The distant sounds of heavy footsteps echoed through the forest, and within moments, the remaining pack guards had arrived. Along with them were Charlie and Timothy, their faces pale as they took in the chaotic scene before them. The torn bodies of rogues, the blood-soaked ground, and Alex, standing tall but bloodied—he was a figure out of place in this carnage. But it wasn't just his condition that caught their attention. It was Luna. Her hands were stained crimson, her dark eyes fixed in an unsettling glare, and the very aura around her was suffocating with dark energy.As they arrived, shock spread across their faces like wildfire, but the realization came even quicker: Alex was injured. They saw the blood, the wounds, the strain. And then they saw Luna's hands. Covered in blood. No one said a word, but the air grew thick with suspicion.A royal guard, his face contorted in anger, immediately took the lead. His eyes burned with fury as he pointed an accusing finger at Luna. "She's the one who did this," he spat, his voice thick with rage, no trace of doubt in his words.Before Alex could even move to stop him, the guards rushed forward. They were trained for situations like this—trained to protect the pack, to defend their people without hesitation. They raised their weapons, their movements precise and deadly, all directed at Luna. But what they didn't understand was that Luna wasn't the fragile, mortal woman they thought she was. She was something else now.Luna didn't flinch. She didn't even seem to care. With fluid movements, she swayed and dodged, blocking their blows with ease, almost as if she were toying with them. The guards attacked without hesitation, but Luna deflected their strikes like she was used to this kind of battle. She moved as though the darkness consuming her was her only ally, and every strike they landed against her was met with a powerful, controlled counter.Alex stood frozen, his eyes fixed on her as if he was reading her actions, every movement she made sending a wave of unease through him. There was no mistaking it—this Luna was not the same woman he had once known. Or perhaps she had always been cold and calculating, but now, the darkness and sinister edge she wore were undeniable. Maybe he had never truly seen her for what she was, but standing before him now, he could no longer ignore the chilling transformation.She had become a weapon, her every action cold and calculating, but one thing remained clear: she was not killing them. She could have, but she didn't. She was holding back—something deep within her still resisted. It was enough for him to trust that she wouldn't hurt his pack or innocent people, even if she had killed those rogues. But what had happened? What had turned her into this?"Stop!" Alex's voice rang out, commanding, his growl vibrating the air around them. His golden eyes blazed, a ripple of his own power pushing through his tone. For a split second, everything went still. The guards paused, lowering their weapons as they turned to face him.The red-haired guard stepped forward, his face flushed with anger and disbelief. His voice rang out, sharp and accusing. "She's killed them—innocent pack members! The blood on her hands is proof enough!"All eyes turned to Luna, her hands still stained crimson. The weight of the accusation hung heavy in the air, and the guards tensed, ready to strike again. But Luna, standing still and unbothered, finally spoke. Her gaze, distant and cold, scanned the gathered wolves with a strange detachment, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade."Everyone except the rogues are alive," she said, her tone chillingly unfamiliar cut the air making everyone surprised .The pack froze, the words sinking in like ice. There was a moment of disbelief before several guards rushed forward to confirm the truth.Timothy was the first to find her claim true. He knelt beside a young, barely breathing female wolf, her body mangled but alive, clinging to life by the thinnest thread. He called out urgently, "She's alive! Get a healer—now!"Others followed his lead, discovering the old man lying nearby, conscious but weak. Recognition dawned on their faces—Elder Elias, bloodied but breathing. Another cry came from Timothy as he rushed to untie two children, their small bodies trembling and bleeding but miraculously alive. He freed their limbs, whispering assurances they were too weak to hear.Scattered throughout the clearing, unconscious pack members were found, battered but alive, as Luna had said. Relief mixed with shock spread through the pack.Alex exhaled deeply, his tension easing only slightly. His sharp command broke the murmur of voices. "Take them to the pack hospital—now!" Several guards scrambled to obey, carefully lifting the injured and unconscious. The sight of them being carried away brought a flicker of guilt to Alex's heart as his gaze shifted back to Luna.She stood motionless, her blood-stained hands at her sides, her face unreadable. There was no triumph in her expression, no demand for recognition or apology. She remained detached, her presence an unsettling enigma.One of the guards opened his mouth to question her again, but Alex's piercing glare silenced him before the words could leave his lips. His voice rang with authority, strong and resolute."I trust her," Alex declared loudly, his golden eyes sweeping over the crowd. "And even if you don't trust her, you trust me. I am your Alpha King." His words carried an undeniable finality, a command that could not be challenged.The tension in the group began to ease, and Timothy, stepping forward with hesitation, added, "I trust her, too." He paused, glancing at Luna with a strange mix of respect and uncertainty.Timmothy realised that from the very day she came to the pack, he've felt... something. A bond. Like he owes her his own life. His voice dropped, more to himself than anyone else. "I don't know why, but i do."Unbeknownst to Timothy, his erased memories held the truth—Luna had saved his life once, pulling him back from death during the war with Quintus. Though he didn't remember, that bond was etched into his soul.Charlie spoke next, nodding firmly. "I do too. She's... different, but she's not our enemy." His words seemed to echo in the hearts of several others. Slowly, they lowered their weapons, a quiet ripple of trust beginning to spread.Except for one.The guard who had attacked Luna minutes ago stood apart, his face twisted with rage, his eyes bloodshot with fury. The air around him seemed to pulse with hostility as his trembling hand clutched his weapon.Alex's sharp gaze fell on him, and recognition dawned. This guard bore the unmistakable features of the old man who had been found alive—Elder Elias. His jaw tightened as he realized the truth.The young wolf was Elias's grandson. His rage was fueled by a deep, personal pain. Seeing his grandfather lying injured, the scent of blood thick in the air, had driven him to a blind fury. It was no wonder he had struck out without reason.But Alex's voice cut through the growing tension. "Stand down," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. The guard hesitated, his grip tightening on his weapon, but Alex stepped closer, his gaze hard. "She saved them. All of them. If she wanted them dead, they wouldn't be breathing. Look around."The guard's eyes flicked to his grandfather, then to the other injured wolves being carried away. His resolve faltered, his weapon lowering as the weight of Alex's words struck him.Alex turned back to the pack, his voice firm and unyielding. "We do not strike without reason. We do not accuse without proof. And we do not hurt the innocent" He looked at Luna, her distant gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment. "She is not our enemy."The tension in the clearing was palpable, every wolf on edge as the hazel brown-haired guard—Elias's grandson , Oliver—stepped back. His rage hadn't subsided, but his eyes darkened, shifting to a haunting black that sent a ripple of unease through the crowd. Before anyone could react, he lunged at Luna with terrifying speed.Luna sidestepped the attack effortlessly, her movements fluid and precise. Her narrowed gaze locked onto him as she assessed the sudden shift in his strength. The rest of the pack sprang into action, taking defensive stances—but, to Luna's surprise, it wasn't against her. They were protecting her.Her dark eyes flickered with something unspoken—perhaps confusion, perhaps something deeper—but she didn't dwell on it. The grandson, undeterred, spun around and charged again. This time, his claws aimed for Charlie, who had moved to shield Luna."Back Off , Oliver !" Alex's voice boomed, golden eyes blazing as he stepped between the attacker and Charlie. His growl rumbled like thunder, demanding submission. Charlie, dodging a swipe from the enraged wolf, tried to reason with him. "I don't want to hurt you! Snap out of it—this isn't you!" But his words fell on deaf ears. Oliver was unnaturally strong, his strikes faster and harder than expected.Timothy, wide-eyed and shaken, turned to Luna, his voice thick with disbelief. "What the hell is wrong with him? How is he this strong?"Luna, calm and detached as though she were watching a puzzle fall into place, glanced toward the unconscious rogues she had subdued earlier. "He's being controlled," she said simply, her tone devoid of surprise, as if the answer had been obvious all along.Their reactions were immediate—shock, confusion, and anger flaring in their expressions. "Controlled?" Timothy repeated, his voice rising. "By who? How?""Step back," Luna ordered sharply, her voice cutting through their chaos. "Don't interfere."Before anyone could argue, she moved. In a blur, she closed the distance between herself and the grandson. Her movements were swift and calculated, dodging his frenzied strikes with ease. She swept his legs out from under him, pinning him to the ground. His struggles were relentless, his strength seemingly boundless.Spotting a dagger nearby, Luna reached for it, her grip firm as she raised it. Her expression was cold, her intent clear."No!" Alex's voice roared through the clearing. His tone carried not just authority but desperation. "Don't hurt him—he doesn't mean it!"Luna turned to him, her dark eyes flashing with irritation. "Do you think I don't know that?" she snapped, her voice dripping with annoyance.The grandson seized the moment, his claws slashing across Luna's shoulder. Blood stained her already crimson-streaked hands as she staggered back. The pain sparked something darker in her, her features hardening as her anger flared.Alex shouted, his voice breaking through the haze. "Luna, stop!"Her hand tightened on the dagger as if she were ready to end it, but Alex's words anchored her. Taking a sharp breath, she dropped the blade and focused, her dark power rippling through the air. She placed a hand on the grandson's forehead, her eyes narrowing as she channeled her energy into him. The shadows around her seemed to pulse, growing darker and heavier.The grandson's body jerked violently before going limp. Luna stepped back as he collapsed to the ground, his chest rising and falling faintly. "He's alive," she said curtly, her voice devoid of emotion.A collective exhale passed through the pack as the tension finally eased. Alex's shoulders sagged in relief as he gestured for the guards to tend to the unconscious wolf.Luna's gaze shifted to her bleeding shoulder, her dark eyes fixating on the steady flow of crimson. Her expression remained impassive, detached, as if the pain were a distant echo she could ignore. The tension around her only grew heavier as Alex barked orders to the remaining guards."Clear the area!" Alex commanded, his voice sharp and filled with authority. His golden eyes swept over the carnage—the broken bodies, the severed limbs, and the blood painting the ground. "Get the injured to the hospital now, and remove the dead!" His tone left no room for hesitation.The guards moved quickly, but Alex's focus stayed on Luna. His jaw tightened as he stepped toward her, his gaze softening as it landed on the wound marring her shoulder. Without a word, he pulled off his shirt, stepping closer."Hold still," he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as he wrapped the fabric around her shoulder to staunch the bleeding. His eyes burned with pain, guilt simmering beneath the surface.If I hadn't distracted her, this wouldn't have happened, he thought bitterly.Luna didn't flinch at his touch, but her focus wasn't on him. Her gaze had drifted somewhere else—somewhere distant, calculated, and cold. Before Alex could ask what she was thinking, a soft glow began to emanate from her hand. In the blink of an eye, the moon sword materialized in her grasp, its silvery blade gleaming in the dim light.Without warning, Luna turned, her movements swift and precise, and pointed the blade directly at Alex.Gasps erupted from the guards, and a chorus of shouts filled the air. "Alpha! Move!" Timothy yelled, panic lacing his voice.But Alex didn't flinch. He stood rooted in place, his golden eyes locked onto Luna's. He didn't reach for a weapon, didn't make a single move to defend himself. His gaze bore into hers, searching, reading her with a mixture of trust and resignation."If this is how it ends," he said quietly, his voice calm but weighted, as if he wanted to see the extent of her move till the end "then so be it."In a heartbeat, the blade thrust forward, piercing flesh with a sickening sound.