BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 31: BACK IN BAY SHIFTER PACK

Chapter 31: BACK IN BAY SHIFTER PACK

ALPHA TOR’S POV

My jaw dropped as Freyr announced, without a shred of hesitation, that he had told his mother about us. The words seemed to echo in the room, heavy with implications I was unprepared to unpack. The Kayne Vampire family was not just powerful, they were a force to be reckoned with. Their influence stretched far beyond Paradise Bay. And Sierra Kayne? Her reputation as a vampire who demanded fear and respect was well-earned.

I gawked at Freyr, unable to mask my shock. Whatever expression I wore must have been priceless because he burst into laughter, the sound rich and unbothered by the storm he had just unleashed on me.

Before I could even process his amusement, he leaned forward, his voice low but brimming with a conspiratorial air. "Her powers of smell are unmatched in the Paradise Bay coven," he said, matter-of-factly. "It is an Odme trait—an ability only the women of her bloodline possess. The day we parted last, she picked up the scent because...well, I drank your blood."

I froze, my breath hitching. "She knows because of that?"

Freyr nodded, his sharp features betraying nothing but calm certainty. "The scent is unique. There is no hiding it from her."

I stared at him, struggling to find my voice. "And what... what did she say?"

He hesitated a brief flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, before finally answering. "She told me that the day before my father, Lord Kayne, was found dead, he came home reeking of the same scent."

The room tilted. I sat upright, my heart racing as his words settled over me like a suffocating shroud. "What?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

Freyr’s gaze held mine, unflinching. "That is what she said. And when I argued that it was not possible, you have only just awakened, and there is no one else like you, she insisted. My mother is never wrong about scents."

A cold chill crept over me as I tried to piece the puzzle together. "So, what does that mean? How are you going to mask the scent from the other vampires now that you already fed from me?"

A faint smile tugged at Freyr’s lips, a shadow of humor in an otherwise somber moment. "We have ways. The Kayne family uses scented incense that can mask anything and that means I must go to Ma once I leave Hanka Island."

I could not help but chuckle, the sound sharp and it came from the bottom of my stomach "Your family. They are not as simple as everyone thinks, are they? No wonder Lord Marcel was so worried."

Freyr’s smile faded, his expression turning contemplative. "Really?" Frey responded "Lord Marcel has no reason to be worried as we have stayed away from the Coven business for years.

"I suspect there’s another spy in the Bay Shifter coven feeding him information." Freyr’s eyes narrowed slightly as if assessing my words. I gave a curt nod, continuing, "And just so you know, we also have a spy in the Paradise Vampire Coven. I have already sent word to withdraw him."

His brow lifted in mild surprise. "Why would you pull him out now?"

The question hung between us, but I had my answer ready. "Because I believe he’s playing both sides," I said sharply. There was no room for doubt when it came to betrayal.

Freyr gave a slow, measured nod. "Fair enough," he replied, but then his expression shifted. He leaned back slightly, his voice laced with a hint of warning. "I told Lord Marcel I’d give him feedback soon," he admitted, and then his lips curled into a smirk that did not reach his eyes. "But he is no fool. He will figure out soon enough that we have met."

His words landed like a stone in my chest. That sense of protectiveness I often tried to temper surged to the surface. "Tell him you spotted me in the caves near Hanka Island," I said quickly, the plan forming in my mind as I spoke. "Then add that I am heading to Bay Shifter in a week. That should buy us enough time to prepare my people to receive you."

Freyr’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he shook his head in clear refusal. "No. That’s too risky for you."

I stepped closer, my voice urgent. "Freyr, it is the only way to keep you out of danger. Do you trust me?"

He hesitated, his resolve wavering as his eyes searched mine. "You’re too stubborn for your old," he muttered under his breath, but his tone lacked real bite.

I turned away, already standing up as I dressed, and he followed suit. I then folded all the fur blankets and hid them in a hole by the corner to ensure I left no trace of us. As I turned around, I could not help but glance back at Freyr. He stood there, a figure of calm strength amidst the storm swirling around us, but I knew the danger we were courting would not spare either of us.

"We’ll do this my way," I said finally, my voice steady despite the maelstrom within. "It’s the only way to keep us both safe and be one step ahead of the people who plan to harm me." Freyr exhaled, a sound caught between resignation and frustration, but he did not argue further.

We stepped out of the cave into the crisp evening air, the sound of the nearby waterfall beckoning us. Without a word, we made our way there, the silence between us heavy but comfortable. As the cool water washed away the remnants of the day, I could not help but feel the weight of what was coming.

Now, we stood at the edge of the beach, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the waves. This was it, the moment I dreaded. Freyr’s jaw was tight, his frustration barely concealed. I knew exactly how he felt. Parting ways was never easy for us, no matter how many times we had done it.

"I hate this," I muttered, kicking a stray shell into the sand.

Freyr turned to me, his gaze intense and unreadable. Without a word, he stepped forward and pulled me into his arms. His embrace was strong, warm, and brief, like he was trying to pour everything he could not say into that single moment.

"Stay safe," he murmured, his voice low and rough. Then, just as quickly, he released me and turned away, walking toward the water.

I watched as he strode into the waves without hesitation, his figure disappearing beneath the surface like a ghost returning to the sea. My heart ached, and anger bubbled just beneath the surface, not at him, but at the impossible situation we were in.

For a long moment, I just stood there, staring at the spot where he vanished, lost in my thoughts. Every part of me screamed to follow him, but I knew I could not. Not now.

By the time I left Hanka Island, darkness had fallen, casting the world in deep shades of blue and black. The journey back to Bay Shifter pack was quiet, but the storm brewing inside me was anything but.

When I finally arrived, my mood was foul, my anger a roaring fire. The sight of the familiar pack lands did nothing to calm me. If anything, it only reminded me of how unfair this all was of the decisions forced upon us, of the danger always lurking just out of sight. As I stomped toward my quarters, I could not help but mutter under my breath, "This situation is fucked up."

The tension in my chest was suffocating, and by the time I reached the royal garden, I knew there was only one way to clear my head. Without hesitation, I shifted into my Lycan form. The transformation was seamless, my body lengthening, muscles tightening, and senses sharpening as Gale, my Lycan wolf, surged forward.

The cold night air bit at my fur as I moved swiftly, the damp earth under my paws grounding me. The deep forest of Bay Shifter lands loomed ahead, dark and inviting, promising solitude. I pushed forward, the rhythmic pounding of my paws against the ground a temporary balm to my restless mind.

"You know it well," Gale’s voice pierced my thoughts, low and insistent.

I huffed, my pace quickening as I tried to ignore him. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

He scoffed, his tone dripping with exasperation. "Do not play dumb with me, Tor. Freyr Kane is our mate. You know it as well as I do."

The name hit me like a blow, and my stride faltered for a moment before I recovered. I did not respond immediately, the ache in my chest flaring at the mention of Freyr. Gale, of course, did not let up.

"Marking him and leaving him was not easy for either of us. Pretending otherwise does not change anything." Gale scolded.

I growled softly, weaving between the towering trees as the cold wind whipped around us. "It is not that simple, Gale. Being with him puts him in danger and of course, he will be in danger if he comes to the Bay shifter pack.

Gale fell silent for a moment, but his presence in my mind was as steady as ever. Finally, he spoke again, quieter this time. "Staying angry will not help. The pack will notice, and if someone presses further, they will realize sooner or later that you keep disappearing to Hanka Island and will have us followed. Then our mate will be in real danger "

His words hit their mark, and I slowed to a trot, the fire of my anger simmering down to a low burn. I knew he was right. My foul mood was not just mine to bear—it carried consequences far beyond myself. Stopping near a clearing, I lifted my head, letting the cold wind wash over me. It carried the familiar scent of pine and earth, grounding me once more.

"I just" I trailed off, unsure how to finish the thought.

Gale filled the silence, his voice softer now. "I know, Tor. I feel it too. "

I exhaled, the tension in my shoulders easing just slightly. "You’re right," I admitted grudgingly, the words bitter on my tongue. For now, I would bury the ache and push forward. Freyr’s safety depended on it, and I could not afford to falter.

With a final glance at the moonlit forest around me, I turned back toward the pack lands, the weight in my chest a little lighter but still ever-present.