13 — Blood Moon Heat

Aria’s POV

The air was thick in the morning, filled with the scent of wild roses and promise of the Blood Moon. Even the sky seemed different - bruised red at the rim, in disquiet. Wolves spoke of the Blood Moon as a time when the primal side of wolves overtook their rational side, and when even the most powerful Alpha has no control. I told myself I wasn't afraid. But underneath, I was terrified - of what my body did every time Damon was near.

The Winchester warriors were sparring on the training field, and their grunts and growls were heard across the open ground. I tried to focus; to hold still as I moved to dodge a strike from Nymera. My wolf's senses were heightened too much, too keen. Each sound, each smell was harsher than ever before.

"You're distracted," Nymera said panting.

"I'm fine," I lied, although my heart was pounding far too fast. My skin was burning under the rising sun, and sweat dripped down my back like fire.

And I felt it, a change within me, primal and deep. My body trembled. My heat ache was all too familiar and coming far too soon. Not now. Not here. I staggered backwards and put a hand over my chest at the onslaught of dizziness.

"Aria?" Nymera's voice faded.

And then his scent filled everything, dark pine and smoke. Damon.

He was on the other side of the field talking to the training guards, but the second my heat rose, his head turned toward me. His eyes - those storm grey eyes - locked on mine, and the air between us seemed to ignite.

"Enough!" He had a great, deep, and deepening voice. "Everyone, clear the field."

The warriors stood for a heartbeat, looking first at one another, and then obeying immediately, for they perceived the peril in his voice. Nymera flinched back when Damon Alpha growled. She retreated and left me alone in the middle of the field.

I wanted to move, to leave, to run anywhere but here, but my legs were leaden. My breaths came shallow and strained. Damon was strolling toward me now, slow, deliberate, with each step brimming with power.

"Aria," he said quietly. "You should have warned me your heat was coming."

“I did not know.” I pushed my eyes away and whispered. My hands shook at my sides. "It's early. It wasn't supposed to--"

He stopped a few feet away, his chest rising and falling too fast. His wolf was rising near the surface; I felt it. He spoke with a raspy voice when he spoke again. "Your scent... It's strong. You need to leave, now."

"I'm trying," I managed to say, but my knees wobbled. The flames of my blood were hammering with each breath. He moved closer, and my wolf surged forward, wanting to feel him closer. Damon took a step forward, and I took a step back.

"Stop," he warned. His voice was coarse, deeper than normal. "Don't move closer."

"I'm not…” I tried to protest, but the tremor in my voice betrayed me.

He clenches his fists with a tight jaw. His eyes glanced over me once, and I saw the instant control fall from his grasp. His eyes went a darker silver and bled into gray. "You are testing me little wolf," he growled.

I shook my head with tears in my eyes. "I'm not trying to--"

But before I could complete, he was in front of me, his hand around my waist. The touch was an electrical shock, my wolf howling in desire. My breath caught, and I stood still as the world focused down to the heat of his touch.

"Damon..." I called on him with his name like a prayer.

He drew in as sharply as his eyes gleamed hungry and restrained. For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me. His grip on my hip tightened a little, bringing me closer to him. Our hearts beat in rhythm, wild and irregular.

Then he pulled himself away as if stung. His breath was harsh, and it sounded as if he were drowning. "Damn it," he hissed, pulling a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't have--"

"It's not your fault," I said softly, though my voice was wobbly. There was still tension in the air between us. My body screamed for him, while my mind told me to run. "You didn't do anything wrong."

His eyes snapped to mine. "You don't understand. Under this moon, the instincts don't listen to reason.”

I swallowed hard. “And what is your gut feeling now?”

The question came out before I could prevent it. Damon froze, his jaw went hard as he looked at me, really looked at me. His voice came to a whisper, dangerous and rough.

"It's telling me to claim you."

The words hit like thunder. My pulse raced so fast it hurt. He retreated, created distance between us, losing control. "Go. Before I forget this oath I swore to keep,

I shook my head, although I could hardly move. My wolf protested as I turned away. Each step was like walking on fire. My scent was hanging in the air; I knew he could smell it; I knew it was driving him crazy.

I knew by the sound of scrapping claws behind me that he fought against altering his nature. The sound tore at me. The whole of me wanted to turn back, to head back to him, to let nature take its course.

But I couldn't.

When I came to the edge of the field, I broke into a run. The forest swallowed me in seconds and cool shadows wrapped around my burning skin. My breath came out in ragged gasps as I stumbled deeper in the trees.

I leaned against a trunk with my back, and my heart was pounding violently. The quiet of the woods should've been calming, but my body still shook with the sound of his touch. I could still feel the heat of his hand over my waist, the way his hand had cracked when he said “Claim you.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks. "Moon Goddess! What's happening to me?" I whispered.

A branch cracked somewhere to my left. I froze. My wolf came awake unpleasantly, ears pricking. Damon wouldn't have followed me - not after fighting so hard for control.

Another snap. Closer this time.

I turned and scanned the darkness between the trees. The night was too silent, too quiet. Then I felt it, the slightest quiver of another being. Someone was there. Watching.

"Who's there?" My voice shook.

No answer. Nothing but silence, and the sound of breathing that was not mine.

The blood moon was higher, its crimson glow filtering through the leaves, painting everything red. My wolf growled low within me. I took a step back, eyes wide.

Then, as I was about to turn and run, I saw it, a shadow moving at the edge of the clearing, tall and distinctly human.

And whoever it was, they were smiling.