Wolf Moon Ritual
Chapter 4

Arora’s POV

The metallic smell of iron permeated my nostrils, as the warmth of my blood trickled down my chest and back before soaking into my t-shirt. His bite was excruciating when his fangs first hooked into my flesh, but soon turned into a burning sensation that flooded throughout my body pooling between my legs and setting my heart a blaze.

His satisfied groans against my neck was ensuring my growing need for him. I could feel my wolf instincts begging to take over, I could see the first peeks of my body turning, shifting, trying to take on a new form without my influence.

White hair started to overtake my skin, I could feel my fingernails sharpening and my bones started to crack and shift into position. As my heart enlarged and ribs expand, I felt him let me go, causing me to fall to the ground. My bones continued to change from human to that of a beast.

Fabric shredded around me, laying discarded on the wet soil, there were no point moaning about the destruction of my favourite t-shirt, it was unsalvageable.I shook out my coat and tail, revealing in the increase of strength and power my wolf provided.

I love her, setting her free was liberating and something I was told not to do in the presence of other wolves, especially ones I did not know, but he was my mate. He didn’t count, did he? An answering gasp, confirmed that her taking over was not a good thing. Even though it wasn’t completely within my power to stop her emerging.

I sharplyturnedaround protecting my back and facing him, even taking it as far as to step backwards away from him. I wasn’t scared like I were in my human form but still very much wary and sceptical of him and what he would do next. I knew even in my wolf form I wouldn’t be a match for him, if he changed too. I tried to show him that I was not a treat to him and lowered my head and whined a little in submission.

“Your… Your white.” His features finally cracked, showing both astonishmentand awein his now brightening hazel eyes. I could see he wanted to change with me, my wolf encouraging him gently. A frown marred his brows, masking his earlier feelings into a mask of annoyance and slight anger.

“Change back now.” He calmly seethed through gritted teeth. I gulp, that was not something I knew how to do well. I had only changed five times in my life, I normally just went to sleep as a wolf and woke up human. “I said NOW.” He snapped. I had to reveal my embarrassing truth to him, he would probably think I’m trying to manipulate him in some way to then be able to attack him, but I wasn’t.

I whimpered again, he would generally understand what I was saying but whether he believed me was still to be seen. “What?” He deadpanned clearly, he was in disbelief. I whimpered again, briefly explaining I’ve not spent much time as a wolf ever. He sighed loudly as if I were a child, he was annoyed at.

“Centre yourself and feel the magic. When your heart and head are in the same place you will be able to make the change.”His instructions were given with such care, that it was hard to believe it was the same person that was speaking to me now. He wasn’t the person that had captured me, he wasn’t the hunted that had claimed his kill.

He was the mate that I needed, one that cared for me, and had my best interests at heart. I just needed to trust his words and concentrate onimplementing them. I closed my eyes and tried to focus myself and my wolf to align so I was able to change back to human. I had to be thankful that he was patient with me, and gave me time to master this.

As a small child I should have been taught all these things but, my childhood wasn’t exactly normal. I was locked away and never had the chance to learn wolf skills. I could feel the hum of magic that ran through my veins, I felt every strand of it ignite as it passed through my heart. I concentrated on each individual strand one after the other and started to feel my body change.

I did it, I did it. I was so happy and giddy that I did something so great, that I wanted to share it with him. Springing from my crouched position on the ground, I threw my arms around him giggling into his neck. Even with his body stiff and tense I giggled again. He cleared his throat and gently pushed my shoulders, pulling himself away from my grip on him. “Your erm…”He gestured to me with his hand, while struggling to overt his eyes away from my naked flesh and keep his eyes on the large oak tree not far from where we stood.

“Oh.” I squeaked. Embarrassment brightening my cheeks into a deep blush. Turning my body to face away from him in hopes to hide myself wasn’t the best of moves, but it was the best I could do given the circumstances. Ruffling of fabric pricked my ears up, before I realised it, I was swathed in a long-sleeved white shirt, that hung down to my knees. His shirt. His scent was strong but calming as I threaded my arms though the sleeves. His scent was rich and earthy like pine and fresh rain. His shirt was still warm from his body heat and I got a sense of safety as I hugged its large size around myself.

“Thank you.” I stated lowly. My gratitude mixed with my embarrassment. “I don’t want others staring at what’s mine.” He rebuked my gratitude and seized my upper arm. Pulling me away from the water fall and towards the south. “Where are you taking me?” I panicked with every step forward, fearing that my father would soon appear and take me back to where my nightmare first began.

“To my father.” He didn’t care to elaborate further, just quickened his pace. I stumbled a few times at his side but managed for the most part to keep up with him. “Who is your father?” The need to know winning out, over of my panic. “The alpha of my pack.” It annoyed me that his answer was just as vague. I pulled against his hold with all my strength and managed to get free. “Will you at least give me with a proper answer.” I snapped.

“You made a deal to come quietly, you’re going back on your word.” He callously purred. I knitted my brows together. “Deal. I didn’t agree to anything.” I snapped and a smirk lifted his lips. “As soon as you took your first step away from me, you agreed to my terms. Now, this way and be silent.” I will not go down without a fight I thought. “I ran to preserve my life. Not in agreement to your depraved terms.” My anger getting the better of me and I pushed his chest hard in emphasis.

“Regardless your coming with me.” He stated as a matter of fact. My heart fluttered at his words, I was shocked that my body could betray be so completely. I shoved him again, taking my anger out on him and stormed off in the direction we were travelling. He trudged behind me, following and indicating if I needed to go left or right before we broke through the trees onto a gravel car park.

He walked over to a sleek black old school mustang and fiddled with something under the bumper. I was contemplating my chances of escape but thought better of it and watched curiously as too what he was doing instead. I didn’t see what he now held but considering the car is now open it must have been a key. Good thing to know I thought.

He had already got in and started the engine as I still stood at the passenger side door, going back to my original thoughts of running. Taking my chance, I bolted back towards the tree line. The sharp gravel shards cut into the bottom of my feet as I ran, ignoring it I kept going as fast as my legs would carry me.

The loud revs of an engine roared, getting louder as it gained upon me quickly. He won’t hit me, would he? I panicked but did not let up my pace. The black beast screeched as it swerved around me stopping right in front of my path, kicking up a cloud of suffocating dust in its wake. Coughing loudly, I turned away from the trail and shielded my eyes. “Get in.” He seethed through gritted teeth. “Never.” I snapped back, changing position and running the other way.

The crunch of wheels of gravel filled my ears again, as the heavy machine cut off my path again, but I didn’t stop this time and launched myself over the bonnet and kept going. Two steps were all I managed before being tackled roughly to the floor. My chin hit the ground hard, cutting it instantly with the weight of him on my back, my arms pinned between us. The stones sharp edges dig deep into my skin, causing me to shriek in aggravation. I squirmed not caring much for the pain.

“I told you. You won’t get away.” He shouted, and shook me violently. “And I told you no. Get off me.” I screamed back continuing my struggle. “I will make you comply, if you do not get in that car, and trust me you won’t like it.” I wriggled some more shouting for him to get off, but with every trash more pain plagued my body.

All my efforts were futile, he was just too strong for me. I stopped struggling, resigned to the thought that I may have to go with him and live to fight another day. I had no doubt that I wouldn’t like what he would do, but the thrill of his hot laboured panting breaths over my unwanted mark, did however thrill me just a little bit.

“Fine.” I conceded with my eyes closed and forehead pressed against the gravel. “Fine?” He questioned. “Yes fine. I’ll go with you, but why do you want me?” I genuinely wanted to know if I were about to go back to the hell hole, I once called home.

“I don’t want you, but you’re coming with me regardless of you accepting or not.” His voice a lot calmer than it was previously. I stayed silent, his reply doing nothing but frustrate me further. He hauled me up from the ground with arms still twisted behind my back and shoved me hard into the side of the car while he opened the door and forced me inside, before rounding the bonnet and joining me.

The journey was silent. The tension palpable between us. I didn’t want to waste my last moment of semi-freedom talking to this person, instead opting to watch the forest as it flashes by. The trees parting into a vast space with breath-taking views stunned me. The crystal lake glistened and gleamed under the rays of the morning sun. The mountains framed it beautifully and were reflected back as a perfect replica. I didn’t know tears had escaped my eyes until a tissue was forced into the hand that resting on my lap.

“What are you afraid of?” He broke the silence. I wanted to remain within this scene, not be pulled back to reality. For the second time in my life, I was a prisoner. Thinking that there is no point in lying I told him the truth. I didn’t want his pity, I just wanted for him to leave me alone. Maybe if I were honest, he will be too. “You, and where your taking me and why?”

He pursed his lips and nodded but remained silent. His features were unreadable as he continued to just stare at the road ahead of us. Not wanting to look at my captor any longer, I turned my head to the window and caught the last glimpse of the lake before the trees once again obscured my view.

The drive felt long, as the silence dragged on. Soon the asphalt turned back to the familiar sound of gravel, crunching under the tyres. I didn’t want to look but I just had to, I needed to know where I were going and try to plan my escape route.

The house was just... was just. I didn’t have words, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It was so beautiful, a perfect blend of rustic and modern. The construction was split into two buildings connected with a two-story glass atrium in the middle. The rich woods and cobble-stone materials used made for a sturdy but cosy home. Large windows were on the front of each building letting in a lot of natural light, illuminating the enormous dining room to the right and the living area in the other. A rockery garden was filled with flowers and small evergreen bushes which lined the path to the entry way.

This house was so inviting and open that I was momentarily lost in its attractiveness and forgot that within that house laid my prison or worse my father.

The passenger side door opening was an unspoken command to get out and follow him to wherever he wishes to take me. I hesitant while nervously biting my bottom lip, before getting out and stood submissively at the side of the car, looking at the ground and fidgeted with the hem of his shirt trying to pull it as low and tight as I could to stop it from riding up, now very conscious that I had nothing more to cover my body.

We both stood for a few moments in silence, before he outstretched his hand towards me. I looked at his hand as if kindness were a foreign concept to me, but in the end my need for human contact or just his contact, won out and I placed my hand in his.

He led me around the right side of the building, the dining room came more into view and it’s white and glass crisp furnishings were also surrounded by rustic woods and black metal hinges and fixtures. It was homely and cosy and something I wished I had. The guy tugging me along with him pulled me up the cobbled stone stairs that were attached to the side of the building, at the top we stopped before he knocked twice on the large wooden door.

“Enter.” An older male voice rasped. Once inside I did not dare look up to see who was in the room but I could tell that there were two people, each with the unique scent of their wolf’s. “Father, I came-” A hand slamming down on a solid object interrupted whatever was going to be said, and caused me to jump back in fear. “You brought an outsider into my office?” The rasping voice shouted. “Father-” Another loud bang had me pressed against the now closed door, my eyes widening looking between the three people in the room with me, I was trapped. “Alpha, I came across this rogue female on our territory.” He sighed indicating to me. “Why didn’t you kill her for trespassing?” He enquired. “Because she is my mate.” Did I just hear him right? Did he just admit I am his mate?

“Impossible.” The older man spat, looking over me in disgust. “Your mate is dead.” He continued with distain. “What about Crystal?” The other female in the room spoke, her voice surprised. “I don’t know mother, but this rogue is my mate.” His eyes fixed on his mother’s delicate features. “And erm… my erm…” He rubbed his hands over his face not knowing how to word his next statement. The older women came closer encouraging him to continue. “My wolf has claimed her.” He looked defeated as he admitted this. My heart wanted to console him, but my fear kept me in place.

The women gasped and clutched a hand to her chest, eyes wide as she looked between him and me. Her gaze fell on my neck, without looking I know what her eyes were searching for and moved my head covering my shoulder that bared his mark. “It’s true.” Her voice was no louder than a whisper stated.

The older man wanting to see for himself stormed over to me, grabbed my right arm tightly and forced my head left and the collar of the shirt pulled taught and revealed a very fresh, very tender wolf’s bite mark. His grip dug into my arm painfully, as his claws extended, and sliced into the flesh they pressed into, causing blood to drip from them. I whimpered at the pain from both his grip and the newly acquired cuts.

“Father, you’re hurting her.” The guys voice harshening to a sneer at the older man that was hurting me, a low warning growl accompanying it. “You dare to growl at me over a female?” His anger causing more slices crossed my flesh as the man deepened into fury. “George stop it.” The women boldly started. After a few more seconds his grip released, pins and needles erupting over my skin as blood quickly flowed back into my hand.

“I want to know how she has tricked you into thinking she is your mate, but hear me when I say you will marry Crystal. It’s for the benefit of the pack.” He said with all the authority of an alpha as he glared into my eyes, malice radiating from him and it was all directed at me. Tears brimmed my eyes as I shrank back even further and ended up landing in a heap on the floor.

“George, we have to consider what this means. She is his mate, you will be breaking her, body and mind.” He feigned consideration and shrugged. “So be it.” The luna scoffed. “And what of your son?” He sighed. “Lock her in the dungeon, he can use her as his wolf needs but he will do as he’s told.”

“No.” I cried. “Please… Please don’t lock me up. I can’t… I won’t survive.” I plead. While becoming a sobbing mess on the floor, clutching my chest to stop myself from shattering. Familiar warm arms wrapped around my violently trembling body. My mind was reeling, attacked by image after image of being tortured and locked in that small wooden box for a whole year. I knew they were talking around me but I couldn’t understand or concentrate on what they were saying. I vaguely felt weightless for a time, my mind still reeling with all the horror and pain that was going through my mind over and over again, before being put down on a bouncy surface as the world turned black.

Even while in a subconscious state, the flashes of my childhood never stopped. The pain from the thick leather whip felt just as intense as it did, the day I received each lash. The knife cuts just as deep and the aches from hunger just as hollow. The mental abuse was even worse than the physical, although the pain was brutal, wounds healed. Yes, they left some scars, but the emotional scaring will last a life time.