Rise Of The Forsaken Luna

CHAPTER 4

Freya’s POV

“We need the dragon fire to survive this war, Freya…” Nero whispered calmly, holding onto my wrist, but I pulled out once more, my teeth clenching as I stared at him.

“You’ll get nothing from me, Nero. Never!” I yelled at his face, and he huffed bitterly. He did that anytime his patience was wearing thin.

The dragon fire was never meant as a gift of glory. It came during war, when enemies closed in on our lands and our people were on the brink of being wiped out. At that moment of despair, the Moon Goddess sent down the dragon mark like a falling star, a weapon meant to shield the pack from destruction.

But it was never easy to claim. Many tried to catch it, believing they could wield it, yet the fire consumed them alive. Even Nero’s father, the Alpha before him, reached out and died screaming in the flames. When it fell again, Nero tried, but it began to burn him too, his body crumbling under the fire’s weight.

I had rushed to him, desperate to save him, ready to die if it meant easing his pain. The moment I touched him, the fire leapt to me.

Everyone thought it would kill me too, but instead it sank into my skin and marked me. For the first time, the dragon fire accepted someone.

That night I raised a wall of flame around our territory, a blazing dome that forced our enemies back and ended the war before dawn.

From then on, the fire became a part of me. And it was after that night, when the pack was safe, that Nero began to love me. Since then, no war has touched our lands again.

“Freya,” he muttered through his teeth.

His eyes burned into mine, his face was hard and unreadable, but his grip was merciless. His fingers dug into my wrist, not the tender touch of a mate, but the ruthless grip of an Alpha trying to force his command into me.

“You’re not leaving,” he growled, low and dangerous, pulling me closer until I could almost feel his breath against my face.

My chest heaved, panic flooding me, but I fought it back with every ounce of strength I had left. I twisted and tugged, the sharp pain shooting through my arm as I screamed at him, “Let me go, Nero! Let me go!”

But he didn’t loosen his hold. Instead, he tightened it, his dominance pressing down on me but I refused to give him the victory. The pressure made my bones ache. My body trembled with rage and desperation as I struggled, twisting my wrist again and again to free myself.

And then I let out the rage...

Anger rose through me like fire, stronger than the weakness of my body. Before I could think, my hand flew up and I slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the room and Lilith gasped.

Nero’s head snapped to the side, his jaw tightening instantly, his whole body stiffening. For a brief moment, silence filled the room. I froze, staring at him, horrified at what I had just done, but also unwilling to regret it. He had pushed me too far.

Slowly, with a deadly gaze, he turned his face back toward me. His eyes glowed faint red, his wolf seeping through into his body.

His lips curled into a snarl as he growled, “How dare you.”

And then, with a violent jerk, he shoved me backward. The force sent me stumbling, my body slamming against the floor with a harsh thud. Pain exploded through my side, stealing my breath. My hands scrambled against the floor as I tried to steady myself, my vision blurring with the shock.

But Nero wasn’t done.

Before I could even gather myself, he moved forward with heavy steps. His eyes blazed brighter, his chest rising and falling with barely contained rage.

“You think you can defy me?” he roared, and then his hand flew, striking across my cheek.

The c***k of the slap was louder than my gasp. My head snapped sideways, my vision sparking white as I lost all control and collapsed fully onto the floor. The sting seared across my skin, but what cut deeper was the truth that hit me harder than his hand ever could.

Nero had never hit me before.

Not once. Not even when we argued, not even when his anger boiled over. But now… now he had. And the final shred of hope I clung to… hope that maybe some part of him still cared for me, was obliterated.

I lay there on the cold floor, my body trembling, devastated. My heart shattered again in ways I didn’t think were possible.

Nero stood over me, his shadow blotting out the light of the room. His face was twisted in rage as he lifted his leg slowly, purposefully, like he meant to drive it into me with brutal force. My breath caught in my throat, as I saw him trying to kick me.

I braced myself, my arms curling around my body as if that flimsy shield would protect me.

But the impact never came.

A sudden thud jolted me, followed by a sharp grunt. I blinked, and when I looked up, my eyes widened in shock.

Zarek.

He was there, standing firmly between us, his broad frame shielding me completely. He had blocked Nero’s kick from hitting me, catching it against his own body. Even as the Beta, even as someone stronger than me, the force nearly drove him to one knee. The raw power of the strike made me shudder to think what would have happened if it had landed on me.

My mouth fell open, stunned. I had never seen anyone stand between Nero and his rage. Never.

Nero’s eyes widened in disbelief, his anger giving way to confusion. “What do you think you’re doing, Zarek?” he barked.

Zarek didn’t answer. He kept his stance, silent as he held Nero’s gaze.

Nero’s lips curled. His voice dropped into a cold growl. “You know the code. No one stands against the Alpha. Do you want punishment for this? Do you want to be branded a traitor?”

Lilith’s voice came from her bed, as sharp as ever. “He’s breaking the pack’s code for her? For the Luna who isn’t even Luna anymore?” She scoffed. “Zarek, don’t be foolish. Move! Are you really willing to risk everything for her?”

Zarek’s chest rose and fell heavily, his jaw tightening as he finally spoke.

“I know the code, Lilith. But I also know she has suffered enough today, emotionally and physically.” His eyes cut to me briefly before hardening back on Nero. “I won’t let you strike her again.”

I sat frozen on the floor, my hands clutching my chest as I tried to process what I was seeing. Zarek, the Beta, the loyal second-in-command, was standing against Nero. Against his Alpha… for me.

Nero’s lips peeled back into a snarl, his voice rising. “What are you doing, Zarek?”

Still, Zarek didn’t move. His silence was scary, stronger than any words he could have spoken.

Nero’s fist shot forward, striking Zarek across the chin with a punch. The blow turned his head sharply, but he didn’t flinch. He straightened, meeting Nero’s glare once again.

“Move,” Nero said coldly.

Zarek exhaled slowly, “I’m sorry, Alpha. But I can’t.”

Silence fell on the room once more.

My heart thundered in my chest as the weight of his words sank in. No one had ever spoken to Nero like that. No one had ever dared.

Nero’s eyes flared wider, his anger was breaking through into shock. “Who is your loyalty to, Zarek?” he demanded with a sharp voice.

“My loyalty is to the Alpha, as it should be. But if the Alpha cannot control himself…” He paused, his words sank deep into Nero before he could even finish speaking. “…then maybe I need to rethink where that loyalty belongs.”

I could barely breathe. Nero’s face contorted, disbelief and rage twisting his facial features. “How dare you—” he began, his voice rising into a roar.

But before he could finish, the door burst open with a crash.

A warrior stumbled in, his face bloodied, his breathing ragged. His chest heaved as he staggered forward, barely able to keep his balance. “Alpha!” he gasped, his voice trembling. “The Cryptic Moon Pack… they’ve penetrated the north border. They’re coming with full force… dozens, maybe more. Our defenses won’t hold.”

The words hit us like a thunderstrike, everyone knew what that meant.

And then, before anyone could respond, a piercing scream came from outside the room. A scream so raw, so bloodcurdling, it made every one of us freeze.

The war had already begun.