The Alpha's Secret Luna

Chapter 14

Sophia continued to take in the beauty of the shrine and it wasn't until Orion spoke up that she remembered there was a reason why she was here in the first place.

"So?" Orion asked her, his deep voice reaching her.

Sophia's breath caught as the silence stretched between her and Orion. Her eyes remained fixed on the pale stone of the shrine, swirling with frost and mystery. Then, with a tentative turning of her head, she finally spoke.

"What do you mean?" she asked, voice soft but earnest.

Orion's dark gaze flicked up to meet hers. He swept a rough hand toward the towering walls around them. "We're here. At the shrine," he said flatly, as if stating the obvious.

Sophia blinked, her gaze sweeping the structure once more. "I can… see that," she answered uncertainly. "It looks beautiful, I suppose… but I'm not quite sure what we're really doing here."

Orion's eyes narrowed sharply, displeasure bristling like a surge of cold wind biting through winter leaves. "Are you dumb? Or just playing dumb with me?" His voice lowered but sharpened. "Have you forgotten the very reason we're here? This is where I found you."

Her eyes widened as it dawned on her. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh."

"Um…"

"Can you just fucking tell me if you remember anything?" Orion asked in anger.

His eyes narrowed at him before taking a deep breath. "No," she stammered, voice barely audible. "No, I haven't forgotten. But… this place doesn't ring a bell. Nothing familiar."

Even with how defiant she seemed, she was also soft and she hated that even being back here did nothing to rid the fog in her brain.

Orion let out a ragged breath, his shoulders stiffening in irritation. "I don't care how you do it but you better check that little brain of yours to see if you remember anything." The words were sharp, laced with frustration.

Sophia's defiance flared again despite the unease knotting in her stomach. "I already told you," she said firmly, eyes flashing. "It doesn't ring a bell."

"I found you here." Orion pointed out.

"Well, thank you for that."

"How do you not remember anything then?" He asked her, brows furrowed in anger.

"Maybe because you are lying? Maybe this isn't where you found me?" She asked him with a raised eyebrow.

Sophia hated that nothing rang a bell in her brain but she wasn't going to just let Orion walk over her.

"I don't lie." Orion grounded out and she shrugged.

She didn't care if he did so or not.

She grew silent for a moment, the cold pressing in, as she observed the beautiful shrine. She turned toward Brynhild standing nearby with quiet patience, the silver of her eyes calm as moonlight.

With renewed curiosity, Sophia began to ask, "What is this place? When was this shrine built? Who built it? Is it important? It does look important though. What stones were used? Why are they pale? Why is there this hum beneath? It feels fucking magical, you know."

Brynhild chuckled. "Slow down tiger."

She took a breath before answering, her voice steady and low. "This shrine is very old. Older than any of us can say. No one knows exactly who built it. It simply was when our pack came here, many years ago, to Nirvana."

Sophia frowned slightly but pressed on. "Why was it built? What's it for?"

Brynhild's pale eyes softened. " We don't know that. It's said the Moon Goddess herself blessed this place. According to stories which let me tell you, there are a lot, it's where peace once lived, among families and tribes united. Some say it's a place she resided in while some others claim that it's connected directly to her. Some say it's a scam because obviously the moon goddess never walked this earth…"

"She did." Sophia said, interrupting her.

Brynhild chuckled. "Well some people say she did."

Before Brynhild could add more, Orion's temper which was already simmering boiled over. He strode forward, muscles tense, and without warning, scooped Sophia up over one broad shoulder in a smooth motion.

Sophia's startled scream pierced the cold air. "What are you doing? Put me down! You rogue! Beast! You insane fool! Get me off!" Her fists pounded against his back as color drained from her face.

Orion said nothing, simply marched with deliberate steps toward the pack's grounds, each stride measured and purposeful. Her protests grew louder, more desperate, but he ignored them all.

The cold air stung freshly as they emerged inside the gates, the familiar stone walls offering no comfort.

Orion reached his quarters and set her down roughly on the floor. "Stay still," he ordered, voice a low growl that brooked no defiance.

Sophia winced, clutching her side, but met his glare squarely, refusing to be cowed. She bit the inside of her cheek, fighting tears and the panic rising within her.

Orion turned sharply and called after him, just as Ronan and Brynhild were bursting through the door behind him.

"Ronan, Brynhild," Orion barked, "we're holding an impromptu meeting."

"What are you doing?" Brynhild asked him with a frown.

"Gather the elders. This isn't any of your concern. Place some guards around to make sure she doesn't get out." Orion said to her.

Brynhild was still shocked from his actions but spoke up, "The elders are already gathered. You won't find a more eager audience."

Orion's lips curled into a dry smirk. "Good."

Orion should have expected that. It was a wonder how he was able to go hours without the elders demanding him to show up.

He pushed open the heavy oak door of the council chamber without hesitation, and all eyes turned to him.

The elders sat in quiet judgment: Eldric, adjusting his thick glasses and twitching fingers nervously, Caspian, sly-eyed with a faint smirk, Daniel, his eyes sharp and wary,Madam Tyler, serene yet formidable, hands folded as if in prayer, and Tobias, ever weighing and measuring, his gaze sharp and calculating.

Orion ignored greetings and pleasantries. His voice cut deep through the heavy air.

"What do we do about this nuisance?"

The question hung raw and cold, a blade in the silence. All eyes fixed on the center where he stood, unmoving, waiting.