The Onyx Stone

The white wolf

"That'd almost equal mental assault and.. we'd be infringing on his privacy-rights" Rena said helplessly.

Jaxon scoffed. "Are you seriously thinking about what is morally appropriate in this situation? This might be the only chance you've got Rena. Are you going to let it slip?"

"What if it's all a bluff, like you said, someone hungry for rumor? You'd want me to risk Luther finding out that I inquired, or that I forced my gift on someone?"

"Just think about it is all" Jaxon said. " I bet.. we could still find someone willing to tell us what we need to know "

"Right, if they are not Luther's dogs that is" Lyra said.

"I'll give it some thought" Rena said. "Thanks Jaxon, I'll always be grateful to you for helping me. "

He smiled. "Don't mention it, Rena "

Rena nodded. "Come on Lyra, let's go round up on our checklist"

She was actually done with her checklist for today. She had gotten information that could prove crucial and useful to finding and reuniting her people.

They continued out of the Cookery, going back the same way they came, out through the arched entrance and unto the stone corridor.

The hall was empty, almost noiseless save for a few stewards that traipsed the hallway, stopping as the Luna passed and bowing before hurrying off to whatever destination was most important to them at the moment. There was a time she'd wished they would stop bowing all the time, but she'd grown accustomed to ignoring them altogether.

Did she really feel like she was Luna? To her, the Castle walls felt like prison bars, a cage.

But the silence lingered until Lyra broke it. "Are you really going to consider it?"

"That is the only option available to us, I don't see the reason we shouldn't already take hold of it"

"But--" Rena stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. They had reached the black marble stairway that led to one of the large Venetian glass windows on the Castle walls that offered a panoramic view of the suburban homes, large buildings, rocky terrains and outcroppings.

But for some very strange reason, Rena’s heartbeat had sky-rocketed, she felt elated and happy along with a flood of emotions that weren’t hers. Then she turned towards the window.

A large wolf with immaculate white fur stood on the pavement close to the window.

Rena’s eyes widened in shock and she didn’t know when she beamed.

“It’s him isn’t it?” Lyra asked her, mirroring her shock and excitement and Rena nodded.

He was here. Her mate.

“Go to him, I’ll keep watch” Lyra told her, and went away to keep surveillance lest anyone saw them.

Rena took steady steps towards the white wolf, taking everything about him in. He was the most beautiful white wolf she had ever seen, his furs were almost like they glittered and his eyes were a sky-blue, and there was also a thin scar running up his shoulder.

“It’s you isn’t it?” Rena said, still stupefied. After a year of longing for him and having to deal with Luther’s trash, he was finally here. “Transform, I want to see you.”

And he did, and Rena felt her breath leave her. He was beyond gorgeous, his white hair and porcelain skin. But she didn't have time to grab herself from her stupor when he gripped her hand and pulled her to him, encircling her slender waist with his hand and eliciting a gasp from her.

Then slowly,tilting his head he brought his mouth closer to hers, and she slightly parted her lips and closed her eyes.

But he stopped suddenly, his lips a hairs breadth from hers. He gritted his teeth and pulled back.

Rena opened her eyes, confused for a slight moment before she recollected herself. “So.. you’re finally here.” she said as air escaped her lungs.

“Yes I am” He responded.

His voice wasn’t deep, but it was melodious to her senses anyway.

“But how? I don’t understand”

He looked at her, his face blank. ”I hear you're Luther’s luna now..”

She flicked her eyebrows , confounded by the sudden question, and at a loss at what to answer him.

She had never found herself in a situation where she didn’t know what to say when it came to responding to people, no matter how tough the question was. But here she was, fumbling with words to say.

But he smiled. “I also hear there is a ball later today, I’ll explain everything to you then."

Then he released her and walked away, up through the marble stairs that led to the different chambers, his strides flawless, his gait majestic.

There was a sense of loss in Rena then, an overwhelming compulsion to run up to him and hug him tightly from behind and never let go.

But she instead went back to Lyra who still stood guard a distance away.

Lyra looked behind her. “Where is he?”

“He’s gone. Let’s go prepare for the ball”

How he had appeared all of a sudden, after a year? And how he already knew she was the Luna here? Were the questions Rena pondered as she made her way to her quarters.

Rena and Lyra had arrived Rena’s chambers when they saw three large black wolves standing sentry at the black marble door.

Luther’s sentries. Which meant Luther was inside her chambers, and he was waiting for her.

Her heart skipped a beat. What could he be here for?

To throw another temper tantrum of his? Or had he found about her visit to the Cookery and meeting Jaxon?

Rena took a deep breath and looked briefly at the wolves who never looked back, and opened the marble doors to her chambers.

Her own guards had stepped out, knowing the Alpha was around. Those good for nothings. She sighed.

He stood beside her white stoned window, overlooking the arena. He watched the bustling activities on the castle grounds ahead of the event, the floral works that were beign set up on the walls of the Luna’s chambers, fresh and scented bougainvillea, as she had ordered.

Luther wore a black velvet suit that spoke of class, wealth and power. His cologne was strong and hit her nose in a sensually appealing way she didn’t want to acknowledge. She thought the moon goddess was cruel and mischevious in giving him such an ethereal face and body but with an attitude most likened to pigs.

“You didn’t inform me you were coming. I thought you had finally begun to respect my privacy.” Rena said, trying to hold her annoyance but it was already seeping out through her words.

But Luther didn’t seem fazed by the stings intended in her words. He turned. “Maybe I’ll start to do that, when you start obeying me”. His lemon eyes bored into hers.

Obey him? So he had known that she was out hunting information? Rena swallowed.

“What do you mean? I don’t remember not doing anything you asked me to” Rena worked herself into a calm resolve.

“And where have you been exactly?”

“But of course, seeing to it that everything is in place for the ball. I probably should be expecting a thank you Rena, you’ve done well.” She retorted.

Luther scoffed.”I never asked you to do anything. Luna. Why did you suddenly feel the need to have taken the task upon yourself?” He surveyed her suspiciously. “I had already assigned a few betas on that job. So tell me Luna, where have you been”?

Rena hated having to hear him speak that word, a word he didn’t know the value and true meaning of. A word she had so cherished, it meant the world to her. The word Luna. That was until a year ago.

“Well, I’m waiting, got something to say I presume?” Luther pressed.