Chapter 12: The Temple of the First Moon
We reached the temple at midnight.
It wasn’t a building.
It was a mountain carved into the shape of a wolf.
At its entrance stood two enormous statues.
One silver.
One black.
My mother stopped.
“This is where the first Black Moon Queen lived.”
I stepped forward.
The door opened.
No one touched it.
Inside, ancient paintings covered the walls.
I saw the first Queen.
I saw the first Alpha King.
And I saw the Shadow Wolf.
But there was something else.
A fourth figure.
A young man.
Silver eyes.
Black hair.
A crescent on his chest.
Kael stared at the painting.
“Who is that?”
My mother looked at him.
“Your ancestor.”
Kael stepped closer.
“The first Black Moon Alpha.”
My mother nodded.
“He was the Queen’s mate.”
I studied the painting.
“Why isn’t he in the legends?”
“Because he was erased.”
“By whom?”
“The Alpha Council.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“Why?”
“Because he refused to become king.”
I looked at the painting.
“Then the Black Moon was never supposed to have a ruler.”
“No.”
My mother smiled.
“It was supposed to have guardians.”
I understood.
The Black Moon wasn’t about power.
It was about balance.
We entered the central chamber.
At the center stood a massive stone gate.
The Moon Gate.
It was covered with silver symbols.
My mark began glowing.
The gate opened slightly.
Then a voice echoed.
Blood of the Queen.
I stepped forward.
Kael grabbed my hand.
“I’m coming.”
The voice answered.
Mate of the Queen.
Kael froze.
The gate opened fully.
Inside was complete darkness.
My mother whispered:
“Once you enter, you cannot turn back.”
I looked at Kael.
“Ready?”
He squeezed my hand.
“With you.”
We stepped inside.
The gate closed.
And the world disappeared.
—
