Chapter 181: Power That Wasn't

Brenda’s POV

There was fire on the battlefield. The group, bloodied but intact, stood around me. With his sword in hand and his chest rising and falling with deep breaths, Damian was by my side.

The leader of the enemy then came forward. His voice broke through the confusion, and his armor shone crimson in the flames' light.

"So," he replied, "you are Brenda, the Luna that everyone talks about." His crimson eyes pierced me. "Are you even aware of your ancestry's true nature?"

I gripped my blade more tightly. "Your lies don't concern me."

He grinned. "Lies? Then allow me to share with you something that your elders did not tell you. He looked from me to Damian and back again. "The Lunar Bloodline, the prophecy you hold onto, was never intended for you. You are but its shadow. An error.

I gasped. "That isn't accurate."

"Oh," he answered calmly, "but it is." "You were created, not selected. Someone else stole your power. That's the reason you struggle so hard and fear yourself, because you know deep down.

"No," I said in a whisper while shaking my head. "You're just attempting to make me weaker."

Damian snarled and moved forward. "Brendan, don't listen to him!"

However, the leader's voice was nasty as he chuckled. "Luna, ask yourself why your abilities awoke at such a late hour. When you use them, why do they burn you? Since you do not own them. Carrying them was never intended for you.

The words were like razors to me. My hands quivered on the hilt of the sword. Could he be correct? What if I never had all of this strength?

"You're telling lies!" My voice cracked as I yelled.

His red eyes glowed brighter as he leaned closer. "I don't have to tell lies. You already have self-doubt. And you will be destroyed more quickly by that doubt than by my blade ever could.

My heart beating, I staggered back a step.

"Brenda!" I felt anchored by Damian's steady, firm voice. "Avoid letting him in. You have strength. So far, you have guided us. Our Luna is you!

The opposing leader merely grinned more darkly, but the pack howled in accord.

You can believe him if you want to. However, keep in mind that you are engaged in a battle that was never yours to win. And you will lose everything before the end of this night.

His words stayed like poison in my breast. I saw Damian's faith-filled eyes, but I was still plagued by uncertainty.

And for the first time since the start of this conflict... I feared I might not be sufficient.

The battle resumed, with wolves howling, fire blazing, and steel colliding. Even as the words of the opposing leader replayed in my mind, I pushed my legs to move.

"Brendan, stay with me!" As he called, Damian killed an enemy soldier.

Despite my trembling voice, I said, "I'm here."

To make our way farther into the stronghold, we pushed forward shoulder to shoulder. Then I saw it, a spear hurtling toward me at a speed I couldn't stop.

"Brenda!" The voice of Damian boomed.

He flung himself in front of me before I could move. The air was torn apart by the sound of the spear striking his side deep.

"No!" He staggered, and I grabbed him as I yelled. His clothes were drenched with blood, which felt warm on my hands.

"Damian." With tears clouding my vision, I shattered my voice. "Why would you—"

His eyes were filled with love and sadness, and he gave a small grin. "Because I said I would... I would never allow them to abduct you.

"Remain with me! Stay with me, please! I sobbed and shook him.

With diminishing strength, he slowly pulled me back. "You have to get this done. Lead them. You underestimate your strength.

"No! Don't you dare to say that? I cried.

From the shadows, the enemy leader chuckled. How appropriate. The Luna shatters when the powerful Alpha collapses.

"Don't listen," Damian said in a shaky whisper. Observe me, Brenda. Just me.

With a broken heart, I held his hand tightly. "Without you, I couldn't do this."

"Yes, you can," he responded, maintaining a firm but feeble grasp. "You are not an error. They can never put out the fire that is you. Make me a promise: you will continue to fight.

"I promise," I said in a whisper, tears running down my cheeks.

Then his hand left mine, and his eyes closed.

"No! "Damian!" I shook him as I yelled. Around me, the battlefield became hazy. The cold, ruthless laughter of the enemy reverberated in my ears.

I felt a tempest of strength growing inside of me as my chest burned with agony and anger. Light exploded from my hands as the ground shook beneath my feet.

The leader of the enemy's smile wavered.

"She's waking up," he growled.

However, I had stopped hearing him. All I knew was that I had nothing left to lose and Damian was gone.

My scream ripped through the darkness, and the air crackled with electricity.

And the threat of devastation came along with it.