**CHAPTER 13**
**Echoes in the Chamber**
The testing chamber was nothing like the Trial Room. It was colder—emotionally and physically. The stone floor was etched with glowing sigils, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. The ceiling was low, the air dense with the scent of metal and something more ancient.
I could hear Aerie pacing in the back of my mind. He was unsettled. That alone put me on edge.
"Step into the circle," the guard instructed.
I did, my limbs stiff, every instinct screaming that this was a trap.
The circle on the floor glowed brighter as I stepped into it, the light reflecting off the walls in erratic patterns. It felt alive, almost sentient, reacting to my presence like it could read my every thought. I tried to push away the unease growing in my chest, but it only tightened the knot in my stomach.
"Stay alert, Rory," Aerie warned. His voice was low, tense. "I don't trust this place."
Neither did I.
The guard stepped back, his eyes never leaving me. His presence felt like a constant weight in the room, and the silence pressed in, suffocating. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving me alone in the dim chamber.
I focused on the sigils beneath my feet. They didn't make any sense to me, their ancient symbols twisting in ways that felt familiar but foreign. I tried to connect with them, to understand what they meant, but it was like trying to read a language I didn't know.
A shiver ran through me. Something was wrong.
Then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the shadows.
From the far side of the chamber, a figure emerged—tall, hooded, and cloaked in darkness. I couldn't see their face, but I felt their presence like a surge of power in the air.
I braced myself.
The figure stopped at the edge of the circle, their silhouette sharp against the shadows. A voice, deep and low, filled the space between us.
"You think you know what you are, don't you?" the voice asked, the words dripping with mockery.
I swallowed, my throat dry. "I know what they told me."
"They told you lies."
I shook my head. "What do you mean?"
The figure stepped forward, the cloak swirling around them like smoke. "Your bloodline runs deeper than you could ever understand. You are not just a werewolf, not just a hybrid of two worlds."
My heart skipped. "What are you talking about?"
The figure stopped just outside the circle, their eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "You are the child of the Moon, yes, but you are also the heir to something far older. Something the Council fears."
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. I could feel Aerie stir in the back of my mind, his anger flaring up like a flame. "Rory, don't listen to them," he warned, his voice sharp. "They're playing games."
I clenched my fists, trying to focus on the figure. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted their head, a small smile curling beneath their hood. "Someone who's been watching you, waiting for the right moment."
My pulse quickened. "What do you want?"
The smile faded, replaced by a cold expression. "To help you unlock your true potential. To show you what the Council is keeping from you."
My mind raced. "What are they keeping from me?"
A soft laugh escaped the figure, low and cruel. "Everything. They've kept the truth hidden for far too long. They don't want you to know what you can truly become."
"Why?"
"They fear you."
I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. "I don't want their power."
The figure's eyes flashed with something almost like pity. "You don't get to choose what you are, Rory. You don't get to ignore the blood that runs through you."
"I don't care about that," I shot back, my voice trembling with defiance. "I'll fight them. I'll fight you."
The figure's gaze softened, though there was still an undeniable edge to it. "You don't understand. You can't fight fate."
"Fate?!"
The figure raised a hand, and the sigils beneath my feet began to glow brighter. The air around me grew thick, almost suffocating. "You think you have control over your destiny, but you don't. The path has already been set. All you can do is accept it."
I shook my head, refusing to believe it. "I'll make my own path. I'm not your puppet."
The figure sighed, stepping closer to the edge of the circle. "We'll see how long that resolve lasts once the true power within you awakens."
A cold shiver ran down my spine. The energy in the room was shifting, becoming oppressive. The figure's voice softened. "You have no idea what you're walking into, child. But I can show you. I can help you unlock the power you were born with."
Aerie's growl rumbled through my mind. "Don't listen to them, Rory. You don't need anyone's help."
The figure stepped back, eyes flashing. "Your fate is intertwined with theirs now. With mine. You can either accept that or fight against it, but you won't win. Not without us."
I felt a surge of panic rise in my chest. The circle beneath my feet began to glow with a blinding light, and I stumbled, fighting to stay upright. "What are you doing?"
The figure's gaze flickered with something dark. "Just opening your eyes to the truth."
The chamber shook, the walls rumbling with ancient power. And then everything went black.