The Cursed Bond

The expansive courtyard of the Lycan Council Summit was illuminated by the silvery light of the moon, which was high in the midnight sky. Tension and the smell of restless wolves filled the electrified air. With her heart thumping like a battle drum, Luna Skyheart stood at the edge of the crowd, shrouded in darkness. Her only defence was neutrality, even if she hadn't wanted to attend. Rumours would spread if she turned down the council's invitation. She would be viewed as weak, or worse, as an adversary. 

Five ties between mates. Five betrayals. She discovered the hard way that the promises made by fate were nothing more than cruel jokes.

Grasping the edge of her black cloak, she said to herself, "Keep your distance." Her sharp silver eyes looked around the party. Tonight, the most potent Lycans in the realm had gathered, their auras oppressive. Peace treaties were purportedly the Council's topic of discussion, but Luna had other ideas. Power struggles and secret ambitions simmered beneath the surface like a storm. 

He was at the heart of it all. 

King Rex Reign.

The glittering eyes of the Lycan King scanned the gathering like a predator assessing its prey as he stood upright. Even when he was silent, his magnetic presence demanded attention. With his broad shoulders and dark armour bearing his house's symbol, Rex was a man of might and authority. The way his aura seemed to ripple, like a wolf that was hardly leashed, was what Luna found most striking, though. 

Luna had not experienced this feeling in years, yet she felt an odd tug deep in her chest. She shrugged it off fast. It wasn't authentic. It isn't possible. 

Behind her, a sneering voice said, "Luna Skyheart."

She turned abruptly and saw her old rival, Selene Nightshade. Wearing a red gown that exuded self-assurance, Selene grinned, her emerald eyes shining with ill intent. "I'm stunned that you had the courage to reveal your face here." Luna whispered, 

"Not now, Selene," in a chilly tone. 

"Are we scared?" With anger in her words, Selene took a step closer. "You ought not to have shown up. The broken are not welcome here. 

Luna's fists tensed, but the air was broken by a thunderous roar before she could react. The audience froze. 

A number of creatures appeared out of the forest's shadows, their motions purposeful and predatory. Even though their faces were hidden by the darkness, it was clear that they had malevolent intent.

"Assassins!" a voice cried. 

There was anarchy. The courtyard was filled with howls and snarls as lycans transformed into wolves. With their guns shining in the moonlight, the assassins struck quickly. The Lycan King was the direct target of a well-planned attack rather than a haphazard one. 

Rex grabbed a huge broadsword from his back and held his stance, his golden eyes narrowing. Over the commotion, his voice roared. "Keep the council safe! Don't allow them to disperse! 

Despite her senses telling her to run, Luna's feet would not budge. She saw Rex fight with a fierceness that was both amazing and terrible. He was a tornado of steel and claws, precisely dispatching foes.

Then she noticed it, though. 

With an unnaturally fast pace and a blade pointed directly at Rex's exposed back, a shadowy figure slid through the confusion. 

Luna didn't think. She moved.