Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 87: Internal battle

Chapter 87: Internal battle

LUCIAN’S P.O.V.

Teresa’s scream tore through me like a serrated blade. I stood frozen, my massive paws rooted to the ground, claws glinting under the silver glow of the moon. My mate—my Teresa—looked at me as though I were a nightmare come to life. And maybe, in her eyes, I was.

Ares, whimpered like a wounded pup. The sound echoed in my mind, raw and keening. "She’s afraid of us, Lucian. Of me." His voice cracked. "Our mate doesn’t trust us."

"No," I tried to soothe him, though the tightness in my chest made it hard to think straight. "She just needs time. She’ll understand—she has to."

I tried to take a step closer, my massive wolf form lowering to the ground in what I hoped was a non-threatening gesture. But the moment I moved, she flinched back, clutching Ollie so tightly that the baby began to cry. My heart cracked open further at the sound.

Teresa’s wild eyes darted to the tree line, as if gauging how quickly she could run. Her voice trembled, sharp with terror. "Stay back! Don’t come near me or my baby!"

Her words cut deeper than silver.

Teresa’s rejection—her fear—was unbearable. I felt Ares crumble under the weight of it, his anguish flooding me in waves. His howls filled my mind, a mournful, keening sound that matched the tears streaming down her face.

Then came the laughter. A deep, mocking chuckle that slithered through my thoughts like poison.

"Oh, this is rich, " Raivo, sneered. "A weak and pathetic mate, a lovesick Alpha and his sniveling pup of a wolf. It’s almost tragic—almost. She doesn’t want you, Lucian. Neither of you. How does it feel to be unloved?"

"Shut your damn mouth!" Ares snarled, his sorrow morphing into rage. "She’s our mate, and you will respect her!"

Raivo’s laughter only grew darker, more twisted. "Respect her? Oh, little wolf, you misunderstand. I don’t respect anyone. Least of all you. You’re nothing but a whining mutt who couldn’t even protect his mate properly."

"I said, shut your mouth," Ares snapped again, "You don’t know anything about our relationship!"

Raivo’s laughter was sharp, grating like glass shards. "Oh, but I do. She’s scared of you. And why wouldn’t she be? She see you as a monster. She’ll never want you back, and let’s face it, you don’t deserve her." He taunted and Ares fell for it.

Ares lunged within me, furious, but Raivo’s presence was overwhelming—a chaotic storm of power and malice. My body tensed as the demon pushed against my control, the two of us locked in a violent struggle. My claws scraped against the dirt as I growled and thrashed, trying to contain the chaos within. "Raivo, this isn’t the time. Stand down."

But the demon wasn’t done. "I’ll make this simple, Alpha. Show me some respect, or I’ll make both your lives a waking hell."

"You think we’re afraid of you?" Ares growled, his rage boiling over.

"Afraid? No." Raivo’s voice dripped venom. "You should be terrified."

The demon kept clawing for control of my body. Pain lanced through me, sharp and relentless, as Raivo wrestled against my hold. My limbs jerked violently, and a guttural growl tore from my throat as I thrashed. A clawed hand swiped blindly, narrowly missing Teresa as she stumbled back with a cry.

"Lucian?" Teresa’s trembling voice cut through the haze.

I looked up, but it wasn’t me. Not really. Raivo’s influence flared, and my body jerked forward again against my will. My claws slashed the air, coming dangerously close to her yet again.

"Lucian, stop!" she screamed, clutching Ollie even tighter as she turned and ran.

Ares howled inside me, his voice frantic and filled with despair. "Raivo, stop this! Don’t scare our mate! Please!"

Raivo’s laughter was a cold hiss in my mind. "Oh, I’ll do more than scare her if you don’t start respecting me, little wolf."

"This isn’t why I brought you here!" I roared internally, my voice a desperate plea. "You destroying my life doesn’t serve either of us. What’s the point?"

Raivo scoffed. "The point? Chaos, dear Alpha. I am the demon of chaos. What did you expect when you invited me in? Sunshine and daisies?" His tone turned mockingly sweet. "Oh, wait. You’re the lovesick goodie two-shoes. Of course, you did."

With every ounce of willpower, I pushed back against the demon’s grip. My body trembled, my vision blurred as I wrestled for dominance. Finally, with a guttural snarl, I forced Raivo into submission and regained control. My fur receded, claws shrinking back into fingers as I shifted into my human form. My chest heaved, sweat dripping down my brow as I looked up—but Teresa was gone.

My heart sank as I caught sight of her figure disappearing into the trees, Ollie’s cries echoing faintly in the distance. The pain in my chest was unbearable, a physical ache that matched Ares’ mournful howls.

"We failed her," Ares whispered, his voice barely audible.

Before I could chase after her, a sharp voice cut through my mind like a blade.

"Lucian! We’ve tracked Thaddeus to Grovefarm. It’s crawling with witches. We need backup," Juliette’s voice came through the mind link, urgent and strained.

I clenched my fists, torn between my duty as an Alpha, a father and my instincts as a mate. I glanced toward the direction Teresa had fled, my heart aching to chase her, to beg her to let me explain. But I couldn’t. Not now. Not when Mai and my pack needed me.

"Paul, Andy, Katrina," I called through the link, my voice firm despite the turmoil within. "Find Teresa. Stay with her. Protect her until I say otherwise."

They responded immediately, their loyalty unwavering, and I turned my attention back to Juliette letting her know I would be there soon. With a deep breath, I reached out through the mind link again, this time to every enforcer in my pack.

" Gather at the borders. We’re moving out."

The Alphas and their packs, who had remained on our lands as allies, volunteered without hesitation. When I stepped outside, the sight of them—an army ready to follow me into chaos—filled me with grim determination.

Before shifting into my wolf form, I let Raivo’s darkness stir within me, just enough to send him a message. "You love chaos? Fine. I’ll give you chaos on a grand scale."

With a fierce growl, I turned to my army. "Leave no witch alive." Then I shifted, Ares’ massive form bursting forth once more. Together, we led the charge into the woods, the scent of war thick in the air.

Tonight, there would be no mercy.

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