BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 114: GALE’S WORDS

Chapter 114: GALE’S WORDS

{"A male of strength will get on his knees for his partner and know that it doesn’t lessen him in any way."}

The night wrapped around us like a secret, the dense fog of Paradise Bay curling through the trees, ghostly tendrils slithering between us as if the realm itself wished to keep us apart. Yet, I could feel him, his warmth, his strength, the steady rhythm of his heart against my chest as he pulled me into his embrace.

Tor’s arms tightened around me, his scent, a mix of pine, earth, and something deeply primal, filling my senses. I clung to him, fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt, unwilling to let go, unwilling to acknowledge the war brewing beyond the sanctuary of this moment.

"They are already turning against us," I murmured against his neck, my voice barely above a whisper. "The Coven, the Pack... Paradise Bay is unraveling because of us."

Tor exhaled sharply, his hand sliding up my back in slow, soothing strokes. "No," he said firmly. "Not because of us. Because of the darkness that seeks to destroy us." He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, golden and fierce. "We didn’t ask for this war, Frery. But if we don’t fight, if we run—" He paused, jaw tightening. "Then we give them exactly what they want."

I swallowed the ache in my throat. "But how do we fight when our people are the ones being turned against us? The Coven is losing themselves to rage, the Pack to bloodlust. The evil that lurks... it’s using them, twisting them. We’re caught between them, and soon, there won’t be a side left to stand on."

His hand found my face, fingers brushing over my cheek with surprising gentleness. "Then we create our side."

A shudder ran through me. The weight of fate pressed against my ribs, as though the very air around us carried the whispers of those who wished us to fail. I tilted my head slightly, letting my lips ghost over his, savoring the way his breath caught, the way his hands gripped me tighter.

"This bond..." My voice trembled as I kissed him softly, slowly, lingering in the warmth that only he could offer. "I cannot live without it. Without you." I closed my eyes, my forehead pressing against his. "If they separate us, Tor... my life will dwindle and end."

Tor let out a low growl, one of pure anguish, of barely restrained fury. "And I will go mad," he admitted, his voice raw. "I will lose myself to the beast, to the rage. I will tear through anything in my way, and when there is nothing left..." His fingers curled into my hair. "I will perish"

My fangs ached, my very being craving him in ways that defied reason. My mate. My fate. The one thing the world wanted to take from me. I kissed him again, harder this time, letting the desperation slip between us, letting the silent promise bind us further. He met me with equal fire, his grip unyielding, his body pressed so close to mine that I could feel the thunder of his heartbeat.

"We fight," I whispered, breathless.

Tor nodded, resting his forehead against mine, his fingers tracing slow, reverent circles along my spine. "We fight," he echoed. "And we survive."

Lacing my fingers with his, I guided Tor through the winding stone path, my grip on his arm firm yet gentle. He was exhausted—his breaths uneven, his steps slower than they should have been. I hated seeing him like this. A Lycan Alpha brought to the edge of exhaustion because of me... because of us.

"Just a little farther," I murmured, pushing open the heavy ironwood door. The scent hit us instantly, moon orchids, blood roses, and the faintest trace of aged cedar. The Garden Chamber welcomed us like an old secret, untouched by the chaos outside.

Tor barely spoke as I led him inside, the soft flickering glow of the enchanted candles casting long shadows along the ivy-covered walls. The flames, deep crimson and ghostly blue, burned endlessly, their light shifting like the breath of something alive. Some hovered midair, illuminating the delicate mist curling along the marble floor, while others clung to silver sconces, their soft glow reflecting against the high arched ceiling.

The fur covered bed lay in the center, its deep onyx layers of silk and velvet waiting like an unspoken promise. I let go of Tor’s arm and gestured toward it. "Lie down," I said softly, though it was more of an order than a request.

Tor hesitated, his sharp gaze searching mine. "Frery..." His voice was hoarse, tired.

I placed a hand on his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my palm. A stark contrast to my cold touch. "No arguments," I whispered. "You need this."

A slow exhale left him before he finally sat down, sinking into the impossibly soft furs with a quiet groan. Watching him, something inside me tightened. Lycans weren’t meant to be weak. And yet, here he was... vulnerable, with only me to shield him. I turned away for a moment, letting my gaze drift over the chamber. The obsidian fountain in the corner trickled softly, its water glowing from within like captured stardust. They said it carried the essence of our land, capable of easing the restless mind, or awakening buried desires.

Tor watched me as I pulled off my cloak, letting it fall silently to the floor. "This place..." He trailed off, his voice quieter now, less guarded. I sat beside him, running my fingers over the silken sheets. "It’s the only place in Kayne’s land that Pa treasured and called it a sacred resting place." I turned to meet his gaze.

His eyes darkened, with something deeper, an understanding that we both felt. I leaned in, pressing my forehead against his, breathing him in. The warmth of him, the wild scent of the forest still clinging to his skin. "Rest, Tor," I whispered. ’You have come all this way and did not sleep a wink. It’s time to take a rest"

Tor’s breathing had steadied against my chest, his warmth seeping into me like an ember refusing to die in the cold. I held him closer, running my fingers through his hair, watching as the lines of exhaustion softened on his face. Sleep was claiming him, pulling him under, but I could feel the shift before it even happened—the stirring in the bond, the deep, ancient force lurking beneath his skin.

Then, Gale pushed through the mind link and then came his voice, deep, primal, laced with the raw power of the earth itself.

"You feel it too, don’t you, Frery?"

I closed my eyes, letting him in. "I do."

"Tor has been restless since he left Lycan Haven," Gale rumbled. "He doesn’t speak of it, but I know. His soul stirs, his instincts scream. He is uneasy because of the past"

I tightened my grip on Tor as Gale continued, his voice edged with frustration. "The Bay Shifter Pack... They used Althea to suppress my awakening. They fear what I am, what I bring." There was a brief pause, then a low growl reverberated through the link. "But why would they fear the very force that protects them? I have watched over them, sensed the vampire bugs weaving their filth into our lands. I cleansed them. The generals, the commanders... even some of your coven members who were tainted. And yet, they dare suppress me?"

His anger hummed through the bond like a tremor before a quake. But beneath it was something more. Hurt. Betrayal.

"They do not fear you," I said quietly, pressing my lips to Tor’s temple. "They want what you are."

Gale went silent, listening. I exhaled slowly. "Your power is connected to the realm itself—to the earth, the water, the mountains, and every beast that breathes within it. You are not just a Lycan. You are the force that binds it all together." I opened my eyes, staring into the candlelight flickering against the stone walls. "And power like that is never left unchallenged."

Gale let out a slow, rumbling breath. "So that’s it then. It was never about fear. It was about control."

I nodded. "And they will keep trying to take it from you."

A deep, guttural chuckle echoed in my mind. "Let them try."

A small smile touched my lips. "Kayne knows this well," I murmured. "He has always known. He trusts you, respects you. He would never fear you." I paused; my voice soft but firm. "And neither do I."

Gale was silent for a moment, his energy wrapping around Tor like an unseen shield. Then, his voice came, lower this time, as if speaking from the depths of the realm itself.

"Then they are wrong about me, Frery. And when the time comes... they will see the truth." And with that, he withdrew, retreating into the shadows of Tor’s mind.

Tor stirred slightly in my arms, but he did not wake. His breathing remained even, peaceful. For now, he could rest. But the storm was coming. And this time, no force in the realm would be able to stop it.