THE LUNAR KINGS SHATTERED CLAIM

CHAPTER 5

The haunting and terrifying cry of the wolves from far away makes me shake like one chased by thousands of snakes.

The fire that Caden set made a soft noise in the quiet hut, the warm glow of the light casting shadows on the walls.

I sat on the edge of the old couch that we saw inside staring at Caden, who paced back and forth like a caged animal. His hands were fists, and his jaw was tight, showing how angry and upset he was.

“Talk to me Caden,” I called softly, breaking the silence in the hut.

He stopped moving around, but he didn’t even look at me. “There’s nothing to say,” he muttered.

“There’s plenty to say, Caden,” I said gently. “Just that you don't want to let me be part of what's eating you up or tell me everything I need to know about you.”

The room felt heavy with all the words he wasn't saying, and I could see the struggle in his eyes as he finally turned to face me, but I wasn’t going to let him shut me out again.

“You can’t continue carrying everything on your own,” a problem shared is half solved, you know. I added, “You’re breaking down under the weight of the problem, and it's too much for you. I—” My voice cracked. “I can’t stand to watch you keep being like this. ”

He laughed bitterly, though there was no happiness in that laughter. “You think you can fix me? Is that it?”

“No,” I said firmly, standing so I could look him in the eyes. “ I think you deserve to be helped .”

My words look like they hurt him harder than any of the battles we’d faced. He took a deep breath and looked away, looking so hopeless.

“I don’t deserve it,” he said quietly.

“Why not? " Because of what you've been through in your past?” I came very close to him, and I was talking gently. “Or because you think you’re the monster everyone says you are?”

He jerked as my words hurt him, and I thought he wouldn’t answer. But then he said in a very quiet voice, barely above a whisper. “Because I let them die.”

I froze .“Who?” I asked.

He sat down on the couch while covering his face with his palms. “My pack. My family. Everyone who trusted me. I failed them all.”

The pain in his voice was raw and intense. It was breaking me. I slowly sat down close to him, and I wasn't sure if he would push me away but I was willing to take the risk.

“Caden,” “Tell me everything, what happened?”

He was mute for quite a long time. When he finally said something, his words were slow and painful, like he was forcing them from the bottom of his heart.

“There was an attack,” he began. “Victor set us up. He said he wanted peace, but it was a trap. I should have seen it coming. I should have protected them. But I didn’t.”

He paused, then continued and his hands were trembling. “I watched them die, one by one, and I couldn’t do anything. I was too weak. Too blind.” he said, almost crying but he never wanted to show it.

I placed my hands over him hesitating for a moment before I touched him. It wasn’t your fault,” I said sweetly.

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter anymore, because they’re all gone, and I’m still here alive. Every step I take feels like a Betrayal to me .”

There was silence in the room except for the soft sound of the fire. I wanted to ask who Victor was or probably comfort him, anything that could ease his pain, but I knew that words alone wouldn’t be enough.

“You’re not running from Victor or afraid of him,” I said after a moment. Rather “You’re afraid of yourself.

He was so upset with my statement that his eyes turned red like an angry lion seeking for him to devour “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said harshly.

“Don’t I?” I said “You think hiding out here, and pushing everyone away, will erase what happened? It won’t. It’ll only leave you alone with your guilt.”

The angry look in his eyes faded away, and for the first time, I saw fear instead.

“I can’t face it,” he admitted, swallowing hard, his eyes dropping “I can’t face them.”

“You don’t have to face them alone,” I said. “You have me.”

There was a lot of tension between us. Then, he looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time in his life or maybe he was probably seeing a terrifying ghost.

“He looked at me with a serious expression, “Why care so much about me even when you're getting deeper into trouble that might kill you ?” he asked calmly.

“Because I see you,” I said simply. “Not your mistakes, not the guilt. Just you.

And you’re worth fighting for, even if you don’t believe in me .”

He took a long, deep breath, and his eyes looked wet. But instead of tears, he gently brushed a hair from my face. His touch was so soft and surprising, that it took my breath away.

“he looked at me with sad eyes and admiration. “You're too good to be in this world,” he said softly.

“And you’re stronger than you think,” I replied, looking back at him with a gentle smile.

The moment hung between us, fragile yet unbreakable. Then, as if we were drawn by some invisible force, he drew closer to me.

But just before our lips could meet, a loud knock came at the door and broke the moment like glass shattering, ruining the romantic moment.

Caden got up immediately, rising to his feet, his body was instantly tense. “Stay here,” he said in a very calm tone.

“Caden ” I called.

“Please,” he said, his eyes begging me.

I nodded reluctantly as he moved toward the door, his whole body was ready to fight anything or anyone there.

He opened the door with much carefulness, and to my greatest surprise, a woman was standing at the door with her long dark hair that had a hint of grey, and her bright green eyes seemed to notice everything that was in the hut at once.

“Hello, Caden,” she said, her voice smooth and commanding.

His face hardened. “What the hell are you doing here ?” Caden thundered.

“I came to warn you,” she answered while staring directly at me. “Though I see I’m already too late.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, moving forward despite Caden’s warning with his glance.

The woman smiled faintly. “It means you’ve gotten yourself into something far bigger than you think.”

“Who are you, and what do you mean by your words ?” I asked.

“An old friend,” she said, and as for my words you'll understand it better soon.

The way Caden’s fists tightened told me that she was lying. “And I have a message for you, Caden.” the woman said.

He didn’t say a word; his eyebrows drew together, and his eyes tightened at the corners.

“Victor isn’t your biggest threat anymore,” I said in a soft, precise tone. “There’s someone else. Someone who wants you killed, and they’ll stop at nothing to fulfill it.”

My guts twisted with anxiety as I turned to Caden, my eyes wide with worry.

“What's going on Caden, I asked so fast, my voice barely audible .“What does she mean?”

But he didn’t answer. He was very quiet and his silence said more than any words could have.

The woman took a step closer, her face softening a little. “You have a choice to make,” she said. “Face your past, or let it destroy you. And her.”

She turned to leave but stopped halfway, then said to me “I hope you make the best decision.”

And with those words, she left the hut immediately, like she disappeared or something, leaving me with more questions than the answers I sought.

I turned to Caden, my heart pounding very fast. “What is she talking about?” I asked him.

Caden's shoulders sagged as if the weight of the problem he carried just got heavier.

“She’s right,” he said finally. “It’s time I stop running.”