THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH novel Chapter 44

Episode 28-2

“I understand. Thank you, Alpha. Thank you.” He dropped to his knees again, this time in genuine submission.

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“Get up. We have work to do.” I pulled out my phone, texting Katherine. “You’re going to help me turn this situation into an advantage.”

By midday, Katherine had examined Sarah and confirmed what Lucas feared. The illness was magical in nature, designed to be incurable by normal means.

“It’s blood magic,” Katherine explained in her clinic. “Someone cursed her. Recently, I’d say within the past six months.”

“Let me guess,” I said. “Around the time Harrison first approached Lucas?”

“Exactly. They didn’t just offer to cure her. They made her sick in the first place.” Katherine’s expression was grim. “Classic manipulation. Create the crisis, offer the solution, control the target.”

Sarah lay in the hospital bed, pale and weak. She looked at me with guilt–stricken eyes.

“I told him not to do it. Told him I’d rather die than have him betray you.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “But he wouldn’t listen.”

“Because he loves you,” I said gently. “Love makes us do stupid things sometimes.”

“Can you really help me?”

“Katherine can break the curse. It’ll take time and be painful, but yes.” I touched her hand. “You’re packed.

We don’t abandon our own.”

Tears streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry, Alpha.”

“Save your apologies. Get better. That’s all I ask.”

That evening, I gathered my inner circle: Adrian, Marcus, Katherine, Elena, and Lucas.

“Harrison thinks he has an informant giving him accurate information,” I began. “We’re going to use that

against him.”

“How?” Marcus asked.

“Lucas is going to continue sending reports. But from now on, every word will be exactly what we want

Harrison to believe.” I pulled up a map. “We’re going to feed him a perfect trap.”

Adrian leaned forward, understanding dawning. “You’re going to make him think we’re vulnerable.”

“Exactly. We’ll report that I’m sick from pregnancy complications. That half our warriors are away assisting an allied pack. The school students have been sent to a safe house.” I pointed to a location on the map. “And that our western defenses are weak because we’re expecting an attack from the east.”

< Episode 28-

“When actually…” Elena smiled. “Our defenses will be strongest in the west.”

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“And when Harrison attacks with his coalition, thinking they’re hitting us where we’re weakest…” Katherine finished.

“They’ll walk right into an ambush.” I looked at Lucas. “Can you sell this? Make Harrison believe it’s all legitimate intelligence?”

“Yes. He trusts my information. Or he did.” Lucas’s expression was determined. “I’ll make sure he keeps trusting it right up until the moment it destroys him.”

“Good. We have ten days until the new moon.” I looked around the table. “Ten days to prepare the real defenses, train the students, and convince Harrison that victory is guaranteed.”

“What about Torres?” Marcus asked. “The Council member funding all this?”

Adrian pulled out his laptop. “I’ve been building a case against him. Financial records, communications, everything. The moment we defeat Harrison’s coalition, I’m releasing it all publicly. Torres will be finished.” “One more thing,” I said. “The students. Jade, Maya, Riley, Hannah, Simone, and Lily. They’ve been asking for help.”

“Absolutely not,” Katherine said immediately. “They’re untrained. This would be their first real battle.”

“They’re daughters. Battle is in their blood.” I met her eyes. “Besides, we might need their unique abilities. Jade’s emotional manipulation could prevent warriors from fighting. Maya’s prophetic dreams might warn us of dangers. Riley’s shields could protect civilians.”

“And if they get hurt? If they die?” Katherine’s voice was sharp.

“Then I’ll have to live with that. Just like I’ll have to live with every other wolf who dies defending what we’ve built.” The words came out harsher than intended. “I don’t want to risk them, Katherine. But this is war. Everyone who can fight should have the choice.”

“She’s right,” Elena said quietly. “We can’t protect them forever. Better they learn to fight now, with backup, than later when they’re alone.”

Katherine looked like she wanted to argue more, but finally nodded. “Fine. But they train with me every day until the battle. And they follow orders, no heroics.”

“Agreed.”

That night, I lay in bed with Adrian, both of us too wired to sleep.

“Lucas really threw himself at your mercy today,” Adrian said, his hand resting on my growing belly. “Most Alphas would have executed him for treason.”

“Most Alphas aren’t me.” I covered his hand with mine. “He made a terrible choice for an understandable

reason. And then he tried to fix it, even knowing the risk.”

“You’re developing a reputation for mercy.”

Episode 28-2

Is that a bad thing?”

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“Not bad. Just unusual. And potentially exploitable.” He turned to face me. “What if Harrison figures out Lucas is feeding him false information?”

“Then we adjust. Improvise. Survive.” I smiled slightly. “I’m good at that.”

“You’re good at a lot of things.” He leaned in, kissing me softly. “Including driving me crazy with worry.” “You knew what you were signing up for when the mate bond formed.”

“I really didn’t. You’re far more terrifying than advertised.” But his eyes were warm, full of love and pride.

“Just wait until I’m actually in labor. Then you’ll see terrifying.”

eful of my belly. We I

He laughed and pulled me close, together in comfortable silence, the mate bond humming between us.

Outside, the pack settled for the night. Warriors patrolled the borders. Students studied at the school. Lucas sat by his mate’s bedside as Katherine worked to break the curse.

Ten days.

Ten days until Harrison’s coalition attacked.

Ten days to prepare for war.

I fell asleep planning strategies and woke to Adrian’s phone ringing at 3 AM.

He answered, listened, his expression growing darker.

“What is it?” I asked as he hung up.

“One of the reformed packs. Clearwater, where Marcus’s mate Diana is from.” His voice was tight.

“Harrison didn’t wait for the new moon. He attacked tonight. The pack is under siege.”

I was out of bed instantly, reaching for clothes.

“How bad?”

“Bad. They’re outnumbered three to one. Diana’s father, the Alpha… he’s dead. She’s trying to hold the pack

together, but they’re losing ground fast.”

Marcus. His newly discovered mate was in danger.

“Get everyone up. We leave in twenty minutes.” I was already heading for the door.

“Sera, it could be a trap. To draw us out before we’re ready.”

“I know. We’re going anyway.” I looked back at him. “Because that’s what it means to have allies. We stand

together, or we fall alone.”

Ten days had become tonight.

< Episode 287

The war had started early.

And we were about to find out if mercy and reform could survive when tested by fire.

TO BE CONTINUED…

D Dewumi Ezekiel

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