The forest was too quiet—so quiet that Ariana could hear her own heartbeat echo against the heavy silence. The Blood Eclipse still hung low in the sky, drenching the trees in a haunting mix of crimson and silver light. Every breath she took felt charged, like the air itself was alive and waiting. Her wrist throbbed with the crescent mark, glowing faintly, pulsing like a living heartbeat.
Damon moved beside her, silent and precise, every motion coiled with tension. Even in the dim light, Ariana could see the alertness in his eyes—the same look of a predator sensing a rival. He was steady, grounded, but there was something else beneath his calm… something uneasy.
"Stay close," he whispered, voice barely audible. "Something's here. And it's not like the others we faced."
Ariana nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. The remnants of last night's battle still buzzed through her veins. The rush of power, the light that had burst from her skin—it had felt both intoxicating and terrifying. And now, that same energy was stirring again, restless, hungry.
A sharp rustle tore through the silence. Both of them froze. From the shadows ahead, two glowing eyes emerged—cold, calculating, and eerily familiar in color.
Ariana's pulse spiked. Damon stepped forward slightly, body tense, ready to shield her. The figure that emerged was humanoid, but wrong. Too smooth. Too fluid. Like darkness itself had taken shape.
"Who are you?" Damon demanded, his voice dropping into a growl.
The figure tilted its head, and a smooth, melodic voice rolled out, dark and deliberate."I've been waiting for you, Luna."
The word hit Ariana like a shockwave. Luna.Her breath caught in her chest. It wasn't just a name—it was a title, one that resonated deep within her, tugging at something ancient and powerful.
"Why me?" she asked, her voice trembling but defiant. "What do you want?"
The shadow's eyes gleamed. "I want what belongs to you… and the truth that he's kept from you."
Ariana glanced at Damon. His expression hardened instantly."You don't know what you're talking about," he snapped. "Stay away from her."
But Ariana caught it—the flicker in his silver eyes. Guilt? Pain? Something hidden, something he wasn't ready to say.
The figure began to circle them like a wolf toying with prey. "You can't protect her from destiny forever, Alpha. The Blood Eclipse has chosen its Luna… and she will rise, whether you want her to or not."
Before Damon could move, the figure lunged. A blur of shadows and claws. Ariana barely had time to react before Damon intercepted, the collision sending a shockwave through the clearing. He moved with terrifying speed, but the shadow was faster, twisting around him like smoke.
Ariana felt her power surge in response. The crescent mark on her wrist flared bright silver, and instinct took over. Light burst from her palm, slamming into the figure and sending it crashing into the trees. The forest glowed with the aftershock of her energy.
She gasped, staring at her hand. "I—I didn't mean to—"
"You did exactly what you needed to," Damon said, his voice low but proud. "But don't lose focus. It's not done."
The shadow rose again, unharmed, grinning. "So the Luna has claws after all."
Ariana's pulse thundered. The energy inside her was wild, fierce, but it was hers. She raised her hand again, summoning the silver light. It coiled and shimmered, ready to strike.
"You think power makes you strong?" the figure hissed. "Let me show you what true darkness feels like."
The forest exploded in motion. Shadow and light collided in blinding flashes. Ariana dodged, countered, felt every pulse of the moon within her. Damon fought beside her, his movements precise, lethal—but even he couldn't contain the chaos forever.
And then came the whisper.Soft. Seductive. Familiar."Ariana… come to me… embrace what you are."
Her mind faltered. The voice was everywhere—around her, inside her. Her mark burned hotter, her vision blurred. For a moment, she wanted to listen. To surrender.
"Ariana!" Damon's voice cut through like thunder. "Focus on me! Focus on now!"
Her eyes snapped open. Silver light exploded outward, slicing through the shadow's form. The creature screamed, dissolving into mist—but not before its final words echoed in the air:
"You can't run from the truth forever… Luna."
The clearing fell silent. Ariana collapsed to her knees, chest heaving. Damon knelt beside her, his hand brushing her cheek gently, grounding her. His eyes glowed faintly, a storm of pride and fear within them.
"You're stronger than I thought," he murmured. "But this was only the beginning. More will come. And next time… they won't come alone."
Ariana looked at her glowing wrist, feeling both awe and dread. "Then I'll be ready."
But before Damon could respond, another sound broke the stillness—a low growl, soft but deliberate. It wasn't the same as the shadow's. This one carried familiarity. Recognition.
Ariana turned. From the darkness, another figure stepped forward. The moonlight hit its face—and Ariana froze.
Silver eyes. A familiar scent. A heartbeat she recognized.
Her lips parted in disbelief. "No… it can't be."
The world tilted. Damon stiffened beside her, his eyes widening in shock.
The new figure smiled—a cold, knowing smile.
"Miss me, Luna?"
Ariana's heart stopped. The Blood Eclipse pulsed overhead, silver and crimson intertwining as the truth loomed before her.
Whatever she thought she knew—about Damon, about her power, about the prophecy—was about to be torn apart.
The shadows weren't just rising. They were already here.