The Moon Phase Trilogy | Protected
Twenty-Nine

The girls got to the small town where Astoria lived. Astoria led Shaun to her best friend’s home quickly and quietly. She tapped on their door and a girl came and opened it with a yawn. “Tori, why are you here so late? You know my parents don’t like visitors this late.”

“Nerilyn, it’s only seven at night. I really need your help.” She moved to reveal Shaun. “She’s burned pretty badly.”

The dark haired girl frowned, “I’ll help, but meet me in the S.H.E.D. I can’t have my parents seeing a non-witch in our house.”

Shaun leaned in, “I thought you said she was nice and willing to help.”

Nerilyn narrowed her brows, “I am nice and willing to help. Tori here just woke me up so I’m crabby.”

“Who sleeps this early anyway?”

“Healing witches do. We use a lot of our energy for healing, so we sleep a lot to regain all of it back by the next day.”

Shaun pressed her lips together, “Interesting. Our healers use their energy, but not that much of it. We have to make sure we have enough energy daily to shift.”

Nerilyn’s brows raised and her light brown eyes glistened, “Oh? You’re a werewolf then?” She heard shouting from the living room from her father.

“Lyn, who’s at the door?” He called out.

“Just Tori, daddy!” Nerilyn shouted back and turned to her friend, “Tori, you know where to go. I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.” She whispered.

“What does she want?”

Astoria nodded and took Shaun by the hand. Nerilyn shut the door and Shaun could hear the conversation between Nerilyn and her dad. “I swear, all the adults in any species hate all other species besides their own.” Shaun rolled her eyes.

Astoria chuckled softly, “This is very true. My parents are just so stubborn and believe I won’t get my powers. I was supposed to get them when I was around the age of ten, but nothing.”

Shaun almost choked on her own saliva, “That’s a little harsh of them. I’m sure you’ll get your powers soon.” Shaun noticed they were going back into the forest. “I thought we were meeting her at the shed?”

“We are. S.H.E.D. stands for Safe Haven Elixir District. It’s where healers who want to help other species go.”

Shaun questioned the acronym in her head. She followed Astoria like a lost and injured puppy. “Are we there yet?” Shaun whimpered.

“Shaun, it hasn’t even been twenty minutes yet. We’re close, but not there just yet.” Astoria told her.

Shaun frowned and let out an obnoxious sigh, like a child. “This is so boring!”

‘Shaun, chill out. What has gotten into you?’ Blu asked.

“So now you’re speaking to me?” Shaun commented with a roll of her eyes. Astoria raised her brows and looked back, “It’s my wolf. Don’t worry about it.” Astoria just nodded and turned back to face the front.

‘Shaun, I didn’t want to stop talking to you, but you were acting childish and selfish.’

“Says the wolf who gave me the silent treatment.”

‘Why do I even try with you? You’re too stubborn, Shaun!’ Blu snarled. ‘Ever since you found out Grant was your mate, you have been acting so childish. You became so vulnerable for Zandyr that he took advantage of that! Shaun, you need to get a grip! You need to protect Ericka!’

“Pff, she has Jay for that.” Shaun rolled her eyes.

‘You don’t get it do you. Ericka is a royal. Royals have more than one protector sometimes. ERICKA HAS MORE THAN ONE PROTECTOR! You and Jayden need to protect her with your lives, otherwise Zandyr will kill her. The prophecy will never be fulfilled and another war will start!’

Shaun didn’t say another word. Blu was right. She didn’t understand how she knew all of that, but she was right. Shaun needed to clean up her act. Astoria looked back as it went quiet by Shaun. “You okay?”

Shaun just nodded and her eyes flickered to Blu’s eye color, “She is fine. Her and I had a deep conversation. She is realizing a lot of things right now. She will be alright once she is healed from her burns and bruises thanks to Asher from holding her roughly.” Blu answered.

Astoria stopped and turned her whole body around, “Whoa...that is really cool. I didn’t know that was possible with werewolves.”

“A lot is possible with us if you are willing to learn.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, if Shaun was willing to learn more about our species and what we can do, she would know a lot more than she does.”

‘HEY! I know plenty!’ Shaun yelled in the back of Blu’s mind.

“Not as much as Ruby does.”

‘She has to know all of that stuff. She’s the Patron of Wisdom.’

“You’re point?” Shaun went silent again. “That’s what I thought. Now Astoria, how close are we? I’d love to stretch my legs, but I don’t want others to see...”

“Um, we are about five minutes out. Not sure if you’ll have enough time to stretch out.” Astoria admitted.

Blu smirked, “That’s plenty of time.” She took full control. Every bone in her body cracked as she went from a human to a blackish blue medium sized wolf. Astoria watched in awe. She stared at Blu’s scars all over her body that were pink. ‘Please don’t stare. I will be there in a few minutes. I can smell you from a mile away. Just head to S.H.E.D. and you will see Shaun there soon.’ Blu linked her.

Astoria shook her head, obviously not used to having another voice in her head. “O--okay...” She stuttered and headed to S.H.E.D.

Blu took off into the forest for some air. When she ran full speed, she was a blur of blueish black fur. She hoped no one would see her when she stopped, but she ended up tripping on a pulled up root and rolled into what looked like another runaway. She didn’t dare say a word and neither did the other cloaked runaway. They just stared at one another, hearts beating so fast it felt like the world around them was moving so slow. Blu caught the scent of the cloaked girl and she smelt of wolf, but also bird and lion. Blu sneezed from all the mixed scents and when she opened her eyes, the girl was gone. All she remembered were bright blue eyes that reminded her of Ruby’s. ‘Who do you think that was?’ Shaun whispered.

“Don’t know, but we need to get to S.H.E.D. before we get caught.” Blu didn’t want to find out who was chasing the girl. She fled the way she had come and caught Astoria’s scent close by. She barked sharply, hoping she understood that she would be there in a second. Blu had a feeling Astoria wouldn’t understand the tongue of the wolves, but it was worth a shot.

S.H.E.D. was in reach of Astoria and she saw some fellow healer witches heading inside, “HOLD THE DOOR!” She shouted.

The fellow witches held the door open and she ran into a few others by accident. “Watch it, Powerless.” A witch from her town hissed.

“Leave her be.” A large guy defended. He heard a sharp bark from the distance and Astoria heard it too, but couldn’t understand it. “Hold the door. Someone else is coming.” He informed.

The witches at the door nodded and saw a blueish black blur coming full speed ahead. “It’s a wolf!” One shouted in a panic.

“She is a werewolf. I can feel it.” The guy commented. “She means no harm. She is coming to gain help.”

Astoria was interested in how he knew so much, when he never met Blu or Shaun, but she kept her thoughts to herself. She watched Blu shift into Shaun in mid run. Astoria had to rub her eyes several times to make sure it wasn’t an illusion. “There is my patient. Come with me and I will get you fixed up.” Nerilyn spoke with a smile. Astoria looked behind her. Her best friend stood behind her fully awake and chipper.

Shaun lowered her gaze and walked over to Nerilyn and Astoria. She wasn’t sure how friendly everyone was. She didn’t care if it was a safe haven for the injured, she was worried a fight would break out between species. She quickly followed the two friendly witches, looking up at the large man walking so close behind her. He was so intimidating, but he smelt of wolf. It made sense why he looked so intimidating. Shaun’s body stiffened, catching a strangely familiar scent. A scent that she never wanted to smell again. This wasn’t Zandyr’s scent, this was a colleague’s scent of his. Someone that went by the name of Crow. His scent was so unique, Shaun could never forget it. The werewolf walking behind her, put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. ‘Everything is fine. He is nowhere near here.’ She heard in her mind.

‘Then why do I smell him? Explain that.’ Shaun snarled in her mind back at the guy.

‘There is a spy here, a spy that is helping escapees. They smell like him, but it’s not him. Trust me.’ He continued.

‘How do I know you aren’t working for Crow?’

‘Because I left there a few years ago. Names Meraki, Meraki Torben. I’d never go back unless I absolutely needed to, to rescue pups.’

Shaun’s conversation was abruptly stopped when Nerilyn and Astoria stopped. “We are here, the burn section of S.H.E.D.” Nerilyn sounded way too happy.

Shaun cringed and she looked down at her hands which seemed to be getting worse by the second. ‘I’ll be right outside if you need me.’ Meraki linked. Shaun gave a small nod and walked in before the others.

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