Chapter 96 The Luna's Strategy
LIRA POV
The explosion of moonfire wasn't an attack, it was a shield. Silver flames erupted around me, blinding and brilliant. The three alphas stumbled back, covering their eyes.
"Cheap trick!" Thane snarled, already recovering.
"Effective trick." I corrected, letting the flames settle into armor across my skin. "There's a difference."
Gareth lunged first. Fast for his size, claws extending mid-leap. I sidestepped, sending moonfire whips to tangle his legs. He crashed hard, dirt spraying on him.
"One down." I didn't wait for him to rise. "Two to go."
Soren came from my left, Thane from my right. Coordinated. Practiced. They'd done this before, hunted together, killed together. I dropped low, rolling between them.
Their collision was satisfying—crunching bone and surprised grunts.
"You'll have to do better." I rose smoothly, though my body protested. "I've fought worse odds."
"Arrogant child." Thane shifted partially, bones cracking. "You haven't seen what we can do."
"Show me." I beckoned with burning fingers. "I'm waiting."
They attacked as one. Three alphas, decades of experience between them. I met them with moonfire as silver flames lashed out, forcing them to dodge. I wasn't trying to hit them—not yet. Just testing their patterns, learning their rhythms.
"She's fast." Gareth circled wider. "Faster than Eldric reported."
"Eldric was an idiot." I blocked Soren's strike, redirected his momentum into Thane. "That's why he's exiled."
"You should've killed him." Thane recovered, blood dripping from a split lip. "Mercy is weakness."
"Funny." I smiled without warmth. "That's exactly what he said."
I unleashed a wave of moonfire across the ground. Not high—just enough to create a wall of silver flame between us. Through the fire, I saw their shapes moving. Good because I needed a moment too.
My legs trembled. The silver poisoning hadn't fully left my system. Every use of power drained reserves I didn't have.
You're pushing too hard. Kael's concern flooded the bond.
I'm doing what's necessary. I pushed back reassurance I didn't quite feel.
Come back alive. His demand carried through clearly.
Working on it. I extinguished the flame wall. "Ready for round two?"
But they weren't alone anymore. Warriors from all three packs had moved forward, forming a loose circle around us.
"You said formal challenge." I kept my voice steady. "Or were you lying?"
"We said trial." Thane gestured to his wolves. "This is it, you against all of us."
"Two hundred against one." I let my power build higher. "Those are coward's odds."
"Those are winning odds." Soren shifted fully to wolf form. "Nothing personal, just business."
"Everything about genocide is personal." I dropped into a fighting stance Nicolas had drilled into me. "But if you want to die as wolves, that works for me."
The circle tightened. Wolves snarling, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
I closed my eyes briefly. Reached deep for power I'd barely tapped. The ancient Moonblood strength my mother had died protecting.
Selwyn. I called to my wolf. I need everything you've got.
Then take it. Her voice came clear and strong. Show them what Moonblood means.
Power surged through me. Not painful, but overwhelming. Every nerve ending lit with silver fire.
When I opened my eyes, the world looked different. "Last chance." My voice echoed strangely. "Walk away, or burn."
Thane laughed. "Kill her!"
The circle collapsed inward. Two hundred wolves, all attacking at once as i released everything.
Moonfire exploded outward in a dome, pure and devastating. Wolves screamed, thrown back by the force. The smell of singed fur filled the air.
"I warned you." I walked forward through flames that parted for me. "You didn't listen."
Half the wolves were down. The other half hesitated, fear replacing bloodlust.
"She's a monster!" Someone yelled.
"I'm a Luna." I corrected coldly. "There's a difference."
Thane shifted to human form, badly burned. "Impossible, no one has that much power."
"Moonblood does." I let flames dance between my fingers. "My mother held off ten alphas but I am just getting started."
Gareth stepped forward, supporting Soren both looked shaken. "We underestimated you."
"Yes." I didn't lower my guard. "It was a fatal mistake, literally."
"We surrender." Gareth raised his empty hands. "The challenge is yours."
"Too late for surrender." I moved closer. "You came for genocide. Again, just like twenty years ago."
"That wasn't us" Soren started.
"Your packs participated." I cut him off. "Your warriors murdered my family, your alphas conspired to erase my bloodline."
"We were following orders!" Thane protested. "Magnus Thorn"
"Magnus is dead." My voice went deadly quiet. "But you're still here, still trying to finish what he started."
Through the bond, I felt Kael approaching with strike teams. Felt his pride mixing with worry.
"So here's what happens." I addressed all three packs. "You leave Darkfang territory now and you never return."
"That's it?" Gareth looked suspicious. "No execution? No vengeance?"
"I'm not my enemies." I let some flames die down. "But if any of you ever threaten my pack again, I'll burn your territories to ash. Clear?"
"Crystal." Soren backed away slowly. "We're leaving."
"Wait." Thane didn't move. "You're just letting us go? After everything?"
"I'm giving you the mercy you never gave my parents." I met his eyes. "Use it wisely because you won't get another chance."
"This isn't mercy." His voice turned bitter. "It's a demonstration. You're showing everyone you're strong enough to choose."
"Finally." I almost smiled. "Someone understands."
"You'll regret this." But he was already retreating. "Mercy makes you weak."
"Then I'll be weak." I called after him. "But I'll be alive but can you say the same if you stay?"
The three alphas gathered their warriors. Wounded, humiliated, but alive. They retreated in three different directions, taking their armies with them.
I stood in the scorched earth, moonfire still flickering. Then Kael was there, arms around me before I could fall. "I've got you." He supported my weight completely. "You did it."
"Did I?" My legs finally gave out. "Or did I just make more enemies?"
"You won." He lifted me easily. "The pack saw you defeat three alphas and two hundred warriors alone."
"Not alone." I pressed against his chest. "You were there in here." I touched where the bond lived, warm and steady.
"Always." He kissed my forehead. "But that was all you. That power, that control, that mercy."
"Mercy they'll see as weakness." I repeated Thane's words. "Just like Eldric said."
"Let them." Kael started walking back toward Darkfang. "Anyone who mistakes mercy for weakness doesn't understand true strength."
Around us, our warriors emerged from their positions. The strike teams had never needed to attack—I'd ended it before they engaged.
"Luna Lira!" Thomas appeared, grinning. "That was incredible!"
"That was reckless." Aria rushed up, her healer's bag ready. "You burned through too much power. You need"
"Rest." I finished. "I know. But first, status report any casualties?"
"None on our side." Thomas's grin widened. "You scared them off before we even started fighting."
"And Darion's rogues?" I asked.
"Watched from the southern ridge." Darion himself approached. "Impressive display. My warriors are reconsidering their opinions about Moonblood legends."
"Good." I let exhaustion take over. "Because I can't do that again for at least a week."
"You won't have to." Kael adjusted his grip, carrying me through the gates. "The whole territory saw what you can do no one will challenge you now."
But as we entered the packhouse, I felt eyes watching.
Marcus stood in the shadows, expression unreadable."Quite a show." He stepped forward. "Very dramatic."
"It served its purpose." I kept my voice steady despite exhaustion. "Three enemy packs gone without Darkfang casualties."
"And three potential allies turned away." He countered. "Those packs might have been useful later."
"Those packs conspired to murder me." I let Kael lower me to my feet, standing on my own. "They'll never be allies."
"Everything can be negotiated." Marcus moved closer. "If you're smart about it."
"I'm smart enough to know genocide isn't negotiable." I held his gaze. "Question my decisions again, Marcus and see what happens."
Moonfire sparked weakly at my fingertips—all I could manage after that display.
It was enough as marcus stepped back.
"Just offering advice." He raised his hands. "From one alpha to another."
"I'm not 'one alpha.'" I corrected. "I'm the alpha. Remember that."
He left without another word as I sagged immediately. Kael caught me before I hit the floor.
"Bedroom." Aria ordered. "Now before you collapse completely."
"Already collapsed." I mumbled as Kael carried me again. "Just doing it with style."
"So much style." He almost laughed. "Facing two hundred wolves alone is very stylish."
"Worked though." I closed my eyes. "They're gone, the pack is safe. Mission accomplished."
"For now." His voice turned serious. "But you heard Marcus, not everyone agrees with mercy."
"They don't have to agree." I whispered. "They just have to follow."
He laid me in our bed, pulling blankets over me. "Sleep. I'll handle everything else."
"Partnership." I caught his hand. "Remember? We handle things together."
"After you rest." He squeezed gently. "Then together i promise."
I wanted to argue. To insist on being involved in every decision. But exhaustion dragged me down, dark and heavy. Through the bond, I felt Kael's presence. Don't let them see me as weak. I sent sleepily.
They just watched you end a war single-handedly. His response came warm, no one thinks you're weak.
Marcus does.
Marcus is an idiot.
I almost smiled as sleep claimed me.