The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 61: Old Wounds, New Hatred

Cindy's POV:

When I returned to our five-person tent, my hands were still shaking.

Viola and the others were sitting together, cleaning their weapons. The air smelled of pine oil and dried blood. The moment they saw me, everything went quiet. They knew me too well. No matter how hard I tried to control my face, the grief and emptiness coming from deep inside me could not be hidden.

"What happened?" Viola dropped her whip and stepped in front of me in two long strides. "Did Adam that—hmm—His Highness scold you? Or did they mess up your battle credit again?"

I shook my head and walked to the camp cot. I sat down and locked my fingers tightly around my knees.

"I saw the secret report," I said after a deep breath. My voice was dry and rough. "About ... why my pack was wiped out."

All four of them moved closer at once.

"Then say it!" Forrest slammed his axe into the ground, making the tent shake. "Who was the piece of trash that did it?"

I closed my eyes and forced the truth back down my throat.

I couldn't say it.

If I told Viola that it was Evelyn's torture and killing of a prisoner of war that caused this disaster, she would rush into the swamp tonight to kill her.

Evelyn dying would not matter much, but it would tear Southreach apart from the inside when we were already short on soldiers. It would give Franklin exactly what he wanted—a good laugh.

"It was Franklin," I said as I opened my eyes. They felt hollow and empty. "The vampires did it to get revenge on the werewolves and weaken Southreach's defenses. They believed my pack was our strongest shield. So, they struck when my father was off guard. They used forbidden blood magic and killed the entire pack."

I left Evelyn's name out and pushed all the hatred toward an enemy we already could never make peace with.

"Franklin!" Viola growled. She punched the wooden support pole of the tent. It creaked under the blow. "That blood-sucking pest! I'll pull out his fangs one by one!"

"Cindy." Sterling, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. He knelt on one knee in front of me and took my cold hand in his. "Don't be afraid. Your pack is gone, but we are your family now. Your enemies are our enemies."

"Yeah!" Tyrone stopped chewing on his usual piece of grass. His face turned hard and sharp. "From today on, this squad hunts vampire nobles only. We won't stop until there's not a single one left."

Forrest awkwardly lifted his broad, big hand and gently patted my head. "Cindy, I'm not smart, but I'm strong. If anyone wants to hurt you, they'll have to step over my body first."

I looked at their sincere faces. My nose stung. The thick ice around my heart cracked just a little, then guilt rushed in to fill the gap.

I'm sorry, my friends. I lied to you.

But I swear, I will settle this debt myself. I will make Evelyn pay.

"There's one more thing," I said, forcing myself to focus and change the subject. "Reinforcements are on the way. The ones leading them are James and Evelyn."

"Huh?" Viola let out a cold laugh. "That disgusting pair still dares to show up? Aren't they afraid my whip might ‘accidentally' miss its aim on the battlefield?"

"Don't do anything reckless," I said flatly. "They're bringing 100,000 troops and supplies. Until the vampires are driven back, they are allies. But..." My voice dropped. "If James does something foolish in battle or tries to push the blame onto us, I won't hold back."

A sharp light flashed in my eyes, the resolve of an Alpha who had made up her mind.

"Of course," Viola said, raising an eyebrow. "When the time comes, we'll settle old scores and new ones together."