BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 97: SAGSTONE MOUNTAIN

Chapter 97: SAGSTONE MOUNTAIN

FLORA BOLT’S POV

{"Progress is the attraction that moves humanity."}

Rita.

The woman made my she-wolf buzz with unease, yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. She stood there, proud, and defiant, as if the very air around her bent to her will. Her angry gaze swept over the Bay Shifter training ground, filled with barely contained irritation. I could tell she did not want to be here, and yet, there was something utterly captivating about her presence.

As we settled for lunch, I found myself stealing glances at her. She barely spoke, her expression unreadable, and it made my curiosity burn even brighter. Who was she? Why did she seem so unshaken by all of this?

It was not until we entered the conference room that she finally broke her silence. Her voice was steady, controlled, and held no hesitation. "I am ready to go to Sagstone Mountain. I will lead you to Aqua and Fennel."

I blinked, momentarily thrown off by her fearlessness. There was no doubt, no hesitation in her tone, only certainty.

"You’re not afraid?" I found myself asking before I could stop myself.

Rita turned her gaze to me, and for the first time, I felt the full weight of it. "What’s there to be afraid of?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Before I could respond, Rou, who had been silently watching, finally spoke up. "She’s my daughter."

The revelation made my breath hitch. I turned to look at Ralph, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He gave a small nod and added, "And my sister."

My eyes widened. That explained so much, the confidence, the fearlessness, the way she carried herself.

"She’s the only one who’s gotten in and out of Sagstone Mountain without a scratch," Ralph continued. "If anyone can find Aqua and Fennel, it’s her."

I stared at Rita, realizing just how remarkable she was. My wolf stirred with both admiration and anticipation.

I had no idea what possessed me, but before I could stop myself, the words were already out of my mouth.

"I’ll travel with Rita."

Silence followed my statement. Wave and Ma immediately objected, their voices overlapping in protest.

"No way—"

"Absolutely not—"

But before they could get too far, Alpha Tor raised a hand, silencing them. His sharp gaze locked onto me, then shifted to Rita, assessing the situation. After a moment, he gave a firm nod.

"It is a good idea. Flora will go."

I exhaled slowly, barely believing he had accepted my suggestion so easily. With the decision made, the final preparations began. Alpha Tor also declared his plans—to travel to the Paradise Bay Coven and investigate alongside the Cobalt Witch, determined to uncover what she was truly seeking in Hanka Island.

By dusk, we set off. The cool night air carried a sense of anticipation, the journey ahead feeling heavier with each passing moment. I walked beside Rita, stealing glances at her now and then, still intrigued by the woman who seemed unshaken by anything.

But my attention shifted when I caught the way Ralph’s eyes were raking over General Tiger, his expression intense and almost... hungry. A slow smile crept onto my face. Oh, this was interesting.

Just as I was about to tease him, General Tiger turned his sharp gaze on me, frowning deeply as if daring me to say something. That only made it funnier. A laugh burst out of me, unable to be contained.

Rita, walking beside Ralph, leaned in slightly and whispered just loud enough for me to hear, "You’re being too obvious."

Ralph coughed, straightened, and forced his expression into something neutral, but it was far too late. I chuckled again, shaking my head.

By the time we reached the foot of the mountain, the border guards bowed in greeting, their sharp eyes watching us as we marched forward. Their presence was expected, but the tension in the air made my skin prickle.

When we finally arrived at the guarding border of the Rogarou beast, I noticed how every single one of them stood on alert, their bodies tense, hands hovering close to their weapons. Rita, usually composed, seemed stiff as she observed them. I glanced at her, sensing something unspoken in the way she held herself, but before I could ask, Ralph broke away from us and rushed toward the guards.

He greeted them easily, exchanging words in a hushed but familiar tone. The stiffness in the air seemed to ease just slightly as they spoke, though Rita did not relax. She stood beside me, her gaze unreadable as she watched the interaction unfold.

Once Ralph rejoined us, we proceeded forward, entering deeper into the mountain. The moment we stepped inside, I felt it, the shift in the air. It grew colder, the breeze carrying an icy chill that seeped into my bones.

Frowning, I pushed my wolf powers outward, reaching into my surroundings to assess any hidden threats. But before I could make sense of what I was sensing, Rita’s voice cut through my focus.

"It’s just an illusion," she said, her tone calm but firm. "Meant to keep people away from the mountain. It will change soon."

I turned to her, raising a brow. "Change how?"

She glanced at me, then ahead, her expression still unreadable. "The deeper we go, the hotter it will get. The hot lava inside the mountain protects the gold mine."

I absorbed her words and gave a slow nod, understanding now why the air felt unnatural. With that, we continued forward, walking deeper into the caverns of Sagstone Mountain.

Soon, we reached the gold path. Ralph had warned us before that this place was dangerous, and now, standing before it, I could feel why. The air seemed heavier, the ground almost humming with something unspoken.

"I will be right back. Stay put."

And with that, Rita disappeared into the path, leaving Ralph and me alone in the dim cavern.

Ralph, as usual, leaned casually against the rough stone wall, arms crossed, looking completely unbothered. Meanwhile, I paced up and down, my nerves prickling with unease. Every second that passed felt longer, and the uncertainty gnawed at me.

Ralph smirked as he watched me. "You’re too obvious," he remarked, amusement lacing his voice.

I paused mid-step and chuckled, the tension in me easing just a little. "You are too," I shot back in the same teasing tone.

He laughed, but then hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to say something. Finally, he spoke up, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Does he have a mate?"

I stared at him for a second before bursting out in laughter. So that was what had been on his mind this whole time.

"General Tiger? No," I finally answered, shaking my head. "He’s too fierce, and no one dares approach him. He is an older wolf and let us just say... he does not exactly give off ’approachable’ vibes."

Ralph smirked, his expression unreadable before he casually muttered, "Well, he’s one sexy man."

I arched my brow, stepping closer to him. "Then I suggest we both make it out of here alive," I said with a smirk of my own. "If you want a chance at capturing your mate, you’re going to need to survive first." Ralph chuckled, shaking his head, but I could see the determination flicker in his eyes.

After a few minutes of chatting, Rita finally reappeared, but my breath caught in my throat when I saw her. Her entire body was covered in black soot, her usual sharp features barely visible beneath the thick layer of grime.

Ralph and I both rushed toward her, alarmed, but before we could reach her, she raised a hand, stopping us in our tracks.

Then, as if by magic, the soot began to fade, dissolving into the air within seconds. I stood there, utterly shocked, while Ralph’s jaw dropped in disbelief. He recovered quicker than I did, managing to voice the question racing through both of our minds.

"What the hell was that?"

Rita chuckled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "A trap," she admitted nonchalantly. "But I managed to evade it."

I exhaled, relief washing over me, but the tension in the air remained.

Rita glanced toward the golden path, her expression turning serious. "We’ll need to wait. The path is still too dangerous. The heat needs time to die down, or we won’t make it across without getting burned alive."

I nodded, understanding her reasoning, but Ralph groaned dramatically.

"Great. A night outside the entrance. Just what I was hoping for."

Rita smirked. "Would you rather take your chances now?"

Ralph held up his hands in surrender. "Fine. Outside it is. But I will be on guard while the two of you remain here"

"Where else would we go?" Rita asked sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

I smirked, shaking my head at her usual attitude, but before I could say anything, Ralph spoke up.

"You two need to work out whatever is between you," he said, crossing his arms and giving us both a knowing look. Then, without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving us standing there in awkward silence.

I watched him go, my mouth slightly open in protest, but no words came out. My gaze shifted to Rita, who was staring after Ralph, her expression unreadable.

I cleared my throat. "Well... that was dramatic."

Rita exhaled sharply, her lips pressing into a thin line before she turned to me. "He’s not wrong."

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced a casual chuckle. "About what?"

She raised a brow. "Don’t play dumb, Flora. Don’t you feel it?"