Chapter 29 RETURN TO BLOOD MOON
ALICIA’S POV
I could smell ash and old hatred when we got to the border
I stand at the edge of Blood Moon territory, staring at the tree line that used to mean home. My stomach twists with a mixture of dread and anger. Coming back here feels like walking into a trap, but Monty insisted. Said we needed to negotiate, find common ground before this escalates into full-scale war.
Now he's walking beside me into a hostile territory, and I'm terrified I'm leading him to his death.
"You don't have to do this, if you don't want to," Monty says quietly. His hand rests on my back. The mate mark on my neck throbs in response to his touch, still fresh from our claiming two nights ago.
"Yes, I do." My voice sounds steadier than I feel. "Vincent is still my father. Maybe if I talk to him, explain what's happening, he'll listen."
"He banished you, Alicia. He stood by while Jake tried to kill you."
"I know." God, do I know. But some stubborn part of me still hopes for reconciliation. Still wants my father to choose me over whatever lies he's protecting. "But I have to try."
Immediately we cross the border together, the air changes. It becomes thick with hostility and the scent of wolves who want us gone.
Three Blood Moon warriors dropped from the trees. I recognize one of them from my childhood, Sydney’s cousin, Davis. His lip curls when he sees me.
"Well, well. The traitor returns." Davis’s rests his hand on his belt. “Didn't think you'd be stupid enough to come back here."
"I'm here to speak with Vincent." I keep my voice level, non-threatening. "Just talk. That's all."
"Vincent doesn't want to see you." Davis spits at my feet. The insult lands like a physical blow. "Says you're dead to him. Dead to the whole pack."
Monty tenses beside me, but I put a hand on his arm. Don't escalate. Not yet.
"Then take me to someone who will talk. Maybe Jake or an elder. Anyone." I'm trying not to beg, but desperation creeps into my voice. "Please. I need to understand what's happening."
Davis exchanges glances with the other warriors. Something passes between them, unspoken communication.
"Fine. We'll take you in. But the Dark Night wolf stays at the border."
"No." Monty's voice is flat. "Where she goes, I go."
"Then you both turn around and leave. Those are the terms."
My mind races. This could be a trap. Probably is a trap. But if I refuse, we will learn nothing. Vincent will stays an enemy, the secrets will stay buried and people will keep dying over lies I don't understand.
"Alicia, don't." Monty reads my expression. "Whatever you're thinking, don't."
"I'll go alone." I step away from his touch, immediately feeling the loss. "Wait here. If I'm not back in an hour, get Ray and the others."
"Like hell I'm letting you walk into Blood Moon territory alone."
"You don't get to let me do anything." The words come out sharper. "I'm not helpless, Monty. I survived here for twenty-five years before you. I can handle an hour."
His jaw clenches. The mate bond beats with his frustration and fear. "You're being reckless."
"I'm doing what is necessary." I soften my tone. "Please. Trust me."
For a long moment, he just stares at me. Then he exhales roughly and nods. "One hour. Not a minute longer."
Davis smirks. "How sweet. The halfbreed found herself a lapdog."
I ignore the insult and follow the warriors into Blood Moon territory. With each step I take, the memories assault me. This path leads to the central compound. I have walked it a thousand times growing up, never imagining I'd one day be escorted like a prisoner.
We pass wolves I've known my whole life. Mrs. Chai, who used to bake bread and share it with the children. Manny, who taught me to fight when I was twelve. Sarah, who was my friend before boys and pack politics complicated everything.
Every single one of them looks at me with hatred. Some spit on me, others turned their backs. A few young wolves throw rocks that Davis doesn't bother stopping.
"Traitor."
"Halfblood."
"Abomination."
The words rain down like blows. I keep my chin up, my expression neutral, but inside I'm breaking. These are my people. Or they were. Now they look at me like I'm something diseased.
We round the corner, and my childhood home comes into view.
Or what's left of it.
The house is burned. Completely destroyed. Only the stone foundation remains, charred and crumbling. The walls where my mother hung family pictures are gone. The kitchen where Vincent taught me to cook is ash. The bedroom where I grew up is nothing but scorched earth.
I stop walking. Can't help it. The sight hits me like a fist to the chest.
"What happened?" My voice cracks.
"Vincent burned it." Davis sounds almost cheerful. "The night you were banished. Said he wouldn't live in a house that sheltered a traitor's lies, so, he built a new one on the east side."
They burned my home. Erased me like I never existed.
"Keep moving." Davis shoves my shoulder.
I stumble forward, tearing my eyes away from the ruins. The walk to the pack house takes another five minutes. With every step, the hostility increases. More wolves gather, following us, throwing insults and sand .
By the time we reach the pack house entrance, there's a crowd of at least thirty wolves. All of them hate me. All of them want me gone.
Davis leads me inside. The main hall is exactly as I remember. Stone walls covered in pack history. Banners from old victories. The Alpha's chair at the head of the room, currently empty.
"Wait here." Davis disappears through a side door.
I stand alone in the hall where I attended countless pack meetings. Where I learned pack law and history and tradition.
Where I stopped belonging the moment they discovered my true mate.
I heard footsteps echo. I turn, hoping to see Vincent.
Instead, Jake enters.
My brother. The one who revealed the secret. Who tried to kill me. Who's been hunting me ever since.
He looks different. Thinner but more stronger. His eyes hold a coldness that wasn't there before.
"Hello, sister." The word drips with venom.
"Jake." I keep my distance, very aware that I'm unarmed and surrounded by hostile wolves. "Where's Vincent?"
"Father doesn't want to see you." Jake circles me slowly, like a predator assessing prey. "Says you're not his problem anymore. That you made your choice when you bonded with Dark Night wolves."
"But he requested to see me. Moreover, the bond happened because I was dying from the corrupted bond with Ray."
"Convenient excuse." He stops in front of me. "You always were good at playing victim."
"I'm not playing anything. I came here to talk. To find answers. To stop this before more people die."
"More people?" Jake laughs, bitter and sharp. "You killed three of our warriors, Alicia. Used that abomination power to erase them from existence. And you want to talk about stopping death?"
Guilt twists in my stomach. "That was self-defense. You attacked us."
"We were defending our territory from a threat." He leans closer. "You. You're the threat. The True Luna. The thing that's going to tear the wolf world apart."
"I don't want to tear anything apart. I just want to understand what's happening. Why Mother lied. What secret is worth killing over." I search his face for any trace of the brother I used to know. "Please, Jake. Help me understand."
For a moment, something flashes in his eyes. Something that might be regret or pain or doubt. Then it's gone, replaced by cold determination.
"I can't help you understand. But I can offer you a way out."
"What kind of way out?"
"Reject your mates. All four of them. Come back to Blood Moon Pack. Renounce your True Luna claim and live as a normal wolf." His voice is carefully neutral. "Do that, and this ends. No more attacks. No more war. Just... peace."
I stare at him. "You can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious." He steps back, giving me space. "Reject the mates. Come home. Everything goes back to normal."
"Normal?" The word tastes like ash. "Vincent burned ourhouse. The pack spits at me. You tried to kill me. What part of that is normal?"
"The part where you're not a walking apocalypse." Jake's mask cracks slightly. "Don't you get it? The True Luna destroys everything she touches. The last one went mad and slaughtered thousands. You think you're different? You think love and good intentions will keep you from turning into the same monster?"