Lira didn't quite know what to make of Arian.
She'd appeared the night before without warning, called her a Moonborne then left like it was completely normal.
To top it all off, she got her breakfast and clean clothes. It seemed like kindness on the surface but it was deeply unsettling.
People didn't go that far for strangers unless they wanted something. And the daughter of an Alpha would know that more than anyone.
Lira managed to give her a tight smile and said, "Yes, it was a lovely gift. It looks beautiful." She twisted her body a bit, letting the beige fabric billow around her.
This dress was slightly different from the one she came with, it had full sleeves and a hood. Arian and Luna Sophia were wearing similar robes.
"I don't think we should waste anymore time. Let me take you to the moonstone." Arian said. She seemed fidgety, but she wasn't nervous,she was excited.
Daries stepped forward then Arian said, "No, not you. Just her."
"But he's my page," Lira protested. "Also how will we move the shard? You said-"
"But he looks so disinterested." Luna Sophia noted with a smile. Her voice wasn't laced with suspicion but mild amusement; just like her husband the day before.
Lira looked at Daries and he had the same bored look he had on his face when they were travelling.
She didn't want to be alone with Arian in a place she didn't know.
"How about you use today to relax? Maybe you can go on some sightseeing while your mistress is busy?" Alpha Luca heartily offered.
Lira turned to look at Daries, hoping that he would read her face and take the hint. They made eye contact and then Daries turned to Alpha Luca, smiled and said, "Thank you Alpha, I'd love to."
What the hell you stupid bastard Lira thought while struggling to control her face.
"It's settled then." Arian grabbed Lira's hand. "Shall we go?"
"Yes." Lira replied and followed her out of the temple.
Arian didn't seem like a dangerous person, but the night before she went to her room and called her a Moonborne.
They stepped out of the temple and through the town in silence. Arian didn't speak except for when she was greeted by villagers and children. She was the very picture of a pleasant girl loved by all.
Lira noticed that their pack was rather small; barely a third of the population over at Ironwood. Maybe that was why Arian knew everyone's first names and not their family names.
Buildings started to thin out and the noise of people in the town started to fall away behind them. Lira was behind Arian and kept looking back after every turn they took.
The forest started to come into view. Lira had to remind herself that Arian was the alpha's daughter,a priestess no less. She wasn't the kind of person who lured strangers into the woods, she didn't need to.
As the forest thickened Lira's steps slowed without her meaning to and she ended up behind Arian.
When Arian noticed she stopped walking and turned to look at her. "What's wrong?" Arian asked, her brows creasing slightly.
Lira wanted to ask her where she was taking her or where the moonstone shard was or why they were walking in the woods, but she didn't. Lira smiled and said, "Nothing. I'm just a little tired."
"I'm so sorry. Was breakfast too heavy?" Arian leaned in and grasped Lira's left hand.
Lira nodded and they wordlessly walked deeper into the forest. Until Arian said, "Should we continue where we left off yesterday?"
Lira's shoulders stiffened slightly but she asked in an even tone, "And where exactly did we leave off yesterday?"
Arian simply let out a light-hearted laugh and said, "Maybe we should go straight to the point, Moonborne. Why did you tell the Alpha you weren't the Moonborne?"
"How are you so sure that I am?" Lira retorted. "Could you be confused perhaps?"
"Confused?" Arian chuckled. "I can't be. The truth is right in front of me. Look at you!"
Arian touched the middle of Lira's forehead with her index finger and said, "I saw your aura yesterday, it was clear as day. You're not an ordinary werewolf."
Lira froze momentarily and opened her mouth then closed it again. If Arian could really see aura's then there would be no point in lying.
"How can you see auras?" Lira finally asked. " I thought werewolves couldn't."
"That's because I'm no ordinary werewolf either." Arian said. "Some people might not even consider me a werewolf at all."
Lira stopped, taken aback. "But you have the scent of a werewolf."
Arian just gave a wry smile and said, "Have you heard that when the gods give you something special, they take something from you in return?"
Lira didn't answer, then Arian continued.
"I can't shift when I want to. I can see auras and the flow of magic in living and non-living things, but my shifting is erratic. For a long time I thought I didn't have a wolf."
Arian suddenly stopped walking and Lira stopped too.
There it was, the moonstone embedded in a tree. It looked like it was forced into the tree. The bark surrounding it was blackened with what looked like rot.
"No one was able to move it, some people couldn't even touch it." Arian revealed. "I think you can Lianne."
The shard gleamed like fresh snow with a blue tint. Taking a closer look, the tree looked like it had grown to cradle the shard, even the jagged edges. Lira's eyes locked in on it and a strange warmth curled in her chest.
The howling of the wind and the rustling of the trees faded away as Lira focused on just the shard. It seemed to be calling her, insisting that she moved closer.
Every step towards it made her pulse quicken. Lira reached out with trembling fingers, mesmerized by the way the white surface shimmered, like it was the moon itself.
Then there was a shout from behind her.
"Lady Arian! Sister Lianne!"
Lira flinched and turned around. It was a random villager.
"We're being attacked! It's a zombie wolf! Please leave the forest!"