THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH novel Chapter 15

Episode 11-1

THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH

Chapter 11: Truth and Lies

I woke the next morning feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.

+25 Points

Every muscle ached. My head pounded. Even opening my eyes required effort. The price of using power! wasn’t ready for, Katherine had warned. I hadn’t realized it would feel like this.

My phone showed 5:15 AM. Fifteen minutes until training.

I dragged myself out of bed, downed three ibuprofen, and forced my protesting body into workout clothes. Lucas would understand if I skipped today. Marcus definitely would.

But I wouldn’t.

Weakness invited questions. Suspicion. I needed to maintain the facade of the Luna, who was simply getting stronger through training, not the seventh generation daughter whose powers were manifesting early.

The training grounds were still dark when I arrived, lit only by floodlights. Lucas was already there, running through forms with a practice sword.

“Morning, Luna.” He stopped when he saw me. “You look terrible.”

“Good morning to you too.”

“I’m serious. You’re pale, you’re moving like you’re injured, and you have dark circles under your eyes.” His expression was concerned. “Did something happen at the hospital yesterday?”

“Long day. Not much sleep.” Both true. “I’ll be fine once I warm up.”

Lucas studied me with those sharp warrior eyes that missed nothing. “You pushed yourself too hard, didn’t you? Whatever you did to help David Reed, it cost you.”

I froze. “What makes you think I did anything?”

“Because I’ve been training wolves for twenty years, and I know what exhaustion from overexertion looks like versus exhaustion from power depletion.” He moved closer, lowering his voice. “And because, two

years ago, my mate was dying from silver poisoning. The pack healer said there was nothing she could do.

Your mother visited her. Afterward, my mate lived.”

The world seemed to tilt.

“My mother healed her?”

“Your mother saved her life. Then it made me swear never to tell anyone, especially not you.” Lucas’s voice was rough. “She said you were safer not knowing what you could become. But seeing you yesterday, seeing David’s impossible recovery… I think you already know”

Episode 11-4

+25 Points

Istared at him, mind racing. Lucas knew. He’d known for two years what my mother was, what I could be, and he’d kept the secret.

“Why are you telling me now?”

“Because whatever’s coming, whatever you’re preparing for with this training, you’re going to need people who know the truth.” He met my eyes. “And because I owe your mother my mate’s life. That means I owe you my loyalty, regardless of what my Alpha commands.”

The weight of his words settled over me. Another ally. Another person willing to stand with me when everything fell apart.

“Thank you, Lucas.”

3

“Don’t thank me yet. You still have to survive the workout I’m about to put you through.” His smile was grim. “Power depletion or not, we’re not skipping today. We’re just adjusting intensity.”

He was true to his word. The next hour was brutal but manageable, focused on technique and form rather than strength and speed. By the end, I was drenched in sweat but felt marginally more human.

Marcus arrived just as we were finishing, looking better than yesterday but still worn.

“How’s David?” I asked.

“Awake, alert, and already complaining about hospital food.” Marcus’s smile was genuine. “Doctors are

calling it a miracle. They can’t explain his recovery rate.”

“Miracles happen,” Lucas said pointedly.

Marcus caught the undercurrent and glanced at me. “Can we talk? Privately?”

I nodded, and we walked away from the training grounds toward the woods where we could speak without

being overheard.

The morning was cool, mist rising from the ground as the sun broke through the trees. Beautiful. Peaceful. The kind of morning that made you forget the world was fuil of conspiracies and assassination plots.

Marcus stopped in a small clearing and turned to face me.

“Tell me the truth. All of it. What are you, what can you do? Why is Aldric Thorne really interested in you?” He held up a hand. “And before you decide how much to share, you should know that I already suspect most of it. Your mother’s bloodline, the Council’s fear, Damien’s timing… It’s not a coincidence. Any of it.”

Comments

LUCK DRAW

H