Fall of the Luna (completed)

Poison

Finn’s POV

              The orphanage was holding a football game today and any pup who wanted to play could join. Unsurprisingly, both of my pups have signed up. I was walking over to the football field like a proud father and pack members who walked past me bowed their heads in respect. Since the Moon Goddess gave my little pup back to me, I’ve been feeling more like myself again. My wolf for one was back and I felt a surge of energy to do better and be a good role model for my pup. I did also feel guilty for being such a lousy father to Jacob and I swore to myself that from now on, I’d be a good father to both of my pups.

              After receiving the results of the paternity test, I moved Cedar over to my house and told him that I’m his father. The poor pup was confused and asked me if I was his new father, like another pup in the orphanage who I knew was adopted recently. Unsure of how to explain the complex situation to such a young pup and not wanting to taint his innocent world, I had explained to him that there was an accident and we were separated from each other, but the Moon Goddess blessed us and returned him to me. The only thing that we needed to do now was to find his mother, Kayla, and then our family would be complete. He seemed to have understood and I was relieved when he happily accepted living with me. We had painted his bedroom pastel green together and went shopping for some clothes for him. I contemplated moving Jacob to our house as well but decided against it in the end. Initially, I had arranged a room for Jacob in a guest room in the pack house and subsequently moved him to an apartment in the packhouse where a babysitter stays with him or his mum could also stay at if she’s visiting. I thought it was better that way so that Kayla didn’t feel uncomfortable in our own home. In the end, I decided to keep up the current arrangement, even though it did make me feel guilty for treating my pups differently.

              A week after the reunion with my pup, I had renamed him Mirakel for being Kayla’s and my little miracle. I wanted to honor the Moon Goddess with his name and more importantly, I wanted his name to come from me, and not randomly picked by a teacher at the orphanage. Unfortunately, the teachers are the orphanage were unable to shed any light on how Mirakel had come to us. He was deposited on the doorsteps three years ago and when one of the teachers tried to chase after the lady who left him, she had sped off in her car. The strange thing is, the teachers told me that the lady smelled human, which explains why our patrol let her in but didn’t explained how she was with Mirakel and knew to send him to us. After giving my pup a new name, I had asked Reena to help prepare a Confirmation Ceremony and I declared Mirakel as my pup and heir to my whole Pack during the ceremony. The Pack cheered and was beside themselves when they learned that Mirakel was the pup of their Alpha and Luna. Immediately after the declaration, I could feel a wave of euphoria wash over the Pack and a surge of power across our pack-link. The last time I had felt so much power through our pack-link was when Kayla was still with us. My wolf howled loudly with renewed ambition and we promised our Pack that their patience with us over the past three years would not be in vain. We were back and ready to lead again.

              “Papa!” My little Mirakel shouted joyfully as he sprinted towards me like a cannonball. Jacob had come over earlier in the morning the pick him up to attend the pre-game warm-ups so that I could finish up some work for our Pack’s business. Needless to say, I was ecstatic that my other pup was readily playing the role of a big brother. Indeed, since we’ve known that Mirakel is my pup, I’ve been worried about Jacob’s reaction. Luckily, he was frosty at first but quickly warmed up to his little brother and I think it had a lot to do with Reena organizing activities for my pups and Claron to spend some time together. I was thankful for her help in the parenting department, seeing how much I was lacking there but I was disappointed that she still insisted on calling me Alpha. Picking up my little boy, I planted a big wet kiss on his cheek while he giggled and returned a big wet sloppy kiss on my cheek. I can’t even begin to describe how elated I was to hear him call me Papa and I’d never forget the day when he had first done that. It was on the night after we’ve finished decorating and furnishing his bedroom. I had already tucked him into bed but in the middle of the night, he had crawled into my bed and asked if he could continue sleeping in my room. I vaguely remember Reena telling me not to be a weakling and train Mirakel to sleep on his own but when he called me Papa, I decided it wasn’t so bad to be a weakling, at least it should be ok for a few more weeks.

              One of the teachers shouted for the pups to gather and reluctantly, I let Mirakel go before giving Jacob a good luck hug. The game started shortly with the first game for the younger pups. The older pups would play after them. It was quite the scene, watching a bunch of three- to five-year-olds running and rolling around on the football pitch. Suddenly, Mirakel was tackled to the ground and I shouted loudly words of encouragement at my little pup to get up and continue. A few seconds passed and Mirakel didn’t show any signs of moving. The teacher refereeing the game immediately blew her whistle to stop the game. Pup is not well! Go now! My wolf was going wild and I ran over to Mirakel as quickly as I could and picked him up in my arms. To my horror, his face was pale and his breathing was so shallow that even my wolf could barely hear it. “Hospital, now!” Reena’s voice snapped me out of my panic and I started running towards the Pack hospital with Reena close behind me.

              “Please put him down on the bed, Alpha,” a nurse from the ER met us at the entrance with a bed and whisked my little pup away the moment I’ve done as she instructed. Reena ran in right after the nurses brought Mirakel to the examination station and she gave me a quick pat on the shoulder before following them. My mind couldn’t grapple what was happening. One minute I was having one of the best days of my life with my pups and the next minute, one of them is barely alive. I felt like I was just pushed off a cliff and I’m hanging onto the ledge now for dear life. Adrenaline pumped through my veins and I could sense my wolf on the verge of going mad with worry but I refused to think about the worse. The Moon Goddess won’t be so cruel to give me a miracle just to rip it away from me again so soon. After what seemed like an eternity, Reena came out of the examination station but the look on her face did nothing to reassure me. “He’s fine, Alpha.. his vitals, everything is fine but.” Reena hesitated like she was trying to pick her next words carefully and this finally pushed me off the edge.

              “What is it?! Just tell me!” I growled and immediately everyone lowered their heads in submission. I regretted scaring my Pack but I was too far gone at this point to control myself. “We don’t know, Alpha. I can’t explain what’s happening. I can only tell you that Mirakel is alive, at least for now but.” Before Reena could finish, my wolf broke through our barrier and I could feel my claws extending. We couldn’t lose our pup, we just couldn’t afford to! I could feel my bones start to snap but before my wolf completely took control, one of our patrols mind-linked me. Alpha, there’s a witch at our border and she said dark magic was just cast on our pack lands. She wants to help. With the last of my rationality, I tried to comprehend what was just said and a sickeningly feeling formed in the pits of my stomach. Witchcraft had caused my mate so much pain and suffering eight years ago and now it was trying to take my pup away from me? My blood was boiling and I wanted to shred the witch to pieces but my rational mind told me to hear her out. After all, nothing was more important than having my pup alive.

Aldnari’s POV

              I was just about to deliver another tip to the Werewolf Council when I felt it. Something carrying the signature of Martha’s magic was just used. Granny shouted for me from the kitchen and I knew she must have felt it too. We scrambled to get Martha’s spell book out and very quickly established that it was a potion that drains the body until the body is dead, accelerating the process when there is physical activity. Again, the traces were coming from the West Coast but because the potion was just used, the fresh trace was strong enough for me to pick up. Granny nodded at me and I jumped into my car to track down Martha’s follower. To say I was shocked when I realized that I was on the freeway towards the Gold Moon Pack’s pack lands would be an understatement. I knew that Kayla is the Luna of the Gold Moon Pack and for whatever reason, the rogue Alpha had a history with her and kidnapped her three years ago. At the same time, Martha died shortly before Kayla became Luna of her Pack. My brain was going into overdrive and I was relieved when the patrol let me into the Pack. They directed me to the Pack hospital and I was even more shocked when I realized who the potion was given to.

              The Beta female had convinced their Alpha to let me see the pup and I’d recognize Kayla’s little boy anywhere. After all, I was the one who had helped Thiago to rescue him and send him back to his own Pack to live as an orphan. I didn’t have time to ask how they’ve figured out that he was the son of Kayla and this Alpha because I could feel that his body was closed to the point of no return. The potion was vicious and to use it on a little boy was despicable. “I can help him, but I can only help him if you allow me to use magic,” I said firmly as I looked the Alpha in the eyes. I wasn’t trying to challenge him but if he wanted to save his pup then we were going to do this my way. As expected, werewolves are impulsive and extremely emotional in such situations. If his Pack members weren’t holding him back, I wouldn’t doubt that he’d shred me into pieces. My heart ached for the little boy, more than it should, and in a way, I felt like I owed it to Kayla so I proceeded to do something out of character despite knowing it’d be dangerous for me.

              “Look, I just want to help. Whoever did this is also my enemy. I’m a light witch and this potion was made by a dark witch. You should know, even as a werewolf, that if she exists, she’s threatening my existence and vice versa. Let me help your boy and I’ll stay until he wakes up. If he doesn’t wake up within two hours, well, I’m here for you to tear apart,” I offered and prayed silently to the Moon Goddess that the idea I had in my head to heal the boy works. After a long silence, the Alpha nodded with much difficulty. If not for the gravity of the situation, I’d be rolling my eyes at how dramatic he was behaving. Under the watchful eyes of the Alpha and the lady doctor, I started making a counter potion with the roots, bark and leaves of the sacred ash tree, the Yggdrasil. The Yggdrasil is in the very center of our world and a gift from the Moon Goddess to all beings of this world. For supernatural creatures like us, this is the Tree of Life and I know that Granny had gone to great lengths in her youth to obtain these materials. If a young life wasn’t at stake here, I’d definitely think twice before making this potion.

              When the potion was finished, I handed it to the lady doctor and asked her to give it to the boy via an infusion. I could tell from their expressions that the werewolves were shocked and had to chuckle a little inside at what they must be thinking. They probably expected me to put on a pointy hat and circle around the bed chanting some weird crap while waving my hands frantically in the air. Werewolves nowadays are really so naïve. After my job was done, it was time to ask for a favor so that I can trace down the witch who had used the potion. “Alpha, I didn’t come here to save your boy.” Before I could continue, the Alpha growled menacingly at me and I resisted an urge to roll my eyes before continuing, “I came here to find the witch who used this potion.” The Alpha’s anger rose further before calming down again and clearing his throat to speak. “Apologies about that. This is hard for me, knowing that a witch did this to my pup and I couldn’t protect him.” I nodded in understanding and offered my help. “Since I have to stay here for another two hours anyway, do I have your permission to go around your pack lands and try to find the source of the potion?” The Alpha’s eyes glowed for a few seconds and another man came up to us shortly, introducing himself as the Pack’s Gamma. He accompanied me as I followed the trace of the potion. The traces led us to the football pitch but it was faint and eventually, it led us to the pack house, more specifically, the kitchen. I walked over to the dishwasher and paused to think. The vessel that had contained the potion was definitely in the dishwasher, so probably something that the little boy ate or drank from. Unfortunately, the traces were now too faint and I could only tell that the potion had been used in the kitchen and subsequently left traces all around as the little boy must have gone outside after eating. I certainly also didn’t smell any other witches on their pack lands, so whoever did this either managed to make a quick escape or there’s a traitor within this Pack working with her.

              Convinced but disappointed about my conclusion, I went back to the hospital with the Gamma to explain what I had found to the Alpha. As usual, his eyes were glowing too brightly, I was surprised when his wolf didn’t come out and he had somehow managed to calm himself down without his Luna’s touch. “I want to you to question everyone who prepared breakfast at the pack house today, Osmond. Everyone who had access to the kitchen needs to be questioned. I will not tolerate a traitor in our Pack!” The Alpha commanded his Gamma, who swiftly proceeded to do his job. At the same time, the lady doctor ran towards us with a big smile plastered on her face and I knew immediately that my potion had worked. Since they found out on their own that this little boy is the son of both the Alpha and Luna, I had also decided to do them a small favor. The potion that I gave to the little boy not only replenished his life force, it also broke all spells that have ever been cast on him. Knowing that the Werewolf Council was also out there looking for Martha’s followers, I decided to leave asap as it’s another dead end here and I didn’t want to stick around to explain why the Alpha can recognize his own pup’s scent now. Sometimes, I’m simply not so great at lying. After bidding the werewolves farewell, I drove towards Canada to look for Thiago. It was time to talk about the past.