The Lunar Crest Academy: Marked by The Lycans-Chapter 233: Found You Yet Again

Lorraine's POV

I stopped walking.

My feet slowed first, then my whole body followed

"Have you always known about my connection with Maeryn all this while?" I asked Astrid.

Astrid didn't stop walking immediately. She took three more steps before she exhaled and finally turned to face me.

"Yes," she said simply. "I always knew."

The words landed like a stone dropped into still water.

The others were a few paces ahead, Alistair talking quietly to Kaelani, Varya walking with her arms folded, her shoulders stiff.

"How?" I asked. "How could you possibly...."

"I've been obsessed with Maeryn's legendary story since I was a child," Astrid cut in.

"Obsessed?" I echoed.

She nodded once. "Her rise. Her power. Her fall. Most people only know the polished version, the Luna blessed by the Moon Goddess, the symbol of unity, the tragedy. I didn't want the legend. I wanted the truth."

She looked almost… vulnerable saying it. Astrid didn't often admit to fascination. Or obsession.

"I read everything," she continued. "Forbidden texts. Eyewitness accounts recorded. Records that were never meant to survive till now. I read about Avelar too, the first Alpha King, her mate. What it cost him to love her. What it cost her to exist."

My throat tightened.

"And when I started having visions," Astrid said quietly, "you were there."

I frowned. "Me?"

"Yes. Not clearly at first. Just fragments. A girl kneeling in blood." Her gaze sharpened on mine. "From my very first vision of you before you even entered Lunar Crest, you felt…. familiar."

My chest began to ache, not the sharp, consuming pain from before, but something deeper. Older.

"At first, I thought it was coincidence," she said. "History repeating itself in patterns. But then you started doing things Maeryn did. Instinctively. Without knowing why."

I swallowed. "Like what?"

"Your periodic power outbursts at first. The way your powers manifested," Astrid replied. "Calling strength from nothing. Bending forces without training. And then...."

She hesitated.

"And then your body started fighting back," she finished. "Rejecting your power. Breaking down under it."

"That," she said, her voice lower now, "was when I knew."

My hands curled into fists at my sides. "Because that happened to Maeryn too."

"Yes."

I laughed once, sharp and disbelieving. "So you just … watched? All this time?"

"I watched," Astrid said evenly, "because I needed to be sure. And because if I was right, you might be facing an inevitable death from your own powers and I was still researching on ways to avoid that"

I shook my head. "You could have told me."

"And you would have done what?" she shot back. "Stopped using your powers? Walked away from danger? Lorraine, you don't even run when death is already reaching for you. And I did warn you about your powers but you obviously didnt listen, did you?"

That stung because it was true.

Astrid stepped closer to me, lowering her voice. "I need you to promise me something."

I stiffened. "No."

"I haven't even said it yet."

"I already know what you're going to say," I snapped. "And no."

She grabbed my wrist.

Not violently, but firmly enough that I had no choice but to look at her.

"After we find Kieran," she said, eyes burning into mine, "and when we face Conan, no matter what happens, you are not to use your powers again."

My chest rose sharply. "Absolutely not."

"Lorraine...."

"No," I repeated. "If my friends are in danger..."

"You'll be dead," Astrid said flatly.

The words hit harder than any shout could have.

"You are no use to anyone," she continued, tightening her grip just a little, "if you are dead."

I yanked my hand back. "I'm not selfish enough to stand there and watch people I love die when I can stop it."

"And what happens when you collapse?" she demanded. "When your heart gives out? When your body finally snaps like Maeryn's almost did before she was helplessly burnt alive?"

I froze.

She knows about that. Of course she does.

"You think Maeryn chose to die?" Astrid pressed. "No. She thought she could push just a little further. One more time. And history erased her for it."

My voice came out hoarse. "So what.... you want me to fight powerless?"

"I want you alive," Astrid said. "Fight with your claws. Your mind. Your stubborn refusal to quit. But not that power. Not again."

I stared at her for a long moment.

Then, quietly, I said, "If it comes down to it… I don't know if I can keep that promise."

She stepped closer again. "You can. And you will."

I shook my head. "Astrid...."

"You are already at your breaking point," she interrupted. "You feel it, don't you? The constant pain. The ringing in your skull. The way your body hasn't fully healed since the last time you used it."

My silence answered for me.

"Promise me," she said softly now. "Please."

The word please from Astrid felt heavier than any command.

My shoulders sagged.

"…Fine," I whispered. "I promise."

Her eyes searched my face for a long second, like she was weighing the truth of it.

Then she nodded. Satisfied.

"Good," she said, and turned away, walking back to the front like nothing monumental had just happened.

I stood there for a second, breathing through the ache in my chest.

Varya slowed until she was beside me.

"You okay?" she asked quietly.

I huffed out a breath. "As okay as I can be."

She nodded, accepting that for what it was.

After a beat, I asked, "How are you holding up?"

She shrugged, but it was forced. "Didn't expect Felix's death to hit me this hard."

I glanced at her. "Me neither."

She let out a weak laugh. "Honestly? Out of all of us, I thought Felix would survive. He was a scaredy cat. Always thinking ten steps ahead just to stay alive."

"That was his strength," I said.

"Yeah," she murmured. "And somehow… he still found ways to be there for me. Really there. Not some surface level bullshit that I was used to. He was a real friend to me."

I nodded slowly. "He didn't deserve what happened to him."

Her jaw tightened. "No. He didn't."

I met her eyes. "After we deal with Conan… I'm going to find Adrian and I am going to make him suffer for what he did to Felix."

Varya's lips curved into a sharp smile. "Count me in on that side quest."

Despite everything, I almost smiled back.

We kept walking. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Alistair suggested super speeding, but Astrid shut it down immediately.

"Lorraine cannot not use her powers," she said, not even looking back.

So we walked.

Through dusk. Into night.

No rest. No complaints.

When Astrid finally slowed, she lifted the map Kaelani had given her.

"We're close," she said.

And after walking for a while....

I saw him.

Kieran.

Sitting beneath a tree, shoulders tense, fire low, like he'd been ready to bolt at any sound.

He turned, and froze when he saw us.

Shock crossed his face.

I didn't think. I just walked straight to him.

"Don't you ever," I said, voice shaking, "leave me like that again."

Then I wrapped my arms around him.

He pulled me in hard, like he was afraid I'd disappear.

"You found me yet again" he whispered.

Relief crashed through me.

And then...

I heard rustling.

Behind the tree.

I pulled back, heart jumping.

"Did you hear that?" I asked.

I stepped around the tree.

And froze.

"Adrian?" I breathed.

He was tied up. Gagged. Bruised.

Staring back at me in shock.