CHAPTER 33: Breaking Point
Alora’s POV
The AC in the room was turned off, but I was shivering from a different kind of cold and rage.
I stood up, “Excuse me?”
“It’s for your protection. Xavier will take care of you. You won’t have to worry about anything for the rest of your life.”
I stood abruptly.
“You can't just come in and make major decisions like that about my life. I don't know you, and I can't prove all you said is true, and I am not…”
“You know in your heart that what I said is true.”
My mouth went dry. “Then why didn’t you help me? All these years. Where were you when I was alone? Starving? Hurt? Kidnapped? Why now”?
Lucien’s jaw tensed, but his expression remained neutral. Because you weren’t ready. Because protecting you from a distance was safer. You were hidden for a reason. But now... things have changed. You’re of age. And we must protect your legacy.”
“By keeping me prisoner? "Why now?” I demanded.
His smile was tight. “You’re not a prisoner." You’re home. And you’ll soon be mated to Alpha Xavier, the strongest leader of the Crimson Pack.”
I shot up to my feet. “Mated? Are you insane?”
Lucien stood calmly. “It’s the only way. Xavier will protect you. Once you’re bonded, you won’t need to worry about your powers.”
“What powers?”
He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply before turning to me.
“You are a hybrid, Alora. Born of witch and wolf. On your eighteenth birthday, you will awaken gifts that haven’t been seen in a generation. Powers that could shake the balance of every pack in the region, and I am here to prepare you for what is going to come.”
“What is going to come?”
“Your wolf may or may not awaken, and I will be right here to prepare you for it.”
“What?” I whispered, my heart stumbling in my chest. “What do you mean ‘awaken’? What wolf?”
Lucien’s expression didn’t change. “Xavier cares for you. He wants to help you. Unlike Morgan.”
My heart twisted at the mention of Morgan.
“Morgan only wants to own you. He wants your powers, and if you awaken, he doesn't have the capacity to tame them, but he can manipulate you and use you for his own benefit because he knows that mating with you would make him nearly unstoppable.”
He was lying. I could feel it in my bones.
I chuckled bitterly. “Oh please! I'm not that special.”
“Then why do you think he kidnapped you the first time?”
I didn't have an answer to that question, so I kept mute.
“I thought as much,” he smirked.
“Xavier is the one meant for you,” Lucien continued. He understands your lineage. He can keep you safe, grounded. Morgan’s intentions are selfish. He’ll use you. Break you.”
“You’re lying,” I whispered, gripping the edge of the sofa. My vision was starting to blur. “I don’t want to marry Xavier. I mean, marriage has never crossed my mind, and I don’t need anyone to ‘take care’ of me because all those things you said are bullshit.
I am just an ordinary girl and would appreciate it if you guys would really leave me alone.
“As for Morgan, I know he kidnapped me, but I also know that he would never…”
“You don’t know him the way I do,” Lucien said gently, stepping forward.
He’s dangerous. The bond you feel is nothing more than a trap.”
I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breath. “What happened to my parents after they fled from the Crimson Pack?”
Lucien hesitated before answering. “Your parents fled to another pack, far away from the Crimson Order. There, Elena got pregnant with you.”
“And how did he die?” I asked, afraid of the answer.
“Alpha Darian died of a strange illness, and your mother died after giving birth to you. Up till today, we still don’t know how you ended up in an orphanage.”
The words hit me like a blow to the chest.
“I understand all this information is vital for you to discover who you really are,” Lucien said. “And I promise, if you follow my plan, with time, every question in your mind about your existence will be answered.”
The dizziness was getting worse, and it felt like I was being strangled. My knees buckled, and I gripped the arm of the sofa to steady myself.
“Something’s wrong,” I murmured.
“What’s wrong”? Lucien's voice sounded far away.
“I... I can’t... breathe...” I whispered, swaying.
Lucien’s hands reached for me. “Relax, it’s the stress. I shouldn't have divulged this much information all at once. Sit down.”
My vision tilted, and the room spun.
I heard Nyx’s voice one last time: “Fight it Alora. Don’t let them…”
“Just rest, Alora. "Everything will be fine,” Lucien said, a look of concern on his face.
But it wasn’t.
Her voice was distinct and clear in my mind.
Then it began to fade as my vision blurred.
I could feel myself being lifted from the ground. I was in the arms of someone, but I didn't know who it was because I couldn't open my eyes. They felt like they were glued together.
“Wake up, Alora Damian, you can fight this… fight!” Nyx's voice echoed again.
“I'm trying” I whispered to Nyx in my mind.
“I’m right here, and I am not going anywhere,” she replied.
There was a part of me that was not asleep, I was just too weak to wake up.
Nyx's voice did not falter in my mind as she kept pushing me.
After some time, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
“Wake up, he is here”
The air smelled sharp, almost like smoke.
“Fight with all your strength, Luna. "Don’t let him win”, Nyx's voice said, but it was weak, like she was finding it difficult to breathe, just like me.
Then, somewhere far, I heard a loud howl. I knew they were calling out to me. I could hear their voices calling my name in a language I didn’t understand.
“Lunaria…”
I felt chilled to the bone. It was a song I’d heard before, but it sounded distressed.
Outside a small opening through the window, my eyes connected with the moon.
It was full and white overhead.
There were stars. So many stars. Too many. I’d never felt so small in my life.
There were many, and they mingled and rose together.
I thought of my parents. For the first time in forever, I thought of them as tears blurred my vision.
Then I thought of Morgan, my perfect, imperfect stranger. My heart ached almost to a throbbing dull ache.
I thought of home.
Not the one I’d known, not the cold, empty, fractured orphanage devoid of human emotions, definitely not my halfway house, but the home I was meant to create, to love, to protect.
They all put their voices together and howled. Calling out to me.
The night was pitch black, yet somehow, I could see everything.
I felt weightless, like I was drifting through the air, but something heavy held me down.
A body. The stench hit me first. It was unpleasant and strong. I knew that smell. I hated it.
A hand clamped around my arm. I turned on instinct, swinging my fist. It connected with a jaw, but the man barely flinched. He jerked me forward with so much force and strength, and I slammed into his chest, gasping for air.
Everything slowed. I could hear his heartbeats, the rush of blood through his veins.
“No!” I cried out, kicking, twisting, and struggling. “Let me go!”
I thrashed wildly, twisting my body with all my strength.
Suddenly, there was a rush of energy and something inside me snapped.
My eyes flew open, and I jerked awake.
A low, guttural growl tore from my throat, it was rough and filled with pain, it sounded
It echoed through the woods and connected with the voices calling out to me.
“Lunaria…”
“Lunaria…”
“Lunaria…”