The Upper Moons Novels & Stories

I’d stared too, once or twice, when I thought no one was looking. But he didn’t come closer. He just stood there, and after a long, uncomfortable moment, he turned and walked away. Of course he did. I was alone. The pack celebration that night felt like a slap in the face. They called it the Harvest Moon Feast—some excuse to drink too much and pretend we were all one big happy family. My mother had been dead for less than a day, and they were laughing and dancing like nothing had happened.

I glance at him, trying to catch any glimmer of emotion behind his eyes. “These stars are the Moon Lake, which is exactly what it sounds like. Four of the seven planetary structures are, in fact, moons. Big ones. I believe they used to orbit around something here, but now they’re freely orbiting objects locked in place by this star, and that star, and they dance, reflecting light like lanterns on a lake.” “And what do the witches use that for?”

Her pack surrounded her, united in support and determination to safeguard her gift and the future it promised. Rosalind's discovery sparked a flurry of questions, and she wasn't alone in her curiosity. Cathryn, Finn, and the pack's elder women gathered around her, eager to share ancient stories and shed light on the mysterious Moon Mothers. "Moon Mothers were revered healers," Cathryn began, her voice filled with reverence. "They wove magic and nature seamlessly, their power flowing from the moon to nurture life and balance." Finn added, his eyes twinkling with excitement, "Legend says Moon Mothers could communicate with the land itself, sensing disturbances and harmonizing the natural world

Yet through it all, they stand united, their love shining like a beacon of hope in the vast expanse of the universe. For theirs is a love that knows no bounds, a love that transcends the limits of mortal understanding. It is a love that has endured through the ages, a love that will continue to burn bright for all eternity, lighting up the night sky with its eternal flame. In their celestial union, the Moon Goddess and her mate are the epitome of balance and harmony. Each complements the other in ways that defy explanation, their strengths and weaknesses perfectly aligned like the intricate patterns of the stars.

“Eímaste oi Menae. Eímaste enoménoi. [We are the Menae. We are united.]” The Menae all lift their heads and give loud, happy howls at the full moon. The moon shines brighter and grows larger. A stream of pearlescent liquid light pours out of the moon flowing down over us, affirming the Moon Goddess’s approval of Kas’s ascension. The cool liquid dissipates as it touches our skin.

The moons were bound to me to pass me the strength I needed right now. The pack crumpled, sensing the depth of the situation as they stepped backward, clearing more space for me to stand. Wolves from Shadowmoon dropped to their knees, keeping their foreheads pressed to the dirt in respect to my power. Some low whispers of frantic prayers buzzed in the air while others cried out in fear. “The Messenger of the Moon…” one trembling voice finally broke the silence. “It’s double moon in the sky… She carries the Goddess’s blessings…” another weak voice supported him.

As though my pain was just a lesson for the pack to learn. "If the Moon Goddess made a mistake," a voice called out, "then maybe the mistake isn't the bond." The hall went quiet. I looked toward the voice. It was an older wolf, one of the pack elders. His name was Marcus too, I remembered. The irony wasn't lost on me. "What do you mean?" the Alpha asked. The elder turned and looked directly at me. "Maybe the mistake was choosing the wrong mate. Maybe the Moon Goddess intended for someone else to be Alpha Ryker's Luna."

"They don't take new wolves. We haven't been trained properly. It could unsafe for us. They're a small pack, only consisting of 5 or something, but what they lack in numbers they make up in strength." "Why are they stirring up trouble?" I ask flopping on the bed next to Mikki. Pale moon light pushed through the window, leaving a stretched rectangle over the floor and halfway across the bed. She shrugs and looks out the window. "Wanting more land or something." We sat there for a long while before Mikki stands swiftly. "You hungry?" "Kinda." I say dragging myself off the bed. Half the house was lit. With the pack leaving suddenly the hallway light was on, the lounge room, the kitchen, several

"Nothing that changes what we already know about the price. But there's a passage here about the ritual's timing that concerns me." He turned one of the pages toward me, pointing to a section of Mireille's careful translation, his finger tracing the line as though the act of touching it made the danger more real. "The release clause has to be invoked at the exact peak of the eclipse. Not before. Not after. A window of moments, according to this, not the full duration of the eclipse itself." "How narrow a window," I asked, my stomach tightening. "Mireille estimated minutes," Kaiden said.

Lena hesitated and then took a small sip. The warmth spread through her softening the rigor of her nerves in her chest. She set the mug down and looked at Luna Celeste "You said I have power, what do you mean?" Luna Celeste sat down in the chair across from her, and her face turned solemn. "The gifts of the Moon Goddess are rare, but she never bestows them, much like her gifts, for no reason. You were born during a blood moon, was it not?"