All Chapters of THE SHADOWBORN LUNA: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

The silver chains bit into my wrists until blood dripped onto the stone floor of the judgment hall.I did not cry. Not anymore.Crying only made Alpha Theron hit harder."Eighteen years," he snarled, circling me. "We fed you. Sheltered you. Waited for your wolf."The pack surrounded us, eyes glowing amber. Hungry. Eager.I knew that look. I had seen it every day of my pathetic life."And what do we get in return?" Theron grabbed my hair, yanking my head back until my neck was exposed. His claws pressed against my throat. "Nothing. You are broken, Kaia. Worthless. A stain on our bloodline.""Please," I whispered. The word tasted like ash. "Give me more time. My wolf will come, I know it will—"His backhand split my lip.I hit the ground hard. The chains rattled. Blood filled my mouth."Your mother said the same thing before we killed her." Theron crouched beside me, his breath hot against my ear. "She begged too. It changed nothing."Pain exploded through my ribs as his boot connected.

I woke to darkness and the sound of breathing that was not my own.My body ached everywhere. The collar felt heavier than before, its burn deeper, as if it had burrowed into my bones while I slept."You have been unconscious for six hours."Draven's voice came from somewhere to my left. I turned my head, wincing at the spike of pain through my skull.He sat in a chair beside the bed, watching me with those silver eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. He had removed his jacket. His shirt was torn at the shoulder, revealing a nasty burn mark that had not been there before.From me.From my power."Did I do that?" I whispered."Among other things." He stood, moving to the window. "You put three warriors in the infirmary. Cracked the foundation of the great hall. And nearly killed yourself in the process."Shame twisted through my chest. "I did not mean to—""Intent does not matter."He turned, and the look on his face made me shrink back against the pillows. "Control matters. And you

The agonies came that night. I stood in a burning forest, silver flames consuming everything. Wolves ran screaming, their fur kindling like igniting. The air tasted of ash and death. And in the center of it all, I laughed." Kaia." My mama's voice, cutting through the rough chaos. I turned toFind her standing in the debris, untouched, beautiful despite the destruction around us." Mama?" You must remember he said urgently." Before it's too late. Before he makes you forget."" Remember what?" She reached for me, her hand passing through the fire." Who are you really? What they took from you. The truth about —" The dears roared in advance, swallowing her total. I screamed. And woke to find Maya shaking my shoulders, her face tight with concern." You were screaming," she said softly." The whole corridor heard you." I sat up, heaving. Sweat soaked through my tunic. The collar burned against my throat, hot enough to leave marks." Just a dream," I managed." A dream. Or a memory?

I woke to voices arguing outside my door. "—cannot be serious. You are going to just let her walk around with no restraints?" Lyra's voice, sharp with disbelief. "The collar was killing her." Draven's tone was flat. Final. "Would you prefer I execute my mate because she is too powerful to control?" Silence. Then Lyra again, quieter. "So you finally admit it. The mate bond." "The entire pack knows by now. There is no point denying it."I sat up sluggishly, finding Draven gone from beside me. The indent in the mattress where he'd lain was still warm. He'd stayed most of the night then.The arguing continued. "The pack knows, yes. But acknowledging it publicly? Claiming her as your Luna?" Lyra's voice was strained. "Draven, she is Shadowborn. The Council will never accept—"I do not care what the Council accepts." His voice dropped to something dangerous. "She is mine. That's the end of the discussion."I climbed out of bed and opened the door.Both of them turned. Lyra looked exhausted,