Chapter 2: Blood

"Ruby? Ruby?" I sat up, expecting the warm comforting room to be surrounding me. Where I was, was a completely different place. I was in a dark forest, trees surrounding me on all sides. I was sitting in a small pool of moonlight , the gloom from the forest nipping at the edges of my light. I was in wolf form, my reddish fur blowing in the slight breeze that pushed its way through the dense forest. My paws that were usually white were stained brown with the dirt. I shook my paws, hoping to rid them of the dirt, but it stayed embedded within my fur.  

"Hello?" I called out, wondering where the mysterious, male voice had some from.

From the edges of the darkness melted a figure of a man, not a wolf, but a man. When I recognized who it was, my eyes stretched wide in utter surprise, "Zy? Zy Reynolds? Is that you?"

Zy was an old member of the pack. I'd seen him around, though we were never close. I knew his legacy, though. Zy was an amazing member of the pack, respectful, loyal, strong, but when his secret was discovered, he was taken under custody and never seen again. His secret was that he had Lunar Blood. Lunar Blood was a blood type that was so rare and disrespected, if a kid were to say another kid had Lunar Blood, they'd be in a lot of trouble. Lunar Blood tended to make wolves hostile and a whole new person.

"It is," Zy said with a charming smile, "and I've come to tell you something important."

 "W-what is it?" I asked, still stunned that I was talking to someone who I hadn't seen since I was a little girl.

"Well, as you probably remember, I disappeared years ago because it was discovered that I had Lunar Blood," Zy started, gesturing faintly with his hands, "the thing I have to tell you is regarding that."  

"How so?" I asked, voice rising in pitch with my fear.

"I guess we could say we're related in that way," Zy said gently, pausing to let what he'd told me sink in. After a moment in which I sat silent trying to figure out what he'd said, Zy continued, stating it in a more obvious way, "I hate to break it to you, Ruby, but you have Lunar Blood."

I became numb, my whole body falling to a place without feeling. Then the cold set in, the shocking cold that settled over my body and shocked me even further. My whole life, I'd tried to fit in, be normal, be like everyone else and now I was sitting here, a most likely dead person telling me that the life I dreamed of having was out the window and I'd never be normal, not ever.

"Are you being serious? Is this- is this for real?" I asked, my voice faltering slightly and falling off at the end.

"Yes, Ruby, I am. The Moon Goddess sent me here to tell you, but to also tell you that it'll get better," Zy tried to reason with me, but I was beyond reasoning with. I was too utterly stunned to be able to hear anything but blurred words.

"This can't be real. This isn't real. This can't be real. This isn't real," I repeated to myself, chanting as if to reverse the blood type I had, as if it could take away what Zy had put upon my shoulders.

"Ruby I-," I cut off Zy, my chanting growing louder and faster.

"THIS ISN'T REAL! THIS CAN'T BE REAL!" I yelled, squeezing my eyes shut.

When I opened my eyes again,  the outline of the landscape was fading and Zy was too, a worried frown plastered on his lips. I couldn't be bothered to be the least bit worried about him. All I was worried about was myself.

"Ruby! Ruby, get up!" I sat up panting, as sweat dripped down my forehead. I wiped it away and walked over to the door, pulling it back to see Dawn standing there, hand balled in a fist and ready to rap on the door again. She instantly grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the door frame, pulling me down the long winding corridor. The only people remaining there were the few stragglers who raced down the hall to the lobby. 

"How late are we?" I asked Dawn, finally catching my breath.

"About ten minutes," Dawn replied, keeping her gaze locked on the end of the hall. 

"Woah," I almost giggled, "I must have been sleeping hard."

All of a sudden, my dream rushed back to me, the fear that came with it rushing through my senses once again. I shivered, though Dawn didn't notice. I was still dressed in my, 'casual but sexy,' outfit and so was Dawn, but her hair was down rather than pulled back in her bun.

Soon, the thin hallways opened into the lobby, the walls stretching outward and the scent of many wolves wafting up my nose. I looked around and saw what looked like hundreds of wolves milling around the perimeter of the room.

Suddenly a pair of women walked past both Dawn and I, the two of them holding hands. One of the girls was a blonde, her long hair falling down her small framed shoulder and the second was a brunette, taller than the blonde by almost a foot. The brunette looked down at the blonde adoringly as they disappeared back into the sea of wolves.

"Aw!" Dawn squealed beside me, squeezing my shoulder.

"What?" I asked, looking over at her, wondering why her face was twisted into a mask of admiration.

        

"DID YOU SEE THOSE TWO! THEY WERE SO CUTE!" Dawn almost screamed in my ear, gaining the attention from a few wolves around us.

        

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"Are you that oblivious?" Dawn asked, rolling her eyes, "Didn't you see those girls are head over heels for each other?" 

"I guess so," I said, smiling and remembering the way the two girls looked at each other. For their sake, I was glad the same-sex mating law was instated last year.

"Look up there," Dawn said, quickly losing focus as usual. Her attention span was terrible. I followed her pointed finger to the front of the crowd of people, curious to what she was looking at. Standing there at the front of the pack was the Alpha and his Luna and their children, the Alpha in line and one of Deltas.

        

The person who stepped forward first was Alpha Luis, dressed in a leather jacket and a tight fitting shirt. His Luna, Luna Celestia, her slender arms wrapped around her torso. Her long midnight colored hair draped over her shoulders and falling around her back. She was a lot younger than Alpha Luis, but that's because generally Alphas don't mate until later in their ruling. The Luna was dressed in a white pantsuit to show her feminine power and tall, polished heels that still only put her at the Alpha's shoulder.

        

Behind the two stood their son and Alpha-in-line, Alpha Ryder. For a moment I recognized his face and wondered where I'd seen him before - he was the new Alpha so not everyone was familiar with him. Then, my heart dropped when I realized where I'd actually seen him. Alpha Ryder was the guy I'd bumped into when I first arrived at the Pack House. I'd embarrassed myself in front of the Alpha-in-line.

        

"What's wrong?" Dawn asked me, nudging me in the side. She must have seen my horrified expression.

        

"You know when we first got here and I ran into a guy?" I said, fumbling over my words.

        

"Yeah was that-," she paused and I nodded. She instantly understood what I meant, and pulled me into a hug, stroking the top of my head., "It's okay he probably doesn't even remember."

        

"Y-yeah, you're right," I nodded.

Dawn frowned in sympathy at me and opened her mouth as if she was about say something, but the Alpha's voice boomed around the room, echoing off the tall ceilings, "Alright everyone I know you're all excited and ready to get to the party site, but we have to lay down some rules before we get there. Rule number one two drinks per person, we don't need anyone getting tipsy and running off with who they think is their mate. Rule number two, no marking anyone tonight, it's the first night and we don't need anyone to regret their decisions. Rule number three, have fun. It's your first night here and we want to have a good start to the week, alright?"

A chorus of cheers went through the room and everyone pranced out, excited murders running through the crowd of wolves. Dawn walked ahead of me, so I fell behind a bit, wrapping my cardigan around my chilly arms and torso.

"Cold, little girl?" a deep male voice asked in my ear, causing me to jump forward with a  start.

"No, I'm fine," I replied, not looking back and keeping my gaze locked ahead of me, searching the sea of people for Dawn. 

"Are you sure?" it came again, growling deeply from what sounded like the back of his throat.

"One hundred percent," I said, gritting my teeth together to keep from growling a threat.

"Alright honey," the disembodied voice said, a small bit of anger darkening it, "but you missed out on all of this."

Suddenly, a tall man walked past me, his fists unclenching and clenching at his sides. I snorted, men had no sense these days. If you didn't put it out for him, they'd get all mad and throw a fit.

As I looked ahead, I saw a clearing fitted with glowing orb lights on strings and velvet chairs lining the perimeter. There was a bar, a few plastic stools set up before it and a man standing behind the counter, obviously in his late thirties. Wolves sprinted forward, cheers of utter happiness coming from all directions. I saw Dawn slipping through the multiple bodies pushing past her to reach me.

"It's gorgeous," she gasped as soon as she came within earshot of me.

        

"Is this it?" I asked, admiring the whole landscape.

        

"It sure is!" Dawn said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me forward, "C'mon, let's go!"

Dawn had gone to get the two of us our first drinks - using the passes they gave us when we entered the party area - and  I was sitting in one of the comfy velvet chairs. I was playing with the frayed end of my cardigan sleeve and was absent mindedly talking to myself when a voice interrupted my thoughts, "Hey, um- is this seat taken?"

I looked up and a guy was standing before me, gesturing to the seat that was sitting across from me. Not being able to muster any words, I nodded and he plopped down.

"Hey, I'm Ruby," I said after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Raven," he said, leaning forward and holding out his hand for me to take and shake. I accepted and gave him a soft smile.

"So, Raven, what made you sit with me?" I laughed.

"You looked pretty hot," as soon as the words left his mouth, my hopes of him being a good guy flew out the window. This guy was just a douche looking for a hookup.

"Anything else?" I asked, the disappointment in my voice was evident even through my ears.

"Well, I don't really know you so.." he trailed off and shrugged. 

"I hate to be rude," I said, though I didn't really mind it if I was being rude to this type of person, "but don't you think you're being a bit straightforward. Shouldn't you, oh I don't know, get to know me first?"

"Yo," Raven said, holding up his hands as if he was innocent, "I just saw a hot chick and I sat down."

"Okay," I said, biting my bottom lip, "then you can leave because I'm not interested in people like you."

"What do you mean?" he asked, leaning forward on the heels of his hands and planting his elbows on his knees.

"Well, if you didn't know," I drawled, sarcasm dripping from every word, "having a mate is supposed to have someone to give your love to- not to admire just their looks!"

"Girl with a tongue," Raven said, licking his lips, "I like it."

"Oh," I sneered, "so you don't like girls who don't stick up for themselves?"

"You're kind of turning me on," Raven growled lustfully.

"Unbelievable!" I snapped, slapping the armrest of the chair.

I looked back up, but when I saw Raven again, he was leaping toward me - and I mean actually leaping. I didn't even have time to scream before he was on top of me on the chair, pinning my wrists to the armrest with his large hands.

"Get the fuck off of her!" I looked up when an unexpected voice cut through the tension between Raven and I like a knife. Raven reeled back and fell on the ground, shrinking away from me. I sucked in a breath of relief, and turned around wondering who'd saved me.

The person was none other than Alpha Ryder, his face a mask of utter fury. I could see his eyes color as shifting between blue and gold - his normal eye and his wolf's eye. His lips were pulled back in a snarl and his teeth were growing pointed.

Raven held up his hands as he had before, "Yo, she's hot and I'm looking for a hot mate."

"And you think molesting her is going to make her love you?" the Alpha spit angrily

"It usually works," Raven shrugged, though I could see he was shaking in fear.

"Yeah, sure it does," Alpha Ryder growled from somewhere deep in his throat.

"Hey man," Raven said, though the look of confidence was quickly fleeting from his face, replaced by fear, "you can understand, she's hot."

"Yeah, she is," Alpha Ryder snapped, causing me to blush, "but if she has any brain at all, she'll stay as far away from you as she can."

There was a pause and then Raven, "Whatever, but trust me, I'll be back."

"I'll be waiting for that day," I called after him as he sauntered away, "I'll kick your ass!"

"Are you alright?" Alpha Ryder asked, turning to me, and holding out a hand to help me up, "That guy's a real dirt bag."

"You know him?" I asked, accepting Alpha Ryder's hand and with great honor, "And yes, I'm an Epsilon."

"Impressive," he said, admiring my rank and age, "but unfortunately yes," Alpha Ryder sighed, pulling me into a pool of people, "We trained together and he was the biggest manwhore there. After he was caught being a pervert, he was transferred over into a different pack."

"Hmm,'' I giggled, having to tilt my head back to meet Ryder's eyes, "from what I observed, that seems about right."

"Hate to break it to you," Alpha Ryder sighed, "but half the guys here are like Raven."

"I'm sure I'll find my guy or girl," I said, thinking aloud.

"I'm sure you will, too," Alpha Ryder said kindly, "You seem like a really nice girl."

"Thanks Alpha," I said, blushing and trying to camouflage it with my hair.

"You don't have to call me Alpha. Call me Ryder," he chuckled at me

"Okay," I said, dipping my head to him in the utmost respect

"Well, I hope I see you around then," Ryder said, holding out his hand for me to shake. I took it, grateful for the distraction, but before I could regain my balance, Ryder tightened his grip on my hand and pulled me towards him. He quickly and swiftly pressed his lips to my still tingling cheek, causing me to gasp. He pulled away, giving me a confident smirk and disappeared into the sea of people, wiggling his fingers in a goodbye. My fingers drifted to my cheek where his lips had been only moments ago and I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. 

Did the Alpha just hit on me? Did I like it?

"And he kissed you?" Dawn asked, chewing on the thin straw that poked from her glass of alcohol. I'd blindly stumbled back to the seat I'd previously been sitting in and found Dawn holding two glasses and our tickets, one hole punched in each. She asked me what was wrong and I blurted out the whole story about Raven and Ryder.

"On the cheek, yeah," I nodded, clutching my cup so tightly that my knuckles were turning white.

"Well I guess he didn't remember then," Dawn chuckled, taking a sip, her eyes screwing shut at the bitter taste.

"I guess not," I nodded, eyes widening. I was kind of over the topic so I subtly changed the subject, hoping Dawn wouldn't notice, "So, did you meet any cute people you like?"

"There was this one guy, but he just stared at my tits the whole time. Like he was hot but 'hello,' my eyes are up here, 'ya know?" Dawn sighed

"I know the feeling," I nodded, referring to Raven.

"You think I'll ever find a mate?" Dawn asked, staring into her drink.

"You sure will," I said, reaching across the space between us, and squeezing her leg.

She looked as though she was about to say something, but Luna Celestia's voice, slightly slurred, boomed around the area, "BlueFeather wolves, gather at the entrance so we can begin our walk back to the Pack House."

"Alrighty," Dawn said, stumbling to her feet and staggering forward, "Let's get going."

"Are you feeling alright?" I asked, following Dawn up and supporting her by holding her arm. Dawn nodded and let me steer her to where everyone was gathering. She leaned into me and let her eyes slip shut. I massaged her shoulder, knowing she was probably just tired.

"Who had a good time?" Alpha Luis asked, raising his hands.

There was a loud cheer from the crowd, Dawn startling back awake and then nestling back into my shoulder. I rubbed her arm where I was holding it and let her fall back to sleep as Alpha Luis continued. I didn't listen though. I was too worried about Dawn who was starting to breathe heavier and sweat was trickling down her forehead at an absurdly fast rate. She was gripping at me and moaning in pain, her nails digging into my skin. She was growing paler by the second along with the pace of my heart.

Thinking quickly, I laid Dawn on the ground, people around me looking down in confusion. I looked back up in a fit of panic, calling out to no one in particular, "Help me! Help me, my friend is- she's sick or something!"

Almost instantly, Alpha Ryder slid beside me and started working with Dawn, pressing his fingers to her neck or her fitful hands, "Was this her first time drinking tonight?"

"I-I think so,' I said, releasing Dawn's hand as Ryder took it to find her pulse. I was way too shocked and stunned to notice that the pool of wolves started thinning as they left, leaving Ryder, Dawn and I behind. After a moment of fitting with her, Ryder stood up with a grunt and picked Dawn up, gesturing with his head for me to follow. I obeyed as Ryder carried my unconscious best friend ahead of me.

As I trailed behind, I looked down at my hands, having the sudden odd urge to see my hands to verify that what was happening was actually real. When I looked down, though, I saw something that shocked me even more than my best friend suddenly becoming unconscious. What I saw were small twining slivers of silver running up and down my arm. Zy hadn't lied. I did have Lunar Blood.