The Banished Luna

Chapter 8

In a blur of grey-brown and white, the two wolves crashed into each other, snarling.

“Geneva STOP! Please!” Georgia begged her counterpart. But it was no use. All she could do was watch the fight from behind Geneva’s eyes.

They snapped unsuccessfully at each other several times before Kara’s wolf clamped her jaw onto Geneva’s throat, sinking her fangs through her fur and into her skin. Geneva knew in that instant that this wolf would not hold back from killing her.

In North Star pack, squabbles were often settled though combat, but it was never to the death - not between packmates. Panic set in as Georgia curesd Geneva’s hot-headedness that had once again put them in mortal danger.

Geneva tried to wriggle out of her opponent’s grasp, but when she felt her flesh tear, she kicked out her hind legs instead. Her left leg connect with soft underbelly, and she kicked again. A dull “whoof” rushed from between her opponent’s teeth, but she didn’t let go.

“KUURA! STOP!” A booming voice echoed across the square.

Kuura released Geneva’s neck and she lowered herself to the ground in submission at the command of her Alpha.

Alpha Torvald strode across the square towards the cowering Kuura and her bloody victim.

“Kara. Face me.” He ordered when he reached them. His niece shifted back into human form, naked in the chilly late summer breeze; her lips stained red with blood, her eyes downcast.

“Uncle…” She started, but the Alpha cut her off.

“You will address me with proper respect.” He had never before required her to use his title, but then, she had never behaved in a way that demanded it.

“Alpha, you don’t understand…”

“Then make me understand why our guest is bleeding, and you are to blame,”

“She attacked me!” Kara insisted.

“And were you in fear for your life? From this wolf?” He gestured to the noticeably smaller and less muscular Geneva.

“No. But…”

“So you chose to bloody a much weaker wolf over a petty squabble? You let your anger overtake your judgement.”

As the Alpha admonished his niece. Avi approached Geneva and laid a gentle hand on her bloody wounds. The bleeding had stopped as the wolf’s naturally quick healing did its work, but she continued to pant, breathless from shock and anger.

“Geneva, is it?” He spoke gently and lovingly to the prone wolf. His mate. He stroked her fur and nuzzled her face. At this simple gesture, Geneva’s rage and fear melted away, and Georgia was able to take control once more, shifting back into her human form.

Avi gathered the trembling girl into his arms and held her close. She smelled of freshly baked cookies and cinnamon.

Of course, our mate would show up in our own home while were were away…

The young man chuckled softly at his wolf’s comment and held his mate tighter.

Where Kara and Kuura were proud and cold, Avi and his wolf, Aarni, were good-natured and gentle. The twins may have shared the same icy blonde hair and sharp grey eyes, but in temperament, they were as alike as a cold winter’s night and a warm summer sun.

In her mate’s embrace, Georgia felt a peace she hadn’t known since she was a child. It wasn’t the conditional love from her father - whose approval was the only thing that earned his love. Nor was it the lustful possessive love she shared with her former Alpha, tinged with a desire for power.

Avi was practically a stranger to her, but she could feel the pure love of their mate bond just as sure as her senses thrilled with his sweet, smoky scent. He smelled like a roaring fireplace on Christmas morning: warm and inviting and utterly joyful.

Her wolf was blissfully silent, overcome with emotion. Was it joy? Relief?

For the first time in her adult life, Georgia’s walls came down, and she wept with joy.

“Oh Avi…my love…” She sobbed helplessly.

He held her tighter.

“Georgia.” Her name was like honey on his tongue. He released her from his embrace and cupped her face in his hands. “You are hurt.” His eyes scanned her still-naked body. There were red gashes on her neck and shoulders, and congealing blood running down her breasts and waist. He brushed his fingers over her skin, longing to tend to her.

Georgia shook her head. She could see the blood, but no longer felt any pain; not anymore.

“Here…” Avi pulled off his t-shirt, and dabbed at her wounds “You should shift back and let Geneva heal you.”

“I’ve had worse.” She chuckled, admiring the definition of his chest and abs. He was pale and lean, like a gymnast or swimmer; so unlike the dark, muscular men of her home pack.

At that moment, Avi noticed the small silver fang marks that had been covered by blood, and on closer inspection, the faint scarring along her neck and back.

Was she mated before? Aarni’s hackles rose.

Georgia sensed the shift in her mate and saw him staring at the place where Rhys had marked her.

"Avi, I can explain" She had learned to expect swift anger and even swifter justice.

“It is in the past.” Avi said, half to his wolf, and half to Georgia. Convinced that his beloved was out of immediate danger, he held her tight once more. “Come, I’ll take you to the sauna. We can wash up and find you some clothes.”

Lost in love and the joy and finding each other, Georgia and Avi didn’t notice the rest of the pack who had gathered in the square. Drawn by the commotion, they had rushed from their cottages and longhouses to see the fray. Few had witnessed the fight between their Luna’s eldest daughter and the stranger Omega, but all could now see the blossoming mate bond between the future Alpha and the newcomer.

None noticed Kara, though, still kneeling before the Alpha, with hot tears of shame and rage streaming down her cheeks. Her fists clenched and unclenched as she forced herself to remain prostrate in front of her uncle, but Alpha Torvald’s attention had been turned towards his nephew and the bliss unfolding before him.

“Am I excused?” Kara finally said through gritted teeth.

The Alpha quickly turned towards her. “Go to the Wisdom House. We will speak more on this later.” Hs voiced was edged with annoyance.

Kara fled the square and hurried to the dark quiet of the Wisdom House. At this time of day, even Granny Sigrit wasn’t there yet, so she hastily pulled on a robe and sat in the old woman’s chair by the embers of last night’s fire.

It’s impossible. Kuura grumbled in Kara’s mind. She can’t be his mate. She’s a nobody - a traitor! She’s not worthy of our brother. He’s going to be our Alpha; he can’t be mated to an Omega!

“You don’t think I know that?” Kara snapped back at her wolf. “We can’t let this happen.”

The next full moon is three weeks away. We have until then to figure something out. Maybe we should speak to Mummu about it?

“Forget it. She’ll say that the Goddess’ will isn’t to be denied.”

She’s right. But we can’t let Avi mark her.

“I'll think of something.”