All Chapters of The Luna With Ruin: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Arlene pulled the soul blade from her thigh sheath.The obsidian gleamed red in the fading light. Runes carved into its surface pulsed with dark magic."I was going to wait," Arlene said, advancing on Jasmina. "Make this clean. Surgical. But you've ruined that plan."She moved fast. Faster than anyone expected.The blade aimed straight for Jasmina's stomach.Lyanna threw herself between them. The soul blade caught her across the ribs instead.She screamed. The blade cuts through flesh and something deeper. Something essential."Mother!" Damoew struggled to his feet.Arlene kicked Lyanna aside. The older woman hit the ground and didn't get up. Blood pooled beneath her."Soul blades cut spirit as well as body," Arlene said conversationally. "She'll die slowly. Painfully. Unless someone with healing magic saves her in the next few minutes.""You—" Jasmina started.Arlene lunged again.This time Cassian intercepted. His magic formed a shield, but the soul blade sliced through it like pape

The vault chamber was a massive Cathedral-sized. Carved entirely from black stone that absorbed light. The ceiling stretched up so far it disappeared into darkness.Ancient Lycan symbols covered every surface. Some glowed faintly. Others pulsed like heartbeats.And at the center, raised on a pedestal of bone-white stone, sat a crystal.It was the size of a human head. Perfectly spherical. Inside it, red energy swirled like captured blood."The bloodline controller," Meredith whispered. "I thought it was a legend.""Legends are just truths people forgot," Arlene said. She stood beside the pedestal, one hand hovering over the crystal. "The Lycan Kings created this to end wars. To force peace through absolute control.""They sealed it because it was too dangerous," Damoew said."They sealed it because they were cowards." Arlene's hand touched the crystal.The moment her skin made contact, the vault responded.Red light exploded through every symbol on the walls. Power surged through the

The chamber was collapsing. Massive chunks of black stone crashed down around them. The ceiling split apart in sections, each piece the size of a house."Move!" Damoew shouted.He carried Jasmina in his arms. She was unconscious, barely breathing. The vault's destruction had taken everything from her.Cassian led the way, his magic creating shields against falling debris. Meredith followed close behind, limping from a twisted ankle.They ran toward the doorway. The one they'd entered through. Their only exit.Behind them, a voice screamed.Arlene.She was alive. Bloody and broken, but alive. The vault's rejection had torn through her, but she wouldn't die quietly."You destroyed it!" she shrieked. "My mother's dream! My revenge! You destroyed everything!"Dark magic lashed out wildly. Not aimed. Just pure rage given form.A blast hit the wall beside them. Stone exploded. Cassian's shield barely held."She's lost her mind," Meredith said."She never had one to begin with," Damoew shot

Three days passed.Jasmina woke up properly on the morning of the fourth day. The baby moved inside her, restless but healthy."You gave us quite a scare," Senna said, checking her vitals. "Destroying ancient magical artifacts while pregnant is generally not recommended.""I'll remember that for next time," Jasmina said weakly.Damoew was there within minutes. He'd been sleeping in a chair outside her room, waiting."You're awake," he said, relief flooding his face."Apparently." Jasmina tried to sit up. Her body protested. "How long was I out?""Three and a half days.""And the pack?""Surviving. Healing. Preparing funerals."That brought reality crashing back. The battle. The deaths. Cassian's sacrifice."How many did we lose?" she asked quietly."Fifteen total. Eleven in the battle. Hardy before that. And Cassian in the collapse." Damoew sat beside her bed. "Twenty-three wounded. Most are recovering.""Lyanna?""Alive. The soul blade wound is healing but slowly. She'll make it."Ja

Damoew left at dawn. He stood at the pack border with a single bag. Everything he owned fit inside. He'd given up his Alpha quarters. His title. His claim to leadership.All he had left was a broken mate bond and a child he'd never held.Jasmina came to see him off. She moved slowly, her pregnant belly making walking difficult."You didn't have to come," Damoew said."Yes, I did." She stopped a few feet away. Close enough to talk. Far enough to maintain distance. "This is important.""What is?""Saying goodbye properly. Not like the rejection. Not in anger or pain." Jasmina touched her stomach. "The baby deserves better than parents who can't stand to look at each other.""I can stand to look at you," Damoew said quietly. "Looking away is the hard part."The mate bond pulsed between them. Damaged but trying desperately to heal."How long will you be gone?" Jasmina asked."As long as it takes. Could be months. Could be years." Damoew adjusted his bag. "Dax said there are over forty wol