Lunar Shadows: Awaken

Kyran

Treyvar, office hall, now. Selene has been attacked, I need you to remove the body, I mindlink my brother angrily as I kneel in the hallway.

Shit, he responds instantly, I’m on it.

As I release Selene’s face, she reaches up and rubs at the back of her head with a wince. When she withdraws her hand, I notice how her fingertips are coated in her blood and mine immediately boils at the sight. Whipping my head around to glare at the bastard responsible, I find the hall empty.

“Fuck,” I groan through clenched teeth, balling my hands into fists.

Find him! He cannot be allowed to roam free, Valdr demands with rage.

Heavy footfalls echo into the hallway as Trey comes barreling around the corner. He takes a moment, looking around noticing only Selene and myself and his brow pinches.

Fucker’s gone, must’ve left out the alleyway exit. He looked familiar, but I can’t place him. His eyes betray him, he’s about to become fully berserk, I mindlink Trey with hot ire still coursing through me.

Must’ve been a rogue, then, to behave this way here. I’ll get Jeger and let you know what we find. What happened? He glances down toward Selene, nodding at the blood on her hand.

We can talk it over later; I need to tend to her. Go find Asteria and inform her of this but assure her that Selene is safe with me. We’ll be in the office, I inform him tersely.

“I’ll be right back,” Trey says hastily, turning on his heel and hurrying away.

“Can you stand?” I ask quietly, gently taking her hands in mine.

Meeting my gaze, she nods her head, and I help pull her slowly to her feet. I notice the way she presses a hand to her stomach and grimaces, my anger flashing again at the sight.

Clenching my jaw, I swallow harshly against the growl bubbling up my throat. “Come with me, I’ll help you with your wound,” I say tensely, guiding her down the hall.

Opening my office, I flick on the light and have Selene sit in an armchair as I dig through the closet, pulling out a first-aid kit. Turning toward Selene, I meet her gaze and ask, “Is it okay for me to check your head?” and wait for her permission.

Her brows pull together and up, as if in disbelief. “Yes,” she whispers, her crystal eyes gleaming with unshed tears.

Rounding the back of the chair, I stretch gloves over my hands and gently sift through her red-stained hair, searching for the wound. Lifting a section, I find a small bare patch wet with blood. “I need to flush this out, to get a better look at it. I’m going to use sterile water, but it might hurt a little, just so you’re prepared, okay?” I inform her, leaning over the armrest to look at her.

“Okay, thank you,” she replies with a small smile.

Taking an irrigation syringe out of the packaging, I prep it along with some gauze and antiseptic spray, setting everything beside me on a disposable towel. I lift the syringe and separate her hair once more. “Ready?” I ask, waiting once more for her confirmation.

“Yes,” she replies quietly.

I flush the wound and her head twitches slightly at the feeling as I look closely to see if it needs stitching. Only seeing a small circle of missing skin, I’m relieved it isn’t a gash as I set the syringe down and grab the spray. “I am going to spray antiseptic on the wound, to kill any possible bacteria. It will sting,” I tell her, pausing again for her reply.

She only nods her head slightly in response. I quickly spray and take some gauze, pressing it to her head. “Hold this firmly for me, please,” I instruct, placing her hand over the gauze. Removing the gloves, I discard them in the trash can by my desk and kneel in front of Selene.

“You’re missing a small patch of hair and scalp, though I didn’t find a deep gash or split. You don’t need stitches, but it’s going to be sore for a while, so be mindful when showering or brushing your hair,” I advise her and she nods, her eyes not meeting my gaze.

“Selene, what happened?” I breathe out, “a woman came rushing up to me, frantic about some crazy lady climbing into her bathroom stall so I went to check it out, finding him—” I cut myself off as my voice hardens from my rising anger and I close my eyes, exhaling harshly. “I just about lost all control, seeing you like that,” I murmur, sitting down on the floor and her eyes flick to mine.

You should’ve, I would love nothing more than to rip him apart, Valdr seethes in my mind.

For a moment she just sits there, silently holding her head and staring at me. Glancing to the side, she releases a shaky breath and responds, “That was my ex, Bolvi. I had only seen him that one time, earlier in the night, when I had been weird at the bar. I kept looking for him but never saw him again, until I was dancing with my friends and…” she pauses, turning her eyes to me with a blush, “and I went to find you again. Except I crashed into him, unexpectedly. I don’t know where he came from or how he found me, but he did. I immediately ran, trying to escape. Ugh, my purse,” she groans, pressing her free hand to her face.

I quirk my brow, my jaw clenched too tightly for me to speak aloud, fearing a harsh growl would tear free if I did.

“He tried pulling me back into the club, but I yanked free and dropped it. Someone’s probably made off with it by now,” she sighs, dropping her hand. Looking intently at me, she leans forward, pressing her palm to my cheek. “Thank you, Kyran,” she whispers as a tear wells up and spills down her face.

As I reach up to wipe it, a knock rattles the door and Treyvar pushes it open. Behind him is Asteria with both fury and fear clear on her face. Trey reaches out with a black purse dangling from his hand. “I believe this is yours?” he offers as he smiles at Selene.

When she rises from the chair, I stand and gently take the gauze from her head, seeing that the bleeding stopped. She takes her purse, checking its contents briefly, before slinging it over her shoulder.

We have a problem, I mindlink Trey, giving him a hard look.

With his mouth going flat, he glances at Asteria, then Selene and back to me. Should we make sure they get home safely? he asks in a serious tone.

I nod my head once imperceptibly, noticing the pinch of Selene’s brow and slight frown of her lips. I watch as she taps her phone as an idea forms. Stepping in front of her, I hold my hand out and ask quietly, “May I have this for a moment?”

She obliges, placing her phone in my palm. Peering down at the cracked screen, I open her contacts and add my information. Smirking, I silently hand the phone back to her. As she glances at her phone, a tinkling laugh like that of a bell chimes out from her mouth. Grinning up at me, she swats my arm playfully.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” she whispers, giggling as Ria takes her arm lightly.

“Sel, let’s head home. I already texted the girls to meet us at the car, if you’re okay to drive?” she asks, concerned.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just mostly shaken up, and a bit sore, but I can drive. Thank you, again, I don’t really want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up,” Selene turns back to me, biting her lip as her eyes grow watery once more.

Before I can respond, she wraps her arms around my middle, squeezing tightly. Releasing me quickly and heading out into the hallway, Selene glances over her shoulder with a small smile. I take a step toward her, intending to see them to their car when Asteria looks back at me.

“We’ll be okay from here. Thank you, though,” she says tightly, her eyes flashing.

I nod my head, watching them round the corner. I close my eyes, run my hand through my hair and bow my head a moment, taking a slow breath. Smelling jasmine, my chest rumbles quietly as I inhale deeply.

She smells incredible, Valdr mumbles.

“Dude, did you just sniff your shirt?” Trey scoffs, grinning.

Glaring at him, I grab the back of his neck and toss him out into the hallway, pulling the office door closed behind me.

Running stealthily through the woods along the road, Treyvar and I discuss everything that had happened. After meeting with Jeger in the alleyway, he confirmed my suspicions and took off after the scent trail, letting me know he’d give me an update if he found anything new.

My brother and I decided to keep watch as Selene and Asteria made their way home, in case they were being followed. When Selene had told me it was her ex who attacked her, I recognized his name immediately. Bolvi was in my pack once, a lesser ranked wolf with no special skills or ability. There had been claims he was involved with the abduction of my mother, that he had been directly in contact with the vampires for some time, using their venom as a drug of sorts to get high. My father had exiled him after exerting his will as Alpha, discovering the truths buried in lies, stripping him of any ties to us, and branding him as a traitor, deeming him a rogue never to be part of a pack again. Seeing his eyes tonight showed me the vamps must’ve gotten sick of his shit, too.

Maybe he’d been tracking her, following her and found an opportunity to attack. But why, though? Just because someone dumps you doesn’t give you reason to go psychotic, Trey mindlinks me, dodging around a tree.

Glancing at the taillights of the Prius, I am reminded of running into Selene at the park, ‘I’m alright, you didn’t hurt me. I’ve had much worse, ha,’ her dark words echoing in my mind. I didn’t fully understand then that she meant those words literally.

This is not the first time that he’s hurt her. It was not a coincidence, Valdr snarls angrily.

Trey and I both growl in response to Valdr’s realization. Women are treated highly within our kind and only a weak, pathetic excuse of a man would harm a female. If one is ever found out for their despicable actions, he would be brutally beaten, tortured to near death, and exiled from the pack. He would be physically branded with a vampire fang, scarring him beyond healing abilities and forever being known as an abuser.

Why at Howler’s, though? Why would he wait to attack there, where risks of being caught are very high, rather than at the park or the store? I ask Valdr and Trey, ducking beneath a fallen oak.

My only thought is maybe she caught him by surprise, that maybe he didn’t know where to find her, Trey offers, coming to a stop beside me.

Satisfied to see her pull into her driveway, I drop the small sports bag I’d carried in my mouth to hold my belongings and wait for the large iron gates to fully close before we shift.

“Whatever the reasoning is, he escaped and Jeger hasn’t contacted since following his trail. He’s almost fully berserk, I am certain of that. His eyes had a red tinge and it’s only a matter of time before he’s fully out of control. I cannot have him roaming about freely, he needs to be dealt with, and soon,” I sigh, running my hand through my hair.

Trey kicks a branch in thought, with a pinched brow. In the distance I can hear the car doors shutting, followed shortly by the house door. Releasing a breath, I tip my head back and gaze at the stars, readying myself for what I need to do.

“You can head back; I’ll meet you at the lodge in a little while. Could you bring my things with you?” I glance over at Trey and see him nod once before shifting. He opens his jaws, and I place the strap of my bag between his teeth, watching as he lopes away into the woods.

Inhaling deeply, I reach my arm forward and shove my hand through the barrier around Hekate’s lands, bracing for the onslaught of pain. Nothing happens as only empty air greets my hand, though it has a slight weight to it. Perplexed, I swish my arm around and reach a bit farther, feeling the barrier going past my elbow. Still nothing. Narrowing my eyes, I tense before I leap through, planting my feet on the other side and drop into a crouch.

Can I help you, Kyran? Hekate’s sharp voice rattles my mind.

I launch to my feet like a startled cat, twisting in every direction and searching for Hekate.

I am elsewhere, a bit indisposed at the moment. Why have you come? she asks with a clipped tone.

Hearing the rustling of feathers, I sweep my gaze around the dark woods and locate a raven in a nearby tree staring at me intently. I bow my head slightly, acknowledging her presence.

Hekate, I address the raven, Selene had been attacked by a rogue wolf tonight. He’s a berserker, and also her ex-boyfriend. I intervened but being mindful of Selene, I unintentionally allowed him to escape. He is being tracked and I fully intend on eradicating him myself. I wanted to make you aware, in case extra protection is needed.

The raven cocks its head eerily, silently watching me with beady eyes. If it’s any consolation, you’re the only thing that has come in contact with my barrier and lived, her voice states chillingly. Whipping its head to the side, the raven caws and moments later, a bat flies directly into the barrier. Energy snaps, flashing brightly like a bug zapper on a porch and disintegrates the bat before it even fully makes contact with the forcefield.

Frowning, I glance down at the pile of ashes and swallow thickly.

You are safe to cross now that it knows you. You are welcome on my lands, however only when absolutely necessary. Would you like a transport? she asks lightly with a hint of humor in her voice.

My eyes round as I quickly shake my head and shift, promptly taking off toward my lands. The raven soars above me for a moment before veering off into the sky with a caw.

Take care, Custos, her ghostly voice calls out, following me through the night.