BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 72: FENNEL’S DOWNFALL

Chapter 72: FENNEL’S DOWNFALL

{"When your outgo exceeds your income, the upshot may be your downfall"}

"What?" Fennel fumbled over his words, his confidence cracking like fragile glass.

I stood still, waiting, my expression unreadable. Inside, Kayne, my beast, was already on high alert, coiled and ready to strike at the slightest provocation. His presence hummed beneath my skin, an untamed force of nature, waiting.

Fennel took a step back, and I felt it, the subtle shift of his energy as he attempted to push his hybrid beast’s power into me, searching, demanding. But I did not yield. I stood as solid as a mountain, raising a single brow in challenge.

Again, he tried. And again, he failed.

Nothing.

A low chuckle rumbled in my chest as realization dawned. "How curious," I mused, tilting my head slightly. "How come you are unable to awaken my wolf, Fennel?" I let my words hang in the air, letting their weight sink in. "That means..." I took a step closer, watching as his jaw tensed, "you are not my mate."

The growl that tore from his throat was sharp with frustration. His hybrid beast flared, a surge of raw power radiating from him as he made one final attempt—his mind pushing against mine, desperate to break through.

But Kayne’s stone barrier was impenetrable.

"Impossible." The word slipped from his lips in a breathless murmur, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No one can resist my powers."

A bubble of laughter escaped me, light and effortless. I even mustered a fake smile, just for him. "You forget something, Fennel," I said smoothly, my voice laced with quiet amusement. "I was born a Gale. Only a powerful shifter wolf has the strength to awaken my wolf."

I turned on my heel, prepared to leave, dismissing him with my actions alone.

But Fennel lunged.

His fingers stretched out, an inch away from grabbing me—.

Then a blur of motion. Tor came out of nowhere. His claws sliced through Fennel’s hand in a brutal arc. A strangled hiss of pain left Fennel’s lips as he staggered back, clutching his wounded hand in shock. Blood trickled between his fingers; the scent sharp in the cold air. Tor stepped in front of me, his golden eyes burning with unrestrained fury. His presence was a storm, dangerous and unwavering.

"Fennel," his voice was deceptively calm, laced with a deadly edge, "are you going against the rules set for this challenge?"

The entire training ground fell into absolute silence.

"He is unable to awaken my wolf," I declared, my voice cutting through the stunned silence like a blade.

For a heartbeat, there was nothing. Then, the training ground erupted into chaos.

Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire. Pack members turned to one another, their voices rising in accusatory tones as fingers pointed at Fennel. The uproar was deafening.

"He claimed he was strong enough to win her over!" someone shouted.

"Lies! He wanted power, not a bond!" another spat.

"If he cannot awaken her wolf, then he has no right to claim her!"

Fennel’s face darkened, his hybrid beast raging beneath his skin. His wounded hand trembled, blood still dripping onto the dirt, but the real wound was to his pride. His confidence, once a blazing fire, flickered under the weight of the crowd’s scrutiny.

Tor didn’t move from his protective stance before me, his golden eyes locked onto Fennel with quiet, simmering fury. I crossed my arms, tilting my head slightly. Let him drown in his failure.

"Well?" I asked, my voice dripping with challenge. "Do you have anything to say for yourself, Fennel? Or shall we consider this matter settled? I will only take a mate that will awaken wolf no matter how long it takes "

"I concede," Fennel spoke at last, but his words lacked conviction. His voice was hollow, his body stiff with barely restrained rage.

His eyes locked onto mine, blazing with unspoken threats. He thought this was over. He thought I would let him walk away.

I lifted my chin, regarding him with measured calm. Not yet.

"Even though my wolf was not awakened by you," I said loud enough for all to hear, "there is something wrong with you, Fennel."

A ripple of unease moved through the crowd. Fennel’s smirk faltered, and for the first time, uncertainty flickered in his golden eyes.

I took a step forward, keeping my voice steady. "Your powers—they are not normal. And there is something... crawling inside your mind link."

Fennel flinched. He recovered quickly, but I saw it—the brief flicker of shock, the twitch in his fingers.

A deep growl rumbled from Tor, raw and primal. The force of it sent a tremor through the training grounds, and Fennel fell to his knees, gasping as his body buckled in submission.

General Tiger surged forward, taking his place beside Tor, his stance rigid, his sharp eyes locked on Fennel, ready for an attack.

Fennel’s body twitched violently. His golden eyes burned with an unnatural light, and he clenched his jaw as if fighting something inside himself. Then, with a sudden burst of defiance, he tried to rise—.

Tor didn’t let him. With the full force of his Alpha dominance, Tor pushed his power into Fennel.

A roar tore from Fennel’s throat, raw and agonized. Blood oozed from his ears and mouth, thick and dark, dripping onto the ground as his body convulsed.

"We need to get rid of the bloodstone bugs in his mind link," I pushed the words through to Tor in our mating mind link, my urgency clear. Tor’s head snapped toward me, his golden eyes meeting mine. Understanding passed between us in an instant. "Show everyone what he truly is."

Tor must have made his decision as a deep, guttural growl ripped through his chest as his body shuddered, bones cracking and reforming with sheer power. Within seconds, his Lycan form emerged, towering, majestic, and terrifying. His thick, dark fur gleamed under the training ground’s torches, his golden eyes burning like molten fire.

The crowd fell into stunned silence. Even those who had doubted him moments ago now watched in awe, their instincts forcing them into submission before their Alpha’s raw dominance.

Fennel let out a strangled gasp, his trembling body still wracked by the effects of Tor’s power. His eyes flickered wildly, the unnatural golden glow struggling against whatever force held him captive. His hands clawed at the ground as if trying to steady himself, but his body betrayed him, convulsing, blood still seeping from his ears and mouth.

Tor took a single step forward, and the sheer weight of his presence sent another wave of energy through the ground. Fennel groaned, his body slumping, but I could see it, his beast fighting back. Something was festering inside him, twisting him into something unnatural. Tor’s massive Lycan form let out a low snarl, his eyes never leaving Fennel.

I could feel Tor’s power surging, thick, and suffocating, wrapping around the training grounds like an unseen force. His Lycan wolf growled again, a deep, resonant sound that sent shivers through the air.

Fennel let out a strangled cry as his body twisted, writhing in pain. He fought against it, his hybrid beast clawing desperately for control, but he was no match for a Gale. The ground trembled beneath us as if the realm itself acknowledged Tor’s dominance. Gasps and murmurs spread through the pack, their disbelief tangible.

And then—one by one—they emerged.

Black, writhing creatures poured from Fennel’s nose and mouth, their slick bodies glistening in the dim light. The bloodstone bugs. Dozens of them squirmed onto the dirt, their grotesque, unnatural forms twitching as if resisting death itself. Tiger wasted no time. With a sharp snarl, he stepped forward, his blade flashing in the air. One by one, he struck them down, crushing each foul creature beneath his steel. The sound of chitin snapping echoed through the training grounds, followed by silence. I kept my gaze locked on Fennel, watching as the last of the infestation left his body. His chest heaved, his eyes bloodshot, but there was still something lurking behind them.

"You need to make sure his wolf submits," I pushed the words through to Tor, our mind link humming with urgency.

Tor’s response was instant. With lightning-fast precision, his massive Lycan form lunged. His clawed hand wrapped around Fennel’s throat, lifting him off the ground with ease. Fennel gasped, his limbs jerking as he struggled for air. His fingers clawed at Tor’s grip, but it was useless. Tor’s hold was absolute.

A moment passed. Then another. The entire pack held its breath. Finally, a strangled whisper rasped through Fennel’s lips. "I... submit... to you, Alpha Tor Gale."

A weight lifted from the air as if an unspoken battle had come to an end. The moment those words were spoken, Fennel’s body went slack, his wolf finally bowing to the inevitable.

Tor’s growl rumbled through the training grounds like thunder, sending a clear message of dominance. His golden eyes burned with raw authority as he towered over the pack, his Lycan form still radiating power.

"I will not allow anyone to betray the Bay Shifter Pack." His voice was edged with finality, leaving no room for argument. "Take him to the jail cell and lock him up where his family is."

The enforcers moved without hesitation.

Fennel let out a weak snarl, but it was nothing more than a pitiful sound. His body sagged as the enforcers grabbed his arms and dragged him across the dirt, his boots scraping against the ground. The pack watched in silent awe, murmurs rippling through them like waves.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the tension settle. The power shift was complete. Fennel was no longer a threat.

Tor remained still for a moment, his Lycan wolf towering over the pack, his presence alone a reminder of why he was Alpha. Then, with a deep breath, he shifted back into his human form his expression unreadable, his strength still palpable.

Tiger stepped forward, his sharp gaze sweeping over the pack members. "Let this be a lesson," he declared, his voice carrying weight. "Loyalty to the pack is everything. Betrayal will not be tolerated."

I glanced at Tor, our mind link humming softly between us. He didn’t need to speak, I already knew what he was thinking.