Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 321

Elyra felt the weight of the shard in her hand, its faint glow pulsing with an unsettling rhythm. It had led them here to the Crimson Ruins, the cursed lands whispered about in every legend. The Moon Goddess herself had cast her curse over these lands, and none had dared to venture here for centuries. Yet, Elyra and Dain had no choice. The prophecy was clear: they had to reach the heart of the ruins if they were to stop the darkness from consuming everything.

With every step, the air grew heavier, charged with an energy that made her skin crawl. The trees surrounding the ruins were twisted and gnarled, their leaves blackened by some ancient force. The wind carried whispers-low, unintelligible voices that seemed to mock their every move.

Beside her, Dain walked with determination, his eyes glowing faintly with the shadowy power that had taken hold of him. His transformation had been swift and frightening, the darkness pulling him in with each passing day. Elyra hated how distant he had become, how his once warm presence had turned cold and calculating. But she refused to give up on him. She couldn't.

The further they traveled, the more the landscape seemed to shift, as if the very land resented their intrusion. The crimson hue of the ruins grew more intense, casting a strange glow across their surroundings.

"We shouldn't be here," Cassian's voice broke through Elyra's thoughts. He stood a few steps behind her, his brow furrowed in concern. Aurora stood beside him, her arms crossed, her face equally troubled.

"We know the risks, Cassian," Elyra said, turning to face him. "But we have no choice. The shard's map led us here. We're running out of time."

Cassian shook his head, his expression full of doubt. "Elyra, this place these ruins are cursed. The Moon Goddess's magic is still active here, and it's not something you can control. The darkness that's consuming Dain-it's only going to get worse if you keep following the shard's call."

Aurora stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. "Please, Elyra. You've seen what the shard can do to Dain. Do you really think going deeper into the ruins is the right choice?"

Elyra's heart ached as she looked at the two of them. They were right. Every instinct screamed for her to turn back, to listen to their warnings. But she couldn't. The packs were in danger, and the prophecy was clear. If they didn't stop the darkness now, it would spread beyond the ruins, beyond the shadow lands, and claim everything.

"This isn't just about us," Elyra said, her voice steady, her resolve hardening. "It's about saving the packs. The prophecy is tied to the shard. We have to keep moving forward."

Dain, who had been silent up until now, turned his head slightly, his eyes darkened with shadows. "You're wasting time, Elyra," he said, his voice colder than usual. "The darkness calls to me. I'm already beyond saving."

"No, you're not," Elyra whispered, though doubt crept into her heart. She knew the pull of the darkness was strong, but she refused to let it claim him completely. She wouldn't lose him—not like this.

Without another word, Elyra turned back to the ruins. The entrance loomed before them, a gaping maw of stone and darkness. The red light of the ruins grew brighter as they approached, casting eerie shadows across the landscape.

As they drew closer, the ground beneath them trembled. Elyra stumbled slightly, her heart racing. The air felt thick, like something was watching them, waiting. She couldn't explain it, but the ruins seemed alive-alive with an ancient, malignant energy. "Something's wrong," Aurora muttered, her eyes scanning the ruins nervously.

Cassian's grip tightened around his weapon. "We need to leave. Now."

But Elyra couldn't stop. The shard's power pulsed in her hand, pulling her forward. It was as if it was calling to her, urging her to step into the heart of the ruins. She couldn't resist it—not now.

"We're too close," Elyra said, her voice shaking but resolute. "We have to see this through."

They passed through the stone archway, and immediately, the ground beneath them cracked, sending dust and debris into the air. Elyra flinched, her heart pounding in her chest. The ruins were reacting to their presence, awakening from their long slumber.

The red light of the ruins flared, brighter than ever, and the air grew thick with an unnatural heat. The very stones beneath their feet seemed to pulse, shifting with a life of their own.

Suddenly, a low, guttural rumble echoed through the ruins, and the stones began to move-slowly at first, then with greater force. The once-still pillars groaned and shifted, as if they were alive, stretching toward the sky.

Elyra froze in place, her breath catching in her throat. The ruins were coming to life. The earth beneath her feet trembled as if responding to their intrusion. The red light glowed brighter, pulsating like the beat of a heart, and a strange, echoing voice whispered through the air, "You should not have come."

Cassian and Aurora stepped back, their faces pale with fear. Dain's expression remained unreadable, but Elyra could feel the darkness swirling around him, beckoning him closer.

"We need to get out of here," Cassian said urgently, his voice trembling.

But Elyra couldn't move. The shard in her hand hummed, its power drawing her deeper into the ruins. She could feel its pull, stronger than ever. It wasn't just the ruins that were alive-it was the shard itself, resonating with the ancient magic.

Dain stepped forward, his eyes locked on the glowing red light ahead. "It's too late," he said, his voice flat, almost emotionless. "This is where it all ends."

The ruins continued to tremble, their power growing stronger with every second. The ground cracked open beneath them, and Elyra could feel the weight of something ancient, something powerful, stirring beneath the surface. -: The ruins come to life as they approach, glowing with ominous red light.