BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 258: ROLAN’S TRUE FACE

Chapter 258: ROLAN’S TRUE FACE

{ "In you, I’ve found the love of my life and my closest, truest friend."

The air was thick with the scent of pine, earth, and the unmistakable undercurrent of power as we crossed deeper into the heart of the Bay Shifter pack’s territory. The land here felt like it was in a constant state of transformation, wild yet welcoming. As we reached the towering gates of Wolf Wake Manor, the estate’s imposing structure loomed ahead, standing tall against the backdrop of the jagged mountains. It felt ancient, its stone walls weathered by time, but still alive with the pulse of the land itself.

I exhaled deeply; my senses owere verwhelmed by the sheer scale of the place. Freyr stood beside me, his presence a steadying force as we approached the entrance, where the manor’s servants waited to greet us.

"You’ll be comfortable here," Freyr said, his voice low and soothing as he looked over the sprawling grounds. "This is where we’ll rest for now."

I nodded, though I could not shake the unease twisting in my stomach. There was so much happening all at once—the weight of new beginnings, the unfamiliarity of Bay Shifter pack lands, and the quiet pull I felt toward the mountains. It was like stepping into a future I could not see, but I knew it was where we needed to be.

The staff led us inside, and I was immediately struck by the elegant simplicity of the manor’s interior. Rich, dark wood adorned the floors and ceilings, while large windows let in the soft, natural light. The place was quiet, peaceful in a way that made me feel like we were intruding, though I knew that was not the case.

Rolan and I were shown to our quarters spacious, with a large bed and a beautiful view of the surrounding forest. It was not much, but in this place, it felt like home. The call of the mountains lingered, even here, a reminder that we had arrived at a pivotal point in our journey.

"You’re quiet," Rolan said as he sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes studying me. "Thinking about something?"

I hesitated before answering, unsure of how to voice the unsettled feeling that had settled deep in my chest. "I am just... processing it all. This place. The land. It feels so different from what I know."

"It’s the same for all of us," he said, his voice gentle. "But this is where we need to be. Trust that it will all fall into place."

I smiled faintly at him, appreciating his calm. "I do trust you, Rolan. I just, I do not know if I am ready for what comes next."

"You’ll be ready," he said firmly, his hand reaching out to take mine. "We’ll do this together."

After a few moments of quiet, the servants came to inform us that Beta Spark was expecting us in the Royal Garden. I nodded and stood, grateful for the opportunity to clear my head, even if just for a moment.

The steam curled around us in thick, warm tendrils as I leaned my head against the tiled wall of the shower, letting the water cascade over my skin. The journey had taken its toll, and his moment of silence, warmth, and the steady rhythm of falling water felt like a small luxury in a world that rarely paused.

Rolan stepped in behind me, his body heat a stark contrast to the water, and instinctively, I leaned into him. His arms slid around my waist, grounding me. There was something different in his touch tonight, more hesitant, more certain, all at once.

I turned slowly in his arms, lifting my gaze to meet his.

"What is it?" I asked, brushing damp hair from his brow. "You’ve been quiet."

His throat bobbed as he swallowed. "There’s something I want to show you," he said softly, voice barely above a whisper. "The real me."

I blinked, confused at first. "You’ve always been real to me."

"No," he said, shaking his head gently. "You have seen the version I allowed the world to see. The version masked by safety and fear. But if we are going to live together... if we are bound, heart and soul, you deserve to see all of me."

I stilled as he stepped back slightly, lifting his hands to his face. His eyes fluttered closed. I felt it then, not of muscle or bone like a full transformation, but a shimmer that rippled through the air, through his magic, through his very presence. And then, the illusion fell. The lines of his face sharpened, his jaw stronger, cheekbones carved as if by divine intention. His skin, flawless and golden-bronzed, caught the soft light. Hair darker than obsidian fell just past his ears, slightly curled at the ends, wet and wild from the shower. But it was his eyes that struck me silver and stormy, glowing faintly like moonlight through mist. Timeless. Unapologetically powerful.

I could not breathe, and he stood still under the water, letting it bead and roll down the sculpted lines of his body, his expression unreadable, guarded, uncertain.

"This... is who I am," he said quietly. "The true face of the Rogourau heir. The one hidden for generations. The one I have kept buried to protect my kin. And now, I will show it to you... because you are my mate."

My hand moved before I could speak. I touched his cheek, and he leaned into the contact like he had been starved of it his whole life.

"Rolan..." I whispered, breath catching. "You are... the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen."

He exhaled, a breath trembling with relief. "And you’re mine," I added, wrapping my arms around him, pulling him into me. "Every version of you. This one, especially this one."

His lips crashed into mine with a hunger that scorched me from the inside out. The water streamed around us, but I barely felt it. Only him. Only this truth. Only our bond, finally unveiled.

His kiss deepened, no longer filled with uncertainty, but with the certainty of a man who had unmasked himself and been seen and accepted. My back met the cool tile, and still, he held me as if I were precious, as if I were something sacred, he had only just earned the right to touch. My fingers traced the curve of his jaw, now unshadowed by illusion, and I felt him tremble beneath my touch. I had seen strength in many forms on battlefields, in magic, in blood—but this... this vulnerability, this raw unveiling of soul and self... It was the rarest kind of strength.

His forehead rested against mine, our breaths mingling.

The silence stretched, soft and golden, cradled in the steam and the pulse of warm water. It was a silence that did not demand words, only presence.

His fingers slid along my waist, memorizing the curve of me. I cupped the back of his neck, drawing him back to me, needing to taste that truth on his lips again. He kissed me slower this ti,me less fire, more reverence. A quiet devotion that anchored us in the here and now.

When we finally pulled apart, our skin kissed with droplets, his silver gaze searched mine. "Qadira," he said, voice rough with emotion, "You see me... in a way no one ever has. Even before this bond. You chose me."

"I did," I said softly, my hands resting on his chest, right over the steady beat of his heart. "And I’d do it again, every time."

He took my hand and pressed it to his lips. "Then let me promise you this. No matter the storm that comes, no matter what the world thinks of who we are, I will never stop fighting for you. For us."

I felt the weight of his vow settle deep in my bones. It was not made of obligation or instinct, it came from love. From soul-bonded certainty. I leaned in and kissed his heart, right where it beat under my palm.

"Then we stand together," I whispered, "until the end of all things."

We eventually stepped out of the shower, steam still curling around us like a secret veil. I wrapped myself in one of the soft, ivory towels, and Rolan did the same, the water still clinging to his skin in glistening beads. I glanced at him as he stood near the mirror, his true face reflected unguarded, striking, and undeniably real.

He caught me staring, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. "Still staring?"

"Shamelessly," I said, smirking as I pulled a brush through my damp hair. "You’ll have to get used to it."

"I think I could survive that," he murmured, watching me in the mirror with a quiet reverence.

I moved to stand beside him, reaching for his hand. "You do not have to shift back, you know. Not here. Not with me."

His fingers curled around mine. "I know. But once we step out there... into politics and expectations... they will have questions."

"We’ll face them together," I said, pressing a kiss to his bare shoulder. "Let them ask. Let them wonder. We will give them answers when we are ready."

He nodded, his gaze holding mine for a beat longer. Then he exhaled, steadying himself, and reached for the clothes we had set aside before the shower: simple travel gear, fitted tunics, and layered fabrics with the elegance of Paradise Coven and the practicality of the mountains.

As we dressed in silence, I glanced out the window. Beyond the curtain of mist that still clung to the early afternoon air, Wolf Wake Manor stood nestled like a jewel within the mountains. Strong, grounded, ancient.

I turned to Rolan, adjusting the leather cuff on his wrist. "You ready?"

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "I am, as long as you’re with me."

We left the room hand in hand; our fingers still damp but firmly entwined. As we stepped into the quiet halls of the manor, I felt a shift not just in the magic that hummed faintly beneath the stones, but in us. In this new Chapter. In this way, our truths no longer need hiding.

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