Moonblood

Chapter 9 - Clash of Young Wolves

Ignacio sat upon his throne. His eyes were dull, weary, and filled with restrained irritation. Across from him stood Barbara, her arms folded tightly against her chest, as if reading something unseen in the air—an unease that refused to be silenced.

Suddenly, the heavy doors swung open.

A figure immediately knelt on the stone floor.

It was Rustan.

Rustan (voice low, trembling):

“My Lord… I have news.”

Ignacio slowly lifted his gaze. Not a single emotion crossed his face.

Ignacio:

“Speak.”

Rustan took a deep breath, carefully choosing every word that left his lips.

Rustan:

“I overheard Juanico and Emmanuel talking… inside the hut where they are being held.”

Barbara’s brows furrowed slightly.

Barbara:

“And what were those prisoners talking about?”

Rustan:

“It was… about the last White Wolf bloodline.”

Ignacio’s brow creased, but he did not respond at once.

Rustan:

“They said the child who was destined… fell gravely ill. Very ill. And… and died!”

A heavy silence engulfed the hall.

It was as if time itself had stopped.

Barbara (slowly, uncertain):

“Are you sure about what you heard?”

Rustan:

“Yes—yes, I am. I heard it. One of them was even crying. They sounded like they had lost all hope.”

Ignacio stared into nothingness. Slowly, his jaw relaxed, and the tension in his shoulders eased—as if he, too, had grown tired of hoping for a war that might no longer exist.

Ignacio (low, cold):

“If that child is dead… then Lucien’s bloodline is finished.”

Barbara stepped closer.

Barbara:

“But what if—”

Ignacio (cutting her off, firm):

“I refuse to waste any more time on the ghosts of the past, Barbara.”

He rose from his throne, his steps heavy yet resolute.

Ignacio:

“Lucien’s era ended long ago. And if anything remained of it, it should have died with time.”

Barbara watched him silently—clearly wanting to say something, yet choosing to hold her tongue.

Ignacio (exhaling deeply):

“I have more urgent matters to deal with.”

He walked toward the table where documents and reports lay scattered.

Ignacio:

“The casino in the City… continues to suffer losses. If I fail to fix this, I’ll lose control over my alliances.”

Barbara (carefully):

“So you’re just going to set aside the matter of the White Wolf like that?”

Ignacio (irritated, exhausted):

“I would rather face reality than chase a legend!”

He turned to Rustan.

Ignacio:

“You did well, Rustan. For that, you will be rewarded. You may spend one full day with your loved ones. But remember— you heard nothing, and you saw nothing. Is that clear?”

Rustan:

“Y-yes, My Lord… thank you very much.”

The servant bowed deeply and hurried away, unable to hide his joy. The hall was left with only the husband and wife.

Silent.

Yet within that silence, a question remained awake in Barbara’s mind—a suspicion that refused to die.

Barbara (thoughts):

“If the last White Wolf is truly dead… then why does it feel like this isn’t the end?”

And on the other side of the world—a child still breathing, still alive, and still protected by fate—remained a secret.

For now.

@ Diego Institute of Technology School

(Canteen – Break Time)

At exactly 9:00 in the morning, first-grade students lined up and poured out of their classrooms. As they reached the canteen, the air filled with laughter, the clinking of spoons, and the comforting scent of packed lunches.

Lorenzo sat at a long table with a few of his classmates. He ate quietly, neatly, just as he always did. His lunch—rice and viand—had been lovingly prepared by Aling Aurora.

Lorenzo (smiling at a friend):

“This is really good. My mama Aurora cooked it.”

Before he could finish his sentence, a shadow stopped in front of him.

Jacob.

He stood there, posture arrogant and confident.

Jacob (grinning mockingly):

“Hey. You’ve got a lot of food. Give me some.”

Lorenzo glanced at his lunch, then up at Jacob.

Lorenzo (calmly):

“Okay… but just a little.”

Jacob smirked.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Lorenzo’s food—not just a little, but nearly half of it.

The children around them froze.

At first, Lorenzo stayed silent. But when he looked back into his lunchbox almost empty.

Lorenzo (soft voice, trembling):

“Jacob… stop. That’s mine!”

Jacob (laughing):

“It’s good, so I’m just taking all of it! Hahaha!”

A sudden pain struck Lorenzo’s chest.

A heat he couldn’t explain.

Beneath his uniform—

a mark on his chest flickered.

A faint glow. Blue. Cold, yet powerful.

Slowly, Lorenzo’s eyes changed—from innocent brown

to a deep blue, like the night sky.

Lorenzo (voice firm, grabbing his food back):

“Give it back! Mama Aurora cooked that for me!”

Some of the children gasped.

But Jacob’s expression darkened.

Inside him, something stirred as well—

a black, heavy, reckless force awakening.

Jacob (shouting):

“I said it’s mine now!”

He suddenly shoved Lorenzo.

Lorenzo fell to the floor.

Shock flashed across his face—

but anger burned stronger.

He stood up.

The glow in his chest flared again,

brighter, clearer, stronger.

Lorenzo (angry, shaking):

“Don’t you—”

Before he could move—

“STOP!”

A sharp voice echoed through the canteen.

Teachers rushed in from every direction.

Teacher 1 (stern):

“What is going on here?!”

Teacher 2 (pulling Jacob away):

“Jacob! What did you do?!”

Teacher 3 (helping Lorenzo):

“Lorenzo, are you okay?”

The light in Lorenzo’s chest slowly faded.

His eyes returned to normal but the fear inside him remained.

Jacob (frowning, shouting):

“He started it!”

Lorenzo (soft, shaking):

“I—I didn’t…”

The canteen fell silent.

No one spoke.

Teacher 1 (serious):

“You’re both going to the guidance office. We’ll be calling your guardians. Understood.”

Lorenzo and Jacob exchanged glances.

The teachers escorted them toward the guidance office.

Silent.

Far too silent for two children sitting side by side.

Lorenzo sat with his head lowered, hands folded on his knees. He could still feel the faint warmth in his chest—like something struggling to break free, something he was desperately holding back.

Jacob leaned against the wall, chin raised, pretending to be brave. But beneath the tough exterior, fear flickered in his eyes.

Guidance Counselor (calm but serious):

“This wasn’t a simple fight. Someone was hurt, and someone threatened harm.”

Lorenzo looked at Jacob.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Something stirred in the air between them—

an unseen presence, yet undeniably real.

The door opened.

The Principal entered.

Principal (authoritative):

“I’ve spoken with your teachers.”

The room went quiet.

The principal walked to the desk and picked up the phone..

Principal (serious):

“We will now call your parents.”

Lorenzo’s chest tightened.

Lorenzo (thoughts):

“Mama Aurora… what if she finds out?”

Meanwhile, Jacob slowly clenched his fist.

The principal dialed the first number.

Ring… ring…

The world seemed to stop.

Principal:

“Good morning. We need to speak with the guardian of Lorenzo Alcantara.”

On the other end of the line, a voice answered calmly.

Voice on the line:

“What happened?”

Then—

A heavy sigh.

Voice (low, cold):

“Tell my child… I’m coming.”

The air in the room suddenly felt darker.

Lorenzo and Jacob looked at each other.

Lorenzo didn’t know who had answered the call—but one thing was certain.

He was going to get scolded.

Guidance Counselor:

“Thank you very much.”

Next, the guardian of Jacob was called.

In that moment, they both knew—

What was about to happen

could no longer be stopped.

Narrator’s Note:

For the first time, Lorenzo has been sent to guidance.

What will Aling Aurora’s reaction be?

And will Lorenzo’s parents finally discover that Jacob is actually Ignacio’s son? Stay tuned!…

To be continued…