Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance-Chapter 31 - THIRTY-ONE - SHIFT NOW

Serena grabbed at her pendant, but it was useless. It was still under that loose floorboard back at the manor. Her neck was empty, and she was swiping at nothing.

The Moonseeker had said the light was flickering. Feyra’s?

Serena’s stomach twisted into painful knots. Sweat dripped down her face, and her palm went numb.

"Lunara would never intentionally hurt her children," the priestess continued, her voice distant.

Serena barely heard her. She remembered speaking to her wolf for the first time in two years, back in that secluded room they had given her when she first arrived at Ironshade.

The relief that had washed over her when Feyra had called her name, Serena didn’t want to think about it, but she had assumed Feyra was dead.

It wasn’t something that happened often or was even heard of. A wolf spirit leaving? Yes. But dying?

Serena was torn from her thoughts when the Moonseeker placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Do not let those thoughts fester and consume you. Listen," she said gravely.

Serena blinked rapidly. "I... I don’t know what to say." she admitted, her voice hoarse. All this time, I thought...I don’t know."

She rubbed her temples, trying to subdue the oncoming headache.

Was she poisoned, just like Cullen? No, she would have died shortly after being exiled.

Speaking of which... did the Moonseeker know about her exile? Serena couldn’t believe the priestess wasn’t all-knowing. She was keeping things from her.

"What do you know about me?" Serena demanded, raising her voice slightly.

"Nothing worth mentioning," the priestess replied. "If you assume I know every detail of your life, you’d be wrong. I do not know how you became a rogue. I was only told that you were born of one."

Serena exhaled, relief washing over her.

But it was too soon to tell. For all she knew, the Moonseeker could be lying straight to her face.

"I do not understand why you were poisoned," the priestess admitted, "or what happened to make you so... skittish." Her voice softened. "But I will do my best to help you."

The pair sat in silence for a while, Serena replaying the Moonseeker’s words over and over in her mind.

The priestess, meanwhile, gazed at the murals, the depictions of their goddess on the wall, chanting in a strange language.

"Serena, child of the moon, as I am," the Moonseeker began in an authoritative tone, "do you accept my help?"

The priestess stretched out her hand, her skin adorned with white tattoo markings, different sigils drawn onto her skin.

Serena nodded and took her hand. The Moonseeker pulled her up, bringing them face to face.

If this would bring Feyra back to full strength, then she would do it.

Her best friend was dying, and she hadn’t even known. She had just assumed it was the pain of losing Cullen that had caused it.

"Yes, I accept it."

—

Serena watched as the Moonseeker ground something in a bowl, concentrating on its contents as she mixed them together.

The priestess never looked up, her silver-ringed fingers methodically mixing the pale ingredients together until they blended into a fine paste.

Serena swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, "After my wolf died... was I going to follow her to the Great Abode?" Serena asked.

The Moonseeker stopped mixing for a few seconds before continuing. "It was likely."

Serena clasped her hands together, trying to make sense of this. It was a huge revelation. Who wanted her dead?

Had her former Alpha already marked her for death, even though he had sworn an oath to her father? She could never have imagined it.

The man who had always sent her family gifts, asked after her mother’s welfare, and looked at her so fondly, could he have done such a thing?

Serena picked absentmindedly at the knot in her scarf until it came loose and fell to the ground. She let out a pained sigh. It was too much.

What would he have gained if Silverstone’s Beta and Senior Healer were gone? The pack would suffer for a while, but it would recover. Still... there was no reason to get rid of her.

Serena was startled when she noticed dark spots forming on her dress.

I’m crying.

She wiped her tears and saw the Moonseeker still stirring, the mixture now a white paste.

If her former Alpha had been willing to get rid of her, then who was to say her father’s death, protecting the pack, wasn’t a lie?

Who was to say it wasn’t part of some elaborate plan? Was Theodore, her brother, even safe?

Serena clenched her gown harder, staring at the Moonseeker through blurry vision. And yet... she was blessed by Lunara. She scoffed, shaking her head.

For a fleeting moment, she wished she had died earlier. Before she had been burdened with this knowledge.

"You are letting those thoughts eat at you again," the Moonseeker said, brushing away Serena’s tears. "Accept my apologies. I do not know how to comfort you. But rest assured, I am here for you."

The woman pulled Serena into a hug. Serena hugged her back, burying her face in her shoulder.

—

The Moonseeker dipped her index and middle fingers into the bowl, then carefully traced a crescent-shaped sigil onto Serena’s forehead.

The paste felt cool against her skin and had an earthy scent.

"You need to shift," the woman said.

"It’s too early. Feyra and I are not ready." The words left her in a rush, almost desperate.

The Moonseeker laughed, placing the bowl on the ground and wiping her hands clean with a nearby rag.

"You will never be ready if you keep waiting. That is why I am here."

Serena had never considered forcing a shift. It was something that would come naturally when the time was right. But Feyra was too weak, she didn’t want to strain her wolf spirit. Yet this woman insisted.

"I already told you, this is not normal. And if you want to heal, you must shift... or at least try to."

The Moonseeker took Serena’s hands, holding them firmly as she closed her eyes and began to sing an ancient song.

"Feyra," Serena called out.

Her wolf stirred, but there was no response.

The priestess gripped Serena’s hands more firmly and commanded-

"Shift now, Serena."