CHAPTER 4; The Prophecy Of Blood and Moon

Damion's (The Vampire King) POV

The night was thick with smoke and old magic. In the Vampire Court, silence fell like ash. I could taste the faint metallic scent of my fallen men, even though their bodies were long turned to dust.

My patience had worn thin.

"They think they can hide forever," I said, voice calm but deadly. "The wolves crawl in their shadows, pretending to be saviors. But their claws drip with our blood."

The council stood motionless before me. Even they could feel it … the hunger in my voice, the fury I tried to bury beneath centuries of control.

Lucien bowed his head. "We have confirmed, my lord. It was a werewolf attack. Strong, swift, clean kills. One of royal blood … perhaps even the Alpha himself."

A smirk tugged at my lips. "Adrian Wolfe…"

I rose from the throne, my coat sweeping the floor. "So the noble wolf king still prowls my borders."

Lucien hesitated. "What shall we do?"

"Nothing," I said, letting the word cut through the tension like a blade. "Not yet."

They looked shocked, but I smiled. "The time for war will come. The Lunar Eclipse approaches."

A low murmur spread through the room …fear and excitement blended like smoke.

"The Eclipse?" one of the elders whispered. "But it has been a thousand years since the last."

"Exactly." I turned toward the massive window behind the throne, staring out at the full moon bleeding through the clouds. "When the moon hides her face from the world, our power will return to its purest form. Blood and shadow will reign again."

Lucien's voice trembled slightly. "You mean to…"

"Yes." I faced them, my eyes glowing faintly red. "I will break the curse of the old treaty. When the moon goes dark, the world will remember who its true rulers are."

A thrill ran through the court. The vampires bowed, chanting my name softly, a melody of devotion and dread.

But deep within, I wasn't thinking of conquest. I was thinking of the Wolves Alpha, he without his mate…his luna, he's weak.".

"Without his Luna, the Alpha is weak and will fall on that day… You're dismissed."

This mate…his Luna is the thread that tied fate together.

And soon, I would pull it.

Adrian's POV

The court of the wolves was carved into the side of the mountain … ancient stone, glowing runes, and the scent of pine and rain. I sat at the head of the long marble table, trying to look like I wasn't barely holding myself together.

The Seer stood in the center of the hall, her eyes glowing gold. She was old, older than anyone could guess, wrapped in white and whispers.

"Alpha Wolfe," she said, her voice soft but echoing through the chamber. "The Lunar Eclipse draws near."

My stomach tightened. I'd felt it for days … the strange weakness in my blood, the dull ache in my bones.

"The moon will vanish," she continued, "and with it, balance will tremble. You must find your true mate before the eclipse rises, or your strength will fade and the pack will fall."

A heavy silence filled the courtroom.

I leaned back, trying to hide the flicker of uncertainty in my chest. "And when will this Eclipse happen?"

The Seer's eyes turned distant, as if she saw beyond time itself. "The moon hides its day until your Luna is found. When your fates align, the sky will reveal its hour."

Caleb, my Man, leaned closer. "So, we find your Luna… and then we find the date?"

The Seer nodded. "Only when he meets her, will the moon speak."

I exhaled slowly. I had met someone. A stubborn, sharp-tongued girl who looked at me with defiance even when she was broken and bleeding. I could still hear her voice in my head …" Who are you?"

But no. It couldn't be her.

She was human.

Mostly.

I shook the thought away.

The Seer bowed. "Fail to find her, and the Eclipse will turn to shadow…not light."

Then she turned and walked out, leaving her words like a curse in the air.

Caleb's POV

The meeting ended, and the court emptied, leaving only me and Adrian in the vast silence. He stood by the window, staring at the moonlight spilling through the carved stone.

I could tell by his breathing … he was getting weaker.

"You don't look good," I said finally.

"I'm fine," he muttered.

"Fine?" I scoffed. "You're pale as hell, and your aura's flickering like a dying lantern. You need your Luna, Adrian. The pack's energy flows through you … if you're fading, we all will."

He didn't answer right away. His jaw tightened. "I've been to the shrine three times this week," he said. "The gods are silent. The Seer's vision is the same …I'll know her when I see her."

I frowned. "And what if you already have?"

He turned sharply toward me, eyes flashing gold for a second. "Don't start, Caleb."

That was my answer.

He had.

He just didn't want to believe it.

Adrian sighed, dragging a hand through his hair, then changed the topic like he always did when something got too close. "The dinner," he said. "It's tonight."

I blinked. "You're still going?"

He gave a short nod. "It's important. The human investors will be there … and the press. It's the grand celebration for the new hotel chain. I can't skip it."

"Right," I said with a smirk. "The billionaire Alpha playing nice with humans."

He shot me a look. "Someone has to keep the peace."

I grinned. "And maybe find his Luna in the process?"

He ignored me, of course. But I saw that flicker in his eyes … that same shadow that had haunted him since the night in the woods.

The one that looked suspiciously like longing.

Adrian's POV

When Caleb finally left, I stood alone in the court, staring up at the carving of the moon on the ceiling.

The Eclipse was coming.

My power was thinning.

And the memory of her … that wild human girl with the trembling voice … wouldn't leave me.

I clenched my fists, fighting the strange pull in my chest.

No human could be my Luna. That would break every law written in blood.

And yet…

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her … Rose.

The way she looked at me was like I was both her nightmare and her savior.

I turned away sharply and walked out.

I had a dinner to attend.

And maybe, just maybe, fate was about to show its teeth.