Marked By The Alpha's Cursed Blue Moon
Chapter 18. Goosebumps

Chapter 18: 18. Goosebumps

He turned quickly and there stood his father, Mr. Martin, silently watching him from behind.

"Dad! It’s you... You almost startled me," James said, exhaling with relief. Mr. Martin raised an eyebrow as he walked over and took a seat beside him.

"Startled? How can the next Alpha of our great pack be startled by my innocent presence? James, you really need to start living up to the expectations that come with your role."

James scoffed lightly, shaking his head.

"I won’t be defined by anyone’s expectations. I have my own plans, and when the time is right, I’ll make the pack understand them."

His tone was firm, with a tinge of defiance. Mr. Martin sighed, frustration already creeping into his voice.

"That’s always been my problem with you—everything has to be your way, in your own time. But what if your way isn’t good enough for the pack? The pack comes first, James. Always."

James went quiet, clearly trying to avoid conflict. He wasn’t in the mood to argue today. Their relationship had always been complicated, filled with tension and frequent disagreements. He knew exactly how this conversation would end if it escalated.

Then came the unexpected.

"Have you found a Luna for yourself already?" Mr. Martin asked bluntly, his eyes fixed on James.

The question hit James like a slap. He looked genuinely caught off guard and uncomfortable. It was the last conversation he wanted to have, but he couldn’t ignore his father either.

"No, I haven’t," James replied flatly. "And I’ll let you know when I do."

"We can’t keep waiting for you forever." Mr. Martin leaned forward. "The pack is starting to lose patience with your silence on this matter. That’s why I’ve decided to help. I’ve found someone for you... a powerful, beautiful, and charismatic young woman."

James burst out laughing in disbelief, the laugh filled with mockery.

"You must be joking. No one and I mean no one, will choose who I marry or build a life with. That’s my decision."

But Mr. Martin was completely serious.

"I’m not joking. Her name is Bethany. She’s from the Maxwell family. Their bloodline has produced some of the finest Lunas in history. She’s strong, graceful, and everything a Luna should be."

James’s expression shifted. The light in his eyes dimmed and was quickly replaced by anger.

"Dad, stop this. I’ve made myself very clear. I won’t have this discussion again, not with you or anyone else."

With that, he stood up, storming out of the room and leaving his father behind.

Mr. Martin called out after him, several times. "James! Come back here! We’re not done talking!"

But James didn’t look back. Fuming, Mr. Martin sank back into the couch, arms crossed over his chest.

’I’ll go through with the arrangement,’ he thought bitterly. ’And neither you nor anyone else can stop me.’

---

The Next Morning, Maria woke up early, her throat dry and her body aching slightly with dehydration. Rubbing her eyes, she dragged herself out of bed and headed straight to the kitchen for a glass of water.

As she drank, she noticed something odd—the house was unusually quiet for a Saturday morning.

Normally, Victoria would already be in the kitchen preparing breakfast, humming softly or giving instructions to the maids. But now... silence.

Curious, Maria walked into the living room and, just in time, spotted Miss Judith, the most senior maid, stepping in from the hallway.

"Good morning, Miss Judith," Maria greeted.

"Good morning, dear," the maid replied warmly.

"Where is everyone?" Maria asked, glancing around the empty living room.

"Madam Victoria left very early this morning," Judith explained. "Mr. Bernard also stepped out not too long ago, and Beta Gilbert made a quick trip to another city last night. So it’s just you and the maids here today."

Maria nodded slowly, digesting the information. "Thank you," she said.

"Would you like something for breakfast?" Miss Judith asked.

"Not yet," Maria responded politely. "I’ll let you know if I get hungry."

Judith gave a short nod before walking away toward the maid’s quarters, leaving Maria alone in the vast, echoing mansion.

As soon as she was sure the coast was clear, a spark of excitement lit up Maria’s eyes.

’This is the perfect time to execute my plan... I can finally check Beta Gilbert’s room,’ she thought.

Without wasting a second, she dashed upstairs, her heartbeat racing with a mix of anxiety and thrill.

Once in her room, she retrieved a master electronic key, one capable of unlocking any electronically secured door in the house. Clutching it tightly, she rushed toward Beta Gilbert’s quarters.

To her surprise and relief, the door was shut but not locked.

She stepped inside quietly, taking extra care not to leave any trace. The room was tidy, almost suspiciously perfect. She walked straight to the wardrobe, knowing exactly what she was looking for.

Pushing aside the clothes, she found the hidden door behind them. With trembling hands, she inserted the electronic key. A soft click followed, and the door opened slowly.

Maria stepped into the hidden room, and froze.

It was nearly empty. The entire space was in disarray, with broken boxes and overturned furniture scattered around.

Heart pounding, she scanned the room, eventually spotting a large carton in one corner. She rushed over and threw it open, only to be met with an eerie message placed neatly in the center.

"What you are looking for is also looking for you... Be careful!"

Goosebumps spread across her skin instantly. She stumbled back from the carton, eyes wide, breathing heavy.

’What does that even mean?’ she thought, feeling a wave of unease crash over her.

As she tried to make sense of it, still standing in the middle of the room, someone grabbed her from behind.

A cloth was pressed against her nose, and she struggled for just a second before the world around her blurred, darkened... and went silent.

She had no time to scream. No time to escape. She was out cold...