Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 98: Capturing Every Detail

Chapter 98: Capturing Every Detail

LUCIAN’S P.O.V.

The air was suffocating, every breath feeling heavier than the last. The Moon Goddess had just dropped a bombshell, and I was struggling to keep my composure. Ares growled low in my mind, his usual sharp tone tinged with unease.

I turned my attention to the baby Juliette held, his tiny form almost swallowed by the dirty blanket. Innocence clashed with the weight of destiny he didn’t ask for. My fists clenched at my sides as I fought the urge to yell, to demand an explanation that made sense. This was all my fault. Everything was my fault.

And then she spoke again, this time addressing Adrian.

"Adrian Daegon, step forward."

Adrian raised a single brow, his expression the picture of calm curiosity. "Am I to be part of this tale now?" he said, his smooth, almost musical voice cutting through the tension.

"Yes," the goddess replied.

Adrian gave a faint smile—calm, elegant, and somehow infuriating. He moved forward like he had all the time in the world, his tailored coat flowing behind him. As he passed me, he paused briefly and quipped, "Don’t look so tense, Lucian. You’ll get wrinkles."

I shot him a glare. Leave it to Adrian to turn a ritual into a performance.

The Moon Goddess didn’t seem amused—or perhaps she was simply above such trifles. Her focus shifted to the baby cradled in Juliette’s trembling arms.

"This child holds the key to Raivo’s destiny," the goddess said, her words weighted with finality. "It is time to restore balance."

My fists clenched involuntarily. "And what does that mean for me?" I demanded, my voice low and strained.

The goddess met my gaze, her expression unreadable. "It means you will be free of Raivo soon and afterwards, your sight would be gone."

Her words were scary it made my body weak. The air grew heavier with each passing second. I couldn’t show fear, not in front of Teresa, not in front of my children. But inside, Ares was pacing restlessly, his growls echoing in my mind.

"We’ll face this, Lucian. We’ve been through worse," he said, but I could feel his fear, mirroring my own. "You’re stronger than this."

I wasn’t so sure.

The Moon Goddess’s ritual began, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. Her hands moved in graceful, deliberate gestures, tracing symbols into the air that shimmered like silver threads. The baby, with his white hair and calm behavior, was placed gently by the goddesses feet.

A low hum filled the clearing, resonating in my bones. The goddess placed one glowing hand over the child and the other on my chest. My entire body tensed as warmth spread from her touch, growing hotter until it was nearly unbearable.

Ares howled in my mind. "It’s happening, Lucian. He’s leaving us."

The heat became a searing pain, and I dropped to my knees, unable to hold back a guttural growl. Juliette and everyone gasped as the baby’s white hair began to change, streaks of bright red weaving through the strands like flames. It was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once.

Finally, the pain stopped. The connection with the demon snapped like a taut rope suddenly cut. My body jerked, and I collapsed forward, my palms digging into the dirt. Ares’ presence filled the void, his voice steady and reassuring.

"I’m still here, Lucian. We’re still here."

I barely had time to process the relief before the goddess spoke again.

She straightened, her expression solemn as she addressed me. "Lucian Blackwood, it is time. Are you ready to surrender your sight?"

My heart plummeted. I looked up at her, my vision blurring slightly. "Give me a moment."

Managing to get back up on my feet, I turned to Teresa, my chest aching at the sight of her. She was holding our babies, her tear-streaked face looking at me with a mix of sorrow and something else I couldn’t quite place.

I felt the sting of tears in my own eyes as I took in every detail of her face binding it to memory—her soft curls falling around her shoulders, the freckles dusting her nose, the way her lips trembled as she tried to hold back sobs, and her beautiful brown eyes.

"Teresa..." My voice cracked, and I reached out, taking her free hand in mine. Her hand was trembling, and it broke me. "I’m sorry. For everything. For hurting you, for breaking your trust, for being a damned fool who didn’t see what was right in front of him."

"Lucian—"

"Please," I interrupted, my voice desperate. "Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m paying for my mistakes now. I love you, Teresa. I always have, and I always will."

Tears streamed down her face, and she nodded, unable to speak. I pulled her and our babies into my arms, holding them tightly, memorizing how they looked, how they felt, how they smelled, how they made me feel whole.

Juliette stood nearby, tears in her own eyes. "Alpha... I failed you. If I had been stronger and protected Mai, this wouldn’t have happened."

I shook my head, pulling her into a hug as well. "Don’t blame yourself, Juliette. You’ve been nothing but loyal. Thank you for standing by me."

Elizabeth, who barely knew me, was crying too. "You don’t deserve this," she whispered.

I managed a faint smile. "Don’t cry for me, Elizabeth. I’ll be fine."

Adrian stood apart, his usually impassive face shadowed with sadness. When our eyes met, he gave me a nod. "You’re a good father, Lucian. And a damn stubborn werewolf. You’ll survive this."

I chuckled weakly. "Is that your idea of a pep talk, vampire?"

He smirked faintly. "Take it or leave it."

Finally, I looked around one last time. The towering trees, the shimmering stars, the way the moonlight bathed the clearing in silver. Even the rocks beneath my feet seemed beautiful in that moment.

"I’m ready," I said, my voice steady.

The Moon Goddess approached, her expression filled with sorrow. She placed a hand on Mai and another on my forehead. Light burst from her touch, and in that instant, the world went dark.

And yet, in that darkness, I felt a strange peace. My Mai was OK.

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