Another Open Door

CHAPTER 5

Lucy felt sad as she stood outside the Ember Pack house, her breathing quick and uneven. The wind howled around them matching her troubled thoughts. Her parents, Ian and Nina, leaned close together, sharing anxious looks. They had hoped maybe too much that Alpha Asher would be kind to their family.

“That was... interesting.” Nina finally said her voice trembling as she looked at her husband and then at Lucy. “What do we do now?”

“I can't believe he just turned us down,” Ian said upset. He ran a hand through his hair looking like a troubled dad. “We came all this way and for what? A door shut in our faces?”

Lucy looked away from them, her chest feeling tight. “I said you should have stayed at Stormclaw,” she said, her voice just a whisper full of hurt. “This was a bad idea.”

“Lucy.” her mom started, but Ian cut in, raising a hand.

“No Nina. Let her talk.” He looked at Lucy, his brow wrinkling as he said this. “I know this is tough. I know the pain of being rejected. But we picked this for a reason. We're here for you. We support you no matter what.”

“Stand by me?” Lucy repeated her voice filled with shock. “You should have stayed in Stormclaw! You could have kept your place with your friends. I’ve already been turned down by the one person who mattered to me.” She hesitated as a new wave of pain hit her. “Now I’ve lost you as well.”

“It was the right choice to leave our pack for you,” Ian said, moving closer as Lucy faced away from them. “We picked our family above all else. You matter most to us Lucy. We trust you.”

“But how can you trust me when I can't even find my wolf?” she said sharply, holding back tears. “See where that’s taken us—not even an Alpha wants us.”

Nina gently touched Lucy's arm. “We still have options to explore. We'll come up with a plan together.”

“Find a solution?” Lucy snorted, pushing her mother’s hand away. “We’ve already been turned down by Snow Rest and now Ember. We probably look sad to everyone.”

Ian took a step back, inhaling deeply, trying to keep calm despite his daughter's suffering. “There's still one group we haven't tried. The Blood Moon Group.”

Nina's face fell right away. “Ian, you can't be serious. They're lycans and they're known to be brutal!”

“You're right. That’s why we could get help there,” he replied stubbornly. “We can't stay here after this. We need friends and they're our only hope.”

“But the Shadow Lands—” Nina began but Ian interrupted her.

“Not the Shadow Lands! We can't go there and I’m surprised you’d even think of it after all we’ve learned.”

Nina shivered when she heard about the dark area. “Let’s not talk about it. But the Blood Moon Pack—”

“That's how it has to be,” Ian said with certainty. “They may be tougher but they don’t care about old loyalties. They are known to accept people when others won't.”

Nina turned to Lucy, who stood with her arms crossed, doubt showing in her dark eyes. “Are you really okay with this Lucy? Going to the Blood Moon Pack?”

Taking a deep breath, Lucy finally nodded, her stomach churning with fear. “I'm open to thinking about it. It's better than nothing.”

“Let’s go there now,” Ian said firmly. He turned from the Ember Packhouse and guided them down the path toward the next part of their lives, which looked uncertain ahead.

***

As they neared the Blood Moon land, the air felt tense, buzzing with a strong energy that made Lucy's back tingle. The big gates of the Blood Moon Pack were in front and Lucy gulped as they got closer to the guards standing watch.

“Tell me why you're here.” one of the soldiers said, looking closely with narrowed eyes.

“I have to talk to Alpha Karl Bloodmoon.” Ian insisted his voice was firm.

“She seems weak.” another soldier said quietly, giving Lucy a disapproving look. “No wolf at all?”

“Stop saying that.” Ian shot back feeling protective. “You don't know what she can do. We just want to see the Alpha.”

The first soldier raised an eyebrow looking a bit amused. “Okay. Come with me.” He beckoned.

They walked behind the soldier into the pack house with Lucy feeling both scared and determined. The inside was huge showing a strong presence that filled the space. As they stepped into a big hall the soldier pointed to a person sitting at a fancy desk.

Karl Bloodmoon was a powerful presence. His short dark hair highlighted his attractive face and his bright blue eyes seemed to pierce right through everything. The air around him felt strong and Lucy experienced a mix of fear and respect as he gazed at them.

“Tell me why you're here.” Karl said impatiently, his voice low and strong.

Ian took a step closer finding his bravery. “I’m Ian Drew, and this is my wife, Nina, and my daughter Lucy. We are from the Stormclaw Pack and looking for safety here.”

Karl sat back in his chair and watched them closely. “Why do you think I’d want you in my group? You left your old Alpha. You can’t ask for help now.”

“We had no options,” Ian said calmly. “Lucy was forced to leave because of things she couldn't change. She hadn't found her wolf and her mate chose someone else. We’ve been looking for somewhere we can fit in where we can begin again.”

A deep silence filled the room. Lucy could feel Karl staring at her, and she automatically crossed her arms around herself, wanting to disappear.

Then, to her shock, Karl stood up fast, quickly moving closer to her. He was right in front of her making her feel small. She could sense the warmth from his body as he leaned in, breathing in deeply, his nostrils wide open.

Her heart raced, fear took hold as she battled the urge to run. Karl focused on her closely, his eyes narrowing. “You’re not a weakling,” he said after a pause, his voice changing. “You smell special. But you aren’t a wolf.”

“I know,” Lucy said quietly, her voice breaking. “I didn’t want this.”

His gaze felt intense sending shivers down her back. It was like he could see right through her walls into her very being. But just as fast he relaxed the mood around them.

“I will welcome you, Lucy Drew. Everyone is always welcome here.”

The mix of relief and shock took Lucy's breath away. She looked at her parents who seemed just as confused. They hadn’t thought they would get this kind of answer.

“But.” Karl said quickly, “There's always a cost to join.”

“What do you mean by price?” Nina asked, her voice shaking with worry.

A guard came over holding a hot branding iron with the Bloodmoon mark on it. Karl said, his voice firm, “Say the words and join my pack.”

Ian, Nina, and then Lucy took turns saying the special words of the Bloodmoon Pack, their voices trembling with fear and courage. The painful sting of the iron on their skin was intense and excruciating. Lucy held back a scream, suffering in silence, her strength boosted by the hope of finally discovering a home.

As soon as the iron made contact with their skin the intense pain disappeared and was replaced by a slight tingling. The mark showing their new loyalty melted into their skin leaving no sign of the suffering.

“Welcome to Bloodmoon,” Karl said, his voice flat but heavy with meaning.

Lucy and her family were shown to a big cozy room in the pack house. As they started to unpack and get used to their new place they felt a wave of relief. Still, this new area brought both excitement and worry.

***

Later Lucy felt a strong urge to check out the big pack house. She quietly left her room to explore and get a sense of the place.

As she walked around, the building twisted and turned, with hallways branching off endlessly, making it hard to understand. She quickly understood she was lost due to the size of the pack house feeling huge and overwhelming.

Her footsteps echoed in the empty halls, the quiet around her interrupted only by distant howls or muffled voices. Lucy was in a part of the building that felt different, darker, and colder than the others. A feeling of unease filled her stomach, a deep instinct warning that she shouldn't be there.

Suddenly a big steel door slightly open caught her attention. It was very strong, a scary sign of the pack's strength and its tendency to be violent. Carefully she walked over and looked inside.

The room was empty except for big chains on the floor covered in a dark red fluid that was blood. Lucy felt a wave of disgust and her stomach turned.

Before she could respond a cold hand grabbed her shoulder. She let out a quick breath, a scream, about to break free…