Chapter 187 Cole's Ultimatum
POV: Luna
Three days after the training grounds attack, Cole sent a message.
Not through magic. Not through intermediaries.
He walked right through the front gates.
Alone. Unarmed. Hands raised.
"I'm here to talk," he announced to security. "Tell Luna Eclipse I have a proposal."
The Headmaster called me to his office immediately.
"This could be a trap," he warned.
"Everything with Cole is a trap."
"Are you sure you want to meet with him?"
"Do I have a choice? If I refuse, he'll just attack anyway. At least this way, I might learn something."
"Take your pack. Stay vigilant."
"Always."
We met in the courtyard. Public. Witnesses. Nowhere for Cole to hide.
He stood in the center. Calm. Confident. Infuriating.
"Hello, Luna," he said. "You're looking well. For someone who almost died destroying my artifact."
"What do you want, Cole?"
"To make you an offer. One last chance. Before things get truly ugly."
"I'm listening."
"Surrender the princess. Her power. Her royal magic. Give her to us. And everyone at Silverwood lives."
"Absolutely not."
"I thought you'd say that. Which is why I brought incentive."
He gestured. Magic swirled. Images appeared. Holographic projections.
Students. Bound. Captive. Terrified.
"What did you do?" I breathed.
"Insurance. During the training grounds attack. While you were distracted. My allies grabbed six students. First-years. Including that small girl you bonded with."
My blood ran cold. "Where are they?"
"Safe. For now. But their safety depends on your cooperation."
"You're using children as hostages?"
"I'm using leverage. There's a difference."
"There really isn't!"
Through the pack bonds, I felt my friends' rage. Their desire to attack. End this.
But I held them back. Six lives depended on me staying calm.
"What's your offer?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Simple. Surrender Princess Selene. Her power. Her magic. Everything. And I'll release the hostages unharmed."
"And if I refuse?"
"They die. One by one. Until you comply. Or until I run out of hostages. Whichever comes first."
"You're a monster."
"I'm committed. There's a difference."
Liam stepped forward. "You're a coward. Hiding behind children. Using innocents as shields."
"I'm pragmatic. Using available resources to achieve necessary goals."
"If you want a fight, fight me. Leave the kids out of it."
"Why would I fight you when I can manipulate Luna instead? Much more effective."
He was right. And I hated it.
"How do I know you'll actually release them?" I asked.
"You don't. But you know if you refuse, they definitely die. So really, you don't have a choice."
Through the Guardian Bond, I reached out to Selene. He's demanding I surrender you.
Don't, she responded immediately. Don't give me up to save hostages. That's what he wants.
I can't let six kids die!
And I can't let you sacrifice me! We'll find another way!
There is no other way!
"What's it going to be, Luna?" Cole asked. "The princess? Or six innocent lives?"
I looked at Liam. At my pack. At the impossible choice.
"You can't do this," Liam said quietly. "You can't give up Selene. It'll doom everyone."
"But I can't let those kids die!"
"We'll find them. Rescue them. Before Cole can hurt them."
"And if we can't? If we're too late?"
"Then we live with that. But we don't surrender to terrorism."
He was right. Logically. Strategically. Absolutely right.
But emotionally. Those kids trusted me. Looked up to me. Depended on me.
And I was going to let them die.
"I refuse," I said finally. "I won't surrender Selene."
"That's disappointing," Cole said. "But expected. Which is why I prepared a backup plan."
He raised his hand. Dark magic swirled.
"Everyone down!" I shouted.
The magic exploded. A controlled blast. Designed to separate. Scatter. Chaos.
When the light faded, I was alone. Separated from my pack by magical barriers.
Cole stood before me. Just us. No allies. No backup.
"Now we can talk. Privately. Without your pack's interference."
"You won't change my mind."
"I'm not trying to. I'm explaining reality. The It-Girls' final plan is in motion. The architects are mobilizing. Everything we've been building toward. It's happening. Now."
"What's happening?"
"The end. Of the old world. The broken system. The unfair hierarchies. We're tearing it all down. Building something better from the ashes."
"By killing everyone?"
"By freeing everyone. From destiny. From prophecy. From predetermined power structures."
"That's insane."
"That's vision. And you're going to help. Whether you want to or not."
"Never."
"You don't have a choice. Remember that connection I planted in your mark? It's still there. Dormant. Waiting. When the time comes, I'll activate it. And you'll be mine. Completely."
"I'll fight you."
"You'll try. But you'll fail. Because I know you, Luna. Every weakness. Every vulnerability. Every instinct."
"You think you know me. But I've changed. Grown. Evolved."
"We'll see."
He raised his hand. Magic condensed. Formed into a weapon.
Then he struck. Not at me. At the barrier separating me from Selene.
It shattered.
Dark magic flooded through. Straight toward Selene.
"No!" I screamed.
I threw myself between the spell and Selene. Took the hit meant for her.
The impact threw me backward. I hit the ground hard.
Through my mark, I felt Cole's magic activate. The connection he'd planted. Pulsing. Growing. Taking hold.
"Luna!" Liam was beside me. The barriers had fallen. My pack surrounding me.
"I'm okay. Protect Selene!"
They formed a defensive circle around her.
Cole watched. Smiled. "Your loyalty is your weakness. Your love is your prison. And I'm using both to destroy you."
He vanished. Teleporting away.
Leaving us with his threat. His promise. His certainty.
The final plan was in motion.
And we had no idea how to stop it.