Chapter 19 CHAPTER 19: Alpha's Unseen Vow Protecting His Luna in Denial.
"And?" Lord Rhovan asked, pausing mid-pour as the tea streamed into his cup.
"Then he ran," Varian answered.
Silence settled between them.
The only sound was the faint trickle of liquid until Lord Rhovan finished pouring and set the jar down with a deliberate thud.
"You didn’t follow him?" he asked, tracing the rim of his cup with a thoughtful finger.
Varian lowered his head. "I did. But he vanished without a trace. No scent. Too fast."
Lord Rhovan exhaled slowly. "He knew he was being watched. That’s why he didn’t shift." His fingers tapped against the porcelain.
"I think we were wrong about Darius. He’s not a Lycan. If he was, the Blood Moon would have forced him into ancestral sleep by then."
A weighted silence stretched between them as he took a slow sip of his tea.
Then, with a smirk, he set the cup down lightly.
"What about the substitute? Any word on her wound?"
"Nothing. The castle is silent about it."
Lord Rhovan’s smirk deepened. "Then he intends to handle it in secret."
Varian stiffened as his master looked up, eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"What if we ruin this peace between them once again?"
Varian hesitated, uncertain.
But Lord Rhovan’s tone left no room for question.
"Spread the news about her wound." He leaned back with satisfaction. "Let’s see how the drama unfolds."
\-
Scarlet was terrified. Ever since last night—since the moment she released that arrow—fear had gripped her like a vice. The consequences of her actions loomed over her like a storm cloud.
What would the Alpha do to her?
It had been a drunken mistake. A reckless act fueled by anger and jealousy. But she knew better than to think the Alpha would accept that as an excuse.
She was as good as dead.
The door burst open with a loud bang.
She flinched, scrambling to her feet as her uncle stormed into the room, his face contorted with fury.
"What is this nonsense I’m hearing?" he demanded, advancing toward her.
"Uncle, it was an accident!" she pleaded. "I was angry—jealous! She walks around like she owns the place, and I— I lost control."
A sharp slap sent her reeling.
"A mistake?" he hissed. "Do you have any idea what you've done? If this gets out, we're both dead. Do you think the Alpha will spare you? And more than that, she is Lydia’s daughter!"
Scarlet’s heart pounded.
Her uncle continued, his voice like gravel, "Lydia will use this against the Alpha—and against us. You’ve jeopardized everything. My rise as the Eastern Lord, all of it, hanging by a thread because of your foolishness!"
Scarlet dropped to her knees. "I’m sorry, Uncle. I don’t know what came over me. Please—"
"We must find a solution," he cut her off, pacing furiously. "Because one thing is certain—you and I won’t walk away from this unscathed."
The door slammed open again.
A breathless man stumbled in, falling to his knees.
"My lord! My lord!"
Lord Ronan’s gaze snapped to him.
"What is it?"
"The Beta is here," the man gasped. "He’s waiting outside the gate. He demands your presence at the palace."
Silence filled the room.
Lord Ronan stilled. "What did you just say?"
"He’s at the gate, my lord. He refuses to step foot inside the estate."
The weight of those words settled like a boulder in the room.
Lord Ronan paced, his mind racing. "Someone has to take the fall for this. Someone," he muttered.
Then, his gaze fell on Scarlet.
"Where’s that guard of yours?"
Scarlet’s breath caught.
"What? Dika? No—Uncle, not Dika! Take someone else, please! Not her!"
Lord Ronan closed his eyes briefly, as if considering. Then, his decision was made.
"Prepare her to take the fall."
And without another word, he walked away.
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Alpha Demetrius sat cross-legged on the cold floor, his breathing steady as he meditated. Swirls of white energy crackled around him, calming his restless mind, helping him retrace the moment he lost himself.
This had not happened in years.
Losing control. Awakening later with pieces of his memory missing.
The thought unsettled him.
Footsteps echoed through the chamber as Miriam hurried in, her expression tight with concern.
"You sent for me, Your Grace "
Demetrius didn’t open his eyes.
"I lost myself… for forty-five minutes."
Miriam’s brows furrowed as she took a cautious step forward.
"That’s bad, your Grace. Could it be Craven?"
At her words, his eyes snapped open, and the crackling energy vanished.
"Possible," he murmured.
He rose to his feet, his movements controlled but tense. "I haven’t let Craven out for centuries. He’s been locked away in the deepest part of my soul. How is he still strong enough to claw his way back?"
Because he senses something you do not.
The voice rumbled through his mind.
Demetrius stilled.
"Finally decided to grace me with your presence, Ash?" he muttered.
Yes, I’m back. Did you miss me?
"Not at all, asshole," Demetrius shot back. "In fact, I was enjoying the peace. We have a lot to talk about, but for now, get the hell back where you belong."
If you say so.
The presence retreated, and silence settled in his mind once more.
His gaze shifted back to Miriam.
"Ash says my beast senses something I don’t." His voice was low.
"What could that be?"
Miriam hesitated, pressing her lips together. There was only one thing that could awaken a beast as ancient as Craven.
His mate.
"Who was with you when you regained control?" she asked carefully.
Demetrius didn’t hesitate.
"Aurora Fang ."
Miriam inhaled sharply.
Fate is a cruel bastard, her wolf whispered.
\-
The news spread like wildfire.
The gathered packs, still lingering after their three-day celebration following the Blood Moon Festival, learned of the Ravenwood Pack’s mistreatment of their Luna.
Worse, they had endangered her life the night before.
Outrage ignited like a spark in dry grass.
Murmurs turned to heated arguments, arguments to fights. Accusations flew between packs.
"If they can betray their Luna, what stops them from betraying us?"
"What if another pack attacks us in our sleep?"
Tension boiled over. Wolves clashed in the streets, in their lodgings, even in their private quarters. They were creatures of instinct, ruled by rage, and once that rage took hold, it was impossible to rein in.
Humans fled in terror. As lesser beings, they would be the first to suffer if the chaos spiraled further.
Alpha Demetrius had his hands full, working relentlessly to maintain order. He had already secured a castle in a distant village, sheltering the humans under heavy guard. Beta Cedric and his warriors stood watch over them.
Meanwhile, Demetrius and his Gamma, Uthred, fought to subdue the raging wolves before they tore each other apart.
"Your Grace, the Crimson Moon Alpha is here to see you," Uthred announced, stepping into the study.
Demetrius turned from his desk, his jaw tightening. "I'll be right there."
Moments later, he strode into the throne room, his gaze landing on Alpha Ethan and Beta Lydia.
"You hurt her," Ethan sneered, eyes blazing. "Do you have any idea what you've done? She was meant to be my Luna. Yet, I gave her to you, and you let this happen!"
Demetrius grip tightened at his sides. How dare he? How dare this man act as if Aria was his to give away? His wolf stirred beneath the surface, its fury pulsing through his veins.
Forcing himself to remain calm, he spoke. "The one responsible will be punished. Stop making a spectacle of it."
Ethan stepped forward, voice sharp with warning. "If you can't control your rage and your pack’s hatred against the Luna of your pack, we will take several measures against you, and you wouldn't like that, would you?"
Darius stilled. His wolf bristled. He knew exactly what Ethan was implying—if things escalated, they would take her from him.
Lydia Voss remained silent, her sharp gaze fixed on him. Something about him unsettled her, but she couldn't place what.
"My rage?" Darius echoed, voice dangerously low.
In a blur, he was in front of Ethan, his mismatched eyes darkening—then they burned red, glowing with his wolf’s presence.
His hand shot out, gripping Ethan's throat before slamming him into the stone wall.
The impact echoed through the throne room.
Ethan let out a furious growl. His body trembled, claws lengthening. In an instant, his bones cracked, shifting. A massive wolf—dark-furred with glowing gold eyes—stood before them, snarling, his fangs bared.
Demetrius didn’t move.
His blood-red gaze locked onto the wolf, his presence alone suffocating. The air around him crackled with raw dominance.
"How dare you threaten me over what is mine?"