Scent of the Alpha

Chapter 6: Blood Behind the Moon

"Eros?"

My voice sounded hoarse, echoing between the high pillars of the room that now felt vast and lonely. I reached out to the side of the bed, but all I found were satin sheets that had already grown cold. The remnants of last night’s warmth seemed to evaporate with the morning mist peeking through the large window.

A dull ache throbbed at the base of my neck—a burning sensation confirming that the mark was truly there. I tried to stand up, but the world suddenly spun so violently that I had to grab the bedpost for support.

"Damn, why does my head hurt this much?" I muttered, massaging my throbbing temples.

The union... was the effect really this heavy on my human body? I remembered how Eros held me last night, whispering promises that made me feel like the luckiest woman alive. But now, he had vanished just as I woke up in my most vulnerable state.

With unsteady steps, I grabbed a silk robe and threw it on to cover my weak body. I had to find him. I needed an explanation—or at least a hug to reassure me that all of this was real.

I stepped out of the room and walked down the corridor. The floor felt like ice beneath my bare feet. The castle was silent; it always had a way of feeling both terrifying and magnificent at the same time.

I stopped in my tracks as I passed an oak door that was slightly ajar in the left wing of the building. The faint clinking of a spoon against a porcelain plate drifted from inside.

"Just a little more, Sera. You need to finish this soup to get your strength back."

My heart sank. That deep, low baritone belonged to Eros—and it was so incredibly tender. I braved myself to peek through the gap in the door.

Inside, Eros was sitting on the edge of a neatly made bed. A beautiful girl with a pale face and golden-blonde hair leaned against a pile of silk pillows. She looked so fragile, as if a single gust of wind could shatter her tiny frame. Eros held a bowl of soup, feeding her with movements that were patient and full of care.

A sudden tightness filled my chest—a strange sensation that pinched at my heart.

"Eros?" I called out softly, trying to hide the tremor in my throat.

Eros flinched. He turned toward the door, and his golden eyes immediately met mine. "Aira? You’re awake?" He looked surprised, yet he didn't move from his seat.

I stepped into the room, trying to keep my face as calm as possible despite the turmoil inside. "Sorry if I’m interrupting. I was looking for you," I said with a forced, thin smile.

The girl in the bed stared at me with large blue eyes. There was a spark of curiosity in her gaze. "Oh, so this is Miss Aira? The guest everyone has been talking about?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.

Eros set the bowl on the nightstand and stood up, but he remained close to her bedside. "Aira, let me introduce you. This is Sera, Silas’s daughter," Eros said, his tone very serious.

"Hello, Sera. I’m Aira." I nodded politely, trying to act mature even as jealousy began to cloud my mind.

Sera smiled. It was a smile that looked sincere but somehow made me feel threatened.

"Eros, who exactly is Sera? Why do you have to care for her personally like this?" I asked, keeping my voice controlled. I didn't want to look like a crazy, jealous woman; I wanted to look like someone trying to understand the situation.

Eros took a long breath. He looked at Sera for a moment before turning back to me with a heavy gaze. "Sera has been vital to me and this pack, Aira," he answered slowly.

"What do you mean?" I frowned, seeking a deeper explanation.

"While you weren't here... before I found my Luna... Sera was the one who helped me survive," he continued. "She supplied me with artificial Luna energy so I could keep my feral wolf side under control."

I stood frozen, feeling as if I had been doused with ice water in the middle of winter. "She gave her energy to you? How?"

"Through an ancient energy bond that Silas taught us. It’s very draining, Aira," Eros explained. "Because she supplied me with energy for so long, Sera’s body became weak and fragile like this. She sacrificed her health for my safety so I could be a strong Alpha to lead the pack."

I looked at Sera, who was now looking down. Her face seemed even paler as Eros recounted her sacrifice.

"So... you feel like you owe her?" I concluded, trying to stay objective.

"It’s not just a feeling, Aira. I owe her my life," Eros stated firmly. "Without her support over the last three years, I might have lost my mind and become a wild monster."

I fell silent, processing the fact that another woman occupied the role of 'savior' in the life of the man I loved.

"But I’m here now, Eros. I’m your Luna. Why are you still doing this?" I asked softly. I wasn't shouting or angry; I just wanted to know where I stood.

Eros stepped closer and held my shoulders, though his eyes still flickered toward Sera. "The 'Silver-Blood' energy inside you is immense, Aira, but you can't control it yet," he said calmly. "Our union last night caused you to faint and put your body through a massive shock. If I forced myself to take energy from you now, it would put your life in danger. I don't want you hurt because of my ego, so for now, I still have to rely on Sera."

Hearing that explanation, I felt something break inside me, but I could only nod. "I understand, Eros. You’re doing this for my sake too, right?" I said with the strongest voice I could muster.

In my heart, I wanted to scream that I didn't mind being in pain as long as he didn't touch another woman's energy. But I saw how pale Sera was, and I felt like a villain for wanting him to leave her.

"Thank you for understanding, Aira. I know you’re a wise woman." Eros stroked my cheek gently. His touch was warm, but a bitter taste lingered in my mouth as I saw the way Sera looked at him. It wasn't the look of a friend or a servant; it was the look of a woman who felt she had a claim on him.

"Sera, is there anything else you need? I’m going to walk Aira back to her room," Eros said to the girl.

Sera shook her head weakly, giving a thin smile that looked sweet yet painful to me. "It’s okay, Eros. Go be with your Luna. I can rest here by myself," she said resignedly. The way she said 'your Luna' felt like a thorn she had hidden in her beautiful sentence.

Eros wrapped his arm around my waist, guiding me out of the room, but my mind stayed behind. Throughout the walk to my room, I remained silent, listening to my heavy heartbeat.

"You're not mad at me, right?" Eros asked once we reached my door.

I looked at him, staring into the golden eyes that always made me melt in an instant. "No, Eros. I understand the situation. She helped you when I wasn't there; I should be grateful to her," I lied.

I hated myself for lying. I hated that I had to act so saintly in the face of this pain. Eros kissed my forehead for a long time—a kiss that was supposed to calm me, but only made me feel more like a stranger.

"Get some more rest. I have to meet Silas to discuss pack business. I’ll see you at lunch," he said.

I watched his back as he walked away, heading back in the direction we had just come from—back toward Sera's room. I went into my room, closed the door tight, and leaned against the cold wood.

*Jealousy.*

The word finally appeared clearly in my head, tearing apart the fake peace I had put on. I was his Luna, his mate, so why did I feel like an outsider who had just intruded on someone else's life?

I looked into the mirror, staring at the mark on my neck that now felt like a cruel irony. It turns out winning an Alpha’s heart wasn't as easy as writing the final chapter of my novels. Here, in Obsidian Castle, there was a history I couldn't erase with just one night.

And Sera... she wasn't just a weak girl. She was a reminder that I was the newcomer in Eros's world.

*I have to be stronger,* I thought, clenching my fists. I couldn't let this jealousy destroy me, but I also couldn't just be a spectator in my own life. Behind Sera’s pale face and Eros’s sweet promises, I could feel a massive storm brewing.