IV. The Blood Moon

Jasper

I had told those idiots to stop but I may have been too late.

Messing with humans was something young werewolves enjoyed doing but many times the end result was not good.

I was the first to spot her and I thought I could just scare her away a little but they took it too far.

This was a result of their stupidity and ignorance. Could they not have just left her alone?

The girl now lay on the ground unconscious and her head bleeding. Ivan was going to be furious. He had told us to stay away from the humans. Then again, in our defence, the human was on private property.

I wasn't even sure she was alive and frankly, I did not want to check. But I had to before calling Ivan. He was the only one who would know what to do and it was his name on the title deed. Plus he hated it when anybody kept anything from me him. The few who had...well,  they weren't killed, death was too easy and what good would it do?

We had all shifted back.

I knelt down close to the girl's limp form but before I could do anything something caught my attention.

Looking up at the sky, I saw something I had not seen in a very long time. The moon was a bright bloody red. I was pretty sure it was not that color an hour ago.

The others had noticed too.

"You!"I shouted, my voice urgent. The young wolf I was pointing at turned his attention to me.

I told him to go and tell Ivan that he was urgently needed. As he departed, I prayed the Ivan would be patient and hopefully agree to come.

In the meantime, I did my own little examination the girl.

She was very beautiful. Angelically beautiful. Her light brown locks were splayed around her petite body. Her chair contrasted well with her olive skin.

Touching her soft skin, I realized how cold and wet she was. It had stopped raining but her clothes were still soaking wet. She must have been through a lot.

I had sent for clothes for all of us just in case she woke up. What were we to do if she suddenly woke up and found us naked surrounding her? Five naked grown men surrounding an unconscious female in the middle of the woods at night did not really look good.

But she looked like she was going to be out cold for a while.

I scanned her head injury, careful not to hurt her. It was the full moon and most if us were barely in control of our strengths and powers especially the younger wolves.

Thankfully, her skin just had a little cut.  She had probably hit her head on the rock and it must have scratched her, hence the blood. I guessed that she just had a concussion.

The messenger with the clothes had arrived but Ivan had not.

Where the hell is he?

Stupid ly-

My thoughts were cut off by someone speaking. Ivan.

"Jasper, what do you want?"

"No 'hello' ?" I joked averting my eyes away from the female to the man who was standing a few feet away.

He was fully dressed. Meaning that he had been working as usual instead of enjoying the full moon like the others. He rarely went out 'just because it was the full moon' as he put it. As he had told me, when you have lived through literally thousands of full moons you lose interest.

I myself could not relate. I was not as old as him. Not that he was very old but he was not young. His elderliness was only in age but not in looks. His face was that of a man in his late twenties, maybe early thirties on his bad days. This was just one of the perks of being a lycanthrope.

"I may be immortal but does not mean I have all night.What is it that made yo-," He trailed off, his attention turned to the unconscious girl in my arms. He didn't move. He didn't speak. For a few seconds he was just stood there and stared at her.

Something blazed in his eyes though it was only for a second, I noticed. Usually, you would look into his eyes and see darkness and pain but for that one second I saw something different. Something I myself did not recognise.

He broke out of his trance and shook his head as if denying something. He then cleared his throat.

"She's human..."I began.

"What was she doing here?" He asked.

"I don't know...probably just messing around in the wo-" I started. He cut me off.

"She was crying," he said studying her face. His tone held a hint sadness

"How do you know that?" I was not surprised that he noticed that, he was very observant, nothing got past him.

"...Her nose is red and her eyes are puffy. She had been crying a few hours ago...why exactly did you call me here? I am sure you could have handled this yourself."

His tone had changed.

"Because you hate not being told everything that happens," I replied. " What do you want us to do about this?"

"We should call Doctor Miller if we leave her here people will come searching for her and the sooner we get her healed the faster she can leave."

He was quite for a second

Unsurity was clear on his face as he eyes were fixed on the female in my arms.

I could have sworn I heard a low growl erupt from his throat before he came closer and took the girl from me.

"I'll take her... Get the doctor..."

***

Doctor Miller arrived quickly, she always did. She probably had nothing else to do.

She was a human doctor but for a few years had worked for Ivan, treating werewolves and cases such as this one. Her curiosity was what first led her to work for us plus the handsome pay. As long as she did not divulge our secrets to the outside world.

The girl was in one of the guest rooms being examined by Merideth. They had changed her out her wet and dirty clothes. My sister was very happy to lend her some of her closes.

Ivan had been acting weird so I decided to take this opportunity to ask him even though it would be risky.

He was hiding away in his home office with the excuse of 'I have a lot of work to do'. Even a human could tell he was lying.

One minute he was caringly holding the girl in his arms, the next he was coldly acting like she was not there.

The minute we arrived home, he took her to the room that was 'coincidentally' closest to his then he just left practically running out of there.

"Ivan..." I called knocking on the large wooden door. He would have killed me if I had just walked in. "Ivan, I know you are in there."

"Come in Jasper," He replied, annoyance laying his voice.

I went into the office and found him staring out the window.

He was deep in thought as he looked up at the sky.

"Something on your mind?" I asked knowing very well that something was bothering him and it had to do with the human sleeping in the one of the guest rooms.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I keep wondering why you have taken it upon yourself to disturb me," He was avoiding the topic.

He tensely walked to this desk and leaned on the edge almost sitting on it.

"Let's cut the crap, Iv-" he cut me off with a growl but I continued," ...something is wrong with you and I know for a fact that it is because of that girl... her presence is affecting you. I am going to ask you something and I beg of you to answer... is she you mate?"

"What?!"

"Is. She . Your. Mate?" I repeat. It was obvious she was his beloved, Ijust wanted him to say it, to admit it.

"I-I don't know...the oracle said...the moon would  be...red." I understood nothing of what he was saying but decided to play along.

" The moon was red."

" I know. It was ,but not for long.... I'm just not sure enough."

I still had no idea what he was talking about but I knew how to make him sure.

Strolling over to the cabinet in the corner, I poured myself a glass of his Macallan scotch whiskey knowing he was too occupied to do anything about it. The alcohol did next to nothing for supernaturals but it did not stop us from occasionally enjoying a glass or two of brandy or whiskey.

"You aren't sure. OK...I find her absolutely gorgeous. Ravishing. And now that you are not interested in her you won't mind," he gripped the edge of the desk, " if I made a move once she wakes up."

His eyes darkened. Almost there...

" There are a lot of things I could teach her and I know you won't mind..."

" You won't mind if I touched her," he growled, probably trying his best to hold in his anger.

"..if I kissed her, undressed that beau-"

Before I knew it I was off the floor, on the wall being held up by his grip tight, chocking grip on my neck.  I was barely breathing.

Despite the lack of air moving into my lungs, I could not help but smile.

His pupils were the pitch black, obsidian even. There was a speck of gold in his pupils. Maybe I had taken it too far.

I began to fear for my life. His kind were unpredictable and extremely dangerous. He could rip me apart in seconds.

If I tried to fight him off, he would only become more aggressive.

He clenched his hand and closed his eyes. I shut my eyes and prepared for the worst but it never came.

He let me go and I fell on the floor landing on all floors. I caught my breath and stood up.

"So you accept it," I said chuckling. His eyes had gone back to their usual grey.

"Yes."

***