Blood moon

Chapter 79. The Goddes Watch

The Goddess watched the loving couple from high in the sky, feeling that their souls were connected by the red thread invisible to humans, she deeply regretted the kind of painful love they would both have, she had tried for that reason, to put Harley in her path, though stubborn, the first born could offer her a more secure future than the uncertainty that seemed to surround Hunter Halland, but the human proved to her that they were proud and fickle creatures.

Her feelings were in one place and then another. It was crazy how she handled a situation like that, she seemed to be very clear on what she wanted in her life with regards to their relationship, after she found out everything that had happened, not just anyone would have also faked the kidnapping and the idea of their mate being part of a werewolf pack.

—It's very impressive— she admitted to herself, she might as well give it a try.

After all, she was carrying the next leader of the pack in her womb. She had prepared different fates for her wolf children, the most promising so far was Hunter's, he had been making the decisions she had hoped for and had even been able to see things the others didn't even imagine, how to completely detach from the pack, which was something never considered by a wolf, as they are very family oriented.

They don't hunt alone, nor do they like solitude, but now it was a very different feeling. Now things had changed a lot with Harley on the bench, he hoped that the lesson of humility would help him realise that he wasn't indispensable as he thought he was ninety percent of the time, he was just another chip in the big game she had, he hoped that this time without his wolf would allow him to grow stronger, because he had been corrupted by the world.

She hated to admit that the humanity she once wanted so much to care for was now... a seemingly endless source of worldly pleasures, they had given up the life of spirituality and stopped believing in the gods that once showed them so much love, filling themselves with gifts.

George Garroway had fully recovered from his wounds and had made an uncomfortable call to all the families of the men who had died in the field, in a war there were casualties to be taken, so he chose to speak to the other packs, talking about how his men had been camping in no man's land, away from the line that divided the land with the Hallands and that it was the Hallands who had attacked them mercilessly.

—That's not what Harold Halland came to tell us— replied one of the other pack leaders.

—He's lying, who would violate the treaty and be happy to admit it— pointed out the clever George, who had been considering this strategy for some time, trying to get as much sympathy from the people as he could get, he needed them to trust him and turn their backs on the troublesome Halland family.

—You're right, but what guarantees that you're telling the truth? Your word?— The man's arrogant tone caused a grimace to set on George's face —Come on man, don't give me that face, you know I can't take rash action.

—Not my word, the bodies of my men dismembered and buried on their land, scattered as if they were nothing but dust, that proves the barbarity of that herd must be stopped— his words echoed off the walls. The herd outside could hear the exchange between the two men, opinions were divided as to what their leader should do, whether to support him or refrain from participating in the war.

—Bodies...Bodies— the leader mused aloud —I heard about that, Harold came to talk to me about how the men in your pack were challenging the men in his, he said they constantly provoked them and only when they tried to attack did they fight back, so he did that as a warning to the others.

—I didn't know that dismemberment was the latest marketing strategy— he replied mockingly.

The gazes of the two werewolves levelled, they held each other's gaze for as long as they could, feeling that all the efforts George was making were not enough, it was as if the man despised him for the simple fact of existing nothing more, he needed to change the direction the balance was going, but he didn't know how to do it, because if he showed aggressive behaviour he would say that Harold had warned him.

—Harold has been my friend for the last fifteen years, our children were raised together and we have never crossed each other's boundaries, I find it hard to believe that because your men came close to the border line he would do anything like that— the man's voice sounded too confident for the werewolf's liking, he perceived him as a threat to be neutralised, he almost hated himself for having to keep his cool in front of someone like him.

—Harold...I know Harold, we fought together, all three of us did. I remember that time well— he took a step forward making the other wolf's heart race, he wouldn't run away from a fight, but he couldn't deny his body's instinct to run away after having lost several times against George.

—Don't make this harder, I have nothing against you, I just trust my friend's word, his men executed the function they think they perform— that's when a light bulb went off in his head, they still didn't know about Hunter Halland's real powers, with his fire coloured eyes and his skin kissed by the goddess's affection.

—You claim to be close friends, and I'm surprised he could let you talk like that. It wasn't your men who executed the order to kill my men at the border, it was Hunter, your youngest son, the one with the fire-coloured eye— my words were like a slap in the face for him, he was even quiet for a while, as if he was processing the information.

—You're lying.

—I'm not, if you met him you wouldn't recognise him, he's taller, he's built, and no doubt he has a rage that's hard to control, you know what the legends say about those wolves.

—They have pure blood.

—And the living madness, there is not one without the other, now there is one in the Halland family home, will they allow that to grow, does it not endanger their lives?

—Those are only legends.

—You are right, you have no reason to trust me, but trust your men, send them to investigate, just a couple of questions, and if I lie, I hope you will marry me for my daring, but if I am not mistaken, I hope you will not stand in my way.

There was a silence between the two wolves and the tension was broken, when George finally left the room. He's a pariah no doubt, thought the older man, how could anyone do that, risk coming with an ally of his enemy to request an audience, it was too risky a plan for anyone sane.