Lunar Shadows: Awaken

Kyran

Entering the Great Hall, my ears ring slightly from my hour-long drive back listening to Trey’s incessant squawking as I find our elders gathered and talking quietly amongst one another. I asked my brother to wait outside the door and told him that I’d call on him if I felt I needed his input on things, much to his protest. Walking slowly toward the large wooden banquet table at the head of the Hall, I consider how best to begin this conversation. This news will undoubtedly cause excitement and celebration throughout my pack, but that does not negate the problems surrounding my newfound knowledge.

Raising my gaze, my eyes connect with Stjarna who squints one eye and purses her lips. When I mindlinked each of the four elders to meet me here immediately, I did not give reason as to why. The elders slowly rise as I come to my place at the center of the table. I briefly dip my head in respect to the group, receiving equal recognition back. Many alphas would claim they bow to no one, however I know that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience and wisdom shared from these four people and I respect each of them deeply.

Drawing my wingback chair toward the edge of the dais, I gesture for the others to follow suit and create a circle. Once seated, I take a moment and regard each elder individually. Stjarna has known me my entire life, she had even been present at my birth and was very close with my mother for most of her life as well. Stjarna had taken her in as a stray pup without hesitation and raised my mother as her own, considering she’d never found her mate and didn’t have any children. She has become someone I hold dear and consider to be family.

Seated to her left are Eirene and Chrestotes, a mated pair bonded as soon as they came of age. They came to my father early in his time as Alpha seeking refuge from their warring Grecian packs, wounded and with quite a story to tell. Each had been held captive in the other’s pack lands when they were found together after they’d mated and were torn apart for centuries before escaping and fleeing to North America. My father had told me that it was my mother’s tears of sorrow for the pair that compelled him to admit them into his pack. Their loyalty has never once wavered since.

Lastly, on my left sits Tomur, a stony man who sparsely speaks and when he chooses to, his words are blunt. He is my father’s uncle and served him as his second in command until I took his place as Alpha. He lost his mate, as did my father, on the same day the vampires first attacked our pack. It is commendable how he is still here today, I do not know of any other who’s mate had died and lived a long life afterward. When Tomur speaks, I heed him unquestionably.

“I appreciate you all for meeting me and for allowing me the time to compose myself before you. I have asked you here for your honest thoughts, opinions, and even for advice on matters that I do not fully comprehend at the moment. Please refrain from interrupting and I will have you speak freely once I am through,” I exhale, leaning forward and place my elbows on my knees.

Rubbing my face, I begin explaining the past few mornings, why I had Trey speak with them yesterday, the encounter with the witch Asteria, and ending with my experiences with Selene. Stjarna is silently delighted, Tomur seems troubled, and Eirene and Chrestotes clasp hands with mixed expressions of concern and hope.

“Neither Valdr nor I could understand why Selene felt different to us, why she smelled so strongly or looked so strikingly distinctive from other people. I didn’t notice the heat between our fingers the first time we touched, I was too excited from happening to run into her to pay much attention. Not until I fully pressed my hand to hers did I know that somehow, this woman is my true mate. I do not understand it but there is absolutely no doubt she is mine, I feel it in every fiber of my being, the hollow part of my soul I thought was from my unmet mate dying has not stopped aching since I met her. Please, help me make sense of all this,” I plead quietly, sitting back in my chair and flick my gaze between them all.

When my eyes meet Stjarna’s, she throws her arms around my neck and squeezes tightly. Pulling back, unshed tears sparkle in her crinkled green eyes as she smiles broadly at me. “Oh, Kyran. I was damned sure we were destined,” she teases with a laugh as a few tears spill over.

I smile helplessly and wipe a tear from her cheek with a chuckle.

“Why would a female wolf be with a witch, let alone them? Why would they hide her wolf, not to mention protect her so blatantly from her own kind?” Tomur leans forward and looks me dead in the eyes. “This doesn’t happen, you have the mark on your chest as proof. It very well could be a spell, a trap, for whatever reason. Mates don’t come back from the dead,” he speaks gravely.

I nod in acknowledgment as I had these thoughts myself on the drive back here, but it does not convince me.

“To clarify, you have not crossed the boundary, correct?” Eirene asks softly, her brow creased with worry.

“No, I have not,” I verify with a shake of my head.

The mated pair look at one another, clearly speaking through their bond. Chrestotes turns to me solemnly, his voice like gravel as he murmurs, “There were stories of her, in our packs. Passed down through alphas and elders of ancient Greece. My only advice to you is this, you would be unwise to test her, to challenge her in any form. If she has your true mate, perhaps there is more for you to learn than what you have been shown.” His eyes narrow slightly with his last words.

Confused, I ask, “What do you mean by that, exactly?”

“It is not our place to speak of it further,” he replies with a slight shake of his head.

I clench my teeth, becoming agitated. Nothing is making any sense, speaking out loud just makes it seem more insane and nobody has any clear answers. The elders begin discussing quietly, their voices increasing with intensity and speaking over one another. I drop my head into my hands, at a loss for what I should do next.

Feeling a light brush against my mental barrier—something only Trey and Kyrre have permission to do—I look up into Eirene’s weathered yet clear, brown eyes, and question if I was imagining things. Her brow pulls upward in the middle with a silent plea. With a slight nod, I allow her to speak to me through mindlink.

Her quiet voice murmurs, Go to her boundary and request to confer with her. I implore you to take care with each word spoken and action performed.

Now? I ask hesitantly as my spine straightens with anticipation.

I watch as her face slackens a bit, her eyes becoming unfocused. Sharply, she looks at me and hisses in my mind, Yes, now. Immediately. I will explain what I can to the others, now go! She flashes a smile before quickly composing herself.

With a curt nod, I push abruptly to my feet, sending my chair toppling backward and before it hits the floor, I’ve shifted and am bounding toward the doors.

Are you sure of this? Valdr asks, feeling wary. I stop before exiting, swinging my head behind me, ears flat.

Please trust in me, Alpha Kyran, I would not send you to your demise, Eirene fervently pleads as I meet her gaze.

With that, I burst through the heavy wooden doors, startling Treyvar and causing him to shift into his sandy wolf as he hastily runs after me.

Do not follow me. I will reach out to you when it is safe to do so, I demand as I run.

He skids in the dirt with a low whine trailing after me.

Go speak with the elders, I say in a kinder tone as I briefly glance behind me to meet his wary gaze then head west, my paws pounding the earth and heart beating equally as hard.

Selene

Feeling breathless, I glance between my mother and Ria, the both of them looking very uncomfortable. After I finished explaining my recent recurring dream and sleepwalking episodes, I described what felt like a nightmare earlier this morning. I wanted to know what my subconscious might be telling me, but they have both been silent since I stopped speaking.

“Should I be worried?” I hesitantly ask, pulling my sleeves over my hands.

“No, dear. Dreams have a way of speaking, even if you do not know their language,” my mother assures me. “Listen to your feelings within each dream and you may hear the message being spoken.”

Nodding, I stand and shuffle into the kitchen, reflecting on each night. I’ve felt curious and drawn to go someplace, toward something unknown. Perhaps I need to get out for a while, experience something new. Only this morning did I feel anything negative, and coming from Ria, I might just be projecting fears about meeting a new man. Shuddering at the fleeting memory of Bolvi, I shake my head sharply and focus on making something to eat.

“Hey would either of you like—what’s wrong?” I turn to see them jump to their feet and my mother’s face twists with anger as she swiftly leaves the cottage, slamming the door behind her. Ria is at my side, pulling me up the stairs and into my room with Phylax and Machitís nearly tripping me as they push past and lay in front of my balcony doors, staring outward.

“Asteria, what the hell? What’s going on?” I demand in a high voice, alarmed.

She doesn’t answer right away, also looking outside, as if she’s searching for something. Turning to look at me, she softly replies, “Mother said she thought she saw a wolf and wants us to remain inside.” Her lavender eyes narrow with worry.

“A wolf? Here? What would she be able to do? Why would she go outside?” I ask incredulously.

“She has experience with them,” Ria murmurs, focusing back toward the windows.

Perplexed by this information, I move toward the glass doors and peer outside. I don’t see anything amiss and I’m not even sure where my mother had gone. A few minutes pass and nothing happens until I hear a thump-thump, and look down to find Machitís’ tail wagging happily. Glancing outside once more, I spot my mother emerging from the woods with her mouth drawn in a hard line. Right before disappearing from view, she looks up at me and I see her brow is pinched. What could be so concerning? I wonder, turning to ask Ria, but she is no longer standing beside me. Spinning around, I see the hem of her skirt float through the doorway. It catches my eye, the flowy black material and I narrow my eyes in thought. That looks familiar, is it new? Did we see it while out shopping?

Following my sister downstairs, I step into the living room as our mother is coming through the door. “Is everything alright?” I ask hesitantly, unsure of exactly what she could do about a wolf.

She sweeps her wavy ebony hair into a bun with wispy pieces framing her angular face. Her violet eyes are wary, but she pulls me into a hug and presses a hand to the back of my head. Drawing backward, she gently lays her palm on my cheek, whispering, “I sincerely hope so,” and turns away to climb the stairs.

I look sideways at Ria, silently mouthing, “What the fuck?” as I scrunch my face in confusion. She just raises her eyebrows and shrugs her shoulders, plopping down onto the couch and turns on the TV. I wait a moment to see if she’ll say anything more, but as she remains silent staring at the screen, I turn around with a shake of my head and walk toward the kitchen, pulling out ingredients to make a sandwich. Sighing, I notice that the meats have expired and dump the packages in the trash bin.

“Hey, Ria, I’ve got to run to the store real quick, do you want or need me to get you anything?” I ask as I make my way toward the door.

“I’ll go!” she hops off the couch, already halfway to the door. “You stay here, I’ll be back in a flash,” she breathes out.

“But you don’t know—”

“Turkey and pastrami, half-pound each.” She flashes me a grin over her shoulder.

With a jangle of keys and scuffle of shoes, the door bangs closed, leaving me standing between the kitchen and living room completely bewildered. Today is a very weird day. Ugh, I didn’t mention I wanted chips or a snack. Oh well, I’ll just go out later by myself, I mutter.

Slightly shaking my head, I pick up the remote and tuck my feet under me on the couch, deciding that some mindless reality show should help pass the time. Clicking around aimlessly, I sigh and choose The Bachelorette. Ria returns a little over halfway through the episode, pushing open the door with a few bags slung over her arms. Hopping off the couch, I follow her into the kitchen, finding that she picked up sour cream and cheddar chips—my favorite—along with the sandwich meats, some peanut M&Ms, and a few things for herself. Smiling, I hug her around the waist.

“Thank you, how did you know I wanted these?” I murmur into her soft hair.

She shrugs dismissively, mumbling, “I just know you.”

I grin at her and we prepare an early lunch together before watching garbage TV for a few hours, laughing and scoffing at the drama that unfolds.