Luna's eyes locked on the figure in front of them, Cade's brother. She recognized him instantly, though his appearance was much more rugged than when they had last crossed paths. His dark hair fell around his face, but his eyes, those sharp, cold eyes, unsettled her. They were no longer filled with the brotherly affection she had once known; instead, they were hollow and filled with malice.
"You shouldn't have come back, Luna." His voice was low, like the growl of a beast preparing to strike.
Cade tensed beside her, his wolf's growl vibrating in his chest. "Don't do this, Lucas," he warned, his voice surprisingly steady despite the tension between them. "This isn't you."
Luna stepped back, her instincts urging her to shift and run. But something held her in place, an unshakable feeling that her fate was irrevocably tied to the moment unfolding before her. Lucas's lips curled into a bitter smile. "I was never truly part of your pack, Cade. But Luna… Luna was always meant to be part of ours."
Luna's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling as she tried to control the terror rising within her.
Cade's face hardened. "It's too late for questions, Luna." His eyes flickered to Lucas, then back to her. "He's been working with the Shadow Pack. He's been planning this for a long time."Lucas chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming with a sick satisfaction. "Yes, Cade. Your precious little Luna has played the pawn in a much bigger game than you both realize."
The ground beneath Luna's feet felt like it was slipping away. Her mind raced as the truth began to settle in. Lucas hadn't just betrayed Cadeche'd betrayed her, too. This wasn't about a sibling rivalry. This was about something deeper, something more sinister.
"You've been using me," Luna whispered, the weight of the realization crashing over her like a tidal wave. "All this time...?"
Lucas didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he looked at her with a mixture of amusement and something darker. "We've all been used, Luna," he said. "But you have the power to change everything. Cade's fooling himself, thinking that you'll stay loyal to him. You think he's your savior, but he's just another part of the plan."
Luna's chest tightened as Lucas's words cut through her, leaving a deep, bitter wound. She had been living under the illusion that she controlled her fate. But everything had been manipulated. Cade, the Shadow Pack, and her connection to the dark power inside her were part of a larger, more dangerous game. Before she could process this new betrayal, Lucas stepped forward, his movements swift and calculated. The air around him seemed to thrum with an unnatural energy, a sickening aura that made the hairs on the back of Luna's neck stand up.
"You're not ready for this, Luna," Cade said suddenly, his voice low and urgent. "Run. You have to run."
But Luna couldn't move. She couldn't run. Not when everything she had believed in was being torn apart before her. The world had been a lie. She had no idea who to trust anymore.
The darkness that had once felt like a force she could control now seemed to be closing in on her. The mark on her neck burned again, hotter this time, and the power within her surged uncontrollably. She couldn't control it. The magic, whatever it was, pulsing, clawing its way to the surface, threatening to overwhelm her. It was too powerful, and she had no idea how to stop it.
As the power surged, Cade stepped before her, his body tense. "Luna, don't! You're not ready to control it yet." But it was too late. The magic inside her had taken over, a dark tide that swept over her body, sinking her deeper into its grip. The forest around them seemed to blur, the shadows of the trees twisting and warping as the power grew more vigorous.
Lucas laughed, a cold, mocking sound echoed in Luna's mind. "You think you can control the darkness, Luna? The more you try, the more it consumes you." And just as quickly as it began, the surge of magic ceased. Luna collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath, her body trembling with the aftershocks of the uncontrolled power.
"Luna?" Cade's voice was soft, filled with concern as he knelt beside her. His hand hovered just above her shoulder, unsure whether to touch her. "What's happening to you?"
Luna's vision swam. She tried to focus and make sense of the chaotic thoughts rushing through her mind. The darkness that had once been her ally now felt like a prison—a place she was trapped in, suffocating under the weight of her own power.
"I don't know," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible.
Lucas stepped forward, his smile wide and triumphant. "It's already too late. The moment you gave into that power, you sealed your fate. There's no going back now, Luna."
Before she could respond, a new sound cut through the night. A sharp crack, followed by the rumble of thunder. Luna's heart raced as the ground beneath them began to shake. The trees trembled, and the sky overhead darkened as though responding to the storm that was gathering within her.
Cade's eyes widened in alarm. "Get ready, Luna. We're not alone."
The air was thick with tension, and Luna could feel the storm of magic building inside her again, stronger than ever. But this time, it wasn't just her magic that was awakening. A much darker presence was making itself known. And it was far more dangerous than anything she had ever encountered.
Before they could react, another wolf stepped into view from the shadows, a silhouette framed by the swirling darkness. Luna's heart skipped a beat when she recognized the figure of another wolf, but not just any wolf. This one was different. His eyes were glowing, an unnatural, eerie shade of gold, and his form was draped in an aura that sent a chill down Luna's spine.
The wolf in front of them stepped fully into the clearing, his glowing eyes locking onto Luna's with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. Cade tensed beside her, his posture defensive.
"Luna." The wolf spoke her name in a voice that was both a command and a warning.
Smooth, but laced with something darker. "You don't know what you've unleashed."
Luna's heart raced as she tried to steady her breath. "Who are you?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the power in her words was undeniable. This stranger, whoever he was,, had more than just the appearance of someone dangerous. A force surrounded him, an energy that felt ancient and raw.
The stranger smiled, but it wasn't a warm smile. It was twisted and dark. "I am the one your brother should have feared," he said, stepping closer. "But now, it's you who must fear me."
Luna felt the ground beneath her feet tremble as though the earth itself was responding to the words of this strange figure. A heavy weight pressed down on her chest. Something about him felt familiar, though she couldn't place why.
"Who are you?" she repeated, her voice trembling with the weight of his words.
The wolf tilted his head as if amused by her uncertainty. "I am what you were always meant to be. Your true purpose, Luna."
Cade stepped forward, his face taut with anger and fear. "Stay away from her," he growled, his eyes flicking to Luna as though to assure her she wasn't alone. "You don't get to claim her as your own."
The wolf chuckled darkly. "Claim her? Oh, Cade. You've misunderstood everything. I'm not here to claim her. I'm here to set her free."
"Free?" Luna repeated, her voice strained. "Free from what?"
The wolf's glowing eyes locked onto hers again, his gaze penetrating as though he could see straight into her soul. "Free from the shackles of the pack. Free from your illusions. The real power is within you, Luna. You've always known it."
Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to comprehend his words. Free from the pack? Free from Cade? What was he talking about?
"You're lying," Cade spat, stepping forward and blocking Luna from view. His protective instincts flared. "Luna belongs with me. She's one of us."
The figure's gaze softened, but only slightly. "Luna is a force of nature, Cade. Something more than a mere wolf. She was never truly one of you. And you, Cade... you've never understood that. You've never understood the power you've been keeping her from."
Luna's breath caught in her throat. "What are you talking about?" she demanded, her voice cracking under the pressure of the situation.
The stranger finally stepped fully into the light, revealing his complete form. He was tall and imposing, his skin as pale as moonlight, his hair long and black, cascading around his shoulders like dark silk. His eyes glowed with an unnatural gold, and his presence radiated an energy that felt cold and ancient.
"I am Thorne," he said as if that name should mean something to her. "I've been watching you, Luna. I've been waiting for this moment. You were always destined for more than this, more than a pack leader's mate, more than the role you've been forced to play."
The air around them grew colder, the wind picking up like a storm was brewing. Luna felt the pressure in her chest intensify as though the air was thickening with tension.
"You've been used," Thorne continued, his voice softer and more persuasive. "Cade may have meant well, but he doesn't understand you like I do. You're not just a wolf, Luna. You're the key to something far greater."
The words hit her like a punch to the stomach. A cold dread spread through her veins, and for the first time since meeting Cade, she questioned everything she had believed in.
"No," Cade's voice was low and dangerous, a growl deep within his chest. "You're lying."
Thorne stepped closer to Luna, his eyes never leaving hers. "Cade doesn't know the truth," he said softly. "He's been blinded by his loyalty to his pack. But you? You were born to wield the darkness. You're more powerful than you can even imagine."
Luna shook her head, trying to push the overwhelming fear from her mind. "What are you saying?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"You're the daughter of a sorceress, Luna," Thorne revealed, his voice barely above a whisper. "A bloodline that has been forgotten for centuries. You have the power to control the darkness, to break the chains that bind you to the pack."
Cade's face contorted with disbelief. "No. That can't be true."
But Luna felt it. There was a stirring deep inside her, something ancient and primal awakening. It was like a dormant power that had been locked away for years, waiting to rise.
"Is it true?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Thorne smiled, his golden eyes glowing brighter in the dim light. "Yes, Luna. You are destined for greatness. You were never meant to be the wolf who followed. You were always meant to lead, to bend the darkness to your will."
Suddenly, Luna felt it. The power surged through her veins, thrumming like a heartbeat. It was like a force of nature, chaotic and dangerous, filling her mind with images of destruction and domination. She could feel it. The magic that ran through her blood was not just a gift. It was a curse.
A flood of memories, dark and fragmented, flashed before her eyes. She saw the faces of witches, sorcerers, and ancient beings who had once ruled over the world, their eyes filled with greed and hunger for power.
But then she saw something else. A vision of her mother, a woman whose face she had never known but whose power and blood ran deep in her veins. She saw her mother standing before a dark altar, chanting in a language she didn't understand. And then her mother's betrayal.
The truth slammed into her with the force of a hurricane.
Her mother had made a pact with the Shadow Pack. And Luna... Luna was the price.
Her mind spun, the magic threatening to consume her entirely.
"Luna, don't let him control you," Cade said urgently, his hand outstretched to her, but she couldn't reach him. The darkness, her true power, was pulling her under, and she was powerless to resist.
But Thorne's voice was a whisper in her ear, cold and beckoning. "You are the one, Luna. You've always known it. You have the power to bring an end to this war."
Suddenly, a deafening roar broke through the night, snapping her out of the trance.
A vast shape emerged from the trees. Luna's heart skipped a beat.
It was a beast. A creature of darkness, its form shifting like a liquid shadow, its eyes glowing with the same unnatural gold as Thorne's.
The beast howled.
Luna's heart raced.