Chapter 5: The King’s Prisoner
1025 Words
Cold water splashed across Luna’s face.
She gasped awake.
Chains rattled around her wrists.
Her entire body ached.
Her vision slowly cleared—
and her breath caught.
She was trapped inside a massive golden cage.
Not a prison cell.
A cage.
Placed in the center of an enormous throne room.
Moon symbols were carved into the marble floor.
Royal guards surrounded her from every direction.
Luna immediately pulled against the chains.
“Let me out!”
Her voice echoed through the empty hall.
Slow clapping answered her.
Luna froze.
A man emerged from the shadows.
Tall.
Elegant.
Terrifyingly calm.
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
A black crown rested on his head.
Every guard immediately bowed.
“My king.”
Luna’s heartbeat pounded.
The Werewolf King.
King Lucian.
He smiled as he approached her cage.
At first glance, he looked kind.
That made him even more terrifying.
“You’re finally awake.”
Luna glared at him.
“You attacked Kael’s castle.”
Lucian sighed dramatically.
“Such poor manners. I expected gratitude.”
“Gratitude?”
He nodded.
“Yes. I saved your life.”
Luna laughed bitterly.
“You kidn*pped me.”
Lucian crouched in front of her cage.
“You misunderstand.”
His golden eyes studied her carefully.
“I have spent twenty years searching for you.”
Luna’s body froze.
“What?”
Lucian smiled.
“And now I finally have you.”
Luna stepped backward.
“What do you want from me?”
His expression softened unnaturally.
“You were born for something far greater than love.”
Her stomach twisted.
“What are you talking about?”
Lucian turned toward his guards.
“Bring her.”
The giant throne room doors opened.
Luna’s entire world stopped.
A weak woman was dragged into the room.
Thin.
Bruised.
Barely able to stand.
But Luna recognized her instantly.
Her mother.
This time—
it was truly her.
Luna’s knees nearly gave out.
Memories crashed into her all at once.
Her mother brushing her hair before bed.
Her soft lullabies during thunderstorms.
The scent of jasmine that always clung to her dresses.
The warm hands that used to protect Luna from nightmares.
And the night she disappeared.
Luna had waited by the window until sunrise.
Certain her mother would return.
She never did.
Until now.
“Mom…” Luna whispered.
Her mother collapsed to her knees.
“You’ve grown so much…”
Luna gripped the cage bars until her palms bled.
“Why didn’t you come back for me?”
Her mother burst into tears.
“I tried.”
Luna froze.
“What?”
“They killed everyone who helped me escape.”
Her mother trembled violently.
“They told me if I ever searched for you again… they would kill you.”
Tears streamed down Luna’s face.
“So you abandoned me?”
Her mother screamed.
“Never!”
The entire throne room fell silent.
“I watched you from afar for years.”
Luna stopped breathing.
“What?”
“Every birthday.”
“Every full moon.”
“Every time you cried…”
Her voice shattered.
“I was there.”
Luna completely broke down.
“Then why didn’t you save me?”
Her mother slowly looked toward Lucian.
Her eyes filled with hatred.
“Because monsters wear crowns too.”
Lucian slowly clapped.
“Touching.”
His expression turned cold.
“Tell her the truth.”
Luna looked at her mother.
“What truth?”
Her mother shook violently.
“No…”
Lucian nodded at a guard.
A silver blade pressed against her mother’s throat.
Luna screamed.
“STOP!”
Her mother sobbed.
“You were never meant to be born…”
Luna froze.
“What?”
“You carry the blood of the Moon Priestess.”
The room went silent.
“For centuries our bloodline protected the werewolf kingdom.”
Lucian smiled.
“Until your mother betrayed the crown.”
“She’s lying!” her mother screamed.
Lucian ignored her.
“Your father isn’t Alpha Victor.”
Luna stopped breathing.
“What?”
Lucian stepped closer.
“Your real father was the previous king.”
The world collapsed beneath Luna.
“No…”
“You are royal by blood.”
Her mother cried.
“I hid you to protect you.”
Lucian leaned closer.
“But prophecy cannot be hidden.”
Luna shook violently.
“What prophecy?”
Lucian smiled.
“The Moon Priestess’ daughter will either save the kingdom…”
He leaned closer.
“Or destroy it.”
Luna felt sick.
“No…”
Lucian gripped the cage bars.
“And I intend to control which future happens.”
Suddenly—
the palace alarms exploded.
Guards screamed.
The castle shook violently.
Lucian frowned.
“What now?”
A guard burst into the throne room.
“Your Majesty!”
He was covered in blood.
“The western gates have fallen!”
Lucian’s expression darkened.
“Who attacked?”
The guard looked terrified.
“It’s Blackthorn.”
Luna’s heart stopped.
A deafening roar shook the palace.
Kael.
He came for her.
The palace doors exploded inward.
Bodies flew across the throne room.
Smoke filled the air.
Then he appeared.
Kael.
Covered in blood.
Half-shifted.
Completely feral.
His crimson eyes searched wildly—
until they found Luna.
Relief flooded his face.
Then rage returned when he saw her chained.
“Kael…” Luna whispered.
He took one step forward—
then froze.
Lucian held a blade against Luna’s mother’s throat.
“Move again,” Lucian said calmly.
“And she dies.”
Kael growled violently.
Luna screamed.
“No!”
Lucian smiled.
“Choose carefully, cursed Alpha.”
Kael looked helpless for the first time.
Then—
Luna’s mother moved.
She grabbed the blade—
and dragged it across her own throat.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
“NO!” Luna screamed.
Her mother collapsed.
Her final eyes locked onto Luna.
And her final words destroyed her.
“Run… from your grandfather…”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Lucian smiled coldly.
“Yes.”
He looked directly at Luna.
“I am your grandfather.”
Luna screamed—
and her silver powers exploded across the throne room.
- Writer
