Moon Children

THE MARKED (2)

I run full speed to the main pack house and link my parents to meet me in the Alpha office. Just as I enter the front door, my link opens up. 

“What the f**k man? You’ve never even glanced in Dar’s direction, and now you’re running across the territory like a psycho over her? What do you mean you sensed her pain?! What gives? We need to meet up and talk, NOW.” Luca practically screams through our mind-link. 

“You may be my best friend Luc, but don’t f*****g talk to me that way, I am still your future Alpha! I can’t explain everything to you right now, but know this is serious and it’s not because of her, it’s about the fact she was poisoned with a very odd weapon - one that hasn’t been used in decades. Whoever initiated this attack, is very old and very calculated. I told you we don’t know who we’re up against and I meant it. Speak nothing of this to anyone, not a single person in this pack knows it’s not wolfsbane other than you, myself, the doctor, and in a minute my parents. Keep it that way.”  

I instantly closed off the link, annoyed that Luca would speak to me like that, but mostly guilty for not telling my best friend I have been mated to his sister for nearly 18 years. I needed to focus on the task at hand, there will be plenty of time for the melodrama later. I’m kicking myself inwardly for slipping up while Luca was around, and pray he doesn’t think too much into it. As soon as I enter the office my uneasiness is immediately sensed by my mother. She stands and my father follows suit. I steady myself, and proceed to tell them the events of the night, and what happened to Darci and her being poisoned. My mother’s eyes widen, terrified, as she looks to my father. They share a silent moment between them, and I know they aren’t sharing vital information with me. I slammed my fist down on the desk, crumbling the space the beneath it.  

“I know you’re upset son, but you must calm down. Anger solves nothing. We have a much bigger issue on our hands then your mate being poisoned with some wolfsbane.” 

Involuntarily, I growled, seething with anger towards my father. He’s always level-headed and diplomatic even when he shouldn’t be, showing no emotion like a stone. 

“It wasn’t WOLFSBANE.  The doctor thinks it’s mercury! Someone hurt her Dad, and not just her, this is a message to the pack. Who did this?! I KNOW you have an idea. Tell me so I can rip each limb from their f*cking body!” 

He shakes his head, letting out a deep, frustrated sigh.  

“Darci was targeted specifically, and this entire attack may have been about getting to her. There’s a lot you don’t know about the Moon children. Darcietta is incredibly special, there’s even a prophecy about her. The person who did this, knows about her and her kind, and knows how valuable she is. She is the first female Moon child born in hundreds of years that has possessed gifted powers from the Moon Goddess. It is said that when Selene cursed our kind, she granted one family with exceptional powers to help serve wolves. That family, is the Moon family. Except Darci is so much more powerful, and rare. Once every 300 years or so, the goddess gifts the powers of the moon to a female child. This child will lead her pack as the Luna, bringing them incredible strength and prosperity that will bless the pack until the next female Moon child is born. It will pass onto her, and so on for eternity. The female Moon child is stronger than any male Moon child born during her time, meaning she is stronger than her siblings, and her father. The pack the female Moon child resides in will receive countless fortunes, as well as protection. It doesn’t matter if the pack she belongs to isn’t the pack she’s born in, wherever she resides will receive her blessings. Very few know about this prophecy, and even fewer know about Darci. There’s only a handful of people who could have done this. To the people who know of her and what she is, she is highly sought after. The person responsible must be killed swiftly, or we will be facing a war against our pack.” 

My head is reeling after this overload of information, and there are so many unanswered questions. 

“Does her family know? Does she know? Who else knows and resides outside the pack? Who would try to bring us harm, just so they could take her? I’m twenty years old! WHY HAVEN’T YOU EVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS?! She goes to public school, walks around all the time by herself, goes out everywhere with no regard for the danger she’s in. I should have protected her this whole time instead of avoiding her!” 

“It wasn’t our story to tell, my sweet boy. She does know about what she is, and the prophecy. Her parents know, and all her siblings as well. Your father and I, and the elders, no one else that we were aware of. She does not know she's been imprinted on, and something tells me neither does the person who wants her. A female Moon child such as she will bless any pack she resides in, UNLESS she’s been imprinted on or marked by someone. Then, she can only bless the pack of the marksman, being you. Your father tends to forget the smaller stipulations sometimes. The prophecy says she will come of age and lead her rightful pack to success in all aspects and become the next Luna. But you were the one who decided not to tell her about your bond, and stop speaking to her my child. You did that all on your own. If I had told you when you were 7 years old that your mate was also an overtly powerful supernova, you probably would have run away to your treehouse and not come back. You’ve never been good at handling... delicate situations.” Gretchen pipes in. 

My mother, my sweet mother, she’s always right and I despise it. I would have never handled this kind of intel as a young pup, I was a loud-mouthed, self-centered, arrogant little piss-head. It wasn’t even until the last few months or so that I leveled out and accepted the idea of having a mate and ruling the territory.  

“You know now, Ezra. That’s what is important. Her birthday is in two days, and soon she will discover you’re her mate. We will need you two to take over very soon, so she can harness her power and save Black Brook. For now, we must focus on terminating the threat.” Chad says to me, ever so calmly.  

“You still haven’t told me who we are focusing on, father. And save us from what?” I state while fixing him with a hard glare. 

He sighs, before he finally begins to speak. But as he opens his mouth, a crippling pain courses through my body and I fall to my knees, clutching my chest as I let out a fierce growl. 

“Darci...” I manage to whimper. 

“Bring him to her, she’s in pain and he feels it. The bond will help them both.” My mother commands my father.  

Even though he is Alpha, she is his Luna and they are considered equal to us. He needs her as much as she needs him, maybe more. Some packs see a Luna as a secondary, lesser partner, or that a Luna makes an Alpha weak. However, our pack understands a Luna unifies and solidifies a pack, and is crucial for sustaining a successful life for our people. I watch my father nod his head, before using himself as a human crutch and lifting me to my feet. We made it to the pack hospital, albeit slowly. I could feel my mate’s pain becoming more unbearable as I neared. Pushing the door to her room open, I barely made it to her bedside before gently grabbing her hand. She was unconscious, in a state of pain and fear. The anxiety seeped through her pores and she winced and whimpered while her body spasmed. She was surrounded by machines and small tubes. Almost instantly, she soothed when I touched her skin, which eased my pain as well; as it was hers. Hey eyelids fluttered softly, but they didn’t open. Finally, being able to catch my breath, I look up to see my father with a look in his eyes, one I don’t recognize. He’s never showed emotion, but I could’ve sworn I saw something resembling pity in his eyes, or maybe, understanding? 

“Leave us, please.” I looked to him, pleading. I just want to spend time with her, alone. 

 I’d spent my whole life forcing myself to stay away from her, and I was utterly exhausted. Being near her while she was unconscious was the only way to keep from giving away our secret, she can’t know yet. She will not know until her birthday; I’ve made it my mission for years. He nods once and exits the room. I carefully crawled alongside her body, pulling her back to my chest while being mindful of her injury. I nuzzled my face into her neck and put an arm around her waist. I felt a huge relief the moment I held her and took in her scent. Felix was silent, but I know he was absolutely thrilled. I could feel his excitement from being so close to our mate. I thought as long as I wake up before she does, and leave, she wouldn’t suspect anything. The doctor comes in to check her vitals and notifies me she also suffered 3 broken ribs and a fractured ankle, which would heal when the mercury is out of her system, then left promptly. He did not ask why I was in such a precarious position, being the future Alpha cradling our Delta’s daughter like a 110-pound baby. For that, I was thankful. My eyelids fought against me and won, and I drifted into the most serene, peaceful sleep I've ever experienced. 

Darci’s POV 

I drifted along through a sea of empty for what felt as though it were an eternity. I started feeling overwhelming pain, like a fire inside my being that couldn’t be extinguished. I thrashed desperately to escape the pain, to no avail. I couldn’t wake myself up, but I could feel everything. In the darkness I heard a deep, soothing voice, but for the life of me I didn’t know what it said. Suddenly, the fire inside me lulled. It wasn’t completely gone, but it was much more bearable than before. I felt warmth, and peace, and drifted away into the black. 

I awoke in the morning, feeling groggy but so much better than I had. I sat up gently, still experiencing a nauseating headache. I looked over to see Charles standing next to... Ezra? 

“What the hell is he doing here Vy?” 

“He was with us when we lost consciousness, maybe he knows something about our injury that we don’t?”  

She sounds unsure of her own explanation which causes a sigh to escape my lips. Charles and Ezra looked over from their heated whisper session and the doctor smiled. Brent looked severely agitated for a reason unbeknownst to me.  

“There she is, how are you feeling Darci? Great news is your wound looks nearly healed. It should be gone before your party tomorrow!” Charles grins widely. 

“Tomorrow?! What time is it?” I exclaim with confusion. 

“It’s about 9:30 in the morning, Darci. It’s Friday! You were out for some time while the medicine we gave you worked its magic.

You should feel 100% come tomorrow morning. Today I’d recommend you to go home and take it easy. That means no training young lady.” 

I threw my head back against the pillow and groaned. I hate not being able to train with my pack members. I was not some weakling who took days off. I sat back up and attempted to pull my blanket down to get up, immediately regretting the decision when I felt the soreness of my ribs. Ezra came over to my side immediately. 

“The doctor says you won’t be 100% until tomorrow. I linked your parents and your father is on his way to get you home. Please, sit and rest while we’re waiting for him.” He sounded as though he were pleading with me, even though he thinks I cannot resist his authority and he could just “compel” me. 

I begrudgingly sat back down on the stark white sheets. After a few moments of silence, I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. 

“Why are you here Ezra? We’ve never been close, and don’t give me that nonsense your brother is my best friend speech. You’re not even Alpha yet, and I’m just the Delta's daughter so it’s not like you’re here looking out for your pack members. Why do you even care how I’ll get home or how I’m feeling?” 

A flash of sorrow passed his face, I barely even noticed it. His stone-cold mask was put back on in an instant, just like his father. I could somehow sense he wanted to tell me something, and Vyra was restless in my mind. He looked away from me, towards the window. 

“You were poisoned during the attack last night, with mercury. Someone outside of our pack knows what you are and they are using archaic method skills to try and capture you.” He stated, dangerously calm.