The Blood Moon

Reconnecting

Jasper

I sigh as I look at the mountain of paperwork next to me. I’ve been home for almost a week now. Every day Raine and I link throughout the day. I can feel her warming up to me, I can tell we are making progress.

I am in the process of stripping Pierce from his title. It’s a longer process than one would think. The elder councils of my and Bryce's packs have to meet to make the final decision. In the meantime I have had Pierce evaluated by a psychiatrist who diagnosed him with narcissistic personality disorder. He declared him unfit for his role. Bryce has been taking statements from Pierce’s beta Marcus, Jared, Kyle, and Raine.

Raine has been surprisingly uncooperative. She refuses to share what Pierce did to her. She refuses to testify or attend the council meeting. She tells me she doesn’t want to be involved. The psychiatrist said it’s not uncommon for victims of narcissistic abuse to be devoted to their abuser. It’s hard to wrap my head around.

Thankfully, we have more than enough evidence to have him stripped of his title. I hope it is enough to have him imprisoned. At least for a while.

I pull a piece of paper from the top of the pile and glance it over before I sign it. I look up at the clock, 30 minutes until I get to leave to see Raine, and convene the elders council.

I feel a pop as Riane reaches out to me.

-“Hi Jasper,” I hear her sweet voice say. I smile.

-“Hey sweetheart. Are you ok?”

-“Yes, Jared and I are about to go for a run.”

-“Ok, well have fun. The elders council is meeting about Pierce on Monday. Have you thought anymore about testifying?”

There’s silence. She’s still there but hasn’t answered me.

-“I told you no, Jasper. He is my alpha. I can’t go against him. I’m sorry.”

She breaks the link. I sigh but don’t try to push it. It was a topic we had approached several times and it always led to an argument. I wasn’t willing to fight with her about it anymore.

Raine

I break the link with Jasper. I’m frustrated that he keeps bringing the topic up when we have argued about it so often.

I walk out of my room. Jared is waiting for me.

“Jared, I’d really like to run by myself tonight. I need to connect with Sienna and it’s hard to do that with you and Albus around.”

“Raine, I swore to Apha Regent Jasper that I would protect you.”

“Yeah and you have. But Alpha Pierce is locked away, and Marcus is cooperating. There isn’t a threat anymore.”

He’s clearly considering my words. I know I have a good argument. I’m not in danger anymore and I really just need some alone time.

“Alright, fine. But please don’t shut me out. Check in with me halfway through? And do you think you can be done by midnight?”

I nod in agreement. I'm finally going to get some much needed alone time.

*****

Sienna’s paws pummel heavily against the soft earth. It’s a chilly, clear night. The moon is only a sliver in the sky but the earthshine tonight is stunning.

We turn toward the cliffs and I shift back to my human form. I sit with my legs dangling over the side and consider how different my life is now.

I have been out of the hospital for about a week. The day after Jasper left I was released. I am staying with Bryce and Talia in their home. My appetite still sucks but I have started eating again here and there, mostly because Talia begs me to. I can’t say no to her. Jasper links with me frequently throughout the day, just checking in with me. Our friendship is growing and I feel closer to him already.

I have nightmares almost every night. And Alpha Pierce somehow manages to link with me almost every day. It’s frustrating and making moving on from him very difficult.

I feel a small pop and feel alpha Pierce.

-“They’re meeting to decide my fate in a few days. I hope you’re willing to stand up for me.”

-“I’m not getting involved either way Alpha.”

-“You still love me?”

I shift uncomfortably on the ground. I hadn’t considered my feelings for him since the day he attacked Jared. Things with Jasper were going so well, I only wanted to think about him.

-“I don’t know anymore, Alpha.”

-“Figure it out,” he growls menacingly.

I know he wants me to go back to harvest moon with him when he’s released on Monday. But I don’t think that’s what I want anymore.

-“Alpha, I am trying to reconnect with my wolf tonight. Perhaps we can talk about this tomorrow?”

He laughs in my head.

-“Fat chance. I’m lonely. You need to keep me company.”

Sienna suddenly severs the link.

How did you do that? He’s still our alpha!

He was interrupting our time and annoying me. I feel her shrug.

He doesn’t try to reconnect. I lie back in the cool grass and close my eyes. Sienna and I spend the rest of our time talking about my situation.

Sienna, tell me about my mom.

I didn’t know her personally. Though, I can sense her. She resides in the north eastern region as an elder.

What do you mean you can sense her?

I can sense all the other silver wolves. We are connected.

Why can’t I feel it?

Because you and I aren’t really connected. There’s too much turmoil between us and around us.

Between us?

I want our mate. You want that smelly alpha Pierce.

I shake my head.

I don’t know what I want.

Sienna laughs at me.

Im in your mind Raine. I can feel your deepest desires. Pierce still has a hold on you. I hope it goes away with time.

I open my eyes and sit up. She is right. I can feel his hold on me still as well. I don’t want it but it’s there. And I’m beginning to worry that it will never go away. He will never let me forget him.

I stand up and allow Sienna to take control. We shift and she runs home.

It’s past midnight, but by the looks of the house Jared has gone to bed.

I quietly open the door and slip inside. I know I wouldn’t be in trouble, but I don’t want to wake anyone.

“Raine?”

I hear a groggy voice come from the living room. I look over and see Jasper sitting up sleepily.

“Jasper?”

“Hey sweetheart.” He smiles groggily at me. He’s clearly exhausted.

“Why are you on the couch?” I walk over and sit down next to him.

“I was waiting for you to get home. I must’ve fallen asleep.” He yawns and stands up. He reaches his hand out to me. “Come on, let’s go to bed.”

I take his hand and he pulls me up and into his arms. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean into him. I feel him resting his chin on the top of my head and sighs happily as the warmth surrounds us.

“I missed you Raine.” He whispers.

“I think I missed you too.”

I feel him smile and he breaks the hug.

“Let’s go to bed. We can catch up more in the morning. Maybe go for a walk?” He’s leading me to my room. He stops in front of the door and kisses me on the top of my head.

“Get some rest, beautiful,” he says with a smile and ushers me into my room. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

He disappears into the room next to mine and closes the door behind him.

I feel the disappointment hit my eyes as the tears begin to gather and fall. Did he not want me?

Defeat is looming in my heart as I change into my pajamas and crawl into bed, and fall into a fitful sleep.

**I’m running through a dark forest. Moss covers the ancient trees and a fog hangs low to the earth. I can hear her growing behind me, her form stretching out and claiming the wolf behind me.

The sky is pitch black. There aren't even stars speckling the sky.

Sienna and I are focused on the path in front of us. I can feel the sense of urgency in our step as we run like hell to escape her.

I feel her claws dig into my shoulder and cry out in pain and surprise. She forces me to shift and I’m lying in front of her.

Her darkness surrounds me. I can feel her coldness reach my bones as she steps forward to claim my soul.

I’m screaming as she smirks at me.

“You could not hide from me for long, dear Raine. My poor sister Selene. We both knew it was you. It simply came down to who claimed you first.”

She is inches from my face now, my heart is frantic in my chest as she leans even closer. I can feel her breath.

“this will only hurt a bit,” she smiles coldly. Then she kisses me and my vision goes black. I’m screaming as I feel myself falling through the darkness she’s created. There’s ice in my soul that is consuming every warm thought and memory I have. All I feel is cold as the darkness swirls around me.**

I gasp as I wake up to strong hands shaking me.

“Raine?!”

Jasper

It took every inch of self control I had to not follow Raine to bed. Her crystal blue eyes, eyes lighter than the sky, were begging me to go with her. I wanted to lie with her tonight, to hold her close and feel her warmth. I can’t believe how much I have missed her this last week.

I take my shirt off and change into sweats. I hop into my bed and stare at the ceiling. There was a time when I would’ve sealed the deal with Raine by now and I always thought that when the time came and I did find my mate, I wouldn’t hesitate to mark and claim her. Regents have enemies all over the greater region. People crave our power and position and there’s nothing like a kidnapped mate to make a regent fall.

I sigh and try to link with Raine. I’m thinking about going to her room. I want to be with her. But I can’t link her. There’s nothing but silence when I try to open up in her mind.

That’s unusual. Most people aren’t able to block me out, and given how weak her mental state currently is, I wouldn’t think she would have the capacity to hold me off.

I get out of bed and go to her door. I press my ear against it and listen. I hear whimpering.

“Raine?” I say as I knock on the door.

No answer.

I knock harder. “Raine?”

Still no answer.

I cautiously open the door and walk in the room.

It’s freezing in her room. The darkness feels over powering coupled with the frigid temperature. I walk to her as I hear her whimper again. Suddenly she screams, her eyes flying open

“Rain?! Raine wake up!”

Her head snaps to face me and I gasp when I see her.

Her skin is pale with almost no coloring. Her lips are almost blue. Her eyes are gone, replaced by solid black orbs that are piercing into me. The darkness from her eyes is spilling out onto her skin, seeping through her capillaries and leaving spider web like patterns in its wake.

She looks haunting.

I shake off my fear and clutch her by the shoulders and shake her vigorously. She lets out a loud, cold laugh before she falls back into the bed.

“Raine?!” I’m yelling at her now, begging her to wake up.

I can feel the other residents in the house stirring and making their way to her room but I keep begging her to wake up.

She finally gasps and her eyes snap open. Her color returns to her cheeks. Those beautiful, sky blue eyes meet mine. I feel myself breathe deeply and pull her in close to me.

“Raine, are you ok?” I whisper into her ear. She’s shaking against me.

“She has bad dreams almost every night,” I hear Talia say behind me. She and Bryce are standing in the doorway.

I pull her away slightly so I can look her in the eyes.

“Do you have nightmares every night sweetheart?”

She nods but looks unsure. The panic in her eyes is telling. She’s still shaking, looking around her room as if she had just returned there after a long trip. Her bottom lip is trembling slightly as she holds back tears or screams. I can’t tell.

What I can tell is that she didn’t just have a nightmare. That was something else entirely.

I stayed with Raine all night. I held her close so she could sleep. She didn’t wake up again the rest of the night.

The next morning at breakfast, I’m the only one who seems disturbed by what had happened last night.

“You’re really ok Raine?”

She shrugs her shoulders.

“I think so. I don’t really remember much about the dream. And Talia says I have a bad dream at least once a night.”

She goes back to eating her breakfast.

“Ok, if you say so,” I eye her closely. Something just feels off. She’s not telling me everything. “Your doctor called me yesterday and wants to meet with us today.”

“Sounds good,” she nods. “I’ll get ready to leave.”

With that she leaves the kitchen. I sigh as I watch her go. My wolf agrees with me. She’s holding something back