The air made my lungs constricted and my throat closed, preventing me from breathing. I was unable to keep my eyes open as my body trembled submerged in the icy water, with my insides on fire.
Madison’s voice was distant, as well as the cries of my family calling me, everything was getting dark, slow and gloomy. The feeling of being close to death was terrifying. However, I could feel something dripping out of me, like a heavy layer coming off my skin, finally releasing me.
Madison finished the spell and my body floated in the water, I was too weak to try to hold on to the ground, I could swallow light breaths of air, relieving pain in my chest, but continued with my eyes closed, any movement resulted in discomfort and pain. I heard my name called, however, I was unable to answer. I muttered when Madison touched my body, and it hurt like hell, she backed away quickly.
I cursed all the existing gods because of that agonizing pain in thought.
Someone plunged into the pool, and soon strong arms wrapped my body carefully, pulling me out of the freezing water. Silence reigned. I hissed for the pain that ran through each piece of me as they took me into the house, for the comfort and warmth of the room.
I was almost asleep, but it was a familiar growl, full of worry and dominance that woke me up. My weak heart made a leap into the chest, pounding hard as understanding hit me.
I gathered the remaining strength I had left to lift my heavy eyelids and the familiar face I found watching me, made a small smile want to be born on my lips.
— Jack— I whispered my partner’s name, relieved to see him.
He deposited a kiss on my forehead tenderly.
I’m here with you, little wolf.
Heat filled my chest.
— You came— I was able to babble, my lips trembling.
I will always be with you, my love.
Jack helped me take off my wet clothes and wear a dry, he took me to bed soon after and threw all the warm sheets he had in the house on me, lying next to me. I snuggled in his arms and laid my head on his chest, over his beating heart. I let out a trembling, still cold and sleepy sigh.
— How do you feel? — asked softly, stroking my damp hair.
Like someone who almost froze to death.
Jack blew a warm breath into my face.
— I heard you screaming and writhing in pain. Aiden had to hold me so I wouldn’t step forward and pull you out of the pool.
There was a deep bitterness in Jack’s voice.
I’ll never forget your screams, Hayley, for one measly moment, I thought I was going to lose you for performing that spell. I couldn’t bear for something to happen to you.
It was necessary— whispered.
It wasn’t worth the risk.
I’m fine, Jack, and the spell’s broken.
Jack squeezed me tighter in his arms, as if fearing he would lose me at any moment. I relaxed in his arms, the natural warmth and smell of my partner dispersed the fear away.
Would you like something to eat?
I denied it with my head.
I just want you to stay with me.
Always, little wolf, always.
Fatigue overcame me and darkness took me.
(....)
I slept through the night and part of the day too, Jack did not leave me at any time, stood beside me and held me in his arms as the hours passed and I slowly regained my strength.
Madison had warned me that breaking the spell would cost a lot, and I was lucky to remain conscious.
In the late afternoon, I had recovered my strength and decided to get out of bed, take a shower and eat the dinner that Jack had brought to the room, delicious pasta. I received a visit from our family, but they were soon expelled from the room by the Supreme.
I sat on the couch before the open balcony of the room and watched the starry night outside the house, the silence hovered in the air, the fresh winds messed up my hair when I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the smell of my city, the lands that once belonged to my parents and that I would die fighting to conquer again.
— The Blood Moon is tomorrow.
I shuddered when Jack sat next to me.
I can feel it.
Since waking up a few hours ago, I felt the effects of the Blood Moon seething under my skin, the thirst for blood that was scratching my throat, the monstrous need to kill some living being. And when the red moon shines in the sky of the next night, all the control that I struggled to maintain, would disappear and the beast hungry for blood and death would be reborn once more to kill the one who crosses his path.
Are you scared of me?
I turned my head and stared at Jack.
— For the first time in years, I’m not scared, because I have you by my side and I know I’m safe.
Jack held my hand and deposited a kiss on my fingers. I licked my lips intending.
But there’s something I need to tell you.
— What is it about?
— On my first Blood Moon, I did something that stained my soul, something I was never able to forgive myself for.
A crease formed between Jack’s eyebrows.
I killed an innocent man, had his blood on my hands after I clawed him.
I wasn’t able to look directly into Jack’s eyes, the guilt falling on my shoulders and the shame covering me.
— His name was Isaiah, a good man who loved a monster and was condemned for it.
— How did it happen?
— I asked Peter to lock me in the forest on my first Blood Moon, I didn’t want to risk hurting anyone, that was my biggest fear. The problem is that Isaiah went after me, he didn’t know who I was, and when he found me, he freed me from the silver chains and called me to run away with him.
My eyes burned up.
— The Blood Moon was born in the sky and I transformed, lost control and attacked Isaiah. But the beast did not stop just killing him, she wounded him and let him escape, only to hunt him and leave his pieces scattered throughout the forest. When the sun came up the next day, I realized that I would never be the same, that everything good that still existed inside me, was destroyed.
Jack wiped the lonely tear that ran down my face.
It wasn’t your fault.
I exhaled deeply.
I know I don’t, but that doesn’t lessen the guilt I carry, or the deaths I’ve caused. I’ve done horrible things and I’m sure hell awaits me when I die.
Jack held my chin up so I could stare him straight in the eye.
If we go to hell, we go together.
I had no words to reply.
— What I feel for you will never change, Hayley, I don’t care what you did, you will always be my beautiful and kind wild wolf.
I held my hand to Jack’s face and smiled at him with teary eyes, opening my heart and revealing the truth that had existed there for a while.
I’m in love with you, Jack. I tried to fight this feeling fiercely, fearfully, but you had my heart the first time I saw you. I want you to know that loving you was the best thing that happened to me and I will fight the darkness of the world for you.
The starlight seemed to shine in my partner’s eyes when with his hoarse voice, he held my face with his hands and said:
— Before you, Hayley, my life was like an eternal, dark, empty night, my heart became stone and there was nothing good in me.
But then, you arose, and illuminated the darkness of my soul with the beauty and light of your pure heart, turned my gray days into the brightest starry sky.
Jack kissed my face tenderly. My throat closed.
I love you, Hayley Blake, I loved you the moment I saw you that morning in the clearing and I will continue to love you until the stars fall from the heavens, until the last drop of the ocean dries up and even my soul departs to the world of the dead.
Jack brought me into his arms and wrapped me in a comfortable hug. The world lost its importance when Jack sealed our lips, each touch a promise of future, a kiss that overflowed love, passion and longing that took my breath away.
And that’s when in Jack’s arms, I finally felt him. An ancient force that enveloped my bones, an ancient song from the time of the gods that echoed through my chest.
I opened my eyes, finding the Supreme’s bloodred irises fixed on my face, and there was a wild feeling burning in Jack.
— Companion— he whispered in awe, recognizing me.
That primitive call went up my throat when the delicious smell that came from Jack filled my senses.
Comrade— my wolf answered him, finally recognizing Jackson as our partner, the companion the Moon predestined us.
I took my arms around his neck and whispered into his mouth:
— You’re mine and I’m yours.
— I am yours and you are mine.
HAYLEY BLAKE
I had only a few minutes of consciousness left before the Blood Moon reached its apex in the night sky, so I ran through the forest without looking back, away from civilization.