Chapter 5 - The Moon Throne Chose Isolda, but She Refused to Become Anyone's Weapon
The throne chamber was buried beneath the mountain.
It was older than the kingdom of Valoria.
Older than the Northern Wastes.
Older, Elias claimed, than most recorded history.
At its center stood a throne carved from white stone.
Silver veins ran through it.
The air smelled like rain.
Isolda stood at the entrance.
Her heart pounded.
Cedric stood beside her.
Elara leaned against Gideon's shoulder.
Tristan remained behind the guards.
Lucian stood before the throne.
He had placed his hand on it.
Nothing happened.
He looked furious.
“Why won't it answer me?”
Elias stepped forward.
“Because you aren't worthy.”
Lucian drew his sword.
“Everyone is worthy when they have enough power.”
He cut his palm.
Blood touched the throne.
Nothing.
He screamed.
“Rise!”
The throne remained silent.
Then Isolda stepped forward.
The silver veins illuminated.
One by one.
The entire chamber glowed.
Lucian fell backward.
“No.”
Cedric looked at Isolda.
“Don't approach it.”
She nodded.
But the throne called to her.
Not with words.
With memory.
She saw her mother.
Her father.
Elara.
A garden.
A crown.
A promise.
Then she saw a future.
Fields becoming green.
Children laughing.
Packs united.
And Cedric beside her.
But another vision came.
War.
Blood.
Cedric standing alone.
Dead.
She screamed and staggered backward.
Cedric caught her.
“What did you see?”
“I saw you die.”
His face softened.
“Then we make sure that future never happens.”
Lucian rose.
“The throne needs the queen.”
He looked at Isolda.
“Give me her.”
Cedric stepped between them.
“No.”
Lucian laughed.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“The throne belongs to Valoria.”
“It belongs to no one.”
Lucian attacked.
Cedric met him.
Their swords clashed.
The chamber shook.
Lucian was fast.
Much faster than Cedric expected.
He had been trained by assassins.
Cedric blocked one strike.
Another.
Then Lucian whispered:
“You really think your mate loves you?”
Cedric's eyes narrowed.
Lucian looked toward Isolda.
“She was rejected by another man. She'll reject you too.”
Isolda stepped forward.
“Stop.”
Both men turned.
Her voice carried through the chamber.
“You don't get to use my pain against me.”
Lucian sneered.
“I can.”
“No.”
The Moon Mark on her wrist flashed.
Lucian staggered.
Isolda walked toward him.
“You call me cursed.”
The stone beneath her feet turned silver.
“You call me weak.”
The chamber began shaking.
“You think because someone rejected me, I will spend my entire life begging to be chosen.”
Her eyes became luminous.
“But I choose myself.”
The throne roared.
A wave of energy exploded outward.
Lucian was thrown across the chamber.
Cedric shielded Isolda.
When the dust settled, a crown had appeared on the throne.
Not Lucian's.
A new crown.
Silver.
Simple.
Beautiful.
It floated toward Isolda.
She refused to touch it.
“I don't want it.”
Elias whispered:
“That is why it chose you.”
Isolda stared.
“What?”
“The first law of Valoria.”
He bowed.
“A true queen must never desire the crown.”
Isolda looked at Cedric.
He smiled.
“Then you're perfect.”
She laughed despite herself.
The moment broke when an alarm horn sounded.
Gideon ran in.
“Your Majesty!”
Cedric turned.
“What?”
“Riverlands troops are moving north.”
Tristan stiffened.
“My pack?”
“They're marching under Lady Rowena's father's banner.”
Rowena stepped forward.
“My father has started the war.”
Cedric's face hardened.
“How many?”
“Thousands.”
Elara looked worried.
“Adrian wants the throne.”
Cedric glanced at Isolda.
“He won't get it.”
The journey back to Dunbarton became a race against time.
The Northern armies gathered.
The Riverlands approached.
But there was something strange.
Their soldiers did not look like invaders.
They looked frightened.
When they reached the border, the army stopped.
Rowena rode forward.
“My father's army is under orders.”
Cedric demanded:
“From whom?”
“An ancient council.”
Elias frowned.
“The Moon Council?”
Rowena nodded.
“The council claims Isolda must be surrendered.”
Isolda looked at Cedric.
“Why?”
Rowena's voice trembled.
“Because they believe your awakening will destroy the continent.”
Cedric's soldiers immediately raised weapons.
Isolda stepped forward.
“No.”
Cedric turned.
“Isolda?”
“I won't let everyone die because of me.”
“You are not causing this.”
“They're afraid of what I can become.”
Cedric approached.
“Then let them see what you actually are.”
She shook her head.
“You don't know what I am.”
“Yes, I do.”
“What?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“My mate.”
Her breath caught.
“That is enough for me.”
The Riverlands army finally advanced.
The battle lasted until sunset.
But something unexpected happened.
The ground beneath Isolda's feet turned green.
Dead grass became living.
Broken trees sprouted leaves.
The Riverlands soldiers stopped.
Whispers spread.
“The queen.”
“The prophecy.”
“The land is healing.”
Isolda realized the power didn't respond to anger.
It responded to compassion.
She closed her eyes.
“Stop fighting.”
Her voice carried across the valley.
Thousands of wolves heard her.
“The land is tired.”
Silence.
“The people are tired.”
The soldiers lowered their weapons.
And for the first time in generations, two kingdoms stood without killing each other.
That night, Cedric found Isolda sitting beside the river.
“You saved them.”
“I don't know how.”
“You did.”
She looked at him.
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
She smiled.
“The Iron Wolf is afraid?”
“When it comes to you.”
Her heart skipped.
Cedric sat beside her.
“I don't need a queen.”
She looked at him.
“I need someone who can tell me when I'm wrong.”
She laughed.
“You're going to regret that.”
“Probably.”
They sat quietly.
Then Isolda leaned against his shoulder.
For the first time since the auction, she felt safe.
But far away, beneath the southern mountains, Adrian Vale opened an ancient book.
Inside was a drawing of Isolda.
And beneath it:
If the queen joins with the Northern King, the old blood oath will be broken.
May you like
Adrian smiled.
“Then we simply separate them.”
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