Moon Song

Full Moon

Chapter 5

It was a short walk back to the girl’s dormitory from the music building, but he wanted to make sure they were safe. He felt a protective tug towards both of them.

They walked out of the double doors and the moonlight hit him. It felt like he was being super-energy charged. He forgot tonight was a full moon. It wasn’t like in the movies though, where a full moon turned you whether you wanted to or not. It was a source of energy, power, and ceremony for them. The moon existed in the goddess who created them, watched over them, and cared for them, and she existed in the moon.

Once he had his wolf, shifting for the first time would be painful. Skin and bones ripping and rearranging themselves wasn’t an easy thing to go through, but the moon gave them added strength and healing powers, so he wouldn’t even try to turn until the first full moon after his birthday. Shifting would get easier each time and eventually he was told he wouldn’t even feel it.

“The moon is incredible tonight,” Lydian said. “It’s a good thing you’re walking us back.”

“Why is that?” Cristofori wondered.

“All the werewolves will be out tonight.” She teased.

He tensed for a moment before realising she was joking. “Yeah!” he fake chuckled. “Gotta save you from those dangerous werewolves.”

“Well, at least we know you’re not one!” Jenny announced.

“Too bad!” Lydian said. “I was always team Jacob!” Lydian referenced the popular Twilight series that he could never get into. They just got werewolves all wrong. And vampires, for that matter. His playful side was tripped though, and he thought he would have a little fun.

“If I was a werewolf, I would be sure and turn you.” He said to Lydian.

“Does that mean you have to bite me?” She stopped looking at him. Daring him almost. He took a step toward her.

“Absolutely.” he said, pulling the neck of her t-shirt to the side. He touched the soft area of her neck where it met her collar bone. He leaned down and blew on it as he circled his fingers around the tender spot. “Right here,” he whispered. Her skin broke out into goose bumps.

Her eyes pierced his own. With no trace of laughter in her voice she asked, “Would it hurt?” She sounded so vulnerable he felt bad for messing with her.

“Not even a little bit,” he whispered. “I’ve heard it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Lydian let out a slow deliberate breath and Jenny burst into laughter.

“Woah! Cristofori! You almost had me going there! If you two are going to run away together as imprinted werewolves or whatever, I’m going to be super bummed. I want superpowers.”

“Werewolves don’t have superpowers, Jenny.” Lydian said. “They just turn into wolves and eat people.”

“Woah! Woah! Woah!” He said to Lydian “Where in the world have you been learning your were-lore? That is totally not true. Werewolves do have powers, and they certainly don’t eat people. They might rip them apart if warranted, but they don’t eat them. They burn the bodies of their victims to get rid of the evidence.”

“Ok Mr. Werewolf buff... if that is a thing. What sort of powers do wolves have? Can they fly?” Lydian mocked.

“Well, they can jump really really high. Which is close. But they also have loads of other powers. Aside from their raised sense of smell and hearing, and the ability to heal really fast, they can also mind link other werewolves in their pack.”

“Mind what?” Jenny snorted.

“Mind link!” he said in exasperation. “Like have telepathic powers and can talk to people with their minds, and in their minds. Geez you two don’t know anything about werewolves, do you?” He noted.

“And how do you know so much about them?” Jenny scoffed as they began moving again towards the dorms.

“Maybe he really is a werewolf.” Lydian winked at him.

“ Nope, can’t be. Full moon, and he is only slightly hairier than this morning.” Jenny quipped.

“Hey! Lay off the hairy jokes. I’m sensitive about that.” He joked back.

“Maybe he is an Animagus, like Sirius Black in ‘Harry Potter’, and can just control when he turns into a wolf.” Lydian said.

“Now there is a power I would like. Shapeshifting.” Jenny exclaimed. “I would shift into a tall, thin, graceful model.”

Cristofori opened the door to the girl’s dorm and held it open while they entered. “Stop, Jenny. You’re perfect as you are.” He gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek. “Now get your beauty sleep girls. This Animagus has to go run through the woods and eat a deer now.” he teased.

He watched as they entered their room safely, and then headed to his own dormitory.

He had it bad. He couldn’t get Lydian’s sweet scent or her amazing voice out of his head. She was so adorable and so gorgeous. He actually felt like howling at the moon for joy right now. Then he remembered his apology to the moon goddess. He hung his head as he entered his room. Lydian's voice rang in his ears with the words she sang tonight.

“Everything keeps us apart

And I'm not the one you were meant to find

It's not up to you

It's not up to me.”

He let out a deep sigh and apologised to the moon goddess again.

He had a private dorm room which was pretty nice. The perks of your father being a donor to the school, camp, and paying extra for room and board. It came in handy when he needed to have conversations like the one he was getting ready to have with his dad.

Even though he wouldn’t get his wolf until his eighteenth birthday, sometimes, wolf instincts and behaviours would show up even before his wolf did.

Increased hearing, speed, strength, night vision, rapid healing, and hair. Oh, the hair grew fast. He was on his way to becoming a hairy beast even without his wolf.

Once you have your wolf, they recognise your mate instantly when you meet her, so he wondered then if he could feel attached to his mate, even before he had a wolf as well.

If Lydian was his mate, his pull towards her would make more sense.

He pulled out his mobile phone and called his dad. Quinton Jameson answered in one ring.

“Hey son! How is music camp?” his deep dad's booming voice came over the phone.

“Hey Dad! Yeah, it's going well. I’m sorry to bother you, but- “

“Nonsense!” His dad interrupted “You’re never a bother. Call whenever you want.”

“Thanks dad, I just had a question about things happening to me before I get my wolf.”

“Sure kid. What did you need answered?

“Well...” Cristofori started. “I met a girl. Maybe THE girl.”

“But you don’t have your wolf yet,” His dad stated.

“I know, but I thought maybe there was some kind of pull or something, even if neither of us are eighteen.”

“That sure is possible son.” His dad replied. “I've seen it a few times. But I've seen a lot more people falling for the wrong person. People’s hearts get broken, people get broken, they feel compelled to reject their mate, or even worse.

“I would never do that dad!” Cristofori said, a little louder than he meant.

“Then be careful with this girl. If you care about your future mate, you won't get involved. If you care about the girl, you won't get involved. If they are one in the same, you will know in eleven months. That is soon enough. Be patient, Cristofori. Your true mate is worth the wait.” His dad was a wise man he admired more than anyone. Both in the pack, as a father, and as a businessman. He treated everyone fairly, including his family. Cristofori wanted to be just like him one day. His dad wasn’t technically a ranked member of the pack, but Alpha Jayvan was a good family friend, who kept my father in his inner circle of friends. He acted as an advisor along with the packs Beta, a huge wolf named Riley who trained all the warriors, and the packs Gamma, Taylor, who was in charge of pack security, and personal guard to the packs Luna. She was a gorgeous white wolf named Irena. The pack used his dad’s company for any building and infrastructure needing to be done throughout the pack lands which gave the company a leg up and now, it was practically its own empire. One that he would run someday. A responsibility he neither took for granted, nor shied away from. He had spent the last 4 years working there, starting in the mail room. His dad wanted him to know how the whole business was run from the bottom up so Cristofori would know that the company stood on the legs of its workers, not its shareholders.

Between school, work, and pack training every morning at 5am sharp, Cristofori didn't have much time for hobbies or girls, but music he could take with him anywhere.

He thanked his dad and hung up the phone. He would try and put this girl out of his mind.