Chapter 42: The Other Lunas

The Elder made three phone calls. Each one short. Urgent.

"They're coming," she said. "All three. They'll be here in four hours."

"Tell me about them," I asked through Cole.

"The oldest is Yara. She's two hundred years old. From the original Luna bloodline in Russia. She's been hiding in Alaska for fifty years."

"Two hundred years old?" Cole said out loud.

"Luna Alphas age slower. If they survive." The Elder pulled out old photos. "The second is Mei. From China. One hundred and thirty years old. She's been in hiding in San Francisco. Runs a tea shop."

"And the third?"

"Rosa. From Mexico. Ninety years old. Lives in San Diego. She works as a nurse." The Elder looked at the photos. "All three refused to take up their Luna duties. Went into hiding instead. But they're still connected to the power. Still carry the bloodline."

"Why did they hide?" I asked.

"Fear. The prophecy. They didn't want to die." The Elder's voice was sad. "Can't blame them. But now they have to help. Or we all die anyway."

Alex walked in. "The packs are here. Every Alpha in California. They want to know the plan."

"Tell them to hold the line. Keep the demons back. We need six hours." The Elder looked at him. "And Alex, we need something from you."

"What?"

"Your blood. Beta blood. For the ritual."

"How much?"

"A lot. Maybe too much."

Alex didn't hesitate. "Take what you need."

That's what pack meant. Sacrifice without question.

Stacey limped in next. Her leg was bandaged. "The demon using Lita's body is at the old warehouse. Five miles from here. It's gathering more demons. Building an army."

"How many?" Cole asked.

"Hundreds. Maybe a thousand by sunset." Stacey's face was grim. "If we don't stop it soon, we won't have enough wolves to fight."

My phone buzzed again. Another text from my body.

"Tick tock, little soul. Your pack is dying. Your mate is weak. Give up now and I'll make their deaths quick."

"It's trying to bait us," I said.

"It's working," Cole said. His anger flooded through our shared mind.

"Don't let it control you," I said. "That's what it wants."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one feeling helpless."

His emotions hit me hard. Frustration. Rage. The need to protect but unable to.

This was harder on him than me.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm sorry you have to carry me. Carry this burden."

"Don't be sorry. Just promise me something."

"What?"

"If this doesn't work. If we can't get your body back. If we become one person forever." He paused. "Promise you won't regret it."

"I could never regret being with you."

"Even if it means losing yourself?"

"Being with you is finding myself."

His love washed through the bond. Warm. Strong. Real.

For a moment, the fear faded. We were together. That was enough.

The door burst open. Three women walked in.

The first was ancient. White hair. Dark eyes. Tiny. But power radiated from her.

Yara.

The second was middle aged looking. Asian. Beautiful. Calm.

Mei.

The third was younger. Maybe sixty. Hispanic. Strong.

Rosa.

All three stared at Cole. At me inside him.

"So it's true," Yara said. Old accent. Russian maybe. "The Luna soul transferred. I've never seen it done."

"Can you help us?" The Elder asked.

"Maybe. Let me see." Yara walked closer. Touched Cole's forehead.

I felt her probe our minds. Gentle but firm. Searching.

"Interesting. You're not merging yet. Still separate. That's good." She pulled back. "But time is short. Maybe twelve hours before you start to blend. After that, separation impossible."

"We know. That's why we're doing this tonight."

"Risky. Very risky." Mei spoke next. Soft voice. "The demon king is powerful. It took three Lunas to seal him away three hundred years ago. Now he's in a Luna body. Twice as strong."

"So we need all four of you," The Elder said.

"Five," Rosa corrected. "Lita makes five. Even without her body, her soul carries Luna power."

"Will that be enough?" I asked.

The three old Lunas looked at each other. Some silent conversation.

"Honestly? We don't know," Yara said. "But it's our only chance."

"Then we try." I made Cole's voice firm. "What do we need?"

The Elder laid out a map. "First, we need to get close to the demon. It won't come willingly. We need bait."

"Me," Cole said. "I'm the bait."

"No," I said. "Too dangerous."

"I'm already in danger. We both are." He looked at The Elder. "What's the plan?"

"You challenge the demon. Alpha to Alpha. It can't refuse. Wolf law." The Elder pointed at the warehouse on the map. "We do it there. Draw it into a trap."

"And then?"

"Then the five Lunas perform the exorcism. Rip the demon from Lita's body. Send it back to hell."

"What happens to Lita's body during this?" Cole asked.

"It dies. Briefly. The exorcism stops the heart." Yara's face was serious. "That's why we need you there. The mate bond. You can restart her heart. Bring her back."

"And if I can't?"

"Then her body stays dead. Her soul stays in you. You become one person forever."

Silence.

"There's more," Mei said quietly. "The exorcism requires a power source. Something strong enough to bind a demon king."

"What kind of power?" I asked.

"A willing sacrifice. Someone who gives their life to fuel the spell."

My heart would have stopped if I had one.

"No. We're not sacrificing anyone else."

"It's the only way," Rosa said. "Ancient magic needs blood. Death. Sacrifice."

"Then use me," Cole said immediately.

"No!" I screamed in his head.

"I'm already dying tomorrow anyway. The prophecy. Might as well make it count."

"Cole, please. Don't."

But he wasn't listening. He looked at The Elder. "How do we do it?"

"We don't," a new voice said.

Everyone turned.

My mother stood in the doorway. Pale. Shaking. But her eyes were clear. Brown. Not red.

"I'll be the sacrifice," she said. "Like I promised. I give my life for hers."

"The demon?" The Elder asked.

"Gone. I fought it. Pushed it out." My mother walked in. "Took everything I had. But I'm free. For now."

She looked at Cole. At me inside him.

"I'm sorry, Lita. For everything. Let me do this one thing right. Let me save you."

I wanted to say no. Wanted to refuse.

But we needed a sacrifice. And she'd already agreed.

"Okay," I said through Cole. Voice barely a whisper. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." My mother smiled. Sad. Tired. "I might still mess this up."

The Elder checked her watch. "Sunset in three hours. Everyone get ready. This is going to be the hardest fight of our lives."

"And if we fail?" Alex asked.

"Then the demon wins. The prophecy fails. And the world ends."

No pressure.

My phone buzzed one more time.

"I'm waiting, little Luna. Come face me. Let's end this. Winner takes all."

The demon was ready.

So were we.

Time to get my body back.

Or die trying.