BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 84: PA’S PAST LIFE AND EVENTS

Chapter 84: PA’S PAST LIFE AND EVENTS

{"Painful memories are souls that we all carry about with us." }

The library was quiet, save for the distant howl of the wind outside. The dim candle light flickered against the walls lined with ancient texts, casting long shadows as we sat in contemplation. Ma and Elder Dante were seated across from me, their expressions grave as I recounted my journey.

I stared out the window at the night sky, my voice low but steady. "The nest wasn’t the only thing I found," I began. "Althea was there, Tor’s grandmother. A seer. She had been hiding in the caves, waiting for us, waiting for Tor and me to unite."

Ma’s eyes narrowed slightly, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the wooden armrest. "A seer, you say?" she mused. "Did you feel her power, or did she seem like an ordinary shifter?"

I exhaled slowly, recalling the moment I first saw Althea. "At first, she looked like any other old woman," I admitted. "But I knew better. There was something cloaked around her, something powerful. I believe she sensed us coming, Rou, and led us to the caves, guiding us to the nest so we could find and destroy it."

Dante hummed in thought but remained silent, letting Ma take the lead in questioning.

I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening against my thighs as I continued. "Pa met them both," I murmured. "Rou and Althea. He found the nest. He knew who was behind it." I swallowed hard, my heart pounding at the truth I had long avoided. "That’s why he was killed."

The words settled heavily in the room, and Dante let out a slow breath.

"If that’s true," Ma said, her voice softer now, "then whoever did this was already a hybrid with power." Her gaze darkened. "Otherwise, how else would they have managed to take down the Lord of Paradise Coven? How else could they have drained him of his blood?"

Anger burned in my chest. I cursed under my breath, shaking my head. "Pa gave me the Kayne stone," I muttered. "At the time, I thought he was just being sentimental. I never considered how much danger he was in." I exhaled sharply, gripping my knees. "But if he had the Kayne stone... it should have protected him."

A heavy silence followed. Then, Ma reached out and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. Her touch was warm, grounding me. "Your Pa knew he was in danger," she whispered. "That’s why he left behind the one thing that would protect you."

I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. Pa had known. He had seen what was coming. And now, it was up to me to finish what he started.

Elder Dante leaned forward; his voice steady yet urgent. "We need to sneak into Bloodstone Mountain without delay," he said, his gaze sharp. "If we don’t move now, we may lose our only chance to gather evidence before Lord Marcel covers his tracks."

Ma stood up; her expression unreadable as she paced the room. "The Kayne magic stone is unmatched in this realm," she murmured, more to herself than to us. "Pa must have known that whoever was behind this wanted its power. That’s why he took it off his body before meeting them." She turned to me, her eyes dark with realization. "And that’s why they killed him."

I swallowed the bitter truth. Pa hadn’t just been caught in the crossfire—he had known exactly what he was walking into.

Ma exhaled sharply, then glanced at me. "Tell me about the Colbats."

I nodded, recounting what I had learned. Fennell Colbat and his niece Aqua built the nest of bloodstone bugs. The nest was thriving, and they even managed to breed a queen," I explained. "And..." I hesitated before continuing, "they successfully created a hybrid beast."

Amon cursed under his breath while Dante sat back, exhaling slowly. Ma, however, was frozen in place.

Her eyes widened as a thought struck her. "The Colbat’s..." she whispered. "They had a seer witch in their family. She must have been the one who colluded with Paradise Coven."

A chill ran down my spine.

Ma nodded to herself, recalling old stories. "Long ago, the Bay Shifter Pack tried to take over Hanka Island," she continued. "But they couldn’t. A powerful magic protected it, and the witch behind it attacked the invaders before vanishing. She was never seen again."

The weight of her words sank in.

"If she’s the one behind all this," Ma whispered, her voice barely audible, "then she’s alive. And she’s evil."

Elder Dante rubbed his chin. "If she’s still alive, could she be the same voice I heard in the mountains?" His brow furrowed. "An old woman... whispering."

I clenched my fists, remembering Gerads’ warning. "The dragon in Hanka Island warned us," I admitted. "Gerod said our mating bond was vulnerable, and the force in Bloodstone Mountain was an evil that had been suppressed for years. It would rise again."

Ma huffed, folding her arms. "Did Althea specifically tell you what she needed me to do?"

I shook my head. "I have no idea," I admitted. "But she said that if you saw Tor, you would immediately know."

Ma’s brows furrowed in thought, but before she could respond, I stood up, ready to leave. Just as I reached the door, Ma raised her hand.

"Wait," she said firmly. "No one knows you’re back. We need to have a plan, and we need to fool Lord Marcel for a while before we infiltrate Bloodstone Mountain."

I nodded in agreement. She was right. A reckless move would cost us everything.

Taking a breath, I asked, "What happened while I was away?"

To my surprise, Ma blushed slightly. It was Elder Dante who stepped in with a smirk.

"Well," he started, "your Ma set fire to the Coven Council Hall, with the bodies of young dead vampires scattered around. Bloodstone bugs were falling off their heads as she demanded to know who was behind it."

I blinked, stunned, before turning to Ma. She chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "It was nothing."

Elder Dante scoffed. "Nothing?" He shook his head. "You were fearless. Even Lord Marcel was speechless when you threatened him, told him that Cassius needed to stay away from Aurora since you two were dating."

I let out a low whistle. "That explains why he’s been eerily quiet."

Ma smirked, clearly enjoying the memory.

I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing. "And Aggrey and Amon?" I asked. "How did they come into the picture?"

Elder Dante leaned forward; his expression serious. "They’ve been waiting for the right opportunity. The moment they saw an opening, they aligned themselves with your Ma. They’re ready to move when we are."

I nodded, letting the information settle.

Pushing myself up from my seat, I walked toward the window, staring into the night sky. The weight of everything pressed down on me, but I knew what needed to be done.

After a long moment, I turned back to Elder Dante.

"Tomorrow morning," I said. "That’s the best time to go to Bloodstone Mountain. No one will suspect that we’ll sneak in then."

A silent understanding passed between us. We were running out of time, but this... this was our chance.

Elder Dante leaned forward; his eyes sharp with calculation. "It would be best if you went in disguise—as a guard. It’s the safest way to sneak in without suspicion."

I smirked, crossing my arms. "That’s easy for me."

Ma raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Before I could answer, Elder Dante chuckled, shaking his head. "You should have seen him, Ma. Last time, he disguised himself as a woman, and it was so convincing that I nearly had a heart attack."

Ma blinked, clearly taken aback. She shook her head, studying me as if seeing me for the first time. "Even your Pa never achieved a full disguise like that. I’m surprised you could pull it off so effortlessly."

I shrugged, the ghost of a smile playing on my lips. "It’s the power of the Kayne stone," I admitted. "And being mated to Tor... it’s changed everything. Our bond is full of magic, and it’s only getting stronger."

Ma exhaled slowly, absorbing my words. Elder Dante tapped his fingers against the table in thought.

"Then we use that to our advantage," he murmured. "Tomorrow morning, we move."

I left Ma and Elder Dante in the library, their hushed voices fading behind me as I made my way through the dimly lit corridors of the coven. The familiar scent of aged wood and parchment filled the air, stirring memories of my past.

When I reached the wing of my old room, I pushed the door open, stepping into the quiet solitude that had once been my sanctuary. The bed, the shelves, even the small crack in the ceiling where moonlight spilled in—it was all the same, yet everything felt different.

Without wasting time, I stripped off my travel-worn clothes and rushed into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the tension clinging to my body. My muscles ached, not just from the journey but from the weight of what was to come.

Finally, I climbed into bed, sinking into the comfort of the familiar sheets. My mind, however, refused to rest.

Tor.

The memory of his passionate kiss burned in my thoughts, his touch still lingering on my skin. I exhaled slowly, my chest tightening with longing. The space beside me felt too empty without him.

I closed my eyes, allowing exhaustion to take over, but my last waking thought was of Tor, his warmth, his strength, and how much I missed him.