The cursed Moon.
Chapter 9

Zion and Reid arrived at Atlas's in the early afternoon, exhausted but exhilarated. Zion more than eager to see his mate. The hours away from her had taken their toll, his every thought was for her.

As he approached the beta's home, he was greeted by Reign.

“Reign, how is she today, any improvement?” Zion asked. He had hoped she may wake soon, he wanted Reid to feel the full effect she had on their kind.

“Alpha Reid, a pleasure to see you here.” Reign dipped her head, a sign of respect to the visiting Alpha, managing to dodge Zions question.

“You look radiant as always Reign” Reid answered with a smile.

“Atlas is dealing with an issue in the pack house, too much testosterone in one castle. She is awake, she is well. It seems she took a walk in the woods again, this time she has returned with a guest. I was hoping Atlas would return before you, the situation requires a level head." It was then Zion picked up on the small nervous shake to Reigns voice, and hands. She looked around uneasy, nervous.

Zion looked to Reid, swallowing a lump of fear at what could have Reign on edge. Reid on the other hand looked amused.

“She picked up a stray, a rouge?” Reid asked, with intrigue.

“Not quite.” Reign was still not giving too much away.

“Another human, a rogue?” Zion took a couple guesses.

“Zion, you have to remain calm, she is in no danger. It is your father, he seems different, more sane, docile even. She is in there with him now.”

Zion ran towards the door, panicked. His father was not stable, most times his ramblings were incoherent. He was even prone to fits of violent rage, reliving flashbacks.

He barged in expecting the worse, but instead he was met with serene calm. Moon and his father sitting at the table laughing, the most joyous sound he had ever heard. They both looked up at him slightly confused by the sudden intrusion.

“What is going on here?” Zion asked, directly to his father.

“Zion I am glad you are here, I wanted to speak with you. Can we go somewhere and talk?” His father's voice was free of pain, he seemed….normal.

"Dad? How, what are you doing here?" Zion asked

"Moon suggested I come back to the grounds, even if just for a visit, to talk with you." Apollo was lucid, there were no signs of insanity. He could not believe it, Atlas had tried to pull him from his madness for years. He had just met Moon, and she had done the impossible.

Knowing she saved him, bought him here, too see his son, for all she knew a stranger. Atlas had said she was kind, and selfless, this was proof. She helped someone who needed help, with no reward for herself.

“Father, I would loving nothing more, its just I was hoping to talk to Moon first. Alpha Reid is here to meet her.” He looked at his mate, her eyes had not left him since he entered the room, he felt them, he felt her.

“Is it….is he safe?” Moon asked with concern.

Zion couldn't stand it any longer, her scent was thick in the room, pulling him in, inviting him to come closer. He closed the space between them in three long strides, pulling a chair to face her directly, holding her eyes with his own.

“Moon, I would not bring him here, to you, if he wasn't” Zion would never put her in danger.

“Ok and…. Zion, that's your name?” She asked, he noted the smile pull on her lips when his name crossed them, he momentarily forgot to breathe at the sight.

“It is, you can trust me Moon. There isnt anything to threat over, I would never risk any harm to you.” He was still thinking of how he loved the way his name fell from her lips, he wanted to hear it again, and for always.

Moon sucked in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. He saw her body relax, and just as he had told her she could trust him, she did.

“Okay I am ready.” she replied.

Zion walked to the door, signalling to Reid that it was safe to enter. Reid stepped into the house, and Zion understood how Moon may find this man intimidating on first sight, but she didn't show any signs of fear.

“Apollo, you are here. That is a surprise indeed, a very pleasant one. You look well” Reid had not seen the former Alpha since he slipped into madness. This Apollo looked very sane.

“Alpha Reid, we have Moon here to thank for my recovery.” Apollo gestured to Moon, who smiled brightly at Reid.

“Hello Alpha” Moon reached out her hand, Reid took it, shaking it lightly. It was clear to Zion he was gobsmacked.

“Moon....Zion if you had told me her name, I would not have believed it.” Reid's eyes studied her, he tucked her hair behind her ear, examining the mark, exactly where Zion said it would be.

“Zion you didn't do this creature any justice when we spoke of her....... Forgive me Moon, he said you were unique, but you are so much more. Zion you really have no idea who she is do you? Your paths have crossed before.” Reid's words were lost on Zion. He surely would remember if he had crossed paths with this creature before, and yet he had no memory of her further back then when he first spotted her on the grounds.

“No we cannot blame him Alpha, for though I have just learned alot from Apollo, I also have no memories of this place, its people. I myself am having a hard time in believing what I've heard to be possible.” Moon was at ease with Reid, which came as a surprise to Zion.

“You don't have to believe it Moon, I can see it, I see your mother in those eyes. But that is another story, we shall have plenty of time together to speak of that. If, of course, you are staying in shifter lands?” Reid asked a question Zion was desperate to hear the answer to.

“If you will allow it, Alpha. I would like to call this place home again.” Moon's reply was precisely what he wanted to hear.

“Am I interrupting something?” Atlas stood with Reign in the doorway, confused by the crowd in his home.

“Atlas! I want to show you something.” Moon crossed the room, full of excitement. She then placed her fingers over Atlas's temples. In minutes Atlas's eyes began to water, his arms wrapped around her tight, Moon returned the loving embrace.

Zion couldn't help it, the possessiveness took over. A growl ripped through the house, he didn't want another male touching his mate.

“Easy Zion, she was using her gift. It seems we have a lot to talk about sister.” Atlas spoke as he released Moon from his arms.

Reign busied herself with the kettle as the four men plus Moon tried to squeeze around the table, given the size of the three Alphas and the Beta, it was not a simple task.

Apollo hovered before sitting, Zion remembered his father wished to speak. Zion pulled him away from the table, eager to have his first real conversation with his father since childhood.

“Zion I would like to start by saying I am sorry, I should have been there for you, I should have done more. I couldn't and for that, I apologize.” Apollo spoke first, he had not spoken so coherently in years, what exactly Moon had done to him, Zion wasn't sure.

“I understand father, I have a mate of my own now. There is no need to explain.” And there wasn't, Zion was literally going to war for his mate. If he lost her, it would kill him.

“Yes I see that. When Moon told me she had mated I did not know it was with you. You have no idea how blessed you are Zion” his father's words were filled with pride.

The two men shared a smile, Zion taking his fathers hand in a firm shake, his father needed forgiveness, Zion would gladly give it.

Once they returned to the table, joing the others, Moon smiled widely at Zion. A blush rose to her cheeks when she realized they had been holding eye contact longer then what was normal. How could one being be so beautiful.

“Zion, our myths, well, they are not myths at all. The stories of our creation, every one is true. The Moon Goddess created us, we were made to be immortal. When Titus created his race, his human race, he did so for war. They were disposable to him, their lifespan short. I walked the earth when first war began. The origins of war were born because of a woman. Her name was Freya, she wasn't just any woman, she was my sister. When the Moon Goddess created her, she put her own magic in her blood, the blood of the creator. Titus wanted this woman as his own, wanted the power she possessed, obsessed by what she represented, beauty and light. The time came that she mate bonded, the first bond of it's kind. This bond was not with the God but with a man named Creed. He became my dearest friend, I a beta, he my Alpha. For centuries we fought side by side against the God, War became his purpose, ours to keep Freya from his grasp. After centuries of war, Creed and Freya had a child, Willow. She was just like her mother, pure magic, a much needed beacon in times of darkness. But Titus was relentless, he came for Freya, and her child. Freya saw no other way to stop the bloodshed, and the guilt it caused, than to take her own life. Creed was killed by Titus soon after, weakened by the loss of his mate. Titus took the child they shared, stole her from my lands. It is said he has since changed his name, his location. I tried to track her, find her. When I finally did, herself and her daughters were all said to be dead, only leaving behind a son. Believe me when I say this, I had no idea more than one of her children survived, let alone two being raised in a human village.”

The younger members of the group, excluding Moon, looked at Reid in shock. Zion had known he was over a century old, but he had to be at least a thousand, if what he said was true. If he indeed came from the first shifters.

“So Moon and Atlas are….?” Reign turned from the bench to ask, completely enthralled by Reid's story.

“I would be their great uncle, and they would be the great-grandchildren of the Moon Goddess.” Reid answered.

Zion looked at his mate for her reaction to the news, but all he saw was fear, her breathing heavy, her hands shaking. He gently took her hand in his, a reassurance that he was with her, she was safe.

“Reid, I saw him, I saw the God Titus in your mind. I have seen him with my own eyes, I know who he is.” Moon's voice was filled with terror.

Atlas had seen it too. It was obvious, Atlas was steadily growling. His wolf was just on the surface.

“Max!” Atlas roared the name, everyone stood, clearing the room and spilling onto the porch. They were leading Atlas out, if he shifted indoors, they would all be in the crosshairs. Once free, he quickly released his wolf and dashed into the trees, Reign following close behind.

Moon squeezed onto Zion's hand, sending a wave of calm, of love across his body, forgetting her own fear. She was aware he was feeling enraged just like Atlas, she was soothing him. How was she this in tune with his feelings already? He didn't care. His skin felt like fireworks under hers.

“Zion, we have many details to discus, if Moon and Atlas are correct, this shall be no average battle. We will leave for the north tomorrow, tonight we talk strategy.” Reid wanted this victory, Zion understood why, why he wanted war, why he despised hunters. He had been fighting them throughout time, for hundreds of years.

“Apollo my old friend, it's good to have you back, and Moon, you and your brother are my kin, on my life Max will not harm either of you or your mates. Now I have to speak with my warriors, I shall be sure to visit tomorrow before we depart.” Reid turned and headed off towards the pack house.

“If you don't mind it Zion, I may go to the pack house, set up a room. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I could sleep peacefully.” Apollo looked exhausted, there was no doubt about that, Zion was just happy to have him home.

“Rest now father, tomorrow you run to the north with me. ” Zion wanted to spend as much time with his father as possible. They had lost so much of it already.

“Moon, thank you.” Apollo looked at Zion's mate with love.

“No, thank you, Apollo.” Moon answered sincerely.

Zion watched his dad leave astounded with the man before him. Reids stories had to be true, Moon was light, she was beauty, she was magic. To bring his father back from the brink, to heal his pain, that was powerful.

She turned to face him, the silence long as they breathed each other in. Moon showed her shyness once more by looking down once the red of embarrassment rose to her face.

"I am sorry, I should not stare." Moon whispered sheepishly.

"Dont be sorry.I want learn more about you, if that is ok?" He would prefer to know everything about her, but he didn't want to push her. She seemed slightly socially awkward. Another of Atlas's facts rose to mind, she didn't think much of herself, her confidence low.

"What would you like to know?" Moon asked with disbelief.

"Well, what did you think of the Alpha?" If she could accept Reid, it maybe possible she would accept him, as her mate, and the Alpha.

“I like Alpha Reid, not just because he is my great uncle. More so because he has seen so much suffering, and yet, he has hope. Although I do like the Alpha of this pack much more.” Moon grinned at him as she spoke, Zion was dazed by it, it was hypnotic to him.

“You know, don't you?” Zion wanted to tell her himself, but she had figured it out.

“Believe it or not, you were a bedtime story told to the children of the village, Alpha Zion. More fear has been installed by your name then any other shifter here. Although I am not afraid of you, not now.” Moon lent in closer, resting her head against his chest, any embarrassment she had seemed to have melted, just as he melted at the closeness.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in closer.

“And it doesn't bother you?” Zion needed to be certain she felt safe with him.

“Zion, I have not been here long, but I have learnt of what we are, what it means. Most importantly I know what I feel, without reason or sense, I love you. We belong together, I want you for who you are, all of who you are. That is the bond.”

Moon looked up at him as she spoke, and his chest felt like it might burst. Every moment with her felt like the first, the tingles under his skin still sparked, and her scent, it was like a drug for him.

“My Moon, you never cease to surprise me.” he held her tightly, she held him back, breathing each other in. She was worth dying for.

Zion decided to wait for Atlas to arrive back, he needed him here to protect Moon. He had told Moon about Kat, about how vicious she could be. He told her being his mate now made her a target for any and all enemies he had, that she must be careful, alert and aware.

He needed her to know everything. He had to keep her safe.

Atlas soon returned with Reign, both of them smiling, both of them happy, as if Atlas hadn't lost control at all.

“Atlas, we have learned a lot of information today, as my Beta, as Moon's brother, I am trusting you with her life in my absence. I know you won't let me down.” He placed his hand on his beta's shoulder, it had been a lot of information for them all to take in, Moons origins, Atlas's origins, it was a shock for them all, it was best to let it sink in.

“Thank you Alpha, I will protect her life with my own.” Atlas wasn't exaggerating, Zion knew there was no other choice now then to fight for Moon. It bought him peace to know Atlas, Apollo, and now Reid were just as willing to go to battle for her as he was.

“Moon, there is a war coming, we all must be prepared. Remember what we spoke about, avoid Kat, avoid her at all costs. And no more wandering around the woods alone. I will be by in the morning with Alpha Reid to say farewell, stay safe my Moon.”

Zion lent down placing a kiss on her head, her blush reappeared as he did. He hated to go, but he had to. He smiled warmly at her, then turned to leave.

“Zion.” Moon called to him just as he reached the door.

“Yes Moon.” He knew she didn't want him to leave, he didn't want to either, but there was much preparation to do.

“Come back to me” Moon's voice was full of concern, Zion smiled widely at her.

“Always.” He answered before exiting the house.

Zion knew he loved her then, more than anything he loved her. He would be hers forever.

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