Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 63: An eye for an eye

The wind trembled as the wolf stared.

Jayden remained frozen, his muscles tense, but not from fear.

"I think I should be strong enough to defeat it." he contemplated. "But still... what if I’m not?"

Jayden’s mind reeled back to the fight with the C-Rank Wolverine Stalker. If not for his sudden transformation into the Hybrid Lupine... he would have been totally screwed.

And even with how his stats had taken an incredible boost... this was a C-Rank beast. One who had an elemental ability and the title ’Alpha’ attached to it’s name. That alone made it a feared and formidable creature.

Jayden knew he had to be on guard.

But the Winter Wolf didn’t bare its fangs. It didn’t crouch in a pounce. It didn’t move like it was defending territory or challenging him for dominance.

Instead, it just watched Jayden.

Its sapphire eyes locked with his, deep and glimmering—not with bloodlust, not with survivalist instincts. But with something far more human.

And Jayden had seen that look before.

Once, in his mother’s eyes as she stared into the fire, whispering stories about a man she never stopped loving—his father.

And again, when he himself had gazed into the mirror just after his mother died and his sister was taken. That quiet storm churning beneath his chest, just below the surface.

Rage.

But not the chaotic, roaring kind. No—this was refined. Cold. Silent. Like ice crackling under pressure.

It was something he recognised. Something he saw in himself every single day since the island raid. And now, he could see it in the Wolf’s eyes.

It wanted... revenge.

Jayden took a breath, his heart still thudding as the beast stepped forward... not to strike, not to challenge.

But to mourn.

It lifted its massive head and let out a long, aching howl. The sound was haunting. A song of sorrow sung into the twilight. Not a call for war... but a cry for something lost.

Grief.

It shattered the air.

Jayden’s eyes widened. He stared in disbelief as the creature’s howl faded. Tears shimmered in the beast’s blue eyes... real, undeniable tears. It blinked at him... with pain and a silent promise of retribution.

But surprisingly, it didn’t charge. Instead, it turned, its heavy paws thudding softly against the concrete.

And then... it vanished.

One second it was there. The next, it was nothing more than a ghost in the wind.

Jayden stood still, his breath caught in his throat. The silence that followed was deafening.

"What the hell just happened?" he muttered, stunned, his mind spiraling.

Why did the wolf stare at him that way? Why did it look as if it had lost something important because of Jayden?

And more importantly... why did it suddenly leave?

All these questions were bothering Jayden, as he remained in the alley, pondering what exactly was happening.

He eventually made his way home, jogging the rest of the way, trying to shake the image of those sapphire eyes. That howl. That pain. And the more he tried to discard those thoughts, the deeper the memory sank.

A beast... feeling grief?

That shouldn’t be possible. Beasts didn’t grieve. They didn’t cry. They didn’t mourn.

Right?

He arrived back at the house and collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling as the sun dipped below the skyline. His hands trembled slightly. His thoughts wouldn’t stop spinning.

He wanted to believe it was a trick of the light. A coincidence. Just another encounter. But...

That gaze.

That sorrow.

He couldn’t ignore it. But at the same time... he had to.

And just as he was about to give in to doubt, Luna’s voice echoed in his mind—quieter than usual, almost contemplative.

[Jayden...]

He blinked. "What is it?"

There was a pause.

[I just realised what that beast was trying to say when it howled] she replied.

Jayden sat up, his brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

[That howl wasn’t just grief or sorrow] Luna muttered, her voice slower than usual. Almost reluctant. [It was... a declaration]

Jayden frowned. "Declaration?"

[Yes. The Winter Wolf wasn’t just mourning. It was speaking. And I caught something that didn’t make sense at first. Until now]

Jayden raised a brow. "What?" freewebnøvel.coɱ

[That particular howl tone is a common lupine custom. A howl that translates to...] she paused

Jayden frowned, waiting.

Then Luna’s voice dropped—quiet, deliberate. [..."You took from me... so I shall take from you."]

Jayden felt a shiver crawl up his spine.

"What?" he whispered.

[That howl wasn’t just pain. It was grief... layered beneath fury and vengeance. A challenge. A promise of retribution. And... a threat]

Jayden sat down heavily on the bed. His pulse raced.

[It was a declaration of war] she announced

He was speechless, breath caught in his throat.

War?

With him?

"But why?" he muttered aloud. "What did I take from it? I’ve only met that Alpha once. That day in the forest... and it let me go. So why..."

He stopped. His eyes slowly widened as realization slithered into his brain like a shadow. There was only one plausible explanation...

The full moon.

He had transformed completely. He had lost himself—his mind, his control, his humanity.

And that night... he had hunted.

He had killed.

"Luna..." His voice trembled. "I think... I have a clue about what happened. But I need to confirm it."

Without another thought, Jayden turned and stormed out of his room, his bare feet silent against the hallway floor. He needed answers. He needed clarity.

And there was only one person who could give them to him.

Jessica.

He reached her door and froze, his hand raised to knock. He took a deep breath, composing himself, trying to wrangle the storm swirling inside him.

He knocked once—soft but firm.

Inside, there was a rustle, then a sharp voice, brittle with exhaustion and frustration:

"Leave me alone, Dad. I’ve told you I’m fine!"

Jayden winced.

She sounded... broken.

He waited a beat, then knocked again, gentler this time.

"Jessica... it’s me." His voice was low. Gentle. "It’s Jayden."

Silence.

He could almost feel her heartbeat shift on the other side of the door.

More silence.

Then...

The sound of slow footsteps. A click as the lock turned. And the door creaked open a few inches.

Jessica stood there, her face shadowed. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose slightly pink, hair tousled from hours of crying. She didn’t say a word. Just looked at him with a stare that wasn’t quite angry, but not soft either.

Jayden swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Can I come in?" he asked quietly.

Jessica frowned. "No... not again." she said sharply and without warning, slammed the door shut.

Jayden’s heart sank, she was still deeply hurt and upset. And he respected her decision to be.

But he needed answers... this was a life and death situation.

"Jessica, listen." He called out. "I know I’m in no position to talk to you... or even look you in the eye. But right now, I need your help..."

Jayden paused. "...I think we might all be in danger."