Chapter 2 : MARCH TO WAR

Dawn painted the sky blood-red.

I stood in the castle courtyard, armor cold against my skin. Silver plate, engraved with moon and wolf motifs. My father''s armor. He''d died in it.

Five hundred men waited. Knights in steel. Archers with longbows. Foot soldiers with spears. Their breath fogged in the cold morning air.

Lucas Ironward approached. First Knight of Artemis. Thirty-four years old, built like a mountain, face scarred from a hundred battles. He wore no helmet. Steel-grey eyes assessed me.

"Your command, Lord Adrian," he said. Voice like gravel.

"Are the men ready?" I asked.

"They''re ready." He didn''t smile. "They followed you in the North. They''ll follow you now."

I nodded. My silver hair was tied back, out of the way. At nineteen, I was younger than most of the veterans. But the blood oath mark on the back of my neck pulsed. Reminder. I was Lunar Wolf. Last pureblood. Lionel''s Bloodsworn.

The bond hummed.

I looked up. To the highest tower.

He stood there. A silhouette against the red sky. Lionel. Watching.

The blood oath connection opened. Like a door swinging wide.

Fear. His fear. Not for his kingdom. For me.

Anger. My anger. At his control. His protection.

Desire. His desire. To keep me safe. Locked away.

Need. My need. To prove I wasn''t just his possession.

Emotions flowed between us. No words needed. The bond did that. Made us feel what the other felt. Whether we wanted to or not.

"Mount up!" Lucas shouted.

I swung onto my horse. A black stallion named Shadow. He''d carried me through the Northern campaign. Knew my moods.

The gates opened. Wood groaned. Iron screeched.

We rode out.

Five hundred men. Hooves pounding cobblestones. Armor clanking. Banners snapping in the wind. Moon and wolf. Silver on black.

I didn''t look back.

But I felt him. In the tower. Watching. Worrying.

The bond pulsed. *Come back,* it seemed to say. *Come back to me.*

I shut it down. Or tried to. The bond didn''t work like that. You couldn''t shut it down. Only endure.

We rode through the city streets. People watched from windows. Some cheered. Some crossed themselves. Wolf and human. Always that divide.

At the city gates, a figure waited.

Sebastian Shadow.

He stood alone. Black hair. Black clothes. Black eyes. Shadow Wolf. Enemy. Or so the stories said.

My hand went to my sword.

Lucas moved his horse between us. "Stand down, Shadow."

Sebastian ignored him. Looked at me. "Adrian Moonshadow. Last pureblood. Going to kill your own kind?"

"Shadow Wolves rebelled against the crown," I said. Voice steady. Good.

"Rebelled?" Sebastian smiled. Cold smile. "We defended our territory. Your king took what wasn''t his."

"The Western Duchy is part of Artemis," Lucas said. Hand on his sword hilt.

"By whose law?" Sebastian asked. "Human law? Wolf law is older. Territory belongs to those strong enough to hold it."

I met his black eyes. "Then I''ll be strong enough to take it back."

He studied me. Long moment. Then nodded. "Maybe you will. But strength isn''t just about power, boy. It''s about knowing when to fight. And when to run."

He turned. Melted into shadows. Gone.

Lucas cursed. "Shadow magic. I hate that trick."

"We move," I said. "Double time. I want to reach the Black Forest by nightfall."

"Yes, sir." Lucas turned his horse. "You heard him! Double time!"

We rode.

The Black Forest lived up to its name.

Trees so thick sunlight couldn''t penetrate. Ground covered in rotting leaves. Air cold and damp. Sounds echoed strangely. A bird call from the left, but the bird was on the right.

We made camp as darkness fell.

Fires sparked to life. Men cooked rations. Talked in low voices. Nervous.

Lucas approached my tent. "Perimeter secure. Guards posted. Shadow Wolves could be anywhere."

"I know," I said. Unbuckling my armor. It was heavy. "They''re watching us right now."

He frowned. "You sense them?"

"Lunar Wolf senses." I tapped my nose. "I can smell them. Pine and poison. Shadow Wolf scent."

"How many?"

"Twenty. Maybe thirty. Circling. Waiting."

Lucas''s hand went to his sword. "We should—"

"Wait," I said. "Let them make the first move. We''re in their territory. They know the ground better."

He nodded. Respect in his eyes. Good. I needed his respect. Needed all their respect.

I stepped out of the tent. Night had fallen completely. Moon rose. Not full yet, but close. Three days to full moon. Then my power would peak.

Lunar Wolves drew strength from the moon. Full moon meant maximum power. Maximum control.

The bond pulsed.

Lionel.

I closed my eyes. Let the connection open.

*Where are you?* His thought, clear as if he stood beside me.

*Black Forest. Camp made.*

*Sebastian?*

*Met us at the gates. Warning or threat. Not sure.*

*Be careful. He''s dangerous.*

*I know.*

A wave of emotion through the bond. Worry. Fear. Love. So much love it hurt.

I pushed back. Anger. Independence. *Let me do this.*

Silence through the bond. Then: *I''m trying.*

The connection faded. Not broken. Just quieter.

I opened my eyes. Lucas watched me.

"Blood oath?" he asked.

I nodded.

"He worries."

"He always worries." I looked at the moon. "Three days to full moon. We attack the Shadow Wolf stronghold then. My power will be strongest."

"Your first major command," Lucas said. "Nervous?"

"Yes."

"Good. Means you''re not stupid." He almost smiled. Almost. "I served under your father. Good man. Good warrior. You have his eyes."

I looked at him. "You knew my father?"

"Fought beside him. Drank with him." Lucas''s face hardened. "He didn''t deserve what happened."

"What did happen?" I asked. Voice quiet. "No one ever tells me. Just ''killed in battle.'' What battle? Where? How?"

Lucas looked away. "Not my story to tell. Ask your king."

"He won''t tell me either."

"Then maybe there''s a reason." Lucas turned to go. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow we scout the forest. Find their stronghold."

He walked away. Left me with questions. Always questions.

I went back into my tent. Lay on my bedroll. Armor off. Just linen shirt and trousers.

The bond hummed. Low constant vibration.

I reached through it. Not intentionally. Just... reached.

*Lionel.*

*Adrian.* Immediate response. He was waiting.

*Tell me about my parents.*

Silence through the bond. Long silence.

*Not like this,* he finally sent. *Not through the bond. When you return. I''ll tell you everything.*

*Promise?*

*I promise.*

Another wave of emotion. Guilt. So much guilt.

Why guilt?

The question hung between us. Through the bond. Unanswered.

*Sleep,* he sent. *You need rest.*

*You too.*

*I''ll watch over you. Through the bond. Always.*

The connection softened. Became background noise. Like distant music.

I closed my eyes. Tried to sleep.

But the forest whispered. Trees creaked. Animals moved in the dark. And beneath it all: the scent of pine and poison. Shadow Wolves. Watching. Waiting.

Midnight.

A scream tore through the camp.

I was on my feet. Sword in hand. Out of the tent before fully awake.

Chaos.

Men shouting. Steel clashing. Shadows moving too fast to follow.

Shadow Wolves.

They flowed through the camp like liquid darkness. Black fur. Red eyes. Claws that gleamed in the moonlight.

One leaped at me.

I ducked. Swung my sword. Felt it bite into flesh. The wolf yelped. Fell. Didn''t get up.

Another came from the left. I pivoted. Blocked claws with my sword. Shoved. The wolf stumbled back.

Lunar Wolf instincts took over.

My senses sharpened. I could see in the dark now. Every detail. Every movement. Smell every scent. Blood. Fear. Pine. Poison.

I moved.

Fast. Faster than humanly possible.

Sword became extension of my arm. Cut. Thrust. Parry. Block.

Shadow Wolves fell around me. Three. Four. Five.

But more kept coming.

Lucas fought beside me. His greatsword cleaved through wolves like they were paper. He fought with brutal efficiency. No wasted movement. Every stroke killed.

"To me!" I shouted. "Form circle!"

Men rallied. Formed defensive circle. Backs to each other. Weapons out.

Shadow Wolves circled. Snarling. Red eyes glowing.

Twenty of them. Maybe more.

The alpha stepped forward. Larger than the others. Black fur streaked with silver. Intelligent eyes. Not just an animal. A wolf. A person.

"Adrian Moonshadow," the alpha said. Voice rough, guttural, but words clear. "Last pureblood. We meet at last."

"I''m here to end the rebellion," I said. Sword ready.

"Rebellion?" The alpha laughed. Bitter sound. "We defend our home. Your king takes what isn''t his. As he always does."

"Surrender," I said. "And you''ll be treated fairly."

"Fairly?" The alpha snarled. "Like my brother was treated? Executed for defending our territory?"

"I don''t know your brother."

"You will." The alpha lunged.

I met him.

Claws against steel. Strength against strength.

He was powerful. Alpha strength. But I was Lunar Wolf. Pureblood. Moon was nearly full. Power flowed through me.

I pushed him back. Step by step.

He snarled. Bit. Clawed.

I blocked. Countered. Cut.

My sword found his shoulder. Bit deep.

He howled. Fell back.

The other Shadow Wolves hesitated.

"Now!" Lucas shouted.

We attacked.

Circle broke. Became offensive line. We pushed forward. Swords and spears against claws and teeth.

Shadow Wolves fell back. Disappeared into the forest. Melting into shadows.

The alpha was last. Wounded. Bleeding. He looked at me. Black eyes filled with hate.

"This isn''t over, Moonshadow," he growled. "We have allies. Powerful allies. You''ll see."

Then he was gone. Into the shadows.

Silence.

Camp was wrecked. Tents torn. Supplies scattered. Men wounded. Some dead.

I lowered my sword. Breathing hard. Adrenaline fading.

Lucas approached. "Casualties: seven dead. Fifteen wounded. Theirs: at least twenty dead."

I nodded. "Post double guards. Treat the wounded. Bury the dead."

"Yes, sir." He paused. "You fought well. Your father would be proud."

The words should have meant something. But all I felt was empty.

The bond pulsed.

*Adrian!* Lionel''s panic through the bond. *What happened? I felt—*

*Ambush,* I sent back. *Shadow Wolves. We fought them off.*

*Are you hurt?*

*No. Some men dead. Wounded.*

*Come back.* The thought was desperate. *Please. Come back.*

*I can''t.*

*You can. Order a retreat. I''ll send more men—*

*No.* Firm. Final. *This is my command. My responsibility. I finish it.*

Silence through the bond. Then: *I''m coming there.*

*No!* My thought was sharp. *You''re the king. You have a kingdom to rule. Let me do this.*

Long pause. Then, softer: *Be careful. Please.*

*I will.*

The connection faded.

I looked at the moon. Two days to full moon. Then we attack the stronghold.

Then I''d have answers. About the rebellion. About Sebastian Shadow.

About my parents.