BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 77: DINNER AT THE BOLTS

Chapter 77: DINNER AT THE BOLTS

By late afternoon the next day, we gathered at the pack office, Wave, Flora, Tiger, Freyr, and I where we gave Tor a full briefing on everything that had transpired. His eyes blazed with fury as he absorbed the revelations, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"Hali is leading us into a trap," I stated, my voice steady despite the unease in my gut. "I guess that the Colbat’s have someone guarding it in the mountains. They might even be controlling the beasts to ensure no one gets through."

Tor exhaled sharply, his gaze dark with thought. Before he could respond, Freyr spoke up. "Isn’t this the mountain that holds the gold?"

We all nodded in confirmation. Freyr’s expression turned grave as he recounted a story. "One of the Coven council members, Elder Dante, an old friend of my late father, once sneaked into Blood Stone Mountain. He discovered the bloodstone bug nest, which was being fed with gold."

Silence stretched across the room as the weight of his words settled over us.

"But Paradise Bay doesn’t have a gold mine," Wave pointed out, narrowing his eyes.

"Exactly," Freyr said. "Which means the gold had to have come from Bay Shifter Pack. That would mean someone has been transporting gold from our lands to Paradise Coven... the same way the bloodstone bugs were brought here."

Tor’s expression was set with determination as he spoke. "Freyr, Tiger, and I will leave for the mountains tonight. No one will suspect anything if we go while you, Wave, and Flora remain behind to guard the pack. We’ll be back before dawn."

I frowned my instincts immediately on edge. "That’s too risky. If Hali’s leading us into a trap, you’ll be walking straight into it with only three people."

Tor’s eyes met mine, unwavering. "That’s exactly why we need to go in small numbers. A larger group will draw attention, and we can’t afford to tip them off before we know what we’re dealing with."

Wave exhaled sharply but nodded. "Just be careful. If anything feels off, retreat. We’ll be ready if you need backup." I wasn’t convinced, but Tor had already made up his mind. Clenching my jaw, I gave a firm nod. "Then let’s make sure this mission counts."

Late in the evening, we bid Tor, Freyr, and Tiger goodbye before heading to Wave’s home for dinner. Flora had mentioned that Crystal Astor, Tiger’s mother, would be joining us, and I couldn’t shake the nerves building in my chest. This was my first dinner at Wave’s home since we had mated.

Before leaving, I walked over to the cabinet and retrieved a small box—inside lay a relic passed down through generations, a mating gift from Tor to Wave. Two rings, forged in the depths of Ragar Mountain, embedded with the crystals of our ancestors. A perfect pair—one night, one moon—symbolizes balance and unity. Ragar Mountain was part of the Gale family lands, and this heirloom had always represented unbreakable bonds. The moment Tor entrusted it to me, I felt both honored and hopeful that Wave’s family would see it as a gesture of respect.

I slipped the box into my coat pocket just as Wave opened the door. With a deep breath, we stepped out into the cool evening air.

The scent of roasted meat and potatoes drifted through the night as we neared Wave’s home. A grin spread across his face as he inhaled deeply. "My Ma must have gone out of her way to impress you," he murmured, amusement in his voice.

Flora greeted us at the door, ushering us inside where Mercury and Crystal were already seated in the living room. The moment they saw us; they stood in greeting.

"Welcome, Beta Spark."

Heat crept up my neck at the formal address, and I rubbed the back of it sheepishly. "Elder Mercury, Elder Crystal, thank you for the warm welcome. Please, just call me Spark."

They beamed at my words, and then Elder Mercury stepped forward, grasping both of our hands in hers. Her eyes, warm with emotion, met mine as she spoke.

"I am glad that the two of you are mated. You have my blessings. You must love and take care of each other always as mating is a blessing from the moon goddess "

"Thank you, Ma," Wave murmured, his cheeks tinged pink.

Flora’s excited cheer nearly deafened us, prompting Mercury to scold her. Flora only grinned in response and announced that dinner was ready.

We gathered around the table for a hearty meal, laughter, and warmth filling the room. Mercury blushed when I complimented her cooking, and Flora puffed up with pride.

"My mother is the best cook," she boasted.

Elder Crystal chuckled, nodding in agreement. "I only wish my son would find his mate already, but he’s a stubborn mule. Though I did hear that during training, he showed some interest in your cousin, Freya."

Her words sent a shockwave through the table—Flora, Wave, and I all choked on our food simultaneously. Mercury sighed, shaking her head as she patted Elder Crystal’s arm.

"Forget it. That lass Freya already has a mate," she said, then shot me a knowing wink.

A shiver ran down my spine. I rubbed the back of my neck, shifting uncomfortably.

Wave leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "My mother has the third eye of a seer. There’s no way Freyr fooled her with that disguise."

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral as we returned to our meal. The conversation drifted to lighter topics, and later, we settled into the living room for a chat.

After a while, I took a deep breath and stood, pulling Wave up with me. The three women turned their wide eyes toward us, curiosity etched across their faces.

Reaching into my coat pocket, I pulled out the small box and held it out toward Wave. "This is a family heirloom," I said, my voice steady despite the emotion tightening my chest. "I give it to you, Wave, as a mating and betrothal ring."

I opened the box, revealing the two rings inside. "These rings, forged in the depths of Ragar Mountain, are embedded with the crystals of our ancestors. A perfect pair—one night, one moon—symbolizes balance and unity. I hope you’ll accept this and be with me forever."

With care, I took one ring, grasped Wave’s hand, and slid it onto his finger.

A sniffle echoed through the room. When I glanced up, Mercury, Crystal, and Flora were grinning through tear-filled eyes.

Turning my gaze back to Wave, my breath hitched at the love shining in his expression. His eyes glistened as he lifted the second ring from the box and gently placed it on my finger.

"Oh, Spark," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I am so glad you are my mate."

His grip on my hand tightened as he vowed, "I promise to be with you forever."

"Well done, Spark. You have done well," Elder Crystal said, her voice warm with approval. "I have heard of the Gale rings, they are famous heirlooms of your family. This gesture shows the depth of your love for Wave and the blessings that will follow. Congratulations to both of you."

"Thank you so much," Wave responded, his voice filled with emotion.

At that moment, his Ma, Mercury, suddenly burst into tears.

Flora, already teary-eyed herself, quickly pulled her into a comforting embrace, rubbing her back.

Wave stepped forward, concern evident in his voice. "Ma, what’s wrong?"

Flora let out a soft laugh through her tears. "Ma is just happy."

We all waited in silence, giving Mercury a moment to compose herself. When she finally pulled away from Flora, she walked over to me, her eyes glistening. She placed a gentle hand on my arm and whispered, "Spark, thank you. You’ve truly made me so happy. I never expected this... but giving Wave the Gale family ring is such a wonderful gift. It grants him status in your family, and for that, I am eternally grateful."

Emotion swelled in my chest, tightening my throat. I took her hand in mine, steadying myself.

"Elder Mercury—" I began, but she raised her hand, stopping me with a soft shake of her head.

"Call me Ma," she whispered.

The simple request sent a flood of warmth through me. For a moment, I couldn’t speak. My breath hitched, and I swallowed hard before finally managing, "Ma." The word came out hoarse, heavy with emotion.

She nodded, smiling through her tears.

Gathering my thoughts, I continued, "The rings were given to me by Tor. He blessed our mating and this union, and he is happy to have Wave as part of our family."

A fresh wave of tears filled Mercury’s eyes, but this time, her smile was radiant.

Mercury’s lips trembled, and her eyes brimmed with fresh tears at my words. Flora let out a soft gasp, covering her mouth as emotion overtook her.

"I promise to take care of Wave, love him, and protect him for life," I continued, my voice steady and full of conviction. "And that promise extends to you, Ma, and to you, Flora. The Gale family will protect you as long as we breathe."

For a moment, silence filled the room, thick, heavy, and charged with emotion. Then, Mercury let out a shaky breath and cupped my face with both hands.

"Spark, you don’t know what this means to me," she whispered. "To us."

Wave reached for my hand, his grip firm and reassuring. His eyes shone with love, admiration, and something deeper, an unspoken vow that echoed my own.

"You have no idea how much I love you, Spark," Wave murmured, squeezing my hand. "Thank you for choosing me."

Flora sniffled loudly and threw her arms around both of us, laughing through her tears. "Alright, enough of this emotional mess! This is supposed to be a happy occasion!"

Mercury chuckled, wiping her eyes. "Yes, yes. We should celebrate, not cry."

Elder Crystal raised her glass in a silent toast. "To love, unity, and the future of our families."

We clinked glasses, sealing the moment with warmth, love, and an unbreakable bond.