Chapter 9
587words
Fenrir's warm breath caressed my collarbone as I nestled in his embrace.
Since our engagement, he'd held me tightly while sleeping, as if afraid I might vanish.
If I shifted even slightly, his eyes would snap open. "Where are you going?" he'd growl.
Fenrir was powerful, invincible—the cornerstone of Moon Shadow.
Such an Alpha possessed intense territorial instincts in relationships.
I kissed his tired eyelids softly.
"Sleep. I'm not going anywhere."
Werewolves possessed premonition abilities. Though I couldn't shift, I felt strangely uneasy.
Tonight was a full moon. Cassian would be suffering.
But that was no longer my concern, was it?
I forced my eyes closed, but a commotion outside disturbed me.
An elder from Black Claw had arrived, claiming crisis had struck. He begged me to return and comfort Cassian.
Fenrir's expression hardened as he seized the elder by the throat, squeezing until the man's face reddened.
"Who gave you the audacity to come here?"
The Alpha's fury terrified everyone present.
I hurried over and placed my hand on his arm.
"Easy. Please, let me handle this."
Fenrir gripped my hand in return, his hold gradually tightening.
He reminded me: "Lyra, you're my fiancée now."
I nodded. Since they'd cast me out, I no longer wanted to be their Luna.
I refused their request firmly.
"Go back. He'll survive the night. Perhaps he should experience this pain for himself."
As I spoke, Fenrir's tension visibly eased.
He pulled me close, murmuring: "Good girl."
I moved to embrace him when a sharp ringing filled my ears.
My heart clenched painfully.
Lily howled in alarm—something had happened to Black Claw!
My uncle's family's screams echoed through our bond.
Kane burst in. "My King, Black Claw has been attacked. Alpha Cassian is dead."
My body went numb, my hands trembling violently.
"How is that possible?"
Despite everything, I never wanted Cassian dead.
Kane continued: "The Fang pack exploited Cassian's weakness during his episode and ambushed him."
"That's impossible," I argued weakly. "He becomes more powerful during episodes, not weaker."
"Rouise gave him a suppressant that weakened his power. The Fang wolves seized the opportunity and killed him instantly. The woman fled immediately after."
The Black Claw elder looked ashen. "Everything is ruined because of that woman!"
I forced myself to focus.
The priority now was saving the remaining Black Claw members.
I took a deep breath and turned to Fenrir. "Will you help me?"
"Of course." He stroked my hair gently. "Do what you must. I'll always support you."
That night, I led Kane and an army to aid Black Claw.
My uncle's family had been slaughtered. With their Alpha gone, I used my Luna powers to calm the survivors, preventing mass panic.
Finally, the Fang pack was defeated, their leader executed.
The Black Claw wolves knelt before me, kissing my hand in gratitude and begging forgiveness for their past cruelty.
I found Cassian's body slumped against a tree. Even in death, his fist remained tightly clenched.
With trembling hands, I pried open his fingers to find "Lyra" carved into his palm.
He had carved my name with his claws in his final moments of agony.
I wept for him one last time.
The very last time.
As the sky cleared, I knew I couldn't dwell in the past any longer.
I had to move forward, Cassian.
A month later, Fenrir and I married. The Black Claw pack was absorbed into Moon Shadow under Fenrir's leadership.
Amid cheers and celebration, we sealed our vows with a kiss.
