BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 147: A MEETING WITH THE PACK MEMBERS

Chapter 147: A MEETING WITH THE PACK MEMBERS

{ "The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again." }

TOR’S POV

The wind carried the scent of rain and earth, but I could only focus on him. Frery Kayne stood before me at the edge of the Paradise Coven’s border, his crimson eyes locked onto mine, dark with unspoken words. The moon cast silver light over his sharp features, making him look ethereal, like something untouchable, something meant to be worshipped.

I reached for him, tracing my fingers along his wrist, feeling the cool silk of his skin beneath my warmth. "You better promise me that you will be safe," I said, voice low, rough with everything I couldn’t know.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but his grip on me tightened.’’ I will, and you have to also be safe."

Everything in me screamed to stay, but duty called, and I had to leave for the Bay shifter pack and protect my people. But leaving Frery? It felt like tearing out my soul. Rou stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, his impatience a silent weight between us.

Frery lifted a hand, brushing his fingertips over my jaw, his touch so light, yet it burned through me. "Tor" His voice was barely a whisper, but it held the weight of every kiss, every night spent in each other’s arms, every moment of fierce devotion.

I caught his hand before he could pull away, pressing his palm flat against my chest, letting him feel the steady, unwavering beat of my heart beneath his touch. "Once you find the evil, urgently send a message so that we can all be prepared." My voice came out raw, unguarded.

His expression softened, and something deep and unshakable flickered in his crimson eyes. I willl," he swore, voice steady, certain. I exhaled sharply, pulling him close, my forehead pressing against his, my lips ghosting over his in something more than a kiss—it was a promise. A vow.

"I hate this," I murmured against his mouth.

Frery let out a quiet breath, his fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt, holding me in place for just a moment longer. "Me too," he said. All I felt in his voice was only love, only longing. Rou shifted behind me, a subtle reminder of the duty that still waited. I forced myself to step back, even though every instinct in me rebelled against it. As I crossed the border, I didn’t look back, not because I didn’t want to but because I couldn’t.

The road stretched ahead, winding through the dense forest, its path uneven beneath my boots. The scent of damp earth and pine filled the air, but it did nothing to ease the weight pressing against my chest. Each step took me farther from Frery, from the touch of his hands, the sound of his voice, the way his crimson eyes softened when he looked at me, and I cursed as I kept walking.

Rou moved beside me in silence, his usual impatience subdued. He didn’t ask if I was okay; he didn’t need to. He knew the answer. Instead, he stayed close, matching my pace, his presence steady and unwavering. After a long stretch of silence, he finally spoke. "Your pack still needs you, Tor."

I let out a breath, slow and measured. "Then why does it feel like I just lost a part of myself?"

Rou didn’t answer right away, and I appreciated that. He wasn’t one for empty reassurances or false comfort. Instead, he let the quiet settle between us before saying, "Because loving someone like that isn’t supposed to be easy."

I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists. "It shouldn’t have to be this hard, either."

He huffed out something that might have been a laugh, though there was no humor in it. "You’re the Alpha of the Bay Shifters. He’s a vampire of the Paradise Coven. Did you think the universe would make it simple for you?"

The sun was beginning to dip beyond the trees, casting long shadows across the path. My body moved on instinct, muscle memory carrying me forward, but my mind was still back at that border, still lingering in the last moments I had with Frery. The feel of his hand on mine. The press of his forehead against mine. The promise in his voice when he swore he would wait.

I exhaled, tilting my head toward the darkening sky. "I don’t know how to do this."

Rou glanced at me, one brow raised. "Do what?"

"Leave him behind and keep going," I muttered.

Rou was quiet for a moment, and then he reached out, clapping a hand against my shoulder. "You don’t. You carry him with you. Every step, every breath. That’s how you keep going."

Bay Shifter land stretched before us, familiar and unchanging—the towering cliffs, the endless stretch of dense forest, the distant call of waves crashing against the shore. Rou let out a long breath beside me, rolling his shoulders. "Finally." As we crossed into the heart of the Bay Shifter Pack, figures emerged from the gathering dusk, and for the first time in days, I felt the pull of belonging.

Beta Spark stood at the front, his sharp blue eyes sweeping over me with quiet assessment before he gave a firm nod. "Alpha."

Beside him, his mate, Enforcer Wave, was already grinning, arms crossed. "Welcome, Alpha Tor."

General Tiger and Ralph stood to my left, the former offering a curt nod, the latter smiling like he’d been waiting all day for our return. Commander Flora and her mate Rita were next, standing side by side, their postures straight and steady, eyes filled with silent understanding. Then there were General Mac Mortas and his brother, Enforcer Troy Mortas, both as solid and imposing as ever. Mac barely moved, but Troy gave a short, approving grunt.

And finally, Commander Belle Morta stepped forward, her dark gaze locking onto mine. Unlike the others, she didn’t speak right away. She studied me, her expression unreadable, before tilting her head slightly. "You look like he, ll Alpha To.r"

Rou chuckled beside me, but I held Belle’s stare. "Feels about right."

Spark was the first to break the moment, clapping a hand against my shoulder. "Brother, we all report to give, but I bet you are tired, and hence we shall escort you home and then convene later on at the Royal Garden."

I let out a breath, the tension in my muscles finally loosening just a fraction, and I nodded as they escorted us into Bay shifter pack lands. The door clicked shut behind me, sealing me inside the familiar stillness of my home. The scent of cedar and leather wrapped around me, grounding me in a way nothing else had since I stepped back onto Bay Shifter land. I exhaled, rolling my shoulders, the weight of the journey still pressing against my bones.

"Oh Frer,y" I whispered as I moved through the dimly lit space, peeling off my jacket as I went. Dust clung to my skin, the scent of travel and exhaustion thick in the air around me. My body ached—not just from the miles I had walked but from the hollow feeling lodged deep in my chest.

Once I stepped into the bathroom, the water scalded against my skin, but I welcomed it, tilting my head under the steady stream. Steam curled around me, washing away the dirt, the tension, the memories of what I’d left behind. Freyr’s voice still echoed in my head, his touch still burned into my skin, but I pushed the thoughts aside.

By the time I stepped out, the mirror was fogged over, my reflection nothing more than a blur. Maybe that was for the best. I dried off quickly, throwing on a clean black shirt and dark jeans, my movements practiced, and then walked down the stairs as I needed to get out before the silence of my own home swallowed me whole. I ran a hand through my damp hair and headed for the door, stepping back into the night.

The minute I stepped into the Royal Garden, I sensed it, the energy thrumming in the air, the soft murmur of voices carried by the wind, the faint scent of wine and fresh blooms mixing with the salt of the sea.

Rou’s laughter rang out, loud and unrestrained, cutting through the night like a blade. It was a welcomed distraction, something grounding amidst the weight pressing against my chest. I followed the sound, stepping past towering hedges and lantern-lit pathways, the warm glow of firelight flickering ahead.

As I rounded the corner, eyes turned to me, some with expectation, others with familiarity. Beta Spark leaned against a stone column, arms crossed, watching me with that knowing look he always had. Enforcer Wave was at his side, gesturing wildly as he spoke, probably in the middle of some ridiculous story. General Tiger and Ralph sat near the fountain, engaged in quiet conversation, while Commander Flora and Rita shared a bottle of wine, their laughter weaving softly into the night air.

Then there was Rou.

He was perched on the edge of a wooden bench, a smirk on his face, eyes bright with amusement as he elbowed Troy Mortas, who merely shook his head in exasperation. Mac Mortas sat nearby, silent as always, his presence as solid as the stone around us. And at the far end of the gathering, Commander Belle Morta stood with her back to the entrance, arms folded as she listened to someone speak, her posture unyielding, strong.

For a moment, I just stood there, taking it all in. The laughter, the ease of conversation, the undeniable sense of belonging. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to join them, to shake off the lingering ache that clung to me. But for now, just being here was enough.

Rou caught sight of me first, his grin widening. "Finally decided to crawl out of your cave, huh?"

I huffed, shaking my head as I stepped forward. "Figured I should make sure you hadn’t driven everyone insane in my absence."

Laughter rippled through the group, and just like that, the weight on my shoulders eased, if only for a little while.