I didn’t know how, but word had spread about Lucian getting injured while protecting me.How did I find out about this?Sierra, of course.Early in the morning, while I was still trying to gather my wits about what happened last night, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to see Sierra.She had told me that after purchasing the artefact from the witch, she searched for me everywhere but couldn’t find me. Later, a few warriors had met with her and told her what happened, then escorted her back to the pack house.I was touched that she searched for me for a long time, but suspicious at the same time. Not of her, but of the witch whom she bought the artefact from.So many times were not right with the entire setting, but I chose to ponder on them afterwards on my own time.Then, Sierra told me all about how the pack house was buzzing with the news of Lucian protecting me and getting harmed in the process.Everyone was talking about it through their mind links. And since I was still an
Today was the long awaited birthday of Alpha Lucian.The birthday party wasn’t going to be hosted in the pack house. Instead, there was an entire hall built, half a kilometre away from the pack house, dedicated to the birthday celebrations of the Pierce family.How insane was that? How much money did the Blood Moon pack have to be going full scale on every single celebration, every single year? That, I did not know.And as for the party, since I didn’t have anything nice enough, I had to borrow a gown from Sierra. Luckily, the two of us were around the same height and the same size. I was wearing a fitted dark blue dress that lengthed a little above my knees and had a small slit at the back. It had a heart shaped neckline with spaghetti straps. Since I didn’t want to stand out much, I coupled the dress with a black jacket and a pair of plain black sneakers which Sierra once again lent to me. I was wearing my hair down. My lashes were mascaraed and my lips painted with a light shade
After the incident with the rabid rogues, everything became so clear to me. Since I started living in the Blood Moon Pack, I hadn’t been using much of my brain power.Unlike in the Blue Sky Pack, no one came to me to solve disputes, lend advice, investigate suspicious activity, and things like that. So I had unconsciously grown lax and lived carefreely.But even at that, I didn’t dumb down one bit, always being secretly cautious and keeping an eye out for people who appeared suspicious. Doing so proved to be useful to me in the long run.Just when I was basking in my genius being, I noticed that someone was watching me. No, two people were watching me. I pretended I didn’t notice one, then focused my attention on the other.“Head Healer, good evening,” I greeted Gina with a mock bow and a fake smile.She stared at me condescendingly while I took in her outfit — a black evening gown. It was as elegant as a dress could be, I expected no less from Gina. “What gift did you offer to Lucia
Fuck. A miscalculation. I made a miscalculation for the first time in years. I miscalculated Lucian’s love for his late brother, Atlas. After Sierra had offered her gift to Lucian and explained what it could do, he rounded up the entire gift giving ceremony and dubbed her gift the best.How could he do such a thing? Did he love his brother that much that he’d be willing to use witchy methods to create a shadow of him? Fuck!I was happy for Sierra, but angry at myself! I blew my one chance. Would I now have to give Lucian his second gift without getting anything in return? Damn it.“Why are you looking so fussy?” A familiar voice sounded behind me.I turned around to see Lucian standing casually with his hands behind his back. We were both on the balcony right now. After Sierra won the best gift, I left the hall to get some fresh air.That must have been fifteen minutes ago. What was Lucian doing here? Shouldn’t he be entertaining the guests like a good birthday boy?“Don’t talk to me
In the letter I gave to Lucian, there were two things written on it. The first was that someone he cared about would be poisoned. The second was that I had solid information about the rabid rogues. The second part, though the information was not as solid as I emphasised, was still very useful. I still hadn’t told him the information yet because there was going to be nothing in it for me! The first information of someone getting poisoned was just a bonus and a filler gift.The information about the rogues was the real deal. But how could I give it to Lucian when I didn’t win the best gift award and wasn’t going to get my wish granted by him?So, I played coy and said, “What do you mean by that?”“You still owe me another gift,” he said.“I don’t feel like giving it to you,” I turned away to leave, but Lucian caught my wrist and flipped me around.“It doesn’t matter what you’re feeling. Tell me, now.” Lucian said with a serious tone. All traces of playfulness from earlier had disappea
Gina was standing a few feet away from me with her hands planted on her hips, and there was a stern expression on her face. I was suddenly reminded of when I first began working as a maid and she tried to kill me.Instinctively, I grew defensive and bowed curtly.“Good morning,” I said, my voice was void of sarcasm this time around.Gina only hummed in response to my greeting as she came closer to me. “Why did you do it?” she asked. Straightforward as ever.“Do what?” I played around with my words.Gina’s brown eyes drew into narrow slits as she stared at me. “Don’t talk nonsense and just answer me. I know that it wasn’t totally for your self protection, so tell me. Why did you do it? What do you want from me?”I tilted my head to one side as a smile made its way to my lips. I liked Gina, she was really clever. My kind of person.“I’ll be frank with you. I’m in danger. It’s only a matter of time before my brother finds out that I’m still alive and am now living here. When he does, th
“Ruby,” I heard a familiar voice call out to me.I was in a familiar yet unfamiliar place. I was standing in my room back at the Blue Sky pack. “Ruby,” someone called my name once again.I turned around and saw Jonathan standing at my door. His face looked younger than I remembered. He looked like he was seventeen years old. I was confused. The Jonathan Willow I knew was twenty-four years old with a more muscular frame. And the last time I saw him, he had been growing a stubble on his chin.But now… he had a baby face. And his brown eyes, which were normally clouded with bitterness and contempt, were wide with wonder and amusement now. What was going on here?“Jonathan, you—” I stopped talking as soon as I noticed that the sound of my voice was really high-pitched. I reached for my throat and that was when I noticed how short and small my arms were.I looked down at myself and saw that I was now a little girl. What the…?“Ruby, what are you doing? It’s almost time. I can’t wait to
It was stupid to try and pull the shirt down to cover my thighs at this point since Lucian had already seen them, but I still made that stupid decision.“If I had come to seduce you, I would have worn something seductive!” I sassed, recovering myself from the slight embarrassment.Lucian only remained amused. “Really?” He then stood up from the bench and took only two steps to reach where I was standing.“I thought that you were aware that you can be dressed in only a sack bag and I’d still get seduced by you.”My jaw dropped. Stunned at his words, it took me a while to recover. Satisfied by my reaction, the smile on Lucian’s lips broadened. That was all that I needed to snap back into reality and school my expression.I frowned deeply and backed away from him.“I see that you have no interest in holding an appropriate conversation with me. I guess I’ll be returning to my room now.”As I turned my back to him and was about to leave, Lucian slid an arm around my stomach and pulled me i
“And what sort of thing did you hear?” I queried, feeling my pulse increase at her sudden outburst.“On the next full moon, they—attacks the pack!” they, foolishly, making sure to pronounce the words like they were dancing, giving up “fool her,” meaning all along — scheming against them, completed the rogue’s tale, sounding somewhat hysterical.Lucian, looking grim, met my gaze. “Look, I don’t think we can afford to ignore this. If this rogue isn’t lying, we have to get ready.”“I will inform the rest,” I said, shaking out of it and preparing to share the information.“Stay beside me,” Lucian said and his voice brooked no argument.On the way back to the rest, a strong kink of insistence engulfed me. There was no time to lose in assisting the pack.As soon as we brought edged the warriors, Lucian turned to them and explained the content of the message received from the rogue. “We have been informed that the rabid pack plans an assault towards the next full moon. We must now make arran
“I believe in you! Just keep on training and you will reach that level,” I said feeling proud of him.But not so long after, Lucian walked over to us and watched for a while. “You’re both progressing quite well. Ruby, your footwork is much better than it was before.”“Thanks! I have been trying to improve it,” I said with a blush on my face.“Timothy, you’re nailing down the techniques. That’s good,” Lucian appreciated this and Timothy adored the praise.Anyway, as it went on, I sensed a bond between us strengthening as well. We were a pack, and we aided each other in meeting the challenges that lay before us.Later that evening, when I was already in bed, I felt apprehensive, like we were about to enter into something. The rogue threat was still very fresh in my mind, and I wanted to be ready for it.***The following day, there was a strange sort of tension in the pack house. The warriors were getting ready for an evening patrol along the borders, and I could feel the pressure in th
The following days flew by like the sands in an hourglass as the Blood Moon pack prepared for the upcoming strategy meeting. There was a strong sense of vigilance in the atmosphere; everyone understood the menace posed by rogues who encircled us and it became rather obvious that a pack welfare strategy had to be put in place.“Hey Ruby! I’m sure you’re all geared up for the meeting?” Sierra yelled out while I was entering the common room with a heap of paper files chewing on my lip.“Almost! Just one more go through my notes,” I said shaking my head and paging through the notes nervously. “I just want to make sure that I cover all the bases.”“You are going to be okay! Everyone thinks highly of you,” she said a lot more encouragingly as her smile broke on her face, more light spilled on her figure.“Thanks, Sierra. I hope so. I am just so…” I began and retraced my steps again, not pressed to finish that thought. Excited? Caesar was Brutus billing himself as a saint.“Just keep in mind
The day after Lucian’s birth celebration was a different ball game in the pack house. There was a noise of warriors warming up for training, and with it came great expectation. Nobody was oblivious to the current rogue threat, and the enjoyment experienced from the earlier party wore off and solemnity reigned.“Ruby! Are you ready for training?” Timothy shouted as I walked into the common area still drowsy, trying to shake off sleep.“Ready as I’ll ever be, Tim,” I said, smiling at him. “Let’s see if I can catch up with you today.”Timothy smiled widely, showing how he was feeling. “You will! Just don’t forget what I said last time – we have to work on your footwork!”“Footwork, check. I shall do my best to keep moving my feet,” I said, playfully bouncing on my feet. “You are not going to allow me to lag behind, are you?” “Never! I will make sure you are the best fighter in the pack!” he declared, proudly puffing his chest.I chuckled and appreciated the bond that had formed between
In the subsequent days, there was training after training on a different strategy, and interaction with the fighters. I was beginning to feel that I belong to the Blood Moon pack, and I was ready to show myself to be worth it.One of those boring afternoons, I was in the family area skimming through some combat strategies. Just when I was about to deeply engross myself into the book, Lucian appeared, beaming from ear to ear.“You do seem to be busy,” he remarked lazily, as he casually positioned himself against the door frame.“Just trying to read as much as possible,” I answered, my eyes not leaving the book. “Why are you here?”“Thought I’d check in on you. How’s the training going?” he inquired while moving a little closer to me.“Great! I’ve been training with the warriors, and they’ve really helped me. I think I Am beginning to figure things out,” I said with a sense of pride that made even my chest swell.“That is good news. You have come very far from when you first came,” Luci
In the subsequent days, there was training after training on a different strategy, and interaction with the fighters. I was beginning to feel that I belong to the Blood Moon pack, and I was ready to show myself to be worth it.One of those boring afternoons, I was in the family area skimming through some combat strategies. Just when I was about to deeply engross myself into the book, Lucian appeared, beaming from ear to ear.“You do seem to be busy,” he remarked lazily, as he casually positioned himself against the door frame.“Just trying to read as much as possible,” I answered, my eyes not leaving the book. “Why are you here?”“Thought I’d check in on you. How’s the training going?” he inquired while moving a little closer to me.“Great! I’ve been training with the warriors, and they’ve really helped me. I think I Am beginning to figure things out,” I said with a sense of pride that made even my chest swell.“That is good news. You have come very far from when you first came,” Luci
In the next few days, there was too much activity orientated towards the birthday celebration of Lucian. The pack was too busy and I was also on the whirlwind. Everyboody was very happy to help out with the preparation and I also wanted to do my part.“Ruby, I need help with these decorations,” Sierra called me over as I passed the common room.“Sure! I’m always up for helping with decorations,” I said, rushing toward her. The woman was quite surrounded with women. Moreover, I could see streamers and banners ready to be fixed.“Perfect! I need a spare pair of hands,” Sierra said gleefully. “We have to make sure that everything is perfect for Lucian.”“Bring it on!” I responded and reached for some of the flowers. “What is the mission?”‘We are going to place these flowers at the entrance, like along the door and arrange some of the tables for the snacks,’ Sierra said excitedly. ‘I want everything to be good.’‘Good it is! Let’s begin,’ I answered, filled with the zeal to do the work.
In the next few days, I found myself getting busier as I concentrated on training and collecting more information regarding the rogue threat. The entire pack was already enthusiastic about the upcoming birthday celebrations for Lucian, myself however – I put my head down and focused only on work. I was hell-bent on proving my worth to the Blood Moon pack.It was still dawn when I returned to the training arena, practicing my moves. The sun had just started to rise giving the arena a golden glow. I was in my zone when all of a sudden, I heard some footsteps coming closer.“Hi, Ruby!” a bright voice interrupted my focus. I turned and Timothy was running towards me with a huge smile plastered on his face.“Tim! What’s the matter?” I asked wiping away the sweat from my face.“I just woke up and wanted to check on you. You were looking so good at the party!” he bubbled with glee.“Thanks! I am just trying to catch up with the rest,” I said blushing at his compliment. “And you? Is fight pra
The days that followed our encounter with the rogues was a mad rush of activities. The pack was cautious and I was at the center of it all. It was upon Lucian’s orders that I was to be part of any and all considerations regarding the threat posed by the rogues and I was going to do everything to earn that faith.“Ruby, you’re going to sit in on the strategy meeting today,” Lucian said one morning as we stood outside the training arena. It was bright outside with the sounds of the warriors, who had started their daily training, echo in the surroundings.“Me? For real?” I said, almost gleefully. “What if they don’t wish me to attend?”“They’ll have to manage it. You’ve already earned your stripes and it is important you take part in the conversations,” he replied, turning serious. “Moreover, there is a chance you could help us.”“Sure. Very helpful.” I said, feeling nervous and excited all at once. “And what if I make a fool of myself?”“Don’t think like that. Just speak how you feel an