19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Luna

“ U h … I mean … the … your workers, and the clan members, of course,” I said, clearing my throat.

“Okay. I’ll be back soon. I promise,” Orion said, as he gave me a kiss on the forehead and left.

Oh Luna … that was close, I thought.

“Orion’s been gone for hours,” I muttered, pacing around the room, glancing at the clock every few minutes. “He thought leaving me here with all these guards would make me feel safer, but I’m just sitting here, doing nothing.”

I crossed my arms and sighed, staring out the window. “How is this supposed to help? I can’t just sit here while he’s out there, risking his life. I need something—anything—to keep my mind off of it.”

I glanced over at the stack of books in the corner. “Maybe I’ll just read. Yeah, that’ll work. Keep my mind busy.”

I grabbed a book from the shelf and flopped onto the couch, flipping through the pages. But after a few minutes, I slammed it shut and sighed again. “Who am I kidding? I can’t concentrate on this.”

My eyes wandered to the door.

“I should be out there, helping him. Not stuck in this mansion, pacing like a caged animal.”

A noise echoed through the hallway. A strange, muffled sound, that didn’t belong. I lifted my head, listening. It was faint, but there was something … off. My heart quickened as I set the book down and stood, straining to hear.

“What was that?” I muttered to myself, walking toward the door.

“Why is it so quiet? Too quiet.” I glanced around nervously.

I could hear the occasional shuffle of a guard somewhere far off, but that noise I heard earlier—it wasn’t normal. My gut told me that.

“Maybe I’m overthinking it,” I whispered to myself, but even as I said it, I reached for the door. “Or maybe not.”

Against my better judgment, I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. “Alright, Luna, just check it out. It’s probably nothing.”

But as I moved further down the hall, that feeling of dread crept up my spine. “This ... this isn’t right. Something’s wrong,” I muttered, pulling out my phone to call Orion.

I held my breath as it rang, willing him to pick up. “Come on, Orion, please. Answer.”

It rang and rang, and then, silence. “No. No, no, no. Why now?” I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Come on, pick up," I whispered anxiously, my voice shaking. Still nothing.

I froze in place. “What was that?” A crash echoed from downstairs, followed by hushed voices. My heart pounded in my chest. “No. No, this can’t be happening.”

I instinctively turned to rush back to the study. “I need to get out of here—” But before I could reach the door, a cold hand gripped my wrist.

I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. “What the—” I tried to pull away, but the grip tightened.

“Who ... who are you?” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper, dread creeping into every part of me.

“Going somewhere, Luna?” a familiar voice sneered, sending a chill down my spine.

There he was. “Marcosias.” His name slipped from my lips, my breath stuck in my throat. He stood there, smirking, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight.

“Oh God, no,” I murmured, my body tensing, as I took in the sight of his men behind him, all dressed in dark clothing. Their eyes were cold, hard, and devoid of any mercy.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. “What ... what do you want?” I demanded, trying to steady my voice, even though fear gripped me.

He chuckled darkly, taking a step forward. “What do you think, Luna?”

I backed up instinctively, my mind racing. Orion, where are you? I thought desperately, knowing I was completely alone.

“How ... how did you find me?” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. Panic surged through me as I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

“Oh, there’s always someone willing to betray the mighty Orion,” he taunted, pulling me closer. “But that’s not your concern right now. Your concern is me.”

I struggled against him, my heart racing, as I realized the mansion was surrounded—his forces had infiltrated, and the guards who were supposed to protect me were nowhere to be seen.

“Let go of me!” I screamed, struggling, as Marcosias dragged me down the hall. His grip was like iron, unyielding. “Get off me!” I kicked and fought, but it was no use. He was too strong.

“Keep struggling, Luna,” he sneered. “It’ll make this more fun.”

“Orion will come for me!” I spat, trying to yank my arm free, but the cold sting of fear washed over me when I realized how powerless I was in his grasp.

He just laughed. “I’m counting on it.”

Before I could say anything else, I was shoved into a van. “No! No, let me go!” My hands were bound, my wrists burning as I struggled. I barely noticed the sharp pain in my arm until it was too late. “What did you ... inject me with ...?”

Everything started to blur, the world around me fading into a haze. “No ... no ...” My voice was weak now, distant. I couldn’t hold on.

When I woke up, I was in darkness. “Where ... where am I?” My head pounded. My limbs felt like they were weighed down by stones. I tried to move, but my body refused to cooperate.

“I can’t ... I can’t even think straight ...” I muttered, my thoughts sluggish, the drug still coursing through my veins, making everything spin every time I tried to sit up. “Please. Please.” My voice was barely a whisper now. I could feel the panic building, but I was too weak to do anything.

Marcosias stood over me, watching me with cruel satisfaction.

“You see, Luna, this could have been avoided,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with venom. “But I need you. And you’re going to help me, whether you like it or not.”

I tried to focus, my vision swimming. "Help you?" My words slurred as I forced them out. "I’ll never help you."

“Oh, but you will,” he said, crouching beside me. “You see, I had everything planned out perfectly. I had Elena approach you and tell you about my ritual plans, and to my greatest surprise you had a vision, and that’s when I knew I had to strike. You fell into my trap the moment you suggested he find the artifact before me. I needed Orion to leave to make it easier for me to get you. You see, I don’t need the artifact for the ritual. But Orion is out there looking for it.”

“W … What?”

“Lovely plan, right?” he said, laughing hysterically.

“You … you are such a twisted person.”

“I’m many things. No doubt twisted is one of them. You see, I have an old friend that’s a witch, and she was the one that told me about the ritual. I want to be the most powerful Alpha in history, and to achieve that I must use the heart of a seer for a ritual. It’s either I make use of the artifact or your heart, Luna. As you know, I don’t have the liberty of time to look for something that has been buried for over a century. So, my dear, I will have to kill you soon, but don’t get scared yet. I’m not allowed to kill you until you have taken this potion for three days.”

I wanted to scream, to fight back, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. Marcosias had drugged me enough to weaken my abilities, to keep me disoriented. But not enough to break my spirit—yet.

Marcosias leaned in close, his voice dripping with malice. “Well, before I take your life, you can tell me what your last wish is.”

I clenched my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response, even as I felt my body betray me, still sluggish from the drug. But then—there was a sudden commotion outside the room.

What’s that? I thought, straining to hear. My heart raced when I recognized the voice. Miranda?

Her voice was frantic, high-pitched, causing a scene. “She’s ... she’s trying to distract them.”

Marcosias cursed, his smirk vanishing as he shot up. “Damn it. Stay here,” he growled, glaring down at me before storming out of the room.

I lay there, struggling to keep my eyes open, fighting to stay conscious. My head swirled, but I clung to the last shreds of my strength, trying to push the drug’s effects away.

My vision blurred, the edges of everything swirling, as I fought to stay conscious. A few moments later, I heard footsteps approaching—light, hesitant—and through the haze, I recognized her.

“Miranda?” My voice was weak, barely a whisper.

She rushed over, her face pale with worry. “Luna, what has he done to you?” She knelt beside me, gently shaking my shoulders.

“I’m ... I’m drugged,” I mumbled, struggling to sit up. “I can’t ... I can’t move.”

“We have to get out of here,” she whispered urgently, glancing nervously at the door. “Come on, Luna, lean on me.”

I tried, but my limbs felt like lead. Miranda pulled me up, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Just a little further. Stay with me.” She practically carried me, dragging me across the room.

We stumbled toward the bathroom, the only place she could think to hide. “I’m going to help you escape, okay? We’ll get out of here.” Miranda’s voice was frantic but determined as she guided me to the window.

“I can’t ... I can’t climb.” I slurred, my body still heavy from whatever Marcosias had injected into me.

“You can!” Miranda urged, gripping my arms. “You have to, Luna. Please, use whatever strength you have left. I need you to jump out. It’s our only chance!”

I glanced at the window, my head swimming, but her words pierced through the fog. With shaky hands, I tried to pull myself up. My legs trembled, barely holding me.

“You’ve got this, Luna,” Miranda said, her voice desperate. “Please, for me, for my dad! You can do it!”

I clenched my jaw, feeling the weight of the drug dragging me down. “I ... I don’t have the strength.”

“Yes, you do! Come on!” she cried, pushing me harder.

With a grunt, I gritted my teeth. “Alright, here goes nothing.” I forced my arms to move, grabbing the ledge of the window with trembling hands. “One more push. Just one more.”

Summoning everything I had left, I gave a final shove. “Come on!” I gasped, hauling myself through the window.

The cold air hit me like a slap. “I made it,” I breathed, tumbling down and hitting the ground with a hard thud.

Miranda jumped down beside me. “We need to move. Now.”

We didn’t make it far before I heard the sound of footsteps—fast, approaching. Marcosias.

“No,” I whispered, fear gripping my chest.

Miranda spun around, her expression shifting in an instant. I watched, wide-eyed, as her eyes blazed with a fierce determination, a deep amber hue flickering with an otherworldly light.

In a fluid motion, her body began to change, muscles rippling beneath her skin as she transformed. Her limbs elongated, fingers morphing into powerful claws, and her spine arched as she dropped to all fours. The sound of cracking bones echoed in the tense silence, a stark reminder of the strength she possessed.

Miranda’s fur erupted around her, thick and shimmering, as she fully transitioned into a wolf. It was mesmerizing—the way her form shifted and grew, the rich colors of her coat gleaming in the dim light. I could see the wildness in her eyes, an untamed spirit ready to defend us against whatever danger lay ahead.

“Stay behind me, Luna!” she growled, her voice now a deep, resonant sound that rumbled in her chest. I felt a rush of relief wash over me, but the fear still gnawed at my insides.

One of Marcosias’ men darted forward, faster than I could have imagined. "Watch out!" I shouted, but it was too late.

There was a sickening crack as the blow landed hard against her side. "No! Miranda!" My voice broke, desperate, as her powerful form crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud.

I gasped, rushing forward, but my legs felt like they were moving through water. "Miranda, please, get up!" I cried, reaching for her, but her once-bright amber eyes were now dull, barely flickering with life. Her massive body lay motionless, her breaths shallow and faint.

"Stay away from her!" I screamed, tears stinging my eyes, as Marcosias’ men surrounded us. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could barely think straight. "Please, just leave her alone!"

One of the men sneered, towering over Miranda’s limp form. "The wolf’s down. She can’t protect you now."

"No," I whispered, shaking my head, trying to push back the rising terror. "Miranda, you can't ... you can't just leave me like this!"

But there was no response. I could only watch helplessly as they advanced on me, Miranda’s body lying still at my feet. Desperation clawed at my throat, my heart racing with fear.

"Miranda!" I sobbed, my voice cracking, as I pleaded with her to wake up. But there was no answer, only the cold, harsh reality of what had just happened.

Marcosias’ voice was cold in my ear. “You really thought you could escape?”

I struggled weakly, but it was no use. He dragged me back into the building, his grip unrelenting. “No ...” I murmured, fighting to stay conscious, as he tied me to the bed.

“This is where you belong,” he whispered darkly, fastening the ropes around my wrists. “You’re mine now, Luna.”

“I will never be yours!”

“Drink this.” Marcosias forced potion into my mouth as I struggled, but I couldn’t overpower him.

As I drank it, my vision became blurry, and I passed out.