Moonlit Desires: The Alpha's Awakening

~Adora’s Origin~

Devara stands in the compound that'd been intended for the rogues, her senses on high alert as she awaits Bilal and his crew's return, along with said rogues. Her eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of their arrival, until the sound of approaching footsteps had her ears perking, her attention now diverted toward the direction it'd sounded from. She swiftly turns, her initial relief turning into confusion at the look in his eyes as Bilal, her son, storms towards her.

The sight that had her eyes widening, was that of Bilal's features, contorted in evident anger, and a few more steps closer now, he threw his hands up in the air and what followed was a torrent of profanities.

Devara's brow furrowed, a mix of concern and bewilderment etching across her features as he breezed past her. Never had she seen him so upset, his emotions so raw and unfiltered.

At that moment, time feels to have pulled to a halt as Devara grapples with the unfamiliar situation, struggling to make sense of it. She considers reaching out to him, her fingers already so close before they retract, still unsure of what would be the appropriate reaction and how to approach him in this state. He seemed to have carried along the tension from whatever had soured his mood along with him, polluting the air with it every step of the way as the air now almost crackles with said tension, the weight of their unspoken words hanging in the air.

Devara felt her heartache, a desire to comfort and reassure burning almost painfully as her maternal instincts urged her to ease whatever troubles could've prompted such a reaction. Resolute, she takes a small step closer, her voice gentle and filled with concern as she starts with a soft call of his name, "Bilal? What's happened? Why are you in such a sour mood?"

As the words left her lips, Devara’s eyes traveled through space and there, she saw what would undoubtedly be the cause of his sudden outburst.

Blinking, as if to be sure of the scene displayed in front of her eyes, she half turns to her Beta a few steps behind, “What is this I'm seeing, Ethan? If my eyes aren't playing tricks on me, then I'm sure that's Adora….. and is that Bella walking with her?” she asks, the subtle nod of confirmation, all that was needed for her features to contort into one that showcased the fiery anger that boiled beneath her skin at the mere presence of Adora amidst the elites, -the proficient soldiers who had just embarked on a perilous mission to apprehend the rogues.

"Why, in the Goddess’ name, is Adora with them?" Devara's voice was laced with frustration and disbelief, her tone carrying a mixture of exasperation and indignation, the question echoing her incredulity at Adora's presence.

She couldn't fathom why Adora, who had yet to grasp even the simplest of spells, would be thrust into the midst of this dangerous pursuit. It was an enigma that gnawed at Devara's mind, fueling her anger and bewilderment.

“Mama, I can explain. We had no idea she'd been following us and were just as shocked as you are.” Bella, who was now in closer proximity, spoke up, trying to subdue her mother’s rage. Devara is unconvinced though, her brows raising as she quizzes them further.

“So you are telling me none of you are aware of the reason behind her sudden appearance?” She turns to Bilal, fixing him with a glare.

With each passing moment, Devara's ire only grows, her frustration mounting like a tempest within her soul. She couldn't comprehend the logic behind Adora's presence, nor reconcile the risks it entailed. It was a situation that defied reason, leaving Devara to question the motives and decisions of those who had allowed such a perilous alliance to form.

“You are in charge, Bilal, how did you let this happen?” She finally regarded the frowning man, who immediately jumped at the chance to speak, his frown deepening.

“You’re blaming me? It is your fault that that devil over there doesn't know our laws and can't abide by them. If you're annoyed at her being with us, try to imagine how I felt seeing her almost get her head plucked off by one of those rogues!” He doesn't wait for his words to be processed or a response before he turns and immediately walks out.

Devara is left to pick her jaw off the floor, still in disbelief at Bilal's behavior, but beneath all that, a spark of worry flutters to life within her. Devara, considering Bilal's words, could not help a tinge of fear at the probability of Adora getting hurt. She had shielded Adora from the dangers of their world, to spare her from the perils of a world she was evidently ill-prepared to face.

Sparing a forlorn glance at where Bilal's formerly receding had now disappeared, Devara made her way toward Adora, the silencing motion of a finger to her lips halting any form of protest or otherwise, the latter might've had as she, with a gentle grip on her chin, turns Adora's face this way and that way, before carefully assessing the rest of her body in search of any trace of an injury.

Assured of her well-being, Devara gracefully moves away, her gaze now turning to another presence, "Ares," she calls, authority woven into each syllable, “Hand the rogues over to Ethan, and then you can all retreat to your quarters.” With that, she exits the compound with graceful steps.

After having completed their tasks and now making their way to their quarters, Ares and Elio find themselves consumed by curiosity. The stiff exchange between Alpha Devara and Bilal pertaining to Adora had left them aching with the need to know more.

Eventually, they give in and turn to Bella, their inquisitive voices laced with a yearning for understanding. They felt a need to unravel the intricate tapestry of sentiments and connections that bound them all, and why Adora’s well-being held such significance in the hearts of the Alpha and Bilal himself, albeit con-conveyed.

“I would like to know why my godmother is so protective of me and why Bilal can't stand the sight of me, yet he gets so riled up at the thought of me in danger.” Adora chips in during the course of their conversation. She was just as curious as Ares and Elio, if not more.

Bella, with a grace that remains unrivaled in the eyes of many and a deep breath, descends the last steps of the fountain that graced their quarters and takes a seat on the bench, motioning for the others to join her, which they did. The air grows thick with anticipation as her faraway look leaves a story to be told, and after what can only be described as a dramatic pause, she unravels the story of Adora, disentangling what was the intricate knots of the bond that bound Adora to Alpha Devara and Bilal.

“It all began many years ago. The tale unfolds amid a fateful battle that is well-known in our world, where Mama and Luna Julia clash in a final confrontation. On that fateful day, Mama suffered a profound loss. Her dearest confidante, who was also a mother figure to her, died protecting her. She was called Efe and was also our godmother… Bilal and I. She was a formidable high priestess, who commanded both fear and respect from all who crossed her path. Some believed that Efe shaped Mama's destiny, molding her into the formidable figure she is today. Others claim that Efe bestowed upon Mama the very reputation that precedes her. Yet, to Mama, Efe was more than a mere architect of destiny; she was the catalyst for a profound rebirth, breathing new life into her spirit, and forever shaping her path.” She pauses to suck a breath in, the curious pairs of eyes surrounding her watching on.

“The aftermath of Efe’s death left Alpha Devara shattered, her very essence of life slipping away like sand through clenched fists. The once radiant and free-spirited Alpha Devara, known to all, began to fade, and those who loved her stood helpless, unable to mend the fragments of her soul. Even Papa, Alpha Leander, the beacon of love in Mama's life, found himself powerless in the face of her despair. Mama became a mere shell, a lifeless specter, a living corpse, her spirit eclipsed by the weight of her grief. Such sorrow is a heavy burden to bear for everyone, but she wasn't the only one who felt that way, there was someone else who had lost the one who saved him not once but twice, Bilal.” Bella finishes another sentence that sits heavy in the air. The curious eyes surrounding her were now carrying a swirl of disbelief too, as they all anticipated a continuation with bated breaths.

The pain was evident in Bella's eyes as she now stared at a distance and, from the depths of her sorrowful expression, it was almost a glaring fact that Bilal's narrative would carry a more profound and gut-wrenching impact than even that of Alpha Devara.

They all go back to holding their breaths when Bella finally, finally continues, “Efe’s role in Bilal’s life transcended that of a mere godmother. She was his savior, the one who breathed life back into his very being, even at the cost of sacrificing half of her power. It was a selfless act of immense magnitude. By choosing to revive Bilal, she willingly relinquishes the opportunity to reincarnate as a high priestess, forever altering the course of her destiny. That was the depth of her love for him and her loyalty to my Mama. Bilal couldn't voice out the hurt he felt about losing Efe. He was merely a child, but he understood the vacuum that came with losing her and blamed himself for being the reason behind her not reincarnating.”

Unable to keep it subdued any longer, Adora voices her confusion, “I do not understand how I come in in all of this though. What do I have to do with Efe? I was not even born yet when she died and I- i-” her words end in a stutter, her confusion turning the perfectly crafted questions in her head into a jumbled mess. She hadn't meant to rudely interrupt the story, but so far, there hadn't been a point where she would fit in.

“Well, you cut me off without letting me finish” Bella chides in a lighter tone before delving back into story mode.

“The day of Efe's burial ceremonial rites was a moment of great anguish for Mama. Overwhelmed by grief, she refused to allow the rituals to proceed, clinging desperately to the hope that Efe would somehow return, which at some point, led to her passing out. However, in an unexpected twist, Efe does return, but in Mama's unconscious state, reaching out from beyond the veil of life and death, and with gentle words, Efe urged Mama to let go, to accept the painful truth that she was no longer among us. In that ethereal encounter, Efe revealed divine intervention to Mama, sharing that the goddess had heard Mama's fervent pleas and decided to grant her mercy. The goddess chose to grant Efe a reincarnation, but not within our kind. Instead, she would be reborn as a human, embarking on a new journey of life and experiences. It was a bittersweet revelation, offering solace and closure to Mama, albeit in a way that she had not anticipated.”

“Hold on, are you by any chance saying that I am…..” Adora hadn't finished her statement when Bella nodded fervently in affirmation.

“The day of your birth is the same day we laid Efe to rest. You, Adora, are the reincarnation of Efe. Why do you think your maiden name is Efe? Why do you think your parents are respected in the human world? Mama made them into what they are. Your parents are the head of the Voltage organization. The only humans that are allowed to deal with our kind. All of that was as a result of Mama’s influence.”

Adora struggled to pick her jaw off the floor to unleash the heap of questions that'd begun forming in her head, “So if I'm the reincarnation of Efe, why was all this kept from me? Why does Bilal hate me? And why….. why don't I have any powers?”

“Do you remember the first day we met you? Bella asks and Adora nods, her memories of the fateful day flooding in.

“I was only eight at the time,” she answers, earning a hum.

“From that day, Mama made you our responsibility. Bilal and I were tasked with your protection and Bilal hated that. He also feels that you stole the love and attention we were supposed to get from Mama, seeing that she was almost always fussing over you. He feels she cares more about you than she does us. Also, look at you….” At that, the audience seemed to take a pause to do exactly that before Bella continued.

“To him, you are a feeble human who can't protect yourself. He thinks it to be an insult to Efe, not worthy of being a vessel to her powers. To him, she is the most powerful high priestess to have ever existed, and you're just a caricature, or as you humans would say …a Walmart version. And as for the powers, only Mama can explain why you don't have them yet and why she kept all this from you. But one thing I know for sure is that she hid it to protect you and prevent what happened to Efe from repeating itself.”

“For Bilal, even though he hates your guts and blames you for his loveless childhood, he knows and understands what you mean to Mama. Keeping you safe was the first ever task given to us by Mama as the head Alpha. So if anything were to happen to you, that would mean we have failed. One thing my brother and I have in common is our shared hatred for failure. We will never have it.”

Bella's words cut through the air like a sharp blade as she pushed up from her seat, determined and resolute and with what was no less than a turn in the right direction, she locked eyes with Adora, her gaze filled with an intensity that could freeze time itself.

Now holding the other's gaze, the other witnesses to the interaction could tell the chills they felt were in no way relating to the night's breeze. It was as if a storm had brewed within her, a tempest of emotions threatening to consume everything in its path as she leans in, voice stern and unwavering, “The next time you pull such a stunt like you did today in the woods, I will kill you myself.”, she warns flatly, the words carrying the weight of her conviction. The atmosphere crackles with a palpable tension, leaving no doubt that she meant every word she spoke.