Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 77: Unanimous Decision

Chapter 77: Unanimous Decision

LUCIAN’S P.O.V.

The room was quiet now, but my mind was a raging storm. The scent of burning candles mingled with the tense air, thick and suffocating. Serena’s black eyes bore into me, her presence demanding attention as though she were a predator waiting for the prey’s next move. My thoughts roared like an unstoppable tide—Teresa, the twins, my pack... How could I risk them? But how could I not?

Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and broke the silence. "Go on, let’s hear it," I said, my voice steady, though inside, I felt anything but.

Serena tilted her head slightly, a faint, unnerving smile curving her lips. "As expected of the Alpha," she said, her tone almost mocking. "To summon Raivo, you will drink a concoction made from the venom of a vampire—donated willingly, of course—and the root of the lunar werewood. The venom binds you to Raivo’s bloodline; the root connects your soul to the spirit realm."

"Sounds charming," I muttered, earning a sharp glance from Alpha Kevin. Ares growled in my mind, clearly unimpressed.

Serena ignored my sarcasm. "This ritual will merge your soul with Raivo’s—a wolf demon of immense power. You will become faster, stronger, and nearly invincible. Your howl will paralyze even the bravest enemies, and you will command the elements themselves."

The room erupted. Gasps and panicked whispers filled the space. Even Alpha Edmond, who usually maintained an unshakeable calm, looked rattled. "You can’t be serious, Lucian," he said, leaning forward. "This isn’t just about you anymore—it’s about the packs. Raivo could destroy us all."

"And without Raivo?" Serena’s sharp voice cut through the noise. "You’ll face Adrian Daegon and his coven as you are now. Do you think you can protect them?" She gestured around the room, her gaze piercing. "Your mate? Your children? Your packs? Do you honestly think Adrian will show mercy?"

A growl rumbled in my chest before I could stop it. "Careful, Priestess."

Her smile widened, as though pleased by my anger. "I’m merely stating facts, Alpha. This is your choice. But remember, Raivo does not come without a cost. Once merged, his rage becomes yours. His power... his burden."

The room fell silent again, and I let the weight of her words sink in. Ares stirred within me, his voice low and uncertain. "I don’t trust her, Lucian."

"Think carefully, Alpha," Serena said coolly. "But time is not on your side. The ritual needs at least six hours to complete."

I nodded, my throat dry. "I need an hour. Adjourn the meeting until then."

As the others filtered out, I stayed behind, pressing the heels of my palms against my temples. "Ares," I sighed, "What do you think?"

His growl resonated, low and steady. "It’s reckless. Dangerous. But if it means protecting Teresa, our pups and the pack... I’ll share our body with Raivo."

I let out a humorless laugh, my chest tightening. "It’s not just sharing, Ares. It’s giving up a part of us that we might never get back."

"For them? I would do it." He said.

*********

I decided I needed to hear the thoughts of more people so I called for a small meeting with Rylan, Juliette, and the pack’s wisest elders through the mind link. Fifteen minutes later, they all gathered. The moon hung high, its silver glow seeping through the cracks in the hall. I stood by the window, staring into the darkness as the clock ticked closer to 2 a.m. My mind was still a battlefield.

Every one’s face looked grim and their eyes betrayed a shared unease. As they took their seats around the long, scarred table in the center of the hall, the atmosphere thickened with tension.

For what felt like hours, their voices rose and fell, weaving a tapestry of fear, logic, and reluctant resolve. Each argument pierced through the haze of my thoughts, but none were enough to quiet the storm within me.

"Lucian,," Rylan’s voice broke through my trance. I turned from the window to see him standing a few steps away, his usually cocky demeanor replaced by an unusual solemnity. His blue eyes were steady as they met mine, filled with both concern and determination. "I don’t think we have another choice. No matter how many roads we turn, this seems to be the only way."

I clenched my fists at my sides, my jaw tightening as his words sunk in. "And if Raivo takes over my body and mind completely?" My voice was cold, edged with the fear I refused to fully acknowledge. "Who’s going to stop me from becoming the very monster we’re trying to destroy?"

Rylan hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. For once, the confident, unshakable warrior seemed unsure. "We’ll cross that bridge when we get there," he said finally, his voice low but resolute. "Right now, Adrian is the monster we need to focus on."

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it, the sound harsh and sharp in the heavy silence of the room. "That’s comforting," I muttered, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like an iron chain.

One by one, the others spoke. Juliette, her voice calm but firm, laid out her reasoning with the precision of someone who had spent sleepless hours analyzing every possibility. "Whatever happens Lucian, I will not let you lose yourself, I promise you with my life," she said. The elders, their wisdom tempered by years of experience, offered their insights, each laced with a tinge of regret."Trusting a witch is always a dangerous gamble, but with the clock against us, we have no choice but to accept the deal," one of the elders said, his voice heavy with regret. "Forgive us, Alpha—we couldn’t offer you a better path."

Even Ares, gave his thoughts, his deep voice adding an air of finality to the conversation. "I will always be here for you Lucian, no matter where this path takes us."

Yet no matter how many words were spoken, the conclusion remained the same: without Raivo, we stood no chance against Adrian.

I turned back to the window, my reflection barely visible in the moonlight. My chest tightened with the weight of their words, of the decision I was being forced to make. Raivo—the dark demon spirit—was a gamble, a weapon that could just as easily destroy us as save us.

But as much as I wanted to fight against it, I knew they were right. Adrian was a threat we couldn’t defeat on our own. And if unleashing Raivo was the only way to protect my pack, then I had no choice but to take that risk.

The room fell silent as I finally spoke, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "If this is the path we’ve chosen," I said, "then we prepare for the consequences—whatever they may be."

The others nodded, their faces a mix of determination and fear.

By 2 a.m., the hall was packed again. Every eye turned to me as I stood to my feet, their expressions ranging from hope to fear. I met Serena’s gaze, steeling myself. "We’ll do it," I said, my voice firm. "Start the ritual."

The room exploded into murmurs, some relieved, others panicked. Adrian’s name echoed in the whispers like a ghost haunting every corner of the room.

"You’ve made the right choice," Serena said, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "Time is of the essence. We must begin immediately."

As the preparations began, I closed my eyes and reached out to Ares. "We’re really doing this."

His reply was simple but heavy with emotion. "For them, Lucian. For Teresa and the twins."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, whispering a silent apology to Teresa in my heart. Forgive me, Teresa. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you—even if it means losing myself.