Prologue
The Wolf They Buried.
The night the royal bloodline shattered, the Moon refused to hide.
Its silver light spilled across Moonridge Palace, illuminating walls that had witnessed centuries of Alpha Kings. Guards raced through the corridors with drawn swords while servants locked themselves behind trembling doors. Somewhere deep inside the palace, a wolf’s anguished howl echoed through the halls.
It was unlike any howl the kingdom had ever heard.
It carried grief.
It carried fury.
It carried a promise.
“The council is coming!”
The warning rang through the royal nursery.
The Moon Keeper burst through the carved oak doors, her silver robes stained with blood. She hurried toward the Queen, who held a young boy tightly against her chest. The child could not have been older than six. His gray eyes were wide with confusion as distant shouts grew louder.
“Mother?”
The Queen kissed his forehead, her hands trembling despite every effort to remain calm.
“Listen to me, my little wolf.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to.”
She slipped a small silver pendant over his neck. It was carved with a crescent moon wrapped around the silhouette of a wolf.
“No matter what happens tonight, never let anyone take this from you.”
Heavy footsteps thundered outside.
The palace doors shook beneath repeated blows.
“The council has broken through!” someone shouted.
The Queen closed her eyes for a single heartbeat.
When she opened them again, tears were gone.
Only determination remained.
She knelt before her son.
“You are braver than you know.”
The little boy frowned.
“Will Father come?”
Pain flickered across her face.
“He’ll always be with you.”
The Moon Keeper stepped forward.
“There isn’t any more time.”
The Queen reluctantly released her son.
The child clung to her dress.
“I don’t want to leave.”
“I know.”
She gently pried his fingers away.
“But tonight...”
Her voice cracked.
“...you must trust the Moon.”
The nursery doors exploded inward.
Armed soldiers poured into the room.
At their head stood a man wearing the robes of the Royal Council.
His face was hidden beneath the hood of his cloak.
“Your Majesty,” he said calmly, “the kingdom thanks you for your sacrifice.”
The Queen drew a silver dagger.
“You’ll never have him.”
The Moon Keeper seized the boy’s hand.
“Run!”
A hidden doorway slid open behind an enormous bookshelf.
The child looked back one last time.
His mother smiled through tears.
“Go.”
The passage closed before he could see what happened next.
The last thing he heard was the clash of steel...
...followed by a heartbreaking howl that shook the mountain itself.
The secret tunnel twisted beneath the palace for what felt like forever.
The little prince stumbled over uneven stones, struggling to keep pace with the Moon Keeper.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Where’s Mother?”
The old woman didn’t answer.
Instead, she tightened her grip on his hand.
They finally emerged into the heart of the ancient forest, where moonlight filtered through towering pines.
For the first time that night...
Everything was silent.
Too silent.
The boy looked around nervously.
“I don’t like it here.”
The Moon Keeper knelt before him.
“You must remember something.”
He nodded.
“No matter what anyone tells you...”
She placed both hands on his shoulders.
“...the Moon never forgets.”
Before he could ask what she meant, a deafening roar echoed through the forest.
The ground trembled.
The trees bent as an enormous golden wolf stepped from the darkness.
The child gasped.
Instead of attacking, the majestic creature lowered its massive head until its eyes met his.
Golden.
Ancient.
Filled with sorrow.
The wolf leaned forward and gently touched its nose against the boy’s forehead.
A warm light flashed between them.
Then...
The forest erupted.
Dark figures emerged from every direction.
Arrows flew through the air.
The golden wolf turned with a furious growl that shook the earth.
“Go!” the Moon Keeper cried.
The child reached toward the wolf.
“Wait!”
A blinding burst of golden light swallowed the clearing.
When the brightness faded...
The wolf was gone.
Only silence remained.
The little prince stared at the empty space where the magnificent creature had stood moments before.
“It left...”
The Moon Keeper looked toward the moon, grief etched across her face.
“No.”
She whispered the words so softly that only the wind seemed to hear.
“They buried it.”
Far away, somewhere beyond the mountains, another wolf answered with a lonely howl.
The Moon hung motionless above the kingdom.
Watching.
Waiting.
Remembering.
I mean, the story sounds really good. But I feel like the summary gave the whole plot away. No need in reading the book cause I know how it ends.