Misty blue moon
~
Accalia
~

The Jacian pack were earthbound. Linked to the soil they walked upon despite their monstrous counterpart that sought to destroy it and that was connected to their Alpha, Koda Jacian.

He was scarred in the face and arms, scars carving into the brown skin that made him look war-like and torn at the same token.

His gentle eyes didn't seethe with hate when they met Accalia, but his marred hand that gripped hers in greeting were telling enough. This was strictly business and all issues that strayed from the past would remain behind them.

Accalia was hardly involved in pack battles. Her father sent her, Tristan and Cadence on lone wolves instead. Preparing snares and traps for them, seeking out the troubled wolves that were untameable and wanted to spread their biting disease.

Her father and her aunt, Katerina, were heavily involved in pack attacks. Plucking off werewolves one by one until they reached lycans. Using the moon's cycle to their advantage. Using silver as their friend. That was when battles became bloody.

"I have heard a lot lately," Koda murmured to Lycus, standing in direct sunlight that glowed on his bare skin. The Alpha was only wearing jeans and a pendant around his neck.

His pack members strolled aimlessly around their pack in an adrift way. They weren't particularly doing anything, other than collecting water from a nearby creek and plucking fruit from trees and bushes. Surprisingly enough, they didn't bat an eye at Accalia or Lycus.

There was an air about the Jacian pack that made Accalia want to breathe everything in, an aura shrouded in homely and natural refinement that was refreshing to the eye. It was a canvas painted in many shades of green, all that spoke of nature and mirth.

"And all I can say is if it comes down to it, we will fight by your side."

Lycus and Accalia mirrored each other, satisfied with his decision.

The Jacian pack were a territory of harvest, growing their crops and living solely from what the earth offered them. If they crossed paths with a deer, she would be dinner for the pack and a serving of their gratitude. An offering. They slumbered in huts and hammocks and were up when the sun was. Following the cycle of the moon, they preferred isolation and separation from the other packs.

"It will come down to it," Lycus said simply and shook Koda's hand. "Be prepared for anything. We've told you everything we can."

Koda nodded, bidding them a tight-lip smile in farewell and disappeared into his forest.

"Lycus, why does he have all those scars?" Accalia asked, getting into the car and cringing at how intrusive she sounded.

Lycus peeled out of the forest and drove back to the main road, clicking the windows down. "A while back, instead of trying to contain the shift or let it run rampant, Koda would try and help the werewolves control the shift. He didn't care how many scars he endured as long as his wolves could help themselves against the pain."

~

The forest slowly faded into huge and hilly mountains that peeked through phantom white clouds, reaching the unseen heavens and planting the roots on both sides of the widespread road.

The majority of their road trip was spent with Lycus chewing Accalia's ear off, incapable of settling in comfortable silence or even letting music play through the radio. He would continue to eye her, never paying solid attention to the road and it took Accalia back to last night, where she was sure, Lycus's thoughts were at too.

They didn't get far, Lycus sought no pleasure unless it was through kissing because that was all Accalia could handle.

Before long, they were driving into the night, the stars dusting along the dark skies and that was when Accalia decided to initiate conversation.

"Lycus, why did you and Gabriel create your own packs?"

If there was one thing a person must know about the Fenris brothers, was that there were two Alphas, but they were opposites. Many theorised they split into different packs for power, others proclaimed it was due to their fractured brotherly bond that couldn't be repaired. Accalia stood in the middle of believing both sides, but she wanted to hear it from the Alpha's mouth himself.

"Rexton," Lycus admitted to her. "After we locked Rexton away, Gabriel and I started to fight a lot more — it got physical sometimes. He couldn't stand the sight of me and I couldn't deal with his righteousness. He hated my guts, but I knew he wouldn't go against me so I let him leave. I allowed him to start his own pack, something to call his own and I wanted him to have that. He met Nina at another pack after that and I didn't hear from him for nearly fifty years. Nina wanted to meet me and see what was left of the Fenris family and that's how we reconnected. It's been that way ever since."

No wonder there was a wedge between Lycus and Gabriel. The fractures splinting into their bond that left unsealed wounds were all centred around Rexton and caging him.

Lycus would have been the one to make the final call. No one to fight against him, or argue against his demands and orders. What he wanted to be done would have been done and Gabriel would have had no choice but to let it happen.

But why didn't Gabriel release Rexton after building his dynasty? He had the pack, and the power, why not take matters into his own hands and free his little brother?

The rabbit hole Accalia threw herself down only deepened and darkened, growing more perplexed and dubious.

"Answer me this," Accalia muttered, trying to keep her tone levelled and controlled, "Did you lock Rexton away because he's a hybrid?"

Rexton wouldn't be phased by the moon cycle, he wouldn't burn by the sun, he could be tarnished by silver and wood, but who was to say it would affect him? He carried the weight of the lycanthropy curse and the vampiric bite. His eyes bled black and red, his skin remained human and his body didn't alter. His fangs elongated enough to send anyone into fear.

Rexton was his own species.

"I couldn't let anyone know about him. It was bad enough my father resented him, it was bad enough that Rexton made friends with vampires and it was bad enough that people wouldn't take kindly to his abilities. He was seen as a threat, others would see him as a trophy—I did what had to be done."

Accalia crossed her arms, not sitting right with that statement and shot it right to hell. "You could have done something more. Something that didn't lead to this."

Lycus's hands tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white and pinned his gaze straight to the dark road. "You don't know anything, Accalia, so stay out of it."

"You know he doesn't sleep?" Accalia whirled around, facing him to see that sharp jaw of his tick, but she carried on, "After drinking Cadence's blood, he was able to sleep — sleep it off. But now, he doesn't sleep. I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't realise, you hardly look at him, you only bark orders at him and—"

"I can't get close to him!" Lycus snapped loudly and shot her a glower.

Their gazes clashed and Accalia's heart banged against her ribcage because the scorching pain in Lycus's eyes made him look a little less monstrous.

"You don't think I realised all of this, Accalia? He can't even look my way for too long and I can't stand looking at him because it brings everything back. Why do you think I'm here right now, making Gabriel look after him? I don't want to be where he is."

Accalia wanted to fight back. Fight him on every pitiful and unreasonable excuse he had made since Rexton's liberation. Did he not see this as a silver lining? A chance to give Rexton the time and explanation? For better or worse, all that Lycus had done and caused, maybe he could use the time to owe his brother all that he took from him.

Shaking her head, Accalia leaned against the window and wanting the final word, said, "That's a cop-out and it's pathetic."

Lycus made a gritty noise in the back of his throat but fell into silence.  

Accalia didn't care what unravelled between the Fenris brothers, what played on the outskirts of their relationship, tormenting and tearing them apart. They were brothers first, enemies last.

At least, that was the unspoken law between Accalia, Tristan and Cadence. No matter what, they watch each other's back without turning on them. They fight with silver and sword even when they want to fight each other at the worst of times.

The clouds cleared and stars descended upon them in a cluster of devastating beauty. Constellations paved away across the skies and the road they drove down led them directly between two huge mountains.

It was a beauty that could only be seen in the darkness, with the moon glimmering and stars shining. Minutes wove by and the mountains separated, revealing an unsleeping town emitted in wakefulness. Lycans and werewolves were up when the moon was, dotting along the pavements and bonding with one another like normal humans.

"This is Gabriel's pack, isn't it?" Accalia asked and she saw Lycus nod, clenching his jaw tightly as they drove through the pack that almost looked like a lit-up city.

Accalia had seen manors, cabins, huts and hammocks, but not towers and high-sky buildings in a pack before. Lycus's territory was far more natural, the predators of prey on their natural habitat where they could run wild, but Gabriel's was a city.

Gabriel not only created a pack but a dynasty.

They didn't stop, the city lights dimmed and faded, driving them into darkness once again and Nina came to mind. Accalia wished to see how she ruled an empire like that, alongside her mate who was the king of it and she was the queen.

"I gotta tell you," Lycus spoke for the first time in a long time after driving nearly an hour in silence, "The Lacuna pack are spiritual people. They believe in a creator, they worship and pray to ... her. They believe in mates, prophecies and humility. They will take kindly to you, Accalia."

Accalia expected worse. "They're not going to stare at me like I deserve to die?" She couldn't ignore it, the looks lingered on her back.

Lycus spared her sympathetic look, one that placed in meaning and that was all she could ask for. Only if he gave that to Rexton.

"They will look at you like a person that just so happens to be a hunter and a Luna." 

"But I'm not a Luna, Lycus, it's not a birthright, I haven't worked for it and my heritage is about working against your kind."

Lycus said nothing in response and not long after, they parked the car outside of bone-coloured entry gates that were opened wide — expecting visitors.

Lycus stepped out first and said, "Come on, we have to walk there. Calla has a lot of patience and lenience, just not with me." Lycus opened the door for Accalia and she slid out. The air felt warmer and crisp up here.

They were higher above, driving up the mountains and further away from civilisation. Accalia could see down below, the blue and white lights of the lands gracing her eyes distantly.

"Woah," she marvelled breathlessly.

Lycus smiled and gestured her through the gates, on a straight and narrow path.

Accalia had nothing to say to Lycus, preferring the silence and stillness, until a sudden notion sept across her right. Waves crashing into rocks.

"We're near the ocean?" Accalia questioned, swaying her head to look at him.

"We're near the coast, yes. Beyond these mountains where the coastline is, that's where the Hala pack resides." Lycus inhaled, looking pensive and they continued up the path that led them to the Lacuna pack. 

And in its pallid, grandeur lustre, it was heaven on earth.

The stark architecture was reined in towering columns making the silence eerie and unspoken when they stepped past them into a vast and empty area. The marble flooring took in their bombarding footsteps and reflected Accalia's unruly appearance, she didn't bother to brush her hair or pat down her puffy eyes from the tiredness this trip took out of her.

Lycus was, in his nightmarish glory, attractive as ever. It made her simper. Black hair in an obsidian mess, well-groomed in the face and he donned a long grey coat. Accalia wasn't about to think about those whiskey-gold eyes.

"Hello Lycus Fenris," came a melodic voice that urged Accalia to turn to face the person.

When it came to lycans, carnage and slaying, claw and canine is all Accalia saw, but Alpha Calla seemed to bring in a gracing light the beast may need.

Poised and elegant, Calla's dark skin donned a dark blue slip dress that swept by her bare feet. Her natural hair matched her skin and her eyes were dark brown, briefly scanning Lycus before they latched onto Accalia.

"And you must be Accalia Larren, Lycus's mate." Calla swept in front of Accalia at a graceful pace, inspecting her with x-ray vision and took Accalia's hand, an emotion waning on her face that she couldn't detect.

"I—um—" Completely floored, Accalia tensed under the Alpha's touch, not in the slightest expecting such welcoming behaviour even if Lycus told her this would be the case. Not like this, so warm and kind. So unlike everyone else she had seen and met.

"I see the attention isn't going to be on me tonight," Lycus murmured under his breath with a smirk and Calla snapped her head at him, eyes narrowing.

"Maybe it will do you some good, Lycus," Calla muttered at him and pulled Accalia into her side. "Come along. Dinner is prepared."

Lycus shuffled behind them and they fell into a stroll as the marble floor took in their footsteps in clatters drumming through the hall. 

"Your pack is very beautiful," Accalia commented and Calla looped her arms through hers, knitting them tightly together.

"The architecture has been like this for many years, I've left it untouched — not wanting to ruin its beauty. Unlike your mate behind us who takes pride in redecorating." Calla inclined her head, lips stretching into a feline smile that crinkled her eyes.

"Please," Lycus defended and Accalia looked to see him with a sheer smile, "I haven't done that in years and it's only to the lycans that deserve it."

"No matter how long, months or centuries, Lycus, it's not an excuse." Calla ignored Lycus's remarks and gently tugged Accalia along.

Calla escorted them into the main hall that led to a refined and extravagant dining room. A crystal chandelier hung above a circular table that was platted with many foods, traditional dishes, roasted chicken and potatoes, and an array of meats and salads. Accalia's stomach couldn't help but rumble.

Surrounding the table were three individuals, one male and two females who all turned their heads at the incoming guests. They shared similarities to Calla, dark skin and different shades of brown eyes, although one person had silver eyes — an oracle.

"These are fellow pack members Yusuf, Carly and our oracle, Sade," Calla informed Accalia and Lycus.

All of them nodded in acknowledgement toward Lycus and Accalia — she couldn't help but smile at them, a final gladness seeping into her lips. She didn't feel repulsion coming from them.

"Please, sit," Calla ordered and shuffled around before taking her chair, right across from Lycus who was already filling his plate up.

Accalia snatched his wrist and wriggled the chicken leg out of his fingers with a stern glower. "Be respectful,"

"It's quite alright, Accalia. Whilst he stuffs his face with food, I can get to know you. Tell me about your family." Calla sat poised in her seat and sipped her red wine, brandishing Accalia a wistful exchange over the glass.

Accalia felt her back heat against the seat as nerves spiralled up and down her body from being asked a question like that. And by all people, an Alpha lycan.

"I mean ... wouldn't you know about my family?" Accalia questioned, clearing her throat.

"I want to hear it from you."

Hear it from me, Accalia pondered. The individual was kicked out for being mated to a lycan and disowned by her father.

"I have a big family, all of us are very distant and only meet when it comes to family reunions. My mother passed away. I lived with my father, brother and cousin until I left."

"Why would you leave?" Sade, the oracle asked and her eyes spoke similarities to Vaela. Accalia gathered that was a trait all oracles possessed. The moon's eyes.

"Being mated to Lycus," Accalia tilted her head at him and he distracted himself by nibbling at corn. "I was disowned. But I still have contact with my brother and cousin."

"The Larren family had a very righteous cause — to make sure humans weren't stained by the lycanthropy curse. It made complete sense." Sade said to Accalia from the other end of the table, dishing food on her plate. "But after the passing of Katerina Larren, the purpose faded."

"Katerina Larren was my aunty." Accalia forced a smile, trying not to think of Cadence.

Sade nodded as if she knew this piece of information and said, "I liked Katerina, she had such stride, such spunk — she led with purpose. I have to give lycans foresight, but I've seen too much foolishness. At times, I couldn't help but be swayed by the hunters' cause, believing in them."

No one refused the oracle, this must be neutral and fairground in the Lacuna pack. It meant a lot more to Accalia because Lycus said nothing against this, not even a growl or grunt. There was no malice, no hate, just grounded discussion.

"This is too good to be true," Accalia whispered under her breath and Calla heard it, laughing soundly.

"We understand. All of us have a duty to our heritage, the good and bad. Hunters have made their faults in their duty to rid my kind, but Alphas have had their fair share of misdeeds." Calla sent a look to Lycus at the last comment and she leant her elbows on the table, leaning forward. "Which is why my pack will not be taking part in this upcoming war."

Accalia looked expectedly to Lycus. He brushed her off with a lazy wave of the hand and sent her a reassuring nod.

Ears ringing with anxiety, Accalia jerked her head back at Calla who smiled gently at her.

"We don't want to force a war on anyone, especially on those who have had nothing to do with issues that have led to this. But can I ask, why?" Accalia asked.

Calla bobbed her head, waving toward her silent pack members before lacing her fingers together. "My people and I don't stand for bloodletting. We don't like it and we won't take part in it. By doing this, it provokes the very thing we try to stop. A war would go against our beliefs."

How uniquely that aligned with the beats of Accalia's heart. She wished the same thing. No pain or bloodshed, to stand by her beliefs and morals. But in a world below this mountain, away from the seas and skies, stalked the beasts within the forest that waited to strike.

Zenith Thrax and Cole Canus would not let this go. They won't stop because why would they? They wanted power, they wanted to feed into chaos and by having a war, they were exacting the very thing they craved.

It could be easier to tuck tail and run.

It would be simpler for Accalia's scars to be torn open again and bleed out from it. It would be easy enough for Cadence to be targeted and killed for the actions she had made against Melina Thrax. It would be better for Gabriel and Lycus to give up their title and thrones.

But Accalia didn't want it that way nor did anyone around her.

"Trust me, I understand. I want the same thing, but when you get beat down enough times, you have to stand up and fight back. And for your sake, I hope this war doesn't reach your pack. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you or your people."

From underneath the table, Lycus twined his fingers through Accalia's and was invaded with inviting warmth.

"Is there a treaty in place?" Accalia asked.

Lycus had explained to Accalia that there are different treaties in place for different packs. The alliance was to not invade each other's lands, and to maintain peace and stability. And if push comes to shove, being side by side in the war, the alliance extended to the Jacian and Roan packs to join the Fenris packs.

"Of course, we still maintain peace with your pack as well as Gabriel's," Calla confirmed with a reassuring nod.

The silence didn't last long when ringing vibrated through Accalia's front pocket and pulled her phone out to see Erisa calling. Accalia got a phone a few days ago, adding all immediate people to her call list but her thoughts were wrung with nerves at the person dialling her number. Without realising, she pushed the chair from under her and stood up.

"Sorry, I need to take this," Accalia muttered, excusing herself a distance away and swiping up on the call. "Erisa, what's up?"

"I don't know what the hell happened, Accalia. We were doing some target practice and then—" Erisa explained through many wet tears and coughs for air.

Accalia's heart clenched, closing her eyes tightly shut. "What happened?"

"That damn hybrid, Accalia. He took Cadence."