Silver Moon: Rise of Shadows

Krystal’s POV

The new moon was right before the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the academy, and once we returned home, the preparations for our trip to the southern packs began. My mind buzzed with a strange mix of excitement and uncertainty. We would start our tour at the council building, where the southern packs would swear their loyalty to Jonathan and me. These ceremonies were meant to solidify our leadership, but part of me still felt unsettled, as if something bigger loomed on the horizon, just out of sight.

We had asked each pack to plan their own ceremony—a celebration to help us get to know them better. This trip would be shorter, and while I appreciated the reprieve from the endless discussions about the academy, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this journey would be more significant than any of us anticipated.

Sarah and Byte were coming along with us, of course, as well as the entire Royal Guard. Garrett and Rosalind had intended to join us, but after hearing that Rosalind had experienced Braxton Hicks contractions, I was relieved to learn they had chosen to stay behind. She was three months pregnant, and the stress of travel wasn’t something she needed right now.

Our parents were also coming, primarily to help care for Xavier and Orion. It was a relief, knowing they’d be well taken care of while Jonathan and I focused on the ceremonies. As we packed for the trip, I looked at my sons, who were already wise beyond their months, and wondered what the future held for them. The prophecy about a man coming after me when I bore a daughter still echoed in the back of my mind. I wasn’t pregnant yet, but I couldn’t ignore the feeling that we were heading toward something bigger.

“Okay, boys, are you ready for your first plane ride?” I asked, my voice bright, masking the unease settling deep in my chest.

“Yes, Momma,” they replied, their matching grins lighting up their faces.

“We have a two-hour car ride first, and then we’ll be in a human town,” I said gently, reminding them of the need to act like ordinary three-month-olds.

“No talk,” they chimed in, remembering the rules we had set. They didn’t like having to pretend—they wanted to walk and run, but they were still too young to understand why it was necessary.

“Good boys,” Jonathan said, his voice warm as he joined me, helping buckle them into their car seats. “You’ll get to run later.”

I smiled, grateful for his steady presence. “We can go for a run tonight, and you can ride Krystina or Jordan,” I told them, knowing how much they loved riding our wolves.

With everything packed and the boys settled, we headed to the caravan. As we approached, I glanced around, noticing the absence of Garrett and Rosalind.

“Where are Garrett and Rosalind?” I asked Jonathan as we loaded up.

“They decided not to come. Rosalind had Braxton Hicks last night,” he explained, his tone gentle.

I let out a sigh of relief. “Good. She doesn’t need the stress of traveling. She’s due soon, and I still find it funny that they’re the only ones having a daughter. That girl is going to be so protected.”

Jonathan chuckled, the sound warming me. “She’ll be wrapped in bubble wrap until she’s twenty.”

As we settled into the SUV for the two-hour drive to the human town of Riverton, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of what was coming. This trip was important, not just for the packs’ loyalty but for something else I couldn’t quite place. Xavier and Orion babbled in the back seat, their excitement infectious, and I let their innocent joy ease some of my tension.

When we arrived at the airstrip, we fed the boys before getting out of the car. The small town of Riverton was peaceful, nestled near the river, and it felt surreal to be here, preparing for such an important journey in the heart of human territory. As we waited in the lounge area, a cheerful agent approached us.

“Such cute kids! How old are they?” she asked, smiling at Xavier and Orion.

“They’re three and a half months,” I replied, returning her smile.

“Oh, wow! Their first plane ride?” she asked, eyes widening with excitement. “That’s precious. Just a heads-up, they might have some issues with their ears.”

“Thank you,” I said, grateful for her kindness. “It’s my first time flying too.”

The plane ride was smoother than expected, and the boys slept peacefully, leaving me to my thoughts. The future stretched out before us, uncertain yet full of promise. I leaned against Jonathan, closing my eyes and trying to find peace in the moment. We were heading to something unknown, and while I didn’t know what it was yet, I could feel its pull.

When we landed at the Southern Council building, Magnolia was there to greet us. The air felt different here, heavier with expectation.

“Thank you for letting us use the jet,” I said as she welcomed us.

“We are one kingdom,” she replied with a smile. “It is yours as well.”

After we settled in, Magnolia led us to an office to review the council’s books. Everything seemed in order, but as I scanned the pages, a nagging feeling tugged at me. Was this really just a routine tour? I couldn’t shake the sense that something bigger was at play.

Later that evening, after we had reviewed the books and prepared for the loyalty ceremony, Magnolia approached Jonathan and me with an urgency in her eyes.

“There’s something I need to show you before you leave tomorrow,” she said quietly, leading us to the council’s library. My curiosity piqued, I followed her, Jonathan’s hand firmly gripping mine.

Inside the library, she handed me a scroll. The ancient parchment felt heavy in my hands, and as I unrolled it, a strange sensation washed over me—like the world had shifted on its axis.

“When the twin silver moons rise as one, two wolves of metallic sheen shall give rise to five, born of their blood and bound by fate. From the silver wolves’ line, seven shall emerge, their howls echoing across the land. The war between the wolves of the West and East shall blaze, tearing the earth asunder. Only when the seven stand together, parent and child, will the path to peace be revealed. For in their unity lies the power to end the bloodshed, and through their legacy, the balance of the wilds shall be restored.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. War? I hadn’t considered the possibility of conflict, let alone one that would tear apart entire regions. My hands trembled slightly as I handed the scroll to Jonathan, the words seared into my mind.

“The bad guy Xavier and Orion mentioned,” I whispered, my voice barely steady, “could he be the leader of the Western US wolves?”

Jonathan nodded, his face serious as he scanned the prophecy.

“And it looks like we have three more kids to come,” I added, the weight of the prophecy settling heavily in my chest.

Jonathan’s attempt at humor lightened the tension, if only for a moment. “I just hope they’re not all at once.”

I managed a small laugh, but my mind raced. War. Children. The prophecy was coming to life before our eyes. I felt both the gravity of the responsibility before us and the uncertainty of what the future held.

“We have to prepare,” I said softly, my voice tinged with fear and determination.

Magnolia nodded, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of the situation. “I’m afraid so. This prophecy has been whispered about for generations, and now that I’ve seen your wolves, it seems the time has come.”

“We need to alert the people back home,” I said, already thinking of the steps we’d need to take to protect our family and our kingdom.

“There’s a seer in my pack who saw this prophecy,” Magnolia added as we prepared to leave the library. “You’ll visit my pack tomorrow, Silverpeak. I think it’s time you meet her.”

Jonathan and I exchanged a glance, the unspoken understanding passing between us. We had a long road ahead of us, and now we knew what was coming.

As we headed back to our rooms to check on the boys, my mind swirled with thoughts of the prophecy. Three more children. A war between the wolves of the East and West. And somehow, it all rested on us.

We had to be ready.