Chapter Thirteen – The Truth Beneath the Blood
I woke up choking on air, my throat dry and burning. Every muscle in my body trembled as if my veins were on fire. The bitter taste of herbs lingered on my tongue — the same ones my father forced into my mouth before I passed out.
The room was quiet, dimly lit by the moonlight spilling through the window. I could still feel traces of the poison pulsing through my body, crawling under my skin like a whisper that refused to fade. My head throbbed, but faint voices echoed from the next room — my father's voice and… someone else's.
I pushed myself up, wobbling slightly before steadying my balance. My bare feet barely made a sound on the wooden floor as I crept toward the half-open door. The faint light inside flickered, glowing with a strange silver hue. I peeked through the crack — my father was standing before a crystal orb, blood dripping from a small cut on his palm.
"By the moon's bond," he whispered, letting a drop of blood fall onto the orb.
The glass glowed violently, swirling with crimson light before forming the face of a woman. Her eyes glinted like shards of ice, her lips curling into a knowing smile.
"It's been a long time, Isaac," the woman said.
I froze. Who was she? The air around the orb felt wrong, thick with dark energy.
Dad's expression hardened. "Cut the bullshit, Elena. What the hell have your people done to my daughter? We had an agreement!"
Elena chuckled softly, the sound low and venomous. "Agreements fade with time, Isaac. You, of all people, should know that. Besides, things have… changed."
"Changed?" Dad's tone cracked with restrained fury. "You promised me she would be safe."
"Safe?" Elena tilted her head mockingly. "You think she was ever safe? Your wife escaped Isaac, Jeanette ran from the ritual, from us. You're lucky we didn't end your bloodline that very night."
Dad's hands trembled. " Wait what!"
But Elena smiled wider. "Oh, but she's the reason all of this began. Did she never tell you?" She leaned closer, her face almost pressing against the orb's surface. "She was pregnant, Isaac."
The air left the room. I gasped softly, covering my mouth before sound could escape.
Dad's knees seemed to weaken beneath him. "That's not possible… She—she died during the ritual."
Elena laughed coldly. "No. She was pregnant when you offered her as the sacrifice. You tried to kill her for Luna's sake, you almost killed her and the unborn child. But fate has a funny way of keeping secrets, doesn't it Isaac?"
Dad staggered back, grabbing the edge of the table for balance. "You're lying," he whispered. "You're saying this to twist me—to make me give up Luna!"
"Oh, Isaac," Elena cooed, her voice sharp as a blade. "You're so predictable. I don't need to twist you. You'll do it yourself when you realize what your beloved daughter is becoming."
He glared at the orb. "I won't let you touch her."
"Then she'll die," Elena said simply, her tone calm, deadly. "That poison in her blood isn't mortal. It's the pull of two bloodlines—yours and Jeanette—fighting for control. She needs a witch's blessing to survive, and you know only I can do that."
Dad's voice trembled. "You can't ask me to bring her there. I gave you everything eighteen years ago — my wolf trait, my bloodline, my wife—"
"And still," Elena interrupted, "you still owe us a child. You failed to bring us Luna then, so you'll bring us the other one."
Dad's eyes widened. "What other one?"
Elena's grin deepened. "Jeanette's missing child, of course — Fiona."
My heart stopped. Fiona? Another child?
Dad stumbled backward, confusion flooding his face. "You're insane… there is no other child."
"Believe what you will," Elena hissed. "But the full moon draws near. You have three days, Isaac. Find the girl, or Luna's body will be torn apart from within."
The crystal dimmed, her voice fading into nothingness, leaving my father standing alone in silence.
He sank into the chair, both hands gripping his head. "No… no, this can't be true," he muttered. His voice broke as he whispered again, "Jeanette, what have you done…"
My heart pounded against my chest. My knees gave out, and I slid down the wall, gasping for air. Every word replayed in my mind — witch clan, sacrifice, Fiona.
The world tilted around me, and before I could steady myself, pain ripped through my body again. It was sharper this time, like fire tearing through my veins. I bit down a scream, but a whimper escaped.
Dad turned instantly. His eyes widened when he saw me half-hidden behind the wall. "Luna?"
He rushed toward me, kneeling beside me. My hands trembled, pressed tightly against my chest as the pain pulsed again. He held me up, but I could barely breathe.
"Luna, what are you doing here?" he said, voice shaking.
I forced the words out between uneven breaths. "Dad… what have you done?"
His eyes filled with horror. "Luna, listen to me, it's not what you think—"
But the room was spinning, my pulse fading. His voice became an echo before everything went dark again.
---
Meanwhile…
Far away, deep within the Whispering Woods, Tom trudged through the mud, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. He'd been walking for hours, guided by nothing but frustration and pride.
The forest was silent — too silent. Even the crickets seemed to avoid this part of the woods.
"Stupid forest," Tom muttered. "I can't even tell where I am. Luna was always the one who remembered the paths…" He stopped, swallowing hard as his thoughts darkened. "Of course she did. She's always the one."
Branches cracked somewhere behind him. Tom froze. "Who's there?"
Silence.
He turned slowly, scanning the shadows, but saw nothing. Just trees — tall, unmoving, hauntingly still.
Then, before he could blink, a sharp blow landed at the back of his neck. His vision blurred. The ground rose up to meet him, and everything went black.
Two figures emerged from the shadows — cloaked, their movements unnaturally fluid.
One of them knelt beside Tom, brushing hair away from his unconscious face. "He's a Beta," the figure said in a low voice. "A young one."
The other figure's tone was colder. "Then he's worth something. Take him to the chief."
Without another word, the two lifted Tom easily, as if he weighed nothing, and vanished into the darkness — their speed faster than any supernatural he had ever seen.
The forest fell silent once again.