Chapter Four:
The Revelation
In the mystical land of the Silvermoon Territory, the powerful Amber Pack thrived under the benevolent leadership of Luna Aubrey. She was the vessel of the Moon Goddess, and through her, the Amber Pack had prospered for over twenty years. Aubrey's extraordinary strength, wisdom, and the blessings of fertile lands and abundant resources had provided everything the pack needed.
However, the greatest blessing of all was the birth of her child, the daughter who would carry the future of the pack. But on the eve of Alicia's birth, the day that should have been full of joy, a sudden and unexpected tragedy struck.
Aubrey's water broke. A sharp pain shot through her belly, causing her to cry out in agony. Her scream echoed through the halls, drawing the attention of the workers and servants around her. She was overdue, and the pain of labor had come suddenly.
"Call the midwives!" Hazel, Aubrey's maid, yelled urgently.
"My Luna, please, endure," Hazel whispered, trying to calm her. "The midwives will be here soon. Just breathe, in and out."
But nothing Hazel said could soothe her. Aubrey's labor pains intensified, and her world became a blur of agony as she was assisted down the corridor to the inner chamber. She was drifting between trance and reality, unable to focus on anything but the pain coursing through her body.
"Moon Goddess, please speak for your vessel," Aubrey whispered through gritted teeth, her voice barely audible.
The senior midwife's eyes widened in horror as she overheard Aubrey's words. “No, my Luna, don’t get distracted now! The baby is in a dangerous position. We need to get her out before it’s too late!” she cried, panic creeping into her voice.
Suddenly, Aubrey felt as though she was being lifted from the earth, her body suspended in a weightless void. Her surroundings changed. She was no longer in the inner chamber, but surrounded by a radiant glow in the clouds above the earth. She could see the Moon Goddess, her celestial form shining like the brightest star, sitting on a throne in the heavens.
"I thank you, Moon Goddess, for making me what I am. Your people will be forever grateful," Aubrey said with deep gratitude, feeling a wave of peace wash over her.
As the pain continued, Aubrey looked around and saw a massive creature emerge from the clouds—a great Lycan wolf, with twelve heads and eighteen horns, each crowned with a crown of stars. Its long thorn-covered tail cast dark shadows across the heavens, and its aura radiated pure malice.
Aubrey's heart dropped as she recognized the creature. "Lucian," she whispered in disbelief. "You were sent into exile years ago! Who summoned you back?"
Lucian's multiple heads spoke in unison, each voice powerful and chilling. "What I am here for is what you should ask me," he said, his voice causing the very earth to tremble.
Aubrey’s eyes narrowed in realization. She knew why Lucian had come. Someone had summoned him, someone who had the power to break through the blocked portals. Her instincts screamed that this was no coincidence. This was part of something far darker.
"You will do nothing here," Aubrey declared, her voice growing stronger despite the pain. "I sent you away the last time. I won't spare you this time."
Lucian let out a low, mocking laugh. "You think you can stop me in this state?" His voice was filled with disdain as his tail whipped toward Aubrey with blinding speed.
Before Aubrey could react, Lucian's tail struck, cutting through the air and grazing her right thigh. Aubrey staggered but managed to remain standing, fury building inside her.
"Is that all you’ve got?" Aubrey hissed through clenched teeth.
Lucian sneered at her, ready to strike again, but the head midwife’s voice broke through the chaos.
"My Luna, please, focus. We need your help to bring the baby into the world safely," the midwife begged, her voice desperate.
Aubrey’s body was drenched in sweat, her eyes closed in exhaustion. She was struggling between reality and the vision she had with the Moon Goddess. The midwife’s pleas pulled her back into her body, but the battle in the heavens continued to rage inside her.
Meanwhile, in the chamber, Edward arrived, his heart pounding in panic as he saw Aubrey in her trance-like state. He rushed to her side, but the sight of her bloodied thigh sent a wave of terror through him.
"What’s going on?" he demanded, his voice filled with concern.
"Only my Lord is allowed to enter," Aubrey’s maid said, bowing her head in respect.
"The Luna has been in labor for over forty minutes, but she’s in a trance with the Moon Goddess," the head midwife explained fearfully. "I can’t guarantee the safety of the baby, my Lord."
Edward’s face turned pale as he tried to understand the gravity of the situation. "What do you mean? What’s happening to her?" he asked, his voice breaking.
Aubrey’s voice cut through the room. "Come at me if you dare," she yelled, her voice filled with defiance and pain.
Lucian’s voice echoed in the air, cold and unyielding. "Surrender now, and give yourself to me. It won’t be easy if you resist."
"You are doing it again, Lucian," Aubrey growled, her voice icy with contempt. "Using that manipulative sense of calm to make me surrender willingly? Aren’t those the traits of a coward?"
Lucian’s anger flared. His form began to distort as dark energy swirled around him. He raised his palm, ready to strike again, but Aubrey’s resolve only grew stronger.
"Come on, then. Let’s end this," she said through gritted teeth, her eyes burning with determination.
Lucian let out a thunderous roar and lunged toward her. His massive form towered over her as he wrapped his palm around her neck, tightening his grip. But despite the pressure, Aubrey smiled devilishly.
“Let’s die together, then,” she muttered, her forehead bulging with veins as she summoned the last of her strength to chant spiritual words inwardly.
Edward moved closer to her, his heart breaking at the sight of his mate in such torment. He saw the red handprints of Lucian’s grip around her neck, and his blood boiled with rage.
Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the room—the cry of a baby. The midwives turned in disbelief as they saw the child born into this chaos.
Aubrey’s breath came in ragged gasps. Edward rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he tried to support her.
"What’s going on?" the head midwife gasped. "How did she—?"
The room was filled with the noise of the baby’s cries and Edward’s frantic pleas for answers. He looked to the head priest, but the priest was nowhere to be found. Gabriel and Silas, hearing the commotion, quickly returned after their failed search for the priest.
Aubrey’s eyes fluttered as she glanced up at Edward, her voice barely audible. “Edward… promise me you’ll take care of Alicia… please…”
Edward’s face twisted in confusion and sorrow. “What are you saying, Aubrey? Of course, we’ll raise her, together. We’ll be a family.”
Aubrey shook her head, her breath short. “I can’t promise you that,” she whispered, her voice full of pain.
Edward was stunned, his heart shattering at her words. “Aubrey, please… don’t say that…”
She reached for him, her hands trembling as she gripped his shoulders. “Edward, you need to be strong for her. The prophecy… it was never about me. It’s about Alicia. She is the key.”
Edward’s heart pounded in his chest. “Alicia? What prophecy? What are you talking about?”
Aubrey’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke her final words. “Lucian is behind all of this… I… I can feel it… but I can't protect her anymore. You have to protect her, Edward. She’s our only hope.”
Edward’s eyes filled with despair. “No! You can’t leave me, Aubrey! You can’t—"
But Aubrey’s breath grew shallow, and her hand slipped from his shoulder. Her body went limp, and the life she had fought so hard to protect faded from her.
Chapter Five:
Illusions
Alicia gasped as her eyes locked onto another pair of shocked eyes staring back at her.
“Oh, Chloe, you scared me!” Alicia exclaimed, clutching her chest in surprise.
“I’m sorry, my Lady,” Chloe replied, her voice filled with genuine concern. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I came to clear the plate, but I noticed you hadn’t touched it yet.”
“Take it away. I’m not hungry,” Alicia said weakly, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her heart was still racing from the scare.
“You haven’t eaten the entire day, my Lady,” Chloe insisted. “I’ll take this and bring you something freshly made.”
“The entire what?” Alicia asked, her voice laced with surprise. “What time is it?”
“It’s the late hours of the evening, my Lady,” Chloe answered gently.
“Late what?” Alicia jumped out of bed and dashed to the window, her breath catching as she looked at the round moon shining brightly in the dark sky. It dawned on her that she had been dreaming the entire day.
“Chloe, you can leave now. I’ll call for you when I need you,” Alicia said, her voice colder this time, as she wanted to be alone.
Chloe nodded, then left without a word.
Alicia stood there, looking out the window, reflecting on everything that had just happened. The images in her mind felt so vivid, like scenes from a movie she had just watched. She broke into tears. For the first time in her life, she felt sorrow for her mother—real sorrow. She finally saw what her mother had endured.
“She was such a strong-willed woman,” Alicia whispered through her tears. “She died so I could live.”
Meanwhile, Callum stormed down the corridor, frustration radiating from his every step. “He should have informed me if he had plans! Why did he ask me to chase shadows?” he muttered angrily to himself.
Earlier, while Asher had been with Alicia, Callum had been spying on the room from below the window, hoping to retrieve vital information about why Alicia had been kidnapped. But Asher had been the last person Callum expected to see in the room.
“That’s Asher’s voice,” Callum thought, startled. “What is he doing in her room?” He wanted to jump in through the window to overhear more, but sensing the presence of other wolves inside, he thought better of it.
“So, my Lord finally took matters into his own hands?” Callum mused as he made his way to Asher’s room. “But what came over him? The Asher I know would never take such a shameful step to claim his mate. His pride is unmatched.”
Callum swiftly jumped to the floor below Alicia’s room and headed toward Asher’s study, where he planned to wait until Asher finished with Alicia.
Despite his annoyance, Callum couldn’t risk angering Asher. He knew better than to cross the Alpha, and he tried to figure out how best to approach him without causing conflict.
Asher’s window blinds creaked open. Callum, still troubled, jumped in swiftly, looking around the room for Asher. But the only presence he could sense was… familiar.
“Who’s there?” Callum demanded, his tone suspicious. He felt the familiar aura of someone in the room but couldn’t place it.
“Asher is with Alicia at the moment,” Callum thought. “So it can’t be him here, right?”
His mind raced, and he followed the familiar aura, which led him to the library.
“Oh my…” Callum shivered. In front of him sat a figure, one he knew too well, casually flipping through a book.
“Am I seeing things?” Callum muttered aloud.
The figure looked up, and with a smirk, Asher responded, “How can I help you?”
Callum stood frozen for a moment, disbelief written all over his face. “You’re here? But… what’s going on?”
“What’s going on?” Asher repeated, his tone sharp. “What do you mean? Why are you acting so strange?”
Callum, now certain that this was indeed Asher, hesitated. “Did you find anything strange? Something… off?”
Asher narrowed his eyes, sensing something was wrong. “You’re not the type to be at a loss for words, Callum. What’s going on?”
“I wasn’t expecting to see you, My Lord,” Callum said, bowing his head in apology. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“Don’t be cryptic with me. You’re not the one to hold back. Speak plainly,” Asher commanded, his tone firm.
Callum nodded, gathering his thoughts before speaking. “My Lord, I appreciate the initiative you’ve shown in dealing with this task. But I noticed that you've already handled it yourself. Is there anything else you’d like me to focus on?”
Asher turned to Callum with a look of confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“I overheard your conversation with Alicia in her room,” Callum explained carefully. “You said you’d already spoken with Alpha Bertram, and you’d be in charge of Alicia’s case from now on. You also said you discovered that she’s your mate.”
Asher froze. His gaze darkened, and he moved toward Callum. “Are you dreaming, or are these just illusions? You can’t possibly think that you heard me say that.”
“I’m not dreaming, my Lord. I really heard you say it,” Callum defended, standing his ground.
Asher raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Callum, I haven’t left this study all day. I haven’t stepped outside the walls of this room. You must be mistaken.”
Callum blinked, stunned. He was sure of what he had heard. But the realization hit him hard—if Asher hadn’t said it, then who had?
“Asher, I’m not imagining this. You said it. I swear.” Callum’s voice was laced with confusion. “But you don’t seem to remember it.”
Asher's mind raced as he processed the information. “I haven’t said anything like that. I haven’t even seen Alicia today. What is going on?”
Callum’s perplexed expression made Asher’s thoughts spiral even further. Something didn’t add up. There was a connection between Alicia, Asher, and this mysterious event, but the details were slipping through his fingers.
“I think you need some rest,” Asher said, his tone shifting to something gentler, though still commanding. “Take three days off work, Callum. You’ve overworked yourself. I’ll handle things from here.”
Callum’s face burned with embarrassment. He had never felt so humiliated in his life. His instincts had led him astray, and now he was left feeling like a fool. Without another word, he darted out of the room, too mortified to even meet Asher’s gaze.
Asher sat back down, his thoughts swirling like a storm. There was something strange going on, something he couldn’t yet grasp. His wolf, too, was restless, sensing that there was more to this than meet the eye.
After a few moments of contemplation, Asher walked to the window, hoping the fresh air would clear his mind. Outside, the view was peaceful. The sky was bright with the early morning light, and the air smelled crisp and fresh.
As he watched, a bird caught his attention. It was a golden pheasant, beautiful and rare. Asher’s curiosity piqued when he saw the bird carrying a red rose flower in its claws. The strange combination made no sense, and Asher found himself staring at the bird, wondering where it was headed.
Moments later, the bird dropped the rose just outside Asher’s window. The flower lay on the ground, its red petals shining in the sunlight. Asher bent down to pick it up, but as soon as his fingers touched the petals, a sharp sting shot through his hand.
Startled, he pulled his hand away, inspecting the flower. There were thorns hidden within the petals, and something about the whole situation felt off.
“That’s odd,” he muttered, confused by the bizarre occurrence. “What is this?”
He was about to turn back into his study when his nose twitched. A strange, foul smell wafted through the air. His eyes narrowed as he followed the scent to the corner of the window. There, he saw the same red rose, but this time, it had morphed into a black, viscous substance. The substance was crawling toward him, forming shapes he couldn’t quite understand.
“What is going on?” Asher muttered to himself. “Is someone trying to communicate with me?”
He reached down to touch the black substance, but as soon as his fingers made contact, dizziness overwhelmed him. The world spun as he stumbled back, struggling to stay upright.
His vision blurred, and he crashed to the ground, unable to stop himself from falling into unconsciousness.
To Be Continued
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