Blood of Immortals | Chapter 8

Chapter 8

It happened years ago, on one of those sticky, humid nights that made even wolves want to crawl out of their skin. The blue moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the pack lands. Most of the females were in heat, and the males? They were preoccupied with, uh, "meeting the needs" of their mates. Let’s just say the pack was busy.

Even the Alpha was otherwise engaged, which meant young Alaric—naughty, curious, and apparently without a single ounce of self-preservation—was left to entertain himself.

And boy, did he take that freedom and run with it. Literally.

It wasn’t the first time Alaric’s curiosity had gotten the better of him, but that night, it led him to something far more dangerous than sneaking into the Luna’s kitchen for a midnight snack. He spotted a rogue for the first time—a scruffy, wild-eyed wolf on the edge of the territory. Now, most kids would’ve run screaming back to the safety of the pack.

Not Alaric.

No, he followed it. Because why wouldn’t you trail a creature known for tearing apart packs like a kid opening a bag of candy?

The rogue led him out of the pack's borders, step by step, closer to what could have been his doom.

Luckily, fate—or rather, young Ruse—had other plans.

Ruse was just a child back then, but she already had more sense in her pinky finger than Alaric had in his whole body. She saw him sneaking after the rogue and immediately knew something was wrong. While Alaric was busy chasing danger like it was some kind of adventure, Ruse was running like her tail was on fire, calling for help.

She managed to alert a group of unmated warriors—wolves who weren’t quite as distracted by the moon’s influence. They arrived just in time to chase off the rogue and pull Alaric back from what could have been a one-way trip to the afterlife.

If it weren’t for Ruse, the future Alpha might’ve been just another cautionary tale whispered to pups.

It’s no wonder Alaric treated Ruse differently after that. While he might’ve been strict with everyone else, Ruse always got a softer, more respectful side of him. She wasn’t just another omega to him—she was the one who saved his life. And that didn’t go unnoticed by the Alpha and Luna, either.

From that day forward, they trusted Ruse like no other. She became more than just another member of the pack; she was the wolf who had proven herself when it mattered most. Without her, their precious Alaric would’ve been a memory—and not the slightly arrogant, incredibly stubborn Alpha-to-be he is today.

—

(Note: This is a clean version)

I was rummaging through the storage room, comparing the items on the list with the current stocks, when suddenly I felt a pair of large hands wrap around my waist. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

"Alaric, what are you doing?" I asked, trying to sound annoyed, though a part of me couldn’t help but feel a flicker of warmth at his touch.

"Come with me," he replied, his voice low and husky. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself.

As we walked into his quarters, he locked the door behind us and gave me that look—the one that always seemed to say, I’m about to get you into trouble. I snorted, trying to appear nonchalant, but my heart was racing.

"I know we can't mate," he began, his eyes burning with intensity. "But I need something from you, Aroa."

I crossed my arms, feigning indifference. "Oh, this sounds interesting. What is it that you need from me? My expertise in ancient artifacts? My exceptional baking skills?"

Alaric’s face twisted in frustration, and he took a step closer. "Just... trust me," he said softly, his voice tinged with desperation.

I hesitated, studying his expression. There was something raw and vulnerable in his eyes, something I hadn’t seen before. Against my better judgment, I nodded. "Fine. But only because I’m curious."

He let out a breath I didn’t realize he’d been holding and took a step back, giving me space. I could feel the tension in the room thickening, like the air before a storm. My mind raced with questions, but I pushed them aside, focusing instead on the way his gaze never left mine.

"What now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alaric’s eyes softened, and for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of us. "Just... stay with me," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I need to know you’re here. That this is real."

I didn’t know how to respond. The intensity of his emotions was overwhelming, and I found myself caught between wanting to pull away and wanting to close the distance between us. In the end, I stayed where I was, my heart pounding in my chest.

The silence stretched between us, heavy and unspoken. I could feel the weight of his gaze, the way it seemed to see straight through me. It was unsettling, but at the same time, it felt... right. Like we were two pieces of a puzzle that had finally clicked into place.

After what felt like an eternity, Alaric finally broke the silence. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice filled with a gratitude I didn’t fully understand.

I nodded, unsure of what to say. The moment had passed, but the emotions it had stirred lingered, leaving me feeling both unsettled and strangely at peace.

As I left his quarters, guilt washed over me in waves. Nothing had happened, not really, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d crossed some invisible line. It was an unreasonable thought, I knew, but it clung to me like a shadow.

Had I just betrayed someone? Or was it simply the intensity of the moment that had left me feeling so conflicted?

I didn’t have the answers, but one thing was certain: things between Alaric and me had changed, and there was no going back.

---

The streets were buzzing with life, wolves everywhere celebrating the feast of the Moon Goddess. Music, laughter, and the occasional howl filled the air. Meanwhile, I was stuck with the glamorous task of preparing the temple for the ceremony, ensuring everything was perfect for Cibil, the royal priestess. A little ironic, considering I’m the least ceremonious person in the pack.

As I ticked off inventory—because, apparently, counting candles is what my life has come to—I realized we were short. Of course. Nothing screams “divine feast” like a candle shortage. Off to the warehouse I went.

That’s when I saw them.

Hunters. And Ruse, pinned and struggling in their grasp. My heart stopped, then kicked into overdrive. I ducked into the nearest bush, keeping low as I listened.

“Go search for the goblet,” one of them ordered, his tone sharp and efficient.

“Got it. But make it quick,” another replied, “even with silver, you can never be too careful.”

The others scattered, leaving one man with Ruse. I watched as he tightened his grip on her, a twisted smirk on his face.

 “You don’t want to die, huh?” he sneered. “Too bad. Dream on, bitch.”

I saw red. The moment he dragged her backward, I made my move. I crept closer, heart pounding, and with all my strength, I cracked him over the head. The sound of his skull meeting my force was disturbingly satisfying. But in his final moment of panic, he lashed out, stabbing Ruse in the chest before collapsing.

“Ruse!” I scrambled to her side. Her eyes fluttered open, blood staining her chest.

 

“Aroa…” she rasped, her voice weak.

“Don’t you dare give me the melodramatic dying speech,” I snapped, panicking. “I’ll get the healer. Just hold on.”

“It’s too late,” she whispered, coughing up blood. “No one’s at the Alpha residence. By the time you find help—”

“No!” I cut her off.

“There’s nothing you can—”

“Stop talking!” I barked, trying to focus.

Then it hit me. The blood spell. The forbidden ritual Alaric forced me to study back when he was trying to make me “useful.” At the time, I thought it was pointless trivia. Now, it was her only chance.

Ignoring her protests, I dragged her into the temple.

“What are you doing?” she gasped as I laid her down on the stone floor.

“Saving your ungrateful life,” I retorted.

I needed a vessel. My eyes scanned the room until they landed on the ornate goblet in the center. The Blood Goblet. The Alpha’s prized relic. Oh, Hades, forgive me for this one.

I grabbed the goblet and the silver knife. My hands shook as I held the blade to my wrist. “Here goes nothing,” I muttered. With one swift motion, I sliced into my vein. The pain was blinding, but I let the blood drip into the goblet, reciting the ancient chant.

The goblet began to glow, its light filling the room. A sign. Hades had blessed it.

I knelt beside Ruse, my vision blurring from blood loss. 

“Drink this,” I commanded, shoving the goblet toward her.

“What—”

“Drink it before I change my mind!”

She hesitated for a moment, then obeyed. Her lips touched the goblet, and she finally drank it. Relief washed over me as her breathing steadied.

“I’ll get help,” I told her, stumbling toward the door.

“Aroa…” she began, her voice stronger now.

“Save it,” I grumbled. “Just rest.”

I barely made it out of the temple before the world tilted. The last thing I saw was the ground rushing up to meet me.

When I woke up, I was in the infirmary, a nurse wrapping my wrist. My head felt like it had been stuffed with cotton.

“Where’s Ruse?” I croaked. “She was stabbed—silver knife—she’s—”

“She’s fine,” the nurse interrupted. “The royal priestess healed her.”

Wait. The royal priestess? For an omega? That didn’t make sense.

“Why would she—” I started, but the nurse cut me off again.

“Because your friend isn’t just any wolf,” she said, her tone grave. “She’s the missing daughter of Queen Selena.”

I blinked, sure I hadn’t heard her right.

“She’s…what?”

“She’s the princess of wolves,” the nurse said, matter-of-factly, as if this was no big deal. I stared at her, my brain still trying to process.

“Well,” I muttered, “that explains a lot.”

Chapter 8 Full version is now available!

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