The cold night wrapped the village in silence, broken only by the distant howl of a lone wolf. Seraphina stood at the edge of the forest, the moonstone necklace warm against her skin, its glow faint but steady. The weight of the prophecy pressed heavily on her, a shadow she couldn't shake no matter how she tried. The ritual to unlock her full power loomed ahead—a dangerous path with no guarantees. She knew that once she crossed that line, nothing would ever be the same.
Kael appeared beside her, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Are you ready?" he asked quietly, voice low enough that only she could hear. Seraphina swallowed hard, the fear and determination swirling inside her like a storm. "I don't know if I have a choice," she admitted. "If the darkness wins, it won't just be me who loses. Everyone I care about is at risk." He took her hand, his grip steady and warm. "Then we do this together. No matter what happens."
The ruins called to them, ancient stones bathed in silver moonlight, whispering secrets only the chosen could understand. As they stepped deeper into the circle, Ruvan's voice echoed from the shadows. "The ritual requires more than power—it demands trust and sacrifice. You must offer a piece of your soul to the moon. Are you willing?" Seraphina's heart pounded. She glanced at Kael, then at Ruvan, searching their faces for any sign of doubt or deception. But all she found was determination—an unspoken promise that they would face the consequences together.
The air thickened as the ceremony began. Seraphina closed her eyes, feeling the ancient magic weave through her veins, pulling at her very essence. The moonstone blazed with light, and she felt herself split between two worlds—the human and the wolf, strength and vulnerability, hope and despair. Pain flared as the sacrifice was demanded, a burning deep within that threatened to tear her apart. Yet, through the agony, she sensed a power awakening, raw and unstoppable.
Suddenly, the forest erupted with noise—shouts, snarls, and the unmistakable growl of corrupted wolves closing in. The fragile circle shattered as chaos surged around them. Kael fought fiercely, his blade cutting through shadowed foes, but Seraphina's mind raced. The enemy wasn't just outside—they were inside, poisoning hearts and breaking bonds. And then, in the chaos, a voice she never expected pierced the night—a voice filled with betrayal and dark intent.
"Seraphina," it whispered, cold and cruel. "You've forgotten the price of power."
The chapter ends with Seraphina's eyes snapping open to see a figure stepping from the shadows—someone she trusted, now revealed as the true traitor.