The Luna’s Choice

Chapter 221

Chapter 71: Theo

Ayla and I were both feeling refreshed this morning. It had been too long since I had seen her feeling so determined and optimistic. While it made my life easier, it did make it harder to convince her to wait upstairs while we worked to open the vault. I think it was Dad’s insistence that finally convinced her it was for the best.

The whole process of getting into the thing had been a pain. The stone wall was a lot thicker than we anticipated, and we couldn’t get a torch powerful enough to cut through the heavy metal in one go in such a small space, let alone two stories underground. But we had some tools that were at least making progress.

By the time started to feel like we were through, we were all hot and sweaty and cranky. I kept telling myself that with our luck, this would only lead to some empty room and it was all for nothing. But my gut kept telling me something different. I needed to keep going. The closer we got, the stronger my determination got.

The others were taking a break when I felt the door shift. I stopped cutting and stood back. I pressed against the sturdy metal and it began to gave way.

“Hey, guys,” I called to the others, “I think we’re in.”

Dad and Kingston came back first.

“You sure?” Kingston asked.

“I may need another good shoulder, but yeah,” I replied, “it’s ready. Come help me.”

Dad handed us both masks. Kingston and I braced ourselves and, on the count of three, threw our weight against the door. It waivered but didn’t fall. It took two more good shoves before is came

crashing down in a cloud of dust and debris. We rushed back, keeping our distance while the air cleared and we made sure the ceiling wouldn’t collapse on us.

When it was all clear, I took the first few steps toward the new opening. I didn’t know why, but my heart was racing. For some reason, I felt like I was meant to be there. My feet moved on their own as I made my was to the opening. It was dark inside. The lights from the corridor didn’t seem to penetrate more than a foot inside. It should have been an eerie sight, but it wasn’t. I pulled the small flashlight from my back pocket, clicked in on, and stepped inside the vault.

It was cold. Several degrees cooler than the floor above us but the air felt dry. I shined the light around, looking for anything other than stone walls. I stopped when the beam landed on a stone structure in the middle of the room.

“We need more light,” I heard Dad say behind me.

“I’ll bring one of the flood lamps in,” Kingston replied.

My eyes were still locked in front of me. I took a few more steps closer. I could make out the markings etched into the stone. This was nicer, better–crafted stone, possibly marble. I brushed the thick layer of dust from the surface and could make out an inscription.

“It’s a sarcophagus,” I said. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“What?” my father reacted. “Who’s?”

“Matilda Amvorov Arden,” I said. “It’s our founding Luna.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense,” Dad said, coming up beside me. “She’s buried in the moselium with her mate.”

“Apparently not,” I replied.

The room suddenly became brighter as Kingston set the floodlight up at the entrance. We could now see that the tomb was covered in intricate carvings. I knew there had to be some kind of meaning to them! I tugged my shirt over my head and started to wipe away as much dust and dirt as I could. Kingston quickly joined in with me.

“Alpha Kingston,” Dad began, “does any of this mean anything to you?”

“Not really…” He paused. “Wait, this is familiar. Come see this.”

I moved around to the other side of the sarcophagus. The light wasn’t as good so Kingston was holding a flashlight up to the markings. They were a series of images. As I examined them, they did become easy to recognize,

“This is our creation myth,” I said.

“Yeah, but look at the end,” he replied, pointing to the last series of symbols.

I followed the illustration, deciphering as I went. Everything lined up with the story we all knew except that last section. That seemed to add an ending I hadn’t heard before.

“Is this saying there were two Moonstones?” I questioned.

“I think it just might,” Kingston said. “And I think Matilda was the protector of the Sablemane stone.”

“Matilda and Issac, her mate, created our pack after breaking from their own,” Dad said. “It wasn’t an amicable split. I find it hard to believe that they would have let her leave with such a significant relic.”

“Maybe that’s why there was animosity between them.” Kingston shrugged. “Either way, we have to consider the possibility that there is a second Moonstone here somewhere.”

The whole time they were talking I was staring at the stone. Taking in every detail I could. I reached out and ran my fingers. along a line at the bottom.

No, it was a seam.

I pulled the pick I had been using on the entrance from my belt and started working at the morter in the space. I lost track of whoever was in the room with me. That feeling of something driving me had taken over again. I was onto something. It was something I needed to complete.

I didn’t know how long it took, but I managed to remove the sealant and the stone panel began to shift. I sat back,

stopping myself from pushing forward. I didn’t know why, but I knew something monumental was about to happen. And it wasn’t just about me.

“I need Ayla.”