RISE OF THE WARRIOR LUNA

SHATTERED CROWN Lyra's POV The bar stank of sweat, whiskey, and wolves—my kind of hell. I slung a rag over my shoulder, pouring another shot on a grizzled Silverclaw regular who didn’t bother hiding his pity stare. Three months since Jasper, my so-called mate, tossed me aside for Selene, that omega concubine with a smile like a snake. Three months since I lost my Luna title, my pack’s respect, and my damn spine. I was Lyra Grayman, trained to break jaws, not pour drinks, but here I was, playing bartender in a Rockies dive, my boots sticking to the floor. Freaking gross. Tessa, my best friend and Silverclaw’s beta, leaned on the counter, her pixie cut a mess from arm-wrestling some rogue. “Hey, Lyra, are you going to glare at that bottle all night or serve it?” Her hazel eyes twinkled, but I caught the worry. She’d been my rock since Jasper’s betrayal, slinging sarcasm to keep me from snapping. “Shut it, Tess,” I grumbled, sliding the shot to the regular. My chipped skull mug sat by the sink, my one piece of house. I scratched my claw tattoo, itching to punch something. Warrior, my ass. I’d played the perfect Luna, all soft smiles and bowed head, for Jasper. What’d that get me? Crowing Selene in the front seat beside him, with her golden hair shining like she had won some lottery. The oak door opened wide, and I felt a twinge in my stomach. Jasper walked in boldly, his blond hair shining, wearing a vest. Selene hung her arm into his like some cheap ornament. Her amber eyes flicked at me, that fake-sweet smile cutting deeper than claws. Behind them, Silverclaw wolves poured in. Tonight was a packed summit, and I wasn’t invited. Not anymore. “Lyra,” Jasper said, his blue eyes cold as the Rockies snow. “You’re still here?” I gripped the counter, my wolf snarling. “It’s my bar, asshole.” Tessa snorted, but her hand slid to the knife in her boot. Selene’s laugh was sugar and poison. “Oh, Lyra, you’re embarrassing yourself.” Jasper’s announcing the new Luna tonight. You should leave. My blood boiled. New Luna? I’d been cast out, but hearing it stung like a blade. The pack’s eyes burned into me— pity, scorn, amusement. I was Lyra Grayman, who’d taken down rogues at sixteen, now reduced to a bartender. My bondweaving power, that cursed gift I barely understood, stirred in my chest, hot and wild. Mom’s blood ritual gave me the ability to bend pack bonds, make them loyal, or break ‘em, but it came with a shadow, a voice in my head that whispered dark s**t. I shoved it down, scared it’d eat me alive. “Get out,” I growled, but Jasper stepped closer, his whiskey scent choking me. “You’re banished, Lyra,” he said, loud enough for the whole bar to hear. “Weakness has no place in Silverclaw.” The crowd jeered, and my wolf howled, claws itching. Weakness? I’d dulled my claws for him, played the good mate, and he called me weak? My bondweaving flared, a gold spark in my veins, and for a second, I felt Silverclaw’s loyalty waver, their eyes flickering from Jasper to me. Holy crap, did I do that? Before I could figure it out, the door banged open again. Three alphas stormed in, the air crackling with their power. Kael Draven, Shadowfang’s brooding tank, led the pack, his gray eyes locking on me like I was prey. His cedar-and-steel scent hit me, and my wolf whined, traitor. Rune Holt, Ironfang’s creepy alpha, followed, twirling a blade with a grin that made my skin crawl. Last was Finn Marek, a rogue alpha I hadn’t seen since we were kids, his hazel eyes too familiar, stirring old pain. What the hell were they doing here? "Lyra,” Kael said, voice low, cutting through the noise. “We need to talk.” Rune’s grin widened. “Yeah, sweetheart. You’re coming with us.” Finn stayed silent, but his gaze screamed trouble. Tessa stood, knife out, but I froze. Four alphas, Jasper included, stared me down like I was the last bone in a dogfight. My bondweaving pulsed, the shadow’s whisper louder: Break them. I stumbled, my boot catching on a smooth stool, and Lyra grabbed my mug for balance, nearly dropping it. “Back off,” I snapped, heart pounding. “I’m not your prize.” Selene laughed, stepping forward. “Oh, Lyra, you’re everyone’s prize. Tell them, Jasper.” Jasper's jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it. A twist hit me like a punch: Selene wasn’t just flaunting her win; she knew about my bond-weaving. How? Only Tessa and I knew, and we’d kept it buried. My eyes flicked to her, and she shook her head, as confused as me. "Lyra,” Kael said, voice low, cutting through the noise. “We need to talk.” Rune’s grin widened. “Yeah, sweetheart. You’re coming with us.” Finn stayed silent, but his gaze screamed trouble. Tessa stood, knife out, but I froze. Four alphas, Jasper included, stared me down like I was the last bone in a dogfight. My bondweaving pulsed, the shadow’s whisper louder: Break them. I stumbled, my boot catching on a smooth stool, and Lyra grabbed my mug for balance, nearly dropping it. “Back off,” I snapped, heart pounding. “I’m not your prize.” Selene laughed, stepping forward. “Oh, Lyra, you’re everyone’s prize. Tell them, Jasper.” Jasper's jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it. A twist hit me like a punch: Selene wasn’t just flaunting her win; she knew about my bond weaving. How? Only Tessa and I knew, and we’d kept it buried. My eyes flicked to her, and she shook her head, as confused as me. Rune’s laugh chased us. “Run, sweetheart! Makes it fun!” Finn’s voice cut through, low and urgent. “Lyra, wait!” I didn’t. We hit the alley, snow crunching under my boots, but howls echoed: Shadowfang, Ironfang, and rogues, all hunting. Selene’s voice rang out, sharp and smug: “She can’t hide her power now!” My heart raced. They knew. All of them. My bondweaving wasn’t a secret anymore, and four alphas were coming for me, each wanting my power for their own screwed-up reasons. Tessa grabbed my hand, her knife glinting, but a Shadowfang wolf blocked the alley, Kael’s scent closing in. I turned, gold light flaring in my palms, ready to break something or someone. No more running. Not tonight.