Moon Blood: Rise Of The Hidden Alpha

Beneath the Full Moon

🫶LEXI🫶

Before dawn, I woke with my heart hammering.

Another dream and Another voice.

"Protect the Princess!"

The desperate cry echoed through my mind until it faded into silence.

I sat upright, breathing hard.

The room was dark except for the faint silver glow coming from the pendant resting against my chest.

"...Again."

My fingers wrapped around it. It felt warm.

Almost...alive.

I climbed out of bed and quietly opened the window.

The cold morning air rushed inside.

Then I frowned.

Birds.

I could hear birds singing. Not the ones perched near the compound.

Farther.

Much farther away, almost as though they were scattered across the entire forest.

"...That's impossible."

Closing my eyes, I listened harder.

Leaves rustled. Water flowed somewhere downstream. Someone chopped firewood outside the eastern wall. A woman laughed near the kitchens.

Then...

The smell reached me.

Fresh bread. Roasted meat. Herbs.

Breakfast.

The kitchens hadn't even rung the morning bell yet.

A chill crept down my spine.

"What is happening to me?"

Needing to prove I wasn't imagining things, I slipped outside before the compound fully woke.

Near the well sat an empty metal bucket.

I grabbed its handle.

"I'll just move it..."

I lifted.

CRRK.

The metal handle bent beneath my fingers. My eyes widened as I immediately dropped it.

The bucket hit the ground with a loud clang.

"No..."

I looked around frantically.

Nobody had seen.

It was a relief.

I quickly tried bending the handle back into shape but it only became worse.

"...Great."

Soon, I heard footsteps. Someone was coming.

Long before the figure appeared around the corner, I already knew who it was.

Tomas.

Wait...how?

A second later, he rounded the building exactly where I'd expected.

"Morning."

I jumped.

"You scared me."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I was still like twenty steps away."

"I know."

"Then why'd you jump?"

"I..." I forced a smile. "Didn't expect you to actually come."

He chuckled.

“Okay, you're weird this morning.”

I waited until he walked away before looking down at my hands.

Whatever was happening...It was getting stronger.

And it terrified me.

•Third Person P.O.V•

Merchant Gretonia had always believed that patience was far more dangerous than violence.

The silver dagger incident had already achieved its purpose.

It wasn't meant to hurt Lexi. It was meant to answer a question.

Instead...It had created ten more.

That morning, Gretonia walked through the hunters compound wearing his usual pleasant smile, greeting everyone as though nothing had happened.

Hunters waved respectfully.

Some even apologized on his behalf for Harlan's outburst the other day.

Gretonia accepted every apology with humility.

"I truly regret what happened," he said warmly. "An unfortunate accident."

Only Harlan Dawson didn't look convinced.

Neither did Tomas.

Their eyes never left the merchant.

Lexi was helping arrange newly delivered supplies as usual, outside the armory when Gretonia approached.

"My dear Lexi."

She looked up politely.

"Good morning."

He offered a small wooden box tied with a neat ribbon.

"A gift."

She looked at the box, then at him in confusion.

"...For me?"

He smiled. "I felt terrible after yesterday's incident."

"You were injured because of my clumsiness. I couldn't allow that to go unanswered."

Lexi hesitated before accepting it.

Inside lay a beautifully carved silver hairpin shaped like a crescent moon.

It was elegant.

Simple but surprisingly expensive.

"It's beautiful," she admitted.

"I'm glad you like it."

Harlan, who had been watching from nearby, stepped closer.

"You didn't have to do that."

Gretonia chuckled softly.

"A merchant values good relationships."

"I simply wish to make peace."

Harlan studied him for several long seconds before giving a small nod.

"Very well."

"Thank you." Lexi said.

Gretonia inclined his head before walking away, looking every bit like a generous traveling merchant.

But once he was far enough from the training grounds, his pleasant expression disappeared completely.

One of his trusted agents silently appeared beside him.

"My lord."

Gretonia didn't stop walking.

"Report."

"No unusual wolf activity."

"I wasn't asking about wolves."

The agent frowned.

Gretonia's blue eyes narrowed.

"Forget the rogues. Forget Kaelen."

The agent looked surprised.

"My lord?"

Gretonia finally stopped. His voice became cold.

"From this moment onward..."

"...don't watch the wolves."

He turned his gaze toward the distant training yard, where Lexi laughed awkwardly at something Tomas had said.

"Watch the girl."

“I want full focus on her.”

The agent followed his gaze.

"I believe she's the key," Gretonia said quietly, "that everyone else is looking in the wrong direction."

His fingers tightened around the leather glove covering his hand.

"If I'm right..."

"...the wolves aren't protecting the kingdom."

"They're protecting her."

A slow smile spread across his face.

"And if that's true...then the greatest treasure in these forests isn't hiding in a cave."

"It's living inside this compound."

The agent lowered his head.

"I understand."

Without another word, he disappeared into the shadows.

Gretonia remained where he was, watching Lexi from afar.

She laughed again at something Tomas said.

She looked so...ordinary.

Yet Gretonia knew better than to trust appearances.

He had hunted monsters for decades.

Sometimes...The most dangerous ones didn't know what they were yet.

🫶LEXI🫶

Night arrived beneath the glow of a half hidden moon.

The compound was quieter this time, as usual. Most of the hunters had retired early after another exhausting day of patrols, while the night watch took their positions along the walls.

Sleep refused to come. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

The strange strength. The heightened senses. The dreams. Gretonia's unsettling kindness.

And above all...

Kaelen.

My hand drifted to the pendant resting against my chest.

"I just need full answers."

I slipped out through the same hidden route I'd used before, careful not to alert the guards. The forest welcomed me with cool air and the scent of damp earth.

The full moon hung high above the Whispering Woods, bathing everything in silver light.

I hadn't gone far before a voice spoke from above.

"Looking for your boyfriend?"

I yelped and instinctively reached for the small hunting knife at my belt.

The girl with fiery orange-red hair was hanging upside down from a thick tree branch, her amber eyes dancing with amusement.

She grinned.

"Boo."

I let out a long breath. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"You hunters scare too easily." She smirked.

"I'm not scared." I said in my defense.

"You screamed."

"I...was surprised."

"Mhm."

She flipped gracefully from the branch, landing without making a sound.

I folded my arms.

"You enjoy doing that, don't you?"

"A little."

She flashed a smug smile.

"So?" She leaned forward. "Where's the overgrown puppy?"

"There is no puppy."

"I wasn't talking about a puppy." She shrugged.

"I know."

"Then there is a boyfriend."

"There isn't!"

She laughed so hard she had to wipe a tear from her eye.

"I've got five tails and even I can see it."

My cheeks warmed.

"You've got the wrong idea."

"Oh?"

"I came here because I need answers."

"Mm-hmm."

"Not because of him."

"Sure."

I sighed. "You are impossible."

"So I've been told."

She extended a hand toward me.

"Name's Homura."

I looked at her hand before shaking it.

"...Lexi."

Homura smiled faintly. "So that's your name."

I raised an eyebrow. "You didn't know?"

She shrugged.

“Was I supposed to?”

“Well considering you love sneaking up here and there, I thought you probably knew my name at least. But then again, you leave abrubtly, before we can exchange names."

"...Fair enough." She tilted her head with a teasing grin.

"So..."

"We're even now?"

I smiled hopefully.

"I saved you."

"You did." She replied.

"You stole my groceries." I scowled at her..

"I did."

"So we're even."

Homura pretended to think.

"...No."

I blinked. "No?"

"I also broke into your room and stole your food."

I stared at her.

"Right...."

"And your bread was delicious."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You really have no shame."

"Not even a little."

The teasing faded from her face as her expression became serious.

"I wasn't joking before."

I looked at her. "About what?"

"That man...Gretonia."

A cold breeze swept through the trees.

"He really is hunting bloodlines."

The humor vanished completely.

"So tell me," I said quietly.

"What exactly is a bloodline?"

🦊HOMURA🦊

For a moment, I simply stared at the hunter girl who claimed she wasn't a hunter. She looked genuinely confused.

Wait is she not pretending?

Isn't this a tactic for fishing for information?

No, that's not it.

She really had no idea.

I let out a quiet sigh and leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree.

"The world is much bigger than you think, Lexi."

She remained silent, listening.

"You humans believe you're alone." I shook my head. "You're not."

I held up a finger. "There are werewolves."

A second finger. "Kitsunes."

A third. "Witches."

A fourth. "Vampires."

Then, a fifth. "And spirits."

Lexi's eyes widened slightly.

"I thought the rest were just stories. I grew up only knowing about werewolves."

"They were," I replied with a small smile. "Stories told by humans who witnessed things they couldn't explain."

The smile faded.

"Long ago, our races weren't constantly at each other's throats."

"There were treaties."

"Borders."

"Laws."

"Even peace."

I looked up at the full moon shining through the trees.

"It wasn't perfect... but it worked."

"What changed?" Lexi asked quietly.

"I don't know."

It was the truth.

"One by one, the old bloodlines began disappearing."

"Wolf royalty."

"Ancient witch families."

"Kitsune clans."

"Powerful vampire houses."

"They either vanished...or were wiped out."

A chill passed through the forest.

Lexi frowned.

"And Gretonia?"

My expression darkened. "He always appears."

She blinked, still confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean..." I looked directly into her eyes. "Whenever an ancient bloodline falls... somehow, somewhere... Gretonia is nearby."

"I've seen it myself."

"My clan lost many of our elders years ago."

"We never proved anything."

"But his name kept surfacing."

I folded my arms. "He's no ordinary merchant."

"What is he then?"

"I wish I knew."I sighed as I glanced toward the dark forest beyond us.

"But I know one thing."

"He isn't collecting silver."

"He isn't collecting monsters."

My voice lowered.

"He's collecting something far more valuable than those things."

"What?"

I shook my head.

"I don't know."

Even I was clueless.

"But whatever it is..." I continued.

"...it's worth killing entire bloodlines for."

Silence settled between us. Lexi looked down at the pendant around her neck, unconsciously gripping it.

"So..." she murmured.

"That's why you warned me."

I nodded once.

"If Gretonia starts asking questions about you..."

"Don't answer them."

"If he starts acting kind..."

"Be even more careful."

"The nicest smile can hide the sharpest knife."

Before Lexi could respond, both our heads snapped toward the trees.

Someone was coming fast.

Very fast.

The forest suddenly fell unnaturally quiet. My ears twitched.

A familiar scent rode the wind.

I sighed dramatically.

"...Speak of the overgrown puppy."

A branch creaked overhead and before either of us could react, a dark figure dropped from the trees, landing silently between Lexi and me.

Kaelen.

He instinctively placed himself in front of Lexi, his eyes fixed on me.

"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh good. The overgrown puppy is here."

His brows twitched.

"I'm not a puppy."

"You look like one."

A low growl escaped him.

Lexi looked between us in confusion.

"...Do you two know each other?"

I shrugged. "I know what he is."

"And he knows what I am. That's enough."

We crossed paths severally in the forest before. And who didn't know about the Alpha wolf that was banished from his pack?

And I always saw him lurking around the hunters quarters, watching Lexi.

Which is still kind of strange to me.

Kaelen didn't take his eyes off me.

"What do you want?"

"I'm not here to fight." I replied, raising my hands up.

His posture remained tense.

Tch!

"I said..."

"I'm not here to fight."

Silence followed, then I looked past him at Lexi.

"How are you even involved with him?"

"You're clearly a hunter..."

"...and your boyfriend is this overgrown puppy?"

Both of them answered at the exact same time.

"I've never hunted wolves before!" Lexi blurted.

"I'm not an overgrown puppy," Kaelen growled.

I blinked.

"...Okay."

I folded my arms thoughtfully.

"So neither of you denied the boyfriend part."

Lexi let out an embarrassed groan and covered her face.

"Oh, for goodness' sake..."

Kaelen slowly closed his eyes.

For a brief second...I was pretty sure he genuinely questioned his sanity.

I couldn't help smiling.

Then my expression became serious. "I didn't come here to tease you."

The atmosphere changed immediately.

Kaelen's gaze sharpened.

"What happened?"

I looked directly at him.

"After she rescued me..."

"I escaped."

"But before I did...they took samples."

His expression darkened.

"Samples?"

"My blood. I couldn't stop them."

Kaelen's jaw clenched and Lexi looked between us.

"Why is that a problem?"

I answered before Kaelen could.

"My blood isn't just blood."

"Neither is his."

"Blood from the ancient races carries more than life."

"It carries our bloodline."

Kaelen lowered his head for a moment before looking back at me.

"If he has started collecting blood...this is worse than I imagined."

The breeze suddenly felt colder. None of us spoke. Even Kaelen, the almighty rogue Alpha looked genuinely worried.

🫶LEXI🫶

Homura glanced between us before taking a step back.

"I've said what I came to say."

She looked at me one last time.

"Be careful, Lexi."

Then, with a small leap, she transformed into her fox form and disappeared into the trees as quickly as she'd arrived.

The forest fell quiet once more. For a few moments, neither of us spoke.

Kaelen finally turned to me.

Without a word, he gently took my injured hand into his.

His thumb brushed over the thin scar left by Gretonia's silver dagger.

He frowned.

His expression became unreadable.

"...Uh...why are you here?" I asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

He immediately released my hand.

"I was patrolling the area."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you left with your pack."

"I did."

"Then why are you still patrolling around here when you don't even stay nearby anymore?"

For once...he seemed to have no answer.

I folded my arms. "Or wait..."

His hazel eyes met mine.

"Were you worried about me?"

"...No."

I smiled faintly.

"Liar."

He scoffed. "You're getting too bold."

"I could hurt you." His voice lowered.

"Or worse...kill you."

"You won't." I answered without hesitation.

We stared at each other and neither of us looked away.

The strange pull between us returned, stronger than ever.

I cleared my throat first.

"So..."

"You're really the Alpha of your pack?"

He gave a small nod.

"There are so many questions I want answered."

I sighed.

"You and that annoying sly fox keep telling me half the story and I'm left even more confused."

Kaelen opened his mouth to speak.

I cut him off.

"Who am I?"

He paused.

I looked down at my hands.

"...No."

"What am I?"

"My senses are changing."

"I'm stronger."

"I keep seeing places I've never been."

"I keep having dreams that feel like memories."

I slowly looked back at him.

"And somehow..."

"I can't stop thinking about you."

"It feels like..."

"I'm always being pulled toward you."

"You—"

A sharp pain exploded through my head. I gasped, cutting him off.

My knees buckled beneath me.

"It hurts..."

I clutched my head, staggering backwards.

The full moon emerged completely from behind the clouds.

Its silver light flooded the forest.

The pain became unbearable.

"It hurts so much..."

"Make it stop..."

Kaelen stepped forward instinctively, his own body trembling.

He looked like he was fighting to break free under the full moon's call.

He gritted his teeth, trying to resist.

It was useless.

Bones shifted. Muscles expanded.

Within moments, a massive black wolf stood where Kaelen had been, its gold eyes fixed entirely on me.

Everything hurt.

My body felt as though it was being torn apart from the inside.

The pendant around my neck blazed with brilliant silver light.

The wolf slowly approached.

Not like a predator. But like something...worried.

He lowered his head carefully until his forehead rested gently against mine. The moment our foreheads touched...

The pain stopped.

The forest fell silent.

The pendant shone brighter than ever before, bathing us both in silver light.

I lifted a trembling hand and gently ran my fingers through the soft fur on his face.

Tears blurred my vision.

My voice came out barely above a whisper.

"...What am I to you?"

The wolf didn't move.

He simply remained there, forehead against mine...

As though protecting me from a pain neither of us understood.

*

•Third Person's P O V•

Far away...

Inside Gretonia's private caravan, a hooded figure stepped through the entrance.

Gretonia looked up from the ancient documents spread across his desk.

A slow smile crossed his face.

"You came."

The stranger lowered their hood.

The silver crest stitched onto their cloak revealed their allegiance immediately.

MoonBlood.

Gretonia folded his hands.

"I believe I've found someone."

The stranger's eyes narrowed.

"The Princess?"

Gretonia didn't answer.

Instead, he leaned back in his chair.

"Find me proof first."

The stranger gave a single nod before disappearing back into the night.

Gretonia remained alone, the corners of his mouth lifting into a knowing smile.

"The game," he murmured,

"...has finally begun."