Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir) novel Chapter 10

Elyra paced the war room, her thoughts a storm of frustration and fear. The map laid out before her showed the grim reality of Dain’s rapid conquest. The Ironfang Pack, the Riverstone Pack, and now two more territories—packs that had once sworn loyalty to her—had fallen under his control. Shadow markers indicated the positions of Dain’s forces, growing dangerously close to her borders.

“We can’t wait any longer,” Cassian said, slamming his fist on the table. His golden eyes burned with urgency. “If we don’t strike first, he’ll overwhelm us. We’ve already lost too much ground.”

Elyra stopped pacing, her fingers tightening into fists. She looked at Cassian, the weight of her responsibilities pressing on her shoulders. “If we fight him now, I’ll lose him forever.”

Cassian’s jaw tightened, and he stepped closer. “Elyra, he’s not your brother anymore. He’s chosen his path, and every day you wait, he gets stronger. If you don’t act, you’re not just risking him—you’re risking everyone who’s still loyal to you.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” Elyra snapped, her voice cracking. “I can feel him slipping further away. But if I attack him outright, there will be no turning back for either of us.”

The room fell into a tense silence. Fenrir, leaning against the far wall, crossed his arms and muttered, “Maybe it’s time to stop thinking of him as someone who can be saved.”

Elyra shot him a glare. “Don’t say that.”

Selene, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. Her silver eyes were calm but held a weight of their own. “Elyra,” she said softly, “there might be another way.”

All eyes turned to Selene as she unrolled an ancient, weathered scroll from her satchel and placed it on the table. The symbols etched on the parchment glowed faintly, as if alive with their own light.

“This,” Selene explained, “is an ancient ritual created by the first Lunas to combat the corruption of the shard’s power. It can sever the shard’s connection to its wielder, stripping them of its influence.”

Elyra’s heart leapt with hope. “You mean… I can save him?”

Selene hesitated, her expression darkening. “It’s not that simple. Severing the shard’s power isn’t without risk. The ritual demands an extraordinary amount of energy—yours, specifically. And if the shard resists, it could destroy Dain entirely.”

Elyra stared at her, the hope flickering like a fragile flame. “There’s a chance, though. A chance that he could survive.”

“There’s always a chance,” Selene replied, her voice heavy with caution. “But you need to understand—this isn’t just about saving Dain. If you fail, the shard’s power could spiral out of control, consuming both of you.”

“He won’t,” Elyra interrupted, her voice steady. “I’ll find a way to stall him.”

Cassian overheard and turned to her, disbelief written across his face. “Stall him? You’re planning to face him?”

“I don’t have a choice,” Elyra replied. “If I can buy us time, we might be able to stop this war before it consumes everything.”

Cassian grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not harsh. “You’re walking straight into his trap.”

Elyra pulled away, her eyes blazing with determination. “Then let him trap me. I won’t give up on him—not yet.”

-: Elyra clenched her fists, her voice resolute as she looked at her allies. “Prepare the ritual. I’ll face him myself if I have to.” As the scout’s words echoed in her mind, the shard in her pocket began to pulse again, whispering a warning: “He’s waiting for you.”

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