Blood Moon's Tears

The Fading Rose Bar was alive with the hum of conversations and the clinking of glasses, a refuge for the weary souls of the supernatural world. Amidst the crowd, Kenji and Lucian found themselves seated at the bar, engaged in a hushed conversation.

Kenji leaned in and spoke with a hint of intrigue in his voice. “Well, for starters, her name is Eriena Izumi. A recently new addition to the Fading Rose’s ever-growing patrons list. She’s apparently among the Top 3 bounty hunters in the association. From what I’ve heard she’s ranked number 1 in her kind. She was also a part of the Grey Fangs Pack before… You know.”

Lucian, his golden eyes scanning the bar’s patrons, leaned on the bar counter. “Yeah, tell me something I don’t know. I could have found all of that out with my position on the council in a matter of seconds.”

Kenji raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at his lips. “Do you want information worth your money or should I just serve you drinks until you get alcohol poisoning, little wolf?”

Lucian shot Kenji a death glare, a testament to his irritation. “Stop calling me that. Continue. I don’t want to be wasted when I have to fight my brother.”

Kenji chuckled and started preparing another drink. “Shouldn’t be that hard to defeat him since he’s close to death’s door anyway.”

Lucian’s curiosity was piqued. “What do you mean?”

Kenji lowered his voice conspiratorially. “I kind of took matters into my own hands when I heard your father wasn’t going to do anything about Sama’el. Once I found out he was the one that massacred the Scott’s Pack I started giving him wolfsbane in his drink. A few more doses and he’d be dead. Also congrats on finally stepping up into your role on the council. The guys over there wouldn’t shut up about not having a member of the 3 as head councilman. Anyway, there is something about Eriena that you won’t find on records due to her rank in Wolfen society.”

Lucian’s interest was now fully captured. He accepted the drink Kenji handed him and took a sip. “That is?”

Kenji leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper. “Her first pack was none other than the Crimson Moon Pack.”

Lucian, just as he was about to take another sip of his drink, froze upon hearing the name. “Are you saying she was-”

Kenji nodded. “Yeah, she was most likely a victim of Sullivan’s at a young age. She bounced from pack to pack until Scott took her in. Sama was probably too young to remember her. Then again, why would he pay any attention to an Omega? The kicker is that Eriena is his mate, but you already know that. She’s had a hard life, Alpha Lyall, so try not to kill her just because she’s your brother’s mate. She also wants him dead, though I’m not sure if she herself remembers that her mate is the son of her abuser.”

Lucian shook his head, a mix of emotions swirling within him. “Mmm. That’s messed up.”

Kenji shrugged as if to say he was merely a bystander in this twisted tale. “Indeed, but I’m just a bartender, not a psychiatrist.”

Just then, the bar’s doors swung open with Chase carrying Veleena in his arms. As Lucian made his way to inspect his niece, the doors swung open again, revealing a limping Torao.

Torao, his voice strained, attempted to deliver urgent news. “Alpha, Lele’s-” Before Torao could finish his sentence, however, he collapsed onto the bar’s floor, the urgency of the situation not lost on the young alpha.

Lucian exchanged a quick glance with Kenji, who was ready to take Veleena from Chase. However, Veleena’s grip on Chase remained strong.

Chase offered a reassuring nod to Lucian. “Go on, I’ll stay here with the both of them. I’ll mind-link you on Torao’s condition until it cuts out. His pack resides in the same location as the Crimson Moon’s.”

With that understanding, Lucian left the Fading Rose Bar, hearing Kenji telling the patrons that the bar was closed for the rest of the night.

Lucian, fueled by a surge of urgency and a gnawing sense of dread, had arrived at the site a few seconds too late. As he approached the cellar door, an anguished cry reached his ears, a haunting wail that bore the weight of profound suffering, echoing like the lament of a banshee. In that moment, Lucian’s inner wolf surged forth, his instincts and senses heightened to their fullest potential.

When he finally reached the chamber’s entrance, the sight that greeted him was one of unfathomable horror. Eriena, her face streaked with tears, cradled Lele’s battered and bloodied form in her arms. Lucian’s golden eyes reflected flecks of purple, a manifestation of the rage and anguish coursing through his being.

Sama’el stood before the two women, a sinister glint in his eyes, seemingly unaware of Lucian’s presence. He nonchalantly flicked the dagger, removing most of the blood, and tightened his grip on the weapon. His malevolent intent was clear as he raised his hand to deliver the final blow to Eriena.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

Sama’el’s expression contorted in displeasure as his hand was abruptly stopped by another. He recognized the arm that thwarted his deadly strike—it belonged to Lucian.

With a smirk that oozed malevolence, Sama’el taunted, “You’re a bit too late, little wolf. I told you I would make you suffer. Your little mate is dead.”

Lucian’s response was swift and unwavering. His voice carried the weight of command as he spoke to Eriena, his eyes locked onto Sama’el. “So you believe. Eriena, run! Get Lele to Kenji as fast as you can.”

Eriena hesitated, torn between her instinct to stay and fight and Lucian’s authoritative command. “But—”

Lucian’s tone brooked no argument as he repeated himself. “That’s an order, Eriena. Now leave!”

Eriena, though torn from the scene, couldn’t help but cast one last glance back at Lucian. In that fleeting moment, she saw his eyes transition from gold to purple—a visual testament to the impending storm of reckoning that was about to engulf them all.

“I’m going to do something my father should have done a long time ago,” Lucian declared, his voice laced with the promise of vengeance and justice.

With Eriena and Lele safely out of harm’s way, Lucian made a pact with his inner wolf. He allowed his wolf to control his body, granting him its strength and speed, with the sole condition that he wouldn’t transform into a wolf. The agreement was struck, and Lucian, now a force to be reckoned with, landed a powerful punch squarely on Sama’el’s face.

Lucian, his voice cold and resolute, pronounced judgment upon his disgraced brother. “For all the crimes you’ve committed over the years, along with acts of treason against Wolfen society, I commence your judgment, Sama’el Seth. For the act of defiance against your Alphas, you deserve to rot in prison for the rest of your life.”

Sama’el, bloodied and battered, let out a defiant chuckle. “So what? You some kind of councilman now?”

Lucian’s golden eyes bore into Sama’el as he replied, “Yes, I am. I’m the head councilman for the Wolfen Society. So tell me, Sama’el, how do you plead?”

Sama’el, his contempt unabated, spat in Lucian’s face. “You can take your judgment and shove it. I did what I had to.”

Lucian’s restraint wavered, and he attempted another punch at Sama’el, but he failed to connect, providing an opening for Sama’el to nick Lucian’s side with the dagger.

Sama’el seized the moment to land an uppercut on Lucian, their ferocious battle showing no signs of abating. Lucian, bloodied and bruised, responded with a vehement retort, “So you think that massacring an entire pack was justifiable?”

Sama’el, his voice dripping with defiance, countered, “Why should I bother explaining myself to you? You wouldn’t understand, and you sure as hell don’t give a fucking damn.”

With a lunging attack, Lucian pushed forward. “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t give a damn, but Scott was like an uncle to us! You went and killed one of the 3 because you couldn’t handle rejection.” Lucian’s anger flared, and he landed another punch on Sama’el the sound of his nose cracking echoed throughout the room. “What about the people you tortured, huh? For what reason did you have to go to such lengths?”

Sama’el, his fury unabated, pressed on. “I did what I had to for my pack!”

Their words were like daggers, each lashing out with accusations and justifications. The fight raged on, a brutal dance of violence and anger.

Sama’el, his voice laden with resentment, challenged Lucian’s righteousness. “And how is that different from what your father did, huh? You think because you’re the Golden Alpha, you’re some kind of saint? But look at you; you’re doing the same dirty work your father had to do.”

Lucian, his resolve unwavering, lunged at Sama’el, effectively disarming him. “Shut up! Your father left you to off himself because he couldn’t handle having you as a son. He knew the man he was and didn’t want you to turn out like him. After your mother died, he killed himself, Sama! He abandoned you and his pack members because he could no longer live with the guilt of bearing such a vile creature for a son. He abandoned you because you killed your mother!”

Sama’el, his eyes filled with denial, protested, “That’s not true!”

Lucian, his voice heavy with accusation, drove the point home. “But your father died in vain since this is how you turned out.”

Sama’el, consumed by anger and despair, could only respond with a furious cry, “Bastard!”