By five o’clock in the evening, the entire skies were already dark with night. Birds of the sky, confused by the sudden darkness, littered the skies, fleeing to their homes where they would safely spend the night. Bats on the other hand came out with relish, not knowing what was happening, but glad that they had the cover of darkness to go about their nocturnal activities. Everyone in Dnakle was on edge, from the oldest of wolves to even the littlest of pups.
“It is not going to be good, Aiyisha…” Yelena tsked in despair as she looked up at the skies for what was most probably the hundredth time that night. They had kept everyone as hidden from the quickly darkening moon as possible, making sure that those who did not want to find partners were sent straight down to the grandiose basement. What was the point in keeping them above ground where they would just be more numbers for casualties?
“Are you looking to find a partner tonight?” The younger wolf asked her elder sister, almost laughing out loud at the disgusted look that flitted across her face. Almost being the keyword here. Laughing in that moment just seemed almost borderline offensive, for there was nothing to laugh about. Danger was coming.
“No, Yelena… I am most certainly not, why would you even ask me that?” Came the Alpha she wolf’s bristled reply.
“Then you need to head over to the basement,”
“You know I cannot. I need to oversee things, you know… make sure that we manage the damage as much as possible—”
“But you are Alpha, Aiyisha…” Yelena interrupted frustratedly,
“What exactly is your point?”
Aiyisha seriously did not have time for this. She had too much on her plate to be thinking about her position in that moment.
“My point is,” Yelena took a deep breath to calm herself down, for they were too much on edge and just a few minutes away from snapping each other’s heads off, “You’re an Alpha wolf Aiyisha, and so if you are not interested in finding a partner, then you had best go down to the basement, because you will be too hard to control when you are completely under the influence of the moon.”
Oh.
“While I understand the care and the concern, I still have to make sure everyone is safe,” She insisted stubbornly, not quite used to someone showing that much concern over her. She knew where Yelena was going with all of this, but she just did not want to acknowledge it, actually hoping that the wolf who was just as hot headed as her would drop it, but she did not.
“But you could get hurt,”
“But that is the life of an Alpha, is it not?” Aiyisha cut her off, “Is it not her duty to do everything she can for her pack, even putting her life down for her pack if it came down to it? That is exactly what I am doing, Yelena, so please drop it.”
Yelena could only nod her understanding, for she knew that if she opened her mouth, they were going to have their first fight as siblings. She did not want it to be under the influence of some Red Moon and over some issue that Aiyisha clearly did not see as important, and so she headed off without another word.
Kendra joined the Alpha she wolf a few minutes later, looking beautiful in an all-black women’s riding shirt with matching breeches. Her dark, waist length, usually messy curls had been tied in a severe bun atop her, and she looked every bit calm, but Aiyisha knew she was anything but. She had known the female beta for quite some time now—two weeks, actually… and while she could not really say she knew her very well, she could say that she knew her just enough. Kendra was one of those people who could convince you… scare you or assuage your worries— depending on which side you were on—with her looks. She was one of those cool and calm on the outside, but raging hot inside, and of course they did burn out sometimes, but today was not one of those times. She was just like her in that aspect, the female Alpha realised in surprise. Maybe that was why they got along so well.
“Are you guys also going to take cover in the basement?” Aiyisha asked, referring to her and her mate, but Kendra only shook her head, “I do not think it is such a good idea, and apparently, so does Killian.” She shot her friend a shot glance and looked up to the skies, at the now pitch black moon in the sky, “We believe we should be out here… you know, experiencing the full effect of the phenomenon, so we are absolutely sure that we are not going to put anyone in danger should we go back to reclaim our pack.” She explained, “Killian does not think that staying in the basement would be that effective. I think so too.”
The quickly darkening night was gloomy, and already wails and howls could be heard when one listened close enough. People were beginning to experience the effect of the full moon, and it was not even red yet.
“Aren’t you going to go down there?” Kendra asked.
“No, I am much needed here,” She pressed stubbornly, quite harshly too, as though she had expected some sort of protest, but Kendra did not give her that satisfaction. “Alright,” She said, instead, “I’ll go find Killian,” She threw her friend’s way…
And then she was gone.
****
“Hey,” Kendra called out softly, smiling wryly at her mate.
“Hey,” He shot her one right back.
“You hanging in there?”
“Indeed I am, you?” Came his reply, and question.
“Indeed I am as well,”
Oh, but Kendra was anything but.
Her stomach was a pit of nerves— for the first time in her life, the female Beta was actually scared, and it wasn’t even herself she was scared for, but her mate.
But that was just the thing about love, wasn’t it?
People talked about how it was the best feeling in the world, and how it could make you feel all powerful… and while Kendra herself could attest to that fact, she also knew that it could be complete utter tosh.
For what was love if not total madness?
Placing all your dreams, your hopes, your aspirations in just one person, making them the light of your life… so much so that when they were scared, you were scared, when they were sad, you were sad, and yet when they were happy, your own happiness was restored.
It was all madness. All of it.
And yet should you ask Kendra if she would rather not be mad along with the likes of them, she would tell you no thank you… that perhaps love did make one mad after all, but so long as she had Killian in her life, it was all totally worth it.
But now, she could not even be sure of that.
Tears stood in her eyes, but she willed herself not to cry. Her emotional block was firmly in place, and she knew that he was using one too— she could feel it— so this time, everyone was going to respect their boundaries, it seemed.
Of course, it did not mean that they could not ask, anyway.
“You seem sad,” Killian broke the silence, his eyes on the horizon as they stood on one of the many silver platforms that littered the plains of desolation, courtesy of Leray and his ingeniousness. It was funny how just a few days ago, they had been here to fight a battle that had not really been theirs to fight… this time however, it was all personal. They were a part of the few people who still stood above ground instead of hiding, and the time was drawing nigh.
“Maybe I am,” Kendra answered softly. “I just miss Nightshade, and I am hoping that I will get to see him soon.”
That was not a total lie, Kendra did miss Nightshade anyway, but something told her that her mate did not believe her at all. But thankfully, even though he had doubts, he let it slide.
“We will get them back, Ken… you’ll see,” He said instead.
That statement alone carried so much weight behind it, as though the Alpha without a pack was saying everything he could not, assuring her that they were going to get through the night… that everything was going to be alright. Kendra leaned into him, allowing his arms and his words to comfort her. She was going to believe him, for his sake and hers as well.
When Kendra let out an involuntary howl, fear lit up in her eyes as she faced her mate… for she knew that finally, the hour had come.
“I—” A garbled cry left her lips, as she felt her bones shift and contort, trying to take on the shape of her wolf, “I love you, Kill… please make it back to me alive…” Anything else she had to say in addition to that mangled into a loud cry that changed into a howl as she and her wolf became one. Her cerulean eyes stared at him in interest and recognition, and then up at the moon which was now a bloody red.
When she turned back to face him, her eyes matched the colour of the red ball in the sky. She growled ferociously at him, as though she knew not who he was and then dashed off into the night.
Everywhere around him, people changed into wolves before him, some running off into the woods, others mating with other wolves, others engaged in vicious fights. Why he was still standing, he had no idea… he was supposed to have turned by now, was he not?
It worried him greatly that he hadn’t yet… for he could feel the full effects alright, and his eyes were the eyes of his wolf, but those were the only changes he seemed to be experiencing, he was still very much human, and he was still in control of all of his faculties. If his eyes were the only change he was going to be experiencing, the Alpha told himself that he might as well check on Kendra and make sure she was safe.
That seemed like a plan.
****
Killian couldn’t find her anywhere.
He had dashed to the east end in record speed, and to the north and the western parts. Nothing.
So distressed was he that he failed to realise that he was doing this all in his human form… that changes were happening any way. All he wanted was to see his mate, to know that she was alright. It did not matter that she could not recognise him… or that she could possibly hurt him, not that she could anyway with the powers he was rapidly developing… but he did not know that.
His search took him to the small grove-like area just behind the palace, the very one he had discovered in his first days in Dnakle— where he had met the white wolf who had turned out to be the moon Goddess.
There she was.
Kendra.
In her wolf form, nuzzling some wildflowers in interest. A smile broke out on the Alpha’s face.
Some things did not change after all.
But something was bothering him, while other wolves were showing violent tendencies, as was associated with the Red moon… his mate was calm and genteel, and he— he was not even turning at all.
It made him wonder.
Was everything okay with them? Had they passed through it all like the Moon Goddess had said they would?
No one could deny that those were very much reasonable questions that the Alpha needed cleared so he could put his heart and his mind at rest, but alas, who was going to answer them for him?
Killian Silvercrest stood still, admiring his mate with a small smile on his face as she rolled around and played in contentment. If this was their version of the effects of the Red Moon, he was most certainly okay with it so long as she did not get hurt.
But he spoke too soon.