Chapter 154

Chapter 154
Third person POV

The setting sun slanted across Northern Peak's ancient ritual grounds, casting long shadows that crisscrossed on the earth. Donny was directing the final preparations.

Seven massive moonlight stones formed a perfect circle. As dusk descended, their surfaces gradually took on a silver-blue glow. Each stone was positioned according to ancient pack totems, forming a protective barrier that would gather the coming full moon's power at the ceremony's core.

Seraphina moved carefully through the grounds, meticulously checking each precious herb. Moon vine, star tear flowers, silver vein root—these rarest medicinal plants in the wolf world now held Vitalis's life and death in balance.

Her fingers trembled slightly. Whenever wind rustled through grass or birds took sudden flight, she would instinctively glance toward the specially crafted cradle where Vitalis slept.

"The lunar essence vessel must be positioned precisely three feet from the altar," Willow instructed gravely, her tone carrying the authority of accumulated years. Despite her age, her movements remained elegant and powerful. With rich experience, she placed each silver ritual implement exactly where it belonged.

Lucian and the five warriors led by Dwayne established a perimeter around the grounds. Lucian's amber eyes swept the forest alertly, every muscle tensed. He longed to go to Seraphina's side to comfort her, yet he restrained himself, only able to watch from afar, his gaze filled with steadfast protection.

At the supply area, Mira and Claire were assisting with transporting items. On the surface they worked diligently, but Mira's eyes kept drifting toward the ritual setup, especially the lunar essence vessel and the life force transmission crystal chain.

The silver implements glinted coldly in the twilight. When no one was watching, an imperceptible cold smile flickered across Mira's lips.

"These implements are sacred relics passed down for a thousand years," Willow explained to the gathered wolves. "The lunar essence vessel is especially precious—it can condense moonlight energy into liquid form. It's the core of the entire ceremony."

Hearing this, Seraphina's unease deepened. She unconsciously looked toward Mira, their gazes meeting briefly. Mira quickly looked away, lowering her head to continue her work, but Seraphina had caught the flash of coldness and calculation in her eyes.

"All preparations are complete," Donny announced after his inspection, his tone grave. "Tomorrow night when the moon reaches its peak, the ceremony officially begins. Everyone must rest well tonight and conserve your strength."

As night fell, the moonlight stones' glow became increasingly soft and mysterious, as if foretelling the coming trial. Seraphina carried the sleeping Vitalis back to the small cabin, softly kissing his forehead: "Tomorrow you'll get better, baby. Mama will always protect you."

But shortly after Seraphina left, the ritual grounds were not entirely deserted.

Mira, using the excuse of checking the supply arrangement again, returned to the grounds alone. Under the moonlight, her figure appeared especially lonely and gloomy. She looked around, confirming no one was watching, before quietly approaching the lunar essence vessel.

From her chest she withdrew a small vial. The black liquid inside gleamed with an eerie light under the moonlight. Her hand trembled slightly—not from fear, but from long-suppressed anger and jealousy.

"Seraphina, you think you've won?" she muttered to herself, carefully smearing shadow moon toxin on the bottom of the vessel. "Tomorrow, I'll make you lose everything. You'll understand the pain of losing what you treasure most."

The toxin slowly seeped into the silver vessel, leaving almost no visible trace under the moonlight. Mira carefully inspected it, confirming she'd left no obvious evidence, before pocketing the vial and disappearing into the night.

Early the next morning, Lucian summoned everyone.

"From now on," his voice was cold and firm, "except for essential ceremony preparation personnel, no one may approach the ritual grounds without permission. Mira, today you're responsible for looking after Claire. Don't leave the guest room area."

Mira's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained composure: "I understand, Alpha."

Seraphina noticed this arrangement, her heart relaxing slightly. At least before the ceremony began, Mira's movements were restricted.

However, she didn't know it was already too late. The toxin was slowly fermenting in the vessel, waiting for the most lethal moment.

Night fell again. The full moon hung high, its silver radiance flooding the ritual grounds. The seven moonlight stones blazed in unison, resonating with the lunar orb above. The air filled with ancient and mysterious energy.

All participants gathered in the clearing. Willow stood before the altar, leading everyone in chanting the opening benediction in the ancient wolf tongue. Her voice was melodious and solemn, as if summoning the Moon Goddess herself.

Donny carefully placed Vitalis at the center of the silver altar. The cub's silver-gray hair gleamed with a soft blue luminescence under the moonlight, like a tiny moonlight sprite. He breathed peacefully, unaware of the fate about to descend.

Seraphina and Lucian stood on opposite sides of the altar, each grasping one end of the life force transmission crystal chain. The moment their fingertips touched the crystals, a warm energy flowed between them. The long-dormant mate bond erupted with intense vital resonance.

Following the ritual steps, Donny added essences from the three rare herbs drop by drop into the lunar essence vessel. With each drop, the vessel's glow intensified. Silver, blue, and white medicinal liquids swirled and merged within the vessel, finally transforming into flowing molten silver crystal as pure moonlight energy gradually condensed.

"Are you ready?" Donny looked at Seraphina and Lucian.

Both nodded firmly.

"Begin."

Seraphina and Lucian simultaneously channeled their life force through the crystal chain to Vitalis. The cub's body gradually emitted a soft glow, becoming a vessel for ancient healing magic.

As energy flowed, Vitalis's light grew increasingly bright. Seraphina could clearly feel the diseased genes within the cub being purified by moonlight, cells regenerating bit by bit.

At the same time, she felt unprecedented weakness. The loss of life force was like having her soul slowly extracted. Her vision began to blur, her body swaying unsteadily.

Lucian was equally pale as paper, sweat sliding down from his temples. He clenched his jaw, feeling Seraphina's pain through the mate bond, wishing he could bear it all for her.

"Hold on!" Donny monitored the process tensely. "Vitalis's genes are being purified—five more minutes!"

For Seraphina and Lucian, these five minutes felt like endless torment.

Vitalis's silver-blue glow became almost blinding as purification entered its critical phase.

"Three minutes..." Donny's voice carried a tremor.

The entire gathering held its breath. Willow's benediction never ceased, the family's blessing echoing through the air.

In the distant guest room, Mira stood at the window, gripping the sill tightly. She knew what was happening at the ritual grounds at this moment. She had calculated the time—the shadow moon toxin would take effect when the energy reached its peak.

"Two minutes..." Donny announced the time.

Suddenly, a sharp crack split the night sky.

"Crack—"

Everyone's hearts leaped.

Cracks suddenly appeared on the lunar essence vessel's surface, spreading like a spider's web.

"No!" Donny cried out. "The vessel is breaking!"

Before the words finished, the silver vessel exploded with a thunderous crash, shattering into countless fragments. The condensed moonlight energy instantly lost control, transforming into a violent silver column of light that shot skyward, tearing through the night. The seven moonlight stones went dark in succession. The protective formation collapsed in an instant.

The light surrounding Vitalis became extremely unstable, flickering violently. He cried out in pain, the cub's wails piercing everyone's heart.

The life force transmission crystal chain also began developing cracks, emitting ominous "crack-crack" sounds, threatening to break at any moment.

Seraphina and Lucian simultaneously suffered energy backlash, the violent force like ten thousand needles piercing their bodies. Both coughed up blood, their bodies convulsing violently.

"Ahhh—!" Seraphina screamed in agony, yet she held the crystal chain in a death grip, refusing to let go.

Lucian was the same. Even as blood poured from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, he still gritted his teeth and persisted.

"How can this be?!" Donny was shocked and dismayed. "The lunar essence vessel is a thousand-year-old sacred relic—it can't break for no reason!"

Dwayne rushed forward, trying to stabilize the situation, but was forced back by the out-of-control energy.

Willow chanted the blessing with all her might, trying to calm the energy with family power, but to little effect.

"Donny! Think of something!" Ember cried out desperately. "They'll all die if this continues!"

Donny's mind raced. The ceremony had reached its most critical moment. If they stopped now, Vitalis would surely die, and Seraphina and Lucian would also perish from life force depletion. But without the collection vessel, the energy could easily spiral out of control, endangering everyone.

What to do?

Suddenly, he remembered an emergency method recorded in ancient texts.

"I have a way!" Donny shouted. "The ritual master can temporarily use their own body to replace the vessel and contain the moonlight energy!"

"What?" Ember exclaimed. "That will kill you!"

"It's the only option!" Without hesitation, Donny rushed to the altar, placed both hands on the vessel's remains, and began guiding the out-of-control moonlight energy into his own body.

The pain was like being cut by blades. Blood flowed from his eyes, ears, and nose, yet he bit down hard without making a sound.

"Donny!" Ember sobbed, trying to rush forward, but was held back by warriors.

"Don't go!" a warrior whispered urgently. "He's saving everyone!"

Dwayne understood Donny's intention and immediately stepped forward to grasp the middle section of the crystal chain, channeling his own life force into it, providing support for the energy link.

Willow also poured out all her strength, chanting the most ancient family blessing.

Seraphina's consciousness gradually blurred. In her ears remained only Vitalis's cries. She cried out in her heart: "Can't let go—my child still needs me!"

Through the mate bond, Lucian felt Seraphina's weakness. He forcibly extracted energy from his life core, transmitting it simultaneously to both Seraphina and Vitalis, bearing three times the normal load himself. Blood stained his entire face.

But he didn't care at all. As long as he could save them, any sacrifice was worth it.

Donny containing energy with his body, Dwayne supplementing life force, Willow's blessing protection, Seraphina and Lucian's desperate persistence—four powers converged in this moment.