Fall Harvest Moon

Chapter 5: The Cave

Aurora's heart stopped as her mind started racing with thoughts "Axel!?! Is this really Axel? How did he find me? Where did he come from? Was he hiding HERE the whole time? Where is here? what does he mean others tried but failed? What is going on!?!"

Aurora's eyes were huge and locked onto the other wolf, who was Axel, cursed by the moon goddess. She had never seen his wolf form but heard the stories of how brutal he was and often called merciless warrior and how cruel he could be. She couldn't believe her sisters killer was here in front of her. Aurora's breath was caught in her throat and fear made her blood cold, she could feel her face and limbs pale.

Watching her reaction made Axel chuckle and he shook his head as he said "We have a busy night, I have some things to prepare, but I promise I'll be back before the moon is at its peak so we can do the first ritual."

Aurora watched in horror as Axel was able to stand tall and human-like, making him look even more menacing and taller than any man or wolf she ever saw.

"After the Moon Goddess trapped me as my wolf, Rune, I found a witch who tried to help, although she couldn't break the curse and turn me back human, she turned me into a Lycan. Much better than a boring ol' human, don't you think?" His voice was thick and snarly much like a wolf speaking like a man. He gave her an evil smirk as he turned away from her and walk over to the table, showcasing his man like movements, it made Auroras skin crawl to see a wolf/man move with supernatural speed. Her skin felt cold and clammy with goosebumps and she sweated and trembled with fear at the sight before her. She never seen a Lycan in wolf form before. Unable to speak or mind-link to call for help, alone without Zara, with Axel's reputation and history with her sister she was never more afraid in her life.

When she saw the mural behind Axel that was painted on the wall, it displayed a wolf marking a human female with his fangs on her neck, as they stood under a full moon and rivers of red flowed past her feet. Tears started to flow and she could not stop them.

Axel/Rune smiled at her reaction again as he exited the room and left Aurora with her mind spinning and unable to understand what his plan was for her. You can only be marked once and that's supposed to be from your mate, forcing someone or marking one that is not your true mate could be disastrous; Rejection could cause heartache and inconsolable grief in the other's true mate, weakening their shifters' abilities. The bond between mates is to provide true love and strength that helps increase the shifters' powers and pass those traits to their children, ensuring strong bloodlines. The stronger the bond, the more power a shifter can have. Marking someone by force could cause the shifter to reject the mark and leave the host unable to ever shift again, losing their powers and making them vulnerable and usually killed if the marker has been rejected the power they wanted; the other choice for the shifter is for them to surrender and share the bond and strength that was meant for their true mate. Aurora heard the horror stories of why female shifters were taken and forced to surrender their powers, making their mate more powerful and being already marked. Some powerful leaders had multiple wives. Their shifting abilities made them extremely big and powerful. It was a painful thing to remove a mark and it always left a nasty scar to remind of a previous marking. Aurora always heard the stories and it broke her heart to think of those who were stolen from their true mate, and it scattered even more to think that's what might be happening to her.

Aurora wished she had never run away from the feast. She wished she had walked right onto the dance floor and followed the delicious citrus scent to met her true mate and danced the night away under the lanterns and stars while her parents watched from their table with pride. She wished she had been there to see if Elle found her mate during the dance. She couldn't stop the tears as she thought to herself this was all her fault, she thought this was her punishment for running away during the mates' dance and the Moon Goddess was angry with her.

Angry with herself, Aurora knew she had to get herself out of this situation. She decided she was not going to surrender and she promised she would go back to find her true mate and bond with him only. She would not be like the others who Axel said failed.

Suddenly remembering what he said, Aurora looked at the wall with claw marks and wondered how many were trapped here and what had happened to them. She strongly doubted he would just let them go or how if they failed him what he would do to them. She knew what he did to her sister, she had to be cremated because of his anger. It made her sick to her stomach. She could feel something rising from her insides but it wasn't bile .. it was anger. She was angry at Axel for having her locked up away from home, away from her chance to meet her true mate. She WAS going to go back! She was angry at Axel for taking her sister away from her family that loved her and missed her dearly. She was angry that she could not connect with Zara when she really needed her here now. "What in the world was that stuff?"

Aurora tried to move her arms but they felt heavy as lead, internally groaning with frustration and feeling the anger boiling in her heart, Aurora wanted to yell and scream. Feeling the hatred she had for Axel fueled her anger even more, Aurora suddenly felt surprised when her hand twitched when she wanted to make a fist.

Breathing hard and refocusing on her new purpose, Aurora pushed the fire burning in her heart outwards to her hands and she was exhilarated when she was able to move her fingers and make a fist, weak but it was something she thought triumphantly.

Closing her eyes, Aurora thought of her sister, Lea, and all the happy times they had together growing up. Aurora wished Lea was at tonight's feast with her parents and watching as Aurora danced with her mate. She was sad she ran away from that opportunity. Her heartache was quickly replaced with intense hatred towards Axel and he was to blame why they weren't all together tonight.

Aurora's breathing intensified and she could feel her legs and arms tingling more as she fought to gather all her strength. She was starting to feel tired again and she couldn't keep pace as she pushed with each breath. Slowing her breathing back to normal, she was happy she could feel her limbs and wiggle her fingers and toes again.

Still unable to connect with Zara or mind-link, she didn't want to risk testing if she could speak. Aurora lifted her head to gather more of her surroundings and try to figure a way to get out. Looking at the exit, Axel/ Rune went out. She figured that was her only bet. She just needed a way to get out of this cage.

Looking around and able to see more details than before when her mind was too foggy, she was able to look at the mural again and she saw the same symbols that were all over the walls and on the drawings and books scattered all over the tables and floor. Still unable to think of why he wanted her here, and what he meant "others tried but failed"

Aurora couldn't read the words, she didn't understand what they said, but the strange language and pictures made her realize they were spells or rituals and, by the looks of it, they were not done easily without a witch's help. The tables were covered with bottles of what she guessed were more potions and bowls filled with many different items, "What is that?"

Dawning realization made it all clear and to her horror she knew Axel was trying to break the curse again and he was using other shifters for their powers that is why he so big and fast, and she was afraid she was next. She needed to get out of here, she didn't want to wait to see how Axel/Rune was planning to break the curse and the mural wasn't helping the panic building up in her. She didn't want to risk Axel catching her moving more than her fingers and toes, even though she could feel her legs and arms more now, she knew she wasn't ready to run. She couldn't connect with Zara to help her get away, it was all going to depend on her year of training. Luckily she was top rank of her class and she believed she could try escape when it was time .

Aurora closed her eyes and was focusing on her breathing, rebuilding her strength. She was trying to come up with a plan, she didn't even hear Axel come back. She was startled when he laughed low raspy chuckles, he was standing right outside her cage. Aurora wanted to scream but instead, bite her tongue and tears sprung to her eyes. "Tonight is the Harvest moon, but we must wait for a Blood Moon." Aurora's eyes looked to the hole in the cave ceiling and she could see the moon was full and bright and to her relief it wasn't red. Axel followed her gaze and said "Not yet, but when it shows, we'll show the Moon Goddess I will have my second chance; I will have another pack, and I WILL have another mate." He looked at Aurora and watched as she realized he was talking about her. His fangs gleamed and his eyes glowed and he chortled and threw his head back and let a deafening howl that shook the bed she was lying on. She shut her eyes and held back another scream that almost escaped. When she opened her eyes again, she was alone once more and she couldn't stop the tears sobbing as quietly as she possibly could.

'How am I going to get out of here?"