Luna of Shadow keep
Celeste’s POV
The blood–stained message trembled in Kaelen’s hand, the jagged letters carved into the parchment as if seared there by a curse: “Thornclaw will burn again. Bring her to us, or the bloodshed will never end.”
1 stared at it, my heart pounding as the weight of those words sank in. The world around me–the charred remains of the village, the anguished cries of survivors, even Kaelen’s commanding presence–faded into the background. All I could see was the malice in those words.
They wanted me.
“We need to leave,” Kaelen said, his voice cutting through the fog in my mind. He crumpled the parchment in his fist, his gray eyes ablaze with fury. “This is a distraction, a warning. If we stay here too long, they’ll make their next move.”
“They can’t attack Thornclaw,” I said, my voice trembling. “It’s already gone.”
Kaelen’s eyes snapped to mine, his expression unyielding. “This isn’t just about Thornclaw. It’s about you.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but a warrior appeared before us, his face streaked with soot and blood. “Alpha, we’ve secured the perimeter, but the rogues were clever. They
left no trail.”
Kaelen cursed under his breath, running a hand through his dark hair. “Cowards. They wanted to send a message, not start a fight.”
The warrior hesitated before continuing. “There’s more, Alpha. We found a survivor who claims to have seen their leader.”
Kaelen’s jaw tightened. “Take me to them.”
I followed as the warrior led us through the wreckage. The air was thick with smoke and the metallic tang of blood. Every step felt heavier than the last as I braced myself for what lay ahead.
We stopped near the remains of what used to be a barn, where a young man sat huddled on the ground, his arms wrapped around his knees. He was shaking, his face pale beneath the grime.
Kaelen crouched in front of him, his low, commanding tone breaking the silence. “Who
did this?”
The man looked up, his eyes wide with fear. “R–rogues,” he stammered. “But they weren’t normal. They had a leader. A man… tall, blond hair, silver eyes. He… he looked at me like I was nothing. Like we were all nothing and the other…I heard someone called him…erm…whats the name I heard…Ald…Alden.”
1/4
Luna of Shadow keep
My blood ran cold.
Thornclaw had burned once, my family and pack reduced to ash. To them, it was over. To me, it was a scar that would never heal. But now, even the ashes weren’t safe.”
“Lucien Greythorn,” Kaelen said, his voice sharp as steel. “Alden.”
The man nodded frantically. “He said… he said it wasn’t over yet. That they’d get her.” His gaze shifted to me, his fear intensifying. “The Thornclaw Luna. He said…
something about power. About you being the key.”
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy shroud.
“Key…key to what?” Kaelen stood abruptly, his shoulders rigid. He turned to Dorian, who had joined us silently. “Send warriors to fortify Shadow Keep. Double the patrols. I want no gaps in our defenses.”
Beta Dorian nodded grimly. “And the survivor?”
Kaelen glanced at the trembling man. “Take him back with us. He’s seen enough.”
The ride back to Shadow Keep was silent, tension crackling between Kaelen and me as thick as the smoke we left behind. I couldn’t stop replaying the words on the parchment, the fear in the survivor’s eyes, and the name that Kaelen had spoken: Lucien Greythorn.
But it wasn’t just Lucien. My thoughts churned with another name–Alden. The mate who had turned his back on me when Thornclaw burned, who had sided with Lucien after rejecting me. The betrayal festered like an old wound, bleeding anew with every step closer to Shadow Keep.
Alden’s rejection had gutted me once, but hearing name and remembering his face now, knowing he stood with Lucien with destroying my pack and family, felt like the ashes of Thornclaw were burning me all over again.
When we arrived, I dismounted hastily, ignoring the curious stares of the sentries as I passed under the gate. My legs felt weak, my thoughts a storm of rage, fear, and memories I wanted to forget but couldn’t.
Kaelen caught up to me before I reached my chambers. “Celeste,” he called, his voice softer than I expected.
I stopped but didn’t turn. “This is because of me,” I whispered.
“No,” he said firmly, stepping in front of me. His gray eyes searched mine, serious and unyielding. “This is because of them. Don’t take the blame for their choices.”
I shook my head, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. “They’re coming for me, Kaelen. They’ll keep coming, and people will keep dying because of it. How can I not feel responsible?”
Kaelen reached out, his hand brushing against mine. “Because you didn’t cause this.
2/4
Luna of Shadow keep
They’re targeting you because you’re strong, because you survived. That’s not something to be ashamed of.”
His words should have soothed me, but they didn’t. My mind was too consumed by the message, by Lucien’s name, and by the memory of Alden’s betrayal.
“What do they want from me?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Why won’t they just let Thornclaw die?”
Kaelen’s expression darkened, and he faltered before replying. “Because Thornclaw isn’t dead. Not while you’re breathing. You are a sign of hope, of strength. And that’s a threat.”
Later that night, I stood on the balcony of my chambers, staring out at the sprawling forests beyond Shadow Keep. The cool night air did little to soothe the storm raging inside me.
You can’t let them win, Celeste, Usla said, stirring restlessly in my mind.
“I don’t feel strong,” I admitted in a whisper.
You don’t need to feel it, she replied. You just need to be it.
I closed my eyes, drawing in a shaky breath. Usla’s words resonated, but they didn’t silence the fear clawing at me.
Footsteps behind me made me turn. Kaelen stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
“You should be resting,” he said.
“So should you,” I replied.
He stepped closer, his presence grounding me. “I’ve sent patrols to the neighboring packs. We’ll be ready if Lucien or Alden tries anything.”
“And if they do?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my efforts at calm. “How many more villages will burn before they’re satisfied?”
Kaelen’s jaw tightened, his gaze locking with mine. “None. I won’t let it happen.”
His certainty should have reassured me, but it only made my chest ache. “You can’t be everywhere, Kaelen. You can’t stop them alone.”
“Who said I’m alone?” he asked, his voice softer now. “I can’t stop them everywhere,” he admitted, his voice tight./”But I can try. And I won’t let them take you, Celeste.”
I looked at him, searching his face. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and for the first time, I saw more than duty. I saw trust.
“I’ll protect you,” he said, his–hand brushing mine. “No matter what it takes.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with promise. I wanted to believe him. But deep down,
I knew the only way to stop Lucien–and Alden–was to face them myself.
As the moon climbed higher, casting a silvery glow over the balcony, I made a silent
3/4
Luna of Shadow keep
VOW.
“The fires that took Thornclaw burned through my soul, but I would not let them scorch what remained of me. No more running. No more waiting.”
If they wanted the Thornclaw Luna of Shadow keep, they’d get her.
But not on their terms.
囡
