The Alpha's Stolen Luna
Chapter 22: Welcome To Blood Moon

Chapter 22: Welcome To Blood Moon

Kaya

Blood Moon.

Once again, everything I know about this pack comes crashing down on me—though, in truth, I don’t know much at all.

What little I do know is enough to make my blood run cold.

Blood Moon is what we call an "artificial pack." It wasn’t formed through bonds of loyalty or lineage but was instead created by the Lycan King himself—an elite military unit built to enforce his rule. These warriors don’t just protect the kingdom; they serve as its sword and shield, executing justice when the King demands it.

The pack is primarily composed of gammas and betas, with a handful of omegas in the mix. But not just any omegas—only the strongest, the most dedicated, those willing to forgo the traditional roles their rank often condemns them to. Both men and women serve, though the latter are significantly fewer in number.

The reason for that is obvious.

Mates are a man’s weakness.

A broken mate bond can destroy a werewolf, leaving them a hollow shell of what they once were. Most warriors in Blood Moon either refuse to take a mate or leave the pack entirely when they do.

And who could blame them? A mate is everything. The thought of losing one... it’s unbearable.

Don’t I know that better than anyone?

But now isn’t the time to dwell on that.

Shaking off the weight of my thoughts, I glance up, only to find the stranger watching me intently. His dark eyes are locked onto my face, his features unreadable yet tinged with something that looks suspiciously like concern.

Is he waiting for me to ask more questions? That’s... unexpected.

I swallow and finally find my voice.

"Whose... whose room is this?"

"Alpha Magnus’s room," he says smoothly, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Maybe in this pack, it is. But for me? The very idea sends a fresh wave of unease creeping down my spine.

I shift uncomfortably, my fingers tightening around the blanket. "Why am I in his room?" My voice is quieter now, laced with uncertainty. "And... are you even allowed to be here?"

To my surprise, the man chuckles—a warm, easy sound that unexpectedly tugs at the corners of my lips. I don’t know what it is about him, but there’s something disarming, something that makes it difficult to stay tense in his presence for too long.

He exhales slowly, as if choosing his next words carefully. "Well, usually, no," he admits with a small shrug. "But today is an exception." He pauses before adding, "My name is Oliver Collins. I’m one of the gamma warriors and Alpha Magnus’s second-in-command."

I absorb this information in silence, but before I can say anything, he continues.

"I was assigned to... well, guard you. To put it simply."

My entire body goes rigid, my brows shooting up. "Guard me? From what?"

Or, perhaps more importantly... from whom?

Oliver hesitates. His dark eyes flicker away from mine, a small sign of discomfort that does nothing to ease my apprehension. "It’s complicated," he says at last, the words slow and measured.

That reaction alone tells me everything. He didn’t expect me to question it—at least, not so quickly. Sweet man. Naïve, too.

"I don’t understand," I admit, my gaze lowering as I struggle to process everything. My body aches, my scars burn beneath the soft fabric of the blanket, but my mind is too preoccupied to pay them any real attention. "I’ve been through so much already... and now this."

Oliver’s eyes are on me again, his expression unreadable. "I know," he murmurs, his voice softer now. "But the fact remains—you are now part of the Blood Moon pack. And when Alpha Magnus is away... I am to guard you."

"I am—what?!"

The words burst from my lips before I can stop them.

Goddess, the more this man speaks, the less sense any of this makes. I don’t understand. Was I kidnapped? Or is this yet another one of Damien’s so-called plans?

Now that I think about it, he did mention having a strategy to secure my place in the Golden Lake pack with Alpha Arcanis. Could this be what he had in mind?

"I know who you are."

Magnus’s words echo in my head, chilling me to my core. My scars prickle, an old, familiar itch spreading across my skin.

Did Damien arrange this? Did he send Magnus to take me, to bring me back to my pack?

I suck in a sharp breath and lean toward Oliver, my fingers gripping the blanket. "When can I go back? Can I talk to Alpha Damien now?"

Oliver blinks, his thick lashes fluttering as confusion flickers across his face.

"Go back?" He pauses, then exhales heavily as realization dawns. "Alpha Damien...? Oh." A hand rakes through his hair, and for the first time, he looks almost awkward. "Did I explain that wrong?" His gaze meets mine again, more serious now. "Kaya... you can’t go back. You are now officially part of this pack. Damien Wilthorne is no longer your alpha."

His voice is steady, patient. But the words don’t reach me.

It’s like I’m hearing meaningless white noise, a dull hum in the back of my mind.

No. This can’t be right. There has to be some mistake.

Me? A part of the Blood Moon pack? Impossible.

I belong to the Dark Wood pack. Alpha Damien is my alpha. _{free.webn\ove(l)(.)c(o)m}

No... he is my mate.

So what if I’m unmarked? I am his favorite. His chosen. No one else can have me. No one...

A sharp, stinging ache pulls me from my spiraling thoughts, and suddenly, I become aware of myself—of the way I’ve been staring at Oliver, my body rocking back and forth as if trying to comfort itself. My fingers dig into the silk duvet, clutching the fabric so tightly my knuckles turn white.

I want to say something—anything—but the words remain trapped in my throat, refusing to come out.

Oliver hesitates before reaching out, his large hand hovering near me as if offering comfort. But the moment I sense him moving closer, my body reacts on its own. I recoil sharply, pressing myself back against the headboard with a dull, painful thud.

"Kaya."

The sound of my name on his lips has an oddly grounding effect, cutting through the panic just enough to keep me from completely unraveling.

"I know this is a lot to take in," he says gently. "And what you’re feeling right now is completely normal. But I just want you to know that—"

"Why am I really here?" I cut him off, my voice low and edged with ice. I don’t need soft reassurances. I don’t need vague attempts at comfort. What I need is the truth.

"Was it Alpha Damien who arranged this?"

A deep, impossibly low voice cuts through the air before Oliver can respond.

"Yes."

The single word resonates through the room, dark and unyielding. Both Oliver and I snap our heads toward the doorway, where the figure of a man stands like a shadow cast in flesh and blood.

Magnus.

He leans casually against the doorframe, his powerful shoulders at ease, yet exuding an unmistakable dominance.

Muscular arms are crossed over his broad chest, every inch of him radiating an air of overwhelming authority. His sharp amber eyes sweep over the two of us, assessing, calculating. Then, after a long, weighty pause, his gaze settles on me.

"Alpha Damien threw you out," he states, his voice even but cutting. "And I picked you up." A smirk flickers across his lips, though it holds no warmth.

"Welcome to Blood Moon."