Beneath a Moonless Sky - Book One (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Eleven

*Five years later*

Lucians POV 

“Sign here, here and here… and we’re done.” I took the form from Alpha Thompson and placed it into the folder I would be sending off to the Shifter council to finally finalise the pack merge. 

After five years of sleepless nights I’d accomplished what no other had before, I’d completed a pack merge in five years. They usually took ten or more, but I couldn’t have that. Five years had already been wasted on meaningless paperwork and filing, notarising and other bureaucratic bullshit. Five years that I could have spent being with Elaina. My heart ached in pain, my soul tugging me towards her. If I hadn’t promised my Alpha that I would oversee this, I would have ditched it long ago. But I could not do that to my pack. 

I had been quite happy to volunteer to oversee the pack merge, wanting to distance myself from the temptation that was Elaina. I wanted nothing more than to return to her and make her mine, mark her. But she was human, and I could not do that to her. 

The king expressly forbade human mates, his mistrust of the race taking precedence over the Moon Goddess’ will. He ordered that all shifters whose mates were humans were to be rejected on sight and never to be seen again. For those that didn’t obey this were hunted down and swiftly brought to justice. If that’s what you could call it. The humans were either executed right there and then, causing their mates to die of grief before the king. Or, forced to endure the torture of the change. The king was the only shifter who could turn a human into one of us. His venom the only one that worked. If the human mate were to beg enough and appeal to the king, he would submit them to it. Many had died horribly agonising deaths, their bodies twisted and mangled by a half transformation. Others who were lucky enough to survive were sworn to fealty to the king and watched like hawks until their dying day. 

When I had woken up on my 18th birthday I’d been so excited to go and celebrate with Elaina. We’d do our usual birthday tradition that we had done since we could talk, birthday cake and movies. It had updated as we got older to include a tonne of junk food and sometimes even karaoke. But that wasn’t going to happen on this birthday. My 18thdid not turn out the way I’d planned. Although it is hard for me to regret any of it. 

Flashback

*Lucians 18th birthday* 

A sliver of sunlight poked though my curtains blinding me as I blinked awake. A glance at the clock let me know it was 8:00am. With a groan I rolled over and snuggled deeper into my pillows. I was excited about seeing Elaina today, our birthday tradition ready for when I arrived at her house later on today. But my head was pounding, my gums were sore, and my eyes felt overwhelmed by the light coming into my room. It felt like I had a hangover, but I hadn’t drunk anything last night. With another groan I crawled from my bed and into a nice hot shower. The flow of water helped with the pain in my head and I stood there just under the water for longer than I should have. A knock on my bathroom door let me know that it was time to get out. “The fish called. They want their water back.” My mum called through the door. I smirked at the saying she always said to me when I was taking too long in the shower. 

“Ok, ok.” I groaned, switching off the water. I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked into my bedroom where I chucked on a pair of track pants and a loose grey shirt. Slipping on my sneakers I ran down the stairs and out into the trees that bordered my house. Maybe a run would alleviate my head pain. 

Starting off with a light jog I breathed in the crisp winter air, letting the coolness settle in my lungs. Scents surrounded me, stronger than I’ve ever smelt before. My eyes were still sore, but I felt like I could see more clearly. Things were sharper, more vivid. The sounds around me seemed louder as well, overwhelmingly so. I came to a stop in a small clearing and bent over, resting my hands on my knees. The pounding in my head was worsening, my gums screaming in pain. Scents, sounds and smells began to overwhelm me with their presence. I could hear everything, see everything clearer, smell everything. I began to feel disoriented and turned to walk back home. I was stopped at the edge of the clearing by a sharp pain in my back, causing me to fall to my knees, holding myself up with my palms in the grass. More sharp pain sprang down my arms and I watched in horror as my nails began to form into claws. My gums were on fire as I felt something push through them. Another snap of pain from my back and I heard bones cracking, skin ripping. My skin was on fire, itching like a thousand ants were biting me. I fell to the ground in agony as pain took over my whole body. I could hear footsteps approaching but could do nothing about them. I was defenceless, helpless, writhing in pure agony as my bones popped and my skin ripped apart. I felt my bones shift, readjust, and felt bile rise in my throat at the sensation. 

Then as suddenly as the pain was there it was gone with one last pop. I laid there on the cool grass panting; eyes closed. What the hell had just happened to me? A hand touched my shoulder and I leapt up from where I was laying and growled. Wait? Growled? When have I ever growled? I glanced frantically around me finally noticing at least ten men surrounding me. My eyes landed on one I recognised from the business school my dad made me attend on weekends from when I was ten. Magnus. 

I tried to speak to him but all that came out were little yips and growls. I stared down at my hands and felt my heart stop. Because in their place we’re not my hands that I’d seen every day but steel grey fur covering paws that dig into the earth. My breathing began to feel laboured and I felt black spots cover my vision. 

“Shift, Lucian.” Magnus spoke with authority and the power behind his voice had me obeying without question. I felt my body shift back into place, and gladly there was no pain. Magnus held out a pair of grey sweatpants to me and I gratefully put them on. 

“What the hell is going on Magnus?!” The men around me shifted awkwardly and stared at Magnus as if waiting for his next move. 

“I’ll explain everything to you in a moment. But I also think your parents need to explain their side first. All you need to know right now is it’s ok to freak out. Your first shift is scary enough when you’re prepared for it, let alone when you have no idea what is going on.” 

“First shift? What am I? A werewolf or something?” I began to pace, my muscles growing restless standing in one spot too long. 

“No. You’re a shifter. They’re vastly different. Werewolves or Lycans can only shift every full moon and they only take on features of wolves. Think Underworld. Shifters can shift into the animal. We,” he pointed between himself and I, “we’re wolf shifters. We can shift whenever we want.” My head felt like it was going to explode with this information overload. 

“What the hell? How am I a shifter? How did I not know I was shifter? Are my parent’s shifters? What the hell is going on?!”

“Lucian! Calm yourself!” My body froze at the authority in his voice and I lowered my head. Why the hell am I reacting to his voice like this? 

He is our Alpha and we must listen to him with respect and honour. I jumped in shock, glancing around for where that voice came from. It sounded as if it were in my head. 

“Who the hell was that?!” My heart was rocketing about in my chest and I was feeling like my chest was going to explode. 

I am Fenris, your wolf. We are one in this body as we are when you become a wolf. 

“Ok. It’s official. I’ve gone bonkers. Just what I needed when I turn 18.” Magnus walks over to me and placed calming hands on my shoulders, his eyes holding mine making me take deep breaths. I feel my body calm at the familiar presence of my friend I’d known for 8 years. 

“Calm yourself, my friend. You are not bonkers. I think we need to head home so you can hear what needs to be said from your parents.” I nod slowly and allow him to lead me back home. The walk home is silent, the men following behind us. When I reach my home, it doesn’t feel like home anymore and the sight of my parents standing at the back door waiting for me makes anger grip my heart. A firm hand grips my shoulder making me realise I’d been growling. 

“Calm yourself.” My body instantly calms, and I follow my parents into the lounge room where I stand by the front window, as far away from them as possible.

“Honey-” my mum, if that’s what I could even call her, didn’t manage anything past that as a soft growl rumbled through me. 

“Just say what you have to say.” I ground out through my clenched teeth. I felt Fenris whimper in my head and took a deep breath. “I just need to know the truth.”

My mother nodded sadly and turned to my father. 

“First thing you need to understand is we love you very, very much. More than you’ll ever know.” My mum’s words seemed sincere but the anger in me wasn’t allowing me to hear it. “As you’ve probably realised, your father and I, are not your real parents.” I knew that the minute I shifted but it didn’t hurt any less. 

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Angry tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them spill. 

“It was for your own safety.” Anger was consuming me at those words. 

“My safety?! What the hell does that mean?!” The men that had followed us into the house stepped closer to my parents, ready to defend them if needed.

“You must understand, son.” My father pulled my mother closer as she sobbed softly. “We weren’t sure if you would be a shifter or not. Not telling you seemed like the best course of action.” I stared at him in confusion. How did they not know whether I would be a shifter or not? If my parents were shifters, then I would be. My dad sighed and scrubbed his hand across his face. “Your father was a shifter, but your mother was a human.” More confusion. Why should that matter? Magnus turned to me, crossing his arms across his chest. 

“When a human and a shifter have a child there is a 50/50 percent chance that they could be either half human, half shifter or just human.” 

“Ok, so what about my parents? Did they abandon me or something?” My mum’s sobs increased, her body shaking. 

“No, son. Of course not. Unfortunately, they both died.”

“How?” I saw his hesitation and knew he wasn’t going to tell me. That wasn’t ok. I needed to know. “How?!” My father flinched at my harsh tone before sighing. 

“The Shifter King forced the change on your mother when he discovered that your parents had mated and had you. Shifters are forbidden to mate with humans. So, when the king got wind of your parents having you, they were brought before him and he was so enraged he forced the change on her. She died because of the stress of the change and your father was unable to handle his grief and died of heartbreak.” 

My mother died in pure agony and my father died of heartbreak. I felt sick. My parents were dead. My heart broke for the parents I would never meet, and I felt my tears spill against my cheeks, burning my skin. 

“So how did you end up with me?” My thirst was so tight with emotion I was surprised I got the words out. 

Magnus stepped towards me a sad smile on his face. 

“My father pleaded with the king to spare you as you were only a few months old and the son of his beta. The king agreed so long as you were cared for by humans and would only be accepted by my father’s pack when you came of age and shifted. My father knew your human parents through the Lamaze classes mum took when she was pregnant with me and he knew that they would make a perfect fit. They had unfortunately lost their child due to complications and gratefully accepted the care of you without a second thought.” My mind was a whirlwind of questions needing answers but only one stuck to the forefront. 

“What were my parents like?” My throat was so tight, my cheeks stained with tears that wouldn’t stop flowing. 

“My father always spoke fondly of them. Your father was an amazing man and capable beta. He helped my father run the pack smoothly.  My father loved your mother like a sister. Anything she wanted she got. They were an essential part of the pack and their loss caused a gaping wound in all their hearts. My father had always kept an eye on you as you grew and knew if you were a shifter you were going to be my future beta. So, he organised with Phillip here to send you to ‘business school’ where you would train with me and other teens from the pack to build up a relationship and train your body.” I thought it was weird that one of the requirements for the business school was training and fighting. 

“So, I’m your beta?” Magnus nodded. “Ok, cool. And my parents are dead. And I’m a shifter. I have so many questions.” Magnus patted my shoulder. 

“We will answer any you have. For now, you have a decision to make. You can stay here with your parents for the remainder of the year until your training is complete, or you can come with us to the Blue Moon Pack House and finish your training there. There’s no rush for a decision, take your time.” I nodded slowly. I had to talk to Elaina. I needed some clarity. Then a question popped into my head. Screaming at me to ask. 

“What are mates?” Magnus smiled wide, his eyes glinting in the light. 

“They’re the best thing to every happen to a shifter. They are your other half. Your soul mates. They compliment you in every way and complete you.” 

“Unless they’re human then they die.” I said flatly. Magnus’ face fell. 

“Sometimes yes. Others have survived. I try not to dwell on it. You’ll learn a lot more when we finish your training.”

“Ok, one last question” Magnus’ attention was on me, listening intently. “How do you know when you’ve found them?” Magnus stood back and looked as though he was thinking it over. 

“When I met Emma, it was her scent that hit me first. That overwhelming smell of apple and cinnamon. Then when our eyes connected it felt like there was a click inside me. Like something that had been missing was now there. And when I touched her fire ignited my skin and I felt if I couldn’t touch her anymore, I would die.” Woah. Intense. “When you meet them, believe me, you’ll know.” All I could do was nod. I’d absorbed a lot of information today and I needed so much time to process. Looking out the window I could see the sun was setting. How long had we been talking about this for? Dark clouds crawled across the sky signalling a thunderstorm was coming. 

“I need time to think all this through.” I mumbled to no one in particular. 

“Of course. You have my number should you need me.” I smiled a small grateful smile at Magnus as he patted me on the shoulder once more and left, the men following close behind. I glanced at my parents, adopted parents, and just stared. Mum was still sobbing softly, her head in my fathers’ neck as he clung to her. Without a word I turned and ran up the stairs to my bedroom where I locked the door. I mindlessly walked to the shower and just stood frozen beneath the water, not even caring when it was no longer hot. Just letting the icy water run across my back. In the matter of only a day my life had been flipped on end. What was I meant to do? My parents were not who I thought they were. My real parents were dead. They had died in the most horrific way possible. I could feel my heart raging inside me. It broke for them. It broke for me. I would never know them. Would never feel my mum’s kisses or hug my dad. I roughly turned the shower off, the tap coming off in my hand. I threw it to the ground and stormed out of my bathroom where I threw on some clothes and paced. 

The one side of me, the rational side, understood that my parents did what they had to do to keep me safe. But the other side of me, the irrational side, was so angry because they had lied about who I was for my entire life. I’d built a life here, I’d made friends. And now I was just supposed to leave! What would Elaina think of me? Elaina! I had to see her. She was my rock. My calming grace. She knew me better than anyone in my life. Thunder rattled my window as the storm started. But I didn’t care. Taking off at a run, I ran out of the house and bolted to her street.