When The Moon Hides Her Crown novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166 Moonstone

RONAN

As soon as we stepped into the vast chamber of the Moonstone, a faint mind–link from Mace flickered in my head. The connection was fractured, breaking in and out, most likely distorted by the sacred walls surrounding us. I exhaled slowly and lifted my gaze to the Moonstone above, Verkas purring at the sheer surge of positive energy radiating from it.

For some reason, it seemed to demand my entire focus, my mind caught, ensnared until a sudden voice cut through the air.

“Hey, look! What is that?”

I tore my eyes away from the Moonstone, following a shout as an Alpha jogged toward the massive stone wall at the far end of the chamber.

“Hey! Don’t touch anything recklessly!” an Alpha snapped, voice sharp. “Remember what Alpha Hugo said, any mistake will be paid for by all of us.”

“I’m not randomly touching anything,” the Alpha shot back. He pointed at the wall. “Look, there’s something written here.”

Several others hurried over, their curiosity ignited. “He’s right. Plus, there are three holes here.”

One of them squinted at the inscription and read aloud, “Put your hand into the hole and receive your mark for the trial.”

“What kind of mark could it be?” another muttered, exchanging uncertain glances with the rest.

After a tense silence, Alpha Ethan stepped forward. “Only one way to find out.” He pressed his hand into one of the holes, his posture rigid with hesitation. Everyone held their breath, waiting. Seconds ticked by before he exhaled. “Nothing happened.”

Cassius, with an impatient scoff, shoved his hand into another hole. The result was the same. His scowl deepened. “Is this some kind of joke?” He began to pull his hand free, until Asher arrived.

“Out of my way,” he growled, shoving through the small crowd. His gaze swept the holes, sharp and calculating. “There are three openings. We’ve been divided into groups of three since the start. Maybe that’s the reason.” Without further explanation, he thrust his hand inside.

The chamber lit up instantly. A bright glow burst from the wall, engulfing Cassius, Ethan, and Asher in radiant light. Everyone froze, breath locked in their throats, watching as the brilliance swallowed them. Then, just as suddenly, the glow faded, and the holes fell back into shadow.

Cassius withdrew his hand first, his voice low, stunned. “I–I got something.” He stared at the back of his hand, where a mark, dark, intricate, tattoo–like etched itself into his skin. His lips curled into a grin. “Fucking great. It’s the mark of my bloodline.”

“Mine too!” Ethan exclaimed, laughing with unrestrained awe. He raised his hand for the others to see, his mark slightly different from Cassius‘. “This is so fucking cool!”

Realization dawned quickly. The groups had been formed deliberately, three Alphas needed to place their hands in unison for the trial’s mark to appear.

“Alpha Asher,” Ethan called, curiosity gleaming in his eyes, “what about you? Show us yours.”

But Asher merely slipped his hand into his pocket, his expression unreadable. “Nothing special,” he said flatly. His gaze, however, found mine across the chamber, locking with a silent intensity that only I caught. Finn’s eyes darted between us from the opposite direction, suspicion flickering, but Asher only dug his hand deeper into his pocket to keep his mark hidden to remain his bloodline to himself. Something only I know other than

Chapter 106 Moonstone

Asher.

“Now it’s our turn!” another Alpha shouted, and the chamber erupted into eager chaos as each group rushed to claim their marks.

Asher broke eye contact and walked away, shoulders stiff, refusing to acknowledge anything further. Finn’s sharp gaze lingered, catching the unspoken tension between us like he had been doing for days now.

I forced myself to turn, searching the chamber for Seraphina, only to freeze. My jaw tightened. She wasn’t

alone.

She was with Ryker.

Not just near him, close. Far too close.

SERAPHINA

The chatter of the Alphas around me tugged me out of my daze. The throbbing pain in my head had finally begun to fade, along with the haunting flashes of those rogues and that strange man. When my vision cleared, I noticed Asher and the others already had marks etched on the backs of their hands. Since my group was tenth in line, I didn’t bother pushing into the crowd.

Instead, I allowed myself another lingering moment to drink in the sight of the Moonstone.

Words felt utterly useless, too small to capture something so divine. Its radiance was beyond description: alive, eternal, as though the Goddess herself had poured her soul into stone. I stood frozen beneath its glow, spellbound as the purity of it seeped into me. It reached beyond flesh, straight to my wolf, straight to my soul. There was no doubt, it was the Goddess‘ blessing.

“Do you want it?”

The voice at my side startled me.

“What?” I glanced up at Ryker, his eyes gleaming with that familiar, dangerous amusement.

“I asked if you want it,” he repeated.

I stared at him, dumbfounded. “Are you sure you didn’t leave your sanity on the other side of that door?” He spoke as if he could pluck the stone from the heavens and drop it into my hands, when in reality it belonged to the Academy. No, to the Goddess herself.

“My sanity?” he echoed, clearly entertained instead of insulted. He leaned closer, shadows clinging to his sharp features. “Let me tell you a secret,” the corner of his lips curled, his voice a low, hushed whisper against my ear, “since the day I was born…I was never sane.”

A shiver rippled through me. Never sane? My heart stuttered at the words, though I masked it quickly with a frown. He loved to unsettle, to intimidate.

“So you’ve always been insane, huh?” I lifted a brow, forcing a challenge into my tone. “What if I said I wanted that Moonstone? How would you get it for me?”

His answer was merciless.

“Simple.” His breath brushed against my skin, his voice dark silk. “I’d finish everyone in this Academy…steal the stone…and take you with it.”

His face dipped closer, so close his exhale ghosted across my lips, and I froze. His words sank deep, chilling me to the bone. To him, it wasn’t a jest. I could see it in his eyes, wild and possessive, that he meant every word.

Chapter 166 Moonstone

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