Moonlight

Aidan had finally gotten his brain to fall asleep, when he awoke to a scream. It was a blood curdling scream that instantly chilled his heart. Without time to think, he jumped out of his bed and ran toward the sound. Silas and the guards were already there outside the apprentice’s door.

“Listen to me!” Silas was telling the guard, who wasn’t listening at all. Instead he was furiously banging on the door and calling out to Aravia.

“What’s going on?” Aidan asked the guard.

“I don’t know Alpha, there was a scream and the door’s locked.”

“Open it.”

“It’s just a night terror!” Silas yelled to them both. “She has had them since she was a girl. She’s fine!” Silas pleaded. In truth, he didn’t know if Aravia had the habit of sleeping without her veil. And if anyone saw her face, then they would know the lie, and he wouldn’t be able to conceal her any longer.

“I said open it!” Aidan’s senses were heightened now. He could smell the apprentice's fear. It was a fear that he had smelled as a child- when his Pack was attacked by rogues. She whimpered. He had to get to her. But why? The question took its place at the back of his mind. His sudden attachment to the girl was making him feel things he hadn’t in years.

The guard fumbled with the keys, and dropped them. Aidan growled as the whimpering in the room began again.

“Stand back,” he grunted. Grabbing the keys from the floor, he found the right key and fitted it to the lock. The lock clicked as he turned the key and then the handle. “Stay here.” He motioned for the guard to stay outside.

“Wait!” Her face may be uncovered.” Silas grabbed Aidan’s arm. The guard growled, and Aidan shook it off.

“Does it look like I care?” He said gruffly.

The room was dark, and Silas ran toward the girl. His foot caught the edge of the bed, and he stumbled to the floor. Aidan quickly stepped over him, reaching for the apprentice. His breath caught in his throat as she turned her head toward him, shrieking form the nightmare. Her face lay bare on the pillow, surrounded by long wavy locks. The moonlight that streamed through the edge of a dislodged curtain lit up her face like a gleaming beacon. It was as if he had seen the Moon goddess herself.

There was no hideous disfigurement, no scarring or pockmarks. Her skin was soft and clear, glowing even. Her eyebrows were sparse, but softened her face further.

He felt the old man stirring behind him. He heard his gasp. Silas moved forward to cover her face with his hands, but the Alpha stopped him.

“You should not look upon-” But Silas was cut off by the Alpha’s growl.

Aidan reached his fingers up to her soft face and cupped it. Almost instantly, she relaxed. Her eyebrows unfurled, and her eyes were no longer scrunched in pain. He gasped as the familiar feeling of sparks hit him. But something else as well. A strong force surged down his arm, through his chest, and down his extremities. Her power. He had just felt the raw surge of her power flow through him. His wolf roared within him. He felt as if he was supercharged by lightning.

His eyes blinked and surveyed the rest of Aravia. Her pajamas did little to hide her body from his sight. The soft cotton nightshirt was sheer upon her figure. He could see very clearly her full breasts, which rose and fell with each breath. The shirt was low cut enough to see the exposed cleavage glistening in sweat. He followed the length of her body further. Her stomach was a small mound beneath her breasts, soft and inviting to his hand. Her thighs were thick, and barely covered by the disheveled shirt. She had curves, and in all the right places. His eyes traveled to the little mound below her belly. It was as if he could almost imagine himself separating her thighs and burying his mouth there.

Aidan noticed the quick breaths of the Healer. He glanced over at him, studying his expression. From the scent of his arousal and the shocked expression on his face, it was obvious that he had never beheld his apprentice in this way. The scent of his arousal brought a long growl from Aidan’s throat. He felt his wolf stirring inside him, wanting to tear the old man’s heart from his chest. Without warning, Aidan grabbed the Healer roughly by the collar and hauled him out of the room.

“Lock it. And make sure no one disturbs her.” Aidan ordered the guard.

“Yes, Alpha.” The guard nodded in reply.

Aidan dragged Silas behind him and into his room across the hall with such vigor that the guard was too awestruck to intervene.