Chapter 70 Mourning and Resolve
POV: Luna
Three days pass.
I don't remember much of them.
Nova and Ryder take turns staying with me. Making sure I eat. Making sure I sleep. Making sure I'm not alone.
The Academy gives me space. No classes. No training. No expectations.
Just grief.
On the fourth day, I finally leave my room.
Not because I feel better. I don't think I'll ever feel better.
But because staying in bed staring at the ceiling isn't helping.
Nova walks with me to the Great Hall for breakfast. Students stare as we pass, but no one says anything.
They know.
Everyone knows about Miguel.
About the human boy who died because he loved a wolf.
We sit at our usual table. Aria, Sienna, and Lyric are already there. They look relieved to see me.
"Luna," Aria says gently. "We're so sorry."
I nod. Words still feel difficult.
"We're here for you," Sienna adds. "Whatever you need."
"Thank you."
My voice sounds hollow. Empty.
Like Miguel's death carved out something essential and left only echoes behind.
Ryder appears with a tray of food and sets it in front of me.
"Eat," he says. Not unkindly. But firmly.
I pick at the food. Manage a few bites. It tastes like ash.
"The memorial service is tonight," Nova says quietly. "For Miguel. Professor Cael arranged it."
"A memorial? But he wasn't a wolf. He wasn't part of the Academy."
"He was part of your life. That's enough."
Tears threaten again, but I push them back. I've cried so much these past few days. I don't think I have any tears left.
"Okay," I say. "I'll be there."
After breakfast, Ryder walks me to the training grounds.
"You don't have to train today," he says. "You can take more time."
"No. I need this. Need to do something other than sit and think."
He nods, understanding.
We don't do anything intense. Just basic forms. Movement for the sake of movement.
But it helps.
For a few minutes, I can focus on my body instead of my grief. On breath and balance instead of loss and guilt.
When we finish, I'm sweating and exhausted.
And for the first time in days, I feel almost human.
Or maybe almost wolf.
I'm not sure which anymore.
"Thank you," I tell Ryder.
"For what?"
"For not leaving. For staying even when I pushed you away. For..." I struggle to find the words. "For being here."
"I told you. You have me. Whatever happens."
There's something in his eyes. Something I'm not ready to acknowledge yet.
Because acknowledging it feels like betraying Miguel's memory.
But Miguel is gone.
And I'm still here.
And life keeps moving forward whether I'm ready or not.
That evening, students gather at the Moon Circle for the memorial.
It's not a traditional wolf ceremony. Miguel was human. But Professor Cael adapted the ritual to honor him anyway.
Candles are lit around the circle. Each one representing a memory. A moment. A piece of the life he lived.
I light the final candle myself.
For the boy who loved me even when loving me was dangerous.
For the boy who tried to reach me even when it was impossible.
For the boy who died because I couldn't save him.
Professor Cael speaks about loss. About honoring the dead by living fully. About how grief is the price we pay for love.
I barely hear him.
I'm too focused on the candle flame flickering in the darkness.
So small. So fragile.
Just like Miguel's life turned out to be.
After the ceremony, students approach me one by one. Offering condolences. Sharing sympathies.
Even Darius appears, though his expression is unreadable.
"Sorry for your loss, Eclipse," he says.
I can't tell if he's sincere or mocking.
I don't have the energy to care.
When everyone else has left, only Nova, Ryder, and I remain.
We stand in silence, watching the candles burn down.
"I can't keep living in the past," I finally say. "Can't keep dwelling on what I lost. What I couldn't save."
"That's very mature of you," Nova says gently.
"It's not maturity. It's survival." I turn to face them. "Miguel died because I was caught between two worlds. Human and wolf. I couldn't fully commit to either, and it got him killed."
"Luna—"
"No. It's true. And I need to accept that." I take a deep breath. "I'm a wolf now. Fully. Completely. The human part of my life is over. I need to embrace what I am. Master my powers. Become strong enough that no one else dies because of my weakness."
Ryder steps closer. "You're not weak."
"I wasn't strong enough to save him. That's weakness." My hands clench into fists. "But I won't be weak anymore. I'm going to train harder. Learn everything I can. Become the Eclipse wolf everyone seems to think I'm supposed to be."
"Is that what you want?" Nova asks. "Or is that grief talking?"
"Both. And I don't care which." I look at each of them. "Miguel is gone. I can't change that. But I can make sure his death meant something. That it wasn't completely pointless."
"How?" Ryder asks.
"By stopping whoever's behind all this. The rogues. The attacks. The manipulation." My mark tingles as I speak, responding to my conviction. "Someone is controlling those creatures. Someone wanted Miguel dead. Wanted to hurt me. And I'm going to find out who and make them pay."
"That's a dangerous path," Nova warns.
"I don't care. I'm already in danger. Everyone around me is in danger. At least this way, I'm choosing to fight back instead of just reacting."
Ryder's expression is troubled but understanding. "If you're serious about this, I'll help you. We'll increase your training. Push you harder."
"Good. That's what I need."
We start walking back toward the Academy.
The moon is waning now. No longer full. But still bright enough to cast shadows.
"The Academy isn't safe," I say quietly. "I thought it was. Thought these walls and wards could protect us. But Miguel's death proved otherwise. Threats can reach us anywhere. Through dreams. Through manipulation. Through people we trust."
"So what do you want to do?" Nova asks.
"I want to be ready. For whatever comes next. Because something is coming. I can feel it."
"The seven-day deadline," Ryder says. "From Blackclaw Pack. We're on day five now."
"It's not just them. There's something bigger. The Ancient Council's warning. The increasing rogue attacks. The fact that someone inside the Academy is helping our enemies." I stop walking and look up at the sky. "All of it is building toward something. Something bad."
"You sound paranoid," Nova says, but there's no judgment in her tone.
"Maybe. But maybe that's what keeps me alive."
We reach the dorms, and Nova heads inside.
But Ryder lingers.
"Luna, what you said at the Moon Circle. About committing fully to being a wolf. About leaving your human life behind." He pauses. "Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Want doesn't matter anymore. It's what I need to do."
"There's a difference between honoring Miguel's memory and using his death as an excuse to shut down emotionally."
His words hit harder than I expect.
"I'm not shutting down. I'm focusing."
"On revenge?"
"On survival. On getting strong enough to protect the people I care about." I meet his eyes. "I failed Miguel. I won't fail anyone else."
"You didn't fail him."
"We can agree to disagree on that."
Ryder looks like he wants to argue more, but he doesn't.
"Get some rest," he finally says. "Training starts early tomorrow."
"How early?"
"Dawn. I'm going to push you harder than I ever have. If you're serious about mastering your powers, we're not holding back anymore."
"Good."
He leaves, and I'm alone in the empty hallway.
I should go to my room. Should sleep.
But instead, I walk to the window at the end of the corridor.
From here, I can see the forest. The wards shimmering faintly. The darkness beyond.
And I feel it.
That same presence I've felt before.
Watching. Waiting.
Closer than ever.
Something is coming.
Something bigger than rogues or rival packs or Academy politics.
Something that wants me specifically.
And this time, I'm going to be ready.
I press my palm against the window, and my mark glows faintly in response.
Miguel is gone.
My human life is over.
But I'm still here.
Still fighting.
And whoever's out there in the darkness?
They have no idea what's coming for them.