เข้าสู่ระบบWaking up that first morning in Shadowood felt off. It was not like some big celebration with noise and everything; it was just the pine smell and Fenris's arm heavy across me. The light was barely coming in through those thick curtains.I lay there trying to sense my wolf. She used to be this bright thing in my head; now, she’s more like a shadow hanging back. She was still there, but empty after losing the Lumina stuff. I touched the scar on my wrist. It was pink and rough. There was nothing glowing or magical anymore.Fenris mumbled into my shoulder, "Stop thinking so loud." His voice was all sleepy and rumbling.I whispered back that I didn't say a word."You didn't need to." He pulled me in tighter, his hand right over my heart. "It’s going fast. Worried about the day, huh?"I turned to look at him. His hair was messed up and his eyes were half-shut. He seemed so normal in that light, almost soft. "Now I'm Luna for two packs, Fenris. Some see me as that weak omega still. Others w
The air up there in the mountains felt crisp and clean now, not like before with all that heavy smell of death hanging around. Justin was just lying there in the dirt, like some forgotten thing, and I couldn't bring myself to look at him for long. I thought there would be this rush of joy or something, but no, it was just this deep tiredness settling in, right into my bones.My wrist looked all red and sore when I glanced down at it. That silver glow had faded away completely. And my wolf, she was usually so loud in my head, but now she seemed small and quiet, maybe hiding in some corner trying to rest. I had given up part of her to save Fenris, the one standing right there beside me.He didn't even glance at the dead Alpha. His eyes stayed on me the whole time. Then he came closer and put his cloak over my shoulders because I was shivering. "It's over, Elara," he said. "Really over this time."I leaned against him and whispered that I felt so heavy, like I couldn't move right. "That'
The cold up on Shattered Ridge hit hard, like every breath was pulling in sharp bits of ice mixed with that awful smell of charred wood and decay. I glanced down the path and saw those twisted shapes waiting-not really wolves anymore, but something worse, fur patchy and eyes burning red. They were Justin's creations, all twisted up by the Red Queen's Curse, his whole messed up army.Fenris growled low, telling me to stick close as he changed into that huge wolf shape, all dark fur and power, green eyes lit with this fierce protectiveness. I touched his mane, whispering that I had to do this; there was no choice, really. He whined a bit and nudged my hand one last time before we pushed on.Right away in the clearing, everything exploded into noise-growls and screams, teeth snapping everywhere. Talon and Mara had the Shadowood fighters circling me tight, ripping into those cursed wolves to keep them back. It was chaos, but they held the line.Then I spotted him, Justin, up on that rock
"No you're not," I told him, reaching up to hold his face. My thumbs ran over the stubble on his jaw. "You're the reason I can even fight this. Justin wants to turn everything into a graveyard basically. If giving up this power stops him, then it's more like a gift, I guess, not some curse."He pressed his forehead to mine. "We've got a long ride ahead. The scouts say the Red Alpha is camped at Shattered Ridge. Old magic up there is the perfect spot for his kind of rot to take hold. Once we hit the base of the mountain, there's no going back.""Then let's get moving," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.We went down the stone stairs together. The pack was all set, Talon checking the saddles, looking pretty grim about it. Mara was over there sharpening her silver blade. They both went quiet when they saw us, bowing their heads like always. It still threw me, this whole reverence thing. I was just Elara to myself, but to them, I was supposed to be the prophecy or whatever.Fenri
The loud hiss from the Elder Keep was almost a deafening one, but the silence between me and Fenris was even louder. He wouldn't look at me. He was strained, as a bowstring drawing to break. He didn't like my choice. He was infuriated that I was willing to relinquish my power, which was the thing that saved my life, to allow him to survive."Fenris, look at me," I said. My voice was steady.He turned. His green eyes were filled with anger and melancholy. "You wish that I should allow you to wound myself, Elara? To lose your gift? What am I going to do, stand and watch that?"I went to stand near him, and my palms were against his leather-covered bosom. I could feel his heart in my hands. "It is not a waste when it provides us with a future. Justin has a Red Curse. You saw what he did to the Keep. He is not a wolf any longer, he is a monster. Failure to cut that bond will see him murder you. And when you are dead, my light is dead as well.""I am your sword! I am supposed to protect yo
He ran his thumb over my cheek. “My brave Luna. We have each other. That’s our strongest bond.”He kissed me. It was soft but desperate. A promise in the middle of the hot situation.“We go home to Shadowood,” I said against his lips. “We learn about this curse. We get ready to fight.”“Yes,” he said, his eyes fierce. “You are the light made to fight this darkness. I will be your sword.”He kissed me again, deeper this time. “I love you, Elara. More than my pack. More than my life.”“I love you, too,” I breathed. “Always.”We walked by the river, hand in hand. Talon and our warriors circled us.“He won’t come for land or power,” I realized, watching my Lumina Mark’s reflection in the water. “He’ll come for me. To snuff out my light.”Fenris stopped. He pulled me to his side and looked at the rising sun. “Let him come,” he growled. His voice was low and deadly. “He will learn that the Queen Luna is protected. Not just by her Alpha’s strength, but by his love. A love that would burn the







