© Claimed By Him ~ Elektra Orfanos

*|Luna|*

We stopped at my doorstep and I let out an exhausted sigh from all the walking. I've got to stop wearing heels for these parties because I swear one day my feet will snap off and run away from me. Yet knowing me if music started playing right now no amount of exhaustion would keep me from dancing. When I gazed over at Valerie I almost scoffed at how unaffected she is. Her hair is still intact, there is not a bead of sweat on her face while my face looks like I've been walking in the rain and she doesn't even seem the least bit tired.

What's her secret?

"Valerie are you safe walking back on your own?" I asked concerned unable to stop my eyes from overlooking the empty street.

"Daylight is literally around the corner so no killer will by jumping out at me with the birds chirping." She replied.

Killer... Why does that word make me shiver? Oh right because I slept with a killer beast last night.

Ignoring how that sounds...

"OK but I still have something to tell you." I sighed. This is it I have to tell someone that is going to understand me not matter how insane I may sound.

"What is it?" She asked suddenly worried at the drop of my voice. I just need to go ahead and say it. She of all people will believe me, she'll probably slap me upside the head but I don't care at least she'll believe me.

"I found the wolf last night." She didn't say anything but her eyes said it all and I kept going. "I went out to kill him like I said I would."

Silence and a glare at my door. What did my door do?

"After we told you not to." She replied still glaring at my door as if staring at me in the eye repulsed her.

"Valerie he was out to kill! He's already gotten my brother... I was blinded by my rage..." She suddenly muttered to herself making me freeze up in surprise. "Bloody bastard."

"What?"

She flicked her head to flip her fringe off her eye and finally stared at me but intently at me. "Luna you did a foolish thing that could have costed your life. What were you thinking?" I hate disappointing her, she's like a second mother or the queen. Someone you willingly don't want to displease because she just brings that out if you, you just want to be seen as the light in her eyes.

"I was smart about it." I defended. I did have a knife! I lost it but at least I had some smarts to bring one...

Oh I am hopeless.

"When we talked about someone killing that monster that wasn't a hint for you to go out yourself." She seethed.

"If I didn't go he would have killed more people possibly my grandparents so I don't regret anything. And Valerie I didn't die, he chose not to kill me so maybe next month when I see him again..."

"Wow now wait a second you're going again!? Did he tell you to?"

I'm getting more and more frustrated I mean what does she mean did he tell me? I don't maybe people would assume that the beast could speak. "Yes...? How do you know he spoke to me?"

She ignored the question. "Luna. You're being played, he's not like all the other wolves out there."

Other wolves? Other... More wolves?

"Valerie you're confusing me." Not to mention scaring me. How would she know about this?

"Luna do you even know who he is?"

Flabbergasted, yes that's the right word for this situation. Flabbergasted. "Who? He's a demon wolf what kind of question is that?"

"There are no such thing as demon wolves!" She paused and went deep in thought, "well actually there are hell hounds... never mind." I'm going insane, this isn't happening. "Luna he is a werewolf-a werewolf that has seriously lost his mind."

"I think maybe you have lost yours." I replied taking a wary step back.

"Don't be so mundane please." What? "If he has let you live that can't be something good."

"Oh would you be comforted by my death? Well I'm sorry he didn't tear out my throat but trust me when I say he was tempted!" Why? You would think that a monster letting you live was a good thing. But then again... Me out of all the hundreds of people. I'm no prize I know he was tempted to end me. But instead he wanted me to see the good in him, he's trying to trick me into going back. Why am I the exception? "Because he has another plan for me." I realised. "I told myself I would play this carefully and I will." I whispered to myself.

This concerned Valerie. "You don't have to do anything. If I were you I would never go find him again."

But then he would go out to find me. I know that much about him, he'll find my not attending hurtful and rude.

This is bizarre but I think maybe I can stop him.

"Don't do it." Valerie snapped. Was I talking aloud? I don't think I was. "You've got that deep in thought 'I'm about to do something stupid' face and it's scaring me. No."

I tasked. "Valerie..."

She interrupted. "No."

"Listen! I have to go back!"

"No that is exactly something you don't want to do! Promise me you won't."

"Val!"

"Promise or I will slap you right now and lock you in my basement!"

"OK I promise." I lied. "But thanks for believing me, my mother-"

"You told your family!" She turned away and ran a hand down her face before stomping her foot like a stubborn child.

"No." I winced, "yes but they didn't believe me."

She turned back around a wearing a serious and worried expression. "Don't tell anybody else Luna that's just as dangerous as meeting that damned dog. Maybe even worse."

"Why?" I nervously but curiously asked.

"You know how people are." She whispered. "They'll accuse you of witchcraft and burn you without so much as a proper trial and evidence."

Lovely... And frightfully true.

"I had to tell you, after all you are the one that put the idea in my head."

She held her hands up as if she was holding an invisible string with her fingers. "As a joke Luna. As. A. Joke."

"I'm sorry I couldn't take it as a joke. Michael meant too much to me for a joke like that to be just a joke."

She threw her hands up like a maniac. "I doubt he would want you to go and kill yourself."

"Yeah well what I do with my death is my business. Now as my friend Val are you going to listen to me?"

"No." She snapped outraged. "I'm not giving you my advice to go commit suicide. Goodnight Luna and take care."

I honestly wish people had more faith in me.

I unlocked my door and stepped inside but rested my hand on the door panel to stare just as furious as the glare she's giving me. "Goodnight Val. I won't get into any danger. I learnt my lesson." I said mockingly.

She smiled sourly. "Lu, you're a girl and he's man with extra hair, sharper teeth and probably a bigger ego and we all know how human men in this city are with their egos. Imagine a wild one that can tower over you and has the power to do whatever he wants without anybody stopping him. You need to think of that before you try and do anything. Not that I want you to do anything!"

"You're right." She smiled with satisfaction and wished me a proper goodnight with a peck on the cheek then started rushing off up the street till she was nothing more than another shadow in the darkness. I closed the door and leaned back against it letting out another exasperated sigh. "You're not the only one capable of keeping a secret." I'll feel guilty about it later now I have to think of a plan.

Yes I did learn a lesson: For next full moon keep knife tucked away safely in sleeve rather than in pocket.

"You're going down Alpha." But for now a bath, I got wash that creep that was dancing with me off my body before my dad decides to play bloodhound.