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The Moon Calls 39
I sat down at the wooden table, watching as he moved to the window, scanning the woods. Something of a habit I had found between both Alexander and James was they were always watching their surroundings. “There’s a legend that there’s a ghost wolf in this part of the forest.” He began to say, pulling the chair out with his free hand, “It’s a story that we tell the younger kids at bonfires so that they stay near the packhouse, but there is some truth to the story. There have been sightings for years of a wolf that patrols the woods, one minute you see him, and the next he’s gone. Poof! Like a ghost.” He raised his eyebrows as he said ‘poof!’, before shaking his head, “It’s said that he’s searching for any with a ‘dark heart’. Cursed and can no longer return to his human form until he finds the one th
The Moon Calls 40
“What do you mean?” I asked, making James lean into his chair. “Something changed in Alexander that night… For the worst. Something in him broke; it was like his sanity was gone. After he shifted and gained his real strength, no one could stop Alexander.” James sighed, his voice dropping low.“Being alpha and being a part of the Hunters was too much, and despite what he wanted, he had a duty to his pack. So, he tried to leave. The King didn’t like that very much but allowed him to leave, under one condition. Complete his last mission, and he would be free of the Guardsmen to be an alpha. Little did Alexander know what that mission would be…” James took a deep breath, “When you’re given a mission, you aren’t told who or what you would be killing. Alexander didn’t care; he only desired to be free of the King&r
The Moon Calls 41
Two more days came and went without a word from anyone. Not even James came back around, so I was left alone for an unknown amount of time. I had gone through the cabinets and freezer, discovering that I could very well be up here on my own for at least another month before I ran out of supplies. That’s not what worried me though, it was the fact that no one had come back here to check on me, to make sure that I hadn’t been kidnapped or worse. Maybe there was some truth to what James had said and maybe everyone was too afraid of coming near here. But, in my small journeys around the cabin in my boredom, I hadn’t smelled anyone, no wolf from our pack or the neighboring one had been near this place in ages, or in fact, ever. The only one I smelled was James and myself. I didn’t know if that scared me or made me feel some sort of comfort, but at least I knew I wouldn’t be having any visitors soon, outside of maybe James or Alexander coming back to take me home. I wondered what was s
The Moon Calls 42
For a while, there was no reply. I began to think maybe my most recent dream had come true, and Alexander was gone. The white wolf watched me with weary eyes as I paced the cave. “I have to go back! Alexander could be dead!” Alexander is a smart man. He’s most likely too busy or around people that he cannot reply to you. I sighed, flopping onto the straw bed I had woken up on, “You’re not helping. Whatever your damn name is.” I grumbled, running a hand through my tangled hair. Graham. “Well, Graham, you’re not helping.” I rolled my eyes, holding my head in my hands. So it’s true. You two are mates. I didn’t reply for a moment to Graham. Then I glared at him in suspicion, “How do you know? I thought you were some folktale.” Graham shifted to move closer to me, lying a few feet from me. Alexander used to come up here a lot before you came around. He calls me his therapist. I call him mine. “So, it’s true. That you can’t shift back into a human? Or did you never have a hu
The Moon Calls 43
I laid there for a while, feeling this chest rise and fall. I contemplated going back to sleep, but I couldn’t. “Why were you so angry with Graham?” I whispered, knowing that there was a chance Alexander was not asleep. “Graham is my dark secret. He’s not supposed to reveal himself to anyone. Not only could het get me into trouble, but he could die.” Alexander rumbled behind me. So he wasn’t asleep; he was pretending. “Why? Why can’t he be here with us?” “I was supposed to kill him. But I couldn’t. So, my solution was to put him somewhere and use him for the benefit of the pack. The southern part of our territory is too far away for us to patrol daily, since our pack is the largest on the east coast. Between that and the fact the pack below us doesn’t patrol that far anyway, I struck a deal with the Alpha and said tha
The Moon Calls 44
I stayed outside for the rest of the day, watching as Alexander trained with everyone individually, working on what needed to be worked on, to make his fighters better. I didn’t know how many more opportunities I had to watch him be the best Alpha; I wondered if I could ever be that great of an Alpha. I took a deep breath and stood to my feet to greet Alexander after he finished with Elora, a younger female who had recently shifted. “Good footwork today, E.” Alexander wiped his forehead as she beamed at him, perhaps batting her eyes a little too much. I made sure to make my presence known as I walked around her, “Didn’t have anything to do today?” Alexander tossed me that oh so familiar lopsided grin as he used his shirt to wipe the sweat out of his eyes. “No. Adam didn’t feel the need to do our last class since we have to get ready to leave in a few days.” I shrugged.
The Moon Calls 45
Maggie and I spent most of the day sitting at the lake. The only reason we went back was because our stomachs were growling.“It just takes some time. He’s still healing from it all. It doesn’t just go away.” Maggie said, squeezing my arm as we walked through the grass of the back lawn. “I know… It just doesn’t seem fair, is all.” I grumbled, making her sigh. “I know, but, sometimes it isn’t about being fair. It’s about doing what’s right.” I didn’t reply as she walked into the house, leaving me to stand in the doorway for a moment. I bit my bottom lip before following her inside.Gabriel was sitting across from Mary, who was excitedly sharing her plans at Council. Oh, to be blissfully ignorant of what was to come. I thought to myself as I pulled the chair out beside Gabe. He turned to me, “Oh, hey.” He nudged me, “Your dresses for Council arrived earlier.
The Moon Calls 46
The next morning I woke up and noticed Alexander was gone. I sighed, sitting up to the side of the bed and sat there for a moment. I couldn’t decide to wait and go next time; I had to do this now. I couldn’t look like a coward to that woman. She, who killed my family, and was responsible for my entire life, is so messed up. Not just my own, but her damn husband made Alexander miserable and ruined his life. I was grateful that Alexander would never be like him. I kicked the blankets off and went to the bedroom door, hearing a noise in the hall. Adam and Alexander spoke in the hall about who would be riding in what car and the plan after that. Alexander had a briefcase in his hand, “I think Maggie should stay here,” Alexander shook his head. “She hasn’t been to Council in years. She just wants to see everyone.” Adam shrugged, “I don’t see how it hurts anything.” “She’s not supposed to be there. It could mess up sleeping arrangements.” Alexander huffed, “She should have asked soone
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