Lunar 20

Chapter 20
Mark had kept us updated through the link we all shared, and we knew that
the Blood Meadow pack Alpha had been challenged by the Starlight pack
Alpha. “Kelp, if we do not consider ourselves Blood Meadow pack, then
what are we? We are not lone wolves or rogues, are we?” Alpha Luna
wondered aloud.
“Katia, we are not rogues because you have gathered us as your own pack,
and we are not lone wolves either, because we live as a pack. We can call
ourselves whatever we wish but will have to someday petition the council
to charter us a pack.” I explained to her.
“I think we should be the Moon Touched pack. Maybe the goddess will give
us her blessing and tell the council to do the same.” She retorted.
Someone went running by yelling about the Alpha being challenged by
another Alpha. Mark spoke up telling us that things were not going well for
our Alpha.
Katia shifted and ran for the northern border and, with little choice, the rest
of us followed. “I will stay out of sight and will hide amongst the trees. I
want to see what is going on.” She was linking us as we ran.
“Little Luna, you have worked so hard and have come a long way in
healing. Please be careful. We have kept you hidden for this long and do not
want to bring unwanted attention from anyone who may mean you harm.”
Kelp worried. He was so sweet as my gamma. He knew exactly what cost I
have paid over the last few years. Thank the goddess, he has not been with
me all my life as I believe he would have gone insane feeling all the pain I
have suffered throughout the years.
We reached the edge of the clearing and, hanging back, shifted back to our
human skin. I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but us werewolves spend a
lot of time in forest, clearing, and gardens. It seems like our favorite place
to hang out. We can be ourselves and not worry about humankind
discovering our existence. If humans do decide to be in the woods, it is
usually an area closer to developed land and they pretend they are living off
the land or grid.
My thoughts are interrupted by a scream. Glancing toward the clearing
where the Alphas were fighting, I saw that a huge muscular man with long
blonde hair shifted into a big black wolf. He begins stalking Alpha Thomas.
Thomas starts walking backwards a few steps and is saying something I
cannot quite make out. I am sure it is him trying to finagle his way out of
whatever he did to upset the other Alpha. The Black Wolf just keeps
watching and stalking. He never stops slowly moving towards and around
Alpha Thomas. Meanwhile, Thomas is so busy talking he is not paying
attention to how close the wolf is getting to him.
The black wolf lunges at Thomas, swiping one of his front paws across his
chest. Thomas screams, shifting into his scraggly yellow wolf. He jumped
towards the other. Alpha’s black wolf jumped, taking a swipe at his face and
missed. The black wolf once again watched and stalked forwards and
around like he was putting Thomas in the position he wanted for his next
move on him.
As I was watching the fight, I kept smelling the most wonderful smell of
lemon grass and limes. It reminded me of sprite cola. Except there were no
bubbles to make me giggle. A yelp drew my attention back to the fight and
Thomas was bleeding from his right hind leg. This time the black wolf did
not back off, he kept attacking. He lunged for Thomas to go for his throat
missing and took a huge chunk of skin out of his left front shoulder. Blood
was everywhere but none of it was the challenging Alpha’s. He has not had
one injury so far.
Kelp was standing next to me observing the fight and he stated the same as
I was thinking, “Alpha Thomas has deteriorated so badly that he cannot
even defend himself in a fight against someone his equal.” I saw the
sadness in Kelp’s eyes. “There was a time when all of us were friends and
respected one another. He was so strong and wanted to change the pack for
the better when he took over as Alpha. Whatever mind sickness his father
had took hold as he got older, and we could not get him to see it was
happening to him.”
“I am sorry Kelp. I know that you, Mark, and the rest of the pack knew him
at a time when he was a good person and had to watch him worsen
throughout the years.” I could not help thinking if he had not found me,
maybe his illness would not have progressed as quickly as it has.” Sighing,
she turned towards the scene of our Alpha finally paying the consequences
of his actions.
Alpha Lorn was still at full strength and playing with Thomas. He could
finish it at any time. He wanted Thomas to suffer. He wanted Thomas to
feel the same pain he had put his sister and the other girl through. Hell, any
woman he had hurt. He deserves to pay, and he is paying with his blood.
The man is delusional, and he thinks he is winning the fight. He thinks the
blood covering him is mine and cannot tell he is bleeding from every
wound I have inflicted. His Beta and the pack doctor are just standing there.
Neither is speaking up to try and stop the fight. They both act like they have
something more pressing to take care of. Glancing towards the trees like
someone is awaiting them. Just then a slight breeze blows, and I catch the
most enticing smell. Oranges and cinnamon are like a fall day and my
favorite smells. Someone must be cooking something for dessert after
dinner tonight. It smells delicious.
Thomas landed a slap because of my inattentiveness, and I laughed, “is that
all you have, Thomas? Hit me like you hit my sister. Strangle me like you
did my sister. Come on, why are you afraid to do the same to me, knowing I
can defend myself?”
“Rogues killed your sister. This is ridiculous. You should be hunting the
rogues, not fighting me. I loved your sister. She was my fated mate and
Luna.” He mumbled in between breaths.
“Oh Thomas, I am your rogue problem. My man will testify that he
witnessed you kill my sister in a fit of rage when she told you she wanted to
reject you and return home.” Alpha Lorn sneered.
“Finish him off, son. He will never admit he did anything wrong. He will
never admit the truth. Get this over with so this pack can heal and so we can
do the same.” His father yelled at him.
Thomas and Lorn had been shifting between skin and fur throughout the
exchange. Shifting back and forth like that could be exhausting, but the two
Alphas acted as if they could continue doing so all day.
Alpha Lorn had enough, and he was a blur that stopped in front of Alpha
Thomas. Alpha Thomas was still in his wolf form but just stood there with a
blank look. Suddenly, he dropped to the ground, changing back into his
human form. Blood was still draining from all the wounds and a new one in
his throat was spurting. He lay there looking at the tree line and his eyes
widened for a moment, then went blank.
Everyone turned to see what he had seen just before his last breath.
Standing just outside of the trees was a young girl in a white dress. She was
pale with what looked like blood on her head and extremities. The gamma,
a nurse, the head warrior, a few other warriors, and pack members
surrounding her