BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 148: HONORING ALTHEA GALE

Chapter 148: HONORING ALTHEA GALE

{"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."}

I took a slow breath, steadying myself. This wasn’t just an announcement. It was a wound, one I was about to open for all of us. I cleared my throat and met their gazes, my voice calm but firm. "I wish I had returned with lighter news." My words hung in the air for a moment before I continued. "But we lost someone important."

A ripple of unease passed through the group. Some shifted in their seats. Others held their breath.

"Althea Gale has passed," I said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "She rests now in Hanka Island, as was her wish. And though she is gone, she will not be forgotten."

Wave lowered his head, his usual smirk absent. Spark let out a slow exhale, his fingers tightening around his forearm. Even Rou, who always had something to say, remained silent.

"She gave everything for this pack," I continued, my voice growing stronger. "For our people, for our future. And we must honor her. A ceremony will be held in the heart of Bay Shifter land, one that will mark her legacy, her sacrifice, and the life she dedicated to us."

Commander Flora nodded solemnly. Rita reached for her hand, squeezing it in quiet understanding. General Tiger’s expression remained unreadable, but I knew him well enough to recognize the weight in his eyes.

"We will carve her name into the stones of our history," I said, my voice unwavering. "Her name will be spoken, not in mourning, but in honor."

"This is not the end of her story," I promised. "It is our responsibility to make sure her spirit lives on in our strength, in our unity, in the way we fight for what she believed in." Silence followed, but it wasn’t empty. It was filled with understanding. With grief. With the weight of remembrance.

Then, Rou placed a hand on my shoulder. Not for show, not for words, just a solid, quiet reminder that I wasn’t carrying this alone.

I exhaled, my fingers curling into fists before relaxing again. "We will honor her. We will remember her."

The moment the weight of Althea’s passing settled over the gathering, Spark stepped forward, his expression sharp, all business. His usual easy smirk was absent, replaced by the hardened look of a Beta who had carried the pack’s burdens in my absence.

"Alpha," he said with a respectful nod. "While you were away, we’ve kept everything running as smoothly as possible, but there have been... developments."

I crossed my arms, bracing myself. "Go on."

His gaze flicked to the others before settling back on me. "Security has been tightened across the entire territory. We’ve doubled patrols along the northern and western borders, and we’ve reinforced the perimeter along the cliffs to make sure there are no vulnerabilities."

I gave a short nod. "And the border enforcements?"

"We stationed extra sentinels at the main entry points," Spark continued, his voice even. "Anyone trying to pass through without clearance is intercepted immediately. So far, no threats, but I don’t like if means we’re safe."

I grunted in agreement. "We aren’t."

He nodded, clearly expecting my answer before he moved on. "The Rogourau Pack has extended their assistance. They’ve assigned warriors to help us monitor the borders, the beach waters, and the caves of Hanka Island," Spark explained. "They know the terrain better than anyone. If something or someone tries to move through undetected, they’ll find it."

I took a moment to absorb it all: the strengthened borders, the reinforcements, the extra eyes on Hanka Island. It was good. It was necessary.

I met Spark’s gaze. "And internally? Any unrest?"

His smirk faded. "Some. A few whispers about what’s next, about leadership, about whether you’ll stay." His eyes didn’t waver. "They need to hear it from you, Tor."

A muscle in my jaw tightened. Of course, they did. They needed more than protection. They needed reassurance.

I dragged a hand through my hair and exhaled. "Then I’ll make sure they get it."

Spark gave a short nod of approval. "Good."

I glanced at the other: Rou, Wave, Flora, and the Mortas siblings. They were waiting, watching. Ready to move forward. "Anything else?" I asked, shifting my focus back to Spark.

His gaze darkened slightly. "Just one thing. We found tracks near the eastern cliffs. Faint. Someone was watching, but they left before we could pinpoint who."

I tensed, my instincts sharpening. "How long ago?"

"Two nights." I held his gaze, understanding passing between us. Whoever it was, they were testing us. Watching for weaknesses.

"Keep the patrols tight," I ordered. "We don’t let anything slip past us."

Spark nodded. "Understood."

Rou narrated what happened since we left bay shifter pack, the Haven cave of Ragar mountain, the blessings the guardian offered me, into Paradise Coven where they we encountered a secret vampire army, us getting to Paradise Coven and then going into Hanka Island to hide while Rou was captured and jailed in the Paradise Coven jail. How Rou discovered the evil that was residing in Bloodstone Mountain and he escaped and rushed to Hanka Island to inform Tor. Sneaking back into Paradise coven and then bidding Freyr goodbye as he made plans to go to BBloodstonemountain. By the time Rou was down, everyone’s faces were filled with fury.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. "I came back," I began, my voice firm, cutting through the stillness, "not because the war is over, but because we need to be ready for what comes next."

A few exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. I met each gaze steadily, making sure they understood. "I’m waiting for word from Frery. He’s still deep within the Paradise Coven, gathering the last pieces of what we need to know. If he finds anything, we’ll act. But until then, we stay on high alert, especially when it comes to Blood Stone Mountain."

Wave crossed his arms, frowning. "You think something is waking up in that place?"

Rou was the one who responded. "I know there is." Rou had already told them about what he’d heard in the Paradise Coven prison, about the whispers of something dark stirring beneath the mountain. But now, hearing it from me, it became real.

"We don’t wait for it to come to us," I continued. "We prepare. We strengthen our borders, double the guards on the coastline, and most importantly" I paused, my eyes hardening, " we root out the traitors hiding among us."

"You all know that Lily and Sam Crest sold us out," I continued. "For how long, I don’t know yet. But what I do know is that they’ve been feeding information to outside forces. Crest has been working behind the scenes, making quiet alliances where he shouldn’t. And Lily?" My voice dropped into a growl. "She’s been lying to us all and is now in the Paradise Bay coven.

"Someone needs to drag them back to Shifter lands and have them beheaded, "Spark responded, and then he added, "The Colbat family is still hiding in Sagstone mountain."

I responded, my voice carrying the full force of my command. "From this moment on, Lily and Crest are no longer part of the Bay Shifter Pack. They are traitors. If they show their faces here again, they will be treated as such. As for the Colbat, they will show their faces sooner or later."

Rou’s gaze met mine, and there was something fierce in his eyes, approval, maybe even a bit of satisfaction." The pack needs to understand what is going on."

Flora’s arms were crossed, her sharp gaze flicking between me and the others. The firelight caught the streak of silver in her dark hair, making her look even more formidable than usual.

She exhaled slowly, then nodded. "You’re right, Tor," she said, her voice firm but thoughtful. "The pack needs to know. We can’t keep them in the dark any longer."

I remained silent, watching her. Flora had always been measured, never one to speak without thinking first. If she had come to this conclusion, it meant she had weighed every risk, every consequence.

She turned to the others. "We’re not just dealing with internal betrayal," she continued, her tone commanding. "We have a potential war on our hands. Blood Stone Mountain isn’t just a looming threat—it’s a ticking bomb. And if we don’t act fast, we’ll be fighting blind."

Tiger shifted beside her, arms crossed over his broad chest. "So, what are you suggesting?"

Flora didn’t hesitate. "An emergency meeting. Tomorrow. Commanders and generals. We lay it all out, everything we know, everything we don’t know. If we’re going to defend this pack, we need to be united. No more secrets."

A few nods followed. Even Spark, who had been silent up until now, rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "It’s the best move," he admitted. "The pack’s on edge. They feel something brewing. If we don’t address it, we risk losing their trust."

I let out a slow breath, nodding. "Agreed."

Rou, who had been lounging against a tree, finally spoke. "Good. Because keeping quiet isn’t an option anymore." His usual smirk was absent, replaced by something far more serious. "They deserve the truth."

Flora met my gaze. "Then it’s settled. Tomorrow morning, we will meet." I held her stare for a long moment before nodding.

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