Moonblood

Chapter Nine

NineBlood and Howls

CASSIAN

“Your Majesty, are you sure you have to go?” Lysandra asks, resting a hand on my arm. I eye the arm and my jaw ticks.

“Yes,” I reply, subtly shrugging her hand off. “I’m the king. It’s cowardice to let my people get injured for the safety of my pack and kingdom.”

Lysandra sits up. The sheets fall off her body, exposing milky white breasts and red-tipped n*****s.

I look away and stand to my feet. “I need to shower and prepare for the day ahead.”

“I’ll join you.” Her voice is sultry, seductive.

She pushes off from the bed and wraps her arms from behind me. Her bare chest presses against my back.

With a sigh, I unclench her hands from around me.

“I’d rather not, Lysandra. I need space to think.”

I leave her and pad into the bathroom. Steam bellows from the hot shower, but I don’t feel the heat as I step under it.

The truth is, I’m scared. Terrified.

Rumors of war between other Alphas have reached my ears. Lysandra’s father, Alpha Eric, died in one of the wars two years ago.

The problem is a child. There is no information on how to identify the child, except that they are of royal and Alpha blood.

My pack and I have searched for this child. I’ve summoned tons of meetings with Gaza, Kalem and Shyra. None have given me any concrete description, or information regarding this child.

The rumor of this child said to bring the downfall of Alphas, started four years ago, and the Alpha wars began three years ago. The prophecy is already in motion, and as a king, I feel so helpless.

“Goddess!” I squeeze my eyes shut and let the hot water numb me.

It never slips my mind that I may die before I find the child. And I’m also reminded by the elders to produce an heir… just in case.

Unfortunately, my wolf has no pleasure in Lysandra. Neither do I.

We’ve consummated our joining, but I can count on one hand in the five years how many times we’ve been intimate.

The severed bond still hurts. And I like to think it’s the hurting that’s keeping me from feeling anything for Lysandra.

“Your majesty,” Jafeth’s voice trickles into my mind. “We’re ready for you.”

My eyes glaze over and I respond through the mind link. “I’ll be out in a bit.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I shut the water off, wishing I had more time. When I step out of the bathroom, I’m happy to find that Lysandra is absent.

I dress up in simple clothing, and stuff some into a backpack with some snacks. Soon enough, I’m out of the room and in the arena.

Lysandra stands in front of the whole pack with Jafeth at her side, a little too close. I don’t think much on it, but I approach them.

“Your Majesty,” the pack choruses with a bow.

Lysandra slips her dainty, slender hands into mine. My body protests at the contact, but I fight it off. Instead, I grip her hand.

We are a united front. And that is what the pack will see.

“Today, most of us will begin our tenth journey in search of the child of prophecy. And as usual, Lysandra and Jafeth are in charge,” I announce.

Their faces crumple in sadness like it always does. I could perceive the tangy scent of fear in the air.

“May the goddess protect us, and guide our path. May she lead us to the child of prophecy so that this war ends once and for all!”

Everyone howls at the moon that gradually fades behind the horizon. Faces tilt up in reverence to the goddess.

“Be safe, your Majesty!” Jafeth kneels and the whole pack follows, including the ones going with me.

“We will,” I reply.

I give everyone enough time to bid their loved ones and mates goodbye.

My heart aches as I watch some of them cry. Especially the Omegas whose mates are Betas, Gammas or Deltas.

Lysandra gives me a hug which I return, and she plants a long, wet kiss on my lips.

“Return to me, my King,” she speaks on my lips. I nod.

And we begin our journey. This time, we decide to inspect the northern borders. We all know the northern borders are mostly inhabited by rogues.

“Remember!” I call the attention of everyone, turning on my heel to face them. “We’re heading for rogue territories. We kill on sight! They’re dangerous.”

“Yes Alpha!” Macy, the female Beta responds on everyone’s behalf.

“But do not hurt any pup. We’re looking for a child of prophecy, be careful.”

The rest of the journey is silent, save for the adrenaline pumping through our veins. As we cross dense forests and jagged cliffs, our eyes scan for any signs of rogue packs.

Hours stretch into days, the forest accommodating us in our numbers.

*** TWO DAYS LATER***

“Shift! Now!” I command.

The ground rattles from the pounding of paws. The scent of rogue wolves is intense. It’s a f*****g stampede.

Immediately, we all shift. My wolf is happy to take over, teeth snarling, poised for battle.

“Protect each other, and aim for the kill!” I command through the mind link.

A chorus of howls meet us first before the rogues come into view.

The scent of rogue wolves hits us like a storm. Their furs are matted, their eyes wild with vengeance.

Fewer in number than us, but they move in tight, unpredictable packs, circling as if testing our defenses.

I stand between my pack and the rogues. In wolf war it’s never about numbers. It’s about strength, and skill.

We all circle each other, patiently. They’ve come to kill, and so have we.

“Attack!” I command and we leap forward. The leader of the rogue pack comes for me, and I slam him with my paw, clawing at the skin of his face. Blood rushes out and he howls.

All hell breaks loose. The fight is brutal, the rogues were underestimated. They fight with vengeance, with hatred.

Howls split into the air, the forest drowns out the whimpers. The ground swallows the blood that spills.

Teeth tear into skin, claws rip apart flesh.Wolves zip past, paws pounding the sand. We hunt, chase, kill.

It’s chaos, and it’s madness.

From the corner of my eye, Macy shields a young Delta with her body, snarling, while Rio takes down two rogues at once.

The chorus of our pack’s howls spurs me forward, refusing to let anyone fall. Then, I focus on the rogue I’m chasing.

I’m led to a creek. His claw sinks into my side, and a snarl rips from my throat. I throw him off me, and my wolf whimpers at the sharp pain.

But I don’t give up. He slides to a stop, and we circle each other again. Then he leaps for me, fangs bared. I do the same.

We clash in the air and fall painfully to the ground with me on top. He sputters, and I don’t waste time in sinking my teeth into his jugular, and I rip it apart.

His claws painfully dig into the bones of my lower limbs but it slowly falls away as the light is snuffed out of his eyes.

He transforms into a young male, skinny and pale with an oozing wound on his neck.

He’s dead. I should feel bad because he’s only young. But I don’t.

I try to form words to my pack through the mind link but I can’t. My body hurts, and tiredness seeps into my pores.

I see a clearing in the distance and a pack house. I know I shouldn’t go. I know it’s likely a rogue pack, but it seems too lovely for one.

Instead of fighting it, I limp all the way to the pack house. I whimper at the first door I find, and my body collapses to the cold, sandy ground, my limbs unable to keep me up.

Exhaustion wins, and my wolf growls. My wolf recedes, and I transform.

A creak echoes, I hear the door swing open. Then, a shadow fills the doorway. But I can’t move. All I can do is pray to the moon goddess…

I hope I don’t die… not yet.