Stalked by the Gods, Blessed by the Moon

Ch. 8 - When the Moon Knocks

AYLA’S POV

“How…” I asked, staring at the door as the knock repeated.

Aaron didn’t say anything as he walked to the door, swinging it open. The woman who swooped in was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her long dark hair was pulled back away from her face and cascaded down her back in loose waves. Her skin was so pale that it was almost translucent, with not a blemish anywhere on the exposed skin. She wore a flowing blue skirt that reached down to her ankles, along with a tighter, plain tank top and silver bangles on each of her wrists, making them clink as she moved her hands.

She lifted her hands to Aaron’s shoulders and then kissed him on each cheek. “Brother!” she exclaimed, a twinkle in her eye.

I looked between them as the pair turned back towards me. As devastatingly handsome as Aaron was, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were related. “Are you two siblings?”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “No. But she likes to call me brother. As if we have a familial connection.”

The woman glided over to me, placing her hands on my shoulder now and abruptly kissing each of my cheeks. I was too in shock to react. She pulled back, keeping her hands on my shoulders as she looked me up and down. “You are gorgeous, my little wolf.”

My eyes shot to Aaron. “Did you…”

Aaron shook his head. “She knows.”

“But how?”

The woman laughed; it was almost as soft as the clinking of her many bracelets. “No, dear. I always know one of my own.”

“What…”

She looked at me, ignoring the question. “I’m Selene.”

“And I’m Ayla. But how…”

She swooped away, eyeing my couch before plopping down on it, extending both of her arms over the back and then crossing her legs. “So tell me, brother, what kind of trouble have you gotten my little wolf in?”

I looked between them, confused. “What’s going on here?”

Aaron sat down on the recliner I had to the side of the couch, leaning back and propping his own ankle up on his knee, placing his hands on his thighs. “The curse.”

“Oh, so she’s the one. I sensed something about her. She was…special; however, it was a challenge to go through. But Ar…aron…you know as well as I do, I cannot break the curse. The one who started it must.”

Selene’s eyes bore into Aaron’s, both of them saying nothing until he grunted. “But she’s one of yours. I was certain that if you…”

Selene held up a hand. “No. I have no involvement in this and cannot take any action. Unfortunately.”

Selene eyed me as if scanning me for any imperfections before she continued, “As much as it grieves me to say, I cannot say. I can tell, though, that she’s worthy of more than has been put on her shoulders. She’s gentle, loving, and warm. She’s good at heart. It’s a shame someone thought to curse this family. So callously.”

Her eyes shot to Aaron as she said the last part. Aaron just looked pissed. “So why are you here if you can’t do anything?”

Selene shrugged. “I wanted to see my brother.”

Aaron blew a breath out of his mouth, frustrated. “I’m not your brother, Selene.”

“You’ll always be my brother in my eyes.”

“Leave us be then if you’re going to be unhelpful, Selene.”

Selene grinned. “I didn’t say I couldn’t be helpful in some way. I just can’t help with this curse.”

Aaron leaned forward. “How can you help then? Spit it out.”

Selene stood, gliding back towards me. She looked me up and down still, circling me. I just stood there in confused silence. When she was behind me, she placed her hands on my shoulders and leaned in to whisper in my ear. I couldn’t make out what she said, but suddenly, I felt a warmth spread over my body and then a strange pulling sensation in my chest. But as quickly as it came, the feelings stopped abruptly.

Aaron arched an eyebrow at her. “What did you do?”

“I suppressed her wolf. Her wolf will only worsen her condition. And Aaron…I suggest you stay nearby.”

I spun around, looking at her now. “Why would he need to remain nearby?”

Selene’s eyes darted between mine. “Oh dear. You both don’t feel it.”

Aaron’s voice came from behind me, closer now. “Feel what?”

Selene turned towards Aaron, who was now standing. “All in good time, brother. All in good time.”

“What…” but Selene cut him off, “I really must go. I have a banquet in my honor to attend. You both should stop by.”

“Where is it?” I asked, still confused.

“Under the moon.”

“Huh?” I asked, my confusion building.

“She’s joking,” Aaron responded.

Selene wiggled her fingers, already walking towards the door. “Remember, Aaron, I advise you not to leave her side. It will be…behoove you both to heed that advice.”

And with that, she swung the door open and disappeared, the lock making a soft clicking sound as she left us alone in a stony silence. I sat down on the couch, feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of me. “Care to explain all of what just happened?”

Aaron turned towards me. “As Selene said, all in due time. As of right now…we need to call on more of my friends, perhaps…”

He closed his eyes, but I jumped up, shoving at his shoulder. “Not that again. I don’t know what you’re doing, but you’re not parading your friends around my apartment until you explain what’s going on.”

Aaron opened his eyes; I could see the anger flash, looking at the hand that had shoved at him. He looked as if he was about to say something but thought better of it before speaking again. “I’m here to help you. It’s all that you need to know. Don’t you trust me?”

I threw my head back, laughing. “I don’t even know you. Or what you are. I don’t even know what’s going on with me, but I’m supposed to blindly trust some stranger who headbutted his way into my life?”

He shrugged. “What other choices do you have?”

“I can…” my sentence trailed off.

“Exactly. So if you don’t want to meet more of my friends, then that leaves us. To figure out how to stop this. But our best bet is my friends.”

I sighed, throwing myself down on the couch, slouching, and crossing my arms. “Fine. You’re not going to explain anything and apparently want to have a whole ass party in my house. But fine. I don’t have anything better to do. I don’t go back to work until tomorrow.”

He gave me a tight-lipped smile before closing his eyes again. I half expected another knock on the door shortly after. But instead, I watched as a shadow shot from the corner, more like drifting. I screamed as the shadow formed into the figure of a person, and then a full-grown man materialized in front of me.

“What the…”

But his deep voice cut me off. “Ares!”

I was jumping over the couch, hiding behind it, still screaming. The man turned back towards me, smiling. “Ayla.”

And then blackness.