18. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Orion

L una stood before me; her eyes filled with an urgency I hadn’t seen before. She paced back and forth in the living room, her hands trembling slightly as she spoke.

"I saw it, Orion," she said, her voice low but intense. "It’s hidden deep in the mountains, ancient and powerful. It’s the only thing that can stop him."

"Stop who?" I asked, though I already knew. Marcosias was always at the center of this madness.

"Marcosias," she said, her eyes locking onto mine. "The artifact—it’s the key to stopping his ritual. Without it, there’s nothing we can do. He’ll finish the ritual and gain a power none of us can even imagine."

I frowned, trying to make sense of what she was saying. "What kind of artifact are we talking about here? What exactly does it do?"

"It’s old, older than any of the clans. I don’t know everything, but it’s connected to the magic Marcosias is using. It can neutralize dark magic, Orion—cancel it out completely. I saw it glowing, pulsing with energy. It’s not tainted like his magic, it’s pure. It’s the only thing powerful enough to destroy what he’s trying to unleash."

I crossed my arms, trying to process the weight of her words. "So, this artifact … it can stop the ritual? For good?"

She nodded. "Yes. But it’s buried deep in the mountains, hidden away for centuries. No one’s supposed to know about it, and I think Marcosias doesn’t. If we can get to it before he does, we have a chance to end this—before he uses me, or anyone else, for his twisted plans."

My heart clenched at the thought of her being a part of that ritual, of her life being in danger again because of Marcosias. "And you’re sure about this, Luna? You’re sure this is the only way?"

She stopped pacing and faced me, her green eyes burning with conviction. "I’m sure. It’s the only way to stop him, Orion. If we don’t get to that artifact, he’ll complete the ritual, and no one will be able to stop him. Not even you."

The air in the room felt heavy, charged with the weight of her words. I stepped closer to her, taking her hands in mine.

"Then we find it. We get to it before he does. We end this. Together."

She nodded, but I could see the fear lingering in her eyes. "It won’t be easy. Marcosias will be relentless, and he’s already growing stronger."

"Let him try, he’s yet to come out of whatever hole he’s in" I said, my voice low and steady. "He won’t lay a finger on you. We’ll get that artifact, and we’ll stop him."

I held her close, feeling the weight of what lay ahead. But no matter how dark things got, I knew one thing for certain—I'd fight to the ends of the earth to protect her. We would find that artifact, and we would stop Marcosias. One way or another.

The soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Jake walked in, his expression unreadable, but I could tell by his body language that whatever he had to say wasn’t good news.

“Alpha,” Jake greeted, his voice steady as he closed the door behind him. “I found out who owns the number that sent the anonymous message to Luna.”

My body tensed, but I nodded for him to continue. “Who is it?”

“Elena Soltier,” Jake said, his eyes flicking between me and Luna, who was standing next to me. Her face paled at the name, and before I could ask, she spoke.

“I know her, we spoke at the pharmacy today,” Luna said softly, her voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place—fear? Regret?

“Pharmacy? You went to the pharmacy? I don’t understand. Why?”

“Just got painkillers - I was having a sharp pain in my neck. Nothing major. I’m fine. She approached me and we spoke.”

My blood ran cold, and I fixed Luna with a hard stare. “You spoke to her? You entertained a conversation with a stranger?” My voice rose, frustration lacing every word. I could feel the protectiveness burning hot inside me. Luna should’ve known better.

“She wasn’t just a stranger,” Luna snapped back, her green eyes flashing with defiance. “She told me things about Marcosias—things that could help us.”

I took a deep breath, trying to temper the growing agitation. “And what exactly did she tell you?”

Luna crossed her arms, clearly standing her ground. “Elena said she wants to help. She’s been working with Marcosias but secretly opposes him. She told me about the artifact that Marcosias is after. She said it has the power to tip the balance in his favor, but she also hinted that we could use it against him if we found it first.”

I turned to Jake, who had been silently watching the exchange. “You hear that? The artifact. Look into it—whatever this thing is, I want to know everything. Now.”

Jake nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. “I’ll start right away, Alpha.”

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows as I sat at the edge of the bed, already dressed and ready to face the day. I glanced at Luna, still asleep beside me, her face peaceful, despite everything going on. Leaving her wasn’t easy, especially now, but I didn’t have a choice. The company needed me.

When I arrived at the office, I could sense something was wrong. Every employee seemed on edge, and I didn’t miss the way their gazes lingered on me. The minute I walked into my office, I saw Robert was already there, pacing.

“Orion, we need to talk. Now,” he said, not even waiting for me to sit down. His face was grim, his voice tight. This was serious.

“What’s going on?” I closed the door behind me.

Robert didn’t waste time. “There’s a major deal on the verge of collapse. The board’s in a panic, and there’s suspicion of internal sabotage. Someone’s working against us, Orion, and if we don’t handle it fast, we’re going to start losing more than just money.”

My jaw tightened. Sabotage. Just what I needed. “Who’s behind it?”

“We don’t know yet, but it’s clear something’s not right. Documents are missing, funds unaccounted for. It’s all too … coincidental.” Robert’s eyes flicked toward the door, as if the walls might be listening.

“And the board?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“They’re losing faith. They think your absence is the problem,” Robert said, voice lowering. “They need to see you in control. They’re getting restless.”

I felt a surge of anger rise, but I pushed it down. “Let’s get everyone together.”

Moments later, I walked into the boardroom. The low hum of worried voices immediately quieted as I entered. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting, expecting. I stood at the head of the table, arms crossed.

“I understand there’s concern,” I began, looking each board member in the eye. “But this company isn’t going to fall apart. We’ve handled bigger problems before, and we’ll handle this. Robert’s investigating the suspicious activities, and we’ll get to the bottom of whoever’s behind it.”

“Orion,” one of the older board members, Mr. Carter, spoke up, his brow furrowed in doubt, “the losses are mounting. We can’t afford to keep bleeding like this. We need solutions, not investigations.”

I met his gaze head-on. “I’m aware of the situation. But we’re not going to make rash decisions based on fear. We’ll plug the leaks, deal with the sabotage, and renegotiate the deal. I’ll personally handle the discussions, and we’re not backing down.”

Another board member, Ms. Hudson, leaned forward, her voice tense. “What if the deal falls through? We’re already on shaky ground. Can you guarantee we won’t lose more clients?”

“I’ll make sure we don’t,” I said firmly. “We’re going to salvage the deal, even if we have to adjust our terms. This company is built to weather storms, and I’m not about to let it sink.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension still thick, but no longer boiling over. I turned to Robert.

“You’re going to lead the investigation,” I said. “Find out who’s behind the sabotage. I want answers, and I want them fast.”

Robert nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll get started right away.”

“And one more thing,” I added, looking around the room. “While I deal with the bigger issues, Robert will act as the interim chairman. He’ll have my full authority to run day-to-day operations.”

There were a few murmurs of surprise, but no one objected. Robert looked at me, a mixture of surprise and appreciation on his face.

“You sure about this?” he asked quietly.

“I trust you,” I said, meeting his gaze. “You’ll keep things steady while I focus on the bigger picture.”

The tension in the room finally eased, as people began to rise from their seats, a sense of cautious optimism replacing the panic. As they filed out, I pulled Robert aside.

“Keep an eye on everything. I don’t trust the timing of this. Whoever’s behind this sabotage might have ties beyond just the company.”

Robert nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll dig deep, Orion. We’ll find out who’s playing dirty.”

“Good,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Let me know the minute you find something.”

As I headed back to my office, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Whoever was trying to sabotage the company wasn’t just after the business—they were after something bigger. And I had a feeling Marcosias had his hands in this, too.

“Hi!” Luna said, with a huge smile, as she stood by my office door.

“You look ravishing this morning. But what are you doing here?”

“I’m still your assistant, remember?”

“Oh yeah! I remember now,” I said, chuckling.

“It’s been days since I last worked, and it’s making me lose my mind.”

“Well, I’d rather have you close to me than anywhere else,” I said, kissing her forehead.

“Okay then, I’ll be at my desk. Call me if you need me.” Luna winked and left.

I pressed the intercom button. “Jake, get in here.”

Within seconds, Jake appeared at the door, his expression serious, as always, sensing the urgency. He stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him.

“Alpha,” he greeted, standing tall in front of my desk.

“I need you to move Luna’s things back to the mansion. Everything in her apartment. Pack it up.”

Jake’s eyes flicked up slightly, a hint of curiosity there, but he nodded without hesitation. “Understood. And your things as well?”

I leaned back in my chair, eyes narrowing. “Yes. We’re moving everything back. The mansion’s security has been doubled, and I’ve had all the doors reinforced—bulletproof. I’m not taking any chances.”

“I’ll make the arrangements. The mansion will be fully secure, and Luna’s things will be brought over immediately.

“Good,” I said, standing from behind the desk, walking toward the window. My eyes scanned the skyline, but my mind was on Luna. “We can’t afford to slip up. I want a full perimeter check every hour, all security measures running 24/7. No gaps. Make sure everyone knows.”

Jake straightened even more, ready for action. “I’ll personally oversee the move and the security. You have my word.”

I glanced back at him, my eyes hard. “No mistakes.”

“There won’t be,” Jake replied, his voice firm.

“How about the artifact. Any information?”

“Still on it, Alpha.”

“I need you to be fast with it.”

“I should have the information soon. You don’t have to worry,” Jake said, as he turned leave.

When Jake left, I called Luna to my office.

“We are going back to the mansion.”

“And the condo?”

“The mansion is safer for now. I have doubled the security and in fact, we are leaving now.”

“What about work?”

“There’s nothing left to do, I handed everything over to Robert. So, get your bag and let’s go.”

“Uh … Okay.”

Luna and I left as I grew restless, waiting for Jake’s findings. Luna’s words swirled in my mind—Elena’s offer, the artifact, Marcosias. It was all too convenient, too well-timed. Could we really trust Elena? Or was this just another trap?

Jake finally returned with information, his face grim but determined.

“I found it,” he said without preamble, holding up a folder. “The artifact is real. It’s hidden in a mountain on the outskirts of town.”

“What else did you find?”

Jake exhaled, flipping open the folder.

“The artifact has a dark history. It was buried by a powerful witch centuries ago—a member of Marcosias’s clan. Legend says the witch sealed part of her power inside it, and anyone who possesses it can use that magic. But it’s dangerous. Many have died trying to claim it.”

My jaw clenched. Of course it was dangerous. Everything involving Marcosias was. But if this artifact could shift the tide in our favor, we couldn’t afford not to pursue it.

“Then we’ll go after it,” I said, standing. “We’ll be prepared for anything. We need to leave immediately.”

“I’m coming with you,” Luna declared. Her green eyes were filled with determination, almost daring me to refuse.

"Luna, we've already talked about this."

She moved closer, her voice edged with frustration.

"You can’t go alone, Orion. You know how dangerous this is."

I spun to face her, my gaze hard.

"I’m not going alone. Jake and the others will be with me. You, on the other hand, are staying here, where it’s safe."

She crossed her arms, clearly not backing down.

“Safe? You know as well as I do that I’m not safer here. Marcosias could still come after me. I should be with you.”

I stepped forward, gripping her shoulders gently but firmly.

“Luna, this isn’t just about me protecting you. The journey to retrieve the artifact—it’s dangerous. The kind of danger that you can’t talk your way out of, or fight with just instincts. It’s something … darker. And I won’t risk losing you.”

Her eyes softened, but I could see the fight still burning behind them.

“And what if I lose you?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You won't. I’ll come back to you. I promise."

She held my gaze for a long moment, then sighed, stepping back. "Just ... be careful. We need you"

“We?” I asked, looking at her, confused.