Claiming His Luna

Cercei’s POV

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, reaching for Maria’s hands.

She was dressed in all black, her hair neatly braided.

Then, I slowly knelt down, a gesture that seemed to catch her off guard.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she exclaimed in surprise.

“I’m so sorry, Maria,” I began, my voice filled with genuine remorse. “I know what I did to you in the North was a betrayal. I asked for your help and then betrayed you. I came here to kill Monsieur, but things took a different turn, and I…” My voice trailed off, and tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn’t hold back the overwhelming emotions.

Maria knelt down to my level and gently grasped both my arms, helping me to stand.

“I understand,” she whispered softly.

A tear slid down my cheek, and I shook my head, unable to speak.

“No, I deserve your anger, and I’d understand if you never want to be friends with me again,” I sobbed as tears streamed down my face.

“Cercei, our friendship may not be perfect, but the reasons behind our actions were necessary. I lied, you lied, and it’s all forgiven,” Maria reassured me. She chuckled softly. “And I forgive you for choking me earlier. I know I must have looked a bit scary, but that was just an act of self-defense.” She chuckled and smiled at me.

“But it hurts like hell,” she added, clutching her neck again. I pulled her into a tight hug, expressing the deep sense of longing and remorse I felt.

“I missed you,” I whispered while holding her close.

“I miss you too, bitch,” she playfully teased, giving my hair a gentle tug. I laughed in response, feeling a sense of relief and warmth at her words.

As we pulled away from each other, I couldn’t help but notice the changes in her appearance.

“You had a makeover?” I asked, touching her braids, which were now a different colour, even in the dim light.

“Yeah, I had to make some changes so no one could easily recognize me,” she explained, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

“Why are you here?” I suddenly asked, my curiosity piqued.

“I’ve come to take you back,” Maria declared with a determined expression.

“He still wants me back?” I asked, sounding uncertain. Maria looked at me as if I had asked the most absurd question.

Of course, he does. That man loves you deeply, and you keep leaving him,” she said, lightly knocking my forehead. I let out a childlike wail, not from pain but from the overwhelming realization that Lucian still wanted me back despite I left him several times.

“I don’t want him to be burdened by my problems; this is my war,” I insisted stubbornly.

“It’s his war too, don’t forget, Remus killed his mother,” Maria quickly reminded me, her words carrying the weight of a painful truth.

“I know, but I wanted to end Remus’ life with my own hands,” I nodded, my tears still flowing freely.

I would have refused to go with her if Maria had arrived a few days earlier. I would have hesitated to return, doubting Lucian’s love.

But now that I know I’m pregnant with his child, there’s no safer place in this world than in his arms. It’s not just for my safety or the baby; it’s because I choose to be with him, and my heart will always belong to him.

As Maria offered her hands, my sobs grew louder, and I gratefully accepted them. However, before our palms could even touch, we heard approaching footsteps.

“Quick, hide!” I panicked, and in a swift motion, Maria concealed herself behind a nearby bush. I composed myself, wiping away the tears and clearing my throat, trying to appear as if nothing had happened.

“My lady, you need to come with us,” one of the men stated. They looked agitated, and there were five of them, all massive and muscular.

“Why?” I inquired.

“The mansion is under attack,” he replied, causing my eyes to widen.

“By whom?” I pressed further.

“The Reds,” his words sent a shock through me.

It was time. The war had begun, and it was happening right now. I looked up at the full moon; of course, the battle would start during a full moon when our werewolf powers were at their peak.

“I don’t think so,” Maria suddenly reemerged from her hiding place. She stepped out, shifting into a fighting stance, her movements precise and confident.

“Who are you?” one of the men asked.

“Her kidnapper,” she declared before launching an attack. Despite the significant size difference between her and the men, Maria’s skills were astonishing. She moved swiftly, her strikes accurate, and she appeared to be well-versed in the human body’s weak points. With calculated moves, she brought one of the giants to his knees.

As she dealt with the fourth man, the fifth man stood up and hovered to strike Maria from behind. But without hesitation, I intervened. I swiftly kicked the back of his knees and delivered a blow to his neck, causing him to crumple to the ground, unconscious. Vienna had glanced in our direction upon hearing the impact of the fallen body.

“You’re getting quite good at that,” Maria commented, a smile on her lips.

“And you have a lot to tell me,” I said, suspicion growing. Her fighting skills were far too advanced for a mere servant, and I began to suspect that she was concealing her true identity.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow if I’m still alive,” she replied, taking my hand.

We held hands and ran, our escape route uncertain during the chaos.

As much as I longed to join the battle alongside Lucian, I knew I couldn’t in my current state. I had already risked my baby’s life enough, and we needed to get as far away from the chaos as possible. We would return when the battle was over.

My heart ached with the longing to stand by Lucian’s side, to assure him that I’d always be there for him despite how many times I had left him in the past. But deep down, I knew that if he were aware of my situation right now, he would want me to prioritise our safety. And so I would, for both of us and for the precious life growing inside me. Silently, I urged him to win this war, not just for our love but for the future we dreamed of building together.

A smile briefly crossed my lips when I saw the mansion’s gate, which was wide open and seemingly unguarded. It seemed that Lucian’s men had succeeded in breaking through. However, my smile faded as I spotted dozens of men emerging from the shadows.

We stopped abruptly, our steps faltering as we realised the dangerous situation. We retreated a few paces, but it became clear that we were surrounded. Another dozen men had appeared behind us and on both sides, effectively trapping us. By my estimation, at least 40 men were encircling us, all imposing in stature, and the odds were overwhelmingly against us.

“No,” I cried out in despair as they closed in.

“Lady Cercei, your Father is waiting for you,” one of them announced as they drew nearer.

Maria tried to shield me with her own body, but they forcibly restrained her. Three men held me in place as well, and I struggled, though I had to be cautious to avoid harming the baby inside me.

“Let me go, please,” I begged, tears streaming down my face, the overwhelming fear almost causing me to vomit.

Maria valiantly fought against her captors, but their numbers were too great. They covered her nose with a handkerchief, causing her to lose consciousness. Panic surged inside my heart as I witnessed Maria’s unconscious form.

Thankfully, they did not drug me. It appeared that Monsieur had instructed them to be cautious due to my pregnancy. Grateful that they hadn’t harmed me, I cooperated with them as quietly as possible, praying that we would find a way out of this difficult situation.