Alpha Theo's Unloved Luna - Chapter 117: Chapter 117

: Blackpelt Ridge
~ King Arthur ~
“Victoria used to be my apprentice. I tried teaching her everything that I know, but -” Aurora frowned, revealing, “She could not master harnessing the energy within the nature around her. She became impatient. Victoria began drawing strength from the living - from animals until she attempted it with humans and werewolves.”
Shaking her head, Aurora added, “I tried to stop her. I told her there were consequences in taking human and werewolf essences, but she would not listen.”
“She tricked me by pretending to be sorry, but in the end, she cast a spell on me, trapping me in a magic that had preserved my body for more than fifty years. That was the best that she could do because I fought back with my own powers.” Aurora turned to the snakes and added. “Before I got trapped, I cast a spell, allowing me to sense my surroundings through my pet snakes unconsciously.”
“I think that was how my snakes sensed you as my mate,” Aurora expressed while smiling at Arthur.
Turning to Alpha Theo, Aurora said, “I’m sorry that Victoria did you wrong. I will help you retrieve your wife. Please tell me everything.”
Theo sucked in a deep breath. He narrated the story, and at the end of his tale, Theo said, “I wouldn’t just let anyone take my wife away, but we had no choice. Victoria used these two golden creatures to force us into submitting. She called it the Twin Vorax Ari. One such creature is embedded in my son.”
Immediately, Aurora gasped. She shut her eyes as she shook her head. She said, “I’m sorry. The Vorax Aris were supposed to be extinct, but I saved a pair from their deaths. A female gave birth to twins. They had been by my side since.”
“Their powers are unique, and I’ll admit I’ve used them against my enemies in the past—they proved to be quite helpful,” Aurora said, lowering her gaze. “I suppose I didn’t fully realize that, in the wrong hands, they could become dangerous creatures.”
She suddenly rose from her feet and declared, “But don’t worry. I will help you. Victoria and I have an old score to settle anyway.”
Aurora turned to everyone and said, “We don’t have time to waste. Let’s go!”
Everyone was eager to leave the cave. As they voyaged higher into the tunnels, they covered Victoria. Arthur asked, “Aurora, now that you are free, would Victoria be alerted?”
Aurora glanced at the snakes that tailed behind them. It was as if they were talking to each other. She turned to him and replied, “For now, no. Victoria had created a barrier at the opening to Blackpelt Ridge. It’s the biggest opening that could allow us all to leave the cave.”
“Blackpelt Ridge?” Arthur echoed. “Is that your hometown?”
“Yes,” Aurora replied. “And if Victoria had taken someone, she would confine them in my old house at Blackpelt Ridge. Thus, that’s exactly where we need to be. But we must act fast once we leave the cave because Victoria will know I am already free once the barrier is broken.”
“But isn’t Blackpelt Ridge at the far end of New Arcadia?” Theo asked behind them.
Aurora glanced at Theo and answered, “Exactly. We have a long journey ahead.”
“How - how many hours before we get there?” Theo asked, his confidence wavering.
“Hours? You mean days.” Aurora answered. “We are walking. It will take four to five days to arrive. I know it’s long, but I can’t use my magic to shorten our travel. I need my strength to break through the barrier. Otherwise, all of us can’t get out of here.”
Thus, they traveled through the cavern in the succeeding days, eating only mushrooms, other wild and non-venomous snakes, and toads. As far as water was concerned, they had plenty. With the help of the golden snakes, they found shortcuts that eventually led them to the exit in three days.
They arrived at dawn. The cavern’s primary access had a large opening layered with boulders of rocks and shrubs, and no one could see what was beyond it. There seemed to be a magnetic wave at the entrance. It was translucent but evident because it pulsed outward like ripples in a still lake.
“When I break the barrier, I will alert Victoria, but she will not know you are with me.” Aurora turned to Theo and instructed, “We should form two groups. Theo, I suggest that you go ahead. My snakes can lead you to my old house. Run as fast as you can in that direction. I don’t know what has changed in our hometown, so expect any obstacles.”
“I will feel weak shortly after breaking the barrier.” Turning to Arthur, she said, “So I count on you, my mate, to carry me through. Victoria will be after us the most.”
They all did as Aurora suggested. Theo would be running off with Baron, Dunkin, and the snakes, whereas Aurora, King Arthur, Rollin, Jacob, and Caroline would take a longer route to Blackpelt Ridge.
In the next few minutes, they all watched as Aurora stood silently before the barrier. Soon, she chanted foreign words. With her hands up in the air, a gush of wind suddenly surrounded her.
Arthur noticed her body glowed in white and blue light, and along with the wind, dust from the earth seemed to have circled Aurora too. In the succeeding moments, the light emitting from Aurora blinded them. The wind and dust combined forced them to shut their eyes and take cover. The air felt heavy. It seemed to be charged with static, prickling their skins.
Then, a sudden force seemed to have pushed them to the cavern walls, some landing on the ground. Arthur’s heart felt uneasy, but soon enough, everything turned serene. They heard Aurora say next, “Theo, run!”
Cautioned, and with their eyes open, they all turned to the opening. True enough, the barrier was broken. The golden snakes had lined up at the front, ready to escort Theo’s group.
Aurora was barely holding up. She screamed, “Go!”
With that, Theo and his group left the cavern, and in just a second, Aurora began to lose her balance. By the time Arthur caught her in his arms, she fell unconscious.
The remaining snakes took command. They all snapped their heads in the exit’s direction. The snakes did so repeatedly, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Realizing this, Arthur ordered his colleagues, “Shift! Let’s go!”
He also transformed into his alpha king wolf, resting his mate behind his back with the help of the snakes, and in the succeeding time, they ran like the wind to the Blackpelt Ridge.
~ Theo ~
In his wolf form, Theo’s paws thundered against the ground. His eyes fixed on the speeding serpents leading the way.
It was strange, Theo thought. They were already outside the cavern and if Gwen were in Blackpelt Ridge, he should have already felt her presence, but he felt nothing. However, he never felt their bond had broken either.
Theo’s jaws clenched tighter as he ran through the woods. He muttered, “Please be there, Gwen. Be there. Be safe.”