Echoes under the Moonlight

Ava sat there, stunned, as Lucien's words echoed in her mind. "They want you."

"Why?" she whispered, her voice barely a breath. "What do they want from me?"

Lucien stood against the cave wall, his eyes distant, staring at the entrance with a look of tension that seemed to vibrate through the air. "They want your power," he said quietly, his words heavy with an unspoken truth. "The mark on your wrist isn't just a symbol. It's a key."

Ava stared down at the faint golden mark that adorned her wrist, a mysterious shape that pulsed with an energy she couldn't understand. "A key?" she asked, confusion clouding her thoughts. "To what?"

"There's a prophecy," Lucien answered. His voice dropped to a whisper, as if saying the words aloud might summon something terrible. "It speaks of someone bearing a mark like yours. You're the only one who can unlock the power within the Luna's Stone."

Ava blinked, trying to process what he had just said. "What's the Luna's Stone?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"It's an artifact," Lucien explained, his eyes darkening with a depth of knowledge that sent a chill down her spine. "One of the most powerful things in our world. It holds ancient magic. Magic that can control entire packs."

Ava felt a sudden weight on her chest, a sense of dread that wrapped around her heart. "And they think I can unlock it?" she whispered, as if speaking the words out loud might make them real.

Lucien nodded, his face grim. "Not just them. Anyone who knows the prophecy will come for you. And they won't stop."

Ava pulled her knees to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. "Why me?" she asked, the question slipping from her lips before she could stop it. "Why did fate choose me?"

Lucien's expression softened, though his eyes still held that unshakable edge of concern. "Because you're the key," he said quietly. "It's not fair, but it's the truth."

Ava clenched her fists, frustration boiling up inside her. "I didn't ask for this," she said, her voice trembling with anger. "I just wanted a normal life."

Lucien let out a bitter laugh, his gaze distant as he spoke. "Normal doesn't exist in our world. It never has."

His words hung heavy in the air. Ava wanted to run, to hide from it all, but she knew deep down that she couldn't. "So what do we do now?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear creeping up her spine.

"We survive," Lucien said firmly. "And we keep moving."

Ava's brow furrowed in confusion. "But how do we stop them? How do we stop them from coming after me?"

Lucien took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "There's one way to stop them from coming after you."

Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath catching in her throat. "What is it?" she whispered, her voice full of desperation.

"You have to destroy the Luna's Stone."

Ava stared at him in disbelief. "Destroy it? But it's the most powerful artifact in our world. How could I even—"

"There's a way," Lucien interrupted, his tone unyielding. "But it's dangerous. You'll need to be ready for anything. The stone has a power unlike anything you've ever faced, and if you don't destroy it, they will destroy everything you care about."

Before she could respond, a low growl echoed from outside the cave, cutting through the stillness like a blade. They both froze, their bodies tense. Lucien's hand went instinctively to his dagger, his grip tight as his eyes narrowed in on the entrance.

"Stay here," he whispered urgently, his voice barely audible. He moved toward the cave's edge with the grace of a predator, his movements silent and fluid. Ava held her breath, every nerve in her body on high alert.

Lucien peeked outside, his posture rigid, his senses alert to every sound. The seconds dragged on, stretching into what felt like an eternity. Finally, he stepped back into the cave, his expression still tense but relieved.

"It's clear," he said, though his tone was far from reassuring. "For now."

Ava let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her body slowly relaxing. "What if they find us?" she asked, her voice small, almost a whisper.

"They won't," Lucien said, though there was a trace of uncertainty in his words. "Not yet."

Ava's eyes met his, searching for any sign of comfort. "Do you promise?" she asked, her voice trembling with a vulnerability she hadn't known she still had.

Lucien hesitated, his gaze flickering before he shook his head. "I don't make promises I can't keep." The honesty in his words stung, but there was something in his eyes that softened the blow—a deep, unspoken understanding that made Ava's chest tighten.

Fear washed over her like a cold wave, but something else stirred inside her as well. Admiration. For all his rough edges, Lucien was honest—brutally, painfully honest—and in this world where lies were currency, his truth felt like a beacon in the dark.

The fire in her veins flared again, the mark on her wrist glowing softly, its warmth spreading through her. Ava placed her hand over it, her pulse quickening. "What if I can't do this?" she asked quietly, more to herself than to Lucien.

Lucien knelt beside her, his eyes soft but firm. "You can," he said, his voice steady. "You're stronger than you think, Ava."

Tears threatened to spill, but Ava held them back, unwilling to let the weight of the world break her. "Why do you care so much?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucien's gaze softened for just a moment, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of something other than coldness, something human. "Because I know what it's like to feel alone," he said quietly. "I won't let you face this alone."

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath. But then, another howl shattered the moment, closer this time, a chilling reminder that their time was running out.

Lucien sprang to his feet, his dagger flashing in the dim light. "We need to move," he said, his voice taut with urgency. "Now."

Ava's exhaustion vanished in an instant, replaced by an adrenaline-fueled clarity. She jumped to her feet, her pulse racing. "Where do we go?" she demanded, her heart pounding in her chest.

Lucien's expression hardened, his jaw set. "We find the stone," he said, his voice a low growl. "And we end this."

As they moved toward the cave's entrance, Ava's mind raced. The Luna's Stone. The prophecy. Her mark. She had no idea how she was supposed to destroy something so powerful, but Lucien's faith in her burned like a flame she couldn't ignore.

But there was something else, something deeper that tugged at her. The howl from earlier wasn't just a warning. It was a signal.

Lucien was right. Time was running out, and the danger was closing in. As they stepped into the darkness, Ava realized one undeniable truth: the road ahead was uncertain, but she had no choice but to walk it.