The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 53 : The Beginning of the End

Procellous • [proh-sel-uhs]
Tempestuous, stormy.

🖤

~+~

~ Anastasia ~

From beyond the secured flaps of the tent I'm sheltered by, the wind blows furiously with every fresh downpour of rain. Who knew the weather could take a complete downturn in the span of only eight hours.

The sky outside is nothing compared to what the sunrise had looked like earlier this morning before we departed from our temporary camp. I'm wondering if Moon Goddess is infuriated with me, not that she's able to control what only Mother Nature can determine. But the deep-rooted guilt that's wrapped itself around my bones says otherwise.

My body fidgets against my will as I stare vacantly at the dim space before me, something I've been trying to control since we arrived at Brightmoon only a few hours ago. I'm restless despite the cot I'm sitting on. And, to make matters worse, terror has decided to haunt my every thought.

This is my first visit to any of Phantomridge's encampments since the war began. Brightmoon is close to being one of the safest—this was the biggest reason why Killian chose it from the dozens of others that we share and occupy with our allies. The war has turned utterly violent.

I was overwhelmed with the news that Maddox began his siege for Mylithia and its human civilians once we stepped foot within Brightmoon. This came from a commander of one of our allying packs; I guess word of Phantomridge's luna arriving spread quickly—that my mate being taken by our enemy has now shifted the groundwork of our strategy.

But the greatest factor responsible for my fright is the fact that I am very out of my element—out of my jurisdiction. That the world is quite literally collapsing around me and I'm now expected to keep my shit together.

I can't, though. I still can't comprehend this hollow piece of my soul. How can I lead when I can barely compose a coherent thought?

Samuel could be dead. He could be so close to death.

The tent flaps abruptly fold open as three wet bodies file into the tent. I'm startled from my dazed state as I stare wide-eyed at Killian, Sterling, and another male I've never met before.

Though I'm more shocked by Sterling's sudden appearance given the fact that I thought she was returning to Phantomridge to be with Liam, my eyes settle on the older-looking man.

"Luna Anastasia," the stranger says, dipping his head briefly as his shoulder-length black locks shift with the movement. When he straightens, his soft hazel eyes meet mine.

The male looks to be in his late twenties, or that could be the deception of his faint facial hair. I look at Killian, though, confused and disoriented all at once. He exhales deeply, moving so he stands before me. "Anastasia, this is Alpha Reed, leader of the Blacktooth pack. Most of his warriors are situated here at Brightmoon, but we thought he could be helpful with retrieving the Moonstone."

My eyes move between the three of them until they settle on Reed. He offers me his friendliest smile. "Apologies for the wait, Luna. And my condolences for—"

"My mate—" The words catch in my throat so I swallow, lowering my volume. "My mate is not dead, Alpha. Please, condolences are not necessary." I'm trying so hard to convince myself of this.

The alpha only nods. "Killian and the rest of your present pack leaders have notified me of the situation we're all under regarding your father." Reed looks around the tent—the barren space that's only occupied by us four, the cot I continue to sit on, a side table with an illuminated lantern, and an identical cot on the other end of the tent—one for Max, wherever he was pulled off to. I'm sure they have to keep the warriors from learning a human is in their territory to maintain the peace. Goddess forbid we start another uprising in the midst of what's occurring. "I worked alongside Eira briefly, helping her and her search teams locate Maddox and his rogues."