Marked By The Alpha's Cursed Blue Moon
Chapter 47. The Battle for Redemption

Chapter 47: 47. The Battle for Redemption

Maria was shocked the very moment she stepped into the living room and found Victoria seated stiffly on the couch, looking deeply disturbed.

She greeted her, but there was no response. At first, Maria thought Victoria was ignoring her intentionally, but soon she realized the older woman wasn’t even paying attention to her presence.

Concerned, Maria walked closer and gently tapped Victoria on the shoulder.

"Good evening, ma’am," Maria said softly.

Victoria flinched at the touch, clearly startled. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed Maria at all.

It was easy for Maria to guess the cause of her worry. Given the current situation, it was understandable—her husband and only son had gone to war, and there were only two possible outcomes: they would either return victorious or not return at all.

Maria’s heart ached for her.

"Maria, how are you? Have you been here long?" Victoria asked in a tired voice, her face lined with worry.

"I’m fine, ma’am. I just arrived not long ago," Maria replied politely, then asked, "Hope you are doing well, ma’am?"

A faint, weary smile crossed Victoria’s lips. "I’m fine," she said quietly.

"I would like to retire to my room," she added a moment later, standing up slowly and heading toward the staircase.

Maria stood silently, watching her ascend. As Victoria reached the middle of the stairs, she paused and turned slightly, her eyes landing on Maria.

Could Maria be the calamity the three witches from the ancient world spoke about? Victoria wondered darkly, lingering for a second longer before continuing up to her room.

Maria, unaware of the suspicion brewing in Victoria’s mind, stayed in the living room a while longer, trying to appear casual. After about ten minutes, she quietly left for her room as well.

Inside her room, Maria’s mind raced with heavy thoughts. She worried for James and Bernard, who had ventured into danger alongside Beta Gilbert. And she was also focused on the documents she needed to fetch.

Determined not to fail, she rose from the bed, picked up the electronic key, and placed it beside her, within easy reach. She wanted everything ready when the time came.

Setting her alarm for 2 a.m.—a time when the entire household would surely be deep in sleep—Maria tucked herself under the covers, though sleep came slowly.

---

Meanwhile, in Victoria’s room...

Victoria lay awake, her mind a storm of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

Calamity lives among us... and this is not the main havoc yet, the witches had said.

What did it mean? Who was the real danger among them? Could it be one of the guards? Could it even be Maria?

"I will do everything within my reach and power to make sure that this calamity does not come to pass in my family," Victoria whispered fiercely to herself. "I will fight flesh, blood, and spirit to conquer it."

Despite her determination, exhaustion soon overtook her, and she drifted into uneasy sleep.

***

At The Shadow’s Safe House...

Deep within the heart of a dark, ancient forest, Beta Gilbert, Bernard, and the machinery arrived at The Shadow’s stronghold.

"This is where destiny is reshaped and reconstructed," Bernard announced boldly, his voice ringing with fierce determination. "We have come a long way, and we will not turn back or lose now. We are here for war, and war we shall give!"

The men roared in agreement, stomping their feet into the earth.

Bernard raised his voice further. "We have all lost something precious—loved ones, homes, dreams. Let that loss fuel your rage. Let your swords, your bullets, your strength strike true. Fight for the ones we lost! Fight for your pain!"

The roar of agreement shook the trees around them.

Then Bernard moved quickly, dividing the men into smaller units, some staying back while others prepared to advance.

Beta Gilbert approached his son, pulling something wrapped in black cloth from his pocket.

"What’s this, Dad?" Bernard asked, puzzled.

Beta Gilbert handed it to him. "Inside is a small mirror. It’s the weapon we’ll use to destroy The Shadow. When he sees his reflection, it will be his undoing."

Bernard’s eyes widened. "Why are you just giving this to me now?"

"I feared traitors," Beta Gilbert said gravely. "If it had fallen into the wrong hands, we would have lost everything. Now, the time is right."

Bernard nodded firmly, understanding the heavy responsibility.

They hugged tightly, a brief but powerful moment of father and son unity.

"Boss, it’s time," Sandro called, bringing them back to focus.

Together with their small group, Bernard and Beta Gilbert approached The Shadow’s guards, hands raised in a sign of peace.

The guards quickly surrounded them, guns pointed at their heads.

"We mean no harm," Beta Gilbert called out calmly. "We seek peace and request an audience with The Shadow."

The guards exchanged suspicious glances but allowed them inside, heavily guarded.

After ten tense minutes, The Shadow himself appeared—harmless-looking yet radiating dark energy.

"Well, well," he said mockingly, "you’ve come to me on a platter of gold."

Bernard tensed but remained still.

"We seek peace," Beta Gilbert said again.

The Shadow chuckled darkly. "And what if chaos is what I seek?"

"Then we still plead for peace," Beta Gilbert replied, his voice steady.

The Shadow sneered. "I want the death of you and your kind. I want the extinction of your bloodline!"

Bernard’s hands twitched with rage, but Beta Gilbert gave him a subtle warning tap. Patience was key.

Bernard then spoke coldly, "We know you have suffered injustice. But we plead—let the past remain in the past. Together, we can forge a new future."

The Shadow tilted his head, his masked face unreadable. "Should I ignore the ancient laws that demand retribution?"

"We plead for mercy," Beta Gilbert said quietly. "We offer respect and peace."

The Shadow’s laughter echoed in the hall. "The only peace I seek is your destruction. Only your deaths will secure my immortality!"

As he raised his hand, his guards leveled their guns.

Bernard’s heart raced. He knew then—negotiations were over.

He took a deep breath and declared loudly, "We came to end you and the evil you stand for. Today will be remembered in history!"

At his signal, their hidden men unleashed grenades, turning the negotiation into a full-blown battle.

Gunfire erupted, bodies fell. But The Shadow’s men, caught off guard, suffered heavier losses.

Realizing he was losing, The Shadow attempted to flee—but found he couldn’t disappear.

Panic flashed in his movements as he sprinted toward a secret chamber.

Bernard ran after him, his speed relentless.

Finally, The Shadow stopped and faced Bernard, sword in hand, snarling, "Young Alpha, you cannot kill me without the power of spirits! You will die, and your kind will suffer forever!"

He charged.

Bernard dodged the first strike and, in one swift motion, thrust the small mirror directly into The Shadow’s face.

The Shadow screamed—a chilling, soul-piercing cry—as he saw his own reflection. His body evaporated into black smoke.

"This is for all the lives you destroyed," Bernard said, his voice trembling with emotion, as he gripped the last remnants of The Shadow’s garments tightly in his hand...