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POV: LunaThe portal never fully closed. Professor Thorne's training session had been three days of false peace. Three days of pretending the crisis was over. Three days of recovery that was interrupted too soon by reality refusing to cooperate with our need for rest.The alarms sounded at dawn. Not practice. Not drill. Real threat. Portal destabilizing again. Otherworld energy building. Everything we'd survived threatening to resume with renewed intensity.I ran from my dorm still half-dressed. Both mates beside me. Pack mobilizing behind us. Everyone understanding that portal chaos wasn't finished. Wasn't resolved. Wasn't going to allow comfortable recovery before demanding attention again.The portal had shifted location. No longer eastern forest. Now it was pulling energy toward Silverwood's heart. Toward central wards. Toward everything protecting academy from external threats."How is it moving?" I demanded. "Portals don't relocate. They're anchored. They're fixed. They're stati
POV: LunaThree days after the portal crisis, Professor Thorne called mandatory combat training. Every student who'd fought. Every pack member who'd survived. Everyone needed to process trauma through physical activity instead of letting it fester into psychological damage.The training grounds were packed. Students gathering in groups. Whispers about hybrid creatures. About portal explosions. About Luna Eclipse defeating impossible threats through dual mate bonds and Eclipse power that seemed unlimited.I stood with my pack. Trying to appear normal. Trying to pretend exhaustion wasn't bone-deep. Trying to ignore how both Liam and Caleb hovered protectively despite knowing their presence created complications.Professor Thorne surveyed assembled students with practiced military assessment. Her eyes cataloged injuries. Evaluated readiness. Determined who could train and who needed additional recovery time."Today we address what happened," she announced. Voice carrying across training
POV: LunaThe decision crystallized in my mind. I couldn't reach through the portal for Hunter. Not now. Not when doing so might doom everyone else. Not when Cole's bargain was obviously trap disguised as rescue opportunity."We defend," I said. Voice breaking. "We hold the line. We trust that if Hunter's really in there, we'll find another way. A safer way. A way that doesn't require walking into obvious manipulation."Through the portal, Hunter's voice screamed. Rage. Betrayal. Accusation that cut deeper than any physical wound.Real or illusion? Truth or Cole's perfect torture?No way to know. No certainty. Just choice made and consequences beginning.The portal pulsed violently. Rejecting my decision. Punishing my refusal. Energy spiking in ways that suggested Cole's shadow was furious. That refusing bargain meant facing wrath instead of receiving cooperation.Then they attacked.Not through portal. From behind our defensive line. The rival female group that had been harassing the
POV: LunaWe reached the portal site just as everything went wrong.The otherworld energy had intensified. Reality was barely holding. The barrier between worlds looked like fabric stretched too thin, moments from tearing completely.Liam stood at defensive perimeter. Blood seeping through fresh bandages. Injuries from earlier battle reopened. He was barely standing but refusing to sit. Refusing to rest. Refusing to let weakness prevent him from protecting me.Through the mate bond, I felt his exhaustion. His pain. His absolute determination to keep fighting despite body screaming to stop. Despite every rational instinct demanding retreat. Despite love making him suicidal in ways that terrified me."Liam, you need to rest," I said. Reaching for him through the bond. "You're hurt. You're bleeding. You're going to collapse if you don't—""I'm fine," he lied. Voice tight with pain. "Just need to stay between you and portal. Need to keep you safe. Need to prove I'm still useful despite in
POV: LunaThe library was supposed to be locked after hours. Restricted archives were supposed to be completely inaccessible to students. Forbidden sections were supposed to remain forbidden for very good reasons.Nova picked the lock in under thirty seconds."Where did you learn to do that?" Aria whispered, impressed despite circumstances."Summer job. Locksmith's assistant. Turns out being naturally sneaky translates well to legitimate security work. Also translates well to illegitimate breaking and entering when necessary."We slipped inside. The library was dark. Empty. Perfect for midnight research session that would probably get us expelled if caught but felt absolutely necessary given everything happening.Sienna performed silencing spells. Creating magical bubble around our section. Preventing sound from escaping. Ensuring nobody would hear us even if they passed directly outside our research area."How long will that hold?" I asked."Hours. Maybe until dawn. Depends on whethe
POV: LunaThe magical readings were catastrophic. Every sensor screaming. Every ward straining. Every protective barrier buckling under pressure that shouldn't be possible with artifact fragment so small.But it wasn't small anymore. The stolen fragment had merged with others. Had created network. Had amplified itself through connection until single piece became coordinated system powerful enough to tear reality apart.I stood in the war room with everyone who mattered. Liam recovering but functional. Caleb present but distant, aware he'd damaged trust that would take time to repair. The princess and Selene maintaining wards. My pack analyzing magical data. Darius observing with intensity that made my Eclipse mark pulse uncomfortably."Portal is opening in the eastern forest," Sienna reported. Reading magical instruments with practiced expertise. "Exactly where the rogue escaped. Exactly where artifact fragment was taken. Energy signature matches otherworld patterns from last year but
POV: LunaI meet Professor Cael at the edge of the forest just as the sun dips below the horizon.The sky is painted in shades of orange and purple, but I barely notice. All I can think about is how tired I am.Last night I broke out of the Academy to search for Miguel.Tonight I'm being sent into t
POV: LunaThe Great Hall is chaos.Students pour in from every direction, some still in pajamas, all of them scared. The younger years are crying. Even some of the older students look terrified.I've never seen the Academy like this.Faculty members stand at every entrance, checking students as the
POV: Luna"I need to go to him."I'm on my feet before I even realize I'm moving, heading for the Great Hall doors.Ryder catches my arm. "Luna, stop. You can't just leave the Academy.""Miguel is in danger. Did you not hear me? They're hunting him!""You don't know that for sure. The dream-link—""
POV: Luna"We start with breathing," Ryder says.I blink. "Breathing?""Everything starts with breath. Your wolf instincts, your ability to sense danger, your control over panic. All of it connects to how you breathe."He demonstrates. A slow, deep inhale through his nose, hold for three counts, the







