The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna
Chapter 163
It had been two days. Two days of waiting, of staring out windows and jumping at every sound that might herald Kaius’s return. Two days of Frost assuring me that through their bond, he could sense Kalus was alive, though nothing more specific.
Two days was long enough. If answers wouldn’t come to me, I would seek them out.
My body had healed quickly thanks to the pack healers and my own werewolf resilience. Only a few bruises remained as evidence of what had happened in the forest. The deeper wounds–the fear, the confusion, the desperate need to understand–those hadn’t faded at all.
I made my way through the corridors of the pack house, determination in every step. When I reached the healing wing, I paused, steeling myself for the conversation ahead.
Thalia was propped up against pillows when I entered, her hands still heavily bandaged from the injuries inflicted by the elders. Her eyebrows rose slightly at the sight of me.
“So you’re back. I didn’t think I would be seeing you anytime soon,” she remarked.
“Trust me, I don’t want to be here either, but I need to talk to you about Kaius.”
“And why do you think I would care for such conversation?” Her voice dripped with disdain.
Maybe because I would have left you to die but I didn’t,” I replied, moving closer to her bed. “This one thing I ask of you, and I hope you would try to be less of a bitch and listen to me.”
Something shifted in her expression–not quite respect, but a certain recognition. “The changes I told you about, they’ve started, haven’t they?”
“You always knew, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. I tried to warn you, but did you listen?” She adjusted her position, wincing slightly. “What was it? The eyes? The strength? The rage?”
“All of it,” I admitted. “Is there any way I could help him?”
Thalia laughed, a bitter sound. “Any way you could help him? No, there is literally nothing you can do. But perhaps I can give you some advice if you’re willing to take it.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Leave him,” she said flatly. “He is more dangerous than you can ever fathom. You will never be safe.” Her eyes narrowed, studying my reaction. But of course you won’t leave him. No, I can see it in your eyes–the defiance. You would rather let him kill you and live through the guilt of his actions, but I cannot judge you for making such a selfish decision. I would have done the same.”
Her unexpected understanding caught me off guard. “I just can’t leave him. He is my family now, and he needs me more than he ever has before.”
“No. That’s where you’re wrong. Kaius never needed anybody–he never did, and he never will. He picked you because you caught his attention. He likes you, but he never did need you.”
“And how would you know that?” I challenged.
I know that just as much as you do,” she replied, her voice softening slightly. “What exactly happened?”
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Chapter 163
I hesitated, then decided hiding the truth would help no one. “His eyes turned completely black. He changed–not into a wolf, but something… in between.” The memory made me shudder. “What exactly is wrong with him? What is the cause of all the aggressiveness?”
Thalia was quiet for a long moment, seemingly weighing how much reveal. “Have you ever wondered why werewolves exist? Where we come from?
The abrupt change in topic caught me off guard. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
“Of course not. She sighed. “Let me tell you a story, one few remember now. In the beginning, there weren’t ‘werewolves‘ as we know them today. There were humans, and there were wolves. And there were Lycans.”
“Lycans?”
“The first werewolves–the original shapeshifters. They weren’t like us. They could transform effortlessly, shifting between forms with barely a thought. Their strength was unmatched, their healing nearly instantaneous. Some say they could communicate directly with the Moon Goddess herself.” Thalia’s voice took on a reverent quality I’d never heard from her before.
“What happened to them?”
“Fear happened. Humans feared them. Lesser wolves envied them. They were hunted nearly to extinction. The few who survived bred with humans and wolves, diluting their bloodline until what we call werewolves today emerged–weaker, bound by the moon’s cycles, but numerous enough to survive.”
tried to process this history lesson, uncertain how it connected to Kaius’s condition. “What does this have to do with-
“Every few generations, the old blood resurfaces,” Thalia continued, ignoring my interruption. “A child is born with traces of the ancient power. Usually, it manifests early–extraordinary strength, unusual abilities. These children rarely survive to adulthood. Their powers consume them, or others destroy them out of fear.”
A cold certainty began to settle in my stomach. “Are you trying to say Kaius is a…”
“Lycan. Yes. The Last Lycan Wolf.” Thalia’s voice held a mixture of awe and fear. “This happened before, you know. There was a king, Rhaine, centuries ago. He showed the same symptoms as Kaius after becoming Alpha King. His political path was remarkably similar too–the struggle with the elders, the consolidation of power. The stress of those conflicts awakened the dormant Lycan blood that his body had suppressed until then.”
“What happened to him?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“He lost himself to the beast,” Thalia said flatly. “Somehow, Kaius’s body has suppressed the transformation until now, just as Rhaine’s did. Perhaps the strain of claiming the Alpha King title triggered it. Perhaps it’s simply his time. But what you’re witnessing is the emergence of something ancient and terrible.”
The revelation struck me like a physical blow. Kaius–my Kaius–was transforming into something from legend, something both magnificent and monstrous.
“The black eyes?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“The Lycan taking control, Thalia replied. “When it happens, he isn’t himself. He isn’t even a wolf. He’s something older, wilder.. more dangerous than either.”
Can it be controlled?”
Thalia shrugged, wincing as the movement pulled at her injuries. “Legends differ. Some say the Lycans of old could harness their power at will. Others claim the beast always consumed the man in the end.”
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I stood abruptly, unable to remain still with this new knowledge buting through me. I need to find him.”
“You need to run from him,” Thalia countered. “But you won’t, will you?
“No, never.”
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