Chapter 27: Blood Moon Rising
"JACE!" The brown wolf flew through the air, putting his body between Liana and the silver dagger. Time stopped. The blade sank deep into Jace's side. He crashed down hard, blood pouring from the wound. The impact broke Celeste's draining circle like glass. Power burst from Liana - raw, ancient, unstoppable. The blast sent Celeste flying backward. Shadow-warriors dissolved into smoke. Even the trees bent away from the force. "No, no, no!" Liana scrambled to Jace, her white fur stained with his blood. He changed back to human form, naked and pale. The silver knife stuck out from his ribs, spreading black poison through his veins. "Had to..." Jace coughed up blood. "Couldn't let her... hurt you."
"You idiot!" Liana shifted too, tears running down her face.
"Why did you-"
"Love makes us... do stupid things." He tried to smile but winced instead. Kael stumbled over, still bleeding from Rowan's attack. His face went white seeing his brother's wound. "That's bad silver. It'll kill him slowly." "Then we pull it out!" Liana reached for the knife. "NO!" Elder Mira shouted, finally reaching them. "Removing it will speed the poison. He'll die instantly." Across the clearing, Darius helped Celeste stand. Her beautiful face was scraped and dirty, her purple eyes flickering. "Retreat," he growled. "Now." "But-" Celeste started. "Your magic is drained. We've lost the edge." Darius changed to wolf form. "We'll finish this during the Blood Moon." Celeste looked at Liana with pure hatred. "This isn't over." They disappeared into the forest, taking the remaining shadow-warriors. But Liana barely noticed. All she saw was Jace getting weaker. "Rowan!" Kael called to their evil brother. "We need you!" Red-eyed Rowan growled, still lost to the curse. Dark veins pulsed under his gray hair as he stalked toward them. "He can't hear you," Mira said sadly. "The shadow magic triggered something deeper." "Then I'll make him hear." Liana stood, her hands still covered in Jace's blood. She walked straight toward the cursed wolf. Rowan's red eyes tracked her movement, teeth bared. "I know you're in there," she said softly. "The real Rowan. The one who reads to me. Who makes me tea when I'm sad." Rowan lunged. Liana didn't dodge. Instead, she pressed her bloody hand against his muzzle as he charged. The touch sent electricity through them both. "Feel it," she whispered. "Our bond. My blood calling to yours." Rowan froze. His red eyes flickered - red, blue, red again. "Come back to us." Liana poured every ounce of love through their bond. "Jace needs you. We all need you."
The curse fought hard, making Rowan shake wildly. But Liana held on, her blood somehow burning away the darkness. Slowly, painfully, blue returned to his eyes. "Liana?" Rowan's voice cracked. "What did I-" "Later." She pulled him toward Jace. "Help him first." They formed a circle around their falling brother. Jace's breathing came in short gasps. The black poison crept higher, coloring more veins. "There must be something," Kael said desperately. "Some way to-" "Only the Moon Goddess can heal cursed silver," Mira interrupted. "And she rarely intervenes directly." "Then I'll make her listen." Liana grabbed the ring at her throat. "Child, you can't force-" "Watch me." Liana closed her eyes and reached deep inside where her power lived. Not just her strength, but Selene's memories, her blood link to the triplets, everything that made her who she was. The pendant grew hot, then burned. Light poured from it, shooting high like a beacon. "Please," Liana called out with her mind and heart. "He saved me.
Let me save him." The trees went silent. Even the wind stopped. Then Talia spoke again, but her voice was her own this time - young and scared. "Liana... the sky..." Everyone looked up. The moon, which had been silver-white, now glowed deep red. Blood Moon. Earlier than planned. "It's starting," Mira breathed. "The celestial event. But it's wrong - it shouldn't be for three more days." "Time moves differently when fate shifts," Talia said, her white eyes clearing. "The Moon Goddess heard you, Liana. But her answer..." "What?" Liana demanded. "What's her answer?" Talia's face crumpled. "She says the choice is yours. Save Jace's life... or save the future. You can't have both." "That doesn't make sense!" "Blood calls to blood," Talia explained, tears rolling down her face. "The rite that will reshape our world, that will free all wolves from the old ways - it needs your blood. All of it." Liana's heart stopped. "You mean..." "If you save Jace now, you'll be too weak for the process. The forecast will fail. Wolves will stay stuck in the old system forever." "And if I don't save him?" Talia couldn't meet her eyes. "He dies. But the world changes. Every omega, every wolf deemed 'lesser' - they all get freedom." "No." Kael growled. "There has to be another way." "The Blood Moon doesn't wait," Mira said quietly. "And neither does the poison." Liana looked down at Jace. His skin was gray now, black lines reaching toward his heart.
Maybe minutes left. "Can't choose you over everyone else," Jace whispered, reading her face. "You know that." "Shut up," she sobbed. "Don't you dare be noble now." "Hey." He barely touched her cheek. "Remember what I said? About second chances? This is yours. To change everything." "I can't lose you." "You won't. I'll be the most annoying ghost ever." Despite everything, Liana laughed through her tears. Around them, the forest bathed in red moonlight. Power hummed in the air, old and waiting. "Choose," the wind seemed to say. "Choose." Rowan knelt beside them, guilt eating him alive. "Whatever you decide, we're with you." Kael nodded, his strong face wet with tears. "Always." The pendant pulsed against Liana's chest, synced with her heartbeat. She felt the weight of the moment - not just for her, but for every wolf who'd ever been told they weren't enough. Jace's breathing slowed. The black reached his chest. The Blood Moon climbed higher, painting the world red. Liana made her choice.