BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 57: SHOCKING DISCOVERY

Chapter 57: SHOCKING DISCOVERY

"Expect everything, I always say, and the unexpected never happens."

The guards’ voices carried through the chamber, their words like a hammer striking against my patience.

"The nest is empty," one of them muttered. "No more eggs. The queen will lay again at the next full moon."

I closed my eyes, pushing the rising anger deep into my core. Inwardly, I cringed at the weight of their words. Two months. That’s how long before the next full moon. How had Marcel managed all of this under the coven council’s nose?

Cowards. Blind fools.

I had no time to waste. If the nest was empty, I needed to find it myself,before Marcel’s army of enslaved vampires grew even larger. Without hesitation, I turned on my heel and retraced my steps, slipping unseen through the dimly lit chambers. My vampire senses sharpened, honing in on the sickly scent of the bloodstone bugs.

The deeper I ventured into the mountain’s core, the stronger the stench. The air grew thick and heavy with the rancid mixture of decay and dark magic. Then, I found it.

A massive, sealed door loomed ahead; its surface carved with ancient runes pulsing faintly under the torchlight. Three guards stood watch, their expressions vacant, their hands resting lazily on the hilts of their weapons. They weren’t expecting anyone,not here, not in this forsaken place.

I just need one of them to open that door.

Dante, the beast within me, growled low in my mind, his presence a burning weight in my chest. We don’t have much time," I gritted my teeth. He was right. My powers were stretched thin, and my invisibility wouldn’t hold much longer. I had to act fast—before the shadows betrayed me,e and I became the next body to hit the cold, bloodstained ground.

I clenched my jaw, frustration gnawing at me as I realized an hour had passed with no sign of an opportunity. My invisibility wavered at the edges, the strain of maintaining it pressing against my mind. I had no choice; I needed to create a diversion.

Just as I was about to act, salvation came in the form of a lone guard.

"I’m here to add the gold to the nest," he announced.

The other guards gave curt nods before unlocking the heavy door. There. That was my chance.

As the guard stepped inside, I moved swiftly behind him, my steps perfectly matching his to mask my presence. The moment I crossed the threshold, a foul wave of rot and decay crashed over me, nearly making me gag. The stench of old blood, crawling with dark energy, coated the air.

The guard walked deeper into the chamber, and I followed. My eyes adjusted to the dim glow, and at the center of the room stood a massive nest, a writhing mass of pulsing black eggs nestled within. The guard pulled a pouch from his belt and emptied its contents, handfuls of gleaming gold, into the nest.

Then, from the shadows, a deep, gruff voice rasped:

"Is that all?"

The guard stiffened, then nodded without turning toward the source of the voice.

A beat of silence. Then the voice spoke again, colder this time.

"Tell Marcel he needs to add more gold so that my babies can hatch faster."

The guard gave another silent nod and quickly turned to leave. My pulse pounded in my ears. Who was that? I tried to shift, to get a glimpse of the speaker, but the risk was too high. My invisibility was wearing thin, and the only way out was through the guards. I had no choice but to slip out with the retreating guard. Once I was safely outside the chamber, I pressed deeper into the caves, searching for a place to regroup. Only when I found a narrow alcove did I allow myself to breathe freely. The scent of evil and decay still clung to my senses, but at least here, I wasn’t suffocating under it.

This was worse than I imagined.

Ten minutes of rest was all I could afford before forcing my aching limbs back into motion. I moved swiftly, not sparing a glance back at the horrors I had just witnessed. The scent of rot and evil still clung to me, but I pushed forward, weaving through the winding paths until I finally emerged from Bloodstone Mountain.

The fresh air of the forest filled my lungs, cleansing me of the suffocating darkness I had just escaped. But there was no time to dwell on it. I focused on my next task, finding the herb Sierra needed. The search didn’t take long, and once I had what I needed, I turned toward the ocean. It was the fastest route back to Paradise Coven City.

By the time I reached the Kayne mansion, the first rays of dawn stretched across the horizon. Home.

Sierra spotted me first. Relief flooded her face, and without hesitation, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around me.

"You finally came back," she whispered, not seeming to care that I was drenched.

I let the embrace linger for a second before gently pushing her back. "I had to use the ocean route to get here," I explained, my voice raw from exhaustion.

Before she could respond, a sudden commotion outside made us freeze.

Nessa, who had been watching silently, tilted her head toward the door. "We have guests," she announced.

Sierra’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t hesitate. She grabbed my arm and tugged me toward one of the rooms. "Change your clothes. Duncan’s should fit you," she ordered, snatching the herbs from my hands before shoving me inside and slamming the door behind me.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my wet hair. Duncan, my old friend,... sorry about this.

Moving quickly, I stripped off my soaked garments and changed into Duncan’s clothes, the fabric warm against my chilled skin. As I stepped back into the main room, Aurora let out a chuckle.

"That was quick," she mused, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Before I could respond, Sierra strode to the door with purpose, her posture regal as she yanked it open.

On the other side stood Cassius, Idris, Tio, and Desmond. Their presence filled the entryway like an impending storm.

Sierra didn’t flinch. Instead, she tilted her chin up, eyes sharp. "What can I do for you?" she asked, her voice smooth and unwavering.

I shifted slightly, watching as Aurora moved behind Nessa. Cassius’ gaze swept over us, unreadable and cold, and landed on Aurora, and his eyes blazed with anger. I tightened my fists at my sides. This was going to be interesting.

Cassius’ gaze settled on Aurora first. "Aurora, you look well," he remarked, his tone unreadable,e before shifting his attention to Sierra. "We came to check on her."

Sierra smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Aurora is fine," she replied smoothly. "Freyr has instructed that she stay in the Kayne mansion from now on. As his mother, I only obliged to my son’s request."

With that, she moved from the doorway, walking with deliberate grace to stand beside Nessa and Aurora.

Idris’ sharp gaze locked onto me. "Elder Dante, I never expected to find you here."

I leaned casually against the fireplace, my expression unreadable. "I came to visit Sierra like I always do," I said evenly. "And run errands for her."

My gaze sharpened as I added, "Is there a problem, Idris?"

Idris shook his head, though there was something in his eyes—something calculating. "None at all. It’s just... surprising to see you going to pick herbs for Sierra."

I lifted a brow, feigning shock. "Oh? And how exactly do you know that I went to pick herbs?"

The room fell into an abrupt silence. A silence so thick, so absolute, it felt like the walls themselves held their breath.

Sierra’s eyes blazed with anger as she turned back to Cassius, stepping toward him with deliberate force. "What the hell do you think you’re doing coming to the Kayne mansion?" she snapped.

I took advantage of the tension, my voice cutting through the thick air like a blade. "I’ll ask again—how the hell did you know I had gone to pick herbs for Sierra Kayne?"

Cassius gritted his teeth so hard I thought they might crack. Desmond’s jaw tightened, his body rigid with unspoken tension. Idris looked guilty, his eyes flickering with something close to shame, while Tio simply rolled his eyes, clearly unbothered by the situation.

Sierra let out a low chuckle, the kind that sent a chill through the room. "I hate anyone who messes with me," she said with a deadly calmness. Then, tilting her head, she added, "Go and tell Lord Marcel that I have stayed out of coven business for years. But if he wants me to poke my nose in it, I’ll gladly oblige."

Cassius took a step back, the weight of her words pressing against him. His gaze darkened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, his voice dropped into a commanding tone. "Desmond, Tio, Idris, leave."

They didn’t hesitate. One by one, they turned, heading for the exit.

But Sierra wasn’t done.

"One more thing," she called after them, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "My son’s girlfriend, Aurora Jade, is out of bounds. I will protect her, and I will take on anyone who dares to threaten her." Her gaze locked onto Cassius, unwavering. "I know what you did to her."

Cassius froze mid-step. His hands fisted at his sides, his entire body vibrating with restrained rage. For a second, I thought he might lunge at Sierra, his instinct to strike overriding his logic.

Then, just as quickly, he exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a moment. When they snapped open again, the fire in them had dimmed, replaced with something unreadable.

"Yes, ma’am," he said stiffly, his voice controlled, yet I could hear the resentment laced within it.

" Good riddance," I whispered, not giving a fuck if they heard me or not.