Power rushed through her veins like lightning.
Images flooded her mind.
Ancient wolves.
Massive battlefields.
A throne carved from moonstone.
And a woman with glowing silver eyes standing above thousands of wolves.
The Moon Queen.
Ava gasped as the vision vanished.
The silver light faded.
Her legs trembled.
Kael steadied her carefully.
"Easy."
Ava looked up at him, breathing hard.
"I saw something."
"What?"
She hesitated.
Then said quietly,
"The Moon Queen."
Kael's expression tightened.
"What did she show you?"
"A throne."
"That's not surprising."
Ava shook her head.
"That's not the strange part."
"Then what is?"
Ava swallowed.
"She wasn't alone."
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Ava looked directly into his eyes.
"There was an alpha standing beside her."
Kael didn't react.
But something in his gaze shifted.
"And?" he asked quietly.
Ava hesitated.
Then finished the sentence.
"It wasn't Damon."
Silence fell again.
Ronan returned to the clearing just in time to hear that.
"Well," he said slowly.
"That complicates things."
Ava rubbed her temples.
"I'm getting really tired of everything being complicated."
Kael looked at her carefully.
"Did you see the alpha's face?"
Ava nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"And?"
She took a breath.
Then said the one thing none of them expected.
"It looked like you."
Ronan nearly choked.
Kael froze completely.
Ava watched his expression carefully.
"Which means one of two things," she continued.
"What?" Ronan asked.
"Either the vision is wrong…"
She paused.
Or the council is about to make the biggest mistake of their lives.
Kael's eyes slowly darkened.
And for the first time since the council arrived—
He looked almost pleased.
"Good," he said quietly.
Ava blinked.
"Good??"
Kael smiled slightly.
"Yes."
"Why?"
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"Because if the moon chose me…"
His eyes burned with determination.
"Then the council doesn't stand a chance."
Above them, the moon glowed brighter in the night sky.
And somewhere far away—
The council could already feel the shift in power.
The Moon Queen's destiny was beginning to change. 🌙