Chapter 4: The King Wants Her Alive
1127 Words
“The royal family is coming for you next.”
Kael’s words echoed through Luna’s mind long after the fake woman’s body was dragged away.
The prison cell smelled like blood and iron.
Luna stood frozen.
“What do you mean… they’re coming for me?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
That silence terrified her.
Damien dismissed the guards and shut the prison doors.
Now only Luna, Kael, and Damien remained.
Luna’s breathing became shaky.
“Tell me the truth.”
Kael’s crimson eyes locked onto hers.
“The creatures that attacked us in the forest…”
He paused.
“They were sent by the royal family.”
Luna’s stomach dropped.
“No…”
“They’ve been searching for you for years.”
“That makes no sense!” Luna shouted. “I’m nobody!”
Kael stepped closer.
“That’s exactly what your father wanted you to believe.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
“No…”
“Your mother didn’t disappear.”
“You said she was alive.”
“She is.”
Luna’s eyes widened.
“Then who was that woman?”
“An assassin sent to lure you out.”
Luna felt dizzy.
“So where is my real mother?”
Kael hesitated.
That was answer enough.
“You don’t know.”
His jaw tightened.
“No.”
Luna laughed bitterly.
“So let me understand this.”
She pointed at him.
“You kidn*pped me.”
She pointed toward the dead assassin.
“The king wants me.”
Then she pointed at herself.
“And somehow I’m supposed to trust you?”
Kael stared at her quietly.
“No.”
Luna blinked.
“What?”
“You shouldn’t trust me.”
That caught her off guard.
Kael stepped back.
“I’ve killed innocent people.”
His voice became quieter.
“I’ve done terrible things while under the curse.”
He looked directly at her.
“And I still dragged you here against your will.”
Luna remained silent.
Kael continued.
“But I will never lie to you.”
Something in his voice felt painfully sincere.
Before Luna could respond—
the castle shook violently.
BOOM.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Another explosion followed.
Guards screamed outside.
Damien cursed.
“They’re here.”
Kael instantly shifted into Alpha mode.
“What happened?”
A warrior burst into the prison.
“Royal forces have breached the outer wall!”
Luna’s face turned pale.
“That fast?”
Kael grabbed her hand.
“Stay with me.”
She instinctively tried pulling away—
but another explosion shook the castle harder than before.
Stone cracked.
People screamed.
Luna grabbed him back.
Kael glanced at her trembling hand gripping his.
Neither of them said anything.
They ran through the castle corridors.
Chaos surrounded them.
Servants cried.
Children hid.
Warriors rushed toward battle.
When they reached the main courtyard—
Luna froze.
Thousands of royal soldiers surrounded the castle.
Silver armor reflected moonlight.
At the center stood a woman riding a white horse.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Terrifying.
She wore a silver crown.
Her lips curved into a smile.
“Kael.”
Kael’s entire body went rigid.
“Selene.”
Luna looked between them.
“Who is she?”
Selene’s gaze landed on Luna.
Her smile widened.
“So this is the girl.”
Luna frowned.
“Who are you?”
Selene lifted her chin proudly.
“Princess Selene of the Royal Bloodline.”
Luna’s stomach dropped.
The princess slowly dismounted her horse.
Her beauty was almost unreal.
But her eyes were cruel.
She stared at Luna like she was livestock.
“How disappointing.”
Luna clenched her fists.
“What do you want?”
Selene smiled.
“You.”
Kael stepped protectively in front of Luna.
“She’s not yours.”
Selene laughed.
“Oh Kael…”
Her gaze softened strangely.
“You always were possessive.”
Luna looked at Kael.
“What is she talking about?”
Selene smirked.
“He didn’t tell you?”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“Selene.”
But she kept talking.
“We were engaged once.”
Luna froze.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
Kael remained silent.
That silence hurt more than it should have.
Selene enjoyed every second of it.
“He promised to marry me.”
Luna turned toward Kael.
“Is that true?”
Kael’s jaw clenched.
“It was political.”
Selene laughed loudly.
“Tell her the real reason.”
Kael growled.
“Enough.”
Selene’s smile vanished.
“She deserves the truth.”
Her eyes locked onto Luna.
“He wanted me to help break his curse.”
Luna’s face went pale.
“What?”
Selene slowly approached.
“But then you appeared.”
She leaned closer.
“And suddenly you became more useful.”
Luna’s heartbeat stopped.
Useful.
Not loved.
Useful.
Kael stepped forward angrily.
“That’s not true.”
Selene laughed.
“Then tell her why you searched for ancient prophecies.”
Luna stepped backward.
“No…”
Kael looked desperate for the first time.
“Luna, listen to me—”
“Were you using me?”
Her voice cracked.
“No.”
“Then answer me!”
Kael fell silent.
That silence destroyed her.
Tears filled Luna’s eyes.
Selene smiled victoriously.
“I told you.”
Luna backed away from Kael.
Her heart shattered again.
First Ethan.
Now him.
Kael moved toward her.
“Luna—”
She slapped him.
Hard.
“I trusted you.”
Before Kael could respond—
Selene raised her hand.
“Capture her.”
Royal soldiers charged forward.
Kael instantly shifted.
His monstrous black wolf roared.
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
Damien fought beside him.
Blood covered the courtyard.
Luna stood frozen in heartbreak and terror.
Then someone grabbed her from behind.
A cloth covered her mouth.
Her vision blurred.
The last thing she saw—
was Kael screaming her name while drowning in blood.
“LUNAAAA!”
Darkness consumed her.
Darkness didn’t come all at once.
It crept in slowly.
Luna’s body went limp, but her mind still struggled to stay awake. Voices echoed around her—distant, distorted, like they were underwater.
“Be careful with her.”
“The princess wants her alive.”
“Move!”
She tried to fight.
Tried to open her eyes.
But everything felt too heavy.
Too far away.
Through the fading blur, she thought she heard Kael’s voice again—raw, furious, breaking through the chaos.
“Don’t touch her!”
A violent crash followed.
Screams.
Bones snapping.
Then silence.
A single tear slipped down Luna’s cheek as the last of her strength disappeared.
Her fingers twitched weakly—reaching for something that was no longer there.
For someone.
But the darkness was stronger.
And this time—
it didn’t let her go.
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