Page 154 of Moonlit Fate

“Then explain it to me?—”

“Patience,” he said, tilting his head. “You’ll learn.”

There was nothing I sought from this man. His lessons held no value for me. He’d proved that when he’d double crossed me during the ritual. Fool me once, shame on him, fool me again and the shame would be all mine.

“Like hell I will,” I snarled.

“Such a pity you can’t see the bigger picture. Time will tell, Atticus. Time will always tell.” His voice was like ice cracking beneath my feet. “Goodbye,son.”

“Wait—”

Before the word fully left my mouth, he was gone. Just like that, as if he had never been there at all.

I listened carefully, catching every sound in the forest except that of any other shifter in the vicinity. That confirmed my fears. He’d been alone and had used some dangerous magic that didn’t belong to him.

He’d been vicious when I was a kid—killing my mother, tormenting me night after night—all while playing the genial alpha to the pack. But this was different. Worse. However he had gotten that magic, it had turned his presence into a dark, menacing evil. He had to be stopped.

I had to get back to the den. There was no time to waste. Immersing myself in the comfort of the shadows, I turned my focus on to the den. I visualized its sturdy stone walls, the familiar scents, the security the den represented. The familiar tugging sensation pulled at my gut, and in a single step, I passed through a large stretch of the forest, appearing at the entrance to the den.

I barely registered the startled faces of my chosen family as I stormed inside, chest heaving.

I was still shaking, the threats my father had spat at me echoing around my skull. Each word was a promise of danger, not just to me but to Aria. That’s all I could fixate on. Her name was a steady drumbeat amid the unrest.

“I need to do something,” I blurted out, already pacing. I couldn’t stand still; it felt like being trapped. “My father... he’s not just a threat to me anymore. He’s a threat to Aria. To all of us.”

My voice was rough, edged with fear and determination. I was a rogue, used to handling things alone. I wanted to chase him, hunt him down, and challenge him, but this was bigger than anything I’d faced before. It wasn’t just about me now.

I stopped mid-pace, turning to face the group.

Joren leaned against the wall, his brow creased, lips twisted to one side. “Slow down, Atticus. What happened?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “My father cornered me in the woods.” I struggled to keep my voice even. “He is incredibly powerful. More powerful than I am.” My fists clenched at my sides as I wrestled with the urgency clawing at my insides. “I need to find out more information about Caius fucking Thorne. I need to know exactly what he has planned. I’m going to go now. To Crimson Fang.” I paused, meeting Joren’s gaze squarely.

They looked at each other, a silent conversation loaded with uncertainty.

Mia stepped forward. “Atticus, you can’t just rush off to find out more on your own. You’re too emotionally involved right now.” Her voice was steady, but worry laced every word. “You wouldn’t recognize strange magic if it bit your backside.”

A snort came from Hale’s direction. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, but his eyes were alive with that mischievous spark I knew all too well.

“Yeah, and you wouldn’t find Crimson Fang territory if you were just across the river from it,” he quipped, a wry smirk playing on his lips.

His attempt at humor didn’t lighten my mood, but it did halt my pacing. I glared at him, but deep down, I appreciated the effort. They were right. Both of them. I needed to get my head straight before I could face whatever my father had become.

“Rushing off alone is exactly what he’d expect you to do,” Joren said.

The room went still and I felt their eyes on me—waiting, watching. Fuck, they were right. My fists clenched at my sides as the reality of the situation settled on me.

“He threatened Aria,” I forced the words out, each one heavy with dread. “If I don’t do something?—”

Lyza stood. “We’ll do it together.”

I turned to her.

“You’re not alone in this. If your father has grown so powerful, we’re all in danger. We need a plan, one that doesn’t involve you charging in alone, blinded by anger.”

Her words hit hard. She was right. I couldn’t let my rage get the better of me, not with Aria and the lives of so many at stake.

The others stood silently around us. I could see them thinking about what our next move should be. The weight of our situation hung heavy in the air.

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