Chapter 173 The Second Blood Moon

Chapter 173 The Second Blood Moon
Kai’s POV

The world lasted three more hours before complete collapse. That was all.
Three hours after the wolves breached Crescent Valley’s borders, the emergency broadcasts started appearing everywhere.

Animal attacks across neighboring towns. Highways abandoned. Entire police units disappearing in forest regions. And worst of all was the videos.

People finally saw the truth.
Grainy footage of transformed wolves tearing through military barricades spread across every surviving screen before communication networks started failing completely.

Humanity now knew monsters were real. And humanity was losing.
I stood at the roof’s edge staring at the burning remains of Crescent Valley High while thunder rolled endlessly overhead and the moon above us had turned darker now. It was not red yet. But changing.

Grandma Ashford stepped beside me quietly.
“When the second Blood Moon rises fully,” she said softly, “the hierarchy becomes permanent.”

I looked at her sharply. “What does that mean exactly?”

Her silence lasted too long.
“The First Wolf won’t need Crescent Valley anymore.”

Cold dread settled in my chest. “The infection spreads globally.”

She nodded once. “And Luna?”

Grandma looked toward the rooftop behind us where Luna stood alone near the broken radio tower and silver wind curled around her unnaturally now.
Even the storm bent strangely near her.
“If the First Wolf merges with her during the Blood Moon…”

“She becomes the new Alpha,” Selene finished quietly.

“No,” Grandma corrected. “The Queen.”

That word hit differently. Because deep down, every wolf instinct recognized it immediately. Not metaphorically, but literally.
Luna wasn’t just transforming into another werewolf. She was evolving into something capable of ruling all of them. And the First Wolf wanted her willingly.
Which meant the final battle would not simply be physical. It would be psychological, emotional and instinctive.

It is going to be a choice.

Suddenly….Luna cried out. I turned instantly.
She collapsed to one knee gripping her chest while silver-black markings spread visibly up her throat now. The transformation was accelerating.
I reached her in seconds.
“Luna!”

Her eyes opened. It is fully gold now. Not human at all.
“The moon,” she whispered painfully.

I looked upward. And my blood froze.
The moon was turning red and too early. Selene cursed under her breath immediately. “That’s impossible.”

“No,” Ethan said from the shadows near the stairwell. “They’re forcing it.”

We all turned toward him instantly. He looked worse every hour now.
The dark ritual markings had nearly consumed half his face. But his expression held terrifying clarity now.
“The First Wolf is feeding on the deaths in town.”

Below us, screams echoed again from the streets. There were more attacks, more blood and more fear. Each death strengthened the hierarchy, strengthened the moon and strengthened the awakening.

Luna trembled violently beside me. “It’s calling me louder now.”

The bond between us pulsed painfully. I could feel her fear directly, and under it was temptation.
The hierarchy promised relief from the chaos consuming her body.
Accept, submit and become whole.
The First Wolf understood exactly how to manipulate instinct and Selene suddenly moved toward Luna carefully. “There’s something else you need to know.”

I immediately stepped between them. “Now?”

“Yes, now.”

For once, Selene looked deadly serious. She looked directly at Luna.
“If the bond between you and Kai fully completes before the Blood Moon peaks…”

Luna frowned weakly. “What happens?”

Selene hesitated. Which terrified me.
Then finally…“You become uncontrollable together.”

Silence.
Ethan looked horrified immediately and grandma Ashford closed her eyes sadly.
I stared at Selene. “What does that mean?”

“It means your bond creates a new hierarchy.” she said.,

Cold spread slowly through my chest and Selene continued quietly:
“The First Wolf fears Luna because she can replace him.”

Her eyes shifted between us.
“But together? You two could destroy the entire system.”

Luna went pale. “No.”

Selene nodded once.
“The mating bond between an Heir and an Alpha has never existed before.”

The storm above Crescent Valley exploded violently and lightning cracked blood-red across the sky. And under the town…The First Wolf roared in fury.
It heard us. Of course it heard us. Then suddenly…every wolf across Crescent Valley began running toward one location. To the church ruins.
The original seal chamber and the battlefield.

Kai’s instincts reacted instantly. “It’s gathering them.”

Ethan’s face darkened. “For the Blood Moon ritual.”

Luna looked between all of us breathing hard.
“What ritual?”

Nobody wanted to answer. Grandma finally whispered it.
“The claiming.”

The word chilled the rooftop and Luna’s voice shook slightly.
“Claiming for what?”

Far below us, the First Wolf emerged fully into the ruined streets again.
It was massive, ancient and terrifying.
The wolves surrounding it bowed low as it lifted its silver eyes toward Luna.
Then inside all our heads simultaneously…
Its voice echoed.

HEIR. COME CLAIM YOUR THRONE.

And the moon above Crescent Valley turned fully red.