The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

Ethan held her gaze for the briefest moment before bowing his head.

"My lady, it is improper for a man and a woman to remain alone together in a confined room." His voice was steady, every word measured. "If your wish is simply not to be alone, I will send one of the maids to stay with you."

Ruri’s throat tightened at his words as her hands fisted by her sides. "No, that is okay. I can manage by myself," she said.

There was a brief pause, and then Ethan bowed his head again. "I shall excuse myself then. Take care of yourself."

Before she could gather the words to stop him, he had already turned away. The door opened, then shut with a soft click that echoed through the silent room. Ruri remained where she stood. The silence that filled the space was stifling. Slowly, she drew in a shaky breath and swallowed the painful knot in her throat before forcing herself toward the bed.

Outside, Ethan stood motionless. The muffled sound of her footsteps reached him through the wooden door, each one growing fainter until there was nothing. His jaw locked. The hand at his side curled into a tight fist. He closed his eyes, fighting the fierce urge to turn back, to ignore the ancient protocols of his station and throw open the door. But duty was a heavy chain.

Without another glance toward the room, he strode down the corridor. He walked until the manor disappeared behind him and the scent of hay drifted through the air.

At the stables, his black stallion lifted its head the moment he approached, letting out a low snort. Ethan loosened the leather reins in one practiced motion before swinging into the saddle. With a sharp tug, the horse reared slightly before charging forward, its heavy hooves pounding against the earth as they thundered through the estate gates.

Rodrigo stepped into the practice grounds just as the afternoon drills were ending. The loud clang of wooden swords and the shouts of sparring lycans echoed across the field. Seven caught sight of him first.

"Alpha." He broke into a jog, stopping a respectful distance away before lowering his head. "How’s the Luna? Is she alright?"

"She’s fine," Rodrigo replied, a deep frown etching into his brow as he looked over Seven’s shoulder. "Where’s Caleb?"

Seven swept his attention across the training field. "I’ll get him now."

He disappeared into the crowd of guards, weaving between sparring pairs until he found him at the far end of the grounds. A few moments later, Caleb arrived, striding behind Seven with a training sword in his hand.

"You called for me, Alpha?"

Rodrigo nodded, then glanced at Seven. "There is somewhere we need to go."

Without another word, he turned and headed for the gates.

Rodrigo led them behind the pack house and into the woods. The familiar paths gave way to narrow trails winding through towering pines. Fallen leaves crunched beneath their boots as the sounds of the training grounds faded into the distance, replaced by chirping birds and the rustle of branches overhead.

Seven’s steps slowed as recognition settled in. The quiet forest and the worn markers hidden beyond the trees made his stomach tighten. They were heading to his parents’ tombs.

His attention shifted to the Alpha. Rodrigo’s shoulders were drawn tight beneath his dark coat. His strides were long, and his hand remained curled into a tight fist. Seven knew not to speak. Rodrigo almost never came here. The last time had been five years ago, he had gone into the tomb house alone and stayed there for hours. Since then, he had never returned. Until today.

The trees parted, revealing a low wall wrapped around the cemetery. Rodrigo’s pace finally eased as they came to a stop in front of the iron gate. The gate stood silent before them, its black bars weathered by years of wind and rain, while two tomb houses with large doors stood tall beneath the shade of an ancient tree. Above the gate was the simple inscription: Here Lies Alpha Gordon and Luna Ophila of the Vermont Pack.

For a long while, no one spoke. The light breeze drifted through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and dead leaves. Seven finally broke the silence.

"Alpha... what are we doing here?" His voice was low, careful not to push.

Rodrigo did not answer. He remained outside the gate, his attention fixed on the stone.

Time slipped by. Seven’s gaze wandered over the cemetery. The green grass had been trimmed recently; not a single weed had crept between the graves. He noticed Rodrigo’s tense posture. Though the Alpha pretended not to care, the clean grounds proved otherwise. Rodrigo cared too much to show it. He did not want to appear weak.

The sinking sun bathed the cemetery in amber light. A pair of birds guttered across the roof of the tomb house, their quiet chirps the only sound breaking the stillness. At last, Rodrigo reached for the iron gate. It groaned softly as he pushed it open, and he stepped inside. Seven and Caleb followed close behind.

The question returned, this time from Caleb as his attention settled on the two tombs standing side by side. "What are we doing here, Alpha?"

Rodrigo stopped before them. "We’re going to open my mother’s tomb."

Seven’s head snapped toward Caleb. Caleb was already staring back at him in disbelief.

"What?" they asked in unison.

Rodrigo did not spare them a glance, his eyes still fixed on the stone. "We don’t have much time. The sun will be down soon. Let’s begin."

The heavy stone refused to budge easily. For nearly thirty minutes, Seven and Caleb strained against it, their boots digging deep into the earth as raw muscle slowly forced the massive slab from its place. Inch by inch, it scraped across the ground with a deafening groan until, at last, it rolled clear of the entrance. The sound echoed through the cemetery, followed by a heavy silence.

The last trace of daylight had disappeared beyond the mountains, leaving only a thin wash of twilight beneath the trees. Caleb dropped onto the grass with a grunt, planting both hands on the ground as sweat streamed down his temples. "I swear... who builds a tomb this heavy?"

Seven leaned against the displaced stone, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.

Rodrigo stood apart from them. The open entrance swallowed what little light remained, leaving nothing but darkness. He glanced around, his eyes landing on an unlit torch hanging on the wall. He turned to his two betas. "Did either of you bring a match?"

They blinked.

"A match?" Caleb repeated.

"You did not tell us where we were going, Alpha," Seven said apologetically, clearing his throat. "How were we supposed to know we’d need one?"

Rodrigo glared at him, and Seven quickly looked away.

"Stay guard here. I am going in," Rodrigo said, stepping toward the entrance.

He had barely taken a single step when something sliced through the air.

Ffft!

An arrow burst from the darkness of the woods with a shrill whistle, missing Rodrigo’s shoulder by inches before slamming into the stone wall of the tomb house.

Thud!

For one suspended heartbeat, no one moved. Then, a second whistle split the night.

"Alpha!"

Seven lunged, throwing himself in front of Rodrigo just as the second arrow came screaming through the trees. It buried itself deep into the ground where the Alpha had been standing a heartbeat earlier. Instantly, branches shuddered and twigs snapped as several figures began emerging from the darkness.

One. Three. Five. More followed until masked men formed a loose semicircle around the cemetery, bows already drawn, sword hilts glinting beneath their cloaks. No one spoke. Only the sound of boots crushing fallen leaves drifted through the stillness.

Seven shifted his footing, placing himself squarely between Rodrigo and the advancing men. Caleb moved to his side, drawing his sword from its hilt. Their backs now blocked the entrance to the tomb house.

"Alpha..." Seven’s voice was steady, but his grip tightened around his weapon. "It seems we are outnumbered. What are your orders?"

Rodrigo didn’t answer immediately. His eyes traveled across each masked face. Fifteen. Or more. He hadn’t sensed anyone following him, which meant they hadn’t started tailing him today. They had been watching him long before he ever came to the cemetery.

His expression darkened. Since when? The memory of his recent dream came crashing back, and Rodrigo ground his teeth. If this was their doing, then they had been watching his every move. His hands curled into tight fists. The inner wolf began to stir, a low growl vibrating in his chest as his eyes flashed.

"What is the order, Alpha?" Caleb asked again, his eyes locked on the encroaching threat.

There was a tense silence, and then Rodrigo’s jaw flexed.

"None of them are leaving here alive."