The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert novel Chapter 55

The Cold Truth

The creature stepped out of the darkness, and even Gideon grew tense at what was before his eyes. The wolf was larger than any Lycan or werewolf he had ever seen, with tur in a midnight blue colour, alniosl as dark as black, but not quite. All this, however, wasn’t what amazed the King of the West the most. It was the spikes of ice that grew straight out of the woll’s lur. Larger over the top of his neck and back, smaller on the sides. He looked majestic and ominous at theme time as he bared his sharp, sparkling white teeth.

New. He was so newl As if he was just… born now.

It was hard to ignore how call the night became, and snowy mist started to form around the creature whose eyes were gleaming like two northern stars

-Amarok,” Riannon whispered. She was the only one smiling now because she was the only one who knew the creature’s true identity.

The truc Lycan King of the North, he was on his land and in his right. The ruler that was needed now more than ever.

“Who7- Gideon still trying to gently move his Luna behind him in an attempt to protect her, it was hard for him to tell whether the beasi meant well or not.

The bones started snapping, and in just a few moments, the wolf turned into an ice lycan, standing on his two feet. This sight was even more incredible than the lirst one.

However, in just a lew moments, slowly, and it looked painful too, the lycan tried to retract his spikes, but something wasn’t working, making him growl in frustration and fall back on all lours, turning back into the ice wolf.

“He can’t shift,” Ria explained, voice barely a whisper, but everyone present heard her. She seemed to be reading the creature’s mind.

*Stay back, Ria,” Gideon still wasn’t convinced it was safe, the memory of holding his pregnant wife’s dead body was still haunting his mind. His family being destroyed before his eyes was the scariest thing he had ever experienced, and he was ready to die ten times over to not let that happen.

“Don’t you see it?” His wife furrowed her brows as she glanced at him. She knew something he didn’t again. “It’s Kai!”

“What?” Lachlan stepped in front of them. Seconds ago, he was mourning his best friend and blaming himself for not being able to get Kai’s out of their burning home, and now a beast stood before his eyes, and it felt so new and so familiar at the same time.

The Western Queen’s words ignited a spark of hope in him. Was it really his King? He was ready to accept his new torm, he was ready to follow him to hell and do anything just for the chance of getting his friend back.

This monster walked out of the castle that wasn’t burning anymore and he was the one that put the fire out. The second his paws stepped onto the ground, frost covered it, spreading last around him. This wolf was a force of nature and the embodiment of the North.

“Kai?” They all heard Elene’s weak voice as the Princess walked closer to the wolf. Their eyes locked, and she threw herself at him before Lachlan had a chance to intercept her. Gideon was ready to step in if it was necessary, but Riannon draped her arm around his and leaned over. Neither she nor the princess had any doubts.

“It’s fine,” Ria said, “he would never hurt his sister.” “Kail” Elene sobbed. “I thought I lost you too! Thanks to Fenrir!”

There was so much pain and despair in her voice that it was impossible not to leel sorry for the northern princess, Elene had many talents, but inner strength wasn’t one of them. If Kai was dead, it would have broken her forever.

“What happened to him?” Gideon asked quietly. “You called him-” “Amarok,” Riannon repeated the name. “Onyx can talk to him.” “Why would she be able to talk to him?” Her husband didn’t really like their sudden connection.

“Because they are the same,” Ria explained with a smile, knowing what was bothering him. She gave him a disapproving glance.” Well, not exactly the same, but they are similar. They have been both blessed by divine power. Thanks to that, I can hear him.”

“But why can’t 17* Elene looked at Riannon questioningly. “He is my brother, my Alpha and my king.” Ria looked back at the ice woll belore her, the pair talking without any words said out loud.

it’s because he died,” Riannon sighed, a single tear rolling down her cheek. “He was dead and then he was brought back to life. Just like me.”

“Lucky bastard! He doesn’t even believe in the Moon Goddess!” Gideon chuckled, hugging his wife from the back. He knew she was relieving the memories of her own death and rebirth. No matter how much time passed, no matter how happy they were, it was almost heart breaking for her to remember those times.

*# wasn’t the Moon Goddess,” Ria responded, “Kal says it was fenrir and that it’s a really long story.” “Ter e eds to do buter work then,” Gideon said, observing his old rival’s new form. “Why can’t he shilt into a human again?

I SIN

“Patience, my love.” Riannon rolled her eyes, knowing that everyone was looking at her now and that they needed motivation and hope -After Onyx and I were reborn, it took her weeks to shift for the first time. And Kai has been Amarok for barely an hour. All in due time.”

“We don’t have time!” Gideon interjected. “My sister was taken by that white bear monster and we have to get her back before

“Yeah.” Riannon rubbed her lorehead. “Kai says the same, and to that, I have to tell you both that you need to give Savannah more credit. I am pretty sure I stepped on her ex’s heart when we were leaving the castle, and something tells me she was the one to rip it out of his chest. Not to mention, when she was betrayed by him on their first night, she managed to escape in mere hours and bring us valuable information and werecat forces when we needed all that the most. They may have taken her, but this was probably their bigeest mistake.”

Everyone grew silent while Zara and Naya both nodded, proud of their friend.

“We still need to get her out as soon as possible,” Lachlan said, and Amarok growled in approval, the air getting even colder around him. “We need to let them know that the Lycan King still stands and -”

“Absolutely noti” Riannon and Alpha Ramina said in unison, exchanging understanding glances.

“You have something in mind?” Gideon’s lips curled into a smile as he observed his beautiful and brilliant wife, who never ceased to amaze him.

“Right now, this is our biggest advantage,” she smirked as she looked at him. “They think we are all dead, and the victory is in their hands. They expect everything to fall into their hands now since they didn’t even bother taking the capital. And let’s be honest, if we were all dead, that would have been an easy decision to make.”

“Bul we are here.” Lachlan snorted, pulling Zara into his embrace shamelessly “And they have no idea.” Elene placed her hand on Amarok’s ice fur, and it didn’t seem to hurt her in any way. “They don’t expect us,” Kyle stepped closer with Evelyn by his side. “We can see what they plan.” Zara took the Beta’s hand, entwining their fingers, “And we can ruin it so that they would never recover,” Nayi Sncered, playing with her white hair.

“So, let’s strike them so hard this time that the problem is solved once and for all!” Gideon agreed, and right belore his eyes, Amarok stood on both his feet again in his most dangerous form, stretching his hand with ice claws. This did not scare the Lycan king of the West. He knew what his old rival… no, what his new friend wanted to do and stretched his hand to him in return, shaking it as their first-ever pact was created. Together. The West and the North!”

Savannah was in and out of consciousness, abrupt scenes unfolding before her eyes. Some women she did not know washed her and cleaned the room, bringing her back to the bed with fresh sheets. They put on a silk night dress on her, and then a man who looked like a doctor with a bag full ol potions and shitter medicines did a basic check on her, pouring some liquid down her throat as she tried to protest.