The cursed Moon.
Chapter 26

Moon and Zion held each other in a tight embrace, neither one willing to let go, inside they both had a fear that the other would soon be lost forever.

Moon had welcomed Zion and Atlas's idea of a ball to be held the following day. Atlas had wanted to bring a day of peace and happiness to the packs, before the inevitable battle. It was one day to pretend that life was normal, that they weren't about to go to war. Moon was excited by the prospect that her and Zion could be lovers without fear, even if it was only for a passing few hours, even if it was pretend.

They had almost drifted off to sleep in the warm bubble they shared when they were woken by a loud, consistent banging on the door.

“You stay, I will get it. It's far too late for visitors, or early. Either way, this had better be important.” Zion said sleepily as he moved from Moons side and shuffled across the room.

He opened the door, and there before him stood a very hazy eyed Reid.

“Reid usually I would welcome a visit but not at this hour, is everything ok?” Zion asked with concern.

“I need to speak with Moon, it is of the utmost importance.” Reid's words were as inebriated as his eyes, he swayed ever so lightly on the spot.

“And I assume it is so important that it cannot wait?” Zion demanded.

“It could, well of course it could, but I am here now.” Reid answered.

“Reid, what brings you here?" Moon asked as she approached the door, Zion opening it wider allowing Reid to enter.

“Lilith brings me here, I think you know what I am referring too. I am here for an explanation.” Reid stated.

“Oh, you've spoken with her then?” Moon asked in realization.

“I have, I confessed my love for her. She feels it Moon, she feels the bond, all I need to know is how?”

"Reid I cannot explain how exactly, all I can say is she is the second chance I promised you, she is yours and you hers.” Moon said calmly as she placed a hand on his arm.

“I thought that was an an idle promise to have me agree to come back. I never expected it could be possible.” Reid responded with surprise.

“I don't make idle promises, I knew it maybe impossible when I said it, but I used every inch of my being to make it so. I chose her for you, for I have seen her mind, felt her heart. She will love you the way Kat should have, the way you deserve.” Moon explained.

“She says that I am not ready.” Reid replied with a downcast look.

“Forget what she said, what do you feel?” Moon asked gently.

“I understand that she feels I need to heal from Kat, from the betrayal, I dont know why but the bond with Kat almost felt forced. With Lilith it's unique, she is unique, I crave her, I cannot sleep, all I can do is think of her. If she is with me I know I can heal from almost anything, she bought me back from the dead, for the first time in my existence I feel alive.” Reid admitted.

“Why are you here then?” Zion added.

“Did I not just tell you.” Reid answered.

“You did, but you should explain this to her, not to Moon, and certainly not in the early hours of the morning when we are both in need of sleep.” Zion countered.

“You are right, of course, I may owe you an apology.” Reid replied with realization.

“Go get her.” Moon spoke with a smile as Reid rushed from the room.

Moon shut the door, both herself and Zion settling back into bed, her head falling into his chest as his arms wrapped around her.

It was still surreal, being with Zion, the way she felt for him, the way he felt for her. All her life she had been waiting for love, the love she received from him, here, it was worth the wait, it was worth life itself.

************

Eyes, steely blue eyes, followed by blood, death, chaos. Moon's dream had taken her away from her idyllic life with Zion, and instead she was haunted by Max's face. It was manic, his voice sending shudders through every inch of her, the same phrase repeated over.

“Soon they shall all be dead, Soon you will belong to me.”

Moon tried to push it aside, block him out but he had invaded her mind when she was weakened, when she least excepted it, while she slept. As much as she fought to wake, she couldn't.

Moon was stranded in the woods, the air filled with smoke. Canvas tents lined the trees, all empty, blood spattered, their doors flapping in the breeze. She called out for her loved ones, but her voice was a mere echo. She found Apollo first, arrows in every inch of his torso. Then came Ronan, a large gash splayed across his chest, both once mighty Alphas, both dead. She searched for Mena, and soon heard her screams, herself and the other she wolf's been dragged away by Max's men. She run after them but everytime she came close they vanished into the smoke. Next she found Atlas, cradling Reigns lifeless body, he could not see her, he bellowed out in agony begging for Reign to return to him. Lastly she found him, bloodied, bruised, Zion was almost unrecognizable. She knelt next to him as he called her name with the last of his strength. His eye then connected with hers, one word alone came out "Run".

Moon sat alarmed early the next morning, shaken from her sleep. The nightmare had played over and over again during her slumber, and now she was exhausted from it. She knew that Max had fed her what he wanted her to see, his victory. Moon knew it wasnt a certain future, just a possibility that instilled a fear in her. She swallowed down that fear, she would not allow the nightmare to become her reality.

A guilt then rose in her that she could not be ignore. People were going to die. On both sides, no matter the outcome, the loss would be unavoidable and it was her fault.

Her mind raced through all of the options before her, ones where she fought alongside her new-found family, where she charged onto the battlefield, ending it as swiftly as possible.

Another was stealing off into the night, throwing herself at Max's mercy. If she agreed to stay, to be his, then the shifters maybe saved.

Death was inevitable, she knew that. Max was not a being of honor, he would take her and continue his onslaught. He would destroy Zion, Reid, even Ronan. He would drag Mena back to the village kicking and screaming. He would finish what he had started with Reign, and Atlas..... Atlas had a fighting chance, but without his loved ones to fight for, he would too perish.

No, she would not allow that to happen. There had to be another way, something she wasn't seeing, something to ensure no innocent blood was spilled, for in war every being is innocent until the battle begins.

Moon shuffled deeper into Zions sleeping chest, inhaling as much of his scent as possible, feeling the calm it bought wash over her. She had to keep her thoughts rational, clear, she had to focus, tomorrow would just be the beginning, tonight was about the ones she loved.

•••••••

Mena arrived at the training grounds later than usual, the sun bright in her eyes, everything louder, her head pounding. She recalled snippets of her evening, none of them ideal.

She knew that the truth had come out, she had acted bitter, somewhat childish about Ronan's avoidance on the topic. She had shown that she was hurt, and still he seemed unfazed by it. She had to admit to herself that she had a part in the denial of what the shared, she didnt want him to decide her value, apparently neither did he.

Tonight there would be a ball, one last celebration of life before they faced death. It doubled as an opportunity to show the she-wolfs how to appear ethereal, haunting, allowing them to lure Max's men to their deaths.

Mena sighed, her mouth parched, as she inhaled an alluring scent overtook her, Ronan, he again was standing before the women, arrogant as ever. He spotted her as she approached, and she almost believed she saw a genuine smile cross his face; she cursed under her breath as she kicked the dust beneath her at the sight of it, for this smile she was seeing for the first time only made him more intoxicating.

“Good morning Mena, nice of you to join us, I do hope you are feeling well.” he was amused. He knew she would be feeling like death today.

“I am sorry Ronan but you must be confused, unless you are here to teach these ladies how to tie a corset or bat their eyelashes then you are in the wrong place.” Mena said it with irritation, she could not deal with Ronan, not today, not with the way he was looking at her. Something had changed since the evening before, he was still taunting her with his words, but his face, the manner his eyes held hers, it caused her heart to race.

He stepped closer, his scent now encompassing her. She hated the fact that it seemed to ease her symptoms, her head seemed clearer, the sun not so bright to her sensitive eyes.

“Huntress, would you lead me to believe that you can teach such things? After shamelessly admitting you are no lady?” Ronan smirked at her.

“I may not be a lady, but I am a woman, which already makes me more qualified than you to instruct today's lesson, so if you would not mind….” Mena ordered lightly.

Ronan eyes lingered over her, considering her body, his brow rising in appreciation. If it were any other man she would have struck him then and there, but with him, she felt a heat rise within her, causing her cheeks to flush.

“Have it your way.” he said with a slight seduction in his tone. He then approached the weapon shelf and began sparing with his men as Mena paused confused by his flirtation.

It appeared if he was playing a new game with her, the taunting was still there, but it was almost as if he was trying to have her cave and surrender herself to him with his flirtations. Surrender she would not.

She shook it off, remembering the women who stood before her. They had hours to dress, prepare, learn the ways of seduction and then would be the ball. After which they would steal off into the woods, lying in wait to receive Max's scouts.

Mena began with poise, grace, how to move with persuasion, smile with invitation. It didn't matter how beautiful you were, men needed to believe you a damsel, so soft, so gentle that you would never be seen as a threat.

It came natural to her, her features had always screamed dismal, she never allowed herself to be one. Ronan certainly never treated her like one, she tried again to shake her wondering thoughts, he was in her head, he had begun to consume her thoughts throughout the day, and it frustrated her to no end.

They soon moved to corsets, make - up, dressing to their figure. Shifter women were already exceedingly exquisite to look at, but once they had all dressed in their pastel gowns Mena herself believed they were not from this world.

Moon and Reign went to work weaving flowers into the shifter women's hair before working on Mena's and their own.

“I have never felt so beautiful in my life.” Reign said gleefully as she spun in the mirror after all the work was done, her gown a shade of pastel green, the purple in her eyes complimented perfectly.

“You all look breathtaking.” Mena admitted as she considered Moon in a powder blue gown. Delicate baby blue flowers decorating her crown. She looked like a veritable goddess, her lips full, her eyes wide.

Mena had always believed Moon to be enchanting, seeing Moon now she could see that Moon was starting to believe in her own power too.

No longer was the girl whose eyes would never look up, who only spoke when spoken to and even then, softly. No longer was the girl who doubted herself, loathed herself even, here before her stood a woman who was pure magic.

Mena inhaled a deep breath as she took in her reflection, her loose braid with daisys threaded through, the blush of her cheek, the powder blue complemented her just as well as it did Moon. She truly looked like a lady, she knew how to play the part. Maybe even Ronan would see her that way, perhaps then he would accept her, love her.

She shook her head in frustration, she did not care what any man thought of her. She did not need his approval or his love, yes she looked like a lady, but she would remain the savage she was. Ronan would not change her, he would not tame her.

“It's happening, isn't it?” Moon asked with a light, concerning tone.

“What is happening?” Mena asked, half still in a daydream.

“I can read your thoughts remember dear sister. Your mind keeps slipping back to him, you are becoming consumed by him.” Moon confessed.

“It seems your gift has become my curse, I am fighting it just fine.” Mena tried to sound assuring, but she heard the flatness in her voice.

“Yes, by persuading yourself that he hates you, and you him.” Moon stated with concern.

“I don't require convincing of that Moon, it is very evident.”

Moon looked at her with a warmth that portrayed the empathy she felt for her sister. Mena didn't desire pity, she was fine with the fact he didn't want her, why should he? She had never shown interest, what if she did, what if she threw herself at him like all the others, only to be discarded for the next one. Could she possibly live with that, if it curbed the craving she had for him. He was in her blood, he clouded her mind.

Could she settle for one night? Did she love him? Or was this all just the trickery of the mate bond making her mad?

“It's no trick sister.” Moon whispered as she pulled her in tightly.

“Are my thoughts that loud?” Mena attempted a laugh while holding back tears of misery.

“When you think of him they are the loudest thoughts I have ever heard.” Moon replied softly as she released her from the embrace.

“Are you ready for what's next?” Mena asked, trying to change the subject.

“Let's not speak of such things tonight. Tonight is for family, for love, for us.” Moon answered as she took her sister's hand and began leading the women out of Reign's home.

As the front door opened an early evening breeze caressed Mena's face. She breathed it in then froze in her tracks.

“Moon...take the women back inside.” Mena warned.

“What is it?” Moon pleaded with concern.

“They're here, I can smell them.” Mena answered as she pushed the remaining women back into Reigns home.

“What do you mean, who's here?” Reign asked in a rushed whisper.

“Hunters.” Mena stated flatly.

“How many?” Moon asked.

“I could not tell. The total is higher than most scouting parties, far higher.” Mena confessed.

“Are they close?” Autumn, one of the she-wolves, asked.

“Close enough.” Mena's brain was already ticking over all their options.

“I can reach them, if I can just read one, one of the men I would get some much-needed information.” Moon said with haste.

Mena watched on as Moon sat at the table, closing her eyes, her breathing slowing completely, until Mena couldnt be sure she was breathing at all.

Moon sat in the daze for longer than Mena was comfortable with, she was straining herself. After the first ten minutes it had begun to show on her face. Tears slowly fell from under her closed eyes, her lips twitched at the corners, Mena reached in and clasped her hand in her own.

Suddenly Moon's eyes flew open, startled, she gasped for air, her whole body trembling, her skin feverish.

“Moon, shhh, you are here with us, you are safe.” Reign hushed as she stroked Moon's hair.

“We are too late, it's not just scouting hunters. It's the entire army. I read his mind, Titus. He is here with five thousand men, they will reach us by midnight.”

"The scouts Moon? Where are the scouts?" Mena pushed.

"They are headed for the clearing." Moon answered flatly.

"Then that is where we start, if they make it to the grounds Max will know all our people are in the packhouse defenceless." Mena knew there was little time to act.

"I am ready" Moon answered with determination.

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