Ultima, Octavia Of The Black Moon

Chapter Eight- Fate of Lunas

After the weight of knowledge revealed to me not even that luxurious experience, what the Black Moon Pack calls a bath could I feel at ease. I finished dressing in my blue sweater and fitted black pants with all the pockets, when a curious question stirred my thoughts. “Hailey, how is the Luna chosen?”

“Oh that is all determined by the Moon Goddess." She stated as if that was all she intended on saying. "But Hailey how does the Moon Goddess decide on who will become the Lunas? Does she wait until it is time or does she choose the life a Luna is born into?" Hailey just stares at me for a moment while I finish sliding my boots on.

"Much knowledge from before but even so, I'm not sure she reveals such things to us. We do not question Our beloved spirit mother, we trust even as many wolves suffer that there is purpose to it all. What we do know is that She is a guide to our full understanding to ones own existance. She chooses your most ideal mate, for everyone. A partner to journey with you while you complete your ambitions. They are perfect in everyway for you. Your deepest desires come true with your destined mate by your side."

"As a Wolf, the pull is nearly unbreakable. You seek it out. If ever any of your senses picks up on your mate, you do anything in your power to meet them, be with them, take them. They are your equal with usually similar skill sets that compliments Your own. The bond with mates strengthens you further. Once bonded you are bound to protect and serve one another. Many Wolves will mark and bond with their females taking a small bit of her essence which will strengthen him more and bonding her to him in servitude. If she doesn't mark him then she does not obtain part of his essence, or solidify his servitude to her. She cannot protect him and she remains weaker in comparison. Our whole Pack's way of living is you are always submissive to someone and Alpha is submissive to nobody.”

Her expression changes from sad to shocked when she looks at what I am doing to my hair. I scrunched oils into my orangish red strands and left it be to dry. “Luna, please allow me to assist you”

“No. I like leaving it down there's no reason for a fancy up do just yet.” I declare as i avoid her outstretched hands.

“Alpha Eso will expect you looking perfect for lunch with you that we will be late for if we do not hasten our efforts to look our best.” She tried to touch my hair but I smacked her hands away.

“No it is you who should be finding something suited to wear. You cant sit with me at lunch with your hair a mess and wearing a common maids outfit can you”

The look of horror swept across her face. “Ma'am! Luna!, I mustn't be eating with you at the Alpha's table! Surely you wish me killed!” She was worried and flustered but I am determined to keep her safe and with me at all times.

“If I get him to agree to my will then you must then agree as well?” I bargained with her.

“Of course Luna, thank you for understanding, I do not want to upset him further today.” She bowed as she collected the remainder of the bottles she brought from the stone cupboards hidden about different drawers. Some drawers were in the walls with their nobs now more distinguishable once you know what you are looking for. Each had its own symbols indicating what was inside. Hailey placed the one finger length bottle in a drawer hidden in the stone pillar before being ready to head back to Lord Eso's chambers.

I wouldn't let anything happen to her, or the rest of the Wolves for that matter. I would save them all if I had to. Hailey escorted me down the hall back to our room where she showed me the adjoining personal attendants quarters. The door hidden in with the stones only needed an inward push to open with a slight click. The room was small but had its own window and two other entrances giving little wall space. If needed this would be a great room to escape from.

“Oh Luna look! I get a window! And it is facing the Cheskopeh hills where the sun rises from!" She pranced over to it, laying her hands on the window sill and head upon her hands. Breathing deep she spoke freely. “We've been praying for you, you know?” She looked back at me to meet my eyes before loosing her courage to continue speaking, until her chin returned back to her resting hands. “Me, my mother, father, brothers, and my sisters who are no more. Many more too have been waiting. There has been a prophecy of a human turned Wolf and the fate she wields.”

Keeping my breathing even I am hung on her ever word as if what she says is truly vital to me but if I make the wrong move or ask the wrong question she would be too scared to continue her cander. “Are humans not normally changed into wolves?”

She turns to me and shakes her head no, “You see Luna, I may be an Omega but humans are beneath even us. They are servants and slaves in our Packs eyes. Well, most Pack's eyes. Allowing one to be turned usually results in just another Omega. As far back as our ancients have written there are only 4 accounts of humans being turned Wolf and becoming ranking members of a Pack. Though none have ever been made a Luna...” She turns to look upon me with wide adoring eyes.

I can feel her heart fluttering in admiration of me. I have done nothing to deserve her gratitude. She believes I am some chosen Queen when infact I plan to kill their Alpha. I just feel unworthy of all that she is feeling for me right now. Until I can make real changes to these peoples lives I wont be satisfied. Wait... How curious...

“Hailey? Something I'm noticing about myself? I feel this overwhelming urge to protect you, all of you, but more than that. I feel a sense of wrongs that must be righted. I never felt this way towards the kingdom I was raised or the kingdom I journeyed from. How can this be? I know everything you say to be true and even when you are not saying everything. Its peculiar.” I quickly ponder outloud from the doorway at her no longer resting head.

Hailey's honey brown eyes beamed up at me, her sandy blonde hair that was once in a tight braid around her head was frizzing now that it was drying from my earlier bath house fun. She radiated happiness as she explained further.

“I told you of how you will feel things more deeply emotionally and physically. Luna's job was always considered of high importance in the Pack and still is in most other Packs. Using her powers to tend to the members. To protect them from all harms and support the growth of the Pack in all manners of life. She was the heart of the Pack. Her connection to the Moon Goddess is a sacred one. We all can speak to her but only a Luna can hear her and carry out her direct will, much like her immortal Familiars. Familiars use to be gifted to a Pack to assist a Luna in times of need but all discovered Familiars have since been killed off. Or so the Diatrox history tells us." and then Hailey said it, her hearts desire, "You being here, being who you are, has restored hope to so many of us. You being the mate of Alpha brings us all joy that you are the true one chosen who will be able to revive the ancient traditions and help heal our Alpha's cursed ways.”

“Heal?” What did she mean heal? I plan to rip his throat out just as he had done my fathers!

“Our Alpha is set in his ways, his ways of tradition that are being continued to this day. But, if one were to change his heart, heal his mind, show him a new way... things could be how they were long ago of times since past, when life was so much better for all Wolves.”

I wont agree to anything, but I hug her anyways as the hopeful tears swell up in her eyes so much they overflow. She's been through so much where I have had it so easy. I may have lost my father, my mother, my sisters, the man I chosen to marry and that life I was living as a child but this girl... She wasn't living. She was afraid to live, to smile, to enjoy a moment in her day. So much I can sense and know about her, its remarkable. She reminds me of Tessa, little Tessa, after we arrived to live with the Harth's at their estate. She, like Tess, just needs time to be comfortable being herself, time to heal and breathe freely.

Hailey spoke up once more from inside my embrace, “The Luna's from recent have never got to speak to the Moon Goddess thus many doubt her existence now, but my family is one of few who carry down the stories of the old ways.”

“Why does she not speak with the Luna's anymore?” I asked her

She held me a little tighter not wanting this comforting feeling to end, “You will be officially introduced tonight as Alpha Eso's wife. It's just a ceremony so that Alpha can prove he has claimed not only his destined mate but the Foretold Luna. The Luna ceremony itself will not take place until the next full moon. You being a newly turned Wolf means your full transition to Wolf won't be completed until you fully transform through all three phases. You will not be Gifted or become fully our Luna until you completely turn over to your Wolf side by the following Full moon. Luna ceremonies are only held during a full moon so rumors are that Alpha is trying to be certain you will complete your transformation and become the Foretold Luna so that he will come to his full Power. As is the prophecy that you would come but the out come is unwritten. weather or not you will bring about change or destruction.”

Her tone shifted as she released her embrace and faced me with a warning look. “Alpha has waited a very long time to find you, his mate, his Fortold Luna of immense powers. He is older than most are when they find their mate, thirty-seven years of age to be exact. Since you can be very young and sense your mate out most find their mates easily but for him he has searched entire oceans looking for you, only to discover you at an allied Human King's tables.”

It wasn't romance in her words. Eso became obsessed with finding me. He was a pirate looking for the buried treasure he was promised and he finally found it. I know there is a satisfaction with being near him and being that priceless fortune all seem to desire. I cant explain it. I refuse to let my younger, twenty-four year old body give in to the satisfaction I keep craving. He still disgusts me and the disdain only grows as does my abilities with being a Wolf. We walked back out the hidden door way then securely shut it.

Her voice still remaining quite serious “The urge to bond and breed happens naturally when Wolves come of age but the torture can be managed. Females go into heat once the Shewolf is marked or marks another. Though after a certain age, without even being marked the urge may become too painful to bare, driving some Wolves mad with deadly rage fueled lust for only their mate.” A knock at the door turned our heads.

I had heard Tessa's foot steps from when she reached the top of the stairs which was why I ushered us to walk this way. I moved silently over to where the back of my door would be swung open, then motioned for Hailey to quickly come answer the door with a big grin on my face. She stood before the door rolling her eyes then opening it.

“Greetings again. Hailey was it?” Tessa politely inquired

“Yes, Ma'am” Hailey dutifully responded.

“Is my sister ready to receive visitors this day?” Tessa proudly stated the word sister. She was eager and I was keeping patients. a good hunter knows to wait for the prey to reveal the percise opprotunity.

“Yes, Ma'am” and with that Hailey stepped aside giving a slight bow to Tessa as she gracefully entered the room. In two leaps I've got her tackled and yelling at me!

“OH TAVY IM GOING TO KILL YOU! I thought you'd put forth the effort of being more demure now that you've married!” She teased at me. She's just mad I snuck up on her so good!

“Why so I can be like you!” I chuckled “No thanks!” I gave her a hug then kissed her cheek while we lay tangled on the floor. “so what have you been up to all day?” I genuinely wanted to know as i sat us up.

“Oh Tavy this place is so very different. Look what I am wearing!” She hopped up revealing she was wearing those same pants Eso was wearing only in white. They hugged her waist then sloped down rounding at the ankles. Paired with a fitted, black, long sleeve shirt. The outfit was actually very appealing in its own way made with very fine material.

“Oddly everyone has these weird ranks, they all divide up with your color of pants and do practice fighting or exercises. They said I am to be learning all week and will be tested and placed amoung the servants.” She looked down at me with a hand out to assist me up. “Tavy they want to see what job I can fulfill.” She states with the most concerned look on her face.

I want to laugh but I hold it in “Tessa, your biggest concern is the type of job you will have here?” I tease at her

“No Octavia you don't understand! This place is so strange. The things they say and the way the people are here. I don't like it. I definitely am not looking forward to what type of manual labor they will enlist me in doing. I doubt I will like it. Though Alcrea says I should keep a positive outlook.”

I glare at her with suspicion, “Alcrea?”

“Don't be like that sister. You know how I feel about all of that. No he is just... from what I gather he is the Lord, Duke or Marquis kind of. They call it 'Beta' here though, he explains it as second in command of the estate. He says he will ensure I adjust to living here under a different ruler. He really is very considerate. Moving on! How did last night go?! I'm dying to know everything!”

She really has no idea of what all has happened or the dangers that now surround us. The course I must take with all the sacrifices that will be made... I wont attach my dilemmas to her so that she will not have the same fate of Lunas. Her happiness is still possible, Her future still gleaming. I was wrong to bring her here, now I must get her back where she is safe.

Hailey clears her throat breaking me of my rapid thoughts. “Pardon me Luna, but it tis time for the lunch you are having with your husband Alpha Eso.”