Chapter 229 – The Last Light

Chapter 229 – The Last Light
Lucian

The air was heavy making my breath burn my throat, my heart was beat fast.

It felt like a countdown on Keal and Aurelie’s live, the curse was spreading fast... faster than I ever expected it would be.

Healers were running through the Moon Palace to save them, their voice echoing. The cries. Whispers. Panic. Of pack members as their Alpha is affected.

I passed them and entered the healing room, but I froze asy eyes stop at Keal laying weak the beds, his breathing slow.

Aurelie was on another bed and Liora was beside him, her hands were trembling, her eyes filled with tears.

The silver veins was moving fast. It all over their neck, hands, the same pattern on mine.

Elara stood weak," No! I'll protect you. I wont let you die like this." She uttered usung her powers. Her hand glowing as she tried to draw out the poison, but the it always end up a failed attempt.

“Lucian,” she called, her voice caughtj her throat. “It’s spreading.... the curse. I ... I can’t—”
Her voice cracked. “I can’t stop it.” She admitted feeling disappointed.

I clenched my jaw, not knowing how to soothe her.

Keal tried to speak, but his lips trembled. “the… this curse… it’s linked to our bloodline. I'm happy you're safe.” He told Liora she burst into a sob telling him she'll find a way.

I hated Marcus more.

I don't know how or when did he curse them. But I could saw it pulsing just like mine.

It's in Elara’s bloodline.

And Liora.

Goddess, if it caught the cyrse for the second time, she wouldn’t survive a second.

“Eira!” Liora’s voice broke. “There must be another way!”

The old seer appeared from the corner, her staff glowing faintly blue. Her eyes, white as frost, lifted toward me.
“There is no cure,” she said softly. “Not for this kind of curse. Unless…”

“Unless what?” I demanded.

“Unless a silver-eyed Alpha absorbs it willingly,” she whispered. “Only one touched by both moon and blood can carry it. But doing so means death.”

The room went silent. Every one in the his thoughts.

Liora shook her head instantly. “No. Absolutely not.”

Because deep inside, I knew.

I was the only one who could.

Shadowmere’s voice echoed faintly in my mind, his tone was low, heavy.

You know what this means, right Lucian?

“I do.”

You’ll die.

“I’m already dying.”

I looked at Keal and Aurelie their beautiful eyes, dying didn’t deserve to suffer for Marcus's sins. The curse had begun with me, after all. The least I could do was end it with me.

Keal’s voice rasped weakly. “No… don’t do this. We can find another way.”

“There is no other way,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Aurelie reached for my wrist, her hand trembling. “You’re not a monster anymore. You don’t have to go this far.”

I smiled faintly “That’s the thing, Aurelie. I’m not doing this to punish myself. I’m doing it to save her… to save all of you.”

Aurelie’s tears fell silently. “She’ll never forgive us if you do this.”

“I don’t need forgiveness,” I said softly. “I only need peace.”

Shadowmere agreed with my decision.

Then let’s go end it, brother. The moon goddess is watching.

I walked out of the room and find Eira. “Show me how.”

Her expression turned grim. “You know the ancient words?”

“I’ve read them in my father’s book.”

“Then may the moon bless you, silver Alpha.”

...

We walked to the center of the pack yard.
The the Moon Garden but now its in ruins.

The moon has turned red. They send Liora away. And carried Keal and Aurelie gently and lay them under the moon. Eira stood near them, with her hand on her chest.

I kneeled near their motionless body. Grabbing both their hands in mine. Making my veins glowed faintly.

Shadowmere and Eira guided me through the ritual.

Open your heart. Remember Marcus. Shadowmere uttered.

“By my silver blood, by Marcus curse, let my blood bear what theirs cannot. Let me heal them.”

The ground beneath us shake a little making thier body shake.

My palm went white with moon light ... then darkened to silver. Energy shot through me like lightning, making me gasp.

It was painful.

The pain was too much. I have to bear it. For her. For them. For my sins.

It sucked the curse making my whole body turn silver. My vision went blurry...

Keal’s body was shaking. Aurelie screamed in pain.

“Lucian! Stop!” she cried. “You're absorbing it all. It will kill you!”

I smiled weakly at her “That’s the point.”

The veins turn black, and crawling upto my neck, across my chest. My body was burning from the inside, but I held on.

I have to.

Shadowmere’s growled faintly in my head, proud and sad all at once.

You’ve done well, rogue Alpha. I knee you always have a great heart.

The light from the moon brightened. The red glow faded, turning pure white again.

Then I heard her voice.

“Lucian! No!”

Liora.

She was running across the ruins towards me, her silver hair was messy, her eyes wide and wet with tears.

“Stop! Please!” She fell to her knees beside me, gripping my shoulders. The scent of moonflowers clung to her even though it was faint. Its sweet, and conforting. “Don’t do this. You’ll die! Don't!”

I smiled weakly at her. My vision going off, making her face blury. “I told you I’d find a way.”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head profusely. “Not like this. You can’t leave me again.”

The curse pulled again as the last curse pull away from Keal and Aurelie to me.

Their black veins fading.

And then the pain stopped.

Everything went quiet.

I looked up at the moon, now glowing pure silver. For the first time in years, it looked beautiful...peaceful.

I could barely feel my limbs. My body was numb, my chest was heavy.

But Liora was still holding me, her tears hot dropping on my skin.

“Lucian… please,” she sobbed. “Stay with me.”

I smiled faintly, blood staining my lips.

“Tell them…” I whispered, my voice barely a breath. “Tell them .... tell Keal and Aurelie thanks to you all I know what love was supposed to feel like.”

Her sob hitched, broken.

“And thank Keal… for trusting me like a brother.”

The world around me was fading, but her face remained. Her eyes was bright. Like the moon.
And that was enough.

“Being your mate…” I murmured, my words trembling, “…was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

The moonlight dimmed slowly, swallowing my vision.

I felt her hand clutch my chest, felt her tears fall onto my cheek, and for a second ...just one heartbeat.. I swore I heard heard voice again.

You can’t die, like this... I'll pray to the goddess to to bring you back.

I smiled then everything went black.

The last thing I saw was her face above me, teary, beautiful, like the moon behind her.