Awakened: Reckoning of the Moon & Sun

What Are You Afraid Of?

    “So the borders are clear but I’ve left Roj with a few of the pack members behind to assure that the perimeter stays in check. Magdalyn Vale is also with him along with a few members of the Arctic pack.

    Warren stood there across from him, absorbing the information that the young lycan had given. “I’ve done the same with the Crescent pack,” He returned. “Sad that even after such calamity we still must keep our guard up for yet another impending threat.”

    Falcon’s head moved up and down in agreement as he thought about Kazmiyah and how anxious she had been. "You've given the packs more than enough time to gather themselves," He reasoned. "It is about time that we start operating at full attendance again."

    Warren appreciated the young alpha's defense of his decision to call all pack members back to work. After the lull in the conversation, Warren realized that now was the perfect time to inquire about his daughter's wellbeing. “How is she?” Warren asked Falcon. 

    It was when he heard the Crescent Alpha’s voice that Falcon even realized that he’d zoned out in worrying about his mate. He shot his mismatched gaze up to meet Warren Crescent’s. “She is as well as could be expected.”

    “Which is another way of saying that she is not doing so great, I take it?” Warren replied with a smirk though his feelings were not amused at all. In truth, the great wolf was rattled with concern for his daughter. She had lost so much in so little time and then gained even more. It all was an overwhelming thing to have to deal with, whether good or bad.

     When Falcon sighed and didn’t respond, Warren shook his head and went into his liquor cabinet to grab two glasses and a bottle of expensive blood-spiked tequila. He poured two shots and gave one to the young Navarre alpha.

    “I see her concerned riddled all over your face young alpha,” He stated gruffly.

    Falcon swished the drink around in the glass a moment before he took a drink. He let the heat of the spirit settle in his stomach before he confessed.

    “She is worried about everyone and everything; her mother, her grandmother, the packs, you-everyone,” Falcon expressed with resignation. “It is taking a toll on her and she….I just want her to be okay,” He leaned against the panel of the living room archway, crossing his arms as his eyes lingered on the reddish-gold beverage in his glass. Falcon was reluctant in admitting what he would next as he took into consideration that while Kazmiyah was his daughter, so still was Alora Crescent. 

    “You’ve never felt this way before, have you?” Warren remarked quizzically. 

    Warren’s words both surprised and relieved Falcon when he heard it said. He sighed and shook his head. “No,” He took another swig of his strong drink. “I want to move this whole earth to assure her happiness only to realize that I cannot. It makes me feel-”

    “Weak,” Warren finished his sentence. “Like you’re failing her,” When Falcon dropped his gaze, Warren knew that he had assumed right. “You’ve never felt that way for Alora, I take it.”

    Falcon met the Alpha Crescent’s stare, and while he respected the great wolf, he had to be honest with both himself and the father of his true mate. “No...never.”

    Warren stood there watching Falcon in silence for a few moments, thinking of his own personal guilts. Then Warren brought the glass of tequila to his lips, as a dry chuckle escaped him. “Neither did I,” He confessed before taking a sip of his drink. 

    Falcon found this surprising, recalling how Warren Crescent doted on Crescenda. “You will have to excuse me, Alpha-I find that quite hard to believe.”

    Warren shrugged. “I loved Cres more than I could ever put into words,” He admitted. “But...my Mun...” He admitted in a longing way. “That one….” He recalled her sassy, and yet empathic nature and breathtaking beauty. “She had my heart the moment I laid eyes on her,” Warren confessed. 

    Falcon watched Warren’s stare turn distant as if he were recalling Muñyirah in his thoughts. He started to ask another question when the sound of the front door opening paused him. Falcon caught his mate's scent before she even entered the house, and immediately he and Nox were overcome with the elation of her arrival.

    “Miyah,” He said in a low almost prideful tone.

    “You’re right,” Warren’s words pushed Falcon out of his thoughts. He looked up at the Alpha Crescent just as he said. “I’ve never seen you this way before,” Warren amusedly pointed out before heading to the door to meet his daughter.

    “Hey, dad!” Kazmiyah wrapped her arms around her father in embraced greeting.

    “Hello, sweetheart,” Warren replied as he hugged her in return. “Where have you been?” 

    Kazmiyah’s expression suddenly turned guilty before she cleared her throat and started to answer. “I went to go check on aunt Abigail.”

    “And what else?” Falcon asked as he too came into the room. He could sense by the hesitation to answer that she'd been hiding something. Kazmiyah, as powerful as she was, failed miserably at lying and keeping secrets.

    Coming to the conclusion that there was no use in trying to hide her whereabouts so she admitted. “I may have done some additional tweakings on the protection barrier that I placed around the town-”

    “Miyah,” Falcon started to chastise. 

    “I know, I know!” She cut her mate off before he could even get started on her. “But it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?”

    “I don’t think that we could get much safer than we are now, teroso,” Warren chimed, kissing her forehead. “You need to take a break and stop overworking-”

    “Dad, we don’t know when Christoph will be coming and we need to be prepared.”

    “Yes, sweetheart, I understand your reasoning, but you have to take into consideration that he is more than likely in the same state as your mother. If that is the case then-”

    “And what if it’s not?” Kazmiyah cut her father off. Warren sighed, his head tilted in empathy as he stared at his concerned daughter. “Dad,” Kazmiyah expressed exhaustedly, “the last time he was here...the last time he sent those...things here, we suffered, greatly. And it seems to be neverending as we’ve only just gotten through yet another war. I am...so tired of getting caught with our pants down. And if I can utilize the teachings of Aurora and Abigail then I will.”

    “How will you do that when you’re not even around to allow Abigail to teach you?” Warren reasoned. Kazmiyah’s words were stunted as she realized that she’d been found out. “Yes, Kaz, I know that you have not been going to your lessons with Abi,” He told her. “Is this why?” He asked. “Is this what you’ve been doing?”

    “Why is that such a big deal?” Kazmiyah groaned. “I am only trying to protect the town and-”

    “And you do not have to do that alone, Miyah,” Falcon interceded. He approached her, placing his large hands over her shoulder. “You still have family here that are willing to protect this town with you.”

    Kazmiyah looked into Falcon’s eyes and the only thing that she could suddenly see was the flash of him being taken again by Christoph; or worse, near-death for a third time. A sudden fear gripped her when she thought about the idea of losing him-a fear that she wasn’t used to feeling nor did she want to experience at all.

    “Sure,” She replied subtly, pulling away from him. She immediately noticed Falcon’s confused expression but did not readily acknowledge it. Kazmiyah realized that her curt actions probably rubbed him the wrong way but the chill that crept up her spine at the thought of losing him was something that she didn’t want to dwell on.

    “Kazmiyah?”

    When she heard her father calling her name, Kazmiyah was relieved that he had intercepted what she feared to be an oncoming confrontation; one that she was in no hurry to have.

    “We will talk about this later,” Falcon telepathically linked with her. 

     Unable to even look Falcon in the eyes, she swept her gaze over to her father. Suddenly, Kazmiyah wasn’t too sure that she wanted to be home later for that conversation. However, she pushed her concerns to the side and tried to shift her attention to Warren. At least he’d be her distraction for the time being. 

    “Yes, dad.” She finally answered.

    There was sudden hesitation in Warren’s demeanor as he asked. “So, uhm, how’s your mother?”

    She simply smiled, realizing how concerned he was for her. “She’s okay, shaken up a little and not at all prepared to meet her twin,”

    “Hm, I thought she’d be glad to have one,” Warren presumed. 

    Kazmiyah shrugged. “She and grandmother fear that maybe Christoph is toying with us somehow by sending Abigail here.”

    “Is that why she has not come home yet?” Warren asked.

    “Home?” Kazmiyah’s brow raised at her father’s choice of words. “Where would home be for mom, dad?” 

    Warren knew exactly where home would be for Muñyirah in his mind, but he wasn’t sure that she’d feel the same way. In fact, he was almost certain that she wouldn’t after rejecting him that night in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

    “Guess you are right,” He replied seemingly disappointed. He saw the expression on his daughter’s face and realized that she was trying to think of a way to cheer him up. So before she could, Warren spoke again. “We will be having a meeting tonight. I’ll need all the packs in attendance.”

    “What about, dad?” Kazmiyah asked.

    “I told you, sweetheart, we are not sitting down on this problem with Christoph. We will need to come up with a game plan sooner rather than later. I’d rather be fully prepared for what he has in store for us this time around.”

    This bit of news was a relief to hear. Warren had given everyone downtime so that they could get settled and just relax if for only a moment, temporarily cutting out pack meetings as well as perimeter checks. That day was only the first in a few weeks of the packs actively checking around the borders of Crescent; whereas at first, it was only the alpha, beta, and delta of each pack contributing to such missions. 

    While Kazmiyah realized that the town of Crescent needed this rest and normalcy for morale alone, she admittedly felt less confident and more vulnerable with each passing day, knowing that impending doom was sure to come. So she was glad that her father was calling things back into order once more.

    “Sounds like a plan to me,” Kazmiyah replied with relief.

    “Good,” He walked past Kazmiyah, kissing her forehead. “I’ll be at the docks and then straight back to call the meeting into order.”

    They all headed out of the Crescent Manor, Warren saying his goodbyes before they started to part ways. 

    Kazmiyah headed towards her Ducati Panigale when she felt the tug of a large hand wrapped around her forearm. She knew before he could fully stop her what this would be about.

    “Whoa, wait!” Falcon said to her, physically insisting that Kazmiyah give him a minute. “What was that about back there?”

    “What are you talking about?” Kazmiyah thought that playing clueless was the best route to chase. Of course, she realized it wouldn’t work. It was only a means to prolong the inevitable. 

    “You know exactly what I am talking about, Miyah,” Falcon returned impatiently. 

    “Look, is this because I pulled away from you because that is not-”

    “I saw that look in your eyes,” Falcon cut her off. “What were you thinking?” He asked. “You are trying to hide something from me. Why?” 

    Immediately after he said this, she shook her head. “It’s nothing, Con,” She poorly attempted to reassure. She started for her bike again when she felt him grab her hand once more, this time assertively snatching her towards him. He refused to just let this go.

    “You’re lying to me,” Falcon realized. “What is it, Miyah? What scares you?”

    She shook her head. “You know what scares me. So why are you even asking me-”

    “Because I know you, and I know there is something else that you are not telling me,” He said. “Now tell me the truth. Why...did you have that look in your eyes?” Falcon’s need to know this became borderline desperate, as whatever it was that caused this fear within his mate, he needed to eliminate.

    The only thing that Kazmiyah could do was shake her head, her body letting both him and her know that she was not ready to talk about it. Not yet. “I...I am not going to talk to you about this. Not right now,” She said and retracted from Falcon again before rushing to her bike.

    “Miyah, wait!” Falcon called after her but his efforts were to no avail as she quickly got onto her Ducati and sped off. Cursing under his breath, Falcon was left there tortured with concern.