The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 35 - The Sacrifice of a Luna

Lyra

Killan was silent for a bit then he began his tale.

"My grandmother, Luna Harbringer, was a legend in her own right," he said, a note of pride in his voice. "She faced the Luna Trials with unwavering courage and emerged victorious, forever changing the course of our history. The story of her performance is noted as a true testament of strength and the power.

When she was much older, my grandmother was faced with a great calamity that threatened to destroy not only her pack, but the entire balance of nature itself. A mysterious blight had begun to spread through the forest, causing the trees to wither and the animals to fall ill. The very life force of the land seemed to be draining away, and no one knew how to stop it.

Desperate to save her pack and the forest she called home, Luna Harbringer delved deep into the ancient texts and legends of our kind. She discovered a long-forgotten ritual, one that would allow her to tap into the primal energy of the moon and use its power to heal the land.

But the ritual was not without its dangers. It required a sacrifice, a willing offering of oneself to the Moon Goddess in exchange for her blessing. Luna Harbringer knew that she might not survive the ritual, but she also knew that it was the only way to save everything she held dear.

On the night of the full moon, my grandmother made her way to the heart of the forest, to a sacred grove where the moon's power was strongest. There, she performed the ritual, offering herself up to the Moon Goddess and pleading for her aid.

The Moon Goddess heard her plea and granted her the power to heal the land. A brilliant light emanated from Luna Harbringer, filling the grove and spreading out through the forest. Wherever the light touched, the blight receded, and life returned. The trees stood tall once more, and the animals regained their strength.

But the power came at a great cost. When the ritual was complete, Luna Harbringer collapsed, her life force nearly drained away. For days, she lingered between life and death, her fate uncertain.

In the end... she die, her family surrounding her. Their howls of grief, caught up by wind, were heard across the lands. And from that day forward, she was known not only as a fierce warrior and wise leader, but as a healer as well. Except for Whitney. She sat dry-eyed, a bored look on her face.

I blinked back my tears, heart thumping dejectedly in my chest. I wasn't the only one affected. Everyone in class dabbed at their eyes with a tissue or a handkerchief.

Not me. The story of Luna Harbringer's sacrifice had struck a chord, hitting a part of my soul I hadn't even known existed.

I could almost picture the scene he described - the great White Wolf, her life force ebbing away as her family gathered around her, their mournful howls echoing through the night. It was a scene of immense love. The kind of love I hoped to replace one day. The kind that proved I belonged.

Killian cleared his throat, Adam's apple jerking under his olive skin.

"Luna Harbringer's legacy lives on in our pack to this day, a reminder of the strength and sacrifice that lies at the heart of what it means to be a wolf and a Luna. Use her story to guide you... to help you understand the lengths some would go to protect those they love."

I sighed, trying to relieve the ache in my chest. The story of Luna Harbringer was one I had heard before, but never with such vivid detail. Not many would bring pain to themselves... even for love. When it came down to it, what would I do if ever called upon to make such a sacrifice... to put the needs of my pack above my own life?

Ryan's face swam in my mind.

'Anything,' I said to myself. 'Anything and everything.'

Even though I hated him....

***

Ryan

Alone in my office, the memory of Lyra's lips on mine was a sweet torment. I could still taste her, still feel the way she'd melted into me. But her frosty words, "Don't ever touch me again," killed the warmth of the moment.

And the blame rests squarely on my shoulders. When I saw her coming from the Cells, I knew who she had been to see, and yes, it chapped my pride, busted my ego made me see red all at once. Why had she gone to see him? Was it to rekindle an old flame or get answers?

My introspection was shattered as the door to my office swung open with a force that spoke of barely restrained anger. Brittany stormed in, face redder than a sunset, hazel eyes ablaze. She didn't waste time on pleasantries or preambles. "I saw you, Ryan," she spat out, the words sharp and accusatory. "With that bitch... that outsider. Are you angling for her to be your Luna? I thought you wanted me!"

I rose to my feet, my own anger simmering just beneath the surface. I was the Alpha of the Moonshadow Pack, and I would not be questioned or challenged. "Brittany," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "You forget yourself."

She flinched, but her eyes still held a spark of defiance. "I forget myself?" she repeated, the words a thinly veiled challenge. "Or is it you who has forgotten your responsibilities?"

My anger surged, and I let it fill my voice and my stance. "I am the Alpha," I roared, the words echoing in the room. "I am responsible for this pack, for its safety. You will not disrespect me."

Brittany's eyes widened, and she took a step back, her defiance replaced by fear. But as she turned to leave, I saw that spark of defiance again.

It seemed to say there was nothing she wouldn't do to become my Luna.

She could try, but the trials were tamper proof. I had a say in them, but the governing body had the last call.

It was wrong of Brittany to suggest I wouldn't be impartial. I was the Alpha, yes, but I was also a man, with feelings and desires. None of that came before my loyalty to those who were under my protection.

And if my feelings for Lyra clashed with the responsibilities I owed to the pack, then I would have to let her go. Once and for all.