The blood Pack
739 Words
The journey to Blood Moon Pack was unlike anything Elara had imagined.
Lucien walked ahead, silent and composed, while his warriors moved through the forest with practiced precision.
No one spoke unless spoken to.
No one dared question their Alpha.
Yet every now and then, Elara caught them glancing at her.
Not with contempt.
With curiosity.
As if they had been waiting for her.
The thought unsettled her.
She quickened her pace until she was walking beside Lucien.
"You still haven't answered my question."
His golden eyes flickered toward her.
"Which one?"
"Why did you save me?"
"I couldn't leave you there."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're ready for."
Elara frowned.
"You keep talking in riddles."
Lucien's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"And you keep asking questions whose answers would only frighten you."
Before she could press further, the trees began to thin.
The dense forest opened into a breathtaking valley.
Elara stopped in her tracks.
A magnificent city stretched before her.
Massive stone walls encircled elegant buildings with black slate roofs. Crimson banners bearing a silver wolf crest fluttered from towering watchtowers.
Beyond the city stood a magnificent castle carved into the mountainside.
It was grander than Silver Fang's stronghold.
Stronger.
Older.
"This..."
She whispered.
"...is Blood Moon?"
Lucien nodded.
"Home."
Everything she had been taught was a lie.
She had expected bloodstained walls and ruthless warriors.
Instead, she saw bustling streets.
Children laughing.
Merchants trading fresh bread and fruit.
Women tending flower gardens.
The people looked...
Happy.
As Lucien entered through the gates, every citizen stopped what they were doing.
Then, almost in unison...
They bowed.
"My Alpha."
"Welcome home, Alpha."
Lucien acknowledged them with a slight nod.
No arrogance.
No theatrical display of power.
Just quiet respect.
Elara noticed something else.
Not one person looked afraid of him.
An elderly woman stepped forward carrying a basket of fresh bread.
She smiled warmly.
"You've returned safely."
"I have, Mother Agnes."
The old woman noticed Elara standing beside him.
Her eyes softened instantly.
"So this is the young lady."
Lucien gave a barely perceptible nod.
Mother Agnes walked over to Elara and gently took her hands.
"My dear..."
Her eyes shimmered with emotion.
"You've had a difficult journey."
Elara blinked in surprise.
"How did you know?"
"Because only someone carrying great pain wears eyes like yours."
The kindness in the woman's voice almost made Elara cry.
No one in Silver Fang had looked at her with such compassion after her rejection.
Lucien cleared his throat.
"She's exhausted."
Mother Agnes smiled knowingly.
"Of course."
She placed a small loaf of warm bread into Elara's hands.
"No one should arrive home hungry."
Home.
The word caught Elara off guard.
Before she could respond, a loud voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Alpha!"
A young warrior came running toward them.
He stopped abruptly upon seeing Elara.
His eyes widened.
"So the rumors were true."
Lucien's expression hardened.
"What rumors?"
"That you brought a woman back from the Shadow Forest."
The courtyard fell silent.
More citizens had begun gathering, their curiosity impossible to hide.
The young warrior scratched the back of his neck.
"They're saying..."
He hesitated.
"...she's the future Luna."
Several people gasped.
Others smiled hopefully.
Elara nearly dropped the loaf of bread.
"W-What?"
Lucien's face remained unreadable.
"Dismissed."
The warrior immediately bowed.
"Yes, Alpha."
As he hurried away, the whispers only grew louder.
"Future Luna?"
"Could it really be her?"
"The Moon Goddess finally answered his prayers..."
Elara turned to Lucien.
"You need to stop this."
"Stop what?"
"They think I'm..."
She lowered her voice.
"...your Luna."
Lucien looked at her for a long moment.
Then he calmly replied,
"I've never cared much for rumors."
He started walking again.
Completely unfazed.
Elara hurried after him.
"You can't just ignore them!"
"I've ignored worse."
"But they'll believe it!"
Lucien stopped at the foot of the castle steps.
He looked down at her with those piercing golden eyes.
"Then let them."
Before Elara could respond, the great castle doors swung open.
A tall woman dressed in crimson stepped out, flanked by two royal guards.
Her silver eyes locked onto Elara.
Shock flashed across her face.
Then disbelief.
Finally...
Rage.
She descended the steps with measured grace.
When she stopped before Lucien, she didn't even glance at him.
Her gaze remained fixed on Elara.
"So..."
Her voice was smooth as silk.
"This is the woman you've replaced me with."
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