Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 102: Here We Are Again

Chapter 102: Here We Are Again

LUCIAN’S P.O.V.

Adrian’s suggestion lingered in my mind long after he and Elizabeth had left. It was a lifeline—a chance to be something more than this shadow of myself, a chance to protect the pack and my family. But of course, I couldn’t show just how much his words had affected me. No, that would have been too vulnerable, and I had appearances to maintain.

Inside, Ares was practically bouncing. "See? I told you the Moon Goddess didn’t abandon us," he said, his voice brimming with relief. "Adrian might be a bloodsucker, but damn if he’s not a helpful one."

I laughed inwardly. "You’re supposed to be the confident one."

"Confidence doesn’t mean I’m not worried, Lucian," Ares admitted, his tone unusually soft. "The Moon Goddess told us to be nice to Adrian that we would need him. Guess she wasn’t wrong."

I resisted the urge to smirk. Ares, in his wolfish way, was always blunt. But he wasn’t wrong. Adrian had shown a kindness I didn’t deserve, and I silently thanked the Moon Goddess for not leaving me completely in the dark—pun intended.

First things first. I needed to inform Rylan, my Beta and closest friend. He deserved the truth, and he needed to be prepared to step in while I was away.

I used the mind link to call Adrian. "I have decided. We leave at first light. I prefer not to make a spectacle of this. But I have to inform Rylan of the situation first." I said.

Adrian’s voice was as calm as ever. "That’s wise. But keep it limited. Only your Beta needs to know. The fewer people aware of your... condition, the better for all of us."

"Agreed," I said, nodding. With that said, I cut off the link on him.

I opened the mind link to Rylan. "Come to my office. Now."

The connection snapped closed, and I paced the room, each step measured. Moments later, I heard Rylan’s familiar knock before he stepped inside.

"Lucian?" His voice was tentative, but there was an underlying loyalty that bolstered me.

I turned my head toward the sound, wishing I could see his face. "Close the door."

Rylan obeyed, and I could hear the scrape of wood against the floor as he pulled a chair closer.

"What’s going on, Lucian? You sounded... different."

I let out a long breath, the weight of what I was about to say pressing on my chest. "Rylan, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you sooner."

His tone shifted immediately, a mix of worry and protectiveness. "What is it?"

"I... I traded my sight," I began, the words heavier than I anticipated. "Mai was blinded by those wicked witches. So, I made a deal with our goddess. My sight for hers."

The silence that followed was deafening.

When Rylan finally spoke, his voice cracked. "Lucian... are you trying to tell me you’re blind?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of his shock. "I’m hiding it. But I won’t be able to keep doing that for long. Adrian has offered to train me—to help me adapt. I need to leave the pack for a while."

Rylan’s chair scraped back as he stood. "You should’ve told me sooner! Damn it, Lucian, you didn’t have to carry this alone."

I smiled faintly. "That’s the job, isn’t it? Carrying what others can’t."

Rylan’s hand landed on my shoulder, firm and reassuring. "You’re not alone. Juliette and I will hold down the fort while you’re gone. You have my word."

"Actually," Juliette’s voice cut through the room, calm and steady, "I’m going with him."

Both Rylan and I turned toward her, shocked. I had almost forgotten that she and Teresa were still in the room

"Why?" I asked, incredulous.

There was silence and movements until she spoke again, "Adrian will be there. I have to go."

Rylan’s confused voice was heard next. "That doesn’t explain—"

"Adrian," she interrupted smoothly, "is my mate."

The room fell into stunned silence.

"What?!" Rylan and I shouted in unison.

"When did this happen? How are you so calm?" I demanded.

Her voice raised quickly in an attempt to silence us. "I’ll explain when the time is right. For now, let’s focus on what matters."

Before we could press further, I heard her hurried footsteps as she left the room, leaving me gaping like a fool.

After Rylan excused himself, I turned to Teresa. I could sense her standing quietly by the door, and as usual, our babies were with her. "Teresa," I said softly, "will you lead me to my room?"

She hesitated, her breath catching. "Lucian, you don’t need—"

"Please," I interrupted, my voice low and vulnerable. "I don’t want to stumble into anything."

It was a lie, of course. I had other intentions. But for now, I needed her close.

She sighed, and I heard the soft rustle of her steps as she moved toward me. Her hand brushed mine, tentative but warm as she gave me one of the babies before holding my hand.

Ares practically purred in satisfaction. "See? She still cares."

"What’s a mate?" Teresa asked suddenly as we headed to my room. Her voice carried an innocent curiosity that caught me off guard. "Why did you and Rylan react like that when Juliette called Adrian her mate? I thought ’mate’ just meant friend or comrade."

I nearly choked on a laugh, the innocence in her tone hitting me like a wave.

"What’s so funny?" she asked, her suspicion creeping into the air between us.

"Nothing," I said quickly, shaking my head to dismiss her. "I’ll explain what it means later when I tell you about the word ’Luna.’"

She didn’t press further, but I could feel her tension building. Her silence carried weight, and after a few steps, she stopped abruptly.

"We’re here," she said, her voice tight, almost strained, like there was something she wasn’t saying.

Her presence beside me was electric, the tension between us unmistakable. I knew why. She was undoubtedly remembering, just as I was—the awful morning two years ago when everything between us shattered in this very room.

She unhooked our linked hands in front of my bedroom door and then stretched to take the baby from my arms, but I took her hands again and held her gently.

"Stay," I said softly. "Just for a moment. I need you to help me get settled." I wasn’t that helpless but I needed her to come with me inside the room for other reasons.

Teresa hesitated, her eyes boring into mine even though I couldn’t see them.

I felt her sigh more than I heard it, a soft exhale that carried the weight of a broken promise. Then, barely above a whisper, she murmured, "I swore I’d never step into this room again, but..."

She pushed the door open, hesitated for a heartbeat, then stepped inside, her hand gripping mine as she pulled me in with her. The door clicked shut behind us.

A small, fleeting smile crossed my lips as I let her lead me further in. Step one: complete.

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