The Handicapped Luna

Chapter 14 Power

Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip...

Is that water? Why is my bed hard and cold? Cave? It's kind of dark. Wait... Oh my Goddess.

I jumped up. I killed someone. And what did I do to that other guy? I looked around. I'm in a cell inside a cave. I walked to the bars. I attempt to wiggle it, but it's not actually locked. I think about if this is the right move or not. But, I hear Selenes voice from somewhere.

"Trust your instincts, and trust your wolf."

I look at my wrist. They took off the charm. Xandra let me know she was here. "Ok."

So, I walked a little ways down the hall. I see another cell. It has two sleeping identical twins. "Octavia, don't wake them up. They may get loud and alarm someone."

Just then, I heard a commotion a few doors down. I dashed inside a darkened cell and went under the bed.

"Castor, we have the Silver Wolf. I'm not interested in killing any children. I'm not a killer. I just want some retribution from the Moon Goddess. And I don't want the girl to hate me."

"Oh, he will get something from her, alright," Xandra said.

Silently, I replied to her. "What do you mean?"

"Octavia, what you did to the second guy didn't kill him. You separated him from his wolf. The Goddess obviously did that for a reason."

The men were still arguing. "Well, whatever. But you should have warned us about her power. Something is clearly wrong with him. It's like losing his wolf has made him lose his mind."

A group of rogues came walking out of the room with anger. Two of them went to the twins' cell. They snatched them awake. "Come on!"

"Where are you taking us?" The kids were so afraid.

"No where technically." One of them placed bags over their heads. "We will take you somewhere and let you go free. But, you have to find your own way home."

Once they were all out of sight, I walked out of the cell and over to the room they all came out of. There were still two men talking.

"What exactly are you planning on doing with that poor girl?"

"Benjamin, why do you care? You don't even know her."

Benjamin?

"She's obviously my brothers mate. So, of course, I care."

Xandra told me to go on in. "If you do find a way out right now, what then? Pete's got to be planning more."

She's right. Here it goes....

"I'm just going to apeal..."

Pete locked eyes on me and smiled. He was a dark-haired man with a few grey hairs. His eyes held that blue color I see in Jalen and his father. But, the dark color around his eye suggested someone with a level of depression. "Your highness."

He stood up. And walked to me. He circled around me like a vulture.

"Where's my blade?"

"Oh, don't worry. You'll get it back when I trust you won't use it on me."

Xandra asked curiously, "What's he expecting, Stockholm syndrome?"

"What is it you want from me?"

"All I want is to be allies. I'm not your enemy, girl. Like myself, you were dealt an unfair hand in your life."

"You look at it that way. I always thought I was meant for more. Apparently, I was right."

"Perhaps."

I looked at him confused.

"Octavia, isn't it?"

I nodded my head. "Pete."

"Tell me, did you get to read the whole scroll when you were with the elder."

"Why should I? They'd tell me more if there was more to know."

"But, would they?" He sat down on his table. And looked at me. My stomach rumbled. He smiled. "CASTOR."

A man came in. I recognized him. He was in the group.

"Get her some food, please. Unspoiled and not poisoned."

He shook his head and left.

"Elders are required to do one thing. Uphold the demands of Selene. If they were to tell you too much, it could change the course of everything Selene intends to happen."

"So, what do you know?"

"Later. But, stick around. Let me tell you some stories about the others around here."

I looked at Benjamin, who was hanging there. He looked beaten up. "You want me to stay?"

"Yes, of course."

"Let Benjamin go."

Benjamin snapped his head up. And looked at both of us. The door opened, and Castor appeared with food.

"Castor. Take Benjamin and let him go."

He nodded and walked over to Benjamin and broke open the chains, keeping him in place. Benjamin fell to his knees. Castor picked him up and supported him effortlessly as he took Benjamin away.

Pete coughed. "That's Castor. He's extremely strong. Not very sharp, though. He was the oldest of many siblings. But, for some reason, his family hated him. They abused him and enslaved him." He spun around in his chair. "The wolf, your mate killed... Lost his wife and daughter. Drove his wolf crazy when he found out his Alpha did it. The man you stabbed and killed. He actually never had a wolf. The man you separated from his wolf... He has cancer."

I started to eat. "That's sad and all, but what exactly is your plan?"

"I want to take the Elders down! Sure, Selene starts the story. And, we have free will. But, the Elders... They have many answers and never give us so much as a chance." He opened a drawer. "Now, do you want to see the rest of the scroll?"

Jalens POV

"She was just snatched up. Under your nose." Axel was furious and hurt, 'My pup.'

Valex and his son were on the phone with me. Locklan was with both of them at High-Moon still. Maxwell was trying to be a mediator.

"Look, dad, enough." Maxwells outburst threw me for a loop. "I know you're in league with Pete. This has to stop. You've strayed so far from our Moon Goddess."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop, dad! I heard you talking to someone right around the time Jalen called. You did something. Now talk."

I started to feel hopeful, despite Ajax wanting to rip out Alpha Valex's throat. I still wasn't sure what any of this would accomplish. So, I let Ajax take hold. However, normally, I can see what Ajax does. But, this time, it was a black out.

Ajax POV

Growl "Listen to your king, Valex. And, your son. We know you have something going on with Pete. Now, I don't care what you reason is... Money, power, or a bougie lifestyle! You will confess, and you WILL tell me where my Luna and your Queen is. If you don't, myself and the elders will strip you of your title!"

I was hurt, but my hurt channeled into intense anger. All I could see was my Xandra and Tavie. And I felt myself wanting to disconnect from my human or takeover. But, he is good and strong. I'd never leave him alone. But, we need our Luna. It hurts to not have them safe with our pup.

"Petes in the mountains. He's passed the North Carolina border. But he's on the western end. He's never told me the exact location. He's near an old abandoned town, according to my contact. But, knowing what I know, he's in an old abandoned mineshaft or cave. He was looking for Selenes Blade. But, apparently, Octavia got it. My job was to provide an opportunity for the queen to come here. As it was, that was a done deal with the Kings commands about my pack."

"She's also pregnant with my pup, you POS!"

There was a pause, "She is?"

"Yes!" I growled and howeled. I didn't know what to do. But, I had so much anger that I did the next best thing I could think of. I jumped out my window. From the second floor, with glass raining around me, I took off. And nothing would make me stop.

Octavia's POV

If I fail my mission from the Goddess, my son will become a fowl king. He will be controlled by life's temptations. And his wolf will rule over his human side. And a King ruled by his animal instincts will bring only chaos.

"Why would you show me this? You must know that I understand my mission is probably to kill you, don't you"

He looked taken back. "Is it? The Goddess wants unity and conformity." He stood up and grabbed a drink. "I don't mind those things. I just want our kind to stop suffering. And if I have to take the bull by the horns, I will. And you will be the shining symbol of those horns. With your power and the blade, no one will step out of line."

"Your line is imaginary. Selene drew the line. Myself and Jalen protect and enforce the line. The Elders only set the line."

"Jalen won't be in my way much longer. This is the thing about our wolves, Octavia. We are both separate entities. And I starved Benjamin's wolf of his mate and pup enough. Eventually, his wolf started to block out Benjamin. Although he had a spell designed to keep his wolf from morphing totally. Let's just say... I tortured his wolf into believing his brother was the enemy. And I just let them both go for you. Once he left, the spell wore off."

No. What did I do? "What is it you want to accomplish after the Elders?"

"Our wolves are superior, Octavia. We need to let them be free. We are the weak ones. Why do you think Zandra is so much more powerful than yourself?"

"The Goddess made me this way for a reason. I may have a handicap. But, anyone who has been a part of my life knows I've always pushed beyond my limitations. Selene gave me the wolf who would prove my limitations would never hold me back."

"Oh heck, yes, girl!" Xandra was doing flips, "Together to the very end. Now, let's do this. We need to get back to Jalen."

I let Xandra have control. She came out in a threatening growl. It almost sounded more like a territorial lion. Like a battle of the Titans, but wolf against wolf, they crashed into each other, biting at each other. After several minutes, I had an idea. "Wait, Xandra, remember he's hidden the blade. Don't kill him. wear him down. Then I'll remove his wolf. Honestly, I think he's being controlled by it anyway."

Xandra had him trapped underneath her. And her jaw was locked on his throat. Pete's wolf could barely breathe. Just as he was about to pass out, Xandra and I switched places. I slammed my hands down on his chest. After hearing his chest crack followed by a scream, the same image of his wolf made of green light jumped out.

There was a commotion down the hall, probably because of the reaction of Pete screaming. I looked down at Pete one last time. He looked like he'd just come out of a trance. But, he was having a hard time breathing. He looked at me, "Thank you. But, you need to run." He gasped and reached under his shirt and pulled out the knife. "Head passed your cell. The last door to the right, the door says, 'condemned and weak.' It's actually just the way out."

I took off down the hall. I just saw the group of men before I turned and ran. Passed my cell, and I saw the end of the hallway and the last door. Once I opened the door, Xandra took over. And she jumped up through a hole to freedom.