Never the Lone Moon

Chapter - 11

Norri

“You’re not just an Alpha anymore.” I stared at Alaric, trying to understand what he meant. “What does that even mean?”

He didn’t answer immediately. He looked at the witch, who was standing beside the fireplace, her eyes fixed on me. I looked between them. “Why does everyone keep doing that?”

“Doing what?” Alaric asked.

“Looking at each other like you know something I don’t.”

The room went quiet. I crossed my arms. “You told me my family were Original Alphas. You told me my blood is different. You told me I could turn after killing someone. And now you’re telling me I’m not just an Alpha?”

Alaric sighed. “There are things you need to understand, Norrie.”

“Then explain them.”

“I am trying.”

“No, you’re not.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. I didn’t care.

“I’ve been asking questions since the night my family was killed, and every single time, someone gives me half an answer and tells me I’m not ready for the rest.”

The witch looked down. Alaric rubbed his forehead.

“Your family was killed because of what they were.”

“I already know that.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Then tell me.”

He was silent for a moment. “Your parents weren’t ordinary Alphas. Their blood was rare. There are creatures who have spent centuries fearing that bloodline.”

“Why?”

“Because an Original Alpha isn’t just powerful.”

I waited. Alaric stopped. “Because of what an Original Alpha can become.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means you don’t need to know everything tonight.”

I scoffed. “Of course.”

“Look, kid—”

“No. You keep saying that. Every time I ask something, you tell me I don’t need to know.”

“Because knowing everything at once could put you in more danger. And we want to be sure before we come to a conclusion.”

“What do you mean by sure? I looked at Harvey, “You are not even sure what's happening to me?”

I turned to Alaric, “Don't forget, I’m already in danger.”

He didn’t respond. I looked at Harvey, hoping he’d say something, but he stayed quiet. Then I looked at the witch. “You know, don’t you?”

She hesitated. “I know enough.”

“Then tell me.”

She looked at Alaric. He gave her a warning look.

The witch lowered her eyes. That was enough of an answer for me. “You’re all hiding something.”

Alaric stepped closer. “We’re trying to keep you alive, kid.”

“Then stop treating me like a child.”

His expression softened for a second. “You’re seventeen.”

“And my entire family is dead.” That shut him up. I looked away, trying to control my breathing.

“I don’t want another secret. I just want to know why they died.”

Alaric’s face changed. “They were targeted because of their blood.”

“By who?”

“We don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“We know there were people looking for them.”

“People?”

“Supernatural beings.”

“Which ones?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know yet.” His words thundered through the walls as he yelled.

I knew he was lying. Maybe not about everything, but enough. I could feel it.

“You’re hiding something.” Alaric didn’t deny it.

“We’re telling you what you need to know for now.” I laughed bitterly.

“That’s convenient.” He ignored my comment. “There is something more important right now.”

“What?”

“You can’t leave this house alone anymore.”

I stared at him. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“I’ve been going to school.”

“And you’ll continue going to school.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The problem is that you’ve turned.”

My stomach tightened. I looked down at my hands. “I didn’t choose that.”

“I know.”

“And I’m not going to hurt anyone.”

“I know that too.”

“Then why can’t I go outside?”

“Because you don’t know what you are capable of yet.”

I looked back at him. “You said I’m an Alpha.”

“You are.”

“Then what’s so different now?”

Alaric exchanged another look with the witch.

Again.

That same look.

I hated it.

“What?”

He took a breath. “Since you’ve turned, your scent has changed.”

“My scent?”

“To supernatural creatures.”

The witch finally spoke. “The necklace is hiding most of it, but not everything.”

I touched the crystal hanging around my neck. “So they can find me?”

“Some of them might be able to.”

“Who?”

“We don’t know who is looking for you yet,” Alaric said. “That’s why you don’t wander around alone.”

I swallowed. The thought of someone finding me made my chest tighten. “So what am I supposed to do?”

“Stay close to us.”

I rolled my eyes. “Great. Exactly what every seventeen-year-old wants.”

Harvey almost smiled.

Alaric didn’t.

“I’m serious, Kid.”

“I know.”

He looked toward the window. “There’s something else.”

“What now?” “The full moon is tomorrow night.”

I stared at him. “So?”

His eyes returned to mine. “You’ll probably turn.”

My heart dropped. “Again?”

He nodded. “But I already turned.”

“Yes.”

“So why would I turn again? I thought alpha could turn whenever they want.”

“No, that works after you achieve the transition to the alpha stage, and also because you’re a werewolf.”

I didn’t know what to say. The memory of my first transformation came rushing back.

The pain.

The bones breaking.

The screaming.

The feeling that my own body wasn’t mine anymore. I shook my head. “No.”

“Norrie—”

“No. I’m not doing that again.”

“You won’t have a choice.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

“Most werewolves transform during the full moon.”

“But you said Alphas can control it.”

“Experienced Alphas can.”

“So I can’t?”

“Not yet.”

I looked toward the witch. “Can you stop it?”

She didn’t answer. That was answer enough.

“We can prepare for it,” Alaric said.

“Prepare?”

“There is a room downstairs.”

I immediately shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

“You need somewhere safe.”

“I’ll stay in my room.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because if you lose control, you could hurt yourself or someone else.”

I looked at my hands again. I hated how easily everyone assumed I was dangerous. “I won’t hurt anyone.”

“I believe you,” Alaric said. “But you don’t know what will happen.”

The witch stepped closer. “I’ll be here tomorrow.”

I looked at her. “For what?”

“To see what happens.” Something about the way she said it made me uncomfortable.

“What do you mean?”

She didn’t answer.

..................

The next day passed painfully slowly. I barely spoke to anyone at school; I kept thinking about what Alaric had said.

You are an Alpha.

You’ve turned.

The full moon is tomorrow.

And there was still something they weren’t telling me. I knew it. When I got home, Harvey was waiting near the entrance.

“Miss Elenor.”

I looked at him. “Is everyone downstairs?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“They’re preparing.”

“For me?”

He nodded.

I sighed. “Of course they are.”

I followed him downstairs. The room was bigger than I expected. There were no windows, only stone walls and a heavy wooden door. I stopped at the entrance. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Alaric turned around. “We’re only being cautious.”

“You said that yesterday.”

“And I’ll keep saying it.”

I looked at the chains attached to the wall. “Are those really necessary?”

“They’re a precaution.”

I stared at him. “This is insane.”

The witch was standing in the middle of the room with her hands behind her back.

She looked at me strangely. “What?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Look at me like that.”

She frowned. “Like what?”

“Like there’s something wrong with me.”

“There is nothing wrong with you.”

“Then why does everyone keep acting like there is?”

The witch didn’t answer. Alaric walked toward me.

“Tonight, when the moon rises, we’ll know.”

“Know what?”

“Whether you can control the transformation.”

“Or go nuts” the witch added.

I sighed, “Seriously? You all here just want to experiment and shit.”

Alaric sighed loudly, “Language.”

I nodded slowly. “So what if I can’t?”

“We’ll deal with it.”

I looked at the chains again. “And if I don’t turn?”

Alaric paused. “You will.”

The witch looked at him.

It was quick.

But I noticed. “Also, what is your name? I don't even know what to call you.”

“There's a reason for that, kid.”

I sighed with annoyance. “You don’t sound very sure when you said I will turn,” I said.

“I am,” Alaric yelled.

“God, chill dude, stop yelling,” I said.

The witch looked away. “Kids these days”

Alaric shook his head and sighed.

Something was wrong. I could feel it. I sat there for a while, while they were all pacing back and forth, waiting for the moon to reach its pinnacle.

After painfully watching them sweat for so long, the moon slowly appeared above the trees. I sat on the floor of the room while Alaric stood near the door. Harvey was standing outside. The witch was beside me.

My heart was pounding. “Is it supposed to hurt already?” I asked.

“No,” the witch said.

I waited. Nothing happened. The moon climbed higher.

Still nothing. I looked at Alaric. “Shouldn’t something be happening?”

He didn’t answer. “A few more minutes.”

Another few minutes passed.

Nothing.

No pain.

No bones cracking.

No change in my vision.

Nothing.

I stood up. “Maybe it isn’t a full moon.”

Alaric looked toward the small opening near the ceiling where the moonlight came through.

“It is. So stop talking.”

I waited. Still nothing.

I looked at the witch. “Why haven’t I turned?”

She stared at me. “I don’t know.”

Alaric’s expression hardened.

“You said she would.”

“I said she should.” Silence filled the room. I looked between them. “What?” The witch stepped toward me. “Can I touch your hand?”

I hesitated, then held it out. The second her fingers touched mine, her expression changed. Her eyes widened. She quickly let go.

“What?”

She looked at Alaric. “I was right.”

“About what?” he asked. The witch didn’t answer.

“Tell me.”

She looked at me again. “She already turned.”

Alaric frowned.

“We know that.”

“No.” The witch shook her head.

“You don’t understand.”

I felt my heart beating faster. “What don’t I understand?”

She took a step back. “She shouldn’t have been able to.”

Alaric went completely still. “What are you saying?”

“The full moon should have triggered her first transformation.”

“It didn’t,” Alaric said.

“Exactly.”

I looked at them. “But I did transform.”

“Yes,” the witch whispered. “Then what’s the problem?”

She looked directly into my eyes. “The problem is that you transformed before the moon ever had the chance to make you.”

Nobody spoke. I felt a chill run through me.

“What does that mean?”

The witch looked at Alaric. “I don’t know what she is.”

Alaric’s expression darkened. “You said she’s an Original Alpha.”

“She is.”

“Then explain this.”

“I can’t.”

I looked between them. For the first time, the witch looked genuinely afraid.

She slowly turned toward Alaric. “Maybe you were wrong about what she was supposed to become.”

Alaric stared at her. “What are you saying?”

The witch looked back at me. “She isn’t becoming something, Alaric.”

She paused. “She already is.”

The room fell silent. And for the first time since I had met Alaric, he looked scared.