Crimson Howl: The Luna's Tale

ena

the other burnt as they were siz

fury, his hands digging in like shackles. The heat

I hissed

," he growled low

hen-B

t rough. Not soft. Just... unyielding. L

is presence loomed behind me like

ocked with

nce crashed

ted, breath catch

didn't

me the command,

aw twitche

d, ste

curled around my waist, heat seeping through the th

I muttered, my

r. His eyes nev

to hear, Bernard spoke. "I'm sure you'

s ec

ned. Eyes

mach d

eathed. "He

?" someone

ts. It wasn't just a word. It was a legacy. Carnage. A battlefield woven into the ro

ne m

, but fixed. Like a tether. A seal. The warmth of it burned more t

ssued in fron

Merlin spat, stepping forward, sho

ernard cut in, voice s

d crowd. Sharp exhales, curses unde

d me shifted, narrowed, as though the walls were drawing brea

aced with disbelief. "...suggesting our pack heiress c

ead wouldn't move. Only my ch

d clean. "Indeed. I'll take h

der my watch now. No el

ents?" another Elder barked. "She won't need them.

the edge of a snarl. Every nerve pulsed. Fury flared like stormlight behind

ld speak, his tone dipped in something dar

repared. Preferably hers. It'll

rds landed in my chest like thrown

me like nausea. I clutched the edge of my sanity with white-knuckled w

hoices. Shredded in

growing louder-some arguing, others

pawn. A trial waitin

ng. My ears buzzed, my vision burne

if I

everything in

y. Me. The last

f my throat. My wolf had never stirred. Never howled beneath my

nard kn

how empty

aimed me with that touch. But I felt him. His steadiness. The danger

re was nothing left but bone and salt. Instea

sn't

n't su

a nec

ent I broke, th

and commanding: "Enough. S

ike that,

know my fear. My breath scraped against

e bands of iron. No tears. No visible

, everythi

oors, into the quiet of my room. His fingers still cir

hand. "Is this suppos

eleased me. "Pardon me, L

orn too. I lost the 'L

e for a beat

had. Power al

t the walls. His guards began packing boxes,

A respectful

ghtful heir. That I was next in line

p-habit, not pride. Bu

re indecisive. Bashful. I'll l

t...a w

side me-Beta Torin, the elders, my maidens, even the gate guard

uch, shrinking

They spoke as if

f them used to smile aroun

me like I was a poli

uard left, Berna

the last test

forcing my fac

ng?" he asked

N

d. I didn't need another hand

had become inconvenient. They weren't just betraying

Bernard said quietly. He star

t him, star

ll a plot. That ever

n't a

" he added. "You mig

ded like ice

ged," I sa

w lifted.

he just

ngers, resting on his

d..." I r

d back i

ed. "I know you

t, perhaps

efore

His gaze met mine

se

ew t

~

YEAR

uted, tipsy and carefree, sixteen and reckle

ng too much, high

le tap on m

e curled in irritatio

back then. His

look beautiful. Woul

hy would I da

ends l

ed-not offended,

ted to offe

as kind. St

ld've

pride, I dumped my half-f

ile va

~

him again, that memory sl

roat

I'm

dn't s

look him

. That's

how-he r

urse

humiliatio

the humiliating is now...hmm