BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 90: POWER OF SAGSTONE MOUNTAIN

Chapter 90: POWER OF SAGSTONE MOUNTAIN

you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles"}

"You know her?" I demanded, my voice sharp with urgency.

Crystal nodded, but before she could speak, Mercury suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs, shocking us all.

"What is going on, Ma?" Wave asked, his tone edged with panic.

Crystal swallowed hard; her expression tight as she gathered her thoughts. "Althea saved the Bay Shifter Pack when Endora Cobalt tried to steal Hanka Island’s power," she explained. "The Gale family stood up to defend the pack, but in the aftermath, Althea was affected. Some of Endora’s dark magic seeped into her, making her powers unstable. She disappeared after that, and no one has seen her since." Crystal exhaled shakily. "I’m just relieved she’s alive."

Mercury wiped her tears and stood up, her resolve hardening. "We have to find her and keep her protected."

Rou chuckled, shaking his head. "If Althea doesn’t want to be found, no one will find her. She’s been living in the caves by the sea, keeping her distance. She only comes out on the full moon."

"Why?" I asked, frowning.

Rou’s gaze met mine, steady and knowing. "Because when the full moon rises, it cleanses the evil in her blood and body. That’s why she stays hidden. She doesn’t want to bring harm to the Bay Shifter Pack."

I clenched my fists. If Althea had been fighting this battle alone all this time, we had to find a way to help her, whether she wanted it or not.

"Back to the matter at hand," Rita interjected, cutting through the tension. "We need to leave for Sagstone Mountain."

She turned to Rou, her expression firm. "I want to travel light. Just the three of us—no guards. It’ll be easier that way."

Rou’s frown deepened, but she continued before he could object. Sagstone Mountain has too many caves to search blindly. It’s best if we follow the trail through the Golden Path."

The moment she said it, Rou slammed his fist on the table. "Are you out of your mind, Rita?" he snapped. "No one who’s ever gone through the Golden Path has come back! You can’t be serious!"

A small, almost knowing smile played at the corner of Rita’s lips, but it was Ralph who spoke up. "She’s already been through the Golden Path, not once, but twice."

Rou’s eyes blazed with fury as he shot to his feet. He turned on Rita, his anger barely restrained. She lowered her head, mumbling, "I’m doomed."

"You never listen!" Rou scolded, pointing at her. "You are not allowed to be reckless anymore!"

"Calm down, Rou," I said, placing a firm hand on his arm. He let out a frustrated huff but sat down, his anger still simmering.

Rita, however, remained unfazed. She kept her head down, her face unreadable.

"Why do you keep annoying Pa?" Ralph asked, his tone more exasperated than accusing.

"I don’t want to," Rita mumbled, barely lifting her gaze. "But he keeps restraining me when he knows what I’m capable of. I’ll never stay in his cocoon."

I turned to Rou, studying his tense posture. "Why are you so protective of her?" I asked.

Rou’s eyes darkened as he looked at Rita. Then, in a voice rough with emotion, he said, "Because she’s, my daughter."

Rita let out an irritated sigh and rolled her eyes. "I am not," she muttered.

Rou ignored her. "Rita is the daughter of a Rogourau and a shifter wolf."

Silence swallowed the room. I sat up straighter, staring at him in disbelief. "What did you just say?" I whispered.

Rou exhaled heavily while Rita stood abruptly, turning on her heel and walking out of the conference room without a word.

He huffed again, as if bracing himself. "I have no reason to hide it anymore," he admitted. "Years ago, I fell in love with a guard from the Bay Shifter Pack. She died giving birth, and Rita was born."

Flora gasped. "You mean... she’s a hybrid?"

"Yes," Ralph confirmed. "And a powerful one. That’s why she was able to access the Golden Path. She went in and out within an hour. The creatures in the path were afraid of her. The second time, I accompanied her," Ralph added, his voice filled with certainty. "I saw it with my own eyes. She’s the best one for this job. If we need to catch Aqua and Fennel, this is the only way"

"I don’t like this," Rou stated, his voice tight with disapproval.

"Pa, your daughter won’t stay sheltered forever. You need to let her go," Ralph huffed, clearly exasperated. "Since Flora is accompanying her, she’ll be fine."

Rou turned to Flora, his sharp gaze locking onto her. Then, to my surprise, he chuckled. "You’ve inherited the power of the Seer from your mother, haven’t you?"

Flora nodded; her expression unreadable. "I’ve kept it a secret," she admitted. "I didn’t want anyone in the Bay Shifter Pack using it as an excuse to cause trouble."

I frowned, and listened in as Mercury Bolt spoke up. "I knew the Cobalt family was searching for a Seer. That’s why I always downplayed my abilities, claiming the power of sight weakens with each generation. It was the only way to keep them away from our Bolt family." I felt a chill at her words. The Cobalt family had always been relentless in their pursuit of power. "I remember Endora stalking Althea constantly," Mercury went on, her voice laced with old resentment. "She wanted Althea to use her powers for evil, even kidnapped her once. But the Gale family has never been weak—not with the power of Ragar Mountain and the ancient magic of the Lycan wolves behind them."

"There’s been treachery festering for years," I muttered, my mind racing with everything we had just uncovered. "But right now, we need to focus on capturing Aqua."

The very thought of her sent a chill down my spine. "Her body is a breeding ground for the Blood Stone bugs," I continued. "I don’t know how she managed to pull it off, but I’d wager it has something to do with the power of Sagstone Mountain... or something even more sinister."

My gaze flicked between Mercury and Rou. "I wouldn’t be surprised if she got help from Endora Cobalt. She’s been hiding in Paradise Coven, orchestrating everything from the shadows. And now, she’s the true mastermind behind the Bloodstone bugs and whatever horrors they bring from Blood Stone Mountain."

Hours later, the meetings finally came to an end. By the time we stepped out of the conference room, dusk had settled in, casting long shadows across the land. I insisted that Rou stay the night at my home, while General Tiger hosted Ralph, and Flora took in Rita.

An hour into the evening, we had all freshened up, washing away the exhaustion of the day. After showering, we gathered for dinner, followed by a nightcap. The whiskey flowed easily, warming our spirits, and loosening tongues.

It was then—after a few too many glasses—that Rou’s words began to slur. His gaze was distant, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass when he finally muttered, "I had a relationship with your late aunt... Mingan Gale."

I froze, the weight of his confession hitting me like a thunderclap. Aunt Mingan? The fierce, untouchable warrior who had disappeared into the mountains for years? I barely managed to find my voice.

"You... what?" I whispered, my mind racing.

Rou sighed, staring into his drink as if searching for answers. My thoughts reeled. I had always known Mingan as a legend, unbreakable, mysterious. Then, suddenly, she had returned, only to die shortly after. They had said she had been sick. I had never questioned it.

"Mingan was the love of my life," Rou whispered, his voice thick with emotion. His fingers clenched around his glass, and for a moment, he looked far away, lost in a memory he had kept buried for too long.

"I was never ashamed to be with her," he continued. "I loved her well. After my wife, Ralph’s mother, passed on so early, Mingan was there. She comforted me, and... that’s how Rita was born."

I exhaled slowly, trying to process what he was saying. Rita... was Aunt Mingan’s daughter?

Rou’s jaw tensed. "The day Rita turned eighteen, she learned the truth,not from me, but through a feud with one of the guards. They rebuked her, spread vile rumors, called her an abomination." His voice turned bitter. "Born of a Rogourau and a shifter wolf, like she had no right to exist."

I could only imagine the rage Rita must have felt. The betrayal.

"But she didn’t let it break her," Rou added, a hint of pride slipping into his voice. "She fought back. Every insult, every challenge... she met them head-on. And she used her strength to rise through the ranks, proving to them all that she was more than their whispers and fears. That is why I am protective of her and don’t want anyone to harm her. "

"I understand my friend, "I whispered in response.

Rou shook his head and then he stated "Tor Gale, the past is cruel and gruesome, do you know that it was your grandfather who chased Mingan away from the Bay shifter pack?

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