Daughter of the Cursed Moon: The Forgotten Howl

Chapter 002

The point of view of ADRIAN

As I stood frozen outside the ancient stone temple, the October air stung my face. Low and heavy clouds hung, a thin mist ghosting fingers through the trees. Everyone who surrounded me moved like shadows, heads lowered, tears silent but sharp in the air.

Driven by Gregory and some of the other senior wolves, I watched the casket roll forward. Under the grey havens, the wood shone almost as though it were alive. But it was not. It was loaded with Clarissa.

Clarisa...

My throat burning, I swallowed forcefully. Today I ought to have been holding her hand. not hiding her.

People kept flooding Wolfhaven Pack and even beyond from all around. Though I knew half of them, their broken looks on their faces were the same. Somehow, even with hardly a day's notice, they had covered the grounds with flowers, candles, and images of Clarissa grinning that brilliant smile I could still see every time I closed my eyes.

It should have been rather lovely. It most certainly ought to have. The soft hum of prayers being whispered into the wind had the almost magical quality of the yellows and reds of the autumn leaves whirling around us.

But when she went, nothing seemed beautiful.

With nails sticking into my palms, my hands stayed locked behind my back. I didn't even knew what other event today was meant to feature. Something official, I guess. There was always stuff booked on the calendar. Pack meetings, alpha council garbage, training courses. Things future alphas like me were supposed to give top priority.

Not today, however. Today, Clarissa was the only important thing.

I blinked strongly. Still, my eyes strayed.

The ceremony dragged on, people murmuring their respect like ghosts past us. I could only barely hear them. Over the raging in my own head, I could hardly hear anything.

She's truly disappeared.

We were supposed to have everything: the mate bond, the electric surge of at last claiming each other, a lifetime of lazy mornings twisted in bed. We'd talked about it like it was a guarantee.

I now just have bits left. Broken dreams. False pledges.

My eyes followed someone I wish I hadn't seen as the last few mourners passed by.

Aurora;

Her little sister, Clarissa.

They stood stiffly beside their mother, suddenly looking guilty and lost.

Something inside of me caught fire.

Clarissa's death was due to her.

Everything surged back so quickly it pounded the air from my lungs.

Flashes back— Last Night

Clarissa curled on the couch, her head tucked under my chin as her body melted against mine. A dumb action movie played on TV, forgotten.

Warm and inviting, my fingers danced along her thigh. She laughed and stepped in front of me. I dropped to plant a kiss on her.

Her phone pulsed.

She started to flinch and pull away a text.

Grumbling, I tried to grab another kiss, but she tucked the phone out of sight.

"It's Aurora," she said with a tight voice. She sneaked out. She has lost."

I got up straighter. Once more?

Clarissa smiled half-heartedly, the one she used when she felt anxious but didn't want to show. She is just a child.

"She's fourteen," I said, mumbling.

Clarissa picked up her jacket. "I have to go search for her."

"I'll join you."

"No. She will freak if you show up.

I disliked it. hated the thought of her prowling the forest alone late at night. Angry, that little brat ruined our evening.

Clarissa, though, kissed me quickly and squeezed my hand.

I'll be good, pledges."

I watched her go, a ball of terror developing in my stomach.

My wolf let out a low-grade scream. There seemed to be a flaw. Rather incorrect.

I ought to have stopped her.

perhaps…

NOW

The casket was lowered onto the ground.

My breath hitched.

Whispering over the ground was the blessing of the Silver Mother.

Clarissa has left.

Thanks to Aurora.

I turned away before anyone could see the fury ablaze inside me. My fists shook at my sides.

I felt a hand graze my shoulder.

"Adrian...?"

Gregory was low in voice and cautious.

"What?" I asked. My voice sharpened more than I had intended.

He was not flinching. Greg never did. We have to migrate. The council seeks a word.

"now?"

True. now."

One last time, I turned to see the first shovel of dirt thudding dully and horribly into the casket.

Goodbye, my darling.

One of the smaller halls hosted the council gathering. Sitting around the long table were far too many elderly faces. Eyes are bleeding, mouths formed in austere lines.

"Adrian", Elder Marcus started, "we need to discuss succession matters."

I fixed him as if he had grown another head. "Succession"? Clarissa passed suddenly.

"I understand," Marcus said, his voice soft but firm. But the Wolfhaven Pack requires leaders. More than ever now.

It shocked me. They were already discussing politics and leadership, so we hadn't even buried her totally.

Another older piped in, "You're still the next Alpha," a woman I hardly knew. Nevertheless, "there will be... questions without Luna."

Questions. Whispers. Doubts.

The pack needed strength. A united front.

Now I was here by myself, half a man, bearing the weight of ten thousand lives down on my shoulders.

I could have wanted to scream.

Instead, I began to sharpen my teeth. "What do you want?"

Marcus slanted forward. You have to pick another mate.

The words land more forcefully than any physical attack.

"I just buried my Luna!" I pounded my hands on the table. A few of the seniors squatted. Positive.

"You weren't mated yet," another elder said coolly. That was a setup. You have time to create another bond.

I wanted the entire hall ripped apart.

My wolf cried within me.

Not thinking about who called after me, I hurried out.

Outside, the cold again slapped my face.

I started meandering across the old bridge over the river. Clarissa enjoyed this place. He said that the sunset was magical.

Breathing hard, I leaned against the railing.

Clarissa, what do I do now? How am I expected to choose someone else?

I drew my eyes closed. Pictures of her laughing, dancing, and mocking me with that terrible glint filled my head.

gone.

Inspired by Aurora.

I heard footsteps behind me.

I stayed still.

"Adrian," he said with a soft voice.

I tightened. Aurora here.

"What would you wish for?"

She said, "I'm sorry," in whispers. "I never wanted to—"

I shouted, "You shouldn't even be here."

silence.

"I miss her too," said in a low voice next.

I swirled about. "You? She would still be alive if you hadn't flown off like a spoilt brat!"

Aurora trembled. She had tears in her eyes.

She said, "I didn't know." She sobbed. "I did not think…"

Not one. You didn't think so."

She moaned more, shaking hands to clean her face.

I knew, some of me, that I was being nasty. She was still a young child.

I paid no mind.

not tonight.

The moon slinked out from the clouds, casting silver and shadow over the forest.

I caught movement.

Something, or someone, prowling the tree line.

I turned completely and low-key growled.

"Aurora, return within."

She slowed down. "What Is It?"

"now."

She set off sprinting.

I narrowed my gaze. Forms slid between the trees. too big to be wolves. far too quick for human nature.

There is a flaw.

I turned halfway, teeth growing, claws emerging.

Observing us were they. Stalking.

Not friends.

An ambush?

My heart is hammering.

The first creature surged out of the darkness without notice…

And everything collapsed into anarchy.