Chapter 320: Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 320: Blood Moon Rising

Maeve's POV

Sleepless on my cell's cold floor, my hand instinctively protected my stomach. "I will protect you both," I whispered to my unborn pups.

The stakes had risen - Juniper was now involved. Her father wanted to trade my life to turn her into a Callisto werewolf, not realizing she'd become Phoebe's soulless puppet after the ritual.

Tonight's red moon would begin the ceremony. Though I dreaded what was coming, Katie weakly tried reassuring me from within.

"He will find us," she whispered about our mate.

"Only if he knows where we are," I replied bitterly.

"Trust me, he will find us," she insisted with surprising certainty.

I heard the lock turning and footsteps approaching. Sitting up, I retreated as far into the corner of my cell as possible. Phoebe entered, leading two unfamiliar rogues and a man I'd never seen before.

Something about him was completely different – he exuded an aura of suffocating evil that made my skin crawl. When his gaze met mine, a deep fear settled in my bones.

He approached the cell bars, a disturbing smile playing on his lips. "My, my, what a specimen," he said, his eyes greedily scanning my body as if appraising merchandise.

Phoebe stood beside him, glaring at me with hatred. "You haven't seen her true value yet." Her voice turned cold and commanding. "Shift."

My heart sank. I won't give them the satisfaction. "No," I replied firmly, meeting her gaze without flinching.

Phoebe's face hardened with anger, her voice turning to ice. "I said, shift."

Katie trembled within me. "I don't feel right... maybe we should listen to her."

"We can't give in to them," I insisted mentally.

Phoebe clenched her fists, and suddenly excruciating pain shot through my entire body, making me double over in agony.

"She's targeting our babies!" Katie screamed inside my head as the searing pain centered around my abdomen.

Realizing this physical torture would harm my unborn children, I let Katie take over and shifted into wolf.

The mysterious man stared at my wolf. "Magnificent!" he exclaimed.

The two rogues instinctively stepped back.

"I've weakened her with special drugs," Phoebe boasted. "Tonight... we'll have our new vessel and the most terrifying weapon ever created."

"We should prepare for the dark ritual before they find this place," the man nodded and told Phoebe.

As they left, he lingered, his gaze unsettling me. "You truly are a rare beauty. It's a shame you won't survive the night."

I shifted back, exhausted and humiliated. The transformation drained my remaining energy. Staggering against the wall, I slid to the floor in tears, curling into a ball and burying my face between my knees.

Cyrus's POV

"This is a waste of time," Dean growled. "We should be looking for our mate directly."

I understood his frustration, but we needed clear heads for when the real conflict began.

Rodolfo had returned to Morpheus for reinforcements. Now just Sebastian, Elizabeth, and I were heading toward my mother's village.

As the familiar misty barrier came into view, I remembered that only those with Callisto blood like myself could see this protective shield. Without Ravenna's permission, no one could pass through.

"Wait here," Elizabeth said before walking through the barrier and disappearing.

Standing beside Sebastian felt awkward – I'd spent considerable time working against him. It was surprising he was now on our side. I was grateful he genuinely wanted to help Maeve.

Thinking of her made my stomach twist painfully. I hoped she could feel that I was coming for her with everything I had.

Soon, Elizabeth returned with Ravenna.

Though tense, Ravenna offered me a warm smile. "Hello, Cyrus." Her expression turned serious when she looked at Sebastian.

"Ravenna, this is Sebastian," I quickly explained. "He's our ally, helping us rescue Maeve. Would you allow him into the village?"

Ravenna thought for a moment, studying Sebastian's appearance carefully.

"The markings on your skin..." she said softly.

Sebastian tensed visibly at the mention of his tattoos, and Ravenna noticed this reaction, giving a quick nod.

I understood Sebastian's caution. We couldn't discuss sensitive matters outside the barrier where dark forces might be listening.

Ravenna gestured toward Sebastian. "You may enter."

We passed through the barrier into my mother's village. Ravenna spoke once we were safely inside: "Dark forces cannot penetrate this place. If evil tries to enter, I would know immediately." She turned to Sebastian. "From your markings, you belong to the Tundra pack."

"I do," Sebastian confirmed.

"Then you must know my old friend Wilhelmina," Ravenna inquired.

Sebastian looked puzzled. "You know Wilhelmina?" His brow furrowed.

Ravenna glanced at him, a faint smile appearing. "Of course. She's been a dear friend for many years, and one of the greatest seers I've ever known."

"I'm here because of her prophecy," Sebastian told her. "She foresaw the calamity this world is about to face."

"She saw the coming darkness?" Ravenna asked.

Sebastian nodded. "She saw a dark curse that would strip everyone of their power. She also foresaw the destruction of the kingdom."

"Ravenna," I added, "her prophecy showed Maeve dying. And Maeve's death would create a vessel."

Ravenna froze, shock flashing in her eyes.

"The most powerful Callisto werewolf will either bring the kingdom's revival or cause its downfall," Ravenna recited the beginning of the prophecy.

"That's what Wilhelmina said too," Sebastian said gravely.

As we walked toward the village center, Ravenna asked, "So you're saying if this vessel is created, it will become the most powerful Callisto werewolf, but born from darkness?"

"Exactly," Sebastian answered. "If Maeve dies, the vessel will be created. She cannot die."

"Cyrus?" I heard someone call my name from across the street and turned to see my mother hurrying toward me. "Cyrus, what's happening?"

"Mom," I said, opening my arms to embrace her. "Maeve is missing."

"What?!" she exclaimed, pulling away from my embrace and looking at everyone else. "What do you mean she's missing?"

Elizabeth patiently explained again: "We have reason to believe Phoebe is involved."

Ravenna suggested, "Let's discuss this at my house. It's safer there." She pointed to a nearby cottage with purple eaves and window shutters.

Everyone agreed, and we headed to Ravenna's home. Sitting around her kitchen table, Ravenna prepared tea for everyone before joining the discussion.

After explaining everything, Elizabeth looked at Ravenna. "Is there any way to locate where Phoebe might be hiding?"

Ravenna thought for a moment before standing up.

"My sister and I are similar in many ways," she said thoughtfully. "We both possess powerful witchcraft. More importantly, we share a blood connection. The same blood flows through our veins, and that bond is eternal."

"So you think you can track her location through that blood connection?" Elizabeth asked.

Ravenna nodded confidently. "That's exactly what I'm thinking. I can perform a tracking spell. With just a few drops of my blood, I should be able to pinpoint Phoebe's exact location."

"If we can find Phoebe..." Sebastian began.

"Then we can find Maeve," I finished his sentence.