THE LUNAR KINGS SHATTERED CLAIM

CHAPTER 6

The night felt endless, with a dense silence that wrapped over us like a heavy blanket. The air crashed down on me, tight and difficult for me to breathe.

The feeble starlight above provided little light, casting weak shadows on the ground.

Caden kept pacing around the room while running his hands through his hair as if he were trying to get the answers out of his head.

The fire crackled quietly, throwing flickering light across his face. Which made the surrounding shadows around him appear deeper, almost alive.

“What did she mean, Caden?” I asked, trying to remain calm even though my gut was tight with terror. “Who is after you?” “And why am I involved?”

He stopped walking and looked at me, his face looked so worn , he appeared years older. “It's not simple to say Serenity,” he mumbled, with a harsh voice.

“Then explain it to me,” I responded forcefully, moving closer to him. “Because I'm not leaving you to handle this on your own.”

His eyes scanned mine as if he were waiting for some doubt or fear that would cause me to walk away. But I did not back down and when he understood that, he exhaled sharply and shook his head, as if he had given up on holding back.

“The woman,” he finally replied, his voice low, “is called Selena. She used to be in my pack. “I trusted her. He stopped, his jaw tensing. “But she turned her back on us and joined Victor to fight us. She is part of the reason my pack was destroyed.”

I blinked, trying to absorb his words. But she warned you tonight. “Why would she do that if she was your enemy?”

“She didn't warn me because she cares,” he admitted angrily. “Selena never does things without a reason. For Selena to be here ,means that she needs me to survive for the time being.”

“For now?” I said, my heart pounding heavily. “Caden, this isn't just about Victor, is it all about you and what you want to do?”

He shook his head, his expression grim. “Victor has been after me for years. But if Selena is warning me, that implies someone worse is after me right now.

“I'm not sure who they are, but if they're more dangerous than Victor... His speech drifted off, and his expression darkened. “Then they won't stop.”

His words seemed like a big weight weighing against me. Fear rose in my chest, but I pushed it down. I could not allow it to control me. Instead, I reached out and took his hand, intertwining my fingers through it. His eyes were drawn to mine, and he was astonished.

“You're not doing this alone,”I said calmly. “We'll face this together, Caden, I said .

Caden did not respond right away. When he did, his eyes were frigid, as if he were looking directly at me. His jaw clenched. “You think it will be possible to face my enemies with me,” he replied.

I sighed loudly and held my knees to my chest, trembling. “We can't continue living like this forever,” I softly said. “Always waiting for the next bad thing to happen to us .”

“Some of us don't have a choice,” he said, his voice sharp as ice.

His remarks hurt, yet I did not fight back. I knew he was carrying more than he let on. I could see it in the way his shoulders remained stiff, and he was constantly on edge. There was more he wasn't saying, but I wasn't sure what to ask.

The silence stretched and grew heavier with each passing second. Finally, he broke it, speaking softly and firmly.

“Who are you, Serenity?” he inquired.

The question took me off guard. I blinked, wondering how to reply. “I... told you. “My name is Serenity.

“No,” he said, his eyes hardening. “So, who are you? A lone female werewolf staying in the woods, with no pack or support... “It does not add up or make sense.”

My chest tightened. “I told you who I am,” I explained, my voice quivering.

My name is Serenity. “That is all.”

He did not seem convinced. “You're lying," he said candidly. “A lone wolf wouldn't make it out here without a reason. Tell me the truth.

My hands tightened into fists, and tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You think I wanted this?”I asked , my voice breaking.

Caden's arms were crossed, and his expression was grim. “I think you're hiding something.”

That broke something inside me. I stood up, and my entire body was shivering.

“You want the truth?” I thundered, my voice cracking from the pain of my emotions.

Memories I'd tried so much to forget and bury came back to the surface, clawing at me. My fists tightened as I attempted to hold everything back.

He didn't even move; he just stood there, watching and waiting for me to talk.

“I didn't choose this life I'm living now,” I said, my voice rough and raw. “When I was a kid, my pack was wiped clean. My entire family is gone. I hid under a tree and listened to their screams.

Knowing I couldn't save them broke my heart.” My voice cracked while I spoke, but I kept on going. I lied because I didn't want him to know my complete tale.

“I survived by fleeing, hiding, and doing whatever it required for my survival . And when no one else was around, I stayed in the woods all alone.”

Tears were running down my cheeks, and my voice was faintly heard. “Do you know what it means for someone to wake up every morning and every day knowing that no one cares if you are alive or dead?” It was so devastating, I said.

Caden's face slightly softened, and the anger in his eyes faded away slowly. I noticed something more in his eyes: sorrow and shame written all over him.

“Serenity…” he began, but I interrupted.

“I've been alone for quite a long time,” I said softly, my voice barely audible. “I'm not even sure how to trust anyone anymore. But Caden, I did not ask to be dragged into your world. I was only trying to survive and also helping you out.”

I slumped to the ground and buried my face in my palms. My cries and tears rocked me, raw and loud, and I despised the fact that he saw me in this way.

Then I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. His touch was cautious and unsure, but that didn't make me look up.

“I'm sorry,” he stated softly. His voice was soft and gentle. “I did not intend to accuse you. I've also lost a lot. “I find it difficult to trust others.” He stammered.

I wiped my face, my chest still heaving. “I don't want your pity, Caden.”

“It's not a pity,” he stated firmly. “It's an understanding.”

The honesty in his voice forced me to stop saying anything else. I saw the flaws in his armor, the sorrow he covered, and the loss he worked so hard to hide.

“Why did you save me from the rouge?” I inquired abruptly, my voice barely audible. My heart beat as the question lingered in the air.

He stood up, his hand resting on his side. His back was to me, and his shoulders were tense. “Because you didn't deserve to die out here,” he added with a harsh voice. “Not like that.” His words lingered, heavy and full of meaning.

I got up and brushed the dirt off my clothes.

I felt so weak and shaky in my legs, yet I forced myself to stand up. “So, what do we do now?” I asked coldly.

Caden turned slightly, just enough to make eye contact with me. His expression was unreadable, but his voice remained firm.

“Now we'll figure out what will happen next,” and where we will go from here. He remarked.