Chapter 214: Like a goddess of fury

Alyssa froze at the threshold, staring wide-eyed at the private moment she had just interrupted.

Pandora tried to step away, but it only made Anthony tighten his arms around her, keeping her pressed firmly against him.

"I..." Alyssa stuttered, her cheeks flushing bright red. "I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt..."

"It’s okay," Pandora said quickly as Alyssa instinctively turned to leave. "Come in, Alyssa. Please. Anthony and I were just... talking."

Alyssa slowly turned back around, her expression uncertain. "Are you sure? I can come back if you want some privacy."

"Oh, don’t be weird," Pandora chuckled, finally pushing out of Anthony’s grip. She walked over to the door, took Alyssa’s hand, and pulled her into the room.

"I just wanted to check on Anthony," Alyssa said with a soft smile. "See how he’s doing."

"I’m much better," Anthony replied as Pandora helped him back to the bed. "And you? Are you okay?"

Alyssa lifted one shoulder in a light shrug. "I’m okay. I guess."

Pandora fluffed the pillows behind Anthony, and as she stepped back away from the bed, their fingers brushed.

They shared another intense look–just a few seconds of unspoken communication, but it was more than enough for Alyssa to notice.

"So, I’m guessing you two have finally confessed your feelings for each other," she began, her tone soft and teasing.

"I confessed mine a long time ago," Anthony chuckled. "I just had to convince Pandora that we were made for each other. But she still hasn’t given me an answer."

"Okay, that’s enough out of you," Pandora laughed, playfully swatting his hand away. "We can continue our conversation later."

Silence settled over the room as the three of them suddenly found themselves grappling with the elephant in the room.

"So," Pandora began, gesturing vaguely with her hands. "Dorian told us everything."

"I didn’t mean to lie to you," Alyssa blurted out. "And I know you have every right to be angry, but..."

"We’re not mad at you," Anthony gently cut in. "We’re angry at Dorian. If he had told us from the onset that you were a Hybrid, we would have been prepared, and you could have told us about your vision before the attack."

"Anthony is right," Pandora nodded. "And while I’m still reeling from the shock of finding out you’re a powerful Hybrid, I am furious at Dorian for keeping something that massive a secret. Imagine our terror when we saw you last night."

?Alyssa fiddled nervously with her fingers, letting out a long, shaky breath. "It’s not Dorian’s fault. I know you’re angry at him, but you need to understand he only kept it a secret to protect me. He knew what the Hybrids and the Onyx did in the last war, and he was terrified people would turn that hatred toward me."

"But he told Nina and Jake," Pandora argued.

"No, he didn’t," Alyssa shook her head. "Jake overheard it by accident, and Nina only found out because Dorian sent for her that night I fell sick."

Pandora’s eyes widened. "So you weren’t actually sick that night?"

"I wouldn’t say I was. I was going through my first shift, and it hurt like hell. Dorian sent for Nina to bring my fever down and relieve me of the pain. Besides, Jake and Nina didn’t even know I was half Onyx; it was just a working theory. But now, you all know."

Pandora sat up straighter, her brows drawing into a deep frown. "So wait... the talisman Nina mentioned..."

"It was meant to suppress my Hybrid powers," Alyssa nodded. "I’m so sorry we kept it from you."

"What about Pilate?"

"I killed Pilate," Alyssa whispered. "I watched him kill André, and I completely lost control. And that house that collapsed in Ashgard? That was me, too. The vision I had about the rogues and the blood moon... I didn’t understand it back then. I thought the rogues caused the red moon. But it was me all along."

?"What about the person who stabbed you?" Anthony asked after a moment of heavy silence.

"Must have been from another vision," Alyssa shrugged helplessly. "I don’t know. I’m still trying to grasp the true extent of my powers. The only person who might help me understand is the woman claiming to be my mother. Dorian already sent word to Alpha Cole to search for her in Ashgard."

?Another long silence descended on the room. Pandora’s mind was spinning, overloaded with everything she had just absorbed. She had a thousand questions, yet her tongue felt heavy.

"Dorian mentioned that the memories of every Lycan were erased," Anthony said after a while. "He believes you did it subconsciously. But our own memories remained intact."

"Yeah," Pandora nodded. "Along with Jake, Henna, Alec, and Samantha. We’re the only ones who remember the storm, the blood moon, and everything else. Why is that?"

"I wish I knew," Alyssa sighed. "I have no explanation for it."

Anthony fell silent again, replaying the chaos of the previous night before he had blacked out from pain. Then, a sudden, incredulous laugh escaped him.

"You know, you looked genuinely terrifying last night. When you conjured that storm and brought down those lightning bolts... it was the most insane, incredible thing I’ve ever seen."

"Honestly, you were magnificent," Pandora added, her eyes shining. "You looked like a goddess of fury controlling the storm."

Alyssa laughed, a warm feeling settling in her chest. She had spent hours dreading how they would treat her. Realizing now that her true nature hadn’t broken their bond felt like a massive weight lifting off her shoulders.

"You’ll always be our Luna, Alyssa," Pandora beamed. "Hybrid or not. Nothing is ever going to change that."

Alyssa’s face crumpled as tears spilled over her lashes. "You’re going to make me cry," she whispered. "I’m so lucky to be part of this family."

"Oh, come here," Pandora pulled her into a warm embrace and kissed her hair. Over Alyssa’s shoulder, her eyes met Anthony’s, and she mouthed silently, "I’ll be yours."

Anthony’s smile widened until his eyes crinkled. He mouthed back, "I love you," and winked at her.

Just then, Alyssa pulled back, quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I hate to ruin a happy moment, but there’s something else you need to know."

Pandora’s expression instantly hardened into seriousness. "What’s wrong?"

"It’s about Elvira," Alyssa explained. "She’s been working with Conri and Ragnar all this time."

"She’s been what?" Pandora and Anthony gasped in unison.

"Conri is using her. She’s the one who slipped the Sleeper’s death into the food, while Conri sent Pilate to kidnap me."

"Wait, how do you know all this?" Pandora cut in, leaning forward. "How did you find out?"

"Samantha helped me," Alyssa said simply. "She gathered all the evidence against Elvira and gave it to me."

"Does Dorian know?" Anthony questioned urgently.

"He does. I told him everything. Jake and a few guards are out searching for Elvira right now, and his elite warriors are on their way to Conri’s villa to bring him in."

"What can we do to help?"

"Protect Samantha," Alyssa said firmly. "Once Conri realizes she revealed everything about him and Elvira, there’s no telling what he’ll do to retaliate."

...

Down the hallway in Alec’s room, Samantha was beginning to feel better as the wound on her stomach gradually healed up.

Alec had remained by her side all through. When she woke up earlier that morning, he was sitting beside the bed, holding her hand in his.

After Nina changed her bandages and departed, the two of them had simply sat together in comfortable silence, hands linked. She hadn’t minded the quiet at all. In fact, it felt blissful.

The door clicked open, shattering the quiet and startling her. Alec walked in, his eyes immediately locking onto hers. For the very first time, she allowed herself to acknowledge just how good looking he was.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly as he moved towards the side of the bed.

Samantha lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug. "Not bad. Though I’d much prefer to be in my room."

"Deal with it," he chuckled, slowly scrutinizing her. She looked much better than she did that morning.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"What you did last night," he murmured. "When you threw yourself in front of that rogue, it was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen."

"Or the stupidest," she muttered, looking away.

Alec grinned, shaking his head. "However you want to put it. But thank you, Samantha. You saved my life."

Samantha rolled her eyes, a faint smile touching her lips. "Don’t make a big deal out of it. That’s what friends are for."

Alec’s eyes lit up. "So... we’re friends now?"

"I suppose," she smiled warmly. "I wouldn’t risk my life for a total stranger, would I?"

Alec laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Then I’m glad we’re friends." After a brief silence, he added, "Are you hungry? Do you need anything?"

"Just water," she answered.

"Right. I’ll be back," Alec nodded, turning and quietly stepping out of the room.

The smile lingered on Samantha’s face as she turned her head and shut her eyes, completely unaware of the person slipping through the open window behind her.