Blood moon

Chapter 80. Shared his Blood

Harley was done with the company as far as he was concerned. After he announced that they still wanted him in the presidency and that he should take it easy because they had no real intention of removing him, he locked himself in his office, mulling over the situation he found himself in.

Anderson had been ignoring the matter because he trusted his lawyers deeply, but he didn't want another kind of surprise because he suspected it wouldn't be the same.

—Mr. Halland— knocked on the door the secretary, it was not lost on the firm how much work he was facing and it was also not lost on them that he had not been going to the Andrea Smith firm.

—Come in— he commented in an authoritative tone.

She was waiting for him to determine her, because he seemed to have turned into a ghost, just talking to her without looking her in the eye.

—Mr. Halland— she tried again from the doorway, most of the staff had already left by that point of the day, the man finally looked up, as if he knew it was something important for him to be looking for her attention.

—What is it? I have important things to do— he didn't really care about the papers in front of him.

—Mr. Harley, you've been killing it for the last few days in the office, I know that since Chris happened and the police came, things have been difficult— Harley didn't understand what the woman was getting at, but he didn't like the way she was talking to him.

—And the point of that is what? You think work just goes away? We always have things to do, I may even have to travel around the other sites these days— he pushed the papers away on the desk, showing her that he wouldn't tolerate her saying anything.

—No, sorry, I know we are constantly growing, we wouldn't have the numbers we have if we didn't— then the woman bit her lip —But you have to take it easy, you have always been relentless, but now sleeping in the office, the way you are demanding of yourself, if you don't take care of yourself you will soon end up in bed and that would be a disgrace.

Harley thought it was impossible for that to happen to him, he was a young werewolf, they don't suffer from flus, allergies or viral things that could affect humans, he had never suffered from a cold, yes he had broken a few bones before, but falling ill was something he was not familiar with, but seeing now his new condition, it could be that she was right.

—I'm fine and I won't get sick— he tried to reassure the woman, he was upset that they were giving so much attention to something very superficial, he was anxious because he had no news about Andrea Smith, everyone in the pack seemed determined not to tell him anything about it, as if they thought it was a betrayal of their newly positioned alpha.

Hunter had not yet made the ceremony to ingratiate himself as the leader, but everyone assumed that because of his eye colour he would be the most suitable for the position, especially when there was no one else to challenge him, they had already seen what he was capable of doing to a dozen men, but even with that Harley thought his younger brother was far from being what they needed him to be, because he had managed to defeat him in battle.

Having the strength wasn't enough. You needed to have the head and the heart to deal with a herd, because you're going to have all sorts of pressures on you, like the council of elders who are totally opposed to modernity unless it's accompanied by many millions in cash, because otherwise they dismiss all sorts of ideas, which was a disaster for progress.

—Sir, it is not enough that you tell me, I have arranged a room in a hotel room one street over, the whole security team is ready to escort you there and no, it is not an order that can be given, I am only guarding the CEO of the most important company in this town —Harley had to smile at the comment she made.

He had hired her because she was a determined woman and now she was showing the kind of work she was capable of doing, she knew when to step aside like when she was getting close to Andrea and now she was doing the things he wasn't capable of doing, he had nothing left to do but thank her.

—Thank you, you didn't have to do that.

—I would do it a thousand times, because I believe in you. Don't think I have any other kind of feeling for you, because you proved to me that you are fit to be where you are and you could do it all by yourself, but I won't let you destroy yourself for a woman— the secretary's tone made it very clear that she knew why she was doing all this.

—This is not about a woman— she tried to defend herself and deflect attention —I just want to devote myself to the company completely.

Then she laughed, the woman had grey hair on her head from experience.

—People talk, Harley, and no, I'm not stupid. I know that girl, Andrea Smith, is in between you two as brothers and I know you have problems because of that, she must have stayed with her brother Hunter.

There was silence in the room.

On one of those memorable summer nights, under the silver glow of the moon, Harley and Hunter ventured into the woods. It was one of the first times they had experienced their metamorphosis together. Leaves rustled under their paws, and their dark coats glistened in the mysterious lunar glow. Together, they explored the forest in search of adventure, sharing knowing glances that spoke of their brotherly bond.

Despite their animal forms, the understanding between the brothers remained intact. They hunted, played and roamed the forest as they had done since they were children, but this time under the influence of their wolfish nature. At dawn, with the arrival of the first light, their human forms emerged again. However, the memory of that night remained etched in their hearts, as a symbol of their deep connection and their ability to share even the most unusual moments.

Another memory goes back to a cold winter night. The full moon was shining on a blanket of fresh snow, painting the landscape silver and blue. Harley and Hunter had decided to explore the forest once again, but this time they were on a mission: to help a small wolf cub they had found in distress.

The cub had been caught in a trap, and its howls of distress had echoed in the silence of the night. Harley and Hunter, feeling a deep bond with their own wolf nature, approached cautiously and freed the pup. The three wolves looked at each other, sharing a mutual understanding that went beyond words.

In that moment, the brothers experienced a connection to the natural world that transcended species differences. The friendship they forged with the pup would last a lifetime, a constant reminder of the kindness they could offer even in their werewolf forms.

As the years passed, Harley and Hunter continued to grow and explore their duality. Their memories of full moon nights and magical encounters became the foundation of an unbreakable relationship. Through their unique story, they proved that brotherly love and acceptance can flourish in the most extraordinary circumstances, and that the connection between two brothers can overcome any challenge, even that of being werewolves on full moon nights.

Hunter had been quiet after the wonderful day he'd spent with Andrea. He had internalized that she loved him, but he still had doubts about her feelings if it turned out that the baby belonged to his older brother Harley. The whispers of the night wind rocked the tumultuous thoughts of Hunter, the werewolf whose heart was entwined with shadows and secrets. News of the pregnancy of Andrea Smith, a woman whose beauty rivalled that of twilight itself, came to him as a haunting revelation. But what haunted him most was the rumour that circulated in the air, the one that hinted that the child he was expecting might belong to his own brother, Harley.

Sitting in the gloom of his den, the shadows seemed to embrace him as his thoughts came and went in a dark dance. The echo of his brother's distant howls on full moon nights echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of their deep connection. The news of Andrea dragged him into a crossroads of emotions: brotherly love colliding with the love he felt for her.

The time he had shared with Andrea, the stolen moments between the duality of their existence, took on an even deeper meaning at this juncture. Every laugh, every shared glance seemed like a knot tangled in a destiny he could not foresee. What role would he play in Andrea and her son's life? How would he deal with the possibility that his bond with his brother would become even more intertwined?

The full moon, the same one that had witnessed so many transformations, hung in the firmament like a silent spectator to his inner torment. The duality he had learned to balance in his life seemed more complex than ever. Could he find the strength to accept an uncertain future, one where his brother's son also shared his blood? Could his love and respect for Harley overcome the shadow of doubt and jealousy?

As his mind struggled to comprehend what lay ahead, the stillness of the night allowed him to find some serenity. The wind whispered that, ultimately, the love and connection between siblings transcended the complications and surprises that life could offer. Though the paths were uncertain, Hunter promised himself that no matter the outcome, he would be there to support his brother and Andrea, and to embrace the challenge of reconciling the emotions that had gripped him.

—Are you all right?— Harold Halland asked, looking at his son with a blank stare.