LUNA ASTERBELLE'S POV
The surreal feeling of being respected by everyone around me was still like a dream to me. I was so used to getting looked down on, so this entire turnout of events really benefits me. I no longer had to keep an eye on all the little things that would bring my reputation down.
"Luna, can you come up to the Alpha's office?" Yve asked the exact moment she entered the dining hall. "He called from the reception area and was looking for you. I don't know why he didn't choose to just mind-link with you," she explained with a sigh.
I smiled at her as I went upstairs with a heavy heart. My gut was telling me that Jerome called me up there for some bad news.
Knocking on his gray office door, I opened the door and crossed its threshold. "Jerome, what's the matter? It's unusual for you to call me up here," I mumbled as I slowly walked in front of his desk to stand right beside him as he watched the people from his window.
"One of our warriors has gone missing," Jerome initially said. "The only place he went to was the cave."
I tilted my head sideways, wondering what cave he was referring to. "Oh, you mean that cave that we never dared to visit?" I asked, to which he replied with a nod of his head. "Why'd you order someone to go there? It's risky. You should've brought the beta with our warriors at the very least."
"My wolf ordered me to. He insisted that there was someone there, but he couldn't verify if the person was still alive or not. Of course I couldn't keep a blind eye on that." Jerome gritted his teeth.
I know how much he values each and every single member of his pack. He has always been emotional when it comes to witnessing the deaths of those he knew.
"Yve's sister has been there before when she was a kid. I'm not sure, but I think she has an idea about that place more than we do," I informed him, which made him glance my way.
Jerome grabbed his phone to contact Yve about her sister's condition. Judging from his expression, it seemed like Yana was still unwell.
"Let's pay her a visit. She just doesn't have the energy to stand, but she's already awake and can talk," he said.
It took us three minutes to head over to Yana's room, which was guarded by Yve outside. She let us in, and we saw how Yana sat up from her bed. Her skin was still pale, and her eyes were barely open. She waited for us, but I think she still wanted to have a few days off.
"You're here," Yana briefly said. "You wanted to ask about the huge cave in the woods?"
"Yes. Tell me everything that you know about it. Don't let a single detail be unsaid," Jerome responded with a serious tone.
The cave that was abandoned for such a long time was actually kept sealed by the late alpha, Brian. It was a place where Brian transported supernatural creatures' flesh in exchange for money.
That revelation made me think about Jin. He was the only one from the orphanage who used werewolves, who were our friends, as a part of our meal.
I couldn't help but think about Jin's relationship with Brian. They might not be directly blood related, so I'm guessing that he's like a brother figure to Brian.
"That can't be real," I murmured. "How can Brian have a trade over there? Does that mean that there's another pack that we're not aware of?"
Yana shook her head, denying my thoughts. "That's beyond impossible, Luna. The moon goddess only created Grimstone. If there's another city, country, or a whole new world out there, then that either means that we were all tricked or she also had no clue about it."
"Luna, you should warn everyone not to go there without prior notice. No one would be allowed to wander around the cave unless I say so," Jerome mumbled with his forehead scrunched. "I won't let anyone else die. I'll go there on my own tomorrow morning and verify what's really lurking there."
***
The day hasn't ended yet. The night sky already took away the light from us, with each cloud dark and holding itself from releasing the droplets of rain. The breeze was getting colder, and I continuously got chills as I was on my way to the cave where Jerome didn't want anyone to go.
"I just hope he doesn't search for me tonight," I whispered to myself as I let my eyes roam around until I finally saw the entrance of the cave.
Even though I haven't entered there yet, I have goosebumps already. It's like there were thousands of eyes watching over me from inside.
I heard careful footsteps behind, so I quickly turned around, only to see that it was none other than my mate.
"J-Jerome, what are you doing here? Did you follow me?" I dumbly asked. My chest felt so tight, as if there was no space for my lungs to release their air.
"That's supposed to be my question. Why are you here?" He returned my query.
"I just came to check the cave. I was about to head back to the pack house, since you might notice that I wasn't around," I reasoned out.
"You might've got yourself killed right on the spot!" Jerome screamed out with his alpha voice.
The tone that scared me the most. I played with my fingers as I bowed down. I had no other excuse for coming all the way here, so I let him get angry at me.
The ground began to shake at the same time that a strong wind blew in our direction.
"Althea's interfering with us again," Jerome muttered, followed by a hiss. "You should ask her about this cave. I'm not sure if she has any intention to answer me seriously."
In less than a second, we were swiftly transported over to Althea's dimension. The moon goddess was waiting for us patiently as she stood up to face the two of us.
"Why were the both of you there? Did you all have a death wish like those lowly wolves?" Althea inquired with a hint of how vexed she was. Though there was also a hint that showed concern, "That cave isn't a place an ordinary person can go through! I have no authority over that damn cave. If I didn't bring you here, you would've been breathless now."
I scratched my nape, feeling guilty for being there.
"Stop spouting those words as if she's to blame. Tell us what you know about that cave if you still want to see us alive." Jerome blackmailed his mother.
Just like Yana told us, Althea said the same: that it was a place for trading. "Grimstone would crumble in less than a week," she announced.
"You planned this from the start. It's not a surprise to us anymore, even if you tell us that," Jerome replied.
"I no longer have control over the coming of judgment day. I can't stop Grimstone's catastrophe anymore since Luna already stole the glowing stone from my possession," Althea further explained. "Grimstone was only temporary to begin with."
Those statements sank into my mind. It's like Althea transferred the entire ownership of Grimstone to me.
"I believe that Yana hasn't told you about the guardian of that cave."
"The invincible masked man?" I asked, remembering how Yana used to tell us stories about that, which I thought was a mere fantasy.
"Ah, so you knew. That man is the key towards a new world. He's the only one who can guide you on how to go over there, so you should never forget that you have to keep him alive even if you're determined to take him down."
"Can't you tell us the identity of that guardian?" Jerome politely asked, which was unlikely of him. I guess it just proves how desperate he was. "As much as I want to kill whoever it is, I also have to consider Luna's safety," he added as he glanced at my tummy.
My face felt hot when I thought of the possibility that he got me pregnant that day. It was my first time, so I couldn't figure out if I was already carrying his child.
"I can only give you a hint: he's someone you've been affiliated with since the day you were abandoned," Althea sincerely answered. "I'm sure that's enough to give you an idea of who it is. I'll release you from this dimension. Get yourself ready; he's waiting for the two of you."
Before Althea totally brought us back to our world, she repeated how we shouldn't kill the guardian. The realization that the afterlife was merely made up to ignite our hopes for a second life made me anxious.
No matter who it was, be it an alpha or a rogue, as long as we stop breathing, we will all be forced to go through the darkness where nothing is certain.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Jerome Dawson and Luna Asterbelle?"
The voice of that man I despised creeped into my ears. He didn't speak for too long, but he already got my blood boiling, and my bloodlust rose.
"I knew it was you, Jin..." I mumbled with anger, letting a little amount of air escape through my slightly parted lips. "Why are you doing this to us? Exactly who are you?"