The Alpha's Treasured Luna

Chapter11

What incredible strength. It's a shame she can’t use her wolf yet. We might be safe for now, but we definitely can’t stay here. Allistar’s gray fur was matted with blood, his breaths shallow. He scanned the area, trying to devise a plan. His bones were broken, his healing agonizingly slow. Worse still, Erica was unconscious beside him, her wounds far more severe.

He nudged her limp form with his muzzle, willing her to wake. She didn’t stir. With a deep, painful breath, he struggled to his feet. Every step sent jolts of agony through his body, but he had no choice. If they stayed, they would die.

The wolf nudged Erica gently with his muzzle, her body limp as he managed to get her over his back. His muscles screamed in protest, his vision blurring from the sheer agony of movement. But he had no choice.

"Come on, old boy. Just a little further... Margo must know something is wrong by now." The wolf's thoughts turned to his mate, Margo. The memory of her gave him strength, pushing him to take another labored step.

Alex bolted upright as his phone rang loudly beneath his pillow. He grabbed it, blinking at the multiple missed calls from his grandmother, Margo Sun. Before he could respond, his father’s urgent mind-link cut through his thoughts.

"Alex, your grandmother is in distress. Get dressed; we’re leaving in five minutes."

The link severed, leaving Alex scrambling. He quickly pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants and a white shirt, shoving a few essentials into a knapsack. He met his father at the base of the stairs, who was already prepared for action.

“What’s going on, Dad?” Alex asked, noticing his father's grim expression.

“Margo says Allistar is badly hurt and needs our help.” His father’s voice was tight.

“Allistar?” Alex's heart skipped. His grandfather, who had vanished ten years ago, was suddenly back in their lives. Thoughts jumbled as Alex shifted into his wolf form—a large, sleek white wolf with silver eyes. His father, Aeseni, followed suit, transforming into a giant wolf with silver ears and a piercing sapphire gaze.

They set off at lightning speed through the dense woods, the scent of urgency driving them forward.

At a small Tudor-style cottage, Margo Sun worked swiftly, cleaning the deep gashes and wounds that covered the large gray wolf on her back porch. The old woman muttered under her breath, a mixture of worry and anger swirling inside her.

“Allistar, what trouble have you gotten yourself into? And now, you’ve dragged that poor girl into it as well,” she scolded. He let out a low growl, too weak to respond, and nuzzled her hand in silent apology.

Margo wiped her face, gathering her composure. She returned inside the house to check on the girl. In the small bedroom, Erica lay still, bandaged but unconscious. Her breathing was steady, almost peaceful, if not for the bruises and cuts that marred her skin.

“My goodness, she looks just like Elowen,” Margo whispered, her fingers gently brushing Erica’s cheek. The resemblance was striking, and it stirred memories of a past she'd long tried to forget.

Suddenly, a commanding voice snapped her from her thoughts.

“Margo Sun!” A familiar voice boomed from outside.

Margo rushed to the door, her heart leaping as she saw two large white wolves before her. “Hello, Mother,” Aeseni said, his voice soft but urgent as he shifted back into his human form.

“Come inside, quickly,” Margo motioned for them to follow her. She hadn’t seen her son and grandson in a long time, and this was no time for formalities.

Alex entered first, his eyes darting around. “Grandma, you said Grandpa is hurt?” The worry was clear in his voice.

Margo gave him a tight-lipped smile. “You’ve grown so much, Alex. You’ll make a fine Alpha soon enough—once you find your Luna, of course.”

“I’m already engaged, to an Alpha’s daughter,” Alex replied, a slight frown crossing his face. The mention of his arranged engagement to Demetria brought a strange unease he couldn’t quite place.

“That sounds practical,” Margo commented, “but what will you do when you find your fated mate?”

Before Alex could respond, Aeseni cut in. “Mother, this isn’t the time for that. Where’s Allistar?”

Margo gestured toward the back. “He’s resting outside. Go see him.” Aeseni immediately hurried to the porch, with Alex following closely behind.

On the porch, Aeseni knelt beside the large wolf. “Father... what happened to you?” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “Who did this?”

“Allistar was attacked by three rogue wolves—brown with glowing red eyes,” Margo said quietly. “He believes they were demon-possessed.”

Aeseni’s face darkened with fury. “Where are they now?” he demanded.

“Dead.”

The air grew tense as Alex and Aeseni exchanged glances. “Grandpa killed them?” Alex asked, uncertainty clouding his thoughts.

“No,” Margo replied. “He was saved by a member of your pack. Erica Hood.”

Alex’s heart pounded. “Where is she?” His voice was frantic now, his worry palpable.

“She’s resting in the spare room,” Margo reassured him, stopping him before he rushed off. “But you need to hear the rest.”

Aeseni’s voice was firm. “Explain, Mother.”

Margo took a deep breath. “Your grandfather can’t shift back to human form. For ten years now, he’s been trapped in his wolf form, cursed by dark magic.”

“Dark magic?” Alex's eyes widened.

“Yes, ten years ago, when Elowen disappeared…” Margo’s voice trembled slightly.

“Elowen was like a daughter to us. We raised her from a pup. Allistar found her abandoned near the pack’s borders, and though we suspected she was a hybrid, she never shifted. On her eighteenth birthday, we still held out hope, but the shift never came.” Margo’s eyes glistened with old sorrow. “When she disappeared, it nearly destroyed Allistar. He led countless search parties with Aeseni by his side, but it was never enough.”

Aeseni lowered his gaze, guilt tugging at him.

“One day, they thought they found a lead, but it was a trap. Allistar pushed Aeseni out of the way just before a dark spell was cast on him. It was the work of dark elves.” Margo paused, her voice trembling. “Since that day, he’s been trapped in his wolf form.”

Alex's mind reeled. “But why would they take Erica’s mother? What does any of this have to do with her?”

Before anyone could answer, a quiet voice spoke from the doorway.

“So that’s why my mom went missing,” Erica said softly, her face pale but determined. All eyes turned to her as she leaned against the doorframe, the weight of long-buried secrets pressing down on her.