CHAPTER 292: _THE BLOOD MOON DRAWS NEAR

Kaelos’ POV

*****

"You... Proposed?" Marcellus asked me with widened eyes when I told him in my office.

We’d been reviewing plans for the blood moon festival coming up in three days and I couldn’t help but blurt it out to him. He’s my best man, after all.

"You seem surprised." I grinned, pouring myself a glass of whiskey before taking a sip. I poured Marcellus a glass as well, handing it over to him. "I feel like we’ve gotten to that point in our relationship where... All I can imagine is life with her."

Marcellus chuckled with what sounded like genuine amusement. "You think? Kaelos, it’s painstakingly obvious that you’re head over heels. I could say you’ve been that way for months. As early as when she escaped to the woods, actually."

I rolled my eyes while he continued laughing, staring briefly at his glass of whiskey before he took a sip.

Oh, right... He’s more of a vodka guy.

"So, any plans for the big wedding?" He asked, dropping his glass on the table and leaning closer. "I can already imagine all of it. It’ll be the talk of the continent, heck even the world—"

"Let’s not get ahead of ourselves." I raised a hand, chuckling. "I’ll focus on the Blood Moon festival coming up three days from now. How’s the security detail going?"

Marcellus parted his lips, about to speak when a knock sounded on the door. I raised an eyebrow, fixing my gaze on it.

"Come in."

The door swung open and Layla walked in, her tablet clutched to her chest and an urgent expression on her face.

I narrowed my eyes in anticipation.

Goddess, please don’t let it be something serious...

"Luna Queen Janelle of Europe wishes to speak to you, sir." She announced, glancing at Marcellus briefly before she stood in front of the large TV screen at the corner of the office.

She scrolled on her tablet, connecting it to the television. The TV screen flickered to life as I adjusted my sitting position and focused my gaze on it.

Eventually, the face of one of the most powerful women among the werewolf populace showed on the screen. Her expression was plain at first but a small smile soon spread across her face.

"I believe it’s a good morning for you, Alpha King Kaelos." She began, drumming her fingers on her desk. Then her gaze flicked to Beta Marcellus.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, flickering with something unreadable as she stared at him.

But then I cleared my throat, breaking the tension. "Good day, Luna Queen. This is my Beta, Marcellus. I don’t think you two have had the pleasure of meeting."

Marcellus stood and bowed slightly. "The pleasure is all mine. I’ve heard so much about you, Luna Queen Janelle."

She arched an eyebrow but then nodded slowly. "Well, thank you. Anyway, I’m only calling to confirm you have everything ready for the Blood Moon festival. Delegates from all over the world are coming to your territory. The last Blood moon festival’s main gathering was held right here in Europe and it’s been that way for decades before the war."

Gods, a history lesson...

’You might be in dire need of one.’ Damon sniggered in my mind.

I grunted in my mental space. ’And why do you say that?’

’Dude, she’s over a century old and still glowing, unlike some old coots. What do you have against that?’

I ignored that, smiling at Janelle. "I understand, Luna Queen. So will we be expecting your husband? Alpha King Thorian."

It was clear he was still either wounded from the war or too occupied. But I still wanted to know.

"Oh, don’t worry. He wouldn’t show up but he’ll make a live video stream addressing us. It’s going to be a grand event, Alpha King Kaelos. One that’ll unite the werewolves of the planet for the first time in a century." She said with reverence in her emerald eyes.

I kept the smile on my face, glancing at Marcellus whose expression was unreadable.

"Don’t forget, the Alpha kings and I will have our eyes on you and the running of the North American packs that day. Be prepared." She flashed one final smile before ending the call, leaving us in silence.

I breathed out, rubbing my forehead.

"She seems nicer than expected," Marcellus remarked casually.

I snorted. "Right. Why do I feel like this whole thing is a bad idea?"

Marcellus furrowed his eyebrows when I stared at him but he spoke nevertheless. "The Blood Moon festival? It was celebrated this way before the war. Centuries before that, werewolves on different continents just celebrated it on their home packs."

I clicked my tongue, watching the teasing smirk on his face widen.

"I know these already, moron." I scoffed. "But the Blood moon... THIS blood moon appears once every thirty-three years for a reason. It makes our inner wolves go haywire in unpredictable ways. So tell me... How does gathering the main leaders of werewolf civilisation around the world during a war in ONE spot sound?"

Marcellus remained silent, but I knew he was seeing things from my perspective.

I hated feeling out of control, and this situation, this "festival", was looking like one of those situations.

Suddenly, just when I grabbed my glass of whiskey, I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. I froze, feeling an unusual tug on the thread of the mate bond.

Odessa...

"Kaelos?" Marcellus called out with concern but I didn’t say anything, getting on my feet and running for the door.

Layla yelled. "Sir?! What’s happening?"

I barged out of the door, sprinting like my life depended on it.

Because it did...

Odessa, our unborn child... I couldn’t feel the pulse of their life through the bond anymore.

’Odessa? Odessa!’ I yelled through the mate bond but there was no response, causing dread to surge through me with an overwhelming numbness.

I raced to the other end of the dimly lit hallway which seemed like it was caving in on me. When I got to Odessa’s room, I burst the door open and rushed inside.

The first thing that welcomed me was a malevolent presence which lingered like a ghost. I shook off the feeling, scanning my eyes around.

But when my gaze fell on the floor... My heart dropped.

"No!"