Crimson Moon Redemption: My Alpha's Brutal Mistake
Chapter 70: Reject each other. (Alpha Zach)

Chapter 70: Reject each other. (Alpha Zach)

The breeze suddenly turned chilly, and we could hear sudden movements. "I’ll take care of Zeke," Zion said from the car, and Bella looked disappointed. She probably would have preferred Zion to be here with her rather than in the car.

"You two found each other," a familiar voice said as she emerged from the shadows before I could ask any questions. "It’s you," I pointed out, recognizing her as the grand witch from the coven.

It had been many years, but she hadn’t changed one bit. "You haven’t forgotten me," she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked her but her attention was fixed on Bella. "You look so much like your mother, and that’s why I hate you."

I instinctively wrapped my arms around Bella, trying to shield her from the witch, but she pulled away, leaving a void in my heart.

"I’m old enough to take care of myself, and I don’t need protecting."

I swallowed bitterly, realizing she was right. I had failed to protect her when I should have.

"My request is simple," the grand witch’s voice echoed in my mind. It was still dark, but the car light illuminated her pretty face. Behind that evil, there was an unforeseen darkness that I could sense, but her revelation caught me off guard.

"Reject each other, and you will no longer thirst for blood. Your vampire instincts will fade away," she said.

"What do you mean by vampire instincts?" Bella inquired, and I focused on her words as well.

"You didn’t know she’s a vampire?" The grand witch asked, surprised by our ignorance. Bella and I exchanged confused looks, realizing this was news to both of us.

"It’s not your concern whether my mate is a vampire," I replied defensively, but Bella interjected, "No, I’m not a vampire. I don’t crave blood, and sunlight doesn’t affect me."

"That’s because your mother was bearing the burden for it. Now that she has stopped, her sacrifices have paid off. Unless you two reject each other, the thirst for blood and sensitivity to sunlight will return," the grand witch explained, leaving Bella bewildered.

"What have you done to my mother?" she asked angrily, glaring at the grand witch.

"I didn’t come here to talk about your mother. Think about yourself. Will you succumb to your bloodlust and prey on the Crimson Moon tribe when the urge strikes?"

I couldn’t comprehend what was happening, but it unfolded rapidly before my eyes. Bella had the grand witch pinned to the floor, her fangs and claws extending menacingly. However, the grand witch remained unfazed.

"This is the consequence of neglecting the price that must be paid. Your mother bore that burden for your protection, but now that she seeks my demise, we shall see how long you can withstand the wolves," the grand witch spoke calmly, irritatingly composed. When Bella lunged to attack, the grand witch vanished, and the moon and stars reappeared.

"Crap!" I muttered under my breath. I wished Bella had succeeded in her attempt, yet I admired her fierce determination.

She didn’t require my shield, and while it was empowering, it also left me with a sense of melancholy. The fact that I missed the opportunity to protect her weighed heavily on my heart. "Are you alright?" I asked, noticing her shiver slightly.

"Yes, but I can’t travel with you. Go with Zion and Zeke," she said, starting to walk away before I stopped her.

She tried to remove my hand, but I held on firmly, causing her face to frown.

"Let me go," she said through gritted teeth. I calmly reminded her, "You had a reason for coming to the Crimson Moon tribe, so why turn back now?"

After a moment of contemplation, she shook her head. "I wanted to, but I can’t endanger anyone."

I smiled for some reason. "Don’t worry. I’ve dealt with vampires before. There’s no need to change your mind, and I have ways to control your thirst if needed." She hesitated but then shook her head. "No, it’s too dangerous. I need to find Draven and reject him so that part of me can die. Once that happens, I’ll come back for Zeke."

I couldn’t bear to see her leave, so I explained, "Zeke is only attached to me because I wasn’t there when he was born, which was my fault. But believe me, he won’t take your absence lightly."

The mention of Zeke seemed to stir something in her, and her gaze softened as she asked, "So, what do you suggest?"

"Let’s go to the Crimson Moon tribe. If Draven is your mate too, he will find you there. But be warned, entering their territory may make you vulnerable to their spells." I hated that she had multiple mates but it’s all my fault for all I did to her.

Her frown revealed her skepticism, and just as I was about to respond, she asked, "And why should I trust you?"

"You may be stronger than me, but I have more experience. I’ve fought battles against all kinds of creatures, including Lycans. I know their weaknesses."

The mention of Lycans caused a flicker of fear in her eyes. Was she afraid of them? "What are the weaknesses of Lycans?" she asked. I smiled. "I won’t tell you until we reach the tribe."

How else can I convince her to continue the journey with us? "Fine."

During the rest of the journey, she fell asleep as I took the steering wheel from Zion. "How did it go? Do you know who your mate is?" he asked, checking that both Zeke and Bella were sleeping.

I’m not sure if I knew before, but now I don’t. "No, please tell me. It feels like a lot has happened, but I can’t remember everything."

He sighed. "Well, Gaius seems to have the pieces of the puzzle, but be prepared to face a chimera. Bella is no longer as weak as before, and neither is your pup."

Having a strong mate was a compliment, but a chimera? "Does she have a part in being a witch?" Those were the only tricky creatures I couldn’t fight because of their use of charms, but I wasn’t afraid of the others.

"Fortunately, no. She gave birth in Lycan form, experiencing her first shift. Then she shifted into a wolf before taking her human form."

The revelation left me speechless, especially since I wasn’t there to witness it, but there was more to come.

"Zeke was also born in Lycan form, shifted to a wolf, before finally taking on his human form, and as you can see, he’s not your average werewolf. If I’m not mistaken, he even grew an inch taller in his sleep," he added.

The revelation left me stunned, unable to find the right words until we arrived at the pack house. I quickly went to the back of the car to carry Bella, careful not to disturb her slumber. Zion took Zeke in his arms, and as we approached the house, a familiar face greeted us, triggering a rush of memories.

"Zach, who is this?" she inquired, a hint of disappointment in her voice but a glint of recognition in her eyes. My irritation flared as her loud voice woke my mate from her sleep.

"Where am I?" Bella asked groggily, causing Kari’s face to pale.