Midnight Moon's new Luna

Chapter 7 - Moonlight

Vera

The hospital staff had been very accommodating, and given me a safe room in which to spend this night. I was dressed in a black tank top and gray shorts. Not very warm clothes, but they were old and weathered. I knew they would rip once I shifted, but I didn't feel comfortable getting undressed down here, all by myself. Instead, I'd bought a change of clothes

with me.

We should be outside! Nadja said in my head.

“I know, but this is the best we can do under the circumstances.”

You know that this is only going to make this worse, right? And the first shift is always bad!

“I know! But worrying and fretting about it isn’t helping either!”

I was already anxious, and she was making it worse. I could feel her fear as well as my own.

The room was in the basement, in an old wing of the hospital. Right by the ceiling there was a small window facing east, where the moon would rise. I watched as the shadows outside grew longer, not knowing what to do with all my nervous energy.

I could tell from the darkening sky that the sun was setting, and not long after, the moon began to rise. The symbol of the goddess, the source of werewolf power. The first and true Luna. Her pale light spread out over the city and found its way through the basement window, and my body erupted with pain.

Caleb

“Could you stop that?” Jacob asked, sounding annoyed.

“What?”

“You keep cracking your knuckles. You always do that when you’re stressed or nervous,” he said. “An Alpha really shouldn't have such an obvious tell, you know.”

I balled my hands into tight fists and placed them in my lap.

“I can't help it. The moon is about to rise, and I feel sick to my stomach. Actually, she's feeling sick to her stomach…” I grumbled.

“I take it you won't be very good company tonight.”

“Go to sleep, Jake,” I sighed. It was still going to be a few hours until we arrived at home. Sleep would be good for him, help him heal. No chance in hell I would get any sleep tonight though.

“I can't,” he sighed. “I'm in too much pain. Something we will have in common soon enough, I expect.”

As if his words were a trigger, the pain came all at once. It seemed to come from the chest, but echoed through my bones in waves. I felt as if my veins were full of acid. I gasped and then growled. Damn, I’d forgotten just how painful this was. And yet I knew that what I felt was only a fraction of what Vera was going through at that moment.

It made me angry. Angry at her for not coming with me, angry at the world for the situation. And angry at myself for letting her do this by herself.

I grabbed some medical instrument hanging on the wall. I didn't even look at what it was as it broke in my hands.

“Hey driver!” I heard Jacob call. “Pull over.”

“What are you doing?” I asked between gritted teeth.

“You should go to her. You can come back home in a day or two. But for tonight… Well, the pack will survive.”

“What?” I couldn't focus.

“Do you really want to argue this now, or do you want to go?”

The van slowed to a stop and before I knew it, I was leaping out the door, shifting in midair and landing on my front paws. I took off at a sprint, following the matebond to find her.

It didn’t take long for me and Raid to reach the city. We didn’t even bother shifting back. Raid was faster than me anyway. And a wolf rushing through alleyways and keeping to the shadows, actually drew less attention in the city than a naked man doing the same. Still, I heard a few screams and shrieks.

I sat back in my mind letting Raid get all his frustration out as he ran as fast as he could. He barely managed to dodge cars sometimes when he dashed across roads. There was only one thing on his mind.

Have to find mate! We have to get to her!

The pain from the bond was nearly unbearable by the time we reached the hospital, and I was getting worried. She should’ve shifted by now, which would have made the pain go away. Instead, it was getting progressively worse.

She’s holding herself back. Raid snarled. She’s scared and alone.

He was mad at me, and so was I. But I still didn’t believe I had been in the wrong. I did need to go back home to my pack. We were under constant attacks and I should be there to protect them. I would have to convince her to come with me tomorrow. But for now, we just had to get through her shift. I ran into the hospital and tried to follow the bond. But with all the hallways and stairs, it was impossible to find the right way.

People I passed frowned, but nobody yelled. They were all supernaturals, or at the very least family to someone who was, so they all knew I was clearly a werewolf, not an actual wolf that had somehow ended up in the middle of the city and found its way into the hospital.

I found a help desk and shifted back, asking for Vera. The woman at the desk made a few phone calls before giving me directions. She looked confused, and didn't want to tell me anything at first. I had to use my Alpha voice, as well as tell her that Vera was my mate to convince her. She even called Vera's mom to verify.

I was just about to dash off again, when I remembered that I was completely naked. She probably didn’t need a naked man bursting into the room when she was so vulnerable. The receptionist managed to find me a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. She also told me to knock before going in, since Vera had made it clear she wanted privacy. I barely heard her since I was already on the move again.

Finally, I reached the door. The bond was screaming that she was on the other side and that she needed me. It was locked, but I broke it down and looked for her.

She was lying on the floor, in a pool of moonlight washing in from a small window high on the wall. Her knees were pulled up, and she was holding her head with her hands, shivering. She looked so small, lying there on the cold, hard concrete floor.

Suddenly my own anger matched Raid’s. Our mate should not be going through her first shift in a basement! I growled before I could stop myself.

She looked up at me, fear in her eyes.

You are such an i***t! Raid yelled in my head. She’s in unbelievable pain, when a man breaks down the door and growls at her! How would you expect her to react?!

I hurried over to her and bent down,

“Vera?” I said, trying to make my voice soft. “It’s me.”

She looked at me, her eyes shone with unshed tears. Her voice was small and unsteady. “Help me.”

“Vera,” I took her hand, “listen to me. You have to let go. Let go, and give you wolf control.”

“I’m trying…”

What had she said her wolf’s name was? Something starting with an N… Nora?

It’s Nadya, you fool!

Right. Nadya.

“Vera, you’ll have to trust Nadya. I know it’s scary to let go. But she will help you. Once you shift, the pain will be over. And I’m right here. The first time is the worst. It’s painful and it’s scary. But you’re not alone. I’m here now. And I’m so sorry I wasn't here earlier. Nadya is also with you, and all you have to do is to give control over to her. She’ll take over from there.”

She whimpered. But then she took a deep breath, and she let go.

Her body changed and I heard her clothes ripping. Suddenly, the small, scared woman in front of me was replaced with a beautiful wolf. Her fur was a shining silver color, and her eyes were a golden amber. Nadya.