Walking by the tides of moonlight
~
Cadence
~

"May I join you?"

Cadence stopped in her tracks, turning to the familiar voice that hid his boyish face in the darkness.

Her annoyance couldn't be more bothered. "Shouldn't you be in bed? It's getting late, I doubt your brothers will want you hanging around by yourself."

Rexton drifted out of the blanketed woods and bathed in the moonlight, making him more heavenly than hellish — all that he was said to be.

"But I'm not alone," Rexton challenged and pointed to Cadence with a smile pulling at his lips. "I'm with you."

Cadence groaned, scratching her head frustratedly and stalked up a hill, hearing his steps falling behind her.

She hadn't counted how many days had passed since she killed that filthy wolf, but it did appear to be long since she last saw the hybrid. No one bothered her and that was exactly how she wanted it.

The act loses its meaning of doing it and the care suddenly faded from why it even mattered in the first place. There was nothing better than taking a life without a trickle of guilt.

Cadence couldn't recognise her reason for killing that werewolf, and yet, everyone around her told her why.

Protecting Rexton.

She protected Rexton.

She protected me.

Cadence didn't know what to fucking call it.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Rexton broke her out of her trance and she saw him walking by her, staring down at her, alarmed. "You look unwell,"

Cadence forced her eyes off him and stared ahead, clenching her jaw as she grappled with whether to stab him or swear at him. Both could come hand in hand.

"How— how do I look unwell?" Cadence found herself questioning.

"You've been in your room for days and those bags beneath your black eyes ... you haven't slept well. Famished and isolated." Rexton observed keenly, his utterance shrouding around her like a storm cloud.

"You would know," Cadence spat, needing to throw a jab even if it wasn't physical.

Rexton fell into a heavy silence and Cadence didn't break it as they headed further away from the celebration and closer to the borders of the pack.

Cadence hopped over the wired fence and fixed the bag strap over her shoulder, turning to face the hybrid. "Go away. Lycus might think you're dead if he doesn't see you but there are worse things than that."

Rexton made a face, one of unsureness as he tried to understand the girl in front of her. "Is this humour?"

Cadence rolled her eyes and said, "I'm going to Erisa's. If you see Accalia, let her know I'm committing murder, that will ease her thoughts about me."

"It's nighttime!" Rexton said fretfully and grabbed the fence, leaning toward Cadence with evident concern. "I can't allow you to go anywhere on your own."

Cadence's face shifted in wild radiance and she threw her arms up dramatically to the skies. "Oh shit, I forget ... Rexton will you do the courtesy of protecting me because I cannot—"

Rexton jumped over the fence without hesitation and came right up to her face, nodding eagerly. "With my life, Cadence."

Cadence decided to avoid a few things: his tendency to use her name, his chivalrous desire to protect her as if she couldn't do that herself and those whimsical puppy eyes that had yet to see a dog get run over.

"Piss off," Cadence snapped.

Rexton made no move.

Sighing, Cadence ripped her sword from her side and hacked at the tall grass in front of them. He remained unfazed by this also.

"You want to be in a house full of hunters? Be my guest." Cadence snapped and scanned him once again as he did not attempt to leave her. "You sure you don't wanna go back to the werewolves and lycans?"

From where Cadence stood, she didn't care for any of it. No emotion swept through her when she and Accalia were the first people to see Nina's pregnant belly. All she could think was bringing a baby into the throngs of war was an unwise idea. The pup could turn into an orphan or worse.

A celebration over it was a foolish idea.

Rexton nodded so surely Cadence wondered if there would be anything to blow out that light of positivity.

~

After they crossed the vacant and eerie highway, Cadence and Rexton fled back into the forest, travelling in silence.

It would be nearing midnight and they were closer to the Jaeger cabin than the Fenris pack.

The trees were drifted parted with huge paths to walk upon. Cadence preferred the smell of burning wood and wildflowers to that of moon-bound shifters.

"We're close by, did you see the smoke over there?" Cadence called to the hybrid, biting the snark in her voice and pointing up ahead to the haze of grey smoke that brewed out of Jaeger's chimney.

"I see," Rexton answered wistfully. "What if they don't want me at the house?"

There was only one answer to that. "They'll make it known, by threatening to shoot you or actually doing it."

Rexton grimaced and fidgeted with the ends of his sleeves. "Your cousin, Tristan Larren shot me ... it's not a pleasant experience."

Cadence laughed loudly. "Clearly, hybrid. No one in their right mind would think getting shot is a pleasant experience."

"Why didn't you join the party they were having back at the pack?" Rexton questioned, the conversation carrying on more than Cadence liked.

"Two reasons," Cadence grumbled and put two fingers up at his face, "One, I don't like your kind and two, I don't like parties."

Put Cadence with the right people and the right music, and she knew how to have a good time. But as hunters have dropped like flies, the reasons for celebrations have slowly died out and those times have long passed.

"Under my father's rule, there was always something to celebrate, even the most heinous reasons would cause for a celebration. After Lycus became Alpha, he changed all traditions my father created." Rexton explained to Cadence.

"Your dad sounded like a fucking idiot," Cadence muttered bluntly.

She had never heard anything good about Roman Fenris. Nothing good came out of his ruling, not as an Alpha to his people, not his leadership, the lycanthropy curse or his sons.

Rexton made a sound of discomfort. "He wasn't good."

"And your mother? There's nothing much about her in books." Cadence drawled a heavy sigh as they stalked up a steep hill.

Rexton showed no sign of being out of breath and strolled along the earth's floor, pondering on the question Cadence asked.

"There wouldn't be," Rexton replied gravely and trailed behind Cadence as they came closer to the cabin. "Mother and father were a mismatched pair, a loveless union and she never had a voice amongst the lycans. Father would strike at her if she talked out of turn."

Cadence nodded, connecting the dots as quickly as he spoke and it made all the more sense.

"Did he hit you?" Cadence asked and she sensed Rexton freeze up, going tense in the shoulders.

"At times," Rexton answered honestly and cleared his throat, exhaling through the memories.

A sensation unprovoked and unfamiliar spiked at Cadence like she had just been stabbed. A detesting wave coursed through her and she found herself fighting at the anger that sizzled beneath her skin.

"Why didn't your mother do something?" Cadence snapped and shot a harsh look at the hybrid. "Why didn't your brothers?"

Rexton's face contorted into an expression of nervousness and he shrugged slowly. "My mother could do nothing, but my brothers did. They protected me."

Cadence made no effort to comment as they were outside of the cabin, the distant sound of the radio playing and it only took one knock for it to seem the home was completely vacant.

Boots barrelled down the hallway and the door flew open, a shotgun pointed directly at Cadence's face.

Rexton ripped the gun away from Frankie and stepped in front of Cadence like a shield.

"Frankie," Cadence greeted, stepping on her tippy toes to find Frankie wide-eyed and fumbling with his glasses. "You haven't officially met. This is Rexton Fenris, Lycus and Gabriel's little brother."

Frankie's blue eyes softened as he looked at Cadence and smiled fondly. "Well, he seems quite protective over you."

Over each other, apparently, Cadence spelt out to her head.

"What are you doing showing up at this late hour?" Frankie demanded.

Cadence shrugged and looped around Rexton to give Frankie a quick hug. "Wanted to check in."

Frankie patted Cadence on the back and motioned her in, scanning Rexton suspiciously before letting him in too. "A hybrid in my house, I would have never imagined."

Rexton's head brushed past the roof and he took the cosy area in with suspicious eyes. "I can stay outside if you don't want me in your home. I do not mind."

Frankie regarded him sceptically and sent a bewildered look to Cadence as to say, is he serious?

"Don't mind him," Cadence said, waving Rexton off who was scanning his fingers along the binds of books and reading to himself. "He's overly polite, it's weird."

"As long as he doesn't ... try anything, he can stay," Frankie said curtly, glaring at Rexton's back.

"He's a good boy," Cadence teased and Rexton whipped around with a confused look on him, scratching his head as he tried to understand the humour Cadence dealt him.

"You have vampire lore here," Rexton commented and pulled the book out of the shelf, flipping it open. "A few centuries old, this would have been the times they had elders and covens."

Frankie raised his thick brows and hobbled over to the hybrid, staring him up and down. "Covens and elders? What else do you know?"

Rexton chanced Cadence a shy glance before staring back at the man. "Alexene taught me a lot, without her I would have known nothing of my vampiric side. But covens did exist, extremely rare and isolated, you would never know unless you were told about them. Lycans like to make themselves known, vampires do not. Elders would have to be centuries old to earn their title."

Frankie's glasses fell to the end of his nose in shock and he pointed at Rexton, studying him critically. "Not bad, kid. Keep talking."

Cadence rolled her eyes with a sigh and left them to it, disappearing down the hall to Erisa.

Her room was ajar and Cadence pushed it open, making her presence known.

Erisa's room was flocked with band posters, candles and a gothic decor that aligned perfectly with her soul. A lamp illuminated the room with a yellow tinge and Erisa was settled in the corner, reading a book.

She jumped without warning and the book fell to her lap. "You scared me."

Cadence stalked over and tapped Erisa on the head in greeting. "Nice to hear from you, Erisa. Got any news to report?"

Erisa's face warped into a grim sight, eyes darkening and face paling. Lips thinning, she whipped her phone out from her back pocket and simply raised the device to Cadence.

Cadence squinted and then her eyes went wide, wondering if she saw that right. "Three missed calls and four messages? Are you serious?"

Erisa lulled her head to the side and slapped her thighs in frustration before getting to her feet. "No, Cadence, they were just from today. Cole hasn't stopped calling and messaging me since I last saw him."

Cadence shook her head in profound disbelief, but in the coils of her mind, expected such behaviour to come from a monster.

When did acts of interest cross the line into obsession? Cole's nature spoke of primitive passion; he liked objects that were pleasing to the eye, and he liked chaos and disaster. His interests were all things that wouldn't find him interesting.

Cole liked what he couldn't get, he liked the game and the chase. He liked the rush of emotion Erisa gave to him.

Cadence became obsessed with things, but it all had a root cause. To protect her people, even if it meant killing and hurting others. Even if it meant her dying for the cause.

What was Cole's crux and what did he intend to do with it?

"You should have said something to me." Cadence snapped harshly after a moment.

Erisa flinched. "I didn't know how, not with what you did—"

Cadence threw her hands into the air in exasperation. "Who cares about that? I killed a werewolf, so what? We have other matters to deal with, like Cole Canus. You should have said something."

Erisa looked to the floor, her black hair curling her face and Cadence swallowed her writhing guilt, stepping up to Erisa to comfort her.

Cadence grabbed Erisa's shoulders, forcing her blue eyes back onto her like a clash of steel.

"Do you still want to be a part of this?" Cadence asked clearly, letting her hands fall at her sides once Erisa's promising gaze didn't drop from her.

"I do," Erisa stated without a doubt. "We're getting too close. We can't go back now."

They were getting closer. Every step that led into a stride. They haven't faced attacks around the Fenris border in days and hunters would close in on Zenith's pack — slaughtering half the opposing side.

With all their efforts and trials and struggles, Cole and Zenith are only bound to crumble.

"We have to use his interest in you to our advantage. Call him and ask to see him." Cadence said to Erisa, her mind racing with an idea no one would like.

"It's midnight." Erisa countered.

"It's a Saturday night."

Erisa stumbled over to the end of the bed and plummeted on it as she fiddled with her phone. She dialled his number, putting the device on speaker and a ring shook through the room.

It rang and rang, many seconds passing. Perhaps he was playing a game and avoiding her too.

Cadence didn't know why, but she held her breath, a wave of nerves trickling down her spine in a cold caress.

"Hello?" A silky and eerie voice drifted through the room.

Cadence clasped Erisa's shoulder in a death grip and sat on the bed, blinking in surprise.

Erisa clutched the phone tightly and said, "Hey Cole, it's Erin."

"I know it's you, Moonbeam. I was just wondering if it was your ghost calling me. Have you been avoiding me?"

Erisa sent an unsettled look to Cadence and they both mouthed back to each other what to say.

"Hello?" Cole questioned, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"I'm sorry," Erisa said overly gently, her normal voice vanishing away like it was never there. "I haven't been avoiding you ... I've been really busy."

Cadence gave her a thumbs up and silence filtered through the phone like the line went dead.

"I see," Cole drawled mischievously and Cadence felt her stomach flip, hating the sound of his voice. "You have to make it up to me though, Erin."

"How?" Erisa said lightly and playfully. "I'll do anything."

Cadence grinned widely and mouthed to Erisa, nice touch.

"Touch yourself."

The phone nearly hit the ground and Cadence just caught it, wrapping her fingers around it as she took an intake of air and prayed he wouldn't hear it.

Erisa clutched the phone again, her cheeks painted pink and fumbled with her words, a strike of fear gracing her face.

"I'm kidding, Erin," Cole said, no trace of tease in his voice. "What are you doing?"

"I was just thinking about you. I really want to see you again." Erisa said into the phone and Cadence clutched the nearby pillow.

She played the part well. With her light-hearted voice and sweet words to stray Cole to her. It worked so seamlessly and delicately, that Erisa didn't have to lift so much as a finger for him to fall for it. Fall for the mask and game.

They had him.

"Really?" Cole mumbled softly, a flicker of humanity shining through. It was nearly pathetic to hear.

"That's why I gave you my number, silly," Erisa teased with her nose scrunching up in disgust. "I want to see you."

"I thought you gave me the wrong number at one point or you weren't interested."

Erisa frowned, slapping Cadence as she made a noise into the pillow and said to Cole, "Please don't think like that. I'm sorry I was so busy, but I really want to see you again."

The injection of reassurance was enough for him. "I hope you don't regret that, Moonbeam."

I already do, Erisa mouthed to Cadence who rose to her feet and paced up and down as she wailed silently into the pillow.

"My only regret would be not seeing you again. So can we please?" Erisa said desperately.

"I'll be free in a few weeks—" background noise followed through and hastily, Cole said into the phone, "I'll message you the date and plans. Goodnight, Moonbeam."

The line went dead and Erisa let the phone fall on her lap, watching Cadence intently.

"Someone has a crush on you." Cadence teased and tossed the pillow at her.

Erisa cringed and clutched the pillow to her chest. "You look cunning. Something is on your mind. What is it?"

Cadence stopped her pacing and stood in front of Erisa, not caring to pick her words wisely because who deemed the reasons for war wise?

"You're gonna think this insane." Cadence drawled and fumbled with her fingers as a thrill pooled in her veins with adrenaline.

"It's you," Erisa muttered indifferently with a half-shrug. "What else in that head of yours could be more insane?"

"When you see Cole Canus next, we're gonna kidnap him."

~

Cadence didn't expect much out of her idea, she knew it was on the borders of insanity and beyond measure.

She received the usual and attentive looks that silently said she needed to be put away or at least, looked at by a professional.

But Cadence stood tall and adamant in her decision. Kidnapping Cole was the next move they needed to make. It worked for three simple reasons:

1. Vaela could access all of his memories, the ins and outs and all he had to hide. Including the presence blocking the memories and the vampire that was in his home.

2. It beat going through a slain of bodies and blood to get to him, who knew what could occur from the outcomes of war and Erisa would be the key to getting to him.

3. Why the hell not?

"You want to kidnap an Alpha?" Frankie clarified, his mouth hanging wide.

Cadence nodded and clapped her hands together, waiting to hear it. The judgements and spills of disagreements.

"It could work," Erisa said and Frankie zeroed in on her, scanning his niece attentively.

"It could." Frankie agreed. "But at what cost? You get hurt, end up like Accalia or worse?"

Cadence inclined her head to Rexton who was lounging on the couch with an open book splayed on his chest.

"What do you think, hybrid?"

"You want my opinion?" Rexton asked softly and sat up, swinging his long legs off the couch.

"I asked." Cadence clipped.

Rexton ruffled his tousled hair and wiped his face in thought. "We need to know what Cole is up to and if not by a fight, snatching him will have to do."

Zenith started this, he wanted a war with so few lycans on his side. He asked for Cole, and he agreed to chaos and mayhem. They have made their mark, spineless digs and jabs, and they still moved across the tides.

Cadence and everyone around her stood on the shore in the sand, waiting for the water to drag them out when they had to dive. To sink or swim, they had to make their mark.

"I say we do it," Cadence said and stretched her joints that were tense from tiredness. "If we kidnap him, Erisa's job will be done. She'll just need to distract him for a few hours and then we take him out."

That way, he will be in the hands of Lycus and his pack.

"I mean, why not?" Erisa sniggered. "Let's end this."

Cadence and Erisa mirrored snide and mischievous grins that anyone could see sinister intention playing on their minds. And perhaps there was. A sinister and dangerous game to win.

Frankie sighed and stood up. "You two are worse than my generation was." He rounded past the girls, but stopped, turning back to them with fondness lightening his aged face. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

He slipped away after bidding them goodnight, his clambering boots bustling down the hall as he whistled an enlightening tune to himself.

"You coming to bed?" Erisa asked Cadence, looking at her and the hybrid.

Rexton, the freak of nature, could turn menacing at any given time.

He hardly drank blood, barely shifted into whatever a hybrid turned into and was too kind for his own good.

Cadence knew what he was, but not the complexities. What was the true form of a vampire and lycan cross-breed? She didn't know, all she knew was that she wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I better watch out for him," Cadence said promptly and Erisa nodded unsurely, slowly stepping back to the hall.

"My door will be open," Erisa informed Cadence and sent icy daggers to Rexton. "Wide open."

Cadence puffed up her pillow and grabbed a blanket from the cabinet, heading back over to the L-shaped couch.

She grimaced. She didn't exactly want her feet by his head and most certainly didn't want it the other way around.

"You sure you want to sleep here?" Cadence asked him.

Rexton looked away from the book he was reading and smiled, eyes crinkling. "I've grown used to sleeping wherever I end up. It happened a lot when I travelled, so yes, I am fine here."

Cadence nodded, not knowing why she had to know every detail of his life but shoved it aside. "Don't let your head touch mine and we should be good."

"I can sleep on the floor if you like."

"Whatever works for you, champ."

Rexton didn't move from the couch and continued to read his book without disturbance.

Cadence sighed and trod over, leaning over to turn the lamp off.

A hand wrapped around her wrist and Rexton peered up at her, face turning white. "No—no I need that on."

Cadence hissed bitterly and wrenched her hand away. "Why?"

Rexton's lip trembled to find the right words as he searched her eyes, yearning for something Cadence did not name or claim.

"I have only recently begun to sleep again without waking up from nightmares and it helps with having a light on." Rexton quickly tore his eyes off her and went back to reading, clicking his fingers nervously.

Nodding at his explanation, she threw her pillow by his head and fell onto the couch, kicking her feet over the edge. "When I started looking for the locket, I started getting nightmares of ... you know."

It was better not to see his face when she said this.

"Did you need a light on too?" Rexton murmured to her.

"No, I just had a knife with me at all times. I almost slit Accalia's throat once, though."

"The nightmares were that bad?"

Cadence turned over, curling her legs up to her chest as she pooled the blanket over her. "I had nightmares being awake and when I was sleeping. I couldn't catch a break."

"I am so sorry, Cadence." Rexton apologised, a pitiful weight in his voice, taking all the blame for it.

Cadence's thin brows knitted together and she was glad he couldn't see the wretched confusion contorting her features.

"It's not your fault." Cadence found her mouth unravelling like wool being tugged by a kitten. She couldn't stop herself.

"It is. If it wasn't for the bond ..." Rexton mumbled and Cadence's eyes clenched close, not wanting that to be the last statement for her ears to hear tonight.

But his velvety voice sang back into her ears like a melody, "Would you like me to read to you?"

Rexton's breathing and unfaltering words already had Cadence drifting off into sleep.

~

With Cadence and Rexton, is this progress between them? Is it too soon? Please let me know.

— Caranyx.