LUNA ASTERBELLE'S POV
After we scattered all throughout the cave that looked like a pack house, we gathered back at the entrance to share our insights. We all shared something in common, which was the sight of human flesh placed in every corner.
And just when I thought things wouldn't get any worse, Yve told us how she saw a possible hidden path from the deepest part of the cave.
"I swear, there was a lever on the bookshelf. I didn't want to advance there by myself; I was afraid that I might not be able to return once I went there," Yve explained.
No one among us doubted her, so we agreed to follow her wherever she saw it.
The walls were compressing more and more with each step we took, so we had to line up and walk in a straight line to avoid the risk of getting crushed.
There were chandeliers in the room we went to. It's probably an archives area, judging by how many rows of bookshelves were built.
"There it is! The lever," Yve said, pointing at the first row of shelves.
I tapped her shoulder once. "Nice, you saved us a lot of time." I genuinely appreciated her.
Jerome took the initiative. He pulled the lever down, which immediately made the wall crack as it opened a new path. There was a strong illuminance coming from that path, and it felt like we were all being urged to go there.
"Wait for a while. We're still not sure of what possibly awaits us on the other side. What if this was just a trap to lure and lock all of us?" Yuki expressed her fear loud and clear. "If the Alpha and everyone else who's strong get locked up, then that's the same thing as losing Grimstone to Jin," she added.
"She's right. Let's at least wait until the light goes off," Nero said to support his sister.
However, more than half an hour had already passed by, and the light was still there. It didn't disappear, not even for a second. "Now what? Are we going to stay and wait here for a week? A month? An entire year?" Dr. Joseph infuriatingly asked, his patience obviously running out.
"I'll go in," I coldly said, standing firmly with my chin up. My eyesight was focused on the pathway, and when no one dared to stop me, I hurriedly marched inside.
I covered my eyes a bit with my hand. I still haven't gone too deeply inside, but I already saw that there wasn't anything worthy to worry about.
"It's safe here. The light was just coming from a huge portal," I informed them, which made them enter the area. "There's something written on the wall," I mumbled.
I brushed my fingers on the wall where the message was carved. It didn't seem like it was recently made. From the dust and all, I can say that it's been there for decades.
"I think it's a condition," Zen said, gazing upon the message, which he later interpreted. "To cross the portal that will transfer you over to a world that exceeds one's imagination, you can only pass according to the rule: only six people can enter every year. One must accompany another. In short, only three pairs can proceed," he explained.
"Then there would be three among us who wouldn't be able to enter the portal?" I asked for clarification to know if I understood him correctly.
"Yes. They can still enter, but they would have to wait for a year," Zen answered.
I glanced at everyone, trying to find three people who didn't need to come along, but I failed. "We've come here together. How can we just split ways because of that damn nonsense rule you read to us?" I flamed.
Zen raised his hand. "It's not really a big deal. A year isn't that long for us. I'm willing to be left behind. For my entire existence in Grimstone, I have only been serving as Shin Holmes' butler. I have no right to interfere in whatever the Alpha and Luna want to do." He volunteered.
I bit my lower lip, suppressing my tears from forming. "So we just need two more volunteers..." I murmured, ignoring Zen's statement.
"Count me in, Luna," Mrs. Asterbelle said as she also raised her right hand. "Your parents might have high hopes that you'd come visit them someday in the human world. I'd be uncomfortable if they would meet me there." She tried her best not to have eye contact with me.
"So you knew all along that Jin wasn't merely telling a hoax?"
"Of course. Brian is Jin's father; how can I not know about it? Jin was the one who urged Brian to adopt you. You can think about the rest," Mrs. Asterbelle replied to me, which finally cleared up all the misunderstandings I had in my head.
"I'll think about that later on. We just need one more," I said.
Dr. Joseph stepped towards Yve's spot, placing both of his hands on her shoulders. The way he gazed at her made me assume that there was something going on between them.
"I'm sure all of you can manage with or without me. In that world, there would be a lot of doctors who're way more excellent than I am." Dr. Joseph started with a little bit of sadness in his tone. "As much as I want to go with you, no one else here deserves to be left behind other than me. Yana has to go with you. Blood is definitely thicker than water. Take her to a prestigious hospital and let her be treated there."
Jerome and I would be the first ones to enter. Followed by Yuki and Nero. Yve still has to go back to the pack house to take Yana with her.
"Are you nervous?" Jerome asked me at the same time he intertwined his fingers with mine.
"A little bit. I don't know where this would bring us after all," I replied with a fake laugh. "My biological parents... I can't stop wondering what they look like, especially how they were able to blend in with those humans."
The moment that we walked in, it felt like all of our energy was being stolen away from us. My head started to ache as my vision became fuzzy. Even my horn was painful to the point where I just wanted to pull it out, even if it would bleed a lot.
"Luna, are you alright?" Jerome asked, but I couldn't muster up the strength to respond. "No matter what happens, you mustn't forget who I am, where we came from, and most importantly, who you are," he reminded, just in case this portal had some ability to make us forget our identities.
There's no way that I'd ever forget someone who I met since I still had no wolf. Someone who made my youth miserable.
Someone who made me feel the essence of love.
I will never forget Jerome Dawson, my one and only mate since I was brought over to Grimstone.
But what if I do?
Would I be able to live the same way?