The throne room of the Land of Shadows feels colder than the air outside.
Blue flames along the walls burn steadily, yet their dim light only makes the shadows of the stone pillars stretch longer.
Aurelia stands in the center of the hall.
Before her, three men known as the Shadow Kings sit on large chairs made of black stone.
They do not look like typical kings.
No crowns.
No royal robes.
Yet their aura is enough to make any Alpha feel small.
The black-haired man who spoke earlier crosses his legs casually in his seat.
His eyes are dark red, like embers nearly extinguished.
He stares at Aurelia with a faint smile.
"Introducing oneself is a form of courtesy often forgotten in places like this."
He taps the back of his chair lightly.
"I am Kael."
He points to the silver-haired man beside him.
"That one is Orion."
The silver-haired man merely gives a small nod.
His gaze remains as sharp as a freshly honed blade.
Kael then points to the large man on the other side.
"And the most 'pleasant' among us... Ragnar."
The large man only grunts softly.
His massive arms rest on the stone chair's backrest.
His eyes watch Aurelia without blinking.
Aurelia stands calmly.
"I did not come here to exchange names."
Kael laughs softly.
"I like the way she speaks."
Orion finally speaks up.
His voice is deep and flat.
"Luna Aurelia."
He says the name as if he has known her for a long time.
"The new leader of the pack world."
He leans slightly in his seat.
"A woman who brought down the old Council in a single night."
Aurelia does not respond.
But her eyes remain locked on them.
Orion continues,
"Stories about you reached the Land of Shadows long before you set foot here."
Ragnar finally speaks.
His voice is like large stones shifting.
"We wanted to see it for ourselves."
He leans his body slightly forward.
"Is this new Luna truly strong... or just overhyped luck."
Silence falls.
The blue flames flicker gently along the hall.
Aurelia finally speaks.
"Did you invite me here just to judge me?"
Kael smiles again.
"Not just that."
He lowers his feet from the chair and stands slowly.
His steps are light as he descends from the platform.
His black leather boots echo softly on the stone floor.
"There are two reasons we called you here."
He stops a few steps away from Aurelia.
His red eyes look clearer now.
"First..."
He raises one finger.
"We want to know if the new Luna is strong enough to lead the wolf world."
He raises a second finger.
"And second..."
His smile turns slightly sharper.
"We want to know if the new world you are building will be our ally... or our enemy."
The air in the hall feels heavier.
Aurelia crosses her arms.
"And if I say I have no interest in your games?"
Ragnar laughs loudly.
His laughter echoes throughout the room.
"Unfortunately the world does not work that way, Luna."
He stands from his seat.
When his massive body moves, the stone floor seems to tremble slightly.
"You have already changed the balance of the wolf world."
He descends the platform with heavy steps.
"And every great change... always attracts the attention of other predators."
Orion also stands.
But his movements are far quieter.
He walks slowly toward Aurelia from the other side.
Now the three Shadow Kings surround her.
Kael in front.
Ragnar on the right.
Orion on the left.
The pressure of their energy fills the hall.
Yet Aurelia does not move.
Her eyes remain calm.
Kael tilts his head slightly.
"Interesting."
He studies Aurelia's face.
"Most Alphas would kneel just from our aura."
Aurelia replies shortly.
"I am not an Alpha."
Ragnar grins broadly.
"True."
He points at Aurelia with one large finger.
"You are a Luna."
Suddenly—
A powerful energy bursts forth from Ragnar's body.
Heavy pressure slams into the entire hall like a wave.
Several blue torches flicker violently.
Yet Aurelia remains standing.
Her eyes begin to glow with bright gold.
Luna energy surges from her body like a rising storm.
BOOM.
The two forces collide in the air.
The stone floor cracks slightly in several places.
Kael laughs softly.
"So the rumors are true."
Orion watches with narrowed eyes.
"Highly pure Luna energy."
Ragnar finally pulls his aura back.
"Not bad."
He returns to his place.
Kael stares at Aurelia more seriously now.
"You have passed the first test."
Aurelia raises an eyebrow.
"A test?"
Orion replies,
"Awareness of strength."
He returns to his seat.
"Now we move to the more important part."
Aurelia waits.
Kael walks back to the platform.
He sits in his chair while staring at Aurelia.
"The pack world is changing."
He folds his hands.
"The old Council has fallen."
He leans forward.
"And you stand in the middle of that power vacuum."
Ragnar smirks.
"That means war will come."
Aurelia narrows her eyes.
"War?"
Orion replies calmly,
"Many old packs will not accept your changes."
He points at Aurelia.
"And some other powers in this world... see chaos as an opportunity."
Kael adds,
"The Land of Shadows has watched over the wolf world for hundreds of years."
He smiles faintly.
"And we know something even the old Council did not know."
Aurelia stares at him sharply.
"What?"
Kael does not answer immediately.
Instead he asks,
"Have you ever heard of... the War of the First Blood?"
The name feels unfamiliar.
Aurelia shakes her head slightly.
Orion speaks softly,
"It was a war that almost wiped out the entire wolf race."
Aurelia is silent for a moment.
Ragnar continues,
"And the signs of that war... are starting to appear again."
Silence fills the hall.
The blue flames continue to burn steadily.
Kael leans back in his chair.
"That is why we called you here."
He stares deeply at Aurelia.
"The new Luna who changed the world."
He smiles faintly.
"The question now is simple."
The air in the room feels tense.
"Will you stand with us... to face the coming war?"
Or—
He shrugs casually.
"We must prepare to face a Luna who stands on the opposite side."
And far outside the city of the Land of Shadows—
Four shadows move quickly through the dark stone roads.
Lucien stops on the roof of a tall building that faces directly toward the palace.
His eyes stare at the large hall window.
Cassian lands beside him lightly.
"The meeting has begun."
Darius emerges from the shadows of an alley.
"Good."
He grips his axe.
"If they try to touch her..."
Alaric stands behind them.
His eyes are fixed on the black palace.
"We go in."
Lucien does not respond.
But his gaze is as sharp as a knife.
"Aurelia did not come here to fight."
He says softly.
"But if they force her hand..."
Cold wind from the valley blows through his hair.
"Tonight the Land of Shadows will learn... who their Luna truly is."