Blood Moon: Lunar Eclipse
Ch16 - The Devestating Truth

Ariella

The next day was anything but quiet. Logan was busy preparing for war, Aleksi was preparing the warriors, whilst Hailey and Ethan were coming up with a battle plan. Meanwhile, Michael provided valuable input as he was the previous pack’s Beta.

I was tasked with training with the other warriors. Part of me knew it was so Logan could keep me busy, but I also knew I needed to practice in my wolf form. Going off the fight with the rogue, I had much to learn.

I stood opposite Noah; his wolf’s blonde coat and crystal green eyes could fool anyone into thinking he was harmless. I may have bested Noah in combat in human form, but in wolf form, I was an easy target.

I was making stupid mistakes, not paying attention to Noah’s attacks and weaknesses. Part of me blamed that on the fact I couldn’t get rid of Belvedere’s words from yesterday.

“You are not just a wolf, surely you know that by now?...

“You are an intriguing breed indeed.”

I racked my brain, trying to understand what he meant until I eventually concluded that he was just bat-shit crazy.

After a few rigorous hours, Noah and I met Trinity at the pack hospital. Logan sent her to Clara this morning to check over the injuries she had incurred from Fenrir and his bloodhounds. Unsurprisingly, Trinity had a high tolerance against wolfsbane as she was forced to tend to the deadly plants almost daily.

“How are you?” I gently asked.

“Better now. Clara gave me some healing herbs to help with minor cuts and bruises.”

“You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for Trinity,” Clara said soothingly.

“We will make sure Fenrir gets what’s coming to him,” Noah spoke, his fists clenching at his sides.

I rarely ever saw Noah angry. Of course, he had every right to be after everything his mate went through. Trinity held his tight fists, which soon softened and retreated to his sides.

Just then, Clara’s face lit up in glee as she ran towards a figure approaching in the distance.

Denzel and Damon.

We all watched as Clara and Denzel greeted each other in a heated kiss; they had hardly spent much time together since mating, so it was only natural. I just wished it wasn’t when I was around.

“Alright you two, get a room,” Damon rolled his eyes and approached me with his arms wide. I gave him a tight hug, one that I didn’t realise I needed until now.

“What’s up Red?” Damon said, ruffling my hair.

“What’s not up,” I retorted.

“About that, we wanted to let you know before you found out from anyone else…” Denzel said sheepishly.

“Know what?” I asked sceptically.

“When we march on the Shadow Pack, we’re going to be on the front lines,” Damon said.

I took a step back in disbelief. Clara had a dejected look in her eyes.

“N…No, you can’t!” my voice breaking.

“We refuse to sit back and let the rest of the pack risk their lives. It is the least we could do. Were strong, young and among the best trained in the pack,” Denzel spoke softly.

“We have already made up our minds Red,” Damon finished.

I took a deep breath, racking my brain for a way to convince them otherwise.

But they were right…

As their Luna, preventing them from participating in the fight would be akin to shaming them. It would be unfair to stop them from doing what they could for the pack, especially when it was for selfish reasons.

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Really?!” Damon expressed shock.

“Just like that?” Denzel commented.

“It wouldn’t be right to force you not to fight for the pack. Just promise me you’ll train every day until then and… don’t die,” as I murmured the last words, my eyes began to water with unshed tears. Moments later, I was embraced by two sets of muscular arms.

“Don’t worry Red, you can’t get rid of us that easily,” Damon reassured.

I nodded, embracing them back.

As day turned into night, I found myself outside Vera’s room holding a tray of freshly made soup. She barely ate since Enzo was killed, so her diet consisted of simple and easily consumable foods.

“Vera,” I called out softly.

I heard a sniffle, then light footsteps tapping on the wooden floor before the door creaked open.

I greeted her with a smile. Entering her room, I noticed she hadn’t changed since the night of the funeral.

I walked towards her nightstand, settled the bowl of soup and sat beside her on the bed.

“Why don’t I run you a bath? It looks like you haven’t slept in days,” I voiced gently with a hint of concern.

Vera looked to the ceiling with puffy and teary eyes as she took a deep and long-lasting sigh.

“No,” she spoke in a weak and broken tone, “I need to go for a run.”

“Are you sure?”

Vera faced me with dim turquoise eyes; their usual brightness faded the day she lost her mate. “Yes, my wolf has yet to mourn the loss of her mate.”

I mind-linked Logan, informing him of Vera’s decision. He tried to fight against it, but part of him knew she needed this; her wolf needed it.

After convincing him to let us go, Logan tried to join us. Considering everything happening, I argued against it as he had much more important matters to organise. It took some convincing, but he only agreed if we took along several guards, including Aleksi.

I wanted to be with Logan, I wanted to help, but I knew that being near him would only cause as a distraction. So, for now, distance was best.

Vera had been wandering around for almost an hour. At first, her light brown wolf was frantic, searching for her mate with eyes that were an even brighter shade of turquoise in the moonlight.

As time passed, her movements slowed until she settled on the top of a large rock overlooking the soundless forest.

She released a howl so broken and lost my wolf whined in distress.

Thirty minutes had passed. Vera made no motion to move from her spot. The guards had scattered around us, creating a sort of circle of protection.

A large wolf, almost as big as Logan, with short dark brown fur and dark green eyes, approached me. It was Aleksi.

“Luna,” was all Aleksi mind-linked. I knew what he meant. It was getting late.

I slowly approached Vera, who hesitantly turned her face towards me. I gently nudged her stomach, gesturing for her to stand. She whined, protesting to stay just a little longer.

“Vera… it’s time,” I mind-linked her.

She exhaled a puff of smoke from her nostrils, visible in the frosty winter air. With unhurried steps, we all made our way back to the pack house.

Aleksi and his men shifted first. They quickly dressed and placed a blanket around Vera and me as we shifted back.

Vera looked more at ease; a small smile graced her lips in relief as if a heavy load had been lifted from her chest.

We began walking towards the pack house until Aleksi held out his arm, causing Vera and I to abruptly halt.

A low growl came from his chest as he searched the surrounding forest with predatory eyes.

“Aleksi,” I whispered.

“Someone’s here,” was all he stated before the thud of bodies dropping to the forest floor sounded around us.

Vera clung to me tightly as the other guards who were with us began falling unconscious to the ground. Aleksi took a defensive stance, shielding us from the invisible attacker.

“Show yourself, you coward,” I called into the night.

A few seconds passed until the snap of broken branches and crunching leaves made us focus on a particular point not too far ahead of us.

Aleksi lowered his stance, ready to pounce.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a voice so rich and smooth spoke in warning. “The only thing stopping me from making you fall fast asleep, like your little minions, is you being close to your Luna.”

“What did you do to them,” Aleksi growled; his wolf was starting to surface.

“Nothing that would kill them,” the woman spoke as though she was untouchable.

Her slim figure breached the forest, but the night sky hung a dark, looming shadow across her face. I could only make out long raven waves of hair that rested over her breasts. Her immaculate dress seemed to be straight out of a fairy tale; it was delicate, with a plunging v-neckline. The multiple shades of blue ranged from a light shade of sky blue to a darker shade of navy. A deep blue ribbon elegantly entangled at her waist, flowing down the length of her dress.

“Leave,” I demanded, stepping forward and ignoring Aleksi’s outstretched arm.

“I can’t, not yet,” she spoke.

“The Alpha is on his way as we speak,” Vera added, confidence in her voice.

“You really think you can take on an entire pack at once?” Aleksi scoffed.

“My dear, you have no idea who I am, do you?” her sultry, smooth voice questioned. Yet, for some strange reason, I felt as though she was only talking to me.

“Who are you?” I said assertively; I was getting impatient with her vague answers. It reminded me of Belvedere.

Her figure began advancing closer, her features slowly lit by the gentle moonlight. Her eyes, as dark blue as the bottomless pits of the ocean’s abyss, fixated on me.

Her aura was intense, almost suffocating. It felt as though whatever cloaked her presence was slowly losing effect the closer she got.

“My name is Sephora Caldwell.

“I am here to teach you about your true origin...

“Ariella Caldwell.”