Blood moon

Chapter 69. The love they Share

The night was in full swing, illuminated by the full moon that hung in the firmament like a beacon of silver light. In the dark, dank underground drainage, the air was charged with electricity and tension. Two figures faced each other in a deadly dance. George Garroway, a werewolf with eyes as green as the depths of an ancient forest, faced Hunter Halland, a young wolf with eyes as fiery and red as burning embers.

Fierce claws clashed in a frenzied dance, filling the air with the sound of clashing metal. The heaving breath of the two contenders created clouds of steam in the cold air. George fought with the experience of a warrior hardened by years of combat, but Hunter was agile and powerful, his every move calculated and lethal.

Near them, entangled in the darkness lay Andrea, the reason for their confrontation. Her face was bathed in fear and bewilderment, an unwitting piece in the puzzle of this fierce battle. Her pregnancy was a secret hanging in the air, a link to power and succession at stake. None of the Halland brothers knew for certain who the father was, and that uncertainty only intensified the conflict.

With a piercing snarl, George felt Hunter's sharp claws rip into his side. Blood spurted, hot and burning, and George knew in that moment that victory was slipping from his grasp. As the pain spread through his body, his thoughts turned to Andrea, whose helpless figure did not deserve the blood spilled in her name.

Then, as if fortune had smiled on him, an opportunity presented itself. Hunter, with an urgency to free his beloved from her bonds, turned away from George and approached Andrea. George's eyes flickered for a moment, assessing the situation. Without looking back, he took advantage of Hunter's distraction and lunged towards the drainage entrance. His paws hit the concrete floor hard, propelling him towards the freedom that had escaped his grasp during the struggle.

Hunter's howl echoed through the air, full of rage and frustration, but George didn't stop. He ran through dark alleys and silent streets, his mind filled with turbulent thoughts. The voices of his men did not echo in his mind, and the nagging suspicion of their fate gripped him. Had they been defeated at the border? Had they fallen in the fighting, or had they simply been silenced by the chaos?

Finally, George reached safety, his chest rising and falling with the turmoil of battle and flight. The look in his green eyes was filled with anger, but also bitter resignation. He had lost more than just a battle. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and the consequences of his actions would echo through the dark night to come.

Morning sunlight filtered through the half-opened curtains, filling Hunter Halland's room with a warm glow. It was close to ten in the morning, and the tranquility of the new day contrasted with the storm of emotions stirring inside the young werewolf.

Hunter lay in his room, his gaze lost in the view of the forest that stretched beyond his window. Though the new leadership of his pack was on the horizon, his thoughts were still anchored on the night before and the conversations he had had with the woman he loved. He had rescued this woman from the rival pack, protected her and brought her home to safety.

Yet the memories of that night were bittersweet. Although they had been reunited, the spectre of his older brother, Harley, still haunted them. The woman who occupied his thoughts, his beloved, had shared intimate moments with both brothers. Now, amid the uncertainty of an unexpected pregnancy, the shadows of doubt loomed over their relationship and their future.

Hunter rose from the bed and crossed the room in slow steps, his mind fighting the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. He was only steps from the door when he heard soft voices from down the hall. The heart in his chest pounded in a rapid rhythm as he identified the voices: the woman he loved and his older brother, Harley.

Anguish gripped him as he listened to snatches of the conversation. He knew he should trust the woman he loved, but the fear of the unknown and the insecurities that plagued him were not easily dispelled. Thoughts that he might not be the father of the baby she was carrying haunted him, and the possibilities of her abandoning him for another future seemed to darken his hopes.

Hunter bit his lower lip, fighting the storm of emotions that raged inside him. He leaned against the wall, feeling the forces of uncertainty and love do battle in his mind and heart. He didn't want to lose her, but doubts kept clouding his vision of the way forward.

Finally, the timbre of the woman's voice rose, reaching his ears with an urgency and determination that made him make a decision. He pushed open the door to his room, determined to face the doubts and fears that had plagued his mind. His fiery red eyes met hers, and though words were not necessary, understanding passed between them.

Hunter advanced towards her, his heart beating with renewed purpose. He took her hand in his, feeling the connection between them stronger than ever. His eyes filled with resolve as he looked at her.

—I overheard your conversation with Harley— he admitted quietly but firmly —I know there are a lot of questions and fears, but I don't want you to make any rash decisions. Whatever the future holds, I want to be with you and support you. Together we will face whatever comes, and build a path that belongs to us and our child.

The woman looked at him with moist eyes, and in that moment, Hunter knew he had made the right decision. The love they shared could not be eclipsed by doubts and uncertainties. He gently cupped her face in his hands, pulling her close to him in a protective embrace.

The morning sun was still shining, but inside that room, two souls were united in the determination to face the future together. Tough the shadows of uncertainty lingered, the love they shared was stronger than any storm.

—You shouldn't be listening to other people's conversations— Andrea pointed out, although she understood why he had done it, if she were in his position she would do it herself.

—You know I find myself in awe of you, and what you mean in our lives, you make the world feel different— his adoration for her only made her feel more uncomfortable with the situation.

—I love you, you know I do, and I'm trying to show you how much I appreciate you, but you can't invade my privacy like this—Andrea turned away to walk around the room, looking for her own space.

—I didn't want to invite her, it's the werewolf senses, it's kind of hard to deal with sometimes.

Andrea could tell it was his fear, he was afraid she would leave him.

—Trust me Hunter, if you do you won't regret it.

The man let out a laugh.

—Trust? I did that and you slept with my brother, so forgive me for not making it so easy— there was an awkward silence between the two.

—We didn't have anything at the time, we weren't a couple, I didn't even know your surname— the woman pointed out angrily.

—It's not easy to deal with a pack of werewolves, I didn't want you to feel pressured or for them to come after you like they did, I just wanted you to be able to choose, you know, have a normal life and see how things progressed.

The woman knew that, she couldn't blame him, because she had been in a panic as soon as she heard about the whole world.

—You can't blame me for what happened with your brother.

—I won't, it's just not easy.

—We can't all three of us live under the same roof if you act like this, at least, if you heard everything, you know he came to apologise and tell me to check everything with you.

Hunter had a sad smile on his mouth.

—Of course he did— he said wryly.

—What does that tone mean?

—The goddess punished her for her arrogance, she made him human, he can't protect you if something happens, and they took away the leadership of the pack, they gave it to me, that's why she's so sweet, because she can't use her arrogance or being born first to get out of this.

—Are you happy about his misfortune?— the woman asked and he didn't answer, —it seems so, remember he's your brother.

Hunter snorted.

—Don't take his side, you don't know him, you think you do because he showed you his "vulnerable" side, but he's a selfish bastard, you don't know how many times my dad hit me for not being like him, how many times I got my bones broken and you'll say, it's not his fault, they were kids, but he saw it and he never did anything, so excuse me, I'm glad someone isn't on the first born's side.

Andrea kept silent and put a hand over her mouth in surprise.

—I didn't tell you this to make you feel sorry for me or hate him, he's a different person to you and he's trying to change that, it's just that I still have wounds that are hard to heal.