Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 127: A Shadow from the Past

Chapter 127: A Shadow from the Past

ADRIAN’S P.O.V.

I froze mid-step, Leonard’s words ricocheting through my mind like a curse. Margaret. That name was a specter, a memory I had buried centuries ago, clawing its way to the surface. My heart, long since dead and silent, sank with the weight of something I hadn’t felt in centuries—dread.

"Leonard," I said, my voice calm, yet laced with an undercurrent of something that made even Lucian stop his casual stride. "Say that again."

Leonard, finally noticing the tension, straightened. He scratched the back of his neck and repeated cautiously, "I ran into Margaret. She was... happy to hear you’re back in the valley. She even thanked me for letting her know."

"Thanked you," I echoed, the calmness in my tone more dangerous than any shout.

Leonard nodded. "Yeah, seemed thrilled. Smiled a lot. You know, big Margaret energy."

I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose as if the action might ward off the headache brewing behind it. Margaret—the name itself was enough to unravel the carefully constructed facade I had built over centuries.

Juliette, my ever-perceptive mate, was by my side in an instant. Her hand slipped into mine, warm and beautiful. "Adrian," she said softly, her voice as steady as the sunrise. "What is it? What’s wrong?"

I turned to her, smiling faintly, though the expression felt foreign and unconvincing. "Nothing you need to worry about, love," I murmured, brushing my thumb over her knuckles.

But Juliette wasn’t easily fooled. She tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Come on, Adrian, I know you’re lying." She said and before she could press further, I squeezed her hand and then addressed the group.

"Everyone," I began, my voice carrying the weight of the unspoken. "I owe you an apology for the pixie Incident. You shouldn’t have gone through all that as my visitors. And I also want to apologize for... what’s to come. Leonard’s words mean I’ll have a visitor soon. One I’ve spent lifetimes avoiding. One I would rather run from than face. So I must be prepared and I need to make this place secure and I..."

Teresa frowned, her fiery spirit tempered by genuine concern as she interrupted my rambling. "Adrian, what are you talking about? You’re—well—you. What could possibly shake you like this?"

Lucian’s blank gaze turned toward me, his expression unreadable but his voice firm. "Adrian, we’re not strangers anymore. You helped me in my darkest hours. Whatever this is, you can trust us."

For a moment, I let their words settle over me, comforting and suffocating all at once. If Margaret was on her way—and she definitely was—there was no point in delaying. They needed to be ready. I exhaled sharply and gave a slow nod. "You’re right," I said, my tone low and measured. "Come in. I’ll explain everything."

Leonard flinched when I shot him a sharp glare. Good. Maybe now he grasped just how much trouble he’d caused. He was a walking disaster, constantly dragging chaos into my life. Yet, no matter how much I wanted to cut him loose, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Inside my study, I gestured for them to sit. Juliette perched beside me on the couch, her gaze never leaving mine, her concern like a beacon in the storm brewing within me.

"I owe you all an explanation," I began, leaning back as I ran a hand through my hair. "Juliette, I’m sorry for what you’re about to hear. I only ask that you don’t hate me too much for my actions. At the time... I thought I was doing the right thing."

Her brows furrowed, but she nodded. "I won’t judge," she said softly.

Taking a steadying breath, I began. "After the witches turned me, and I fought my way out of their grasp, I had freed Leonard in the process of escaping the dungeon, though I didn’t intend to. After that, we were both... lost."

Leonard’s sheepish grin faltered. "You could’ve just said you didn’t want a sidekick," he muttered.

Ignoring him, I continued. "I wandered aimlessly, unsure of what to do with myself. Leonard kept following me, no matter how many times I told him to leave. Eventually, I gave up. But that’s not the story you need to hear."

I pinched the bridge of my nose again. "I think it’s better if I just show you."

"Show us?" Teresa asked, her brows drawing together in confusion.

I nodded, my voice steady. "Trust me. Nothing you’ll see today can harm you—it’s just a memory."

Her frown lingered, doubt flickering in her eyes. After a pause that felt like an eternity, she gave a reluctant nod, still wearing her skepticism like armor. I motioned for everyone to join hands, and they obeyed, albeit cautiously. Juliette’s hand slipped into mine, her warmth anchoring me as I braced myself to unlock a Chapter of my past—one I had fought so hard to bury. If Harry knew what I was about doing, he’d probably not let me hear the end of it.

"Close your eyes," I instructed.

The forest materialized around us, the evening sun casting long beautiful shadows everywhere. Teresa gasped audibly, her eyes wide with amazement. "How are you doing this?"

"It’s an ability and it’s a long story." I replied simply.

For Lucian’s benefit, I explained, "We’re at the edge of the woods, looking at my childhood home. My siblings are playing outside and my mother is drying some clothes on the line . And that," I gestured toward the figure hiding in the shadows, "is me. Or rather, the vampire I became."

"You’re watching your family," Teresa observed. "Why not go to them?"

Leonard answered before I could. "The witches who turned us to what we are now, erased us from our families memories. They wouldn’t recognize him if he tried."

Teresa’s face softened with sadness. "I’m sorry," she said quietly. Even Lucian offered a solemn nod.

I smiled faintly, appreciating their sympathy but unwilling to dwell on it. "That small house," I said, pointing to the modest structure, "is where my castle now stands."

Their surprise was palpable, but I continued.

The memory shifted, pulling me back. Leonard and I were in the cave we’d called home since our escape—a sanctuary I insisted on because I couldn’t bring myself to stray far from my family. The air was heavy with dampness and unease when a young girl burst in. She couldn’t have been more than sixteen, her long black hair wild around her pale, terrified face. Her gray eyes, wide with fear, darted between us like a cornered animal, every movement betraying her desperation.

"Help me," she begged, her voice trembling. "They’re after me."

Leonard, ever hungry, lunged forward, but I stopped him. Her terror reminded me too much of my own when the witches took me.

We stood in silence, watching the memory unfold. Young Leonard and I exchanged a glance and made the unspoken decision to help. The fight was quick and decisive—five burly men, no match for our strength. Whatever they wanted with her didn’t matter. All that mattered was stopping them.

The girl introduced herself as Margaret not long after, her voice trembling with gratitude. From that day on, she became a fixture in our lives, her presence weaving itself into the fabric of our existence like she had always belonged.

She kept coming back. Every evening, she’d sneak into our cave, her laugh filling the emptiness Leonard and I had grown used to.

We’d show her what we could do—our speed, Leonard shifting forms, even the mind control I was still learning. Margaret’s fascination was endless. She thought we were incredible and she told us countless times how happy she was to have us in her life. But she had something else, something we didn’t: a family.

Her family was everything mine had once been—loving, warm, whole. We envied her, but I in particular was too drawn to her, unable to resist the life she represented.

Leonard on the other hand couldn’t take watching how compete her family was. Leonard told me one day that he couldn’t stay with me anymore. He said that seeing Margaret everyday reminded him of what he had lost so he needed to go away from her for a while and morn his family, so Leonard left to see other parts of the world and promised to come back once in a while.

Margaret and I grew close, our bond deepening as I shadowed her every step. She was light, life, everything I had lost. And I... was obsessed.

We all watched as the memory unfolded, Margaret laughing at something I said, her smile brighter than the sun.

"You loved her," Teresa said, her voice tinged with understanding and sadness.

"More than I should have," I admitted, my gaze fixed on the memory playing in front of us.

The scene shifted again. Margaret stood before me in the cave, tears in her eyes. "My parents have arranged my marriage," she said, her voice breaking.

The pain I felt then resurfaced, raw and unrelenting. "No," I said aloud, reliving the moment.

"What did you do?" Juliette asked, her voice soft.

I turned to her, my eyes meeting hers. "Something I will regret for the rest of my existence."

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