(2) Cruel Fate Of The Warrior Luna

Inside the pack, the situation was far worse than the battle raging beyond the western border.

War at the border was expected. Warriors trained for it, prepared for it, accepted it as part of their lives.

But what was happening here was something entirely different. This was not war-it was a violation. Terror disguised as strategy.

The attack had not come solely from the western border where Silvercrest's strongest fighters stood ready. It had emerged from within, from streets that should have been safe, from rooftops that had witnessed festivals and celebrations, from homes where families had gone to sleep believing themselves protected.

Now those same streets ran red with blood.

Screams shattered the night as glass exploded, wood splintered, and smoke mixed with the scent of iron and fear.

Enemy wolves flooded through the heart of Silvercrest like a disease infecting a healthy body, and at the center of that chaos stood Kaelara Nightbane.

She fought not as a Luna, not as a wife, and not as the daughter of a famous bloodline. She fought as a warrior.

In that moment, she looked less like a woman and more like war itself.

Her spear punched through an invader's abdomen with brutal precision, feeling steel slide between ribs before she ripped the weapon free and sent the man collapsing before he could scream.

Blood splattered her cheek, but she ignored it.

Her dark hair had escaped its braid long ago, sweat plastering strands against her neck while blood stained her armor, and a crack split the metal protecting her shoulder.

Every muscle ached, her lungs burned, and exhaustion clawed at her body, but she remained standing exactly as her father had taught her-straight-backed and unyielding.

"Shield the eastern homes!"

Her voice rang across the battlefield.

"Move the elders into the underground tunnels immediately!"

The warriors obeyed instantly, not because she was Luna, but because she was Kaelara-the woman who had trained beside them, bled beside them, and protected them countless times.

One female warrior sprinted toward her. "Luna! They're breaking through the north alley!"

Kaelara's eyes immediately found the opening. Three enemy wolves were racing toward the healer quarters.

"Cut them off!"

The command exploded from her lips.

"Do not let them reach the healers!"

She moved before she even finished speaking. Her spear swept low, taking the first attacker's legs out from beneath him.

The second lunged, only for Kaelara to pivot and drive her weapon downward. Bone cracked and blood sprayed.

The third never reached her, intercepted by a Silvercrest warrior with a savage snarl.

For a brief moment, she allowed herself a single breath, her gaze sweeping across the burning streets as she counted civilians, children, wounded warriors, and elders.

Every life under her protection mattered.

While Ronan, her mate and the Alpha, defended Silvercrest's borders with her family, she defended its heart. And she would die before allowing that heart to be ripped out.

Then she heard it. A scream, small, young, and terrified sound.

Kaelara froze instantly as her stomach dropped.

The sound belonged to a child.

Her head snapped toward the source and what she saw made her blood run cold.

A little boy, no older than six, stood trembling between two damaged homes, clutching a wooden wolf toy against his chest while tears streaked through the dirt on his face.

Towering above him was an enemy warrior, having a sickening smile on his ugly face.

As he raised his blade.

"Nooo!!!"

The word ripped from Kaelara's throat, and everything else vanished.

The screams, the fire, the battle-all of it disappeared. There was only the child, the descending blade, and the impossible distance between them.

Too far.

Moon Goddess...

Too far.

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she ran. Her boots pounded the earth, each step harder than the last.

The child never moved. He simply stood frozen with his toy held tightly against his chest while the enemy warrior's blade descended.

Too fast... Too close... Too late.

Moon Goddess... No!

Kaelara pushed harder. Every muscle screamed. Her wolf surged beneath her skin, lending strength and speed as the world blurred around her.

The distance immediately vanished.

Then... Steel pierced flesh.

For a heartbeat, she felt nothing. The child stared, the warrior blinked, and the world seemed to stop.

Then agony exploded through her body. White-hot, merciless, violent pain.

It felt like molten silver had been poured directly into her veins. Her breath vanished, her vision blurred, and her knees nearly buckled beneath her.

But the child was alive.

That was all that mattered.

A savage snarl tore from her throat as she grabbed the blade lodged in her side and twisted, pulling the warrior off balance.

Before he could react, her spear shot upward and punched through his jaw. Bone shattered as blood sprayed. He died before his body hit the ground.

The little boy stared at her with wide, terrified eyes. Blood was already soaking through her armor, running warm and relentless down her side.

"Run."

The word came out rough and broken.

The child didn't move as he continued to stare at her.

"Run!"

This time, he obeyed, sprinting toward the underground tunnels. Only when he disappeared around the corner did Kaelara allow herself a breath.

One child saved. One life protected. That alone made the pain worthwhile.

Then her knees threatened to buckle.

Her hand found the blade protruding from her side.

The wound should have been healing already. It always did. She carried her mother's blood in her veins. Not as powerful as her mother's healing gift, but more than enough. She had survived injuries that would have killed others.

"Heal." She commanded, but nothing happened.

"Heal." Still nothing.

A cold sensation crawled down her spine.

That wasn't right. The bleeding should be slowing. The flesh should be knitting together.

Instead, the wound burned. Like poison. Like acid... Like something alive.

Fear touched her for the first time that night.

"No..."

She ripped the blade free, and fresh blood poured from the wound. Beneath the scent of blood lingered another smell.

Oh, help me, Moon Goddess...

Wolf 'sbane. The fuck!

The realization struck her like a physical blow. Not enough poison to kill immediately. Whoever planned this was smarter than that. This amount was designed to cripple, weaken, and prevent healing.

A warrior rushed toward her.

"Luna!"

Kaelara immediately straightened. "I am fine." The lie came automatically.

"Luna, you're bleeding-"

"I said I am fine."

The warrior fell silent.

Kaelara pressed a hand against the wound and forced healing energy toward it again and again.

Still... Nothing.

The wolf'sbane strangled every attempt.

Rage surged hotter than pain.

How dare they poison her home?

How dare they target children?

How dare they think Silvercrest would fall?

A dangerous smile touched her lips. "You think this is enough?" Her voice emerged low and deadly. "You chose the wrong pack."

Then she lifted her spear and charged back into battle.

Every movement hurt. The wolf'sbane spread through her veins like liquid fire, making each breath harder and each step heavier.

Still, she refused to stop. Silvercrest was standing. Therefore, she would stand too.

Around her, warriors fought desperately to reclaim the streets while her spear became an extension of herself.

One enemy fell with a spear through his chest. Another died beneath her elbow, and a brutal thrust. A third was intercepted before he reached her.

"Luna!"

"Keep moving!"

The warrior obeyed instantly because Kaelara inspired trust, loyalty, and faith through example rather than fear.

Then she saw Selene.

The Omega stood near the healer quarters, helping an injured warrior.

Her pale hair had come loose, and her dress was stained with dirt and blood.

She looked completely out of p,lace amid the carnage.

A complicated ache settled in Kaelara's chest. Not from the poison. Not from the wound. Something older and deeper. Pain.

The Moon Goddess had been cruel. One mate was difficult enough. Two was chaos disguised as destiny.

Selene was Ronan's second mate.

Kaelara remembered the day Ronan found Selene. The shock. The confusion. The silence had fallen over the entire pack.

She remembered being the first to step forward.

"It's alright." She had told Selene gently. "You are safe here."

She had meant every word. She had shared her home, her table, and her authority. She had tried.

Moon Goddess knew she had tried.

But somehow it had never been enough. Small misunderstandings became accusations. Minor incidents became arguments.

"You've been harsh with her."

"I wasn't."

"I saw the way you looked at her."

"I looked at her exactly the same way I always do." She had tried defending herself.

"She's afraid of you."

The accusation had stunned her. Yet Ronan had believed it. Again and again. Until eventually, Kaelara stopped defending herself because nothing she said seemed to matter anymore.

The memory left bitterness in her mouth.

Then movement caught her eye.

Two enemy warriors are approaching Selene from behind. Their blades were already raised.

Selene hadn't noticed at first. Then she did and froze. Fear flooded her face.

Kaelara went still.

'If I do nothing...'

The thought came uninvited.

'If I stay where I am... Everything changes. No more accusations. No more distance. No more watching R,onan drift away. The pack would only have one Luna again.'

Her wolf stirred... Angry and wounded.

'Let her die!'

Kaelara's grip tightened around her spear.

'She took him from us, took our place, and took our mate. Let fate decide.' Her wolf said angrily, wanting Selene to die once and for all.

The enemy's blades continued approaching Selene.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

For one terrible second... Kaelara didn,'t move. And she h,ated herself for it,.

Then another memory surfaced... Her father's words when she was young.

"You know what makes a Nightbane different?" Darion had ask her.

"No, Dad." Kaelara had answered.

"A Nightbane protects." Her father said.

"Only family?" She asked.

"No."

"Only pack members?" She asked.

"No."

"Then who?" She asked, confused.

"Anyone who needs protecting." Her father said with a proud smile.

The memory struck like lightning.

Kaelara closed her eyes briefly, then cursed herself.

Because she already knew...

She was a Nightbane!

She was Luna!!

She was a warrior and a shield!!!

And shields did not choose who deserved protection.

They protected. PERIOD!

Her eyes snapped open.

"Move!"

Her scream tore across the battlefield.

"Move!"

Selene turned too late. Her eyes widened as she finally saw Kaelara running towards her.

But fear rooted her to the spot.

Kaelara ran. Moon Goddess, she ran!

The wolf'sbane felt like molten lead in her veins. Her wound screamed, her vision blurred, and the world tilted.

But she still ran... Faster, faster, and fucking faster.

Because, regardless of heartbreak, betrayal, and loneliness, she was still a protector.

Still a Nightbane, a Luna, a warrior, and a shield.

The enemy blades descended with Selene still frozen.

Kaelara reached her and with the last of her strength, she shoved her aside.

Selene cried out as she fell clear.

The blades missed their intended target and struck Kaelara instead.

Steel pierced flesh instantly.

The impact stole the air from her lungs. One blade drove beneath her ribs. The second tore across her side. Agony exploded through her body.

Her spear slipped from her fingers and clattered against the ground.

Nearby, Silvercrest warriors roared in fury.

"LUNA!!!

"KAELARA!!!

"LUNA!!!"

The attackers died almost instantly with the attacks from the warriors.

But it didn't matter. They were too late.

Kaelara collapsed to the ground.

The moon blurred overhead. The sounds of battle became distant.

Her wolf whimpered, and for the first time in her life, she felt it retreating, fading, and weakening.

Like a candle losing its flame.

"No..."

Selene dropped beside her.

"Kaelara!"

Tears streamed down the Omega's face.

"Kaelara... please..."

Kaelara stared at her for what felt like the first time in months. Selene looked terrified and broken.

And suddenly Kaelara was simply tired. Too tired to hate. Too tired to be angry. Too tired to carry resentment any longer.

Blood filled her mouth and she coughed it out.

"No... no, please..." Selene continued to cry.

'Poor girl. She truly looked devastated. If only her concern were genuine and not fake.' A faint smile touched Kaelara's lips.

"At least..." The words emerged broken. "...you're alive."

Selene shook her head frantically. "Don't talk. Please don't talk. Save your energy. Kae please..."

Kaelara barely heard her. "...Ronan..."

The name hurt more than the poison. More than the wounds.

Because despite everything... She still loved him.

"...will be happy."

The words shattered Selene completely. Sobs wracked her body as Kaelara simply watched. Her gaze drifted upward toward the moon hanging above Silvercrest.

The child survived...

The elders were safe...

The healers lived...

The pack still stood...

Her duty was done...

That thought alone brought peace.

Her father's voice echoed once more. "A Nightbane protects."

A faint smile touched her lips. Then darkness came, slowly, softly, and relentlessly.

The pain vanished. The screams vanished... Everything vanished.

And as consciousness slipped away, something stirred far beyond Silvercrest's borders. Beyond its allies. Beyond its enemies. In a kingdom of nowhere...

A power awakened. Ancient. Terrifying. Unyielding. And Chaotic.

Golden eyes opened within the darkness.

A growl echoed through the night. And fate itself seemed to shudder.

The Alpha King was awakening. And when the time arrived...

He would burn the world and Silvercrest.

For Kaelara...

For everyone responsible for what happened this night...

Nothing would ever be the same again.