* * * Max’s POV * * *Eagerly awaiting the return of Jasper and Allan, I’m pacing by the gates. Back and forth, back and forth, every movement of grass, tree or bush and my eyes search the area for any sign of them. They have been gone for almost five hours now. We’d anticipated that it would take them 1.5 to 2 hours to travel the distance to the Blood Eclipse pack. I should have gone with them, but I would have slowed them down. There’s no way I can keep up with them over that kind of distance. I repeatedly check the time and my phone for any messages or missed calls. I’m going to miss the training session this morning if they don’t return soon.The last few days, I’ve trained morning and evening, making sure that I take an ice bath to ease my muscles. I made sure to take Dr Marshall’s advice and had Joe transfer some healing energy. It had felt amazing; within the space of a few minutes, I’d gone from tired, aching, and sore to feeling invigorated and full of energy. He has volunte
* * * Max’s POV * * * Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. My alarm blasts the sound of a horn repeatedly until I turn it off. I sit in bed, rub the sleep from my eyes, and take a deep breath. Today is the day I will challenge Alpha Derek and finally stop this madness; I have trained hard and feel confident in my abilities and our plan. The only problem is that I have no idea what Alpha Derek has in store for me. I look down at Eve, smiling up at me, but her eyes tell me she is worried. “Good morning, beautiful,” I say to her. “One more day of hardship, and we should finally be able to live our lives as the Moon Goddess intended. You can do this, Max. I believe in you,” she tells me as she sits herself up. “We are well prepared, and our pack is strong, we will save all who we can and build them a strong and happy home,” I tell her. “Famille vient en premier,” she whispers. “Famille vient en premier,” I say firmly. She has made it our pack motto, and I truly believe it. This pack is fami
* * * Max’s POV * * *The pack of rabid wolves are running towards me, scouting the area for more targets. I look back to where Alpha Derek had stood to find him running away like a little bitch. I’m briefly torn between giving chase to Alpha Derek and fighting the wolves. I choose to fight the wolves; I have to keep them contained until my backup arrives. They can’t be allowed to reach civilisation and harm innocent people. We still don’t know the full extent of the damage they will cause. I spot the pack breaking apart, with one group heading towards the mountain base where the witnesses are now scrambling. “Help his pack climb the mountain,” I command Fred, as I make my decision. I shift into Nate’s wolf form and let out a ferocious howl. The howl is filled with anger, rage, and challenge. It’s telling the wolves to accept my challenge and fight. It works, and they begin to turn back around to face the challenge. I run towards the smaller group, prepared to shift back into my mo
* * * Eve’s POV * * * The guard sounds nervous, and the men holding the weapons are shaking like leaves in a tree on a stormy day. I can feel Max’s tension building as his frustration increases. The vein at his temple is pulsating, and his jaw is tense. When he asks Jasper and me to deal with it, I’m only too happy to oblige. Our gifts can prevent the weapons from being used and stop a fight. It’s worth using them to keep the peace. I catch Jasper’s gaze and understand what his eyes are telling me, he wants me to take those on the left of us, and he will handle those to the right. We adjust our stances ever so slightly so that we stand back-to-back. His eyes turn black, and he raises his hands. I can feel a slight chill in the air as the shadows answer his call. Black tendrils begin seeping from the ground beneath us and from the trees. The Blood Eclipse warriors are unaware of their presence as they stand and wait for us to make our move. It's time. Summoning the comforting heat
* * * Eve’s POV * * *We are on our way home, and my stomach rumbles, letting me know I’m hungry. I glance at the dashboard's LED clock; it’s teatime, and it’s been about ten hours since I last ate. The burnt orange sun is setting, cascading jets of orange and red light across the darkening sky as it makes way for the moon. Tonight is a half-moon, but it’s just as beautiful as the full moon we worship. The heavens have opened, and the rain is pouring down. The wind pushes on the car to no avail. We are going forwards, and nothing but a blessed tragedy can change that. The tires make their monotonous hiss over the rain-washed roads, and the air that makes its way through the filters is meadow sweet. All around, through these tinted windows, are fields. Inside this tin box destined for the horizon, the world outside continues like some choreographed dance without the soul it should have. When did the world become so full of hate? Is there none that can hold up a brave hand and say stop
* * * Eve’s POV * * ** * * Four Weeks Later * * * The Blood Eclipse pack members have settled in well at New Moon; the pups have made fast friends with our young ones. It has gotten me thinking that we really need to make a move on turning the packhouse into a school. I have spoken to the ranked members about it, and they are on board; we will also allow pups from other nearby packs to attend the school. And offer a residential stay for those further afield.There is a buzz about the pack as people have come together to discuss where they can help rebuild the Blood Eclipse pack and complete the building works at New Moon. It will be rather cramped for the next year or two, but we will achieve our goal. The council have also donated a generous amount of funds at our disposal for the rebuilding.The guard Stephen has led the search parties; as they went to find those who had left the Blood Eclipse pack, but he has been unable to find any of his former pack members. At the same time, a
* * * Max’s POV * * *Waking up is a transition from the world of dreams into the day, so it’s good to take a little time. For then, I may ponder the messages of my dreams, weave them into the truth of my life, and feel ready to greet the day. I have been sleeping throughout my life until she came along; now, even in my dreams, I’m waking up to her song. As my dreams linger, dancing in the way that dreams do, I rise to the light of the new day. My feet are ready for the ground, for whatever comes my way. The sound of the shower running catches my attention, and I realise that Eve is already awake and preparing for the day. ‘Today, we could meet your birth father; he has to be a better man than Robert,’ Nate tells me. ‘I agree, but it doesn’t stop the pit in my stomach from growing; I feel anxious’, I tell him truthfully. ‘Go be with our mate for a little while; clear your mind by losing yourself within her. Then the day can begin with calmness and love’, he says. I’ve noticed a cha
* * * Eve’s POV * * * The man who has taken the lead of their group appears to be an older gentleman; I would say he is maybe 60 years old. He has a powerful aura around him; I know he has definitely been a ranked Lycan back in his day. He also has an air of arrogance to him, believing we are lesser creatures because we aren’t Lycan. I have stood quietly watching the exchange between him and Max, my dislike for him increasing with every word he speaks. He’s condescending and rude; he has given a subtle hand movement that I would have missed if I hadn’t been staring at him so intently. I notice that his men have enclosed the circle around us ever so slightly. The man has asked Max to shift to prove that he is half Lycan; there’s a brief moment when he steps forward threateningly towards Max. That’s enough for me; I won’t allow him to threaten my mate. I summon the fire from within and make a barrier between Max and this man. When the wall of fire appears, the man jumps back. A look