Whispers of the Moon

Pulling open the door of my tiny cottage, I lean out the doorway and shout, ”Hey Sylvie, wait up! Looks like Ill be joining you. ”

Sylvie spins around, only having walked a few feet and emerges from the tree line. ”No WAY! Witness here as THEE Fae Brimstone emerges from her desolate cave into her natural habit! ”

She giggles and I roll my eyes and smile, pulling on a light brown hooded cloak. Pulling the hood up over my head I say, ”Ha, ha. Very funny. You know how much I hate going into town. ”

I crouch down and grab a handful of dirt, smearing it on my face. I burst out laughing when I look up to see Sylvies mouth dropped to the floor in pure horror and disgust.

”Wh-what the hell! If you need to borrow some of my makeup Fae you could have just asked. What in the name of the Moon Goddess are you doing?! ” She snickers covering her mouth.

I get up from the ground and dust off my hands, wiping them on my dress. ”I don know, Gaia likes it. She says it helps her feel more connected to the Earth. ” I lie smoothly and Gaia scoffs at me in my mind. I just smile and loop my arm with Sylvies as we make our long walk towards town.

The closer we got towards the center of town the more uneasy and anxious I began to feel. As we had been issued an Alpha command, we had no choice but to obey, unless I wanted to risk breaking my loyalty. My wolf was also on edge, being able to sense so many other males nearby.

Our pack is larger than most, and when we reached the center of town there had to have been at least a hundred other she-wolves all whispering amongst each other wondering what could be so urgent.

I was genuinely curious as well. Why were only the females called to the gathering? Why only unmated females..?

I clutched Sylvies arm tight and kept my eyes at my feet until Alpha Ronan appeared, the Luna at his side.

Stress was emanating from his usually strong and collected aura and worry lines etched his face.

Something was not right, and I didn like it.

Clearing his throat to get everyones attention, he spoke, ”Good evening my beloved pack members. I apologize for calling you here at this hour, but this is an urgent matter and it could not wait. ” He looks around at everyone and swallows before continuing.

”We have received a message from Alpha Killian Blackwood of the Dark Shade pack with clear instructions. He has declared that all unmated females within the entire region present themselves before him. It appears the Alpha is searching for a mate. ” He finishes and my heart falls into my stomach.

No, no, no! This can be happening! My heart is racing and for some reason Gaia is doing flips in my mind, ecstatic.

What is wrong with you? Why are you so happy?! I snap at her, my frustration and panic rising.

I don know! Something good is coming, I feel it! She yips happily and my anger rises.

NO, Gaia. This is NOT good. This will put us and Sylvie in danger! I look over at Sylvie who is biting her fingernails, a nervous habit shes had since she was little.

Alpha Ronan speaks loud over the chattering group of she-wolves and a hush falls over the crowd. ”I know this is sudden, but do not worry. Alpha Killian has ensured that he has no intentions of forcing a mate bond and will only accept a true mate. Furthermore, no harm will befall any female so long as you present yourself before him without struggle. Any attempts to flee will result in…death. ” He growls out the last words, clearly upset by the indirect threat to his pack females.

Before I thought the situation couldn get any worse he continued, ”In one weeks time, there will be a formal event at the Dark Shade pack in which other unmated males are welcome to attend. I will be speaking to our males in a separate meeting tomorrow. ”

”As all of you know, I love this pack as my family. ” His eyes scan the crowd and when they fall on me and Sylvie he gives us a sympathetic and apologetic look, knowing how difficult and terrifying this news must be for us.

”I am absolutely prepared to protect all of you if a dangerous circumstance does arise. However, the Dark Shade pack is much larger in number and known to be quite ruthless. It is for this reason that I command each of you to comply to this request and no harm will befall anyone. Let us make the best of this situation, enjoy a lovely evening, and hopefully some of you may be lucky enough to be blessed with finding your fated mate. You are dismissed. ” He concludes and Im struggling to breathe.

As the crowd breaks apart and everyone starts to return to their homes Sylvie breaks me from my panicked trance.

”Well.. this might not be so bad! We could find our true mates! Isn that exciting actually? ”

Its always like Sylvie to try to make the best from the worst, but I can tell by her uneven fingernails and the cracking in her voice that she is just as scared as I am.

”I need to go home. ” I say flatly and turn to walk away, unlinking my arm from hers. I don wait for her response, I just want to get out of here.

I need to let my wolf out and go for a run.

I know its dangerous, if any other wolf were to see me and recognize me as their mate I know Gaia wouldn hesitate to submit. Its what she wants more than anything, but I don care.

Soon, I will be displayed before ALL the unmated males in the entire region, treated like a piece of meat or even worse, I could become nothing more than someones property.

I punch the nearest tree and hear it crack, ”Dammit! ” I yell, shaking my wrist and flexing my fingers, my cursed healing powers working like a charm. What am I going to do? Im dead if I go and Im dead if I don !

Tears roll down my face and I cry out in anger, my voice echoing through the empty woods. I hear the crack of a branch nearby and I lose it completely, letting Gaia take over.

In an instant my clothes are ripped from my body as I shift into my wolf form. My coat is the same strawberry blonde as my hair but with one imperfection; my front right paw is pitch black.

I take off in the direction of the sound as fast as my legs will carry me.

Suddenly, I stop and drop my head low to the ground using my nose to guide me to my prey. I catch the scent of a large elk and look up to see its just a few feet away, drinking from a stream.

I crouch down low and prepare to strike, with my enhanced wolf hearing abilities I listen to the pattering of the elks heart, pumping blood through its veins. Finally, I lunge forward from my hiding place and attack the elk, forcing it to the ground and latching onto its neck, I sink my teeth in deep.

I know instinctively Gaia wants to howl, pleased with her clean kill, but she knows better. If our mate hears her howl he will not hesitate to find us and claim us.

So instead, we drag our kill home to the cottage to prepare the meat for storage. Once we are at the front door to our home Gaia relinquishes control to me and my bones crack as I shift back to my human form.

Quickly opening the door, I drag the bloody animal inside. After slipping on some fresh clean clothes, I begin to prepare it for preservation. After severing the head and skinning the hide, I cut up sections of meat and wrap it carefully. Once the edible selections are stored away, I get to work scrubbing the blood stains off my floor.

By the time Ive finished its nearly 10 oclock in the evening. I crash onto the bed in my nightdress, my hair splayed around me, an arm draped across my forehead.

That felt GREAT! Gaia says and I can feel her contentment. For once, I agree with her.

The stress that had built up in me today had mostly eased. Plus, I had reminded myself that I still had the vials of the scent masking potion in my bedside drawer. All I had to do was show up, greet their Alpha, and try not to draw too much attention to myself. ”It shouldn be that hard. ” I convinced myself out loud.

I closed my eyes and let myself drift off into yet another bizarre dream. Just as before, I could not move. Except this time I was in my wolf form, and Gaia was in full control.

Laying there on the forest floor I hear a loud angry growl and a deep male voice fills my ears. I look to my left to find a big, hulking, wolf circling me, pacing back and forth.

Its too dark to see the details of his coat but from what I could see the majority of his fur was pitch black his eyes glowed gold with flecks of emerald green.

I stiffen and fill with fear and desire in the same instant with his words,

”Why are you running from me, MATE? ”