BLOOD MOON PROPHECY

Lyra's POV The clearing was buzzing with excitement. Young wolves, aged fifteen to sixteen, stood in a row whispering nervously as the ritual began. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow on the circle where we all gathered. This was it—the annual first shifting ceremony. The moment we were supposed to finally connect with the wolf inside us, to become something greater. But for me, it wasn’t the first time. It was my fourth, I've been here since I was 15 and now I'm 19. I stood on the edge of the crowd, my hands sweaty as I wiped them on my dress. The last three ceremonies ended in disappointment for me—I had tried, focused, and begged my wolf to appear, but nothing ever happened. Tonight has to be different, It has to. “Silence,” the Guardian, an older wolf with the responsibility of leading the ceremony, barked. His deep voice echoed through the clearing, silencing the murmurs instantly. He stepped into the center of the circle, his robes trailing behind him like shadows. “Tonight, you stand before the moon. Tonight, you will find your true self. Your wolf.” He raised his arms toward the moon, his voice more cool. “Let the spirit of the ancestors guide you, Let the bond between wolf and Man awaken.” My breath hitched as the Guardian's gaze moved over us, his sharp eyes scanning each face. “Step forward,” he commanded, and the first boy in the circle moved to the center. His name was caleb—one of the popular boys who always seemed to excel at everything. "Close your eyes...give it all your attention...try to connect with your wolf...let him take control" The Guardian told him. Caleb closed his eyes, his fists clenched tight at his sides as he concentrated. The clearing went silent, the crowd holding their breath. Slowly, his body began to shift. His muscles rippled, his bones cracked audibly, and he started sprouting across his arms and legs "Arrrgh..."A cry of pain escaped his lips. In seconds, he was gone, replaced by a sleek black wolf, and his scream replaced by a joyful howl at the moon . The crowd erupted in cheers, clapping and shouting their congratulations. I swallowed hard, trying to keep myself calm. One by one, the others stepped forward. Each of them transformed—some gracefully, others clumsily, but they all succeeded. The air was filled with howls and the sound of new paws pounding the earth. Pride and joy spread through the clearing like wildfire, but I felt frozen. My throat tightened as the Guidaun turned his attention to me. “Lyra,” he said sharply. His voice brought silence and everyone turned to look. I felt my face burn under their stares. “Step forward.” My legs felt like lead as I walked to the center of the circle. I could feel their eyes on me—watching, waiting, judging. I closed my eyes, willing myself to focus. Come on, Lyra,This time, you’ll do it, You have to. The Guidaun’s voice rose behind me. “Feel the moon’s power, reach inside yourself, Let your wolf emerge!” I tried. I really did. I focused harder than I ever had before, digging deep, searching for the wolf that was supposed to be a part of me. But nothing happened, Not a flicker, Not a crackle, just silence. “Again!” the Guardian snapped, his tone harsher now. “You’re not trying hard enough! Feel the change! Let it happen!” I clenched my fists, biting my lips as panic rose in my chest. “I’m trying,” I whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear. “Try harder!” he barked. His voice was loud enough to make my ears ring. “Do not waste the moon’s gift, Lyra!” A chuckle broke the silence behind me, then another. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was,Tasha and her friends—the third in command’s daughter. Their laughter was so sharp, cutting through me like blades. “Look at her,” Tasha whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. “She can’t even shift for years. What kind of wolf is she?” “Maybe she’s not one at all,” another girl added, her voice laced with mockery. “Just a freak pretending to belong here.” The laughter grew louder, spreading. My face burned, tears stinging the corners of my eyes. I tried to block them out and focus, but my hands were shaking now. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t breathe. “Enough!” the Guidaun shouted, his frustration boiling over. “Stop laughing! Lyra, try again!” But I couldn’t, my legs trembled, and I felt the weight of their laughter crushing me. The air felt too heavy, the voices too loud, I couldn’t take it anymore. Without another thought, I turned and ran. The clearing blurred as I ran away, tears rolling down my cheeks. The sound of laughter followed me, haunting me as I stumbled through the trees. I heard my mother's voice calling me to return and the stern voice of the Guardian too, but I didn’t care, I just needed to get away—from them, the humiliation and everything. I collapsed against a tree, gasping for breath as my tears fell freely. My hands dug into the earth, my fingers curling around the dirt. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting shadows around me. My chest burned, my heart racing with anger and shame. Why couldn’t I shift? Why was I the only one? What was wrong with me? The questions swirled in my head, and for the first time, I let myself cry. Not the quiet kind I’d been holding in, but the loud, ugly sobs that echoed into the empty forest. Alone, under the moon that had rejected me, I let it all out.