Blessed by the Moon Goddess

Chapter 12

Two f*****g weeks of this s**t. Dad was not joking when he said Vinny wasn’t giving up his displeasure in me disobeying his orders. When I was not running patrol at all hours of the day and night, he had me picking up garbage from all around the pack, including any litter I could find which took the entire day. These last three days took the cake: 36 hours straight of running patrol and drills. I haven’t been this tired since the last week of my final qualification for guard duty. I’m not even doing a patrol with my unit which has me on edge. I don’t like being with people I don’t know and trust while out here.

It’s about dinner time when I am finally allowed to drag my ass home. I reach the house just as Dad is coming up the road. Clearly, he had garbage duty today. “He finally let you come home?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I grumble. We enter the house only to hear Masey crying about her food, the other kids all talking at once, and growling and crashing coming from the kitchen. “What the hell?” Dad and I both rush into the dining room to figure out what's going on.

“Janielle is in the kitchen,” Mom states as she’s holding a sobbing Masey. “She took Masey’s plate after knocking her fork out of her hand. I don’t know what the hell she’s thinking, but I’m not happy with her.”

“I’ll go find out what’s going on.” I sigh walking into the kitchen.

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Janelle

I’ve been helping Helga today. The kids have been back at school all week, but I’ve been so emotional I couldn’t get out of bed for the past four days, I hate it but it’s how I was feeling. I was very productive today cleaning and organizing everything while Helga did the laundry and tended to Sadie. When the kids came home, I went upstairs to the apartment to do some much-needed cleaning until dinner.

I sat down at the table next to Masey as I have been since I’ve been eating dinner with the family. Everything is normal, all the kids talking and laughing while the cook puts serving bowls on the table. She hands Masey a plate with potatoes on it, which is strange since the plates are already set on the table. She whispers to Masey, “These are special mashed potatoes just for you with extra butter.” Everyone gets their helpings of the dinner from the serving bowls, and we begin eating. With every bite, something is nagging at me. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something suspicious about the mashed potatoes on Masey’s plate. I watch as Masey scoops a helping of mashed potatoes and brings it to her mouth. Instinctively I slap her fork out of her hand, grab her plate, and drop mine in front of her before walking into the kitchen. “Just put it in the sink.” The cook snaps without looking up from her baking.

“Yeah, I will. Though honestly, I’m surprised you’re sticking around. Making sure you got the right kid this time?” I ask her to grab a handful of mashed potatoes. I was on her back before she could register my comment. I clasped my hand around her mouth forcing her to intake the potatoes. She slammed me against the wall, the counter, and the stove, but I clung on. “Swallow it!” I growled, refusing to let go. “If there’s nothing in these potatoes, you’ll be fine. I said swallow it.” I sank my fangs into her should causing her to yelp and choke on the potatoes. Once I feel her swallow the whole handful, I release her and push her to the ground. She tried to stick her fingers in her mouth, and I kneed her in the face. “Try it again, and I’ll break your arm,” I warn. “It’s only enough to poison a child, isn’t it?”

“Please… I…. I’m with child.” She looks up at me in tears, her nose bleeding.

I squat down to be at eye level with her. “Maybe you should have thought about that when he sent you here tonight. Besides, I say he doesn’t deserve to have a child. Any man who can order the slaughter and poisoning of innocent children doesn’t deserve to be a parent.”

“You should have died.”

I began to laugh. “And he should have rejected you as he chose another to be his Luna,” I stated.

“You know nothing, little girl.” She hisses. “My Alpha knows exactly what he is doing. He’s three steps ahead of all of you.” She moves her hand towards her mouth again and I snap her arm in half.

“Janielle!” Abel shouts as he enters the kitchen.

“She poisoned the potatoes. Masey was her target, always has been.” I concluded.

“What are you talking about?” Abel asks as she begins convulsing. “What’s going on with her?”

“I made her swallow Masey’s potatoes. Conrad ate breakfast that was put out fit Masey, but she failed to realize that the twins fight with Masey over that specific seat in the mornings. Nia ate the lunch that was packed for Masey because somehow this lady constantly gives Nia’s favorite lunch to Masey and Masey’s to Nia, so they switch on their way out the door every morning.” I explain my realization.

“But why?”

“She is his mate.” I shrug. “This whole time he’s had a personal spy within the household, so he knew the moment your father brought me here.”

“I’ll go get Dad.”

“No, you need to check on your brothers.”

“They are fine, the only one affected is Masey calling you a meanie for stealing her dinner.”

“Not them, the older ones. I think… I have a feeling this stunt was only part of his plan. Attacking the family is a punishment for keeping me alive. I don’t believe he’s done. As she just said, he thinks he’s three steps ahead of us. You need to leave now.” I insist. “Your mom can help me lock her up somewhere.”

“Are you sure?”

“Your mom told me last week that she trusts my gut feelings, I’m asking you to do the same. Worst case, I’m overestimating his plans.”

“Okay, if it’ll set your mind at ease, I’ll go check on them.” He sighed kissing my forehead and walked towards the door.

“Bring your dad for backup, just in case.”

“I will.”

Watching him leave hurt. I want him to just hold me while I cry my heart out, but if I’m right his brothers are in more danger than anyone here. I look over at the cook who is slumping over holding her stomach and cradling her broken arm. “I’m right, aren’t I?” I ask her standing over her. She just glared up at me with pure hatred in her eyes. I drag her to her feet, take her apron off of her waist, tie it around her wrists, and then drag her across the kitchen to the pantry, and shove her in, locking the door behind her.

I leave the kitchen to see the dining room empty. I walk through the parlor and down the hall where the kid's bedrooms are. I stop at Masey’s door and knock before entering. She sees me enter the room and turns around to look at the wall, making sure I know she’s upset with me. “Masey, I’m sorry, but those mashed potatoes were no good.”

“She put extra butter in them like I like.” Masey snapped stomping her foot in anger as she turned to look at me. “You just didn’t want me to have them.”

“Masey, they had wolves bane in them.”

“How do you know?”

“I fed them to her, and she got sick. Had you eaten them, you would have died because you are much younger than her, and you don’t have your wolf yet.” I explained. “Masey, I promise I didn’t take your mashed potatoes away to be mean. Please forgive me.”

“Why did she put poison in my mashed potatoes, Janielle? I’ve been a good girl.”

“Because she’s an evil person. When your dad gets back, he’ll think of what to do with her.” I assure her, “She’ll never hurt anyone again.”

“Can you tuck me into bed?” Masey asked as she climbed into bed. I smile as I pull the blankets up around her making sure she’s snug. “Thank you for protecting me.”

“Any time.” I walk out of her room and almost bump into Helga. “I am so sorry about the disruption at diner, I just…”

“You trusted your gut, but I want to know what you did in the kitchen and why Abel pulled Serge out the door in a hurry,” Helga stated. I told her everything from why I took Masey’s plate to why Abel and Serge rushed out of the house. When I finished, she was sitting on the sofa in tears. “How could he do this to his own family? I don’t understand, how can one man be such a monster?”

“I’m sorry this is happening to you.”

“It’s not your fault dear. I know it may seem like it is, but I promise you, I do not blame you. This is all on Vinny and Vinny’s decisions.”

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Abel

“We could be wrong,” I insist.

“She hasn’t been wrong yet, son. Just call your unit, they're the only wolves we can fully trust right now.” My dad says as we rush to the training barracks.

I make my calls and look at my dad, “What are we going to say if we’re wrong?”

“We’ll cross that bridge if it comes. If she’s right, we’re taking him out tonight. I’m done playing his damn games. Selma took the kids to visit her folks for the week, and Chloe visits her home pack every weekend like clockwork. He’s a dead man if he’s attacking them.”

Just then my phone rings, “Hey Gus what’s up?” I answer.

“Help, it was a…” The phone call drops before he can finish his sentence, I shift and take off faster, followed by my father. She wasn’t wrong. I truly hoped she was, but now I know that was wishful thinking.

I don’t even stop for pleasantries when I reach the barracks, I burst through the doors of their barrack house and find it empty. I don’t like this one bit. I hear growling down the way on the training fields and take off at top speed. My unit has fallen into ranks behind me and my dad as I expected, and we charge full on. I see my brothers pinned in separate corners of the battle pit. I don’t even recognize the wolves attacking them, not that it’s a surprise. This pack is so large theirs over 20 barracks with several units housed there until graduation.

I beeline for the wolves going after Gus, while my dad goes to help Quil. I know my unit will divide equally and help, but I can’t be bothered to notice. My brothers are in trouble and it’s my job to help them. I grab one wolf by his back paw and drag him away from Gus. The wolf tries to break free from my jaw grip, only to snap his ankle in my mouth. He slashes at my face with his front paws, I dodge and let go of his leg. Before he can recover, I pounce and tear out his throat.

I don’t waste any time removing another attacker from my brother, leaving him with a one-on-one battle thanks to my unit. One-on-one is a fair fight even if the opponent is bigger, but twelve-on-one is not. I finish off the second wolf I pulled away from Gus, only to see Gus stagger and fall to his knees clutching his abdomen. His attacker is moving in for the kill. I lunge at Gus’s attacker, knocking him off balance. He tosses me off with little effort due to the angle I connected with him. I recover quickly and go after him again. It takes multiple attempts, but eventually, I am able to toss the attacker off his feet long enough to kill him.

I look up to see my father lift Quil in his arms. Quil is motionless, and my heart sinks. “Take Gus home, I have to get Quil to the infirmary. Unit, with me to guard the hospital. I’ll call you with an update.” My father commands and takes off running. I wrap my arm around Gus’s waist and hoist him to his feet.

With effort, I manage to stumble home with Gus as he holds his abdomen. “You should have healed by now.” I comment as we enter the house. Janielle and my mom look up at me from the sofa and rush over. “He’s hurt, still bleeding.”

“And Quil?” My mom asks.

“Dad took him to the infirmary… I… I don’t know if he’ll make it.” I answer without looking her in the eye. I drag Gus down the hall to his room and drop him on his bed. “Rest, you’ll be okay.”

“He’s been cut with silver!” Janielle shouts as she rushes to his bedside and tearing his shirt away from his wound. “I need scissors, a knife, a sewing kit, and lots of rubbing alcohol. Abel, help me get him into the tub.”

“To bathe him? Like hell, I will.” I snap.”

“It’ll be easier to clean up after if I work on him in the tub, trust me he’s going to bleed more before I can stitch him up.” Janielle insists. With a deep sigh, I haul him off his bed into the bathtub, just as my mom comes rushing back in with the first aid kit, her sewing kit, a bottle of alcohol, a pair of scissors, and a knife. “Hold him down, this is going to hurt,” Janielle instructs me. I grip his shoulders and watch as she pours the alcohol over the scissors. “I could use a bowl for better sterilization.” She mutters as she begins cutting Gus’s flesh.

“What are you doing?” I ask her.

“If I don’t remove the poisoned flesh, it’ll rot him until he dies. I cut the blacked, rotted skin then I will use the knife to shave the deeper layers until there is only red healthy skin remaining.” She explains as she snips another piece of blackened flesh and tosses it onto the floor beside her. My mom returns with a bowl, pours the alcohol in it and Janielle drops the knife into the bowl. “Thanks. I’m going to need you to pour the alcohol on him to clean the wound without touching it.” My mom does as instructed and Janielle snips some more flesh. “Hold him tight, Abel,” Janielle says without looking up. She begins to use the knife in the wound, delicately scraping away the blackened flesh. When she’s ready, my mom splashes the wound and Janielle continues until the final splash shows her that the wound is clear. Gus finally stopped screaming in pain and passed out. Probably from shock, or at least I hope that’s the reason.

As soon as Janielle finishes sewing his wound up, Mom splashes the alcohol one last time over it to remove the blood, Janielle dries it and bandages the area. We work together to hoist Gus out of the tub and carry him into the bedroom.

“I need to go clean up,” Janielle says in a small voice.

“Thank you, for helping with him.” My mom replies through her sobs as she tucks Gus into bed. Mom’s phone rings, causing her to jump. “Hello? Okay. Abel, it’s your father.” She states handing me the phone.

“It’s time, to have your mother do her part. I’ll see you at home.” He hung up before I could respond.

“Jani, we have to go. Mom, Dad said it’s time to do your part. You need to make it look like she attacked you.” I urge.

“I know, she’s getting what she deserves for hurting my babies.” My mom states shooing us out of the room.

I pick Janielle up and jog down the hall to the back door. “Put me down,” Janielle demands.

“No time, I promised you, you would get to kill him. If I put you down, your sent will be traceable.” I murmur as I run at top speed through the backwoods to Vinny’s house. Once inside, I set her down on her feet. “Top of the stairs, straight back. He should be asleep. Yell if you need my help.” I tell her.

“What are you going to do?”

“We’re burning this place to the ground once he’s dead. Better to work at the same time to avoid wasting any time.” I shrug before walking away. I know he keeps gasoline in his shed with his machines for the groundskeepers.

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Janielle

I sprint up the stairs and down the hall as Abel instructed. I’m finally going to get my revenge for my family, for my pack, for me… I take a deep breath and enter the room. Vinny isn’t in bed as Abel thought, and I freeze in the doorway trying to think of where Vinny could be. Then I hear it, the sound of a shower being turned off. “Did you get it right this time?” He asks as he opens the door to the bathroom. Does he think I’m the cook? I have one shot at this, I can’t hesitate. I lunge for him before he can process, that I’m not who he’s expecting, I sink my claw into his shoulder, and one into his neck. “What the…”

“Careful, if I flinch I’ll cut your juggler vein. I told you; I was going to kill you.”

“You’re not strong enough, the entire pack will be on you before you can get away.”

“It’ll be worth it,” I smirk. “What did my uncle do that justified your slaughtering the entire pack?” He didn’t answer, but I could tell by the way he looked at me with nothing but cold hatred in his eyes. “He hurt your ego, so you got him back by killing his entire pack? Did it make you feel all big and powerful? I hope you enjoyed it because I know when I forced that b***h to eat the lased mashed potatoes earlier this evening it felt amazing knowing that I killed your unborn spawn and your mate. Now, I’m going to kill you.” I slit his throat before he could respond. The fear and shock in his eyes as he dies. I move away from him as he crumples to the floor, and I begin to shake.

“It’s time to go,” Abel whispers in my ear as he picks me up with one arm, and pours gasoline over Vinny’s body before dropping the can and walking back to the front door where he strikes a match, and drops it in a large pool of gasoline, setting it ablaze. As he runs us home, I see the flames grow, and race to up the stairs. As we are running through the woods, it begins to rain very hard. “Looks like the Moon Goddess once again is blessing you, by covering our sent completely,” Abel says as we near the house. “You need to shower when we get home, otherwise when the investigators come it’ll be our cover story.”

“I need to clean up the mess in Gus’s bathroom, and I had his blood everywhere. I can sell a story if I need to.” I insist. I’m so tired of them telling me what to do.

“There’s no time to argue with you,” Abel grumbled as we entered the house. I hear the crashing in the parlor. I rush to help Helga who is fighting with the cook. How does she have any strength? I fed her the wolfsbane, Helga shouldn’t have any trouble with this lady.

“Helga,” I call as I enter the room. The cook gets to her feet and lunges at Helga who sidesteps the assault with ease.

“I thought I could,” Helga whispers as she repels another lunge from the cook. I understand what she’s saying. The next time the cook goes crashing into a piece of furniture, I rush over and slice her throat from behind.

“Run your hand through her blood to show you killed her,” I instruct before walking away.

“Janielle…” Helga calls, I turn and give her a knowing nod. She couldn’t bring herself to kill even the person who hurt her children, she just doesn’t have it in her.

I enter Gus’s room to find him still sleeping, and I enter his bathroom, finding a trash bag under the sink to put the dead flesh in. Then I set to work washing his tub and the floor while cleaning the knife and scissors. Once everything is cleaned up, I scrub my hands and arms with soap and water, making sure to wash my face and some of my hair as well.

“Janielle,” Abel calls as he enters the room followed by another man. He’s not as tall as Abel, but he looks angry. “There’s been a series of attacks.”

“Is your mom okay?” I ask, lacing my voice with concern.

“Yes, Thelma attacked her when she was exiting the nursery. It was so random, mom is so distraught about everything. First the boys, and now Thelma turning on us.”

“Which one is this?” The man asks Abel without even looking at me. “And why are you so bloody and wet?”

“This is my brother, Gus,” Abel answers.

“And I’m so filthy because I just played field medic on Gus to save him from a wound made of silver. I tried to wash up, but it’s futile unless I shower. Excuse me.”

“I’m not done with my investigation.” The man growled.

“By all means, don’t let me interrupt. If you want to investigate the evidence from Gus’s wound, here’s his poisoned flesh in this bag.” I toss the bag at the man and walk away. “I’m taking a shower.”

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