The Blood Moon

Mate

Jasper

I arrived at Snow Moon Pack at 7am. I went straight to my room to freshen up. Then I joined Bryce and his mate for coffee in the kitchen. She was lovely, and Bryce was obviously deeply in love. They had met only a week ago, but their bond was strong. She was the daughter of an alpha. Their bond would be stronger than most.

Bryce and his mate had tried to discuss her problem with me. I was going to get it out of the way, but my wolf was restless. He insisted we needed to talk to Bryce first. The Moon Goddess had told me to seek out Bryce. So I was. I asked him to talk privately, so we shifted and ran to the coast.

Bryce and I are walking along the coast. It is a dreary day. The sun is hiding behind the clouds and refusing to break through. The chilly air wraps around us.

Bryce is nearly as tall as me, but is much more muscular. He looks more like a werebear. He is simply huge. He rarely shaved and has the scruff to prove it. His angular chin is covered in dark brown hair. His dark brown eyes were big and round. His hair, much like mine, is dark brown and scruffy at best. He always says he has better things to do than fuss over his hair. I expect that to change now that the lovely Talia is in his life.

“So I had the weirdest encounter last night Bryce,” I start. I’m not sure he will believe me. I almost don’t believe it happened. But Bryce had been my friend since we were babies. Not only that, he is the Beta Regent. I know I have his full trust.

He nods at me and I was going to continue my story when we hear screaming above us.

Our heads snap up to see a figure standing on the edge of the cliff a few hundred feet ahead of us, and above us.

I can barely hear a man begging this figure to not jump. My skin is crawling. My wolf is howling.

“s**t,” Bryce mutters next to me and starts to take his clothes off to shift. He looks at me expectantly. But I’m frozen in place.

I hear a small voice in my head, “I’m sorry Kyle.”

My wolf starts howling at me.

MATE!

I look up again and begin to take my clothes off.

“One of us can catch her Bryce,” I say to him as I start to shift.

My black wolf is huge. Bigger than Bryce’s brown one. I shake my head and let my fur feel the breeze. My wolf takes control of this form. He’s looking up and sees her fall. I mind link with Bryce

-Get ready!

-I’m ready, Jasper.

-Good. Let’s get her.

We are running now. Trying to race physics as she plummets to the rocks below. I’ve never pushed my wolf this hard, but I don’t dare stop.

I’m not going to make it. I watch in horror as the young girl falls and hits the rocks with a sickening thud, just barely out of my reach.

My wolf is screaming and howling in agony. He nuzzles her neck. This is my mate. I can feel my heart breaking. I take back control and shift to my human form. I reach down and touch her neck, there’s still a pulse.

She’s still alive.

I can feed the mate bond. The sparks on her skin at my touch. It’s faint, but it is there.

“Hang on sweetheart,” I whisper to her. She’s in really bad shape. Her pulse is weak. Her breathing is shallow and uneven. I look up at the cliff above us.

How did she survive?

“Bryce!” I yell. There are people screaming and crying above me.

“Every healer in my pack is on their way here,” he responds.

“Is she one of yours?” I ask him, looking down at the beautiful she-wolf in front of me.

“No.” He responds breathlessly. I nod my head. Maybe she was at the college?

There’s nothing we can do but wait for the healers to come. I hold her hand and close my eyes, trying not to cry. How could I fail my mate like this? I can feel her pulse fading, her breathing is getting more labored. Where the f**k are those healers?!

The healers finally arrive, throw a change of clothes at me and Bryce, then shoo me out of the way. They don’t care about my title, and for once I do not care.

*****

Raine

It’s dark.

It’s peaceful in this darkness. There’s no pain here. There’s no sound. Just dark, peaceful silence. I finally feel at peace.

What’s that beeping sound? No, no go away. I’m finally at peace.

Ugh it’s getting louder!

Raine!

I stiffen.

Raine I can feel you. I’m a part of you. I know you’re awake in here.

Sienna! I cry out to her in my mind. I can feel tears starting to gather in the corner of my eyes. Sienna, how are you here? Do you get to join me in this quiet afterlife?

No, Raine. You survived. We survived.

I feel myself moan.

Come Raine. It’s time to wake up. .

No, Sienna! I don’t want to live! Alpha Pierce will kill me! No, scratch that. My fate is worse than death if I go back.

Raine, he won’t be a problem anymore. Her voice is calm and even. It’s filled with a warmth I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s urging me to follow her, to trust her. Follow my voice Raine. It’s time to wake up.

I follow her voice out of the depths of my mind and slowly open my eyes.

I’m in a hospital room. Next to my bed, holding my hand, is Talia. Her head is lying on our hands. Her hands are gripping my hand so tightly that I’m surprised that it didn't wake me. I take a moment to survey the room. There’s a guard at my door, watching me wake up. I see his eyes glaze over as he mind links with someone. No doubt it’s Alpha Pierce.

I feel the tears falling. My shoulders begin to shake as I realize I failed. My only opportunity to escape his torment, and I failed. I start sobbing, pain shooting through every inch of my broken body as I shake from the tears.

I feel Talia running her hands through my hair, gently calling my name. She’s trying to comfort me. I can feel the pain in her voice. She’s hurting too.

Not only did I fail to take my life, but I now have to witness the pain I have caused and would have left behind. I begin to cry harder.

“Raine, Raine shh it’s ok” Talia says, tears clouding her voice. Her long, blonde hair is slightly tangled and falling around her shoulders. She’s been here a while. I shake my head.

“No!” I cry. I stare into her eyes. I don’t notice the door open. “Tali nothing is ok. It will never be ok!” I’m sobbing. I’m surprised she can understand me. “It was my only chance, Tali.” She’s standing next to me and cradling my head against her chest now. Her fingers run softly through my hair. I can feel her body trembling as she cries with me. “I failed. The only chance I had to escape him, and I failed. He’s going to be so mad, Tali!” Suddenly I’m shaking as I sob. My heart rate begins to sky rocket as I realize what’s in store for me. “Tali, please don’t let him hurt me.”

I look up and see her big brown eyes with tears falling steadily down her cheeks. She squeezes my hand and starts to say something when I feel someone grab my right arm and start to panic.

“NO! TALIA DON'T! DON'T LET HIM HURT ME!” I’m screaming and thrashing my arms. I’m trying to fight the person holding me down and soon feel more arms holding me down.

I hear Talia’s gentle, wavering voice, “Raine, please, it’s just the doctors sweetie, they’re going to help you. Stop fighting…” but I can’t hear her anymore. I’m falling again, this time back into the dark and silent peace. It swallows me.