The Luna Queen - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

_Leah's POV_
We stepped cautiously into the heart of the Selene Temple. The cool night air hung heavy around us, and my breath quickened as my gaze fell on the centerpiece of the temple; the moonstone crystal.
The crystal was enormous, the size of a boulder, and it sat perched on an ancient stone altar in the middle of the temple. It shimmered faintly, its surface smooth and polished, capturing the pale moonlight filtering through the round opening in the temple roof. The moonlight seemed to dance as it fell directly onto the crystal, illuminating it with an ethereal glow. It was as though the moon herself was watching, waiting for what was about to unfold.
I stared at the crystal, mesmerized by its beauty, but I could feel the weight of my nerves pressing down on me. My heart pounded in my chest. My mind raced with fear and anticipation. Could I really do this? Could the ritual truly unlock the powers I had hidden within me all this time?
Susan’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Leah," she said softly. "It’s time. Place your hand on the crystal."
I hesitated for a moment, glancing at Tariq. He gave me a reassuring nod, his eyes filled with quiet strength. "You can do this," he said gently, his hand resting on my arm.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward. My palms were clammy, and my legs felt shaky beneath me. I reached out, my hand trembling as my fingers grazed the smooth surface of the moonstone crystal. The moment I made contact, a strange energy pulsed through me, like a spark of electricity dancing under my skin. I gasped, my heart skipping a beat.
Susan began to chant softly in the ancient language of the Moon Goddess, her words echoing through the temple, blending with the wind that swept through the open roof.
"Goddess of the Moon, hear our call,
Awaken the power in one so small.
By your light and ancient might,
Bring forth the strength that hides from sight.
Bless the one who stands before,
Unlock the wolf powers, forevermore."
The air around me began to vibrate, the energy growing stronger with each word Susan spoke. My entire body tingled, the strange sensation deepening. My wolf stirred within me, excited, restless. There was something raw and primal in the air, something I had never felt before. It wrapped around me and seeped into my very bones.
Susan’s chanting grew louder. My hand was glued to the crystal, my fingers gripping it tightly as if letting go would mean losing control of everything. The power radiating from the moonstone pulsed with life, and I could feel it responding to my touch.
Then, abruptly, Susan stopped chanting. The sudden silence was almost deafening.
"Don’t remove your hand," Susan instructed, her voice low but commanding.
I nodded, though my arm was beginning to ache from the intensity of the energy coursing through me. I watched as Susan pulled out a small vial from her bag. It contained a thick, silvery liquid that shimmered under the moonlight. Without hesitation, Susan poured the potion over the moonstone, the liquid sliding across the surface of the crystal and pooling in the grooves etched into the altar.
The moonstone glowed brighter, as if the potion had awakened something deep within it. I gasped again as the energy around me shifted. It was stronger now and more intense. My wolf was practically buzzing inside me. She was eager. My heart raced and my breath was coming in shallow gasps.
Susan’s eyes gleamed as she retrieved a small silver dagger from her bag. The blade caught the moonlight, glinting sharply. My stomach tightened at the sight of it but I knew what had to happen next. This was part of the ritual. Blood was needed.
Susan approached me. "I need to cut your hand, Leah. The blood will bind you to the crystal and to the Moon Goddess. You must endure the pain."
I nodded, though the knot of fear in my stomach tightened. I swallowed hard and braced myself. Tariq stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "I’m right here," he whispered, his hand resting gently on my back.
I bit my lip as Susan grasped my wrist, positioning the dagger over my palm. With one swift motion, Susan sliced deep into my skin. I inhaled sharply, the pain immediate and searing. My blood dripped down onto the moonstone, the bright red liquid stark against the glowing surface of the crystal. The moonstone seemed to drink it in, the glow intensifying until the entire temple was bathed in a silvery light.
My hand throbbed, but I refused to move it from the crystal. I couldn’t. There was a power surging through me now, stronger than before, stronger than anything I had ever felt. My wolf howled inside me, exhilarated, as if sensing that the moment of transformation was near.
Susan continued to chant, her voice rising above the wind.
"By the blood and by the stone,
Awaken the wolf, make her known.
Let the power deep inside,
Break through the chains and never hide.
Goddess, hear this final plea,
Set this wolf and spirit free."
The words reverberated through my very core, the energy swirling around me like a storm. I felt something shift inside me, a deep, primal force that had been lying dormant for so long. My body trembled as the energy built to a crescendo, my pulse racing in time with the rhythm of the chant.
Then, just as Susan finished the incantation, I felt a sudden, sharp jolt in my chest. My breath hitched, my vision blurring for a moment as the power coursed through my veins. My wolf was howling inside me, a cry of triumph, of awakening.
And then, a voice cut through the chaos.
"Leah!"
I froze. My heart stopped in my chest. That voice......it was familiar. Too familiar.
Slowly, I turned toward the entrance of the temple, my blood running cold. Standing there, bathed in the eerie glow of the moonlight, was Kayden.
His dark eyes locked onto mine, and the fury in them was unmistakable. "Leah," he called again, his voice a low growl.
My blood turned to ice. The ritual, the moonstone, the power, everything seemed to fall away in that moment as I stared at him. My heart was racing with a new kind of fear.
Tariq moved in front of me instinctively, his body tense and ready to defend. "Kayden," he hissed, his voice dripping with anger.
But I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. I was frozen in place, my hand still resting on the blood-soaked crystal, my heart pounding in my chest.
Kayden took a step closer, his eyes burning with rage. "You really thought you could escape me, didn’t you?"
My breath caught in my throat as the weight of his words sank in. He had found us.