Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 76: A Scary Suggestion

Chapter 76: A Scary Suggestion

LUCIAN’S P.O.V.

The day had already been a whirlwind of chaos, responsibility, and simmering tension. The Alpha meeting earlier had left me nursing a dull, persistent headache. A visit to Teresa afterward had provided some solace, easing the tension in my heart, but the storm swirling around me was far from settled. I barely had time to catch my breath when my phone buzzed, dragging me back into the chaos.

I glanced at the screen, the name Edmond flashing across it. A sigh escaped me as I picked up the call.

"Edmond," I greeted, keeping my voice calm despite the tension creeping into it.

"Lucian," he replied briskly, his tone laced with urgency. "The witches from Redfield and the surrounding towns—eleven covens in total—have agreed to meet tonight. Alongside them, six rival packs. When I mentioned Adrian Daegon’s name, they couldn’t ignore it. They all decided it was worth their while."

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a low whistle. "That’s quite the gathering. And here I thought my charm was losing its touch."

Edmond snorted on the other end of the line. "Don’t flatter yourself, Blackwood. It’s Adrian they’re afraid of, not you."

I chuckled darkly, running a hand through my hair. "Good to know where I stand. Thank you for arranging this, Edmond. I owe you one. Now, inform our allied packs to send reinforcements to secure Moonpeak’s borders. I’ll handle the rest."

When the call ended, I was already on my feet, my mind spinning with preparations. I summoned my enforcers—my most loyal and skilled pack members—to the meeting room. Their attentive gazes followed my every move as I issued instructions.

"We’re hosting some interesting visitors tonight," I began, my voice commanding and steady. "Eleven covens, six enemy packs, and enough bad blood to drown this territory. Double security along all entry points. Nobody gets in or out without clearance. I want patrols every half mile. Got it?"

A resounding chorus of nods and "Yes, Alpha" filled the room.

Turning to Juliette, I softened my tone slightly. "Jules, I need you and Max to stay with Teresa and the babies tonight. Take seven of our best guards and don’t let them out of your sight."

Her eyes widened with a mix of happiness and determination. "Gladly. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my Luna and her little bundles safe." She paused, her lips twitching into a sly smile. "Thanks for giving me this opportunity to make up for not being there when she needed me. Although, let’s not forget, it was your fault in the first place."

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "We’ve already established that I’m an idiot, Jules. Can we move past that?"

"Sure," she replied with a mock-serious expression. "But if I ever feel like roasting you about it in the future, I won’t hesitate."

"Fair enough," I conceded with a wry smile.

Once the arrangements were made, I returned to my office and let Ares take center stage in my mind. His voice, deep and primal, filled my consciousness like distant thunder.

"You’re worried," Ares rumbled.

"Brilliant observation," I replied dryly. "What gave it away?"

"You fidget when you’re anxious," he said simply. "Listen to me, Lucian. These people coming tonight aren’t just allies—they’re predators, every one of them. They’ll be looking for weaknesses, waiting for you to slip. Hold your head high, show no fear, and remind them why the Moonpeak Pack is feared across the lands."

His confidence seeped into me, fortifying my resolve. "Thanks, Ares. Now, if you could promise not to growl at every witch we meet tonight, that’d be great."

"No promises," he replied with a hint of amusement.

An hour later—a little over midnight to be precise—the Moonpeak meeting hall was a hive of tension. The grand room was packed with witches adorned in intricate robes and werewolves from rival packs whose hostility was barely concealed. The air buzzed with unease, the atmosphere so thick it was almost suffocating.

Standing at the head of the room with Rylan, by my side, I exuded authority. My voice cut through the murmurs as I addressed the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming," I began, scanning the room. My tone left no room for pleasantries. "I won’t waste your time with unnecessary speeches. You’ve all heard the name Adrian Daegon. He isn’t just a threat to me or my pack—he’s a threat to every single one of you. He won’t stop at Moonpeak. He will come for your lands, your families, and everything you hold dear. We’ve all heard that when Daegon goes on a rampage, it takes a few years to cool him off."

For a moment, silence reigned, heavy and suffocating. Then, as expected, the dissent began.

Alpha Kelvin of the Ironfang Pack sneered, rising to his feet. His silver-streaked hair caught the torchlight as he folded his arms across his chest, his lip curling in disdain. "This is your problem, Blackwood, not ours. Why should we risk our necks for a fight that isn’t ours to begin with?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the hall. Beside him, Nathaniel of the Bloodclaw Pack let out a derisive laugh. "We didn’t come here to fight your battles, Lucian. We came out of respect for tradition, but don’t think for a moment that we’re going to shed blood for your vendetta."

Their words acted like a spark thrown onto dry tinder. Several others—wolves and witches alike—shifted uneasily, some muttering their agreement. Then, a tall, elegant high priestess with dark violet robes and cold eyes stood. Her voice was calm but cutting. "Adrian Daegon is no concern of the witches. We have our own battles to fight, and we cannot afford to weaken our covens for a war that is not ours."

She turned, her departure signaling a small exodus. A handful of witches and pack Alphas rose and followed her, their footsteps echoing like thunderclaps on the polished stone floor.

I clenched my fists at my sides, the heat of anger simmering beneath my skin. Beside me, Rylan muttered, "Well, that went swimmingly."

I shot him a look but couldn’t suppress a sigh. "Why the hell did they even bother showing up in the first place?"

Thaddeus, the High Priest of the Black Vale Coven, rose slowly from his seat, his piercing hazel eyes scanning the room. "Enough," he said, his deep voice silencing the lingering murmurs. "Those who leave have made their choice, but the rest of us remain. Let us focus on what can be done instead of what has been lost."

I nodded, grateful for his calm leadership. "He’s right. If you’ve chosen to stay, then you’ve chosen to fight. Adrian Daegon isn’t just my enemy—he’s a threat to every pack and coven across these lands. If we don’t stand together now, we’ll all fall separately."

A young witch, her fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders, stood hesitantly. Her voice trembled slightly, but her resolve was clear. "If Adrian is as powerful as you say, how can we even hope to stop him? What chance do we have against someone like that?"

"Together, we have more strength than you think," I replied firmly. "Alone, we’re vulnerable. But united, we can pool our resources, our magic, and our forces to create something Adrian won’t expect.

The red-haired witch nodded slowly, sitting back down.

Another Alpha, Leon of the Frostclaw Pack, rose. His voice was gruff but filled with determination. "I won’t let that monster threaten my family or my territory. Moon peak has stood by us in the past, and I’ll stand by you now, Blackwood."

A few others murmured their agreement, and slowly, the tension in the room began to shift.

Rylan leaned toward me, his voice low. "Looks like we’ve still got some allies. Let’s just hope they’re enough."

I nodded, my gaze sweeping over the remaining leaders. "We’ll make it enough," I said resolutely. "We don’t have a choice."

Thaddeus stood up again but this time with a suggestion. "I propose a protective barrier spell around the city. This spell will shield the human population from Adrian’s forces and contain any supernatural activity within the designated area. It is a proactive measure, one that could save countless lives."

The room hummed with murmurs of agreement. It was a solid strategy, practical and far-reaching. Relief briefly flickered in my mind—finally, something that resembled progress.

But, of course, it didn’t last.

A figure clad in dark red robes glided forward, her very presence commanding attention. Serena, High Priestess of the Stormwood Coven, was a name that carried as much reverence as it did fear. Her reputation preceded her: wise, cunning, and utterly ruthless when necessary. Her piercing black eyes scanned the room, silencing all whispers.

"There’s only one way to ensure your survival, Lucian," she began, her voice as steady and unyielding as a mountain. "Adrian will come for you directly while the rest of us manage his coven. And no offense, Alpha, but you cannot defeat him as you are now."

Her words struck like a dagger, igniting a storm of defensiveness within me. I narrowed my eyes, masking the flicker of doubt. "What exactly are you suggesting, Priestess?"

She smiled—a slow, knowing curve of her lips that sent a ripple of unease through the room. "You must summon the Spirit of Raivo."

The hall erupted. Gasps, shouts, and the scraping of chairs filled the space. Even Ares, my ever-bold companion, let out a guttural growl within my mind.

"You can’t be serious," I said, my voice cutting through the chaos. I locked eyes with Serena, who remained eerily composed. "Raivo is a death sentence."

Serena’s gaze didn’t waver. "Raivo is power. Adrian won’t waste time playing games—he will come for you. While we hold off his forces, you’ll need strength far beyond your own to face him. Raivo is the only way."

The weight of her suggestion settled over me like a crushing wave. Around me, the voices rose again, split between fear and desperation. I barely heard them. My thoughts were consumed by one thing: Teresa and my children. Could I risk invoking something as dangerous as Raivo to ensure their safety? Could I not?

"Alpha," Serena’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. "The choice is yours. But choose wisely. Raivo is not a demon to toy with. Summoning him comes at a great cost."

The room fell silent, and every eye turned toward me. Even Ares was uncharacteristically quiet, his presence steady but watchful.

I took a deep, steadying breath, my mind a whirlwind of conflict. Finally, I met Serena’s gaze, my voice firm. "Let’s hear the details of this ritual," I said, the words heavy with determination. "Then I’ll decide."

The tension in the hall thickened, the weight of every decision pressing down on me like a storm cloud. One thing I knew was: tonight was far from over.