The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert
Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Zara was sharpening her favourite daggers for two hours straight, listening to Lachlan giving orders to his people. She knew she had

no right to distract him, and she had to live with it. In just a few hours, she will be in the sky, and they might never see each other

again.

She knew her role in all of this. She knew his role. They would be on different sides of the battlefield, and it would be impossible for her to watch him even from above. She wouldn't be able to reach him, yet here she was-preparing her knives in case she did notice that he was in trouble. However, Zara knew she would fly down and shift back to her human form if she had to without blinking. This was so new. She wouldn't have done it for Castiel.

Two hands slowly wrapped themselves around her waist and pulled her closer. Lachlan's scent filled the world around her, and Zara

let herself close her eyes just for a moment and embrace their warm moment. As if there were no cold weapons in her hands, as if they were not going to a battle soon... As if they were two regular people who "Mine," Lachlan growled softly into her ear, and her toes curled from his voice alone.

His palms traced her curves, one cupping her breast and another grasping her neck gently.

"We shouldn't-" she whispered but did not push him away. She couldn't push him away.

"On the contrary," he covered her neck with kisses, leaving a hot wet trail. "We should because it's now or never."

"Lachlan-"

"I am going to mark you now, Zara," he said in a tone that brooked no objections, and she gasped, turning to see his face and check

if he was serious. His eyes said it all, and her lips trembled. No one ever wanted to mark her before.

"Lam not your mate," she reminded him and held her breath, not knowing if that fact would cool him down.

"I already had a mate, and what I feel for you is no less. I don't know if Fenrir and the Moon Goddess planned for me to have a second-

chance mate, but if she is not you, then I do not want her." Lachlan gently bit on the soft spot on her neck, making her arch her back in delight. "Because I only want you. Will you let me mark you?"

"Yes," she was happy that she had her back to him now and that he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. She liked to play it cool, but that lycan was making her emotional lately. "One thousand times yes," she ad Lachlan's lingers removed her clothes, garment after garment, until she stood naked before him. He scooped her up and placed her on his desk, not letting her know that he had already carefully removed all th "Mine, mine, mine," Lachlan repeated over and over with every thrust, and Zara moaned into his lips when her release rippled through her body.

Breathing ragged, she whispered, "Now- Do it now!"

"As you wish," the Beta obeyed her wishes as he kept taking her and bringing her over the edge again. Zara tilted her head to give him better access, and his strong hands held her in place. He knew it would hurt her, and he had to be careful, so he made sure she

was as close as possible to her next climax, and when he saw it in her eyes, he probed the place gently first, piercing the skin lightly. "I accept you as my mate, Zara O'Neer!"

He sunk his canines into her soft flesh, feeling her warm blood in his mouth, sharing his DNA with her and marking her for life. He could hear her heart racing in her chest, and a soft whimper left her chest as h

"I love you," Zara whispered, and Lachlan slowly got his teeth out of her, licking the wound gently to help it heal. It was so big on her delicate neck. For the

first time, it occurred to him that maybe it wasn't such a good idea. It would take the mark a week or so to heal completely. What if it distracted her during her fight?

"I love you too," he responded and met her gaze. "I am sorry I didn't think of the wound you'd have to bear. How much does it

hurt?"

"Enough to remember why I need to stay alive today," she smiled and leaned forward to claim his lips. "I wish I could mark you too so that you would have the same predicament."

"This now, was what I needed to want to stay alive," Lachlan chuckled, but the smile turned out sadder than he had hoped. He placed his forehead on his chosen mate's and closed his eyes. "When this is over "Shh," the werebird stopped him, wrapping her arms tight around his neck, "When this is over, we will have our whole life before us. This is what I believe in."

"Good," he hummed, and the piercing noise of the alarm on his phone rang, notifying them that it was time to go.

Petra found Ash right before he was supposed to leave. She ran into the courtyard when he was already walking towards his car, and he stopped in his tracks before he saw her. He felt her presence, and she

mate.

Petra has been dreaming of a mate since discovering they existed. What could be

better than a person supposed to love you unconditionally? Sadly, this was precisely what she did not have. She remembered their fingers lacing together just hours ago at Kai and Savannah's ceremony, and t "Wait!" she screamed and rushed his way, her pink hair whipped by the wind.

Ash looked at his second-chance mate, and his wolf Nox screamed to embrace her here and now. However, the Alpha knew that it was a bad idea.

Petra was already near and took his hand into hers without asking permission. "I know I am not what you wanted as a mate, and you don't know what to do with me," she said bluntly, and his lips parted in shoc "But let me prove that I can be just what you need as a Luna. Ash- Alpha Ash, I-"

He hated that he made her feel this way, but maybe it was for the best. Ash had already lost a mate once, and

today he was going to war, where he would be facing creatures far stronger than him. It would have been selfish to claim her in any way now.

Right now, if he ended up dead, she would cry a day or two for what they could have had. But if he deepened the bond, if he made

her any kind of promises now, it would hurt her so much more if he did not come back.

"Petra," he caressed her cheek gently, "you're a wonderful girl, and don't let anyone make you believe you are not enough. I saw you fight the white bears chasing us when we were getting Aspen out. You need

you are."

Her breathing hitched hearing his words. What was the problem then?

He read her question in her eyes and felt terrible. Was he making a mistake by distancing himself now?

"Then why are you-" she couldn't bring herself to ask bluntly and cast her gaze down.

Ash cupped her chin in one hand and made her look at him. "Because I want you to be free if I don't return tomorrow."

She did not like this idea at all.

"I am going to be fighting too," she declared, taking him by surprise. "My pack is going, and so am I. And I don't want to die thinking

my mate did not want me. I don't want to die not knowing how his lips tasted-"

She did

not get to finish because Ash slammed his lips into hers in a greedy, possessive kiss that made her forget the rest of her speech. She placed her fingers hesitantly on his chest, and it made him snarl into her m "Petra," he growled, deepening the kiss, and she got brave, digging her fingers into him. She wanted to feel, to experience as much as he could give her.

But Ash was the reasonable one, so after a while, he stopped the madness.

"Petra, let's agree on something," he breathed, "When it's all over... meet me at dawn. Here."

She liked that. It was a promise that wasn't a promise, but it was something that gave her hope for their future together, something

to look forward to.

"We meet at dawn then," she beamed at him, unable to hold back her excitement.

"Any chance you would not go to fight?" Ash wondered. He remembered how she jumped at the huge bear who managed to catch up with them, but she wouldn't have lasted long against him if she had been a pink curly head. "I already stayed back too many times. I'm not missing this one."

She turned on her blush pink heels and walked back into the castle, and Ash's lips curled involuntarily. She was a surprise, that Petra. And so much was yet to be discovered.

Aspen was pushing the wheels of his chair and swearing under his breath. The castle's square bricks were not made for this. The castle wasn't made for this. The life of a lycan wasn't made for this. He wasn't

time.

However, he couldn't think of that now. He was still a Gamma. Even though Kai would probably have to find a new one over

Luckily, his wolf was all right. So, at least he was able to fight in his second form. In his newfound situation, he regarded this as a blessing. He could still be a warrior.

One of his men mind linked him, saying that he was needed at the main gate and this was where Aspen was headed. The wheels got stuck when he was already close to his goal, and there was nothing he cou

His stomach churned, thinking that

he would probably have to crawl now to get anywhere. Luckily, a warrior rushed to his side, willing to help. That only made Aspen angrier because he had never needed help before. He was always the strongest, the fastest, the most skilful. Only Kai and Lachlan were able to compete with him as equals. And now some boy was going to push him in a wheelchair. This was a humiliation he couldn't take.

"Don't!" he growled so loud that the walls shook, and the warrior stopped instantly.

"I just wanted to-" the youngster tried to explain, but Aspen raised his hand to stop him. The Gamma quickly looked around, and

his angry gaze fell on a bunch of spears in the corner.

"Bring me one of those," he pointed there, and his subordinate obeyed, doing as he was told.

Aspen broke the sharp part in the spear and used the wooden stick left for support, standing up. He could feel his legs, but they were not listening to him. The way the bones grew together was awkward, and now he experienced excruciating pain when he moved. But anything was better than this chair. Even a staff he ended up with. At least that one could be used as a weapon if needed.

He limped to the guard post at the gate, already sweaty from the effort he had to make, and noticed that his soldiers had perplexed expressions on their faces when they saw him, but at the same time, there was respect in their eyes because he wasn't giving up. "What is it?" he snarled at them to keep them in check. The last thing he needed was pity.

"There is a girl, and she wants to see you," one of his men reported.

"For I'ck's sake! Is that why you called me?" He would have slaughtered them for this now if they didn't need everyone in the

morning.

"Gamma," another warrior addressed him respectfully, "she is a white bear."

Aspen's whole world turned. He thought he started hearing things, but then he saw his men and knew that they were serious. He thought he might see her again, but for the past twenty-four hours, he was sure that it would be on a battlefield. He did not know what

he felt about her anymore. At first, he hated her when he thought that all his friends were killed by her, but then most of them turned out to be alive.

Most.

Not all.

The priestess killed that day, was the one he always went to see in Fenrir's temple. He personally escorted her to the castle for Kai

and Savannah's ceremony and was distraught when he later found out she was one of the few who did not make it. Same as the soldiers

who were killed trying to defend the castle. The ones whom he personally trained together with Lachlan.

Such things were hard to forgive.

Mate or no mate, that woman was his poison, and he was ready to snap her neck when he went to see her.

Only that the girl who stared at his broad frame with wide doe eyes, wasn't Brigit...

Kai and Savannah led their army

hand in hand to their position and found the bears already waiting for them on the other side of the field. Everyone knew this would end here one day, in the historical place where the white bears and the lycans always fought each other. Kai intended for this battle to be the last. Mountains surrounded the field on one side, and Forbidden Forest was starting on the

other. This was where the bears waited for them.

They could see Bjorn in his human form at the head of his formation, glaring at them. His gaze did not miss Kai holding Savannah's hand, her wearing the same outfit she did at the Forgotten City during the Lu

especially hurt him.

Joran appeared at his side, placing his hand on Bjorn's shoulder. "Just kill the King, and she will be yours. She was stolen from you,

but the moment he is gone, your mate bond with her will be restored."

Bjorn knew this. This was all that kept him sane lately. That tiny flicker of hope kept him going.

He met Savannah's defiant gaze, and she turned away, standing on her tiptoes and kissing Kai. Her hair was gathered into a high

ponytail with a northern braid in it. She knew how to play the game as he noticed the drones filming everything from the sky.

So be it. Let them film this. Let them film how he would kill Fionnlagh and then drag his mate back where she belonged in

his bed.

Savannah broke the kiss, and they held their hands just a moment longer, squeezing them as hard as they could. They couldn't

show more emotions now because they had to radiate confidence.

"It's time," she said with the saddest smile on her lips.

"I know," Kai replied, not wanting to let her go.

But he had to. She was now leading her own squad - The Luna Squad. And her warriors played an important part today. So, she, Elene and other she-

wolves stepped back, leaving the scene, which looked as if they were retreating.

Kai was left with Lachlan and Aspen in his wolf form by his side.

His loyal brothers-in-arms. No words were needed between them. Everyone knew very well what they had to do.

"What the "Lachlan narrowed his eyes, watching what was going on on the enemy's half of the field. All of them darted their gazes there too, observing Joran stepping forward with an ominous sneer on his face. The skies became darker with malice as he faced the white bear army, joined by foxes and brown bears, multiplying their number at least by three.

This, however, wasn't the end of it. The deity raised his hands to the black as ink clouds and thunder rumbled, followed by a few bright lightning bolts slicing the sky. They struck the bears' formation, and it glow "F*ck!" Kai swore loudly, realising what had just happened. He could feel that with his bones, the power erupting right in front of him as roars filled the world. One by one, the bears, the foxes, and some of the t versions of themselves with sharper canines and longer claws.

"What is that?" Lachlan asked, still trying to comprehend what was going on.

"They just got blessed by Joran," the Northern Lycan King said, voice grim. "All of them."

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