16| The Confrontation

ADONAI AUGUSTUS

“What the council wants, they get. That’s the old saying, but the elders are corrupt and hungry for blood! I know them better than you do, and that’s why I’m trying so hard to protect you from them.”

I sat across from my mother, the Luna of Crystal Moon Pack, in her comfort room. She sat in a soft chair by the window, sunlight casting golden shadows on the floor. This was my first time entering this room. I doubted Adonis had ever set foot in here either, not since we returned and ascended the throne.

What I hated most was how she still treated us like pups. We were no longer children, we ruled an entire pack now. It was our duty to carry the burdens of every pack member. We were Alphas!

How could we protect our territory if everyone still saw us as boys? How long would we let the elders decide trivial matters while we just nod in silence? Why did she think hiding things from us was protection?

“You’re not protecting us,” I said firmly, sitting up straighter and crossing my legs. “You’re exposing us to danger. Imagine us walking into battle blindly, not knowing who our enemies are and who we are fighting for. Wouldn’t that be our doom?”

At last, she turned from the window and looked at me. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then slowly stood and came to sit beside me on the large, plush couch.

“You’re still so young,” she said softly, taking my hand. “Some truths are hard to grasp, even for Alphas. I hope you understand.”

“If war broke out today, your sons would be at the front lines,” I said, gently pulling my hand from hers. “And yet, you call us too young to know the truth? Is that why we’re never allowed inside the royal library?”

She sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. “You and your brother are my entire world. I isolated myself to stop interfering in your rule, I didn’t want to lose you like I lost your father.”

“I want to know everything,” I insisted. “I don’t want to hear whispers behind closed doors or let strangers reveal secrets that should come from you. I want the full truth about this prophecy everyone’s murmuring about. And I want to know the truth about Cedar, about us.”

She reached for my hand again, but I stood and took a step back.

“What other truth about Cedar?” she asked, her voice faltering. “I thought we were done talking about her and that ungrateful family.”

“We’re not. On the full moon, she shifted, and the next day, we realised she was our mate. The council elders summoned her to plan a mating ceremony. She refused.”

“Then it’s best she rejected you,” she said quickly, standing. “Stay away from the council. Avoid Cedar. Adonai, please.”

She rushed to my side and gripped my hand tightly. “The council is dangerous. And Cedar...”

Charlene’s voice cut her off as she announced my brother’s presence.

Our mother’s pleading eyes met mine before she called out, “Let him in.”

Adonis stepped in, pausing in the doorway. His eyes shifted between our mother and me. “A man named Yarrow has been begging to speak with you. So I brought him.”

“Yarrow?”

“Yes, Mother. The Seer.” Adonis stepped aside, revealing a grey-haired man behind him.

As soon as the man saw our mother, he bowed slightly. Her knees buckled, and she almost collapsed, until I caught her. But just as quickly, she composed herself, taking deep breaths and squaring her shoulders like nothing had happened.

“You two leave us,” she said sharply, walking back to the chair by the window. “I need to speak with him alone.”

“No,” I said, sitting back on the couch and crossing my legs. “I won’t leave this room until you tell us everything.”

“Well, I was just about to say that,” Adonis added, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the doorway.

The Seer stepped forward. Our mother sighed, knowing nothing could make us leave, not even calling the guards. She nodded at the man to speak.

He glanced between Adonis and me before turning to our mother. He began murmuring incantations in a language I didn’t understand. His eyes turned red, bright and burning like lava, and his voice deepened into a roaring growl like an angry lion.

Then, as suddenly as it started, the glow faded. His eyes returned to normal, his voice back to its frail whisper.

Adonis and I were stunned, but Mother... she didn't look surprised. She had seen this before.

“I had to recheck the visions that have haunted me for years,” he began, still speaking only to her. “I couldn’t come sooner. I was threatened, forced to stay silent.”

He turned briefly to Adonis. “The men your soldiers found were sent to kill me. But someone saved me.”

“Who tried to kill you?” Adonis asked. “And who saved you?”

"I have no idea. He was like a shadow from the dark, too powerful. Although he was..."

“That’s not what matters now,” the Luna said, rising to her feet. “Tell me what the Moon Goddess showed you. Speak what you saw." She prompted impatiently.

The Seer nodded. “For years, I’ve seen Crystal Moon in flames. Everything alive turned to ash. Then came the flood, sweeping away what remained. A blood moon is coming.”

“A blood moon?” we echoed in disbelief.

He must be mistaken. The last blood moon happened decades ago, during the ancient coup that bathed our lands in blood. And it was supposed to be the last.