When Lían came across the image of little Ellen crying on the porch of the house, the first thing he thought was that his sister had scolded her for her exuberance, and that had caused the little girl to cry. But when he saw Alice emerging from the thicket near the house in her wolf form, the commotion and concern emanating from her made him understand that the situation was different.
— How long? — he asks as he approaches her.
— Two hours. —is the answer she gives him as she changes into her human form.
But that's all she manages to say. In a swift motion, Lían enters the forest at the same time he lets his wolf out. If he hurries, he can pick up the trail of his mate.
His human side can't help but curse under his breath. This is not the best time to play hunter and prey with his Luna. In reality, Lían had hoped to get home and talk to her calmly, explaining what's happening and the changes her life will undergo from now on. But now he must hurry to find her before something bad happens, even though the possibility of a human covering a great distance in such a short time is practically nil. He prays to his Mother Moon to help him find her before she accidentally encounters any Northern pack wolf.
Curse it!
That's his first thought when, after a long while, he finally finds a piece of fabric from his Luna's dress. Adrenaline surges through his body because, contrary to his expectations, his elusive companion managed to cover a considerable amount of ground. She's only five kilometers from the beginning of the border territory. His wolf silences and commands calm to his human side. He needs to be in total control and serenity to find a clue that indicates the path his mate took.
His eyes scan the area, noticing the dry and broken branches. The number of branches isn't consistent with the presence of a single person, so it's clear that his companion encountered someone on her way. And there he sees it: a piece of lace fabric from his Luna's dress. Approaching the fabric, he sniffs it and at that moment recognizes a familiar scent. He lets out a loud howl, turns on his heels, and heads to his father's cabin.
---
Anne stared fixedly at the two spirited bay horses prancing near the gate. Her father had always told her that such magnificent animals would never be held captive by anyone, but contrary to his words, those specimens seemed to be enjoying their captivity.
— Lían can be quite stubborn, — her father's words came as he entered the house. — But I'm sure there's a good reason for what he did.
— Is there a good reason to kidnap someone? — she quickly retorted. Yes, the bay horses in the pen seemed happy with their confinement, but she wouldn't be. — Let me go! — she exclaimed as she struggled with the restraints on her hands.
— I would if you'd calm down for a moment, — came the calm response. — I can hear your heart, its beats are fast but too weak, and that's not a good sign.
— They're all crazy, all of you!
Hearing a distant howl was becoming a habit, just like the fear it brought with it. The man approached the window and stared intently at the landscape before him. After the second howl, he quickly headed to the kitchen and retrieved a jar, which he proceeded to open. Anne was filled with its contents in a fraction of a second, but her attempt to say something was silenced by the man's hand.
— If you really want to leave, then be quiet for a moment, okay? — Anne found some relief in hearing that. She wanted to calm down, even if it meant obeying this man. He released her hands and handed her the nearly empty jar.
— Go to the back room, there are sweet flowers, — he said, pointing with his hand. — Put the vanilla on your pulse points.
— But...
— And if you're smart, — he interrupted her argument, — you'll stay there and not do anything stupid.
Anne hated being spoken to that way, even if it was an older man doing it, but the cold look in the man's eyes made it clear that it was in her best interest to remain silent and obey. So, without wasting any more time, she made her way down the hall to the designated room and opened the door that separated it from the rest of the house.
As she entered the room, Anne was surprised to see that it was filled with flowers. The scent in the room was truly sweet, so much so that it completely calmed her nerves. Another howl echoed, this time much closer and louder than before. Filled with desperation, Anne obeyed the man's words and began applying the vanilla to her pulse points while approaching the Lily of the Valley flowers.
— Go with him, little one, don't fear your destiny, — a voice in her head said, but she simply refused to listen.
---
Standing in front of his father's cabin, Lían shed his wolf form and entered his father's house without a second thought.
— Since when are you so distracted? — he asked when he saw his father bent over, cleaning a trail of soot from the floor, which had the house smelling strongly of burnt wood.
— Since when do you enter someone else's house like that? — was the simple and disinterested response he received from his father.
— Since the moment they're holding my Luna here.
— Your Luna? — The question came with clear mockery. Leaving aside the bucket full of ashes, Cillian stood up. — If you can't even do something as simple as keeping your mate with you, I don't see what that has to do with me, let alone how you could find her in this place.
— And do you think you're the most qualified to judge whether I'm capable of something or not when it comes to my mate? You, who were never there to take care of our mother.
— Yes, Lían, I know your complaint by heart, — he said as he walked the short distance that separated him from the kitchen, picking up a smaller bucket of water and proceeding to wash his hands. — You'll say, as always, that I was a bad father, that I was an even worse mate to your mother, that you're ashamed to be my son, and..."
—No, — Lían interrupted him upon hearing those first words. — I know very well that none of those words affect you because I know very well that you don't regret any of those acts, not even causing the death of...
— Silence! — his father's shout made the two alphas growl at each other, their wolves appearing in their eyes as a clear sign of threat. — If you think I'll allow you to be here to spew all that garbage, then you're mistaken."
— I'm not here to talk about that. — Lían's words came with a heavy tone, his voice a clear mix of man and wolf. — Your scent was present in the same forest clearing where I found a piece of my Luna's dress, so tell me, where is she?
— I don't know where your Luna is, — his father declared, then turned his attention back to washing his hands. — As for my scent, like that of many other wolves, it's spread in different parts of the forest. — His wolf was agitated by that irrational threat, but he kept his calm and returned to washing his hands to remove the soot. — But I can assure you that even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you.
Anne felt her heart racing. From her position, she could hear the conversation taking place in the living room.
— Leave, little one, go to your Luna, — she heard in her head. But she simply refused to listen.
— I'm going to break this place and kill you if necessary, — she heard someone say.
— Do you think I'll stand by while you do that? — came the threatening response. — If you were this foolish in front of your Luna, I can now understand why she fled from you, — her father said as he made it clear he was mocking his son's attitude and words. — I hope that girl managed to make it to her home safe and sound."
— Her home is wherever I am!
— You're wrong, Lían, her home is wherever her heart dictates, — he declared. — Maybe you already surrendered yours by accepting our mother's design, but did she surrender hers to you?
She needed to get out of there, she had to if she wanted to stay alive. What little she had heard and seen of the man who had kidnapped her made him seem reasonably educated, but now, hearing him speak in such a cruel manner, she was convinced that her life was in danger. She glanced around the room desperately, putting her hand over her mouth. Tears streamed down her face, and she was terrified.
— Do you claim my actions regarding your mother? — her father asked. His wolf was agitated by that irrational threat, but he calmly returned to washing his hands to remove the soot. — At least she accepted me as her mate, she took me in as her partner,— he commented calmly but with clear intent. — You, on the other hand, in your foolishness and pride, want to subject a human to accept and understand a world she knows nothing about...— He fell silent, raising his eyes and fixing them on his eldest son. — What cruel fate awaits that girl by your side?
Those words from his father made him come to his senses. It was true, his Luna was a human, and her world was as foreign to her as his was to him.
—I...
The sound of one of the back doors being opened silenced his words. Shortly after, Anne emerged from the room, her hands tightly gripping the jar of vanilla, her eyes filled with tears and terror.
In the presence of his little Luna, the human part of Lían became aware of his nudity. Without hesitating for a moment, he moved to one of the corners of the room, where the lower part of his body was covered by a three-seater piece of furniture. Anne, on the other hand, was so terrified by the words she had heard earlier that she cared little or nothing about the nudity displayed. Instead, she simply couldn't see him as a man; in her eyes, she saw a monster – one willing to destroy everything in his path to obtain the trophy he desires, and unfortunately for her, that monster desires her. — I... I'll go with you, — she says hesitantly. The fear she feels is evident in the trembling of her body as she takes short, uncertain steps towards the men. When both wolves thought the girl would collapse due to the weakness in her steps, she stops and fixes her gaze on Lían. — But you must promise not to harm a single person in my village. — Little one, — the Alpha calls her. If not for his nu
Anne doesn't need to be a hunter or explorer to deduce that the place where the man named Lían lives is quite deep in the forest and far from any safe opportunity to escape and quickly return to her village. She had never believed in the principle of "when you're scared, you don't notice anything when fleeing," but now she understands and agrees with it. As she ran away from that cabin, she didn't pay attention to the distance or how some parts of the terrain were rocky. — We're almost there, — Lían informs her as he turns to look at his companion. — Do you need help? — he asks, seeing her struggle with the length of her dress as she walks among the protruding roots. — I'm fine, — is her quick response. She would never accept any help he might offer. If anyone else gave her that response to his offer, Lían swears he would leave them behind and not feel guilty about it. But because it's his Luna who's giving him this response, he can't do that. In fact, his wolf can't even get angr
— Would you like a bit of apple? — Little Ellen asks this question with her cheeks full of fruit. — It's very sweet,— she emphasizes, taking a bite of the apple slices in her bowl. — I'm pretty sure it is, little one, — Anne replies sweetly. After all, the child isn't to blame for everything. —But I can't eat apples. — Don't you like them? — Ellen asks innocently, tilting her head gently. — I promise they taste good. — I'm sure they must taste very good, though I'm not actually sure what apples taste like, — Anne adds as she wipes Ellen's cheeks. Seeing the little girl reminds her of the rabbit she had when she was just a child. — I'm allergic, so I've never been allowed to eat them." — What does allergic mean? — It means that if I eat apples, I could get sick easily. The voice that responds comes from the cabin door, letting them know they are no longer alone. Lían enters the room with calm steps, taking a seat next to his young niece, and he caresses her hair as she gives him a
Lían isn't foolish; both he and his wolf sense that Anne is lying, but the previous night, he swore not to do anything that might upset or discomfort her. So, he simply nods at her words and takes a few steps closer to her without invading her personal space. — These are wolves from my inner circle and a couple of other pack members, — the tone in which the wolf responds is calm. —They found out that I finally found my Luna, so they came here to meet you. "Luna," that word keeps repeating in her head, and although she still doesn't understand what it means or why they call her that, both Lían and his family use it to refer to her. — Anne? — she hears Lían call her again. — Did you hear me? Snapping out of her thoughts, Annette focuses on the man in front of her. When their eyes meet, for some reason, she can't help but blush, which makes her look away. — No, — she admits in a low tone. — What were you saying? Lían can't help but let a faint smile trace his lips when he notices An
The sun was at its highest point in the sky by the time all the members of the Southern Pack learned that the Mother Moon had given their Alpha a human as his mate. The younger wolves and some of the older ones had no problem accepting a human among them, but others, mainly the older wolves, had mixed feelings. And although every wolf in the pack knew they shouldn't judge the Mother's decisions, they also knew that no Alpha had ever been joined with a human before, and the repercussions of that detail were something on everyone's minds.— What is a Luna? —Anne asked as she found herself alone with Lían. — Because it seems to be something of great importance. I mean, after all, it's the word I hear being used most often by you and everyone else.Lían looked at her for a moment, considering how to respond to that question. The previous night, he had tried to explain everything that was happening, but Anne had looked so frightened and exhausted, and the beating of her heart sounded so ir
— What's your father's story? — Anne asked as she walked back to the cabin. Ellen ran ahead of her, and Alice walked by her side. — What makes you think there's a story? — Alice replied. — Well, if there isn't one, then why does he live alone and so far away when you all live in the pack? Faced with this new question, Alice fell silent for a moment, her face showing how her mind sorted through her thoughts. — He's banished, — she finally answered. — Banished wolves can't live with the pack, which is why he lives here, on the edge of the territory. Banished? For what reason would a wolf be banished? — Is there no way for him to come back? — Anne wasn't entirely sure how the dynamics worked in a wolf pack, but if it resembled even a bit the dynamics in her village, the pack's leader would have to be the one to allow his return, leaving only one option. — Lían? — There's nothing that can be done, — Alice replied with a heavy heart. — Nobody banished Dad; he self-exiled from the pa
— And is it bad for the elderly to come? — is the question that arises from Anne's lips after hearing Zven's words.Having received the order to change from the Moon, Zven and Scott took advantage of being in the control center to do so and get some clothes before facing their lady again.— Believe me, Luna, no one with enough intelligence wants the elderly roaming in their territory, — Zven responds.Anne nods gently at that answer. If she understands correctly, this group of elders has great control over many aspects of wolf packs, and apparently, none of the wolves in this particular pack are comfortable knowing that they are in their territory. Thinking for a moment and considering what those two wolves explained, maybe that elder could represent an opportunity to leave.— I want to see Lían, — she says after thinking for a moment. — Take me to him.Upon hearing that, both Zven and Scott become alert. Their leader has given them a clear order to protect the Luna and keep her away
For the moment Lían arrived at the main square, he expected to find anything but his sentinels growling at Elder Hansen and surrounding his Luna. His instinct ordered him to stop it, his wolf tearing inside him, urging to come out and tear the head off the one who dares to threaten and belittle his mate and pack. His surprise was immense when he saw the serenity with which Anne ordered the wolves around her, followed by the pleasure at the way she responded to the elder's rude words.— Brother... — Allan begins to say but falls silent at a gesture from the elder.When Helen raised her voice towards Anne, he stepped forward ahead of his men, but any intention of doing something died the moment he heard his little mate proclaim herself proudly as the Luna of the pack and claim her authority over it and its territory. But what made his wolf feel like a little pup and accelerated the beating of his heart was when she called him "my alpha."When Anne turned around, Lían could see how surpr
By the time Lían and the other sentinels had slain the last of the cursed wolves, the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon. Shifting back into their human forms, the wolves appeared breathless, and only then did the most injured reveal their vulnerability. “How is it possible that the cursed ones got this far?” Allan approached his brother slowly, his chest displaying deep claw marks inflicted by their attackers. “I don’t know.” Lían, though his wolf was working to heal his wounds, couldn’t deny his exhaustion. Taking a few steps toward Zven, his best friend, who looked more composed despite his injuries, he added, “Check the flanks. I need to know where they broke through.” Without needing further instructions, Zven gave a slight nod and shifted back into his wolf form, heading toward the control posts. Watching Zven leave, Lían ordered the others to return to the pack. They needed to assess the damage. As they approached the center of the village, the wolves were met wi
— Then, did the human just scream out the Alpha's name out of nowhere and then faint? — Brendan remains silent as he watches the Elder suspiciously; he won't deny that he strongly dislikes his leader, but he can assure you he despises that son of a bitch Hansen even more.— Well? — the inquisitor insists once more.— Not like I can say much about what happened,— Brendan's simple response comes after some thought, ultimately realizing he couldn't really say much else.Hansen knows he won't get much information from the doctor; it's clear that although the man has shown his dissatisfaction with Lían more than once, apparently, just like every member of that disgusting pack, he doesn't feel fondness for the council, much less for their presence here. Without saying anything more, the Elder simply leaves the doctor's cabin.Once alone, Brendan reflects on what happened. He originally approached the woman because, despite his dislike for the idea of a human being his pack's Luna, the girl
The entire main circle is carrying out the plan for gathering and controlling the harvest for winter. The sentinels take advantage of this moment to joke around with their leader and his tender behavior when his mate is nearby. Lían downplays it and simply defends himself by saying they are all the same.— I've known you my whole life and never thought I'd see you smile, — Zven remarks.— I think if he wears his smile everywhere, it'll cause more terror than if he just keeps his serious expression, — his brother joins in.Amidst the teasing from his best friend and brother, Lían just leans back in his chair and stares at them intently.— Jealous, little brother? — he asks with a sharp tone.— No thanks, I prefer to fight and tear apart, — Allan hastily responds. — Having a mate is not for me.Lían was about to reply to those words, but Anne's distant voice resonated in the space, and he can feel an electric current running through his body, putting him on high alert. It doesn't take l
The northern border of the territory had been tense the last week. Mark had been tracking the trail of dead prey that began to appear along the riverbank belonging to the pack. A large portion of the prey was torn apart in such a way that made it clear it had been a wolf who attacked them. But this wasn't a hunt for sustenance; on the contrary, leaving them for the crows to devour and the rest to rot indicated that whoever the hunter was, they only wanted to diminish the hunting stock, and that wasn't good, especially now that winter was so close.— Did you find anything? — a soft voice asks behind him.— I thought I told you to stay at the checkpoint, — he responds, trying to sniff out the trail of the wolf responsible for the carnage.— You never change, always wanting to solve everything by yourself, — ignoring the gruff tone of her brother's response, Melisha proceeds to sit on one of the large rocks on the riverbank. Although her face shows calmness, her instincts remain alert to
For the moment Lían arrived at the main square, he expected to find anything but his sentinels growling at Elder Hansen and surrounding his Luna. His instinct ordered him to stop it, his wolf tearing inside him, urging to come out and tear the head off the one who dares to threaten and belittle his mate and pack. His surprise was immense when he saw the serenity with which Anne ordered the wolves around her, followed by the pleasure at the way she responded to the elder's rude words.— Brother... — Allan begins to say but falls silent at a gesture from the elder.When Helen raised her voice towards Anne, he stepped forward ahead of his men, but any intention of doing something died the moment he heard his little mate proclaim herself proudly as the Luna of the pack and claim her authority over it and its territory. But what made his wolf feel like a little pup and accelerated the beating of his heart was when she called him "my alpha."When Anne turned around, Lían could see how surpr
— And is it bad for the elderly to come? — is the question that arises from Anne's lips after hearing Zven's words.Having received the order to change from the Moon, Zven and Scott took advantage of being in the control center to do so and get some clothes before facing their lady again.— Believe me, Luna, no one with enough intelligence wants the elderly roaming in their territory, — Zven responds.Anne nods gently at that answer. If she understands correctly, this group of elders has great control over many aspects of wolf packs, and apparently, none of the wolves in this particular pack are comfortable knowing that they are in their territory. Thinking for a moment and considering what those two wolves explained, maybe that elder could represent an opportunity to leave.— I want to see Lían, — she says after thinking for a moment. — Take me to him.Upon hearing that, both Zven and Scott become alert. Their leader has given them a clear order to protect the Luna and keep her away
— What's your father's story? — Anne asked as she walked back to the cabin. Ellen ran ahead of her, and Alice walked by her side. — What makes you think there's a story? — Alice replied. — Well, if there isn't one, then why does he live alone and so far away when you all live in the pack? Faced with this new question, Alice fell silent for a moment, her face showing how her mind sorted through her thoughts. — He's banished, — she finally answered. — Banished wolves can't live with the pack, which is why he lives here, on the edge of the territory. Banished? For what reason would a wolf be banished? — Is there no way for him to come back? — Anne wasn't entirely sure how the dynamics worked in a wolf pack, but if it resembled even a bit the dynamics in her village, the pack's leader would have to be the one to allow his return, leaving only one option. — Lían? — There's nothing that can be done, — Alice replied with a heavy heart. — Nobody banished Dad; he self-exiled from the pa
The sun was at its highest point in the sky by the time all the members of the Southern Pack learned that the Mother Moon had given their Alpha a human as his mate. The younger wolves and some of the older ones had no problem accepting a human among them, but others, mainly the older wolves, had mixed feelings. And although every wolf in the pack knew they shouldn't judge the Mother's decisions, they also knew that no Alpha had ever been joined with a human before, and the repercussions of that detail were something on everyone's minds.— What is a Luna? —Anne asked as she found herself alone with Lían. — Because it seems to be something of great importance. I mean, after all, it's the word I hear being used most often by you and everyone else.Lían looked at her for a moment, considering how to respond to that question. The previous night, he had tried to explain everything that was happening, but Anne had looked so frightened and exhausted, and the beating of her heart sounded so ir
Lían isn't foolish; both he and his wolf sense that Anne is lying, but the previous night, he swore not to do anything that might upset or discomfort her. So, he simply nods at her words and takes a few steps closer to her without invading her personal space. — These are wolves from my inner circle and a couple of other pack members, — the tone in which the wolf responds is calm. —They found out that I finally found my Luna, so they came here to meet you. "Luna," that word keeps repeating in her head, and although she still doesn't understand what it means or why they call her that, both Lían and his family use it to refer to her. — Anne? — she hears Lían call her again. — Did you hear me? Snapping out of her thoughts, Annette focuses on the man in front of her. When their eyes meet, for some reason, she can't help but blush, which makes her look away. — No, — she admits in a low tone. — What were you saying? Lían can't help but let a faint smile trace his lips when he notices An