Moonlight Dynasty

She was crouched over the man's quickly cooling body. The blood, coppery on her tongue, dripped in congealing drops onto the floor. She spit out the chuck of the man's flesh that she had torn out of his neck. The blood had slowed down its squirting effects as it had drained out of the body. Anger and fear battled deep within the blue-black pelt that covered her body. The red haze that had clouded mind and vision was quickly fading, and horror was taking its place. She jumped back from the body, but instead of landing on the four feet of a wolf, she landed on the two feet of a human. She stood stark naked in the middle of the blood and gore. She started to shake violently as shock took hold of her heart and mind. "What have I done?" she whispered over and over. She did not know how long it took her, and she did not remember cleaning the blood off of herself or getting dressed but her mind knew at some unconscious level that she needed to get to her mother now. She knocked politely at the door and waited until she was bid to enter. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest as her head was a whirl of chaos. She wiped her sweaty palms onto her gold brocade skirt and stepped through the door when it was opened. She walked up to her mother and curtseyed politely. "Rise my daughter," smiled Rosa. "The rest of you may leave." "My lady but his highness is expecting you to be in his room in twenty minutes," curtseyed a maid, concern flashed through her honey eyes. "And I will be there," Rosa sighed. "Now leave. This won't take long to talk to Maeve." "Yes, my lady," the maids curtseyed to Rosa and Maeve and left. "Why do you have to do anything for that man?" snarled Maeve. "That man is the Alpha and your father," anger forced Rosa to raise her voice slightly. "He is not your Calon Enaid Chychwïor," Maeve wanted to scream at her mother. "It's not like I can deny the Alpha," sighs Rosa. "He has not found his Calon Enaid Chychwïor either." "But that doesn't give him the right to take whatever woman he wants," Maeve clenched her fists to her side. "You didn't come here to talk about the Alpha, did you?" Rosa swiftly and easily changed the subject. "Mother, I didn't want to be like you, I'm so sorry," Maeve's eyes squeezed shut as the tears started to pour down her face. "What are you talking about?" Rosa stood quickly and walked over to her daughter. "He wanted me so bad, and he said I had to take him into me," Maeve started to blabber on. "He said the Alpha was going to reward him by giving him me and... and..." "Calm down," Rosa patted the girl's head. "Take a deep breath." "He cornered me and ripped my shirt," Maeve's body trembled. "His hands were everywhere. I lost control." "You turned?" worry and horror were thick in Rosa's voice. They hadn't wanted to show that Maeve could already shift. "I couldn't control her," Maeve collapsed at her mother's feet. "I'm so sorry. He's dead." "Oh no," Rosa covered her face with her hands as she dropped onto her knees beside her daughter. "Your father might forgive you for killing a soldier. He can replace those lower leveled wolves." "It was the Beta," murmured Maeve. "Please, no..." moaned Rosa. "I can't protect you if you have murdered the Beta." "I know, but what can I do?" Maeve wanted to wail but kept her voice down. "Pack up some of your belongings," Rosa whispered urgently. "I will keep the Alpha occupied for at least an hour, maybe longer. He doesn't realise, yet the death he's felt is the Beta. Do not let anyone into your room. That should give us until morning before they find the body. They won't come looking for me until evening when the Alpha will want me again. Tell the guards that you are not feeling well and that we wish to be left alone. That will give you as much time as possible. Hopefully, until noon, and by then, we should be well out of the country." "But what about you, mother?" Maeve looked closely at her mother. "You have everything you ever want here." "I only stayed for you," Rosa kissed the top of Maeve's head. "Now go, my daughter. Meet me by the petal pond." "Be safe, mother." "You too, my beloved daughter."