BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 130: GRIEF AND HONOR

Chapter 130: GRIEF AND HONOR

{"Tears are the silent language of grief."}

"He’s with me," Frery murmured, his crimson eyes steady on mine. I hesitated, then exhaled, watching the guard incline his head slightly in respect. "His name is Soren as he helped me escape Paradise Bay Coven," Frery continued. "Without him, I wouldn’t have made it here. Lord Marcel’s guards were hunting me down."

I narrowed my eyes at the vampire, who remained silent but vigilant. He smelled of blood and nightfall, of places I had never stepped foot in but knew carried danger in every shadow. A sudden sound cut through the tension, a deep, reverberating voice, low and thunderous.

Rita shot up, her head snapping toward the far side of the cave. "Where did that voice come from?"

Before anyone could answer, the water in the pond churned violently, steam rising in thick clouds. Then, in one fluid motion, Gerod emerged. Flora gasped, stumbling back a step as Gerod’s massive form took shape, his scales gleaming with an ethereal glow. His long, curved horns barely missed scraping the ceiling, and his golden eyes burned with ancient power.

With slow, deliberate movements, Gerod extended his massive claws and lifted Althea’s frail body. She looked impossibly small against the sheer size of him, her silver hair spilling over his talons. Without hesitation, he carried her back into the pond. We watched in silence as Althea’s body began to float, the shimmering water surrounding her like an embrace. The dark magic that clung to her like poison began to dissolve, evaporating into nothingness.

Then her eyes snapped open. Recognition dawned in them, clear and sharp, and a soft smile spread across her lips. "Gerod," she whispered, her voice carrying through the cave like a breeze. "We finally meet, you old dragon."

Sadness flickered across Gerod’s reptilian gaze. His deep voice resonated through the cave, filled with grief and something deeper. "I hate that we meet when you are breathing your last."

Althea lifted a trembling hand, her fingers brushing over the rough scales of his snout. She chuckled weakly. "Better late than never."

My chest tightened at her words, the weight of what was coming sinking deep into my bones.

"I am glad to have witnessed the rise of the Lycan," she continued, shifting her gaze toward me and Frery. "And I know my grandson and his mate will protect the realm."

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. "Gerod," Althea murmured, her voice quieter now, fading like the last flicker of a flame. "Pass over my powers to them. They need it for what is coming. The evil has risen and grown greedy. I feel its power..." She inhaled sharply, as though the darkness itself pressed against her. "As the power of Tor and Frery rises."

She looked between us, her gaze filled with certainty. "They will face a hard hurdle in the days ahead. I have been preparing for this moment."

Then, a golden light began to rise from her body. It shimmered like liquid fire, swirling between Frery and me, wrapping around us before sinking deep into our skin. The power surged through me—warm, overwhelming, ancient. I felt the strength of the past generations, the knowledge of battles fought and won, the essence of something far greater than myself.

Althea exhaled one last time and then and then... she was gone.

A heavy silence settled over the cave, thick as the grief pressed against my chest. The weight of Althea’s last words lingered in the air, but it was the finality of her still form that crushed me. The golden light had faded, and with it, the last breath of a woman who had carried the burden of the realm long before I was even born.

Sadness washed over me like a tidal wave, relentless and unforgiving. My legs trembled beneath me, threatening to give way. I barely noticed my body swaying until a firm grip wrapped around my waist.

Freyr’s touch was grounding, his presence unwavering. The warmth of him, even after just feeding from me, steadied the storm inside me. He didn’t speak, he didn’t need to. His crimson eyes met mine, and in them, I saw understanding, sorrow, and a silent promise that I wasn’t alone in this. A deep rumble resonated through the cave as Gerod, still in his dragon form, stepped forward. With careful, almost reverent movements, he lowered his massive claws and placed Althea’s body before us.

His golden gaze swept over us before he spoke, his voice a low, guttural vibration through the cavern.

"Take her to the magic meadow, deep within the cave," he instructed. "This will be her resting place. The land will embrace her as one of its own."

I opened my mouth, but no words came. I was frozen, locked in my grief, unable to move or even breathe properly.

Frery nodded on my behalf, his grip on me tightening momentarily before releasing. He understood my silence, my stillness. He had lost people too.

It was Flora and Rita who moved first.

Without hesitation, they stepped forward, their movements careful, their faces unreadable beneath the weight of the moment. Together, they lifted Althea’s fragile body, handling her with the respect and love she deserved.

The sight of them carrying her did something to me, stirred something within my chest, just enough for me to move. I inhaled sharply, forcing my legs to obey, and turned toward the deeper part of the cave. The path ahead was shrouded in a dim, ethereal glow, a whisper of magic guiding us forward.

"Follow me," I murmured, my voice horse, and then Freyr was beside me in an instant, his presence solid and sure. Soren followed a few steps behind, his usual playful demeanor absent. This wasn’t a moment for levity. Gerod remained where he was, watching, his golden eyes solemn as we moved deeper into the cave.

The air changed as we stepped into the magic meadow as the ceiling of the cave stretched high above us, revealing an open space bathed in soft blue luminescence. Glowing flowers sprouted from the ground, their petals shimmering with unseen energy, and gentle streams of water wove between them like veins of life. The magic in this place pulsed, old and powerful, recognizing the one who had protected it for so long.

This was where she belonged and with slow, careful steps, Flora and Rita lowered Althea onto the soft earth. The moment her body touched the ground, the glowing flowers around her pulsed once, as if the land itself was welcoming her home. I took a deep breath, clenching my fists at my sides. I wasn’t ready for this. But I had no choice and felt Frery reach for my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. I squeezed back, needing the connection more than I cared to admit. Althea Gale had given everything for this realm.

Silence stretched through the Haven Cave, thick with sorrow and unspoken words. The glow of the magic meadow pulsed faintly around us, casting a soft light over Althea’s still form. She lay beneath the luminous flowers, embraced by the earth she had spent her life protecting. The hum of ancient power lingered in the air, yet it felt different now, hollow, grieving.

We all stood motionless, bound by the weight of loss. My chest ached, my throat burned, but no words came. What could I say? How could I put into words the sacrifice she had made, the burden she had carried for so long?

A rustle of movement broke the silence and it was Flora as she stepped forward, her normally sharp and commanding presence softened by grief. Her head bowed slightly, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. When she spoke, her voice was steady but thick with emotion.

"Althea gave her life to save Hanka Island," she said, each word deliberate. "She saved the realm from being infected by the evil rising within it. She knew the price she would pay, and yet, she never hesitated. We must emulate her and protect the realm, keep it safe, and keep our people safe. "Flora exhaled slowly, then bowed deeply. "Thank you, Althea Gale, we shall honor and treasure your memory," she murmured.

The words settled over us like a final blessing, like something sacred. Without hesitation, we all followed suit. Rita was next, bowing her head with quiet reverence. Then Soren, his usual stoic demeanor cracking just enough to show the sorrow in his eyes. Freyr, standing beside me, moved in unison. Even as a vampire, an immortal being who was not related to her, he honored her. And then it was my turn. I lowered my head, bowing to the woman who had given everything for us, for this realm. My heart clenched painfully, but I held onto the weight of her sacrifice, vowing to carry it forward.

"Grandma, I Will not let you down" I whispered as my eyes filled with tears, and for the first in my life, tears fell down my cheeks and I let them fall freely as I mourned Althea Gale"

"We will not let you down "Frery added and then he pulled me into a deep hug.

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