The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 64 

Kai had never been a patient person, and it was torture of a new kind to stay behind and wait. It did not bother him that he could not shift back to his human form anymore. He wasn’t picky and was ready to spend his whole new life as a wolf as long as he could rescue Savannah. She was his priority and the one and only thing on his mind from the moment he woke up. When Fenrir asked for his firstborn, Kai didn’t even hesitate. Why would he? A child was in a distant future he could never have in the first place without the rebirth, and in all honesty, he could have tricked the God later. There were many legends about similar occurrences. Either way, it was a problem for later. But Savvy… Sawy needed his help now. 

Of course, he wanted to save his kingdom too. He was brought up and trained to exist with the weight of responsibility for the 

North. However, now he knew that if he was ever forced to make a choice, he would have to spend eternity begging Fenrir’s and his 

people’s forgiveness because he knew whom he would choose. It was not right, it was selfish and not worthy of a king, but Kai knew now 

that Savvy came first. She was his everything, and somehow, after he was reborn, all those feelings only intensified. 

The memories of Savannah’s scared face were flashing before his eyes. Memories from when life was slipping away from him. He 

understood what was happening before she did, andwhen she realised he was dying, it scared her beyond belief. That girl had no 

problem facing multiple enemies, walking into deadly traps, being betrayed and stabbed in the back, but losing him brought horror to 

her face and grief into her soul. Primal boundless fear gripped her and Kai… Kai was horrified, too. Knowing that he was abandoning her, 

knowing that the enemy would come for her when she would be at her weakest… 

The Lycan King of the North had already felt weak once. Right after his parents died. After just one day, he had to start taking care of 

his kingdom and his depressed little sister. Every time Elene sobbed in his arms, every time his then–advisors looked at him as if he was 

just a little boy with a sparkling crown, he felt like that. Useless, weak, pathetic… an impostor. 

Contrary to everyone’s beliefs, his life was never easy. Although his childhood was happy until he lost his parents, even when they were alive, he had to work hard for everything. His father didn’t accept any excuses and he had high expectations of his heir. Kai didn’t get to play with other kids much, he had more important things to do. Maybe it was the reason that he had trouble making friends in the first place. He had next to no experience with relating to people. He was introduced to Aspen because their fathers were friends, but it took them years to get close. Lachlan was an exception – the two of them hit it off immediately. Although Kai was always surrounded by people, Lachlan and later Aspen were the only two he could call friends. They stood by him when he became the King, and he knew he could always count on them. It was important because he was also aware he couldn’t count on anyone else. Everyone wanted a piece of him, but mostly, they wanted him gone. The Northerners were fiercely loyal to their King, but, just as with their Lunas, they had to accept, him as their King first. So, Kai earned their respect. He had to become stronger, sterner, and more ruthless. 

For a brief moment, he thought that he and Gideon could be friendly, but they were too much alike. Kai knew he had to be the best for everyone to fear him and stay away from the North. Gideon had similar ideas about the West. They were unlucky to end up at the same Alpha training facility at the same time because they immediately clashed. It still could have been a healthy competition. They tried to keep it up for a while, but once Kai heard Gideon talking about his sister in a less–than–complimentary way, all hell broke loose. Kai went on the defence, and there was that knowledge etched in his mind that the best defence was a good offence. 

Playing the role of the perfect king was hard for him because perfect was one thing that he wasn’t. This was why he loved his ” gardener and the little maid” game with Savannah so much. He loved her gaze flickering when she looked at him and, at the same time, 

having no idea who he really was. 

She came into his life unexpectedly and turned everything upside down, bringing chaos into it, but also… she brought him peace. 

Kai didn’t even notice how his life became all about her. 

And now he had quite a few things to worry about. 

Kai had made an impossible deal. Maybe she would never forgive him when she found out, but as long as she would be there to find out, he’d take it. He would find a way around this. He would do everything he could to make her happy and not give away their first–born baby, but his main priority would always be Savannah’s safety. If he had to die again today to achieve this- so be it. 

It was strange to be in this new form. Fenrir called him Amarok, and he remembered old northern legends about giant lonely wolves who destroyed everything in their path. This wasn’t what he wanted to be, but again, he was ready to accept it if it meant he would have enough power to defeat his enemies. He was supposed to be dead anyway, but since he was given a second chance, he wasn’t going to 

waste it. 

His whole body was new, and it took some getting used to it because of how giant it was. It didn’t feel the same as being in his royal lycan form. He wasn’t simply larger now, but in a way, he became stronger and more powerful. He couldn’t find it in himself to shift back into a human, but at the same time, he had no trouble making everything around him freeze. He could create ice with his will, and he 

could shape whatever he wanted out of it. 

The first thing that he tried when he realised that was, of course, Savannah’s sculpture. He sat in front of it now, waiting for the news from Ash, keeping it away from melting. He had made her almost identical to the real version, and just looking at her was helping him to stay focused and maintain his sanity. She was his anchor to this world, and having her close, even if it wasn’t the real Savvy, was helping him to keep himself from going feral and charging at that damn castle. 

Riannon was the one who talked him out of it. Surprisingly, Gideon’s mate was his voice of reason now. When she was contacting him through her wolf Onyx, he could feel their emotions and knew that they were genuine. That made him listen. 

Time after time, the Luna and the Queen of the Western Lycan Kingdom told him to believe in Savannah, promising that the Princess would be able to take care of herself. He really wanted to just go to Bjorn’s castle, kill everyone, and get Savvy back. But they all knew that it wouldn’t be that simple. Too many things weren’t adding up, and traitors were everywhere. 

He was greedily watching the news, promising himself to kill both Chloe and Claude when he would get the chance. He couldn’t 

believe how easily they switched sides. However, thanks to them, he was getting bits and pieces of information about Savannah. Lachlan 

did not want to show him the whole video of how she was brought to the white bear’s castle, but after his menacing growl, his Beta gave 

up and let it play. Seeing her on his enemy’s back brought him back into despair. For once, he and Gideon were on the same page, and 

both wanted to go to the White Bear Cliffs immediately, but this time Kyle was the one who stopped them. 

“You need to see this!” He stood before the two of them with his laptop, opening a page of his TruthTeller website. 

“This is really not the time!” Gideon growled and Kai snarled in agreement. 

Evelyn and Riannon stood up for him, insisting that he had a point. “I’m receiving

how everything really went,” he told them. “Bjorn probably has enemies in his castle, too! There are

so many

showing them how they’d chained Savvy to make her sit on that white bear’s

Savannah was almost unconscious by the

piece of trash, the white bear king. That last part brought him momentary satisfaction, but at the same

loved so much in that situation. The last video was of three girls Kai

one of them complained, “I don’t think that Queen

her… queenly duties anytime soon. The healer told the king that she shouldn’t be doing anything physical for

would snap his neck on the spot. He was lucky

girl said. She had a broom and

uniform. 

rolled her eyes. “Have you seen how he looks at her? She was sick all over him,

about anything else. He would never do

Kyle closed his laptop. Gideon and Kai exchanged glances. This time they didn’t need to

each other. 

day more,” Riannon

our mansion to “get to know” Savvy better and then she accidentally poured wolfsbane all over herself in a class

of that?” 

angrily as the Western King ran his hand over

guess,” Gideon exhaled heavily. “Never

shook his head, “but when all these women suddenly decided that you were looking for a

a coincidence,” Gideon finished the sentence, grunting.

at Evelyn for support, “I’m not saying that we shouldn’t save her. I would die for Savvy, you know that. Not only is she my best friend, but she’s also like a sister to me. We grew up together, and I care for her as much as you do. But Riannon is right, and we should believe in her. Also, we can’t

Petra, but I do and so does Savannah herself! And also, there is your Gamma. I’m sure you want to get Aspen out almost as much as you want to

felt guilty. Evelyn was right, he really wanted to try and save them all, but Savvy was the one at the top of his mind. Once he got her out, he would come back for Petra and Aspen. And also to kill Bjorn. But that would be after his beloved was safe. Or during

to save them all together,” Lachlanassured them with his soft political tone. Kai knew that he

I believe there’s a way to do all of this,” the woman proclaimed confidently. “I have just spoken with Petra’s father over the phone, and he told me that Bjorn offered him a chance to buy Petra. They told him to send a delegation to his castle to negotiate this. The bears are putting

of how best to resolve the

Riannon furrowed her brows and hugged herself. “This is a perfect opportunity to get our people inside the

he wanted to do was get there sooner, grab

from the sky. She shifted while she was still in the air and

see her?” Gideon

was there, sleeping alone,” the werebird informed them. “I couldn’t get too close, though, without being suspicious. Hawks do not rest on windowsills, you know. Not to mention that they know me. I also saw Bjorn, and it looks like he’s busy. I don’t think he’s going to get to spend time with Savannah anytime

strength and patience to wait a bit

it was a good decision.

……… 

He was supposed to come back first and bring them information on who was where and what the weak spots in defence were. Everybody knew that Aspen would be the easiest to access but the hardest to get out due to his multiple injuries. Zara informed them that the Gamma’s condition was the worst out of the three. She also confirmed that she hadn’t seen Astrid and her friend Emma anywhere, which left their fates unknown. However, Brigit seemed to feel at home, which convinced them that she was the one helping Bjorn all this time to everyone’s disappointment. Only Riannon did not comment on how the she–bear was going to be punished for her betrayal when

*** 

latest news. There were rumours that Bjorn was going to mark Savannah today. Just the thought of it made his stomach churn and his blood boil, and that was saying a lot considering that ice

much. She had been through more than him or anyone else he knew. A lot of people had a sad story in one way or another, but Savvy could never catch a break and had to face one struggle after another. Not to mention that he knew her. He knew that if she wasn’t broken now, this would break her for sure. Waiting now felt

out on her mission of spying on the castle again. She was so good that the bears did not notice her in the skies. Although it was possible that they simply didn’t look. She was supposed to return and alert

first to realise that it wasn’t the one that Ash was supposed to set up. The location of the explosion was higher and much further

go according to the plan, and he was not going to listen to any

just a few in pursuit, and Kai pounced on them without mercy. He didn’t even need his freezing powers to eliminate the enemy. However, as

was enraged, but calmed down slightly when his eyes landed on Aspen. His Gamma looked horrible, chanting something with his broken lips caked with dried–out blood. It looked like the bears were hurting him and then letting him heal, only to break everything all over again. A torture so cruel that it was rare

repeating the name and Kai growled. That Brigit girl was blessed to find hermate who was ready to love her unconditionally and give her everything that a maid could want, and this was what she did

into his human form and bowed his head respectfully to the king of the North.

was, the Alpha said, “He will be okay–what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

menacingly in the darkness and the air around them became uncomfortably cold even for a werewolf, Ash quickly changed the subject

informed Amarok quickly, knowing that Kai was still inside. “She told us to run while she was covering for us and leading them away.

wasn’t listening anymore, he only turned on his paws and sprinted to where the

*** 

was watching from the window in her room as Savannah and the werewolves freed Aspen and placed him on one of the wolves‘ backs. It was probably just an illusion that her mate… her ex–mate… locked his eyes with hers for a moment. After all, his eyes were so swollen he probably couldn’t see a thing anyway. But she let herself believe that it was the truth and that he knew that she was the one that set off the explosion in the tower and helped the fire in the castle spread in order to help him escape. She knew that he would never forgive her betrayal and that they would probably never see each other again, but a smile formed on her lips as she placed her forehead on the

that tugged and pulled and warmed her up when everything else in her world was so cold. She remembered how she once thought that she was in love with Castiel. That mernory now made her laugh. There couldn’t be any comparison. She was fighting the mate bond so hard because she knew he would

Yet the one time she had been with Aspen would be what she would cherish in her heart forever now. The night of Savvy and Kai’s marking ceremony when all she originally planned to do was to kiss him and drug him. Instead, she let him take her in a small dark room he used in

to please a woman, to drive them crazy and make them want him even more. But

love was. Even if it was just a glimpse of it. That big guy who could crush walls with his bare hands was touching her as if she was made out of the finest porcelain, worshipping every inch of her body, making it about her for once. What they had… what they could have had… was pure and beautiful. And Brigit wished there was the tiniest of chances that one day he could forgive her and

bold. Instead, she should take what life was willing to give her and be grateful for that. She wouldn’t be able to live if he’d died because of her. She wouldn’t be able to breathe… but now, at least, she could do

wrapped around her, and she turned to see her

you?” Ingrid asks through tears, and Brigit tucked her face into her sibling’s blonde hair and let herself to let out her tears finally. Ingrid stroked her back and gave her the time she needed, before she whispered, “Bri, you need to go with them. You can. He would look for me, but

eyes, knowing that she couldn’t be seen crying. It was too dangerous. “It’s

didn’t think that. She knew how badly her sister was treated by some of the

you need anything- anything other than me running away from my husband,

distraught over what happened today. Tell anyone who asks that you were with me the whole time in my room. And