Beneath a Blood Moon - Book Two (Moon Child Series)

Luca POV “Dad, do I really have to go with you?” I whine as I follow behind my father, Alpha Magnus, and his son Seth. My dad turned back to me with a smile and put his arm over my shoulder. “Son, I know today is your birthday, but this is really important. This summit with the Shifter King is only held once every ten years and can really better our pack and our alliances.” I sighed and nodded as I hopped into the car next to Seth. Instead of staying at home and celebrating my birthday with my sister, who would be finding out whether she inherited mums magic, or dads shifter powers, I was stuck in a car with three other men on the way to a boring summit with the Shifter King. Since the last summit there had been a new Shifter King crowned, the son of the previous King Edward. He was a much kinder king than his father had been and there was talks of new laws being enforced and land being divided out. I understood the importance of all this, I did. But I’ve always celebrated my birthday with my sister. I could feel the itch and ache of my awaiting transformation, just as dad had warned me. We would drive for a couple of hours until the pain was unbearable for me and then my father would talk me through my first change. I was upset that I couldn’t do this in the comfort of my own home, but when the King summons, you go. And he happened to summon us on my birthday. Go figure. I leant against the cool window as I close my eyes and concentrate on the rumbling of the engine as we drove. I must have fallen asleep because when I woke next there was a sharp pain in my gums, and I tapped the seat in front of me to get my dad’s attention. We pulled over to the side of the road and I sprinted into the trees, trying to get some distance between me and the road before the change took over. I ran until there was a sharp pain in my spine and I fell to my knees as bones snapped. “Luca breath through the pain. It’ll only last a minute.” I listened to my dad’s voice as fire ran through my veins, my skin itching as fur burst through. Bones snapped as my body reformed itself. A pressure was building underneath my skin as the fire simmered to a slow burn and then the pressure was gone, and I was laying in the grass panting. My dad threw a fist in the air and whooped excitedly. “Yes! You did it!” I smiled up at him as I shakily rose to my new four legs. I gazed down at my new paws. A dark grey fur covered my wolf legs, with charcoal claws peeking out. Hello Luca. I jumped at the sudden voice in my head and then smiled. Are you my wolf? I asked excitedly. Yes, Luca. I am Nero. I am glad that we are at last one. I gazed back up at my dad and smiled, giving a chuff of excitement. You must change back now, Luca. The King awaits. I’m disappointed but close my eyes as I do as I was told during training, and soon I was kneeling in the grass and my uncle Magnus handed me my clothes. I dressed and we all walked back to the car, where we continued the drive to the summit. I stared out the window as we drove and chatted with Nero, getting to know my wolf. “So, Luca.” I cut off my conversation with Nero and turn to my Uncle Magnus, who was in the driver seat. “Are you excited at the prospect of meeting your mate at any moment?” My dad smiled back at me. “I am. But also, nervous.” I glance out the window, thoughtfully. “I just hope I’m good enough for them.” “Of course you will be. Any she-wolf would be lucky to have you as their mate.” My Uncle Magnus has always been a positive guy, able to lighten the mood with just a sentence. I just hoped he was right. I know that I had saved myself for my mate, but what if they didn’t do the same for me? Or what if they were disappointed with me. The thing you’re told most as you grow is that the most important moment in your life is finding your mate. Not every wolf found theirs in their lifetime, and those that found them the minute they shifted were considered to be incredibly lucky. Lost in my thoughts the rest of the journey flew by and soon we were pulling up the long drive lined with trees that kissed the sky and wound for miles to the round courtyard with a ginormous fountain in its centre, and the gothic castle of the Shifter King. *** Mia POV My stomach was a tumble of knots as I paced the clearing I stood in with my mum. I could feel the tell-tale pain in my gums and eyes so there was no doubt in my heart that I would meet my wolf today. But my nervousness was more towards whether or not I would have my mother’s magic. I had always grown up with the ambition of being a great witch like my mum, and I wasn’t sure how it would feel not to. Pain lances through me as I feel fire pulsing through my veins. Bones crack and reposition as I fall to the floor, my hands clutching at the grass. I stare in shock at my hands as flames explode from them, the wind around me starts to blow and the earth begins to rumble. The fire beneath my veins grows hotter as I fall to the floor and roll onto my back and stare into the rumbling clouds above me, water drenching the earth in a circle around me. Electricity races across my skin as I feel my fur push through and with a loud scream all the pain and pressure in me is released and I’m panting on my side. I stand unsteadily onto my new four paws and glance at my mum. Her eyes are wide as she holds her hand up to her face. I look down at my new body to see what her shock is about and nearly leap back from myself. My fur is a deep crimson red that shimmers in the sun. I turn on the spot, trying to get a better look at the shimmering quality of my fur, but after spinning in endless circles I give up. I close my eyes and imagine myself as a human and sigh in relief as I stand, naked, back in my human form. My mum hands me my clothes and as I dress, I contemplate what just happened. “Little Princess.” A tinkling bell pulled my attention to a small black cat as it entered the clearing. I bent as he approached and lifted him up to nuzzle my cheek. “Amparo.” The black cat blinked its silvery green eyes at me as he purred. “The Moon Goddess has doubly blessed you with a wolf and the powers of your people.” I smiled at Amparo as he pressed his paws against my chest to gaze into my eyes. “The Crimson Wolf is a great honour; one I know you’ll treat with honour and respect.” My mum gasped beside me as Amparo spoke. “What?” I asked her as I turned to her shocked face. “I’ve only ever read of the Crimson Wolf. One has not been seen in centuries.” I was shocked as I listened to my mum speak. “So, what does it mean? Being a Crimson Wolf?” I followed my mum as we began walking back to the house, scratching Amparo behind his ear. “It doesn’t really say much in my books, just that the Crimson Wolf signifies peace and unity.” I sit on the couch with Amparo as my mum ran into her office to grab her Moon Child book. Opening it, she sat beside me and opened it to the page of the Crimson Wolf. I stared down at the moving picture on the page in awe. Like mine, this wolf had shimmering crimson red fur that flowed gracefully in the wind. Its eyes are a deep green like mine and atop its head just above the eyes was a white mark in the shape of the crescent moon. I was captivated at the sight of it. “Is that what I look like?” My mum nodded and turned the page to let me read. I was lost in the pages of my fate. My mum left me to read as she went to check on my brothers. There wasn’t much to read unfortunately. So, I just read it over and over trying to come to terms with the fact that little old me was a powerful entity. An unknown, powerful entity, but a powerful entity none-the-less. I must have been sitting there for hours just staring down at the pages when suddenly, pain rippled through my heart making me fall from the couch, clutching at my chest. Amparo stood anxiously beside me, his little tail wagging back and forth, as my mum ran towards me. Her hands grabbed at me as the pain in my heart increased and I cried out. “Luca.” I gasped. Power surged through me and before I knew it, I was evaporating out of my house and into the castle’s infirmary.  *** Luca POV The castle towered above us, all five stories of it, complete with grey stone walls and gargoyles.  Our car is taken by the valet and we’re led into the castle. Red carpets and stone walls covered in paintings of previous Kings and Luna’s surrounded us as we were led through a long hall and through giant double doors into the large ballroom that resembled the size of a football field. Pillars lined the room to the sky-high ceiling, painted with depictions of the Moon Goddess and the first shifter king. The floor a shiny cream marble. “Ahh, Greystone, Cane. I’m glad you could make it.” I glance down from the ceiling in time to see a tall blonde man with kind green eyes walk our way, his arms open. The King. “Oliver. Good to see you.” My dad steps forward and links forearms with the King, a smile on his face. When the new King had been coronated he’d personally gone around to each pack to introduce himself, very uncharacteristic for a King. But Oliver was no normal King. His father was a cruel, vicious ruler that struck fear into all his subjects. Oliver was the opposite, his kindness did not make him appear weak, it only made his bond with his subjects that much stronger. He’d taken a real shine to our pack and had stayed much longer there than any other, and while there he had befriended my father and the alpha. “And young Luca.” He turned to me with his kind green eyes. “You have grown since last we saw each other. Congratulations on your first shift, and a happy birthday.” I thanked him and linked my arm with his respectfully. “Come, come. I’m eager to introduce you to my little sister. She turned eighteen today as well and she is excited to meet the men that took so much of my time away from her all those years ago.” We followed Oliver through the large crowd towards his throne. The smell hit me first. Fresh coffee. And then I saw her. Her bright emerald green eyes shone in her heart shaped face, complete with plump pink lips, and small button nose. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a long braid that hung down her back. My heart leapt into my throat as my wolf paced and growled in my head. Mate. He growled. Before Oliver could introduce us, I was in front of her, pulling her forward into my arms. “Mate.” I growl aloud. Her tiny hands rest atop my chest as she smiles and tilts her head. “Mate.” She replies, making my wolf howl in pride in my head. A slap on my back has me turning slightly, but my arms never left my mates waist. “Well, well. Isn’t this an amazing turn of events?” Oliver is beaming with happiness. “Gentleman. Meet my younger sister, Fae.” My eyes fall on her once again as I stare into her mesmerising eyes. “Fae.” I whisper, testing the name on my lips. Her hand reaches up to stroke my cheek and I growl lowly in pleasure at her touch. It was like flames licking beneath my skin. “Luca.” I told her, reading her question on her face. Her soft growl was almost my undoing. I place my forehead to hers and breath in her intoxicating scent. A high-pitched cackle breaks the moment, sending a shiver up my spine as it reverberates through the large room. “Naw. How sweet. The pup has found his mate.” The voice sounds from above us and we glance up to see a young woman, no older than 16. Her white blonde hair pulled into an intricate braid atop her head and her eyes a piercing blue. She lazily sits atop a chandelier, one leg slowly swinging beneath her as she stares down amusedly at us. I pull Fae closer to me, feeling danger from this girl. She fiddles with a long wooden staff in her hand as she gazes down at us. Oliver growls deeply, his eyes glaring up at the girl. “How dare you trespass in my kingdom, little witch!” He growls through his teeth, his eyes glowing the red of royalty. Her laughter echoes through the air. “Oo, how scary.” Many gasps at her tone and glance wearily at the king. “What is your business here, witch?” He asks impatiently. The witch stares down at us as her mouth stretches into an evil smile, uncharacteristic for such a young face. Her eyes find mine and my heart stops at the one word that leaves her mouth. “Revenge.” With another laugh she stands atop the chandelier and starts swinging it back and forth as she sings in another language. The air vibrates with magic as everyone looks around wearily. My attention is pulled from the witch as nails dig into my chest. My eyes fall to Fae and my heart stops. Her eyes have rolled back into her head, showing only the whites and she starts foaming at the mouth. “Fae!” I cry as I lay her gently on the ground. Laughter pulls my attention back to the witch, her eyes flash red. A Vampire? How is that possible? How was she retaining her magic when she is a vampire? “He, he. Hope you enjoyed having a mate little wolfie. She’s lucky if she’ll last the hour.” A growl rips from my throat as my claws rip through my nail beds. “There is no cure. Only death.” Fangs protrude from her mouth as she smiles. “Bye.” She waves her fingers in a small wave, and then she vanishes in a puff of smoke. Chaos ensues as Oliver starts ordering trackers, calling healers, trying to calm the crowd. But all I see is Fae, who’s face has grown pale and clammy, her once bright green eyes dull. I sweep her into my arms and follow behind some healers towards the infirmary where I set her into a bed and pull her soft hand towards my mouth, giving it a soft kiss. The tingling flames of our mate bond pull painfully at my heart as I kneel beside her bed and the healers work around me. I know it is useless. The witch had said so herself. No cure. Only death. My head falls to the bed beside her as I clutch at her hand, tears falling down my face. A comforting hand rests on my shoulder as my dad kneels down beside me. He doesn’t say anything. There is nothing to say. All we can do is wait.