POV: Seraphina
They want me to surrender.
The words taste like ash. Five packs. Five full armies. All demanding I hand myself over by dawn or they attack.
Kael's jaw tightens. You're not surrendering to anyone.
Then innocent people will die. I look around the emergency Council meeting. Damien is unconscious in the corner, guarded by warriors. The remaining Council members look terrified. How many wolves do we have?
Two hundred fighters, Finn says grimly. The five packs combined have over a thousand.
We can't win, Elder Roland says quietly. Perhaps if we give them what they want
We're not giving them anything. Kael's dominance fills the room. Seraphina is my mate. She's Luna. And I'll burn this pack to the ground before I let them take her.
Through our bond, I feel his absolute certainty. He means it. He'd sacrifice everything for me.
There might be another way, Isaac says. He's been quiet until now, standing with Natasha. Seraphina, your power isn't fully awakened yet. If we teach you to control it properly, you could
Control five armies? I laugh bitterly. I can barely control myself.
Not control them. Convince them. Natasha steps forward. The prophecy about the first Luna says she united the packs not through force, but through the mate bonds. She showed them what they could become together.
I don't understand.
Moonborn can see and manipulate pack bonds, Isaac explains. But the prophesied Luna could do more. She could create new bonds. Link packs together.
You want me to bond five enemy packs? My voice rises. That's impossible!
Maybe, Natasha admits. But it's the only way to stop a war.
We have until dawn, Kael says. That's six hours. Can you teach her in six hours?
Isaac and Natasha exchange looks. We can try.
They take me to a clearing away from the compound. Just the three of us. Kael wanted to come, but Isaac said the mate bond would interfere with the training.
Show me what you can feel, Isaac orders.
I close my eyes and reach out. The pack bonds appear like threads of light. Silvercrest wolves glow silver. But beyond our territory, I can sense others different colors, different packs.
I see them, I whisper. Hundreds of wolves.
Good. Now find the Alphas. Their bonds will be strongest.
I focus. Five blazing lights appear each one connected to dozens of smaller threads. The Alpha bonds.
I found them.
Can you touch their bonds? Sense what they're feeling?
I reach for the closest Alpha bond. The moment I touch it, emotions flood me. Fear. Greed. Desperation.
He's afraid, I gasp. His pack is starving. He thinks capturing me will give him power to take more territory.
And the others? Natasha asks.
I check each one. This one wants revenge Moonborn killed his father. This one is being controlled by someone else. This one just wants glory. And this one I pause. This one is terrified of what I represent.
They all want something, Isaac says. Your job is to show them they can get it without war.
How?
By offering them an alliance. A true alliance, bound by Moonborn power. Their packs will be stronger together than separate. Guaranteed territory. Shared resources. Protection.
And if they refuse?
Then we fight, Natasha says grimly. And we probably die.
We train for hours. Isaac teaches me to strengthen bonds, weaken them, create temporary links. Natasha shows me how to project my intentions through the connections.
My head pounds. My hands shake. But slowly, I'm learning.
You're ready, Isaac finally says as the sky starts lightening. As ready as you'll ever be.
We return to the compound. Kael meets us at the entrance. Through our bond, I feel his relief at seeing me safe.
The armies are gathering, he says. They'll be here within the hour.
Then we meet them. I take his hand. Together.
The five packs arrive as the sun breaks over the horizon. Five Alphas stand at the front, flanked by hundreds of warriors.
I walk out to meet them with Kael at my side. Isaac and Natasha follow. Finn and our fighters form a line behind us.
Two hundred against a thousand.
Moonborn Luna, one Alpha calls out. He's massive, scarred. We don't want bloodshed. Surrender peacefully and your pack lives.
I have a better offer, I say, projecting my voice. An alliance. All six packs united under Moonborn protection.
Laughter ripples through the enemy ranks.
Why would we ally with you when we can just take you? another Alpha sneers.
Because I can give you what you really want. I reach out with my power, touching each Alpha's bond. Territory. Resources. Protection. Power.
They feel it. I see their eyes widen as I show them the vision six packs working together, stronger than any single pack alone.
Or, I continue, you can attack. You'll win. But you'll lose half your warriors in the process. Is that worth it?
The Alphas look at each other. I can feel them wavering.
What guarantee do we have? the scarred Alpha asks.
Me. I step forward. I'll create a bond between all six packs. You'll feel each other's loyalty. Betrayal will be impossible.
That's never been done, someone says.
I'm the prophesied Luna, I say. Descended from the first Moonborn who united the packs a thousand years ago. If anyone can do this, it's me.
The Alphas confer quietly. Minutes stretch like hours.
Finally, the scarred Alpha steps forward. We accept. Create your alliance.
Relief floods through me. It worked.
Form a circle, I instruct. All six Alphas.
They do. I step into the center, reaching out with my power. I can feel their bonds strong, proud, separate.
I begin weaving them together. It's like braiding six different threads into one rope. Difficult. Painful.
Sweat drips down my face. My hands shake.
Almost there
A scream cuts through the clearing.
Everyone turns. A warrior runs toward us, terror on his face.
Attack from the south border! he shouts. Hundreds of rogues they're slaughtering everyone!
That's impossible, Kael says. Rogues don't work together in those numbers.
The warrior's voice shakes. They're not just rogues. They're organized. Led by someone.
Who? I demand.
He said to tell the Moonborn The warrior gasps for breath. His name is Ezra. And he's coming for all of you.
Isaac's face goes white. No. That's impossible. I killed him twenty years ago.