My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 23: History: Luna Zara Zephyr

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Chapter 23

~Valerie’s POV~

He turned toward the rest of the class, clasping his hands together. "We will be discussing the Werewolf War today. Let’s begin with the battle. Everyone, settle down."

I moved to a seat near Isla and Astraea, where one of Brielle’s friends sat. Mustering the best unique smile I could form, I pleaded. "Pretty please, do you think you can sit in the seat in the back?" I fluttered my lashes for added effect, but the girl tensed immediately after I said that. "Please?"

She shuddered. "Sure, sure, sure. No problem."

"Thanks." But as she stood up, I heard her mutter about not wanting my trouble before she took the empty seat in front of Dristan.

The second the girl went to sit, Dristan’s deep scowl made her jump back up and scurry off to share a seat with her friend rather than taking the seat where Brielle’s bag currently occupied.

It looks like they feared the Queen Bee as well. I took note and sat down.

Isla snickered, and I glanced at Emerald, ignoring how she raised a knowing brow.

Professor Hammond moved toward the center of the room. "Now, who can tell me the significance of the war of nineteen years ago? Specifically, the war between the Thorned Crescent rogues, the Shadow Clave dark witches, and their Alliance of Doom against the werewolves?"

Silence settled for a moment before a student near the front—a guy named Nolan—raised his hand.

"It was one of the bloodiest battles in this kingdom’s history," he said. "Half of the werewolf kingdom was nearly wiped out. The Thorned Crescent and Shadow Clave had been secretly building their army for decades, waiting for the right moment to strike. If Luna Zara hadn’t—"

"That’s debatable," another voice cut in.

The interruption came from a guy in the back two seats from Dristan—a smug-faced, sharp-tongued student named Marcus. I had noticed him in one or two classes

He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, lips curled in amusement. "Luna Zara’s decision was foolish, in my opinion."

A few murmurs spread across the classroom. No one, to my knowledge, had openly insulted Luna Zara like that.

I narrowed my eyes. Here we go. Professor Hammond’s expression remained neutral. "Oh?"

Marcus shrugged. "I mean, come on. She was just in love. She let emotions dictate her rule. And because of that, she split the werewolf kingdom like a fool instead of ruling with an iron grip. She was scared. Too scared of the duties the people bestowed on her."

I felt my jaw tighten the more he spouted nonsense from his mouth. "If she had been stronger—more like the former Alpha Kings—this entire kingdom wouldn’t have needed to be divided."

There was a second—a single moment—where I thought about letting it slide then, I heard a deep voice from the back.

"You’ve got a problem with the Alpha Kings?"

It was Kai who spoke, and Marcus swallowed while managing to keep up his bravado.

"I’m just saying. Besides, I only blame her father, Alpha Gold, who couldn’t rule properly and scattered the kingdom. If he needed someone to fill his shoes, he could have handed the crown over to someone else. But look at the end product. His daughter united the kingdom only to separate it..."

"Bullshit." The word left my mouth before I could stop it, and the classroom fell silent.

Marcus blinked, caught off guard, then smirked. "Oh? We have a Luna sympathizer in the room?" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"Sympathizer?" I leaned forward, resting an elbow on my desk. "I just think it’s funny how people who have never ruled a kingdom, let alone fought a war, always seem to have the loudest opinions about what should have been done. For example, you."

I pointed at him so he knew I wasn’t scared to say my mind. A few students chuckled under their breath.

Marcus’s smirk twitched. "I’m just saying—"

"Oh, we all heard what you were saying," I cut in. "You think Luna Zara was weak? That’s cute. Remind me again, who was it that led the werewolves to victory despite being outnumbered? Or did you forget the dark witches had Hydras who could raise the recently dead?"

Marcus’s lips parted slightly. He hesitated to speak, and I knew I had him right where I needed him.

I tilted my head. "Who was it that chose to unite the werewolves instead of clinging to the old ways of war and destruction? Who called upon the four great packs? Who allied with the dragons that brought about our huge advantage in the war? Who decided for peace to reign and for one pack or family or house not to have all the power to avoid what Thorned Crescent wanted? Who?"

Silence.

"And who—" I leaned back, feigning thoughtfulness, "—was it that actually lived to tell the tale? Because I don’t remember any of the so-called stronger rulers surviving that battle."

Astraea snorted. Isla smirked, and Emerald nodded.

Marcus clenched his jaw, clearly irritated but unable to counter me. "In case you do not know, then let me spell it out for you, scumbag. L.U.N.A. Zara Gold-Zephyr."

Professor Hammond coughed lightly, hiding the amusement in his eyes. "A valid point, Miss Nightshade."

I shrugged. "I’m just stating the obvious, Professor. It seems many don’t know their history or have simply forgotten."

At the back of the class, the heirs sat motionless. Watching and observing.

And when I flicked my gaze toward them, my eyes caught Dristan’s for a fraction of a second. Something flickered in his expression. Was it amusement or approval?

I didn’t care to find out.

Marcus mumbled something under his breath and looked away, clearly defeated.

"Now, before we move on to the details of the war, which I doubt would be needed with everything Miss Nightshade has shared," Professor Hammond continued, "let’s briefly discuss the separation of the regions after the war. The North, East, West, South, and Middle Belt. And, of course, why Luna Zara’s rule led to that division."

My hands curled into fists beneath my desk.

I already knew why. I knew our history so well as it was tied to mine.

And no matter how much people questioned it—no matter how much they judged the past—some things weren’t as simple as history made them seem, and Luna Zara, my mother, did her best for a future far better than the past.