9. Blood Wolf

“Raven, stay close, we’re going to my campsite to wait for your parents. Embry make sure no one from Wolf Creek follows,” Alpha Osric instructs while brushing his fingers through my fur and I nod.

“Come on Liliana, I will carry you it will be faster,” Alpha Osric softly speaks while picking her up and she nods her head.

“Why are you so nice to us?” Liliana questions with her arms around his neck rubbing against his beard.

“Your family came from my pack. I felt your father become an Alpha of his own making, then I heard Raven’s howl. Blood Moon will always watch over you Little Luna, you and Raven are quite special,” Alpha Osric explains as he moves swiftly through the trees with me staying very close to his side.

“How are we special?” Liliana asks while watching Alpha Osric who focuses on the path ahead.

“You’re both Lycans meant to be alphas, born under the blood moon no less; one gifted with the power to heal and the other gifted the power of wrath,” Alpha Osric explains leading our way to a very well-hidden pelt covered tent that is well protected by the mountain on one side and the river on the other.

“Is that why Raven lost control and hurt him?” Liliana questions while walking over to me as I sit in the snow looking at the fire inside the tent.

“It’s why she lost control; Raven was protecting you and she was right to do so. Boys start getting their strength at your age and he could have really hurt you or even accidentally killed you,” Alpha Osric answers while following Liliana inside the tent and I stay put.

“I know she was keeping me safe; Raven always protects me, she says it’s her job to protect me because she strong,” Liliana admits and I whimper feeling really sick to my stomach when my anxiety finally breaks through.

“Calm down Little Wolf you’re ok, you protected your twin,” Alpha Osric reassures while motioning for me to follow him inside before I start to cry feeling so ashamed for killing a boy.

Alpha Osric kneels down in front of me and places his hand on the side of my face causing me to rub my entire side against him.

“You’re safe with me,” he reassures while petting me as I shift back leaving me naked in this lap crying.

“I didn’t mean to,” I cry while looking at my bloody hands then up into Alpha Osric’s sad hazel green eyes.

“Shhh, it’s ok Bunny. I know you didn’t want to hurt him,” Alpha Osric reassures while running fingers through my hair and pulling a blanket over me.

“Raven,” Liliana sighs in relief hugging me from the side putting both of us in Alpha Osric’s lap.

“He wouldn’t stop, he was hurting Lily…I don’t know what happened I had no control,” I sigh with a deep breath trying to get myself to relax knowing it was an accident.

I whimper more feeling horrible and disgusted knowing what I did and that I can’t change it nor would I.

I have been and will always be willing to protect my family at any cost.

“You don’t have to explain to me,” Alpha Osric reassures, his deep voice vibrates in his chest comforting me making me let go of my fear.

“Come, let’s get you washed up I have a bath ready by the river,” Alpha Osric suggests while looking down at me as I nod knowing I am covered in blood.

“Liliana, I need to take Raven to the river, you can come with us or stay by the fire. Beta Embry is close by if you need anything, you’re safe here,” Alpha Osric said while pulling my chin up making me look up into his eyes as I feel so lost and sick.

“Raven, do you want me to go with you?” Liliana questions as I looked down at myself under the blanket seeing blood on my chest and legs.

“No stay warm, I’ll be ok with Alpha Osric, he saved me before,” I answer while getting up holding the blanket around myself remembering the feeling of Alpha Osric healing me when I was younger.

“Just Osric, Beta Embry or I will always be watching over your family we’re part of the same pack. Here a gift that will keep you warm,” Osric gently smiles while grabbing a white fur cloak that matches Liliana’s hair and drapes it over her shoulders.

“Thank you,” Liliana gently smiles back while holding the cloak around her petting the soft fur.

“You’re welcome, rest Little Luna you and your sister can relax your parents will find us,” Osric reassures while holding the flap of the tent open for me.

“I’ll be ok Raven; Osric is right you need to wash up, maybe it’ll help you feel better. Once you’re back, we can relax,” Liliana reassures seeing my hesitation as I look up at Osric who looks worried.

“Yell if you need me,” I reply while looking down at my hands staring at the fresh warm blood making my eyes widen.

I don’t even feel that I have been digging my claws deep into my palms making them bleed when I hiss at the pain.

“I will,” Liliana replies as I look up at Osric when he gently grabs my hand.

“Just let Osric take care of you,” Liliana adds with her eyes growing large seeing my hands dripping blood making me feel her worry for me.

I just nod my head while Osric gently places his hand on my shoulders and leads me towards the river where there is a round wooden tub putting off steam.

“Raven are you ok?” Osric questions while looking down into my coal rimmed nearly black eyes that are burning from crying.

I just shake my head, my bottom lip quivers when he pulls me into his arms gently running his fingers through my hair.

I bury my face into his hard warm chest when his arms engulf me while rubbing my back trying to comfort me making me feel less alone.

“I keep hurting people,” I cry into his chest feeling my warm tears falling down my cheeks as his warm soft lips press against my forehead.

“Liliana can help people, I have to fight every day to keep control and if I lose someone gets hurt or dies,” I whimper while looking up at the stars to stop myself from freaking out more now that I understand I struggle for a reason.

“It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself. You were born strong, meaning you will have to fight your wolf side more because your instincts to protect and fight are stronger.

Do you want help?” Osric asks while grabbing my hands as I clutch the blanket tight around me with shaking hands.

Before I can say anything in response, I lurch away from Osric, puking on the ground with him pulling my long black hair out of the way.

“You’re ok, puking after…it’s normal,” Osric reassures stopping himself from bringing up what I did.

“How do you know so much about what I am?” I ask while trying to let go of the blanket but my fingers and arms won’t let go.

“I’m going to help you you’re in shock. I know about you because we are the same,” Osric explains, making my eyes snap up to his hazel green eyes wondering if he is telling the truth.

“Thank you, how are we the same?” I question while looking up feeling his hands on mine pulling away the blanket before he lifts me into the hot tub of water.

“When you really lose control one of two things happen. Either your mind blocks everything out protecting you from trauma. Or you feel trapped like you’re watching someone taking over your body while you fight against it or encourage it. It feels like a darkness or rage that washes over you taking control. Sometimes it’ll be like having a person in your head guiding and talking to you, it’s your subconscious and your instincts helping you,” Osric explains while grabbing a cloth and dips it into the water then began to help me wash the blood from my neck and shoulders.

“You really are like me… I blacked out sort of, but I could feel what I was doing, I had to protect Liliana; she can’t fight like they can. I’m smaller but I’m much stronger and faster,” I admit while looking down at my arms trying to wash away the blood that won’t go away.

“I am, we are what people call Lycan Alphas; we are born to lead our kind and typically royalty. You will always be stronger than everyone you’ll meet. You will learn control with Liliana’s help and someday she’ll be strong enough to keep up,” Osric reassures while wiping my chin with a cloth and I close my eyes.

“If we’re the same, why am I red and not black?” I ask while biting my quivering lip finding great comfort in Osric’s soothing touch.

“You were born under the peak of the blood moon and your sister an hour later under the hunter's moon,” Osric pauses while looking up at the moon like he is thinking of what to say.

“Raven you’re one of three red wolves I’ve ever seen, all I know is red wolves are exceedingly powerful and draw more power from the moon from being touched by the Moon Goddess. However, I suspect you're like your grandfather and are a true Blood Wolf stronger than a blessed red wolf with more abilities making you a true force of nature. I also suspect Liliana is touched by the Moon Goddess as well, which will give her stronger abilities too. On a blood moon you will be unstoppable, I’m not sure if I could keep you at bay if you truly lost it,” Osric continues while looking down into my eyes with sadness and admiration.

“What does it mean? Why me?” I question feeling nervous as my stomach tightens afraid of what it could mean.

“It means you’ll have to be strong; it’ll catch attention so be careful who you shift around. It could also mean you’ll be stronger or have more abilities we don’t know about. From what I understand of the Moon Goddess is she only gifts those who can handle power to better those around them,” Osric growls a little when he hears someone walking our way so I sink further into my bath as a tall muscular red-haired man appears.

“It’s ok it’s just me Alpha, I just made sure Liliana is ok and brought out fresh clothes for Raven,” I recognize Beta Embry’s voice reassuring us while holding up clothes in one hand and a towel in the other making Osric relax.

“Thank you, any one attempt to follow?” Osric questions with his back to me so I take the cloth and began to wash myself.

“No, they won’t dare cross you,” Beta Embry answers while looking at me like he is trying to solve some complex puzzle.

“Good, I need you to patrol and make sure it stays that way,” Osric sighs while looking down at me with a concerned expression.

I ignore the rest of their conversation and let my bath comfort me and relax my muscles as I observe Embry who is built similar to Osric.

Both are built similar their biggest differences are Osric’s tan skin like a Hawaiian native with brown wavy hair down to his shoulders, while Embry is very pale adorned with fiery red hair like a Scottish highlander.