Chapter 43: Blue Moon Ceremony

I woke up to a bright light and black splotches danced on my eyes as I squinted them. I couldn't move. It was like I was stunned .The lights blinded me .The room smelt like detergent and harsh chemicals. The whole room was small, very small. Where the hell were we? There were metal bedsteads spread at the corners. Tubes connected to my wrist .I felt tired, weak .Everything felt muffled and mute as I felt drowsy .The room was below freezing, and the chemicals made me gag.

'What happened?'

I spotted Ares and Turquoise, they were fast asleep. I was in all white hospital gown as I scanned the room.

'Alpha, what happened to the girls?'

'They...They were possessed.'

'By Alpha Brandon Liboardo, I'm sure of it'

'How can we trust them, sir?'He breathed heavily then gestured to us, 'How'd we know that they're sober.'

'I don't know?'

'Can we trust them? 'He paused, watching him and clenched his shoulder, 'A witch might help us.'

'For now, we spy.'

I coughed and breathed .I wished I could make him believe us but now the pack was now against us .I wish I knew what to do. I jolted up, they jumped, and growled. I could tell that they are tense so I cleared my throat. Zale didn't look good like at all and is my fault .Even though he was healing had badges on his forehead, a destroyed eye and scars and red flaky skin littered around his arms and face from the blood poisoning and blood boiling.

They snapped their heads towards us and stared at us blankly .I ogled at him and remembered yesterday .Feeling guilty; I trashed and looked the opposite way, not trying to look at his glazed eyes. "I'm sorry, Zale, I hurt your pack members, a real Lunar wouldn't do that.I didn't mean a word I thought I'd said."I whispered, as I gripped the sheets .

He whipped his head. "True, but I don't know if I can trust you. No. I mean All of you .Is this even you or her .But if I'm risking this we better get ready .Ok." He said, his expression hardened.

"I'll heal them, I'll help them .I'll do anything to heal them and remove the pain I've caused them!!"I screamed, my voice breaking with every word, looking him in the eye as he scowled at me.

"The damage is already done.Hamia, they can't trust you. Or any of you guys you've destroyed them instead of protecting them, I'm sorry .I'm so sorry."He bellowed, as he moved his hands angrily as he left. "Just get the others, we have a trip, We need allies even asking his enemies too." he said in a huff and then stormed off. "So, I'm I. "Zale whispered, as he vanished.

I was sad. Shocked .Hurt. On the other hand, angry.

The Blue Moon ceremony is the time were wolves huddle up to have fun. It's when the moon turns 'blue' and full by the goddess 'Selene' .Mostly, to hang out with their peers and maybe some romance .We were also divided into categories depending on your age and status.

The groups that we were divided into were teens and kids, unmated teens adults with mates and finally the ones who lost theirs. In addition, in the past, wolves at that time believed in second chances but they all know that's bull. Remember when Ares gave me those weird identity jewels, yeah, those .Well, today I have to wear them and so should the others .The most amazing thing about it is that 'Selene', the moon goddess, blessed us with our wolves essence can be seen in us.

I did my bushy hair into twin braids, from the roots of my hair was neon blue and it glows because of this particular moon .It slowly blends up into chocolate brown, my wolf furs, and then into my normal black hair.

I wore a pale-blue tank top, floral black jacket and jean shorts with white vans. I spun only to spot Zale, there entire time we were healed and stuff he kept a poker face not meeting at our gazes. He was ignoring me. I felt guilty. No, don't think about your feelings is about the pack ,I cracked my neck ,knuckles and rolled my shoulders and walked passed. I glanced over and looked at Zale, I couldn't help as I blushed, damn it.

Zale eyes turned pale –blue and the tips of his hair was silver blending into white and the rest of his usual dull dark hair .He was wearing a casual –formal outfit .He wore a navy blue shirt with black jeans and loafers with a watch and Without meeting my gaze Zale, he announced. "Guys, we're not the only pack heading there, one of the major packs will be there. The Obsidian pack, the cinder and forest view. The hotel owner one of the business associates that have over five hundred wolves working or living in the hotel and resort or its estate .Some pack members will also be going but we didn't leave this without a plan ."Zale smiled .I sighed and stared wide –eyed Zale didn't tell us about the plan .Wow, he lost his trust in us.

The Cinder pack people were built for military or war .They were tanned or bronzed skin and had calloused long hands with scares and bruises on their bodies and flashed them with pride .

They were slightly muscular or muscular and tall but the women were athletic and they worked out, shifted a lot, and rumored being more wolf than man.

Their wolves more giant, trained merciless rouge-likes and the biggest pack ever. Wolves giant like Canadian or Mackenzie valley wolves and rumored that an illness or a genetic mutation affected their size but hidden below was coal and over the years, they invested on it.

The women were lean, muscular, and often worked as contractors or lumberjacks and worked in army-like groups but them always smelt of smoke and pine.

Anger and strength amplified with hidden dangers in .I spotted them wearing tanks ,tees ,navy shirts and cargo pants or camo pants in black , forest green or grey and different types of boots and rumored to walked naked and act feral.

Best place to become warriors or rouges and are totally not sexist but are barbarians .Other packs words not mine.

We were sitting in a black jeep with Ares and the others like Cassie and some unmated wolves .The door opened as Ares climbed in and crossed her arms angrily .Ares' hair also changed to and the red roots blending into tawny then blended into dark hair like her bro .

"You're eighteen, right?" Zale asked, from the car mirror.

"Um yeah?" Ares drawled, tensed on her seat. Yeah, why'd you ask?"

"No, Heather."He breathed, and glanced over to me.

I looked into the sky as my mind became foggy. Is true, I didn't even realise that my birthday passed long after the kidnapping .I'm eighteen now. I grinned as it slowly morphed into sadness. Then in anger I crossed my arms and sulked.

I face palmed, "Gosh, I can't believe I forgot my own damn birthday!" I yelled silently, as Ares was lost in thought while holding the black leather seat. I didn't even notice that she was wearing till I looked at her .I was conceited and lost in thoughts to even notice.

From the seat, Ares grinned and crawled over the seat."That means I can drive, right?!" she added, grinning, "No!" Zale snapped and whipped to her.

Another glint of mischief glint in her eyes. "Zale, I'm eighteen that means I can make my own pack or become an official Alpha. "Ares finished, proudly as her roots glowed and curled like tentacles.

"Yes, you can but check your inner wrist, you're a Beta now .I found my mate didn't I .But you lost yours so either way you can't create a pack for yourself because you're now. Unmated. "Zale finished, laced with venom and a hint of happiness. "What? Why? How!?"Ares screamed angrily , as she retreated to her seat, then she checked her inner wrist only to realize that he's right.

There used to be a full moon tattoo and now it's fading into a crescent. Ares losing her rank. She looked wide-eyed, retreated back whimpering stared into the black floor sadly. We were moving on road moving forwards in a blur we were passing through the foliage and green woods .We left in the earlier evening with another neighbouring jeep we rode for about six hours until we reached a clearing of rolling hills and green plains. They stretched under the grimacing moonlight, were vehicles parked at the outskirts flooded with cluster of wolves of all ages .We struggled find a spot .It was filled with over one-thousand wolves or more. There were RVs and other vehicles .There were tents and canopy's and picnic tables and mats littered everywhere.

"C'mon Hamia," Ares gestured, me to follow her into a dark area with a tunnel - opening leading into a place decorated with fairy lights on trees ,picnic benches and mats ,coolers and adults.

"What?" I gasped, staggered and looked into her reddish -brown eyes.

"We're adults now aren't we, we have to hang out with others too, right?" she asked, cocking her head and crossed her arms, I felt a looming presence behind me.

"Actually, Ares you have to go to the teenager's category or the S.C.M.A.S. (Second chance mate's association sector)," Zale answered blankly, as he starred at a fuming Ares.

"What! But, I'm an adult, eighteen."Ares stomped and pointed a black-polished nail at him .Ares was wearing a black tank top, ripped black jeans with combat boots. Her wrists decorated with black chokers, necklaces (spikes or skeletons), her neck to .She had Smokey eye and bright red lipstick, strange for her I know, and I realized she grew same inches taller and her hair now ends at her waist.

Ares groaned and shook her arms and darted away .I stared at the huge golden goblets of fire for sacrificing .It looked like public holiday except is for shifters and wolf's .There was a giant ring of them formed around for here.

We were walking towards a new sector .It was filled with adults and important people. Farther away was an old couples and old women knitting and chatting but over here there were adults specialty for business .Suddenly, I felt eyes burning holes on me and locked at me as I looked upwards at the conceited ones looking at me as we walked I saw a familiar presence.

"Isn't she a bit young. "

"True, about eighteen. "

"That's not right. "

"He's way older than her."

They were drinking wine, shisha and soft drinks. We saw a similar presence at the clearing, the blue moon casted shadows through the air. Alpha Lee. Alpha Ryan Lee .Suddenly ,I froze and looked at him, like bronze radiation waves I felt his presence .The looming Chinese man stared at me and formed a light smirk .bronze drowning waves .

"You're not a werewolf, "I whispered, to only him. He paused and smirked while he flipped back his bangs.

"And you were never a human, too?" he replied. I nodded. "You've never shifted have you, Alpha?" I asked, while I raised an eyebrow. He chuckled loudly and held his metal bull belt. He was wearing a black turtleneck, black slacks and timber boots .He was tall man, taller than Zale with broader shoulders, and sturdier looking .He had a muscular body that demanded attention.

He smirked. "I'm something even worse than one."He laughed maniacally, in an odd whisper as his eyes flashed molten gold swallowing his pupils. Eli tensed .His eyes, no more hazel and they've morphed into bright yellow, like fireflies with gold and coppery specks.

I realized that as the people stop and kept boring deep glares at me instantly, he grabbed my left shoulder like metal as he gave a warning growl. Ryan didn't look bothered and snickered .He lumbered towards us as we both looked upwards to his frame. "So, Alpha Silver, my theory was correct, "he started, looking at the wine as he swirled it around and looked over to the crowd.

"About what?" Zale growled, as he crunched the dying leaves as if to challenge Ryan. I didn't realize that could feel their testosterone emitting as I started staggering like a drunkard, I felt it in messed up spirals and waves like their aura .To make it worse, thoughts flooded into my mind like crashing waves .I jerked my head and stared at the moon ,shit ,I forgot how certain moons affect my powers. I didn't realize that my braids ended at my chest. The twenty-six year old wolf or man knows something.

"I was always been suspicious about Heather , your mate .That why would the goddess, Selene gift, your starving , crumbling and dying pack a human ,a human .But this a even better ,a fellow supernatural hidden within human souls .Even more great ,She's a werewolf .A fucking werewolf ,beautiful just beautiful .Your chi sounds delightful. She's a witch too."

Gasps of spectators and curious souls as they staggered. In a blink, I was on my knees while holding my ears in pain, like a flood. I felt a siren that only I could hear like high pitch screaming as the world fades, blurs, ripples and swirls. I felt distorted and didn't hear voices .All I heard was distinct voices and high pitched screaming like a siren. I felt my eyes flashing and I breathed panting and ragged. Zale crouch down and rubbed my back soothing and rubbing circles and apologized as he kissed my cheek as I felt my eyes wanting to roll over .

I heard screams and voices only for them to come out as sirens and screams .It kept on distorting and glitching.

"Help! "I screamed, only to feel heavy and frail on the floor and stared into the blue moon. I heard more high pitch screaming as I clasped my mouth shut and my eyes tightly and stared into the sky. It seemed bigger, glowing vivid blue as I felt more tension on my bones.

Suddenly ,it stopped I didn't feel blinded by the corona (ironic ) .I felt a hand and a voice of a man .Dirty gold eyes like liquid gold swirled like a rushing stream stared at me holding my arms and back tightly as I stared frozen."Lunar Silver, you'll feel better, looks at me, slowly open your eyes, and concentrate. Look at me."I slowly opened them and stared at everything as Zale engulfed me as I stared at everything confused.

He cried .No Zale. Don't show weakness. My throat felt like sandpaper, dry and itchy. Ryan sighed heavily as he slowly got up and straightened himself. He clapped and rubbed the non-existent dust off him and glared at the crowd.

"The rules have changed from eighteen to twenty-one to legally own a pack or another rank since that current eighteen year olds are very irresponsible. They haven't even experienced life or finished college or so ." He looked at Eli and me. Ryan stared upwards letting the moonlight scowled on him. "Did they hear anything?" I asked softly, as I bit my bottom lip."For that, Lunar Silver I don't know but I made sure not too."

"Gamma Elias!" Ryan yelled happily , as he outstretched his hands .Eli lumbered towards us placed his hands in an pockets almost identical to Ares .Wait! Why do I think of him so formally in my head but so formal outside? Eli was wearing a punk-gang or rock star -gang outfit .He wore a pale-blue shirt with a band I didn't recognized with crosses on their blurred faces. Demin-black sleeveless jacket and black ripped jeans with his ironic combat boots .He darted his eyes to us and waved happily .

"So, what exactly do you guys need?" Ryan asked, as he stared, wanting answers.

I stepped forwards and stared at them. "Alpha Lee ,there's a war of a demons ,killing alphas one by one ,showing humans about our presence and turning us against each other." I said in one breathe.

"And what does this do with me and my pack?" he scowled, a low growl emitted through the quiet air.

"Everything," we blurted. "We need allies."I whispered than stared into grass.

"Wasn't this caused by your dad's doing, he stole a relic, an important relic and freed a demon and now you want us to fight his war." Ryan answered, stomping toward us and pointed accusingly at Zale. They started circling at each other as one Alpha stalks.

"Stop!" I screamed and jumped in between to stop them. "Isn't this an important time, no fights, no nissues."I sighed and tuned to them. "It will affect all of us .She told me her plans of what she'll do to us she'll use us slaves and control the humans and maybe us, too .Do you really want this to happen?"

Ryan clenched his fist and growled as he paced in circles .Out of blue, he started laughing and stared at me .With gold pools sliced through me like a knife. "Great manipulation tactic, Lunar Silver but you're trying, but try harder. "He chuckled, crouch to my position. "Humans, Humans .Why should we help those resentful creatures .All they do is destroy and take what's in their path or benefits them .So tell me. Give me a better reason."Ryan added; as a sneer formed .I frowned."That's hard to answer, Alpha Lee?" I answered, honestly.

"Humans always attack things that are different to them .Just look at the civilization always competing over things that aren't theirs. Racism and sexism. All they see is power and threats .So tell me ,Lunar Silver how and why?" The questions he bombarded me where like dreaded, nail-biting test or a painful slap .I couldn't answer them. "All they do is fight for power .War only brings pain ,death and regret just look at the Nazis ,world war one and two and you said war ." he answered, and laughed ."You're eighteen, right?" He asked. "You must go back to your life or simply live your own if you still have one, leave before you regret everything. "He whispered meeting my gaze.

"I can't!" I shouted my voice desperate.

"Why not, you love him. "Ryan taunted me.

"No, you don't, they aren't real!!"Ryan snapped.

"He's literally twenty-one."Ryan gestured to a fuming Zale .Ugh, Not this again. I couldn't help but glance over .Is that Him or his wolf? Denver .Cobalt -blue .Denver seems to care more.

I whipped my head to him and stared into the ground. "I have no one .I'm alone .My brother is dead by a 'suicide'. My parents left Maines .My friends thought I left them for a guy .My dreams ...are gone down the drain. "I sighed and thought about Noah, what other lies everyone has." And as for Noah, I don't know who to trust, anymore?"Noah, I don't know?" I whispered softly, as tears welled my eyes.

Eli seemed to sense the tension, he touched Ryan's shoulder, and he spun to him and grinned. "What Gamma Elias?!" Ryan asked, as he clenched his jaw.

"You're harassing her, Alpha." he commented. I ducked my head and moved away .Lunar my ass.

He laughed again, like seriously can he even laugh more. "She can't even answer the damn question, anyway but I can. Hamia was human before sixteen so of course she'll feel sympathy for her own past race so is obvious. About the fight .You think for two years that she'll understand everything .Goddess no .Um, so let me get this straight, about it so from my resources. "Then he turned to Zale still glaring at us. "I shouldn't blame you for your father's misfortune and hell. So, I heard she's gathering supernatural, killing and turning them against each other and now slowly exposing us to the human race." He thought rubbing his chin and stared blankly then darted his head .He spun to me and glanced over his shoulder. "The answer is no, "he scowled and left.

"Give me a good. No.A better enough reason." I moved my eyes and stared at a stunned Eli, who held alcohol and stared .His left eye twitched then he looked at me and whispered.

"Did Ryan just do that?!" .He stared at him, I raised an eyebrow. "Why do you address him so casually?" I asked and crossed my arms.

He shrugged and stared at me as if I was crazy."Um, what kind of question is that? "He paused, "Anyway, he's like my uncle or father figure, after I left to train and never saw my parents again. So, we kind of have apparent parent–son bond so he's kinda, let me say this .More open but kinda stricter to me .Sounds kind of bull but don't you address Alpha Silver by his first name," he muttered thoughtfully, looking into the night and hordes of wolves.

"Um, yeah," I muttered. Eli continued and stared at me with a cheeky smile. "Well, he says that because Zale sees you as his equal, his friend a partner, just like he sees me as a friend, a niece or a son. But I like your pack even though it has its cons ,just like any other pack .He's pack is not as sexist like other packs ,I've been too .Yes ,wolves can be sexist ,racist, possessive or territorial like humans but amplified, since we're more like animals .No ,Let me rephrase that we are animals but that doesn't justify the fact even. In traditional packs with Alphas ,come to think about it you're kinda lucky .You would've have been able to address him as Zale you would've been forced to call him Alpha Silver ,he could have raped you ,take you from your family ,remove you from school or your freedom altogether. He might have taken concubines ,sleeping around and refuse to train female wolves or force to give birth .You can see obviously what I mean ,right."I nodded, and tried to understand all this weird information .He stopped, blushed and touched his neck.

"Um, Heather ...um, uh I mean Himiyia, I have something to tell you, "He muttered."Um, ok .Go on."I gestured .he huffed. "so, about Aries .I don't know how or what to say this .But my feelings for Aries are shifting like I care or she might be a weakness."

" What? Are you saying she might be your potential mate? But I thought that's ..." I trailed off staring at a confused yet stunned Eli. Well, they are kinda of close. "Bull, yes a load of bull ...or maybe I'm just being tensed .Maybe I'll find my mate tonight or never .Wish me luck." Then he clicked his tongue and saluted, sighed softly, rolled his shoulders then winked .He disappeared out maybe mingling with others or simply wanting to be close or closer to Ares .But honestly, I did have my suspicions, well. Those wolves are lucky.

I breathed, and then he lumbered into crowd.

Alpha Castillo Antonio Fergus of the Cinder pack here I come.