Ch. 21..25: A Warrior Luna's Awakening Chapter 21-25

Chapter 21

Freya’s POV

I didn’t expect to feel this… stirred.

The Skyborn Summit had always been a place for wolves of rank, soldiers, engineers, and aviators to showcase their strength and innovation. As a former aerial combat warrior of the Ironfang Legion, my blood still responded to the sleek aircraft, the roar of engines, and the scent of engine oil carried by the wind.

I came with Lana–my fierce little wolf of a friend–who dragged me here to “network” with the upper echelons of the aerospace world. Not that I minded. These machines spoke a language I hadn’t heard in too long. One I used to live and

breathe.

Lana was already off tracking down some potential supplier contracts like a huntress stalking prey. I was more than happy to wander on my own.

A child’s excited howl caught my attention. I turned and spotted a small pack–a father, mother, and two little pups. The parents each held one child’s hand, pointing at a model of the latest Skyrazor aircraft. The pup bounced with excitement.

Something tightened in my chest.

That used to be my family.

My Alpha–father, my Luna–mother, my older brother and me–watching the aerial shows from the hilltops, our shadows long under the moonlight. That was before everything fractured. Before their ashes were buried under a flag, and before my brother vanished like mist before dawn.

But I knew I knew–he was still out there. I would find him. I had to.

“Do you like children that much, Miss Freya?”

I jumped slightly. The voice came from just beside me–smooth, cool, amused.

I turned and met the storm–grey gaze of Silas.

Of course.

He stood there without his usual entourage, hands tucked in his coat pockets, looking like he had simply stepped into the Summit on a whim. But with Silas, nothing was ever a whim.

“You’re alone?” I asked, scanning the crowd behind him.

“My guards are around,” he said with a slight tilt of his head. “Shadow patrol, not obvious muscle. Crowds don’t respond well to intimidation.” He paused. “Though I make exceptions when necessary.”

I smirked slightly. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I could say the same. You came alone?”

“With a friend. She’s off… networking.”

“Then walk with me,” he said–not quite a request.

I gave a tiny nod and fell into step beside him.

To my surprise, Silas Whitmor didn’t just attend the Skyborn Summit. He understood it.

As we passed display after display, his commentary was sharp and astute. He spoke fluently about engine core compression ratios, thermal shielding layers, and rare aerial combat configurations. Not just surface–level knowledge–real depth. I found myself challenged in the best possible way.

We debated hybrid–wing architecture, the future of lunar landing tech, and even shared our favorite forbidden old–world military texts. For the first time in a long while, I felt… seen. Matched.

He didn’t talk down to me like most alphas did to females. He listened. He sparred. And gods help me, I enjoyed it.

Too much.

Just when I was starting to forget how dangerous he could be, his secretary emerged from the crowd like a shadow, whispering something in his ear.

“I have to meet with a few government officials,” he said. “Will you wait for me?”

I raised a brow. “You expect me to sit and twiddle my thumbs?”

His eyes sparkled. “I expect you to explore. But keep your phone nearby.”

And with that, he disappeared into the crowd.

I turned to head back toward the flight hall when I saw a group heading my way–wolves in expensive jackets and loud egos.

I recognized them instantly.

Caelum. And his idiot friends.

Nope.

I pivoted to move away, but I wasn’t fast enough.

“Freya?” a voice called–Ryker. “You came to the Summit? You even know what any of this is?”

He and his pack strutted up with mockery dripping from every step. Caelum followed silently behind them, not intervening. Of course.

“I didn’t realize you needed a license to observe innovation,” I said coolly. “Or does your ego count as a credential?”

Ryker’s smile tightened. “Still got that bite, I see. Trying to copy Aurora? Maybe if you absorb enough of her essence, Caelum will sniff in your direction again.”

The others howled with laughter.

Another sneered. “You probably drive tractors now.”

They laughed harder. I

I felt nothing. Not pain, Not shame. Only clarity.

“Flying a plane isn’t a divine achievement,” I said softly, my voice like winter frost.

Ryker’s grin widened. “And there it is–jealousy. You can’t stand that Aurora earned her wings and your mate’s heart.”

“He’s not my mate,” I said flatly. “Not anymore.”

Caelum finally opened his mouth. “Freya, that’s enough. Aurora is the first female pilot of Wing. You don’t need to belittle her because you’re angry.”

I stared at him for a long moment.

Angry?

He thought I still cared.

Gods. That’s how little he knew me

Just then, my phone rang.

Lana. Thank the Moon.

I turned away from the snickering group and stepped aside to answer.

“Freya, listen–one of the demo pilots just collapsed. They need an immediate sub for the SkyRift performance. We’re one of the sponsors and they need a flyer. You’re certified. You’ve done it before. Will you help?”

243

I looked back at the pack of smug, grinning alphas behind me.

I looked past them at Caelum, who couldn’t stop them. Wouldn’t stop them.

My eyes narrowed.

“I’ll be there in five.”

Chapter 22

Freya’s POV

“Thank the Moon!” Lana breathed. “Sending coordinates now. Get here fast.”

The exhibition grounds stretched far behind the main arena–open air, wind–swept, and littered with gleaming machines. By the time I reached the prep site, several sponsor reps were pacing in tight circles, anxious and disoriented.

Lana rushed to meet me. “The aircraft’s fueled and ready. Hop in and get a feel for the controls.”

“Got it.”

But just as I was climbing into the cockpit, a hand grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Caelum’s voice barked out beside me.

I blinked, then frowned.

“You followed me?”

“I saw you storm off after that call and tracked your scent,” he said. “You can’t just climb into a combat–grade flyer like it’s a toy. Are you out of your mind?”

Lana stepped between us like a lioness. “I asked her to fly. She’s fully certified–unlike you.”

Caelum’s eyes narrowed, ignoring her entirely. “You’re seriously doing this just to compete with Aurora? You think strapping into a plane makes you look stronger?”

I yanked my arm free with force. “I don’t compete with ghosts.

“Freya-”

“I said. I’m flying.”

I slammed the canopy shut.

Through the glass, I saw Lana giving Caelum the kind of glare that could slice bone.

“You think Aurora’s the only female who can fly in the Skyborne? That she’s the Moon’s gift to aviation? Don’t insult Freya like that. She was flying combat units while Aurora was still chasing her first kill badge.”

Caelum looked rattled. “She… knows how to fly?”

“You’ll see,” Lana spat.

And oh, he did.

The second the engines roared to life, his expression froze.

The sound of the modified Edge 540 tearing across the airstrip cut through the air like thunder. I locked in, synced my senses with the machine–feeling the pulse of the engine as if it were an extension of my own heartbeat.

Wheels up.

The nose lifted, slicing through the wind.

Then was airborne–above them all.

The sky welcomed me like an old friend.

And down below, I could feel the ripple of awe. The gasps. The silence that falls when a predator reveals its true form.

Loop. Barrel roll. Spiral dive.

I wasn’t just flying–I was performing. Owning the heavens.

1/2

I knew even those ground–bound fools could tell this wasn’t beginner’s luck. These were maneuvers few dared attempt- especially not in front of an audience.

When I finally brought the bird down, easing it into a flawless landing, the crowd was thunderstruck.

And Caelum?

He was staring like he’d seen a ghost.

I climbed down, unstrapped my helmet, and met his eyes.

“You… you really know how to fly.”

I shrugged. “So?”

“I didn’t… I didn’t know you had this kind of skill.”

I tilted my head. “You never asked.”

When the three–year confidentiality period ends, I’d wanted to tell him everything–about my unit, my flights, my kills. But he’d said:

“Your past doesn’t matter. I only care about the future.”

I’d believed that meant he wanted to build one together.

Turns out, he just didn’t give a damn about who I was.

“You only care now that others see it,” I said quietly.

He looked ashamed. “I… I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t want to.”

Before he could speak again, his pack of arrogant friends swaggered over, reeking of misplaced ego and old money.

“Caelum! Aurora’s looking for you at the pavilion–what the hell are you doing out here?”

Their eyes shifted to me.

“Oh, she’s still hanging around? Didn’t you say she’s been obsessed with you

Winter st

lately?”

Caelum looked like he wanted to disappear.

One of the wolves sneered at me. “Weren’t you the one saying flying isn’t impressive? Then why are you out here trying to prove yourself?”

I gave him a flat, wolf–cold look.

“I wasn’t trying to prove anything.”

“Then what was that?”

“Just a warm–up.”

And then I turned my back to them all–letting my scent trail rise high and clear in the air like a challenge.

Let them choke on it.

Chapter 23

Third Person’s POV

“She doesn’t know a damn thing! If Aurora hadn’t been injured from that fall, she would’ve shown her what real skill looks like!”

Mocking laughter dripped with venom as it rang in Freya’s ears.

Lana, her wolf aura flaring with rage, stormed forward and snapped, “Caelum, are you even a male worth the name? You just let your pack brothers insult your mate like this?”

Caelum’s expression stiffened, a flicker of shame in his golden eyes.

Freya stepped forward, her hand gently pressing Lana back, though her own gaze had turned cold and sharp like moonlit steel. She looked directly at Caelum and the wolves beside him, eyes burning with quiet fury.

“You think flying separates wolves in rank? That my worth is defined by whether I can soar?” Her voice was calm but cutting. “Just because I once bore the title of Caelum’s mate, you all think you have the right to ridicule me? To drag me through the mud?”

The group fell silent for a beat, clearly not expecting her to strike back with such poise–and dominance.

Freya didn’t wait for their reaction. With a flick of her hair, she turned and walked off with Lana, their heads held high, their scents full of defiance.

It was only after she was gone that Ryker,scoffed again. “That bitch dares talk back like that? Caelum, you need to put her in her place. Make her remember she’s just a discarded omega trying to act like a Luna.”

“Enough!” Caelum snapped, his tone tight and dark. “Freya is–was–my mate. No matter what’s happened between us, that doesn’t give you the right to disrespect her.”

Especially not after what he’d just seen–her in the cockpit, a creature of power and precision, making the skies bend to her will.

But Ryker just rolled his eyes. “Are you serious right now? You’re the one who trashed her the most. You said it yourself- Freya had no real skills. That you only marked her because Aurora left for training and you were spiraling.”

Caelum fell silent.

Because it was true.

He had said that–drunk, bitter, and grieving.

wwwwww

But now? He wasn’t so sure anymore. Those projects Freya used to handle in the Airborne Council–he never had to touch a thing. She always managed everything flawlessly.

And now, that wolf–the one he dismissed–was taming rogue horses, commanding aircraft, performing stunts in the air that made even seasoned combat pilots gape.

The realization hit him like a blow to the chest.

She’d been his mate for three full moons and a hundred sunrises–and yet, right now, he felt like he’d never really known her.

“Let it go,” one of the others murmured, patting his shoulder. “Don’t fight your own over a she–wolf. Aurora’s looking for you at the exhibitor hall.”

Caelum nodded absently and walked away, his mind still burning with the image of Freya in the sky.

He didn’t even realize he’d reached the Skyborne Pavilion until Aurora approached.

“You look pale,” she said, brows pinched. “Something wrong?”

Caelum shook his head. “It’s nothing. Probably just stress from the Council and the Ironhold pullout.”

1/2

Finished

Aurora motioned for him to sit. “You need to take better care of yourself. Sit. Rest.”

He took a few gulps from the water flask she handed him, but the chill in his chest didn’t go away.

At the center of the pavilion, a giant screen displayed a live broadcast of the aircraft demonstration field. Right now, it was showing the distant shot of the runway where the next flight was preparing for takeoff.

“There’s going to be a flight display soon,” Aurora said with a sigh. “Shame I’m still grounded because of the damn fall. Otherwise, I’d be up there showing the pups how it’s done.”

Caelum hesitated. “Is it… really that difficult? Flying for display?”

“Are you serious?” Aurora raised a brow, a trace of pride lacing her tone. “Precision flight is no joke, Caelum. It takes years of elite training, iron discipline, and instincts sharper than a battle–born Alpha’s. You think some amateur can just step in and wing it?”

Normally, Caelum would’ve agreed. He might’ve even praised Aurora for her skill.

But after what he saw Freya pull off? His throat closed.

Her aerial maneuvers… those weren’t beginner moves. Even a pack–born Alpha could see that.

“Actually… what if someone else could do it?” he asked slowly.

Aurora’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just hypothetically–what if a wolf who’s never mentioned flight… turns out to be an expert?”

Her laughter was bitter. “You’re defending her now? Caelum, please. That omega couldn’t fly her way out of a tree. You’re insulting my rank–and every warrior of the Skyborne Legion.”

Caelum fell quiet.

He didn’t respond.

Because he didn’t know how to say: I saw her fly. I saw her rule the skies like she was born for it.

On the screen, the next plane began its takeoff..

A sleek Zivko Edge 540, painted in obsidian and silver, sliced through the wind. The commentator’s voice picked up, excitement rising.

“This pilot… wait–yes, this one’s pulling into a triple barrel roll–Moon above, this is high–difficulty maneuvering, folks! Absolutely phenomenal!”

The camera zoomed in slightly–but still too far to make out the pilot’s face.

And yet… Caelum knew

It was her.

It was Freya up there.

Chapter 24

Freya’s POV

After the aerial display concluded, Lana Rook stayed behind to finalize some dealings with other Consortium’s emissaries. I slipped away quietly, the sound of my boots softened by the ancient moss–covered stones lining the edge of the Runestone Grounds.

The full moon watched from above, round and relentless. I could still feel the pulse of magic in the air from the performance, the howl of the wind under our wings, and the roar of the crowd reverberating in my bones. My blood still thrummed with the feral high of flight.

I’d just crossed the threshold of the outer ward when a sleek, obsidian Maybach slid into view, cutting through the shadows like a predator scenting prey. The sigil etched subtly on its grille confirmed what my instincts already whispered.

Silas Whitmor’s car.

My eyes narrowed. The Alpha of the Ironclad Coalition didn’t waste time on social niceties or unexpected detours.

A uniformed wolf stepped out of the driver’s seat and bowed his head respectfully, then opened the rear door for me. “My Alpha wishes to offer Lady Thorne a ride.”

“I’m capable of calling my own transport,” I replied coolly, my voice edged with amusement.

“Are you saying,” a familiar voice echoed from within the car–cool, sharp like blade against bone-“that I am unfit to escort you home, Lady Thorne?”

I leaned down and met Silas’s gaze inside the cabin.

He sat like a king in his war chariot–elegant, commanding, silver in his hair and glacier in his eyes. That face, that voice, always carried the echo of a storm long held at bay.

I exhaled. Fighting him over something as small as a ride seemed like wasted energy. And truth be told, after the night’s adrenaline, my limbs were starting to ache.

“If you insist,” I said. “Thank you, Alpha Whitmor.”

I gave the driver my address–the Silverfang territory’s High Ridge Villa, which I technically still shared with Caelum Grafton. A strange fact, considering we were deep into the Lunar Severance Phase.

As I stepped into the vehicle, the scent of cold iron and ancient paper greeted me. The kind of scent that whispered of tomes bound in dragonhide, and bloodlines older than the Council’s foundation.

Unbeknownst to me, just behind the columns, Caelum had emerged from the arena’s eastern corridor. His scent caught in the breeze, spiked with disbelief and the faintest hint of ozone. I didn’t see his expression as the Maybach pulled away–but felt the flicker of it across the tether still lingering between us.

Inside the car, Silas didn’t waste time with small talk.

“Your dive formation tonight was flawless,” he said. “No hesitation on the drop, no shift in balance mid–roll. Iron Fang Recon would be proud.”

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. So he had done his homework.

“Thank you,” I said simply.

Silence stretched between us. Not uncomfortable–just taut, like a bowstring drawn.

Silas flipped open the leather–bound book in his lap again, the gentle rustle of vellum pages breaking the quiet. My gaze drifted–first to the title, then to his hands.

Elegant. Deceptively graceful. The kind of hands you’d expect from a calligrapher or a sculptor. And yet… I remembered too well the way he’d held that rougue. There had been no hesitation, no wasted motion.

Those were not hands untouched by violence.

You’re staring,” he said mildly, without looking up.

I’m not.”

“If you’re so fascinated, I could always promise them to you,” he added. “My hands. One day.”

I choked on my breath. “I was just wondering what you’re reading.”

He tilted the book toward me. “M’s Bestiary of Skyborne Avians.”

My eyes lit up before I could stop them.

“That’s out of print. The Halston library doesn’t even carry it anymore.”

“I know.” He turned a page slowly. “There’s an original drawing of a Skyrake owl in here. You’d like it. The detailing on the talons is exquisite.”

I wanted to ask for a peek–but the car was already slowing. We’d arrived.

The Maybach eased to a stop in front of the villa gates. The scent of pine and weathered stone greeted me as I stepped out. The lights inside were on.

I took two steps before I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

The driver caught up, book in hand.

“My Alpha asked me to deliver this to you.”

I stared at the book–M’s Bestiary–its binding worn, but still holding the scent of aged leather and smoke ink.

“It’s too rare. I can’t accept something this valuable.”

The driver gave a polite bow. “My Alpha said if Lady Thorne doesn’t want it, she may discard it at her leisure.”

Then he turned and walked off before I could argue.

I stood frozen, the book in my hands, until a shrill voice sliced through the dark.

“Well, well, Freya. Just how long were you planning to hide the fact you’re letting strange males deliver you to the front gate?”

I turned. Giselle, Caelum’s sister, sauntered out from behind the hedgerow, her smirk as sharp as a snapped fang.

“And what’s this? A gift?” Her eyes locked onto the book. “Is it some indecent wolf–lore smut? Did your secret Alpha lover inscribe a love oath inside?”

She lunged forward to snatch it.

m

I smacked her hand away with a snap of my wrist. My wolf surged forward beneath my skin, all heat and fury.

“Giselle,” I said, voice low and cold. “Touch me again, and I’ll make sure your fingers never heal clean.”

She yelped and cradled her hand. Her lower lip trembled–but her voice still carried venom.

“You hit me? I’ve got everything recorded–your little ride with that Ironclad bastard, the book exchange at the gate. Wait until Caelum sees it. Let’s see how long you stay in his house after that.”

She stormed off toward the entry hall, clutching her comms crystal and dialing Caelum.

By the time he returned, both Giselle and Eleanor–his mother–were waiting in the villa’s hearth chamber, expressions tight with fury.

As soon as Caelum crossed the threshold, Eleanor rose with fire in her eyes.

*Freya has been entertaining males outside the Pack. Giselle caught her tonight. What would your father say if he saw the disgrace she’s bringing upon our bloodline?”

2/3

I stood tall, spine straight, book still clutched in hand.

Let them talk.

Let them try to shame me.

I was no longer theirs to control.

Chapter 25

Freya’s POV

“Brother, I told you she wasn’t acting proper outside. Otherwise, why would the SkyVex deal collapse the moment she resigned?!”

Giselle’s voice scraped down my spine like claws against bone as she shoved her comm crystal into Caelum’s hand. “Look at this–I got it all recorded.”

The screen lit up. Caelum’s eyes flicked to the sleek black vehicle.

And there it was–the sigil of the Ironclad Coalition, carved into the shadows of the Maybach’s license plate.

Silas Whitmor’s personal car.

Then came the moment I stepped out, the book passed from his driver’s hand into mine. Caelum’s scent shifted–startled, then guarded. He looked from the screen to me, that sharp jaw locked with tension.

So, he

had

seen it.

“It’s not what it looks like,” I said, voice steady. “We left the aerial showcase at the same time. He offered a ride, I accepted.”

“Oh, what a tidy little excuse,” Giselle scoffed. “You’re a mated female, Freya. What sort of twisted game are you playing, riding in another Alpha’s car?”

“If we’re policing rides now,” I said coldly, “maybe you should ask your precious brother about how often Aurora rides in his.”

Giselle’s face froze.

Then Eleanor, Caelum’s mother, stormed forward, her rage radiating like a crackling blaze.

Her hand came up fast, sharp and viper–quick–aimed for my face.

But I caught her wrist mid–air.

Gasps echoed through the room.

“You see that?!” Eleanor snarled, wrenching against my grip. “She raised her hand against me! Caelum, she dares to strike her elder! And you still haven’t cast her out?!”

Caelum’s boots thudded across the stone floor as he stepped between us. “Let her go, Freya.”

“She tried to hit me.”

“She’s your elder Luna. Even if she scolds you, you shouldn’t lay a hand on her,” Caelum snapped. “You’re younger. A daughter–in–bond. You should endure a few words.”

“A few words?” I echoed, bitter.

“She helped raise me alone after my father’s death. I owe her everything. You can’t endure a few scoldings for the sake of this bond?”

There it was again.

That ancient guilt weaponized like a blade.

How many times had I heard him say it?

His mother sacrificed. His mother suffered. His mother was owed.

And I… what was I? A wolf tethered for convenience?

“No,” I said, voice low. “I endured because I loved you. But I don’t anymore. So I won’t endure it again.”

The silence after that rang sharp and final.

1/3

Caelum flinched–just slightly, but I saw it. The doubt flashing across his features, the Alpha posture slipping just for a heartbeat.

His voice dropped. “Is this about him? Whitmor? You stopped loving me because someone more powerful came along?” My laughter was bitter. “This isn’t about Silas.”

Eleanor stepped forward again, venom in her tone. “Clearly your parents didn’t teach you how to respect a mate’s bloodline.” My parents?

For one brief second, I saw their faces–Arthur and Myra Thorne, the night before they left for the peacekeeping mission. Their warm smiles. My father’s hand resting on my shoulder. My mother’s scent still clinging to my jacket when I returned from Halston.

“They raised me with love,” I said quietly. “Not so I could marry into your family and be beaten down by yours.”

I released Eleanor’s wrist.

“You want a divorce? Fine. But I take what is mine.”

“You filthy-! After what you did, you think you deserve a silvermark from our coffers?” Eleanor snapped.

“Giselle accused me of cheating,” I said, turning calmly toward her. “Let’s clarify it. The man who gave me that book… was Silas Whitmor.”

Giselle’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

She paled instantly.

Even a reckless pup like her knew better than to toss accusations at the Alpha of the Ironclad Coalition.

“That’s right,” I continued smoothly. “So, Giselle, are you publicly claiming I’m having an affair with Silas Whitmor?”

“I-” Her lips opened. Closed. Then again. “I didn’t know… I thought it was just some-

“Be silent,” Caelum growled at her, voice dipped into Alpha–command.

17

“Take Mother upstairs,” he added, colder now. “And don’t speak of this outside these walls. Not a word.”

They left reluctantly, Giselle sending me a glare over her shoulder that promised trouble she couldn’t deliver.

Now we were alone.

NC

nd something more feral beneath.

The shadows wrapped around us, thick with tension and

15

T

1

2

A

Caelum turned to me, his eyes darker now.

“What’s your relationship with Silas?”

CH

ང་དེར、;་ཅུ

“There isn’t one,” I replied.

“Then why did he send you home with a gift?”

“It’s not a gift,” I said. “It’s a book. A rare one. He knows I read. He let me borrow it.”

He stared at me, something calculating flickering behind the storm in his gaze.

I didn’t tell him that I had already researched the book before he came home.

That M’s Bestiary of Skyborne Avians had sold for twelve million credits at the last Crescent Auction.

A book Silas passed to me as casually as one might hand over a leaf.

1 hadn’t accepted it–not truly.

2/3

But Caelum didn’t know that.

And for the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel the need to explain myself.