40

Ariana

"Ariana, I'm back!"

Hearing Lucas' voice, I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Alpha Andrew, this is the antidote. “Lucas handed the medicine to my father.

My father's expression showed a touch of emotion, “Thank you, Alpha Lucas.”

“And there is one problem, this medicine is only an experimental product, and it can only last for a week. We need to find the real antidote as soon as possible."

After feeding his mother the medicine, the father asked, "Where can I find the antidote?

"Black Moon Clan." Lucas replied with a serious expression, "You should know that the Black Moon Clan is making a medicine that can control werewolves. The reason why many of our Blood Moon Clan werewolves disappeared is because of this experiment."

“Yes... I used to turn a blind eye to their experiments, and now, it's setting fire to our pack.”

The werewolves had regained their sanity, the wildness that had consumed them finally abating. My father, once a proud and strong Alpha, stood amidst his people with a heaviness in his eyes. I approached him.

"Father," I said softly, my voice a soothing balm, " Everything will become better."

His shoulders sagged, and he looked at me with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, you've always been the one to understand."

My father's gaze shifted to Lucas, gratitude and respect shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Alpha Lucas, I used to have too much prejudice against you, but your assistance saved us."

Lucas nodded, humility coloring his demeanor. "It was the least I could do," he replied. "We're all part of this world, this community. We must stand together."

Exhaustion began to wash over me, the aftermath of channeling magic for an extended period taking its toll. My knees wavered, and I stumbled slightly, my strength dwindling. Before I knew it, strong arms wrapped around me, supporting my weight. It was Lucas, holding me close against his chest.

"You've worked hard, Ariana," he murmured, his voice a soothing lullaby. I leaned into his embrace, allowing his presence to be my anchor as the weariness overtook me.

I slowly opened my eyes, the room coming into focus around me. It was a room I hadn't been in for years, yet it held memories that were both comforting and bittersweet. Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the familiar space. I was lying in the bed where I had slept as a child, the sheets soft beneath me.

And then I saw her, my mother, sitting by my bedside. Her eyes met mine, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Relief and affection mingled in her gaze, a silent testament to the worry she had held for me. "You're awake," she said, her voice a gentle murmur.

I managed a small smile, my throat feeling dry as I shifted to sit up. "Mom," I whispered, my voice hoarse from the ordeal I had been through.

Her hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. "My brave child," she murmured, her voice filled with a mixture of pride and relief. "You saved us all, my dear. Your strength and courage, they shine so brightly."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them away. Her words were a balm to my weary soul, a validation of the choices I had made. "I couldn't have done it without everyone's help," I replied, my voice filled with humility. "We stood together."

She nodded, her smile softening. "Indeed, unity is our strength." Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to my forehead.

As she pulled back, I couldn't help but ask the question that had been weighing on my mind. "And Lucas?" I inquired, my heart fluttering with a mixture of anticipation and concern.

Her gaze held mine, and she offered a reassuring smile. "He's in a meeting with your father," she replied. "They're discussing the way forward, the alliance between your clans."

My heart skipped a beat at her words, a mixture of curiosity and hope taking root. "Will you tell me when they're done?" I asked, my voice a bit more eager than I had intended.

Her laughter was light, a melodic sound that danced through the room. "Of course, my dear. But for now, rest. You've been through so much."

I settled back against the pillows, my eyes drifting closed once more. The events of the past few days felt like a whirlwind, and my body was still recovering from the strain. Yet amidst the weariness, a sense of accomplishment and a glimmer of anticipation warmed my heart.

The sun was beginning to set when I awoke once more, the room bathed in a golden hue. I pushed myself up, a sense of restlessness tugging at my thoughts. My mother's words echoed in my mind as I realized that the meeting must have concluded. With renewed determination, I rose from the bed and made my way through the familiar halls of our home.

As I entered the main gathering area, my father stood before the assembled werewolves, his expression a mix of gravity and resolve. Beside him, Lucas stood tall. My heart swelled at the sight of him.

My father's voice rang out, strong and commanding, as he addressed the crowd.

"And now," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of a significant announcement, "I am honored to announce that my daughter, our Luna, will soon succeed me as the Alpha of the Silver Moon clan. Then us, the Silver Moon Clan and the Blood Moon Clan have reached an alliance consensus, and we will fight against the insidious and shameless Black Moon Clan together."

The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, their support a wave that washed over me.

“Sure, let the insidious and shameless Black Moon Clan go to hell!”

“Yes, we will always obey the orders of Alpha Ariana, and the blood moon clan will become our eternal partners!”

Beside me, Lucas's eyes locked with mine, then he curved his lips upwards and raised his thumb. I laughed too.