Chapter 348 New ability unlocked

Chapter 348: Chapter 348 New ability unlocked

Talia’s POV

I nodded, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "I could feel it, Kaelen. I could taste the lie."

Kaelen reached for my hand, and I felt the warmth of his fingers against mine. "Your instincts are sharpening, Talia. Your wolf is growing stronger."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "I did not ask for this, Kaelen. I do not know what is happening to me."

He pulled me close, and I felt his arms wrapping around me. "You are changing, Talia. You are becoming who you were always meant to be."

I pressed my face into his chest, and I let myself breathe.

Later that day, I was called to the elders’ chamber. There was a dispute that needed to be settled, and they wanted me to hear both sides.

I walked into the chamber, and I saw the elders sitting in a circle. Two wolves stood in the center, and their faces were flushed with anger. One of them was a warrior, tall and broad with scars across his arms. The other was a trader, thin and sharp-eyed with quick, nervous hands.

"Luna," the head elder said, and his voice was grave. "We have a dispute that we cannot resolve. Both of these wolves claim the same thing, and we do not know who to believe. So Alpha instructed us to relate the matter to you that you would have a solution. Even though I do not know what that means, I trust him and I trust you anyway, Luna."

I saw the doubt flickering in the elders’ eyes. They had known me as the Luna who had brought the packs together, but they did not know about the new power stirring inside me. They did not know that I could sense the truth.

I looked at them, and I felt the determination settling in my chest. I would show them, and I would prove to them that I was worthy of their trust.

I looked at the two wolves, and I felt the strange sensation stirring in my chest again. It was the same tugging, and the same pull toward the truth.

"Tell me what happened," I said.

The warrior spoke first, and his voice was steady and confident. "Luna, this man claims that I stole supplies from his cart. But I was on patrol that night. I was not anywhere near his cart."

I looked at him, and I felt the truth in his words. His heartbeat was steady, and his eyes were clear. I could feel the honesty radiating from him like warmth from a fire.

The trader spoke next, and his voice was sharp and indignant. "That is a lie, Luna! He was seen near my cart that night. I have witnesses!"

I looked at him, and I felt the lie in his words. It was like a cold hand pressing against my chest, and I could not ignore it. His heartbeat was racing, and his eyes were darting away from mine.

I looked at him, and I felt the certainty settling in my chest.

"You are lying," I said.

He stared at me, and I saw the shock on his face. "Luna?"

I stepped closer, and I looked into his eyes. "I can feel it. You are not telling the truth."

He opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out. His face paled, and I saw the fear in his eyes.

"I... I am sorry, Luna," he whispered. "I was trying to get him in trouble. He refused to trade with me, and I wanted to hurt him."

I looked at him, and I felt the anger and the pity mixing in my chest. "You will be punished," I said. "But you will not lie again. Do you understand?"

He nodded, and I saw the tears streaming down his face. "Yes, Luna. Thank you, Luna."

The warrior looked at me, and I saw the gratitude in his eyes.

He bowed his head, and I saw the respect in his eyes. "Luna, I do not know how you did that, but I am grateful. You saved my reputation, and you saved my honor."

I looked at him, and I felt the warmth spreading through my chest. "You did not deserve to be punished for something you did not do. I was just doing what was right."

"Thank you, Luna.” He said. “You are a true Luna."

I smiled and nodded, and I walked out of the chamber.

Kaelen was waiting for me in the hallway, and I saw the pride in his eyes. "You did it again, Talia. You saw the truth."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "I do not know how, Kaelen. I just... I could feel it."

He pulled me into his arms, and I felt the warmth of his body against mine.

I felt his lips press against the top of my head, and I heard the smile in his voice. "I have never seen anything like that, Talia. You looked into that man’s soul, and you saw the truth."

I shook my head against his chest. "I did not look into his soul, Kaelen. I just... felt it."

He pulled back, and I saw the love in his eyes. "That is exactly what I mean. You are becoming something more." He said with a smile. "You are changing, Talia. You are growing stronger."

I pressed my face into his chest, and I let myself cry.

The tears came fast and hot, and I could not stop them. But they were not tears of fear, they were tears of relief. I had spent so long feeling powerless, and feeling like I was at the mercy of forces beyond my control. But now, I was the one with the power, and I was the one who could see the truth.

I pulled back, and I looked at Kaelen. "I am ready, Kaelen. I am ready for whatever comes."

He smiled, and I saw the pride in his eyes. "I know you are, Talia. I have always known."

I was changing, I was growing stronger, and I was ready.