The Moon Phase Trilogy | Protected
Thirty-Two

Ericka was thrown down in another cage in a dark cave. She anticipated hard ground or metal, but instead she fell on soft, itchy hay. Her eyes were wide with fear as the large beast just stared at her in the cage. She scrambled backwards and felt behind her. Her hand burned from the touch. She pulled back instantly. “Please, what do you want with me?” Tears filled her eyes as her skin sizzled from the muzzle she still had on.

The beast shifted to a human and Ericka saw the hurt in his eyes. “Let me take that off of you.” He spoke soothingly. “I am a friend. A spy. He doesn’t know that though.”

“For who?” She winced from the muzzle moving slightly as she spoke.

“Someone you trust.” He took the muzzle off gently, touching the metal as little as possible. His lips went to Ericka’s ear, “You father.”

Ericka froze, “Y--you know my f--father?”

“Leave her be!” The man in the crow mask cawed.

The beast turned human, stood up straight, brushed himself off and turned around. “Sir, I will go check on the pups.”

The leader gave a sharp nod and stood aside for the man to leave. Ericka watched the interaction. “What do you want with me? I’m not all that special,” she hissed.

“You are special. More than you believe, Ericka. Zandyr wants that pretty necklace of yours, but I have no need for that. What I want is your wolf.”

“You can’t have her! She is a part of me!”

“I’m not going to extract it out of you, princess. I don’t have the powers for that. I want to give you more animal DNA, just like I did to your sisters.”

Ericka’s heart stopped. Her breathing paused. Her body froze. More DNA? There has got to be more to this. There just has to be. She thought to herself in a panic. Her ears picked up the screams of her sisters and everything started back up. “GIVE ME MY SISTERS BACK!” She snarled. Her face burned more with every word she spoke. She winced, and the man standing in front of her grabbed her by the arm.

“You are never going to see them or your friends again. Not unless you cooperate with me.” He threatened in her ear. He stuck her with a needle at the base of her neck, injecting a thick black liquid in her bloodstream. He threw her down rough on the ground and left, locking the door behind him.

Ericka wanted to say something. To protest, but she realized it was no use. She wanted to see her family and friends again. She wasn’t about to have them die because of her stupid choices.

Suddenly, she felt tingles throughout her whole body. She could feel Dusk struggling inside of her. As if she was being mixed with another animal’s DNA. She began to panic and pace. What did he do to me? What did he do to Dusk? She thought. She groaned slightly, as her body began to ache. She could feel Dusk want to shift, to make the pain ease. Ericka wasn’t sure if she could in the cage she was in. She looked down to her pendant and noticed it’s power weakening. “Dusk, it’s not a good idea. Stop it.”

She argued with a speechless Dusk in her mind, but another voice cut in like a dagger. Ericka, think about the choices you make. The choices you make determine your future.

Ericka’s eyes widened. It was her mother. Her soothing voice that she missed so much. “Mom.” She whispered with tears in her eyes. She laid down as she sobbed.

Shhhh, sweetheart. Don’t cry. Everything will be back to normal soon. I promise. I am sorry for what I have done. That wasn’t me.

“Mom...” she tried to talk, but she couldn’t between sobs. It was too hard.

Ricky... her mother paused. I need you to help your sisters. The only one you can trust there is Tyne. He works for your father. Everything will be explained as soon as it is safe.

“Mom!” Ericka’s voice cracked when she shouted. Her mind went silent. She cried harder. All she wanted was to see her parents and sisters again. She felt so weak and helpless that she didn’t know what to do. “What am I supposed to do?”

“I think I might be able to help with that,” a voice spoke. Her head shot up with fear. Ericka didn’t see anyone in front of her. All she saw was a large, dark grey wolf sitting in front of her.

“H--how are you t--talking?”

“Werewolves can speak normally and through mind. Though most of us choose to speak through our minds for safety.”

“Then why are you doing it now?”

“So I don’t frighten you.”

“I am a werewolf, for your information.” Ericka pressed her lips together.

The wolf tilted their head, “You don’t smell like one.”

“What do I smell like?”

“I can’t put my paw on it, but it’s not a werewolf scent.”

Another voice burst into the conversation, “I swear, you are scaring her just by talking.” It was the guy from before. The one who took the muzzle off of her. “I’m really sorry about him. I didn’t get to introduce myself earlier. I’m Tyne.” He grinned.

Ericka struggled to get up. She measured up the guy standing in front of her. “Why do you work for...um...the man in the crow mask?”

“Your dad asked me to.” He unlocked the cage door with ease. “Come on, we need to get out of here before it’s too late. Your sisters and the other children are waiting at the outside of the entrance with a dear friend of mine.”

She was hesitant. Yes, her mother told her to trust him. But with everything that happened to her in the past few months, she was wary of trusting too easily. Tyne could sense her hesitation. He calmly took a step towards her, holding his hand out in a friendly manner. “You can trust me. I promise.” He told her with a kind smile.

“Can I trust the wolf?” Ericka narrowed her eyes and stared at the large dark grey wolf a few feet behind him.

Tyne looked back and the wolf instantly changed to a human girl. She gave a large toothy grin as a large pair of dark grey wings sprouted from her back. “You can trust me or not. I don’t care. Just know this...” she paused, her grin changing to a scowl. “I am not a fan of that Plague Doctor bastard. I am here to save and not harm those that need saving. I am a shifter, not a werewolf. Neither of our species likes him. Working together is the best option.”

“So you were lying to me earlier. Saying you were a werewolf when you clearly aren’t. Is this all a joke? Should I trust either of you?”

Tyne stepped in, “You can trust both of us. I know she can be blunt and fiesty, but she really means the best. Your father sent me for a reason. He sent us for a reason.” He pointed between himself and the shifter girl. “If your father trusts us, why can’t you?”

“If you knew what I’ve gone through the past few months...you would understand my hesitation with trusting others right away.” Ericka growled. Her hands wrapped around the cage bars unintentionally. They sizzled for a few seconds before she pulled away. “Can you please just take me to my sisters and we can go our separate ways?”

“Yes.” Tyne unlocked the cage door and let Ericka leave. The shifter girl stayed a few feet away, sniffing her.

“You smell funny.” The girl scrunched her nose.

“I’m sorry I haven’t showered in a week. I’ve been a little busy being chased and hunted down by a vampire.” Ericka snarled sarcastically.

“It’s not that stench. It’s a mix of animal scents. A wolf and something else, but I can’t put my talon on it.”

“Well, I’m not sure what he put in me, but Dusk has wanted to shift since then to ease the pain. I just won’t let her.”

The girl frowned, “Why not? I wanna see her!”

“Aryan, please don’t push her. If she doesn’t want to shift, then she doesn’t want to shift.”

She rolled her uniquely colored eyes, “Fine.” Her eyes caught Ericka’s necklace. “Pretty. Is that what the vamp’s after?”

Ericka nodded, “Yeah, and he’s being a pain in my ass with trying to get it...again.” She paused. “I’m not even sure what he wants with it.”

“Well, maybe he just likes shiny things. I know I do.” Aryan shrugged.

The three of them headed to the exit quickly and quietly. Ericka could feel Dusk panic and she almost lost control of her when they stepped out of the cave. “I can’t...hold her...back...anymore.” She said between breaths. “I need to...let her...take over...”

“Meraki, take the kids to safety. Aryan, stay close.” Tyne instructed.

“I’m not leaving her again! We aren’t being separated again!” Maxie called out. She growled at the large burly man and Alyx ran between his legs. She clung to her big sister as she began to shift.

“Sissy!” Alyx cried.

Ericka heard her sister’s cries as Dusk took over. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t harm them. I still have control over myself.’ Ericka’s ears rang with the voice of her wolf. She felt her soul tingle just from the calming words. Dusk’s voice was relaxing. It was a sound she could fall asleep to. She had no words to respond with. She just floated there, in the back of Dusk’s mind, numb.

Dusk was in full control and everyone stared at her. Some of the children were frightened by her, but her siblings weren’t. They knew she was harmless. Her dark red, dirty fur had a layer of armor. It was sandy, like an armadillo’s body. ‘I don’t think this is what he had in mind when giving me that injection.’ Dusk chuckled, linking Tyne and the guy helping the kids.

“Sissy!” Alyx climbed on top of her, ready for a ride. She was small enough that she could ride on her back.

Maxie got out of Meraki’s grip and ran to Dusk. “Don’t you ever scare us like that again!” She had tears in her eyes. Dusk lowered her head, nuzzling the young girl.

‘I won’t. I promise. We both promise.’ She linked.

Maxie made a strange face, “I don’t like that. Can’t you just talk to me?”

Dusk shook her head, ‘I cannot. Werewolves cannot speak normally.’

“Well that’s stupid.” A frown formed on Maxie’s face. “Can we go home now?”

‘Not yet, my sweet sister. We have to find Shaun and then go back to my friends mansion.’

“You mean that scary vampire guy?” Alyx whimpered as she clung to Dusk’s neck fur.

‘His brother, but yes. His brother is kind and helpful. We will all be safe there. Come on, I will lead the way.’ She looked back to the others that helped her. ‘Thank you. We have it from here. I will take my sisters. Be safe.’

Tyne nodded and the larger guy mirrored him. Dusk howled and took off towards Winston’s mansion. Alyx held on tight and Maxie had shifted in mid run. Her dark fur was hard to see, but the white tiger markings could be seen perfectly. ‘I had no idea you could shift, Maxie.’

‘There is a lot you don’t know, Dusk. They grew up since you and Ericka got captured. You can call me Nightmare. It sounds scarier than I am.’ She chuckled.

‘Lovely to meet you, Nightmare. Stay close to me. We are entering dangerous territory for stranger werewolves.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

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