BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 79: SAGSTONE MOUNTAIN

Chapter 79: SAGSTONE MOUNTAIN

{"Gold is the corpse of value." }

TOR’S POV

Freyr, Tiger, and I left the Bay Shifter Pack just after dusk, making our way toward Sagstone Mountain. The cold mountain air thickened when we arrived at its base, curling around us like a silent warning. Tiger lagged slightly behind, struggling to match our pace, and the smirk on Freyr’s face made it clear he found the sight amusing.

A deep, guttural roar echoed through the night, vibrating my chest as we neared the mountain’s entrance. My instincts flared, the Rougarou beasts were nearby. These intelligent creatures guarded the vast gold reserves within Sagstone, never bowing to anyone, but they had long respected the Alpha rulers of the Bay Shifter Pack. We had a longstanding understanding: in exchange for their mountain protection, we ensured a steady supply of meat, stationing shifters at the borders to uphold the pact.

But something was wrong.

As we stepped deeper into the mountain’s shadow, a gnawing unease settled in my gut. I couldn’t sense a single shifter. Not one patrol. The borders should have been manned, but the air was disturbingly still.

"Alpha, how come no one is here?" General Tiger’s voice broke the silence. His stance was tense, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.

"I don’t sense a shifter for miles," Freyr responded, his brows furrowed.

I pushed my power outward, reaching for any sign of our people. Nothing. Not a whisper of a presence. A cold rage built inside me. What the hell was going on?

A second, more ferocious roar split the night. The mountain trembled beneath us.

The Rougarou Alpha was coming.

The ground shuddered with each heavy step as it neared, the golden blaze of its eyes piercing through the darkness. A deep growl rumbled from its chest, sharp and laced with something I had never sensed before, hostility.

Tiger reappeared, panting from his search. His expression was grim. "I’ve never seen a Rougarou react this aggressively before."

"Something is wrong," I muttered, my muscles coiling in readiness.

Then, the beast emerged from the shadows, massive and furious. Its eyes burned like molten gold; its fangs bared as its growl grew deafening.

And it was ready to attack.

I stepped forward as Tiger and Freyr stood their ground, their muscles coiled with tension. The Rougarou’s golden eyes locked onto mine, its massive form radiating raw power. It tried to probe my mind, but I shut it out, holding firm against its invisible force. We stood in silence, the air thick with unspoken energy.

Then, something unexpected happened. The beast tilted its head, observing me with something close to awe. Slowly, it lowered itself onto its heels, watching me with newfound curiosity rather than aggression.

"Aren’t you going to attack?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

The Rougarou huffed, a plume of thick smoke curling from its nostrils before it let out a deep, rumbling exhale. Then, in the blink of an eye, its body shifted. The enormous beast melted away, leaving an aged man in its place.

He stood tall, his posture regal despite the weight of years on his shoulders. Dressed in ancient attire, his white hair framed a weathered face, and a long silver-streaked beard cascaded down his chest. His eyes, still burning gold, regarded me with deep intrigue.

"Alpha Tor Gale," he muttered, his voice rough yet steady. "I am surprised to see you here."

"Since you know who I am, why the hell are you attacking us?" I demanded, striding over to him, my frustration barely contained.

Rou huffed, crossing his arms. "The Bay Shifter Pack is full of shit. Did you not send the Colbat family to threaten us? They claimed that if we did not hand over gold, our kind would starve to death."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I was momentarily speechless. Tiger stepped forward; his voice sharp as a blade. "I don’t know what you were told, but Alpha Tor never ordered the Colbat family to do anything."

Rou’s golden eyes flickered with surprise before shifting toward Freyr. His brows furrowed. "Why did you bring a woman along?"

Tiger chuckled. "She’s stubborn. Wanted to tag along."

Rou nodded, though his expression remained guarded. "I am Rou," he finally introduced himself.

Tiger stepped closer. "Where is the rest of your kind?"

Rou’s gaze locked onto mine, his expression hard. "I moved them deeper into the mountains to keep them from starving," he said, his voice thick with anger.

My fists clenched. "Why did you not reach out to me?"

Rou turned abruptly; his face thunderous. "The Colbat family is part of the Bay Shifter Council. I saw no reason to doubt them."

Tiger cursed under his breath. "How long has this been going on?"

Rou’s jaw tightened. "Five years and counting."

Freyr shook his head, about to speak, but I raised a hand to stop him. The Rougarou beasts were not friendly to vampires, and I didn’t want to risk exposing him.

Rou’s eyes narrowed, flickering between me and Freyr with growing suspicion. Before he could voice his thoughts, I spoke up. "I came to the mountain to investigate why gold is being smuggled to the Paradise Coven."

His eyes widened, and he took a half-step back. "Paradise Coven? Impossible," he stammered. "We give the Colbat’s the gold, leave it near the ocean, and they pick it up from there."

"You have been fooled," Tiger growled, his body tensing. "When was the last time you handed them the gold?"

Rou’s brows furrowed as he recalled. "A month back."

I stepped forward, my voice sharp. "How often do they come for the gold?"

"Every month," Rou admitted, his expression darkening. "The Colbat’s always send Fennel to pick it up."

"Such a well-laid plan," I muttered, nodding as I pieced everything together. Then I turned to Rou. "Can you take us to the spot where you deliver the gold?"

Rou crossed his arms but then sighed, nodding. "Sure."

We moved swiftly toward the ocean, the salty breeze hinting at something rotten—deception, betrayal. When we arrived, my breath hitched. A harbor had been built along the shore, its wooden docks sturdy and well-maintained. A large boat, with dark sails billowing slightly in the wind, was docked at the pier.

I stared at it, and a deep growl rumbled from my chest. Rage burned hot in my veins. The pieces fit too well—a perfect operation designed to smuggle the gold undetected. When I turned to Freyr, his expression was grim as he spoke through our link.

"The boat docks at Bloodstone Mountain. That’s how they get the gold in—straight to the nest."

I clenched my fists, closing my eyes for a moment, frustration clawing at me. How had all of this happened under my nose?

"Calm down," Tiger whispered.

My eyes snapped open, the surge of my Alpha rage rolling off me in waves. But while Tiger seemed uneasy, Freyr stood unaffected, his expression unreadable. Rou, however, was staring at him with a flicker of curiosity in his golden eyes.

"Rou, I never instructed the Colbat to do anything," I spoke up firmly, making sure my voice carried the weight of my authority.

Rou nodded, but his expression remained troubled. "I figured as much," he admitted. "But there’s something wrong with Fennel."

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?"

Rou exhaled sharply and glanced toward the docked boat. "He’s the one who takes the boat out. But when he comes back... his scent is different." His brows furrowed deeply. "I don’t know what the hell is wrong with his wolf. It’s like something else clings to him—something unnatural. And the odd part is, he never lets anyone get too close. He always keeps his distance, hides behind the guards. I could never get a good read on his scent."

Tiger scoffed. "Coward."

Rou shook his head. "Not cowardly, calculated. And there’s more. Every time he returns, he brings a cargo chest with him. The scent coming from it..." He trailed off, his expression darkening. "It’s not right. It’s not gold. Not completely, at least."

A cold dread settled in my gut. "Then what is it?"

Rou met my gaze, his golden eyes filled with something I rarely saw in him, unease. "I don’t know," he admitted. "But I kept my kind away from the mountain ever since. I refused to deal with the Colbat family anymore."

I exchanged a glance with Freyr, whose lips pressed into a thin line. He had been quiet, but his crimson gaze flickered with something unreadable. Whatever was happening, we were just scratching the surface.

"Tiger" I spoke up.

"Yes Alpha" he responded sharply.

"Go back to Bay shifter pack, discuss with Commander Flora and send one hundred border guards and station them at the foot of the mountain. Discuss with her on how to ensure that meat is in plenty of supply for the Rogourau clan.

Tiger nodded sharply. "Understood, Alpha." Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and sprinted toward the woods, his form shifting mid-step into a powerful wolf. His dark fur blended into the night as he disappeared, moving swiftly toward the Bay Shifter pack.

Rou watched him go before turning back to me. "You trust your men," he observed, his deep voice tinged with curiosity.

I met his gaze. "I do. And I expect them to follow orders without question."

Rou huffed. "Good. Because if your pack doesn’t fix this mess, there won’t be a mountain left for anyone to protect."

Freyr stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest. "Rou, that cargo Fennel brings back... You said it doesn’t smell right. Can you be more specific?"

Rou’s golden eyes flickered in the moonlight as he considered the question. "It’s faint, but there’s a scent buried under the metal, something old, something... wrong." His brows furrowed.

I exhaled sharply, pushing aside my rising frustration. "Rou, take me to the last place you saw Fennel leave the chest."

Rou nodded and gestured for us to follow. "This way."

As we moved along the rocky coastline, the distant sound of crashing waves filled the air. The scent of salt mixed with the crisp mountain wind, but beneath it, something else lingered, osomething faint, yet unmistakably unnatural. And I had a feeling we were about to uncover something far worse than stolen gold.

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