Marked By The Alpha's Cursed Blue Moon

Chapter 123: 123. Chaotic Disruption

The moment Luna Victoria called Maria’s name and questioned the gown she was wearing, Maria felt her heart skip a beat. Trouble was clearly brewing.

She stood frozen for a moment, then quickly composed herself, determined not to fall into panic.

Taking a deep breath, she turned slowly toward Luna Victoria, forcing a questioning expression to mask her growing anxiety.

"Yes, I mean this dress looks exactly like the one your mother wore to the coronation of your father, the late Alpha Jackson... How did you get it?" Luna Victoria asked again, her eyes narrowing, the tone of her voice more demanding.

Maria’s thoughts raced. She needed a convincing answer. One that would protect Mr. Frederick and herself.

"Of course, I know it’s my mother’s gown," Maria replied smoothly, forcing a gentle smile. "I’m wearing it intentionally today. She told me about the dress, and I thought it would be a way to honor her memory—and Bernard too."

There was a brief silence as confusion clouded the expressions around the living room. Luna Victoria’s eyes remained locked on Maria, unconvinced.

"You haven’t answered my question, Maria. How did you get the gown?" she pressed further, this time with a sharp edge to her voice.

Maria’s pulse quickened, but she held her ground. "I found it in my room years ago," she said calmly. "A few weeks after my parents died. I assumed someone in this house had brought it here. It made me so happy to have it... it’s the only thing I have of my mother."

Luna Victoria looked uneasy. Bernard and Beta Gilbert appeared equally baffled. Just as Luna Victoria opened her mouth to ask more, Beta Gilbert quickly stepped in.

"Oh! How careless of me," he said with a short laugh. "I was the one who brought it. I found it while going through your parents’ mansion. I recognized it immediately and thought you should have it, but... everything was so chaotic then, I forgot to mention it."

Maria could tell he was lying. But his quick intervention saved her from further interrogation, and she played along with the story.

Though Luna Victoria and Bernard cast suspicious glances at Beta Gilbert, they didn’t press the matter further. Instead, Luna Victoria gave Maria a small smile.

"I’m sorry for questioning you like that," she said, her tone softening. "It just brought back memories. You look as stunning in that gown as your mother did."

Maria nodded, forcing a polite smile even as her thoughts stirred in chaos. Beta Gilbert’s interference, Luna Victoria’s disbelief, and Mr. Frederick’s quiet involvement all pointed to deeper truths she hadn’t yet uncovered. But for now, she had to stay focused.

Soon, everyone headed out of the house. Vehicles were lined up outside, ready to take them to their various destinations. Maria entered one of the black SUVs, where Mason was already seated beside her.

Beta Gilbert stood outside the vehicle, speaking into his phone. When he was done, he leaned into the car to speak to Mason.

"Drive straight to the old orchestral point. The elders are already waiting. Follow their instructions carefully. We’ll be at the park house, waiting for your return," he instructed firmly, then walked away to join the others.

The vehicle pulled away, and Maria watched the road blur past as they drove. Her hands clutched the fabric of her gown, her thoughts tense.

After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a secluded area surrounded by towering trees and soft winds. The old orchestral point. Maria stepped out of the vehicle and immediately noticed the elders waiting in a formation. For the first time, they were all dressed in plain white garments.

As soon as she stepped forward, the elders bowed to her. Maria was stunned. These were men old enough to be her grandfathers, and they were bowing to her.

Shy and overwhelmed, Maria lowered her gaze and walked toward them. The leader of the elders met her halfway and leaned close to whisper.

"You will lead us through this path. We will follow your steps. There is a building up ahead with its entrance open. Only you possess the power to step inside and retrieve the staff of office."

Maria turned toward the path he pointed to. Her heart pounded, but she nodded. She had no choice but to trust in the role she had been called to play.

Before she could begin the walk, the elder turned to Mason and addressed him.

"Please stay behind and watch the perimeter. Only the elders and the young Luna may proceed from here."

Maria and the elders began their quiet march. The path was lined with tall grass and whispering winds. When they reached the building’s entrance, the elders stopped.

Maria stood in front of the open doorway. Her body tensed. The inside was dark and still, and she had no idea what waited within. But she summoned her courage and stepped inside.

The moment she crossed the threshold, a chill ran through her. Goosebumps covered her skin. There was a strange energy in the air, as if time itself was holding its breath.

There, at the center of the room, bathed in a ray of light, was the staff of office. Ornate and ancient. She walked toward it, slowly, cautiously. noveldrama

The instant her hand closed around it, warmth flooded her body. She felt strength... purpose... and connection. With the staff in her grasp, she turned and made her way back outside.

As she emerged, the elders’ faces lit up with joy. They bowed again, and this time Maria smiled, overwhelmed with relief and pride.

She stepped off the raised platform outside the room—and suddenly, a loud, thunderous noise erupted.

Dust exploded into the air, blinding everyone. Screams rang out from the elders. Confusion and panic spread as visibility vanished.

Maria was frozen in place, the staff still in her hand. Her heart raced wildly. Something wasn’t right.

She had stepped into a moment of destiny, but it seemed fate had more twists to reveal.