The Blood Moon

The fall

Jasper

It rings a few times before he picks up. I hear shuffling before his groggy voice answers.

“Hello?” He mumbles, sleep still thick in his voice.

“Sorry to wake you man, but I need to come see you.”

“Jasper? Dude it's 2 in the goddamn morning. My mate is sleeping.” I feel my eyebrow raise. I didn’t realize he had mated. I hadn’t talked to him in far too long.

“I know, I know. I’m sorry. But it's urgent. I need to come see you.”

“Well Jasper it's funny you say that,” he’s more awake now. I’m not sure if it's the urgency in my tone, but he can tell I’m serious. “I was going to call you in the morning and ask you here. It’s just, my mate needs our help. Somethings going on in her old pack. She thinks we need to intervene.”

I sigh and set the phone against my forehead.

Bryce was my Beta Regent as well as alpha to the Snow Moon pack. I was the Alpha Regent and Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. The regents are considered to be similar to royalty. We are in charge of this area of the north america region. Our land reaches from Oregon to Minnesota, north through British Columbia and south to Colorado. We are the North West region.

This means that we had to monitor the status of all the packs in our region. We made sure they were ok, had all of the supplies they needed, and occasionally had to make visits to intervene in pack matters. But the way the Moon Goddess had sounded, I didn’t have time to interfere in minor pack business. I needed to find my mate, I needed to help her.

I put the phone back to my ear, “Ok, Bryce we can discuss it but there is other business I need to take care of with you. I’m leaving now.”

“Ok man, come on down. Your room is ready for you when you get here.”

“Thanks, I'll see you in a few hours.” I say and I end the call. I head back into my room and start to get ready to leave. The moon goddess, and my mate, are counting on me. I can’t let them down.

****

Content warning: suicide.

Raine

We had been driving for a few hours. The world outside the window is dark and grey. Rain has been falling gently off and on throughout our trip. An Oregon fog creeps its fingers through the woods that surround us. I sigh and rest my forehead on the window.

As soon as Alpha Pierce woke up, I begged him to leave today. He begrudgingly agreed to let me go, but only if Kyle and his mate, Amber, would go with me. Whatever. It won’t matter. No one can stop what I have planned.

Alpha PIerce tried to mark me before we had left. He said he needed to claim his property before I went to a college full of alphas. I almost let him, just so he would leave me alone. But Sienna had surfaced and fought him back which earned me a righteous beating. By some miracle Kyle arrived and stopped him. He had reminded Alpha that it was against the law to mark another wolf without their consent. Enraged, and embarrassed, Alpha Pierce kicked me one more time and then stormed off to his office. He didn’t even say goodbye.

I stare out the window at the forest around us. We are in Oregon now, traveling toward Tillamook to see my best friend Talia at school. Amber and Kyle were chatting excitedly in the front seat of the Rover. Amber had never been outside of the pack lands before. This was a big deal for her. Kyle tried to include me in the conversation a few times to no avail. He eventually stopped trying.

We would reach the coast soon. Tillamook itself wasn't on the coast, but the college was. It was removed from the human population of Tillamook, closer to the Snow Moon pack that had laid claim to the area. They are a huge pack, the second largest in our region, second only to the Blood Moon pack in Northern Washington. Alpha Pierce had gone to college with Alpha Jasper, the Blood Moon pack’s leader, and Alpha Regent of our region. He had nothing but terrible things to say about him. I guess they had differing opinions about how packs should be led.

My phone rang in my pocket. I jumped, forgetting that Alpha Pierce had given it to me. It was Talia.

“Hey bestie!” She was practically yelling into the phone.

“Hey Tali. What’s up? We’re on our way.”

“Awesome, where are you? Close?”

“Yes, almost to the coast.”

“Awesome!” She was practically giddy. “Raine, I have so much to tell you. I met my mate! He’s so amazing. The mate bond is incredible...” I tune her out. I love Talia. She is like a sister to me. But my heart is hard and cold. I can't bring myself to share her happiness when there is nothing but pain in my heart.

“Raine?” I hear her calling my name.

“Yes Tali?”

“Did you hear me?”

“No, sorry, you must've cut out.” I notice the car is quiet and Kyle’s eyes are on me in the rearview mirror.

“I saaaaid that he's the alpha of the pack here! I told him about what Pierce is doing to you and he is so, so mad. He’s going to let you join our pack! Here in Oregon!”

I freeze, my eyes flicking to meet Kyle’s in the rear view mirror. I can tell he is conflicted. He has always made it clear that he is loyal to Alpha pierce, but after today, I could see doubt in his eyes.

My heart begins to race as he begins to slow the car down.

“No, Kyle, please don't turn around,” I whisper.

He shakes his head with a grimace on his face. I can tell he is at war with himself.

I go back to the phone. “No Tali. I appreciate the offer but I'm staying at harvest moon.”

“Raine.. what? Why?”

“Alpha Pierce is my mate.”

“No, Raine, he isn't!” She's on the verge of tears. “You would so totally be able to tell if he was Raine. I know what the bond feels like. He is lying to you!”

The car is almost stopped now, as Kyle is still deciding whether or not to continue. I look out the window when I see it. The coast.

I knew it was time. I was going to wait until the end of my trip. I wanted to see Talia one more time. But two things were about to happen. One, Kyle is turning around. He is loyal to his alpha. He can’t risk screwing up his assignment. Two, when Kyle takes me home he will have to tell Alpha Pierce why. And then my life will be over.

Before I could hesitate I drop my phone and throw the car door open. I roll out. I can feel the burning against my skin from the road rash I had just experienced, but I don’t care.

I don't look back at the car. I hear the brakes squeal as Kyle stops the car completely. I hear the door slam shut as he gets out and takes off after me. I hear him screaming my name, but I don't care. I am so close.

The Oregon coast line is getting closer by the second. One of the beautiful things about Oregon and Washington is their coastline. Unlike the sandy beaches in the south, the coastline here is rocky and treacherous. There are high cliffs that stand 150-200 feet above the beaches and ocean below.

I keep running. I can hear Kyle's voice behind me getting closer. It only makes me run faster. This is it. I reach the edge.

I turn around to face him. I can see him getting closer.

“Raine, please don’t! We can talk about this!” He yells hopelessly.

“Luna! Don’t jump! Please!” Amber screams a few beats behind him.

I feel a small smile spread across my face. I am about to be free. I am about to be with my moon mother again.

“I’m sorry Kyle” I whisper, just loud enough so I know he can hear me. He is almost to me, too close to wait any more.

I hold my arms out, take a deep breath, and let myself fall.