Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 81: The Calm Before The Storm

Chapter 81: The Calm Before The Storm

TERESA’S P.O.V.

Last night after Lucian left me with those cryptic words, my night had been a restless one. I barely slept. My mind kept replaying his teasing smirk and that maddening question: How do you know I’m just a helpless human? The question itself wasn’t as terrifying as the way he said it—like it wasn’t a question at all, but a revelation I wasn’t ready to face.

By morning, my exhaustion was drowned out by the chaotic energy around the estate. There were more people than usual, all bustling around with an air of urgency. It was like stepping onto the set of some action film where everyone knew their role except me. I noticed a group of men shadowing me, clearly guards, though they were trying—and failing—to blend in. Seven. Seven bodyguards. And leading them was Juliette, pushing the twins’ stroller like some badass nanny straight out of a spy thriller.

"Juliette," I whispered as we walked toward the dining hall, her grip steady on the stroller. "Lucian mentioned last night that I’d be getting bodyguards, but this? This feels like overkill. Why do I suddenly have a personal SWAT team? Last time I was here, I had two bodyguards—just two. I don’t need all this muscle."

She smirked but didn’t break stride. "Things have escalated. You’re very important Teresa, and we’re taking precautions. Bear with us."

I sighed, glancing at her. " I mean, I get that Adrian is... a threat, but this? Don’t you seriously think this is too much?"

Juliette didn’t answer right away, instead giving me that infuriating, knowing smile. "Just trust us. And Lucian. He wants you and your babies safe."

I sighed, deciding to push aside my unease but my discomfort multiplied the moment we entered the dining hall. The hum of conversation came to an abrupt halt. All eyes turned to me. Every. Single. Person. Staring just like they did at yesterday’s dinner. I had thought it was a one time thing but apparently not.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. My instincts screamed at me to run, but Juliette nudged me gently forward. "They’re waiting for you, Luna," she whispered, her smile encouraging.

"Luna?" I hissed back, my voice barely audible. "What’s going on? Did Lucian put them up to this?"

Juliette chuckled but didn’t answer. Instead, she motioned for me to walk toward the head table. The stares were suffocating. People greeted me with bright smiles, their voices warm as they called out, "Luna."

Luna? What did that damn word even mean? I guess I was going to google it later but at the moment, all I wanted was to melt into the floor.

Rather than taking the seat of honor like they all expected, I made a beeline for Luke’s table, where he sat with his wife, kids, in-laws, and my father’s charming entourage of a stepmother and stepsisters. I couldn’t face the spotlight, not when I didn’t even understand it.

Luke gave me a sharp look as I sat down. "What’s with the royal treatment,T?"

"I’d love to know, but I’m just as clueless as you," I started, but Sarah’s snide voice cut me off. "Oh, it’s all because of Lucian," she sneered. "Don’t let it get to your head, Teresa. You’re not special."

Jennifer, never one to miss an opportunity to be vile, added, "If it weren’t for Father, you’d never have met Lucian, let alone trapped him with your bastard children."

The room suddenly fell silent, as if everyone had somehow heard Jennifer’s words—a bizarre yet oddly impressive phenomenon.

Juliette’s hand slammed onto the table with a force that made the entire table rattle. She stood, her voice cold and sharp as ice. "Say one more word about Teresa or her babies, I dare you, and I’ll make sure you never speak again. Permanently."

The dining hall seemed to hold its breath. Everyone was surprisingly on their feet, glaring daggers at Jennifer and Sarah. Some looked ready to charge.

Jennifer shrank into her seat, her face pale. My father and Vanessa jumped up, fumbling over apologies. They forced Jennifer and Sarah to mumble weak apologies to me, but I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned to the room and raised my voice. "It’s fine. I’m fine. Please, let’s not let this little thing ruin our breakfast."

But I wasn’t fine. Not even close. Where was Lucian when I needed him to deal with this madness?

The day passed in a blur. We—I, Juliette, Max, Katrina, Luke and his family— went to the cinema, and for a while, I managed to forget the tension in the estate. My bodyguards lingered like shadows, but no one in Luke’s family questioned it.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. After hours of tending to the twins, I finally managed to settle them into their cribs. Juliette, ever vigilant, had been a rock by my side, her calm demeanor soothing even in the chaos. Together, we lulled the babies to sleep, their soft breaths a melody that briefly eased the weight on my chest.

When I finally collapsed into bed, Juliette’s presence brought a semblance of security. She had insisted on staying in my room tonight, citing her concern for our safety. Normally, I might have resisted—argued even—but I was too drained to protest as we both fell asleep.

The peace didn’t last.

At 2 a.m., a piercing cry tore through the stillness, jolting me awake. My heart thundered as I stumbled out of bed, rushing to Mai’s crib. Her tiny face was flushed, tears streaming as she wailed. Panic flared as I pressed a hand to her forehead.

She was burning up.

"She’s got a fever!" I gasped, cradling her trembling body against my chest.

Juliette was immediately by my side, her voice steady despite my frantic tone. "Calm down. Let me call the doctor," she said, reaching for her phone.

Before she could dial, the muffled thud of footsteps and angry voices echoed from beyond the door. The noise was growing louder, more aggressive.

"Stay here. Lock the door," Juliette ordered firmly, her sharp tone cutting through my panic.

"No! Don’t go!" I pleaded, picking Ollie up as well and clutching the twins to my chest.

Her gaze softened for a brief moment. "I’ll be fine. Protect the babies." Without waiting for a reply, she slipped out of the room, her posture tense and ready for whatever was out there; although I still wondered what she could do against a threat if there was really one out there.

The door clicked shut behind her, but the noises only grew worse. Shouting erupted in the hallway, followed by the unmistakable sound of a struggle. My pulse thundered in my ears as I ran into the walk-in closet, clutching Mai and her brother, their cries a heartbreaking symphony of fear.

I barely had time to brace myself before it happened.

A deafening crash shattered the silence, followed by the groan of splintering wood and crumbling plaster. The door—along with a portion of the wall—was obliterated, sending shards of debris flying across the room.

From the destruction emerged a massive wolf.

It wasn’t just large—it was colossal, easily six or seven feet tall when it stood on all fours. Its fur was a rich, glossy brown, its muscles rippling under the dim light. But it was the eyes that froze me in place: golden and fierce, radiating a terrifying yet captivating intensity.

I never knew wolves could get this massive. This tall. Scratch that—why was a giant wolf standing in my bedroom in the first place?!

A scream tore from my throat as the wolf turned its gaze on me, its head lowering slightly as if assessing the threat. My legs trembled, and for a moment, I was certain it would pounce.

But then it shifted its attention.

A guttural growl erupted from its throat, low and menacing, reverberating through the room like a storm. The floor seemed to vibrate beneath us as it turned toward the doorway, where dark figures stepped into the wreckage.

There were six of them, their faces twisted with malice. Leading them was a man dressed in a gleaming silver robe, his piercing blue eyes glittering with a wicked gleam. He pointed a finger in my direction, his voice cold and commanding.

"Kill the wolf," he barked. "Take the woman and the babies."

Time seemed to stop.

My breath hitched as I clutched the twins tighter, my heart hammering in my chest. The wolf, impossibly large and intimidating, didn’t move away from me. Instead, it shifted, positioning itself between me and the intruders like a shield.

Its growl deepened, sharp teeth bared as it crouched defensively. The air felt electric, charged with a primal energy that sent shivers down my spine.

The men and women advanced, their wicked grins widening, but the wolf didn’t back down. It lunged forward slightly, snarling with such ferocity that even the air seemed to tremble.

It was protecting us.

I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing. The massive beast, this wolf of legend and nightmares, wasn’t here to harm me. It was fighting for me, for the twins.

But why?

The question lingered in my mind as the standoff escalated, the wolf’s growls clashing with the intruders’ sinister laughter. My instincts screamed for me to run, to protect the babies, but my feet remained rooted. Besides, there was no where to run to even if I tried.

What was happening? Why was this happening?

And why did the wolf’s golden eyes, fierce and wild, feel oddly familiar?