Chapter 21: The Blood Moon Alpha
The clearing reeked of blood, scorched bark, and magic.
Ralf lay barely conscious, the earth torn up around him, fur matted with blood and dirt. His chest rose and fell in slow, ragged breaths, eyes flickering, no longer burning Yellow, but now glowing a soft blue. He stared at Tyler with awe, with fear… and with something else.
Loyalty.
The Blood Moon pulsed overhead like a second heart in the sky.
Tyler turned from Ralf, his monstrous new Alpha form towering in the red haze. Fur shadow-dark, claws faintly glowing with a elemental red, breath like smoke, and burning red eyes like twin eclipses.
Across the clearing, Jacob stared. "You... your eyes. You're an Alpha. But… how?"
Tyler didn't answer.
He lunged.
Jacob met him mid-charge, and the battle exploded. Two wolves, each powered by the Blood Moon, clashed in a frenzy of violence and fury.
Claws raked. Bones cracked. Dirt flew.
Jacob struck first, slamming Tyler with a crushing elbow to the jaw. Tyler staggered but answered with a brutal swipe, cutting deep across Jacob's chest.
The fight was different from before. More brutal. More primal.
Jacob was older, more experienced and under normal circumstances, stronger.
But Tyler wasn't normal anymore.
As the ground trembled, Selene watched from a distance. Her eyes tracked every blow, every movement, every ripple of elemental energy that flickered around Tyler's claws.
Jacob ducked under Tyler's swing and tore into his side. Blood sprayed.
But Tyler didn't fall.
A growl rose from deep within his chest as fire surged into his claws, and ice shimmered at his feet.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Elemental Surge Enabled
Fire Claws: Active
Ice Bind: Active
-25 Mana energy
Tyler roared. His claws ignited in flame. He slashed, missing Jacob by inches but the heat scorched the air and hair on Jacobs chest Then, with a wave of his hand, ice burst from the ground, freezing Jacob's foot mid-step.
"No!" Jacob shouted, trying to wrench free. And thought to himself... he is using elemental magic... a look of shock and horror on Jacobs face...
Tyler struck.
He pinned Jacob, flaming claws searing down onto his chest. Jacob screamed, breaking the ice with brute force, and tried to counter but Tyler dodged, moved behind him, and slammed his clawed hand into Jacob's back, driving him into the dirt.
Blood soaked the ground.
Jacob gasped as Tyler reached forward and plunged his hand straight into Jacob's chest, claws wrapping around his heart.
Selene took a step forward, eyes wide. "Tyler…"
Jacob choked. "You gonna… kill me?"
Selene then shouted "Remeber who you are... Come back to me."
Tyler's voice was low, guttural. "Submit… or die."
The clearing went still.
Jacob's defiance flickered and then faded.
His head tilted. His neck bared. His eyes changed from his usual yellow to a bright steel blue.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Jacob has submitted.
Pack Link Established.
New Title Earned: Alpha of the Blood Moon
Rewards:
+25 Strength
+25 Endurance
+100 Max HP
New Ability Unlocked: Alpha's Call (Passive)
Pack members gain boosted regen and 30% Boost in strength
Tyler pulled his claws free and stepped back.
Jacob coughed, collapsed, and then rolled onto his side, chest rising and falling with strained breaths. The wounds began to heal instantly
The Blood Moon had begun to fade.The violent red light bled into dawn's early haze, dimming into scarlet wisps as the sky slowly brightened. Shadows pulled back from the trees like retreating ghosts. But the echoes of battle still lingered in the air, thick with smoke and blood.
Tyler stood tall in his Alpha form towering, broad, beastly. His fur was streaked with blood and ash, his eyes glowing a deep and furious red. The air around him shimmered faintly, heat rolling off his body like fire had taken root beneath his skin.
At his feet, Jacob knelt his chest torn open, blood slightly pouring from the gash where Tyler's claws had just a few moments ago been removed from his chest.
Selene stumbled toward them, her arm bloodied and torn, her breathing ragged. "Tyler…"
He didn't move. His breathing was heavy. His claws trembled but not from weakness, but from the edge of a rage that had not yet passed.
She placed a hand on his back warm, steady, human.
"Tyler," she said again, softer this time. "You're still you."
He exhaled slowly through his nose. The rumble in his throat quieted. The world stopped shaking.
A pulse rippled outward, invisible but felt in every bone. Jacob let out a gasp as a faint shimmer of blue flickered in his irises. Ralf, leaning against a broken tree just a few feet away, blinked in surprise as Their wounds that were once deep were nearly healed, aided by the lingering magic of the Blood Moon and now the Alpha bond.
Selene sagged beside Tyler, blood still dripping from the torn gash on her shoulder. Her breath trembled.
Tyler's beast appearance began to recede. Fur withdrew into skin. Bones reshaped. Power condensed.
Within moments, he stood barefoot and bloodstained in human form again. His chest rose and fell slowly. His crimson eyes remained Alpha red but calm now, anchored.
Then he turned to Selene, his voice gentler than it had been all night. "Let me help."
"I'm fine—" she tried to say, but stumbled, the wound catching up to her again.
Tyler caught her before she could fall. "No, you're not."
He raised his hand, and as the first rays of sunlight broke through the treetops, golden light spilled across the clearing. Warmth bathed the battlefield the Blood Moon's reign finally over.
Tyler's hand glowed faintly with violet fire. His palm hovered above Selene's wound.his eyes shined red with a violet glow.
She blinked. "Is that…?"
"Magic," he whispered. "Just breathe."
He pressed his hand gently to her shoulder. The violet light flowed from his palm, wrapping her injury like a silk bandage woven from pure energy. Flesh reknitted. The torn skin sealed. The pain faded.
Selene stared at her healed arm in awe. "You just… healed me."
Tyler smiled faintly, exhaustion touching his face. "I told you, I'd never let anything happen to you."
A few feet away, Jacob and Ralf stared, stunned.
"You're using magic?" Ralf said, brows furrowed.
Jacob slowly shook his head, still kneeling. "Wolves don't use magic. That's not possible."
"It is now," Tyler replied, standing fully, helping Selene to her feet.
Both wolves looked to him and for the first time, not as rivals.
As sunlight bathed the clearing, Ralf's and Jacob's eyes were fully blue now. Their wounds nearly vanished. The Blood Moon's afterglow still pulsed in the trees, but its reign had ended.
"You're a Blood Moon Alpha," Jacob muttered. "That's why you're different."
"You need to build a pack," Ralf added, glancing between them all. "Fast. Once the other Alphas hear about this… they'll come for you."
Jacob looked at Tyler seriously. "You need people who you trust. Who'll fight beside you and your enemies."
He paused, then said, "You should consider turning her."
Selene raised a brow, instantly defiant.
"I would never want that," she said.
Tyler didn't even flinch. "I'd only ever turn someone who wanted to be a part of my pack."
Jacob gave a slow nod. "That's… more noble than most Alphas would be."
A moment of silence hung in the air.
Then Tyler turned as Mason stepped into the clearing. He looked from Selene to Jacob to Ralf… and finally to Tyler.
"I saw what happened," Mason said quietly. "And I'm sure now. I want this."
Tyler hesitated. "You know what it means?"
"I do."
Selene gave a quiet look of concern but didn't speak.
Tyler stepped forward and gently placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Then kneel."
Mason dropped to his knees without hesitation.
Tyler transformed his head and bit down on Masons arm.
Mason gasped but didn't cry out. His veins shimmered faintly beneath his skin. His eyes fluttered shut. Tyler released his brother leaving a large wound on his arm.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have turned your first Beta.
Pack Bond Established.
Rewards - With each Beta turned by your bite you get +5 to each Stat
+5 to all stats
New Task Added: Grow Your Pack (3/10)
New menu unlocked Pack Tab access for more info on your pack.
Please select a Pack name.
Mason's eyes snapped open.. glowing blue.
The sun fully crested the horizon.
The Blood Moon was gone.
But a new Alpha had risen.