Chapter 6

Darkness breaks Moon awakes

Night now bring the stars it makes.

Yvette Yvonne.

Hugh had just got out of the shower when he heard the door bell. He left his valet to answer it as if it was anything important, Charles would let him know. As he entered the dining room, he saw a non -descript white envelope on the dining table delivered by courier. He had seen similar ones before, whenever he had got information from G.M.I. He grabbed it off the table and walked upstairs to his office to read it in private knowing it was the information on Annie he had requested. He flicked through the file and marvelled at the amount of information G.M.I. could get on a person. He had no idea how they obtained this stuff and he never asked, but he was fairly sure that none of it was legal. Two photographs fell out onto his desk and as he picked them up and found himself looking at the woman with beautiful blue eyes. She was walking alone along the street in one and entering a house on the other, he studied her face, she looked sad, pale and tired. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair knowing that it was probably his fault she looked like that. Setting the photographs aside, he started to read the file.

It was incredibly detailed, Annie Lovell was the second eldest child of Bertrand and Isabelle, both deceased, born in Yorkshire on July 17^th 1978, attended the local school along with her siblings Jacques and Amelie. Left at 18 with top grades, at 20 went to Lancaster University to study history, graduated with first class honours aged 23. Trained as a teacher as the University of Cumbria and then returned to Lancaster to complete her Masters’ degree in history two years later, followed by a Phd.  Lectures in History at Lancaster University, lives alone, unmarried, bought a house in 2005, has ten years left on the mortgage, no records with D.V.L.A so no car. At the end of the report, there was her address, email, mobile and landline number as well as her work phone number. Hugh found it odd she didn’t live with her pack, it looked like she lived and worked in the human world and not in Yorkshire where she was born, but in Lancashire. No wonder he couldn’t find her at the train station, she was on the west coast train, not the east as he had assumed. He frowned wondering why that would be, she definitely wasn’t a rogue, rogues smelt awful and were usually a little crazy and Annie’s scent was definitely intoxicating to him. Strange, she was most certainly an oddity, which if he was honest with himself, intrigued him. He had dreamt about her every night since the wedding, he couldn’t get her out of his head, he felt the pull to run to her but he was left floundering when he had no idea where she was. Now he knew where he was running to, Knox was practically dragging him out of the door.

Hugh checked his watch, he had some work to complete which would take until lunch time, then he decided he would drive down to Lancashire and finally talk to this woman. Hugh sent a text to Lennox and Lyall telling them he had found Annie and would be away for a few days, the replies were almost instantaneous. First from Lennox,

Go get her dad!

Then Lyall,

Good luck dad, stay in touch,

can’t wait to meet her x

He was worried he had got their hopes up when he still hadn’t decided what he was going to do, sighing he went down for breakfast, the quicker he got his work done the quicker he could leave and quell Knox’s constant pestering.

Hugh didn’t leave the Reiver Territory until after one and according to his sat nav, Lancashire was a six hour drive away. He seemed to hit traffic and road works every few miles and Knox was getting ever more impatient. Hugh finally reached the Lancashire town seven hours after he left home. He sat in the car awhile trying to calm his nerves. It was ridiculous, it wasn’t like he was a bloody pre-pubesant teen, Hugh wanted to go and talk to her but he had no idea what he was going to say. ‘Hi I’m your mate, the one who ran out on you in Scotland but I’ve changed my mind, or maybe I haven’t, I haven’t had the balls to decide yet’, yeah, for pities sake, like that was going to work.  Was he going to reject her, accept her? What if she rejected him, what would he do then? He knew it was possible to survive losing a mate but was rejection different from losing a mate? He sat there a while longer mulling his options over and came to the conclusion that it would be easier if wolves could just meet each with alcohol and bad judgment like the humans did. Actually, he thought, that it might not be a bad idea to invite her out for a drink or dinner rather than intruding in to her house. He looked across at Annie’s street and counted along the houses to work out which was hers. It was past seven in the evening and was already dark. In all the other houses lights were on with signs of the occupants getting on with whatever humans did on a Saturday evening, with one exception, Annie’s house. He slowly climbed out of the car and walked across the street to Annie’s front door, he looked up at the house as he approached, the entire house was dark. He sighed, rang the bell and waited. Nothing. Hugh could hardly believe he had come all this way and she was out, Knox was practically whining in his head. Hugh could smell her scent but it was faint so she had been gone for a few hours that much he could tell. He caught the aroma of cooking smells coming from some of the other houses but there was none from Annie’s. It was possible she had gone out for dinner and would be back later so he decided to wait in the car.

While he sat there like some sort of weird stalker he found himself wondering who she was out with, another man perhaps? He felt a surge of envy and possessiveness, Hugh felt the low rumble in his chest as Knox started to growl. He pushed all thoughts of who she was with out of his head and began to wonder how long he would have to wait. He realised he might need somewhere to stay for the night so he started to G****e local hotel rooms, he found a Travel Lodge but he hated those places. The beds were always too small and always had a shower he could barely stand up in. He scrolled on and found a place just off the town centre, originally a gentleman’s club, now a bar which served food and had rooms. The photos of the rooms looked fine so he checked for availability and booked a double room. This done he leant back in his car seat and prepared himself to wait, rehearsing in his head what he might say when he saw her but by eleven o’clock Hugh was an even bigger bag of nerves, the waiting was killing him. He decided to go to his hotel room, grab some food and come back tomorrow. He was chickening out and he knew it, but at least he could delay rejecting her for one more day, not that he had made a firm decision to that, Knox huffed at Hugh’s chaotic train of thought.

“We must not reject her, we must love her, cherish her, forever.”

Hugh rolled his eyes and pulled the car out of the street towards his hotel.

Saturday Garstang Town Centre 18.30

As Annie alighted the bus in the town centre she took a quick look around. It was fairly quiet, just a couple of revellers moving from one pub to another. She set the route finder on her map, got her bearings and set off. She was soon on the country lanes leading to the circle but it was pitch black and not having Sabine’s superior eyesight, sense of smell and strength was going to make this hike more difficult for Annie. Guided by the light on her phone, she followed the route finder up increasing steep and winding paths. Had she had Sabine, Annie could have done this journey in half the time but now with her normal human abilities, she was going to have to slog out the two and a half hours this hike was meant to take. Once she was sure she had passed all the houses, Annie took the time to strip off her extra layers, she really didn’t need them and was beginning to feel like she would keel over from heat exhaustion before she got there.

   The going was difficult, the fells were steep and the scree loose underfoot, Annie considered that it would have been easier if she hadn’t been so sleep deprived courtesy of the handsome stranger, but even being so tired and with many rest stops, by nine o’clock Annie climbed over the last slope and walked down the narrow path that would lead her to the wood that contained the Bleasdale Circle.

     Walking through the wood without her wolf made Annie feel incredibly vulnerable, it was dark and creepy and if anything had decided to attack her she was practically incapable of defending herself. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves as small animals scurried about their business had her nerves stretched to their limits. Despite her jumpiness Annie soon emerged from the trees into the clearing which was lined with eleven concrete posts marking where a circle of timber posts originally stood.  Annie walked to the centre where a burial mound had been excavated years before and sat down on the grass slugging from her water bottle while she waited for the moon to reach its peak at the point of the wood. It was said that funeral urns were discovered in the burial mound holding the ashes of the builders of the circle. Annie mused that it was probably a good thing the ancient wolves had cremated their dead as imagine the shock of the humans who discovered this place in 1898 if they had excavated a full werewolf skeleton. The funny thing about history was the way historic events were interpreted and shaped by modern human thinking. Many years ago while researching her personal family history, Annie realised that werewolves had not always been hidden from the human world. She had read many old documents where it was clear that the author was describing her kind and they lived side by side with humans. She knew that the land the Lunar Meadows Pack lived on was gifted to them by William the Conqueror for their military service during the Battle of Hastings. He probably knew that some of his soldiers were wolves as he gave them land that was secluded with no towns, villages, or fort, just an empty patch of land away from people.  She had read poems about the Saxon King Alfred, where ‘Hairy men, as huge as sin with horned head’ were spoken about openly, and the amount of time wolves were mentioned in historical texts made it quite obvious that the existence of werewolves was common knowledge. Wolf-men and women were mentioned in ancient literature in almost every culture so Annie had surmised that modern readers of these ancient texts took the mention of wolves and wolf-men as an exaggeration or fanciful thinking rather than fact. It seemed that the modern day humans didn’t want to see things they didn’t understand, she had no idea when the humans failed to notice or forgot about werewolves, but her race had been hidden for centuries.

Annie lay back in the grass looking up at the sky, the night was clear and the stars looked beautiful, she already felt more at peace than she had since meeting the stranger. As the moon neared the point of alignment with the wood, Annie felt the air begin to vibrate slightly, like an electric current was running through the ground. Annie raised herself to her knees, said a silent prayer to the Goddess asking for her divine assistance with Sabine and then closed her eyes to search for inner beast, just like she did as a young teenager to encourage her first shift. She slowed her breathing and cleared her mind before beginning her internal search allowing nothing to distract her, the vibrations around her grew and intensified to the point where had Annie’s eyes been open she would have seen the air shimmering in front of her. She was in such a deep trance that she didn’t notice as she tumbled sideways to the ground, as she landed on her side in a heap she thought heard a silvery voice in her head but the next thing Annie knew was Sabine’s voice trying to rouse her.

“Annie, please wake up!”

Annie woke with a start, dawn was breaking and the dew was thick on the grass as she looked around disorientated. She had no idea how long she had been out, she tried to remember a strange dream she had but it was dissolving, splitting into fragments that seemed to make no sense and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t put them back together.

“Sabine! Sabine,” she sobbed, “You’re back.”

“What did you do, where are we?”

“We are at a stone circle, just like the one at home, the Goddess helped us.” said Annie wiping her eyes.

“I feel strong, how long was I gone?”

“A week, a very long week.” smiled Annie, overjoyed to have her best friend back.

“I think the Goddess spoke to me, before I passed out. I heard a voice saying something...something like...I’m not sure now.” She furrowed her brow trying to recall the exact words.

“I don’t remember anything after the man, where is the man?”

“I have no idea Sabine, I didn’t see him again and I left the next morning. I don’t know who he is or where he is from so I doubt we will see him again so don’t worry. I’m just glad you’re back, it’s been lonely without you.” said Annie sincerely.

 The joy of having her wolf back was indescribable. Annie felt strong enough to shift but decided not to risk it in case there were humans out and about, she did however promise to take Sabine for a good run out as soon as she could. As they walked back to the town, Annie told Sabine about the journey home from Scotland, about work and generally catching her up on everything that had happened over the last week. There was quite a wait for a bus back once they reached Garstang, public transport was scant this early on a Sunday morning. Annie dug her fleece and jacket out of her rucksack and put them back on before they got on the bus, there weren’t many humans around but the weather was dull and the grey clouds, heavy with rain hung low in the sky. Traffic was quiet so it didn’t take long to get back home and Annie was already planning her day. She should have been exhausted but she felt awake, elated and alive. They arrived home at 08:30 and as Annie approached her front door she thought she caught a scent, as soon as she thought she could smell it, it was gone. She sniffed around some more but whatever she had smelt, it had disappeared completely. Shrugging her shoulders she decided she had probably imagined it so she let herself in her house without giving it a second thought. After a quick shower, leaving her wet hair hanging loose down her back she donned some faded blue jeans and a white shirt. Leaving her feet bare she went down to the kitchen, turned to radio on and busied herself making some breakfast.

Hugh had risen early and had eaten breakfast by 07:30. Knox was impatient to go back to Annie’s house, prowling around Hugh’s mind like a predator. He wanted to claim his mate, it was his nature and Hugh knew he couldn’t help it but Knox was getting harder to control where Annie was concerned. Hugh gathered some work he could do in the car in case he had to wait once more, grabbed his phone and keys and headed out to his car. By 07:50 Hugh was back outside Annie’s house. Nothing had changed, the house was still dark and he couldn’t detect her scent. He settled in, checking emails and doing the mundane admin tasks that his position of Reiver Reckoner required him to do.

  He cast his mind back to what Lennox had said, about him being ready to take over, as he had from his father when he was much younger than Lennox. His ancestors had all been Delta’s, trained warriors but with special duties within the pack. To be the Crozier Delta meant one was also the Reckoner, or in modern parlance, the pack accountant. It was an exalted position and one Hugh had relished. It made him part of the highest echelon in Reiver society, he had lived a charmed and comfortable life and as well as using his skills to make the pack rich, he had used them to further feather his own nest. Finance was something that came easily to him, just as it did to Lennox. Hugh had been able to not only assure the future of the pack’s wealth with savvy investing, even if the investments weren’t always entirely legal, he had also ensured that Lennox and Lyall were taken care of financially. With careful management, the money would continue to grow for generations to come.

“MATE!” Knox’s deep growl rumbled in his head. Hugh’s head snapped up and his heart flipped in his chest, he saw Annie walking down the street towards her house wearing hiking attire. He frowned, so she hadn’t been out for dinner, she had been out all night hiking, seriously? He scanned her face, she looked better than she had in the photographs, her face had some colour and she definitely looked happier, less tired. He watched as she rummaged in her rucksack, unable to find whatever she was looking for, she dropped the bag to the floor, stooping down to search further. He watched in fascination at the fluidity of her movements, she was elegant, even in her hiking gear. Suddenly she found what she was looking for, straightening up she fished her keys from her bag and let herself in her house, slamming the door behind her. Hugh was rooted to the spot struck by her beauty and grace, luckily he couldn’t smell her scent from here in the car so Knox was a bit easier to control plus Hugh needed a minute to compose himself.

“Talk to her, claim her as ours.”

“Ok, ok Knox, give me a minute, I need to know exactly what I’m going to say.”

Knox huffed with impatience. “Hurry.” was all he had to say.

Hugh sat for another half an hour before plucking up the courage to walk across the road to her door. For Goddess’s sake, he was a fucking Reiver, scared of nothing he told himself, get over there. He rang the bell and waited whilst restraining Knox from breaking the door down.

Annie was feeling good, she danced around the kitchen to the music on the radio whilst making a bacon sandwich and brewing coffee. As she was walking to the sitting room, sandwich in one hand and her coffee in the other, the doorbell rang. Frowning at who would be calling this early on a Sunday morning she put her sandwich on the hall table and walked down the hallway to the front door. Just she put her hand on the handle a scent hit her nose almost stopping her breathing and causing her heart to hammer in her chest. Cedar and sandalwood, the man...the handsome stranger was on the other side of her door. Her heart fell, she had only just got Sabine back and now he was here to reject her, Sabine couldn’t, shouldn’t have to take any more hurt. Annie was rooted to the spot, crippled with anxiety and indecision, tears prickling her eyes. Should she walk away from this door, refuse to face him so he couldn’t reject her, or open the door and deal with the fallout of yet more injury to her wolf? As she stood there frozen with fear, the doorbell rang again and Annie jumped almost spilling her coffee. There was no point ignoring him, he knew she was there, as she knew if she could smell him, he could smell her.

“Sabine,” Annie called to her wolf, “what do we do, I can’t lose you again?” tears threatening to spill over.

“I don’t think we have a choice, I’m stronger now Annie, we’ll get through this, open the door, hopefully he will reject us and leave.”

“I know you’re there Annie, please open the door or shall I have my wolf break it down?” said a soft Scottish accent.

With a deep breath she slowly pressed the handle and swung the door inwards, her gaze crashing into his. There he was, in all his massive glory, the handsome man. He wore a black suit, pristine white shirt open at the neck, perfect hair swept back off his perfect face. Annie’s breath hitched in her throat, she scanned his features and frowned slightly, he looked nervous, just for a second but then it was gone. He looked like he was searching for the right words to say and after a few more seconds of awkward silence Annie decided to help him out, she wanted this over and done with as quickly as possible.

“Can I help you?” she kept her face passive, she would not cry in front of this man.

“Yes, my name is Hugh Crozier and I am here to ask if you would join me for lunch.” His soft accent sent butterflies to Annie’s stomach. Sabine, her interest piqued at his new turn of events had moved forward to see the man through Annie’s eyes turning then from blue to black.

“Lunch?” asked Annie frowning, this wasn’t what she expected him to say, “Just do what you came here to do and leave.”

“What?...I came here to ask you to have lunch with me, I would like to spend some time with you. So...will you join me?” Hugh couldn’t stop staring at her, she looked so beautiful, loose white shirt, jeans, her hair wet and loose, he tried to put his finger on what it was about her that he found so attractive. She looked so natural, he noticed with interest that her blue eyes had turned black meaning her wolf was present, pale skin, no make-up, bare feet. She was just fucking stunning, she quite literally took his breath away. Her scent was scrambling his thoughts making it hard to think in a straight line, why he had ever run away from her in the first place he had no idea. He suddenly realised she was talking.

“I’m sorry, say that again.” said Hugh, embarrassed.

“I said I can’t I’m busy today.” She lied. “If you came here to reject me just do it, you don’t have to take me to lunch to soften the blow, and besides, dragging it out only makes it worse.” Annie decided that the direct approach might be the swiftest way to end this pain. Sabine whimpered in her head and Annie was starting to get angry. What gave this man, however handsome, however alluring his scent might be, the right to run away from her leaving her in agony and almost killing her wolf, then have the fucking nerve to somehow find out where she lived and turn up at her house, ask her out for lunch only to reject her at the end of it. She stared at him in defiance, holding her ground. She noticed his eyes were shifting from brown to onyx and he seemed to be fighting for control with his wolf.

Hugh made a decision, “I don’t want to reject you, I had some issues with myself when we met but they are sorted now. I would very much like to take you to lunch and get to know you. My beast however wants to throw you over his shoulder, take you back home and claim you as his own and it’s getting harder to control him, so I honestly think lunch is the better option for you.” Hugh gave her what he hoped was a winning smile, he was sounding more confident than he felt and he knew he was rambling. “I tell you what, come for one drink with me, just one drink. If you don’t want to see me again then I will leave you alone.”  

 Annie was completely confused, he was looking at her like she was the only woman in the world, the way he looked at her at the wedding and the way he was looking at her now were such polar opposites, it made no sense. Something had changed but she had no idea what it was plus it was difficult to think rationally whilst being assaulted by his masculine scent. Sabine was being no help as she seemed to be warming to this man.

“When?” snapped Annie, her resolve crumbling, not helped by Sabine urging her to agree.

“Tonight, seeing as you are busy today, say seven, I’m staying at The Stags in the square, do you know it?”

“Yes, I know it.” Annie could feel Sabine’s excitement, she was intrigued by this man.

“Good, I’ll see you then.” he smiled, exhaling with relief.

Annie was left dumfounded on the doorstep as Hugh walked back to his car, just before he got in he turned and gave her a dazzling smile. She shut the door and retrieving her sandwich went into the sitting room in a daze. Chewing on her sandwich robotically, she pondered over what had just happened. Had she really just agreed to go on a date with her mate, had that really just happened? Sabine was excited but Annie was conflicted, is this what she really wanted? Yes, but at the same time no, she reflected back on the thoughts she had about giving up everything for a mate.

“Well it’s too late now, if we don’t turn up he will probably come back and smash the door down, throw you in his fancy car and take you to Scotland.” laughed Sabine nervously.

“Oh Goddess.” sighed Annie, rolling her eyes.