Semua Bab Rejected Luna of The Cursed Alpha: Bab 121 - Bab 130

"No," Elena repeated, her voice ringing through the stony council chamber with harsh, implacable clarity. She laid both palms flat on the oak table and leaned forward with her amber eyes fixed on mine. "You have spoken with the courage of a mother, Aria, but courage without forethought against the Eclipse Order will only lead you to death and leave your son defenseless."Kael pulled away from the hearth, his heavy brows furrowing as he glanced back and forth between Elena and me. "I still do not fully comprehend what is being suggested in this room, but even if there is the slightest risk that this... mental intrusion may damage Aria in any way, then it is a dangerous gamble. We have armies. We have three packs that owe allegiance to Valemont and surround the neutral pass. We can put together a search grid numbering in the thousands before midday tomorrow."Draven released a low, dry chuckle from his throat without even glancing from the regional map spread before him. "A physical sea

The turbulent currents of darkness did not release me gently. They shattered with the explosive impact of breaking thick ice underneath my weight, and sent my consciousness plummeting down to the stone floors of a place where I desperately did not want to be. The familiar, gentle smell of dried star-thistle and warm pine of Draven’s council room disappeared in an instant, replaced by the choking, damp stench of ancient earth, rancid tallow candles and moist iron.I took in a deep phantom breath, grounding the invisible magical tether of my innate power as the dream realm crystallized into harsh, unforgiving reality.The moment I took in that deep breath, I knew something was wrong in the room.The room was subterranean, carved out of the living bedrock without any mortar or timber. Continuous streams of moisture dripped down the jagged seams of stone, gathering in small pools of stagnant water along the perimeter of the floor. The cold in this place was not natural weather; it was th

The cold pre-dawn air of the northern gorge was drenched in the fine spray of a raging waterfall, which plunged down between the sharp peaks of the Twin Fangs. Below the torrential flow of the whitewater, submerged under the black rock and the gnarled roots, were the rusting iron gates of the sunken garrison.Twenty warriors in their full power marched in complete silence. Kael’s trackers kept to the low rocks of the western ledge, their senses on edge because of the unnatural suppression hanging in the air, while the royal sentries from Draven climbed up the crumbling stones of the upper cliff. Draven walked right next to me, his dark figure emanating the predatory air that pierced through the freezing air.Approaching the subterranean gate of the intake, we were met with the wall of invisible static. It smelled of burnt sulfur and curdled ash, a dense, shimmering magic barrier made of the blood magic that was intended to paralyze any werewolf crossing the barrier. Behind me, Beta J

Amber dancing shadows played against the stone walls and thick wool rugs in the sanctity of the private sanctuary. After the grueling ride from the northern gorge, as well as the subsequent inspection by Mother Elara of Leo to make sure that he sustained no physical damage nor magical influence, the heavy silence had descended upon the stronghold for the evening.Sleeping in the middle of the big feather bed, Leo was illuminated by the light of the fire. Wrapped in warm and cozy linen, his tiny chest heaved steadily, the little hand resting against his cheek. I sat on the edge of the mattress, caressing his dark curls with my fingers, unable to take my eyes off of him for even a moment. The terrifying fear that had haunted me all day had gone, replaced with a deep, profound relief.The door opened quietly, revealing Draven who had stripped from his blood-soaked battle leathers and changed into a simple dark tunic. Moving across the room with his usual graceful ease, he paused next t

In the morning, I awoke in Draven’s bed, being tightly held by him, pressed against the firmness of his chest. He breathed evenly, and the sound of his heart, beating quietly against my cheek, helped to chase away all the cold left by the northern gorge. After those terrible hours spent in the fear and flight, finding Leo peacefully sleeping in the cradle just a few feet away seemed like an impossible blessing.He made some babbling sounds, moving his little fists in the air, completely unaware of the old grudge that had put a target mark on him. I got out from under the thick wool blankets, put on a dark tunic and picked up my baby boy in my arms, feeling his warm cheeks pressing against my neck and his tiny fingers clutching at my collar. I allowed myself to enjoy the moment, staying in Draven’s arms for some time. The proposal of the previous night still lingered in my head, not as a dream impossible to come true but as a quiet and steady promise of what would wait for us after th