CHAPTER 32: VAMPIRES’ PLOT

Chaos rippled through Ravenmoon like a silent plague.

The bodies had been found at dawn, families living near the border, entire households wiped out with no chance to flee or fight. Lucien barely had time to calm the panicked pack when yet another alarm rang through the mind-link.

"Gamma Damien and his mate were under attack."

Lucien didn’t hesitate. He launched himself into the trees with Rowan close behind, every muscle thrumming with violent urgency. Damien was one of the strongest wolves in the pack. If he was being overwhelmed, the threat was something far more sinister than rogues or assassins.

When they arrived, the forest clearing reeked of iron and dark magic.

Damien was on his knees, blood pouring from claw marks across his abdomen. His wolf form flickered in and out, unable to hold shape from the poison coursing in his veins. Around him lay seven corpses, vampires, their eyes glazed, mouths stained with blood that wasn’t theirs.

But Eleya... Eleya was gone.

"Damien!" Rowan rushed forward, helping steady the Gamma before he toppled forward.

Lucien crouched, scanning the ground, inhaling sharply.

"Vampires," he growled. "And not the starving ones. These were trained."

Damien coughed up blood. "They... took her. They-they said..."

His breathing hitched, and he gripped Lucien’s forearm with desperate strength.

"They said to bring them... the Luna."

Lucien’s jaw locked so tight the bones creaked. Rowan froze, staring at Damien in disbelief.

"The Luna?" Rowan whispered. "Why the hell would vampires want Devon?"

Damien shook his head, tears cutting through the dirt on his face. "They didn’t explain. Just said... ’Bring the Luna to the Crescent Cavern, or the woman dies.’ Lucien, she was screaming."

He broke. Damien, the unshakeable Gamma, collapsed fully, sobbing into the earth. Rowan held him up, rubbing circles on his back, eyes trembling with fury.

Lucien stood, every instinct spiraling into lethal resolve. But beneath the rage... a cold, sharp fear spiked through his chest.

Devon.

They wanted Devon.

Why?

How did they know about him?

Magic surged faintly at the edge of his senses, like a whisper only he could hear.

A trap, Lucien thought. It must be a trap.

But Eleya was family, and the vampires had made their intentions clear. He had no choice. Lucien carried Damien back to the pack hospital, refusing to show the panic coiling inside him.

Rowan remained behind to organize the patrols, doubling security across every border.

But Lucien’s feet carried him somewhere else first.

Devon’s room.

Where Devon lay unconscious, still recovering from magical backlash, feverish and pale. Elias had only just woken earlier, crying for him, refusing to rest until Devon had been placed safely back into his bed.

Lucien entered silently, closing the door behind him.

Devon was sleeping curled on his side, his breathing unsteady but finally less ragged. Sweat still clung to his forehead, and his lips had a faint bluish tint, clear signs of overexertion.

Lucien’s chest tightened painfully.

How much are you hiding from me, Devon? How deep does your magic run? And why are others coming for you?

His mind raced with every possible answer, but none of them settled his heart.

After a long moment, Devon stirred, groaning softly, blinking awake. His eyes landed on Lucien and widened in confusion.

"Why are... You here?" Devon whispered, voice hoarse.

Lucien sat on the edge of the bed, expression unreadable. "I had to check on you."

Devon swallowed. "I’m fine."

"You’re not." Lucien leaned closer. "And you haven’t been for weeks. Don’t lie to me."

Devon looked away, guilt tightening his throat.

Lucien breathed out slowly, fighting the urge to touch him. "Devon... there’s something you need to know."

The tone made Devon sit up too fast, and he swayed, dizzy. Lucien caught his shoulders before he fell.

"Lucien...?" he whispered, scared by the sudden seriousness in the Alpha’s eyes.

Lucien exhaled shakily. "There was another attack."

Devon froze.

"Several families near the border," Lucien continued. "All dead."

Devon swallowed hard, horror crawling over him. "Why? Why is this happening?"

"That’s not all." Lucien hesitated... then forced the words out. "Damien and his mate were ambushed. The vampires kidnapped Eleya."

Devon’s breath caught. "Eleya... no..."

Lucien’s grip tightened, keeping him steady. "They left a message. A demand."

Devon’s eyes filled with dread. "What do they want...?"

Lucien stared directly into his eyes, voice low and heavy. "They want you, Devon."

The world slowed.

Devon felt his pulse stop, felt the blood drain from his face.

"M-Me?" he whispered. "Why? I-I’ve never even met a vampire..."

"This wasn’t random," Lucien said. "They knew exactly who they were taking. They asked specifically for the Luna."

Devon felt sick.

Luna.

A title he still didn’t deserve... didn’t feel worthy of... didn’t understand.

He shook his head in disbelief. "Lucien, I don’t know anything. Why would they..."

Lucien’s expression softened... painfully.

"I don’t know," he admitted. "But I’ll find out."

Devon’s voice trembled. "You’re not actually going to give me to them, are you?"

Lucien stiffened. For the first time in days, his real emotions cracked through.

"Never," he vowed, voice shaking with a suppressed fury. "I will never hand you over to them. Not even if they threatened the whole damn pack."

Devon stared at him, breath trembling.

Lucien continued, raw and unguarded. "I will rescue Eleya. I will hunt the vampires myself if I have to. But I won’t sacrifice you."

Devon’s eyes burned with sudden tears. "Lucien... why...? Why risk all that for me?"

Lucien hesitated. The answer sat on his tongue. Heavy and dangerous. He lifted a hand, brushing a strand of hair from Devon’s cheek.

"When will you understand..." he murmured, almost broken, "that you matter to me?"

Devon’s breath hitched.

But before either could speak again, Rowan burst through the mind-link.

"Alpha! The southern patrol spotted movement, vampiric scouts. They’re watching the pack."

Lucien’s jaw tightened.

"They’re getting ready," Rowan added.

"Then so are we," Lucien replied aloud.

He stood from the bed reluctantly, as if tearing himself away. But before he left, he turned back to Devon, eyes fierce, protective, burning.

"Don’t leave this room," he ordered softly. "And don’t use your magic. Not until I say so."

Devon nodded shakily.

Lucien’s voice dropped to a whisper. "I’ll protect you, Devon. No matter what it costs me."

Then he disappeared out the door. Leaving Devon trembling, breath shallow, as the world closed in around him. Because for the first time...

He began to fear that what haunted him was finally coming to claim him.