Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 105: The Journey back

Chapter 105: The Journey back

TERESA’S P.O.V.

The weight of Lucian’s words hung in the air, and I was at a complete loss for what to say. Everything he’d just revealed—mates, Lunas, and an entire pack depending on me—felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. My heart pounded, my hands shook, and my voice cracked when I finally managed to speak.

"This... This is so overwhelming," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t even know where to start. How am I supposed to grasp all of this?"

Lucian tilted his head, his expression softening. For a moment, he looked almost innocent, an odd contrast to his usual larger-than-life presence. "You don’t have to grasp it all tonight," he said gently. "Take your time. Also, there’s a story I need to tell you—something that will explain why I’ve been the way I’ve been. But tonight’s already spent, and tomorrow, we have a journey to begin. We’ll have plenty of time to talk, Teresa. I promise."

I blinked, the words catching me off guard. "Wait—tomorrow? Journey? Am I going with you to... to Adrian’s valley?"

"Yes," Lucian said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

My eyes widened as panic bubbled up in my chest. "Lucian, I haven’t told Luke I’m going anywhere, let alone for three months! Lucian I just got back from that place!"

He sighed, the weight of his words pressing down on me before he even spoke. When he turned to me, his expression was dead serious, his blank eyes somehow cutting straight through me. "Teresa," he began, his voice low and steady, "my pack is called the Moonpeak Pack. It’s the largest pack in all nine regions of the west. All eyes are on me—on us. I know you’re still finding it hard to believe it but you’re not just anyone,Teresa. You’re my mate and the Luna of my pack."

I swallowed hard, already sensing where this was going.

"If I’m not there to protect you and the twins," Lucian continued, "and our rivals find out, they will come for you. Just like the witches did." His voice cracked slightly at the mention of the witches, and it sent a shiver down my spine. "If anything ever happened to you or the twins again..." He paused, taking a deep breath as if to steady himself. "I would go mad, Teresa. The word mad doesn’t mean I will get angry, no it means I would literally go mentally insane."

The raw emotion in his voice nearly undid me, but it was the next words that sealed my decision.

"That’s what happened to my parents," he admitted quietly, his tone laced with pain. "But... that’s a story for another night."

The thought of being attacked again made my stomach churn. My decision was made before I could even process it. "Fine," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I’ll go. But I need to tell Luke in the morning."

Lucian nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I’ve already informed the guards to let Luke and your family go home once Adrian leaves with his coven tomorrow. The town hasn’t been safe for humans since the vampires came."

The bluntness of his words stung, but I couldn’t argue with him.

Lucian’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Being a werewolf isn’t all bad, you know. Next time, I’ll show you the cool parts. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll stop looking at me like I’m about to sprout horns."

Despite myself, a small laugh slipped out. "Don’t hold your breath."

He chuckled softly, his expression more relaxed now. He stretched his hand and found mine in the dark. Squeezing it, he said, "Goodnight, Teresa."

"Goodnight, Lucian." I replied, making no move to pull away from his touch.

***********

The next morning, at 1 a.m., the house was silent as I slipped out of Lucian’s room, the cool air prickling my skin as I padded down the hallway. My heart raced, every step feeling heavier as I approached Luke’s door. I raised my hand and knocked—soft at first, then harder, until the door creaked open.

Luke stood there, disheveled and groggy, his curly brown hair sticking up at odd angles. But the moment he saw me, his eyes sharpened, surprise etched across his face.

"Teresa? What the hell are you doing here at this hour?"

I hesitated, chewing on my lower lip. The weight of my words already felt like a betrayal. "I’m leaving town for a while."

His expression shifted, disbelief turning quickly to alarm. "What?!" His voice cracked, rising in pitch.

"I’ll only be gone for three months," I said hurriedly, trying to douse the fire in his tone. "Lucian says it’s for my safety—and the twins’. Remember Mai getting kidnapped? The threat isn’t over. Lucian’s arranged everything, and his men will handle the kidnappers. You and your family can head home now. It’s safe for you."

Luke stared at me, his jaw tightening. "You just got back after two years, Teresa. And now you’re leaving again? Do you even understand what that feels like for me? You can’t keep disappearing—it’s tearing me apart!"

His words struck a nerve, guilt clawing its way up my throat. I placed a hand on his arm, my voice softer. "I’m not running, Luke. This isn’t like before. It’s temporary, I promise. Three months, no more. We’ll be at a safe house until Lucian’s men finish what they started. I’ll come back."

He exhaled, running a hand through his messy hair. "You better be safe, Teresa. And don’t you dare break that promise."

I nodded, stepping closer to hug him tightly. "Tell our father and his family they’re free to leave as well," I added with a small laugh. "Although Jennifer probably won’t. She’s treating this like her personal vacation."

That earned a chuckle from Luke, the tension between us finally easing—if only slightly.

By 3 a.m., we were packed into Lucian’s sleek, luxurious bus, flanked by five men Lucian swore he trusted with his life. The twins and Eldur were nestled between Juliette and Katrina, who had taken on the role of surrogate mother and aunt with an almost obsessive zeal. Max, Adam, and Elizabeth filled the other seats, while Adrian—ever the dramatic one—opted to sprint alongside his coven instead, grumbling about the bus being "too slow."

We slipped away under the cover of darkness, shadows our only companions. Lucian moved with calculated precision, avoiding prying eyes. "Rylan’s got it handled," he had assured me earlier, his voice steady. As his second-in-command, Rylan would inform the pack of our departure and keep everything running smoothly until Lucian returned. This wasn’t just an exit—it was a ghosting, clean and quiet, just the way Lucian wanted it.

**********

The journey spanned two days, though it felt entirely different from my last trip down this path. Back then, I had been alone, my hands gripping the steering wheel, dread clawing at me every mile. This time, the ride was a cushion of comfort.

We stopped at a five-star hotel overnight, where I was treated like royalty. Katerina took charge of the twins with a strange sense of duty, insisting it was her "responsibility." Whatever that meant.

Lucian and I ended up sharing a room—something about a "mix-up" with the reservations. I couldn’t shake the feeling it was planned, but I didn’t push it. At night, he told me stories about werewolves and their intricate hierarchy: Betas, Gammas, Omegas, and roles like enforcers. It was confusing yet captivating, and I found myself hanging on every word.

Two Days Later: Adrian’s Valley

The sight of the valley hit me like a sucker punch, a swirl of emotions crashing over me. Memories—some warm, most bitter—rose to the surface, clawing at my composure.

If someone had told me I’d be back here willingly, I would have laughed in their face. And yet, here I was—walking straight into the house where I had been locked away like a forgotten doll for two agonizing years.

The rooms were hauntingly untouched. My old room, the twins’ room...everything was exactly as I’d left it. The memories of fear, of isolation, were suffocating. But for Lucian’s sake—and for the future of my children—I swallowed the bitterness.

That evening, after we had all settled into our rooms, Adrian gathered us in the expansive living room for a meeting. His piercing purple eyes scanned the room as he welcomed us with his usual cool charm. "Make yourselves at home," he said, his voice smooth as velvet. "You’ll find my coven accommodating. Feel free to explore the town and its...offerings."

His gaze lingered on me as he said it, but I ignored the pointed look. I was still too bitter to care.

Then his expression shifted, his sharp smile cutting through the room. "Lucian, your training begins tomorrow at first light."

Lucian gave a solemn nod, but Adrian’s attention snapped back to me, his smirk deepening.

"And you, Teresa," he said, his voice laced with something I couldn’t quite place, "will be training as well."

The room collectively gasped, their surprise almost comical. My mind, however, was still reeling.

"What?!" I blurted, the word echoing in the grand space.

Adrian’s smile widened, dark and knowing. "You heard me."

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