Blood Moon (A past that holds the key)

Chapter 3: DELUSION

in their auntie's house, who couldn't give a f**k about them. They were just two lone wolves trying to please the world because, to them, that was the only way they could survive without inviting the wrath of others.

Everything went downhill. They were slaves in their auntie's house. To top it all, her sister got kidn*pped. That gave her auntie the opportunity to sell the one house their parents left them. She claimed she would use the money to find her sister and, as innocent as she was back then, she believed she was expecting day and night to see her sister walk back through those doors hugging her tight, telling her it would all be okay. It was all that kept her going.

Auntie never had the intention of finding her missing sister, she realized this rather too late. Auntie was gone, the money was gone, leaving her all alone all by herself again. She had to beg around, asking to work for Nickel, but her auntie came back, this time with strong men who came to seize her and force her into the house of Lucifer himself. That was her first encounter with hell.

Thoughts of how her auntie borrowed a huge sum from the devil, using her as a collateral brings bile to her throat every time. She was forced to be his mate. The cruelest man on earth, the one man that owned her. She tried a couple of times to escape his dungeon and each time he caught her, he never hesitated to assign a gruesome punishment every time. One thing was sure, though she tried to ignore it, no matter where she ran or hid, he would always own her.

Her situation was taking the same toll. Her sister was kidn*pped, never to be found, and she ended up in hell afterwards. Now, her kids are gone too and she needs to find them. It's not certain what sort of hell she would have to go through for it, but she would walk through fire if she had to. Her triplets were the only price she acquired from the union with her toxic mate.

Luna's head hurt and her eyes watered so badly. She went through a lot that she fears reliving the past. Ever since she heard the news, time seemed to stop. She kept prancing around her office floor trying to get the memories off her mind.

The oak door to her office opened and Rose rushed in. "Luna, what's going on? I couldn't decipher anything from what you said on the phone".

"She lost them, Rose. All three of them". Luna said almost above a whisper, sobbing lowly.

"Wh-what?" Rose's jaw dropped in astonishment.

"Those incompetent bastards lost my kids" Luna said, now sobbing loudly. Rose embraced her friend, whispering comforting words in her ear. "We'll find them, I promise".

Rose picked up her phone and called her friend in the police force, reporting the situation. The response came back almost immediately and all the forces were all at work on the lookout for the missing kids.

"For now, we just have to trust the police and wait. They advised us not to let people get on the idea because of the pestering press". Rose said after she dropped the call, but Luna didn't budge, she didn't blink. Rose was certain she wasn't even breathing, just stiff and lost in a trance.

None of the actions did half the work of calming Luna down. She was trapped in her head, fearing the unseen. Her intuition seemed to be correct afterwards. One day, she knows her past will catch up with her again. It's starting now.

"Let me take you home, it's late already".

Luna didn't object, she only stood up and made her way out of the office without picking up anything. She went down the hall, into the elevator and down the parking lot. Everyone who came across her cleared the way to let her through. The staff knew how jovial their boss could be and if she wasn't feeling her usual self, they gave her space. Her walking was zombie-like, her eyes were sunken and underneath her black suit, she was profusely sweating.

'No more, no more, things are different now. I won't be going through that anymore. It's over, Luna. Over'. Luna repeated in her mind, trying to convince herself.

Rose followed behind her holding Luna's bag and folder which she usually takes home. Luna settled into the car and Rose took the wheel, taking the right route to Luna's mansion.

Rose parked in front of the mansion and smiled at her friend. Luna started blinking again, she was active and could hear whatever was being said to her now. "Hope I wasn't gone for too long?". Luna asked nervously, fiddling with her fingers.

"Luna, you are just being paranoid. I want you to calm down. Do you want me to stay with you overnight?". Rose calmed her nerves while rubbing her shoulders comfortingly.

Luna rocked back and forth gently, it took her a while before she could reply.

"No, I'll be fine. Thanks". She got down from the car and went into her home. The feeling of emptiness engulfed her immediately and hot tears stung her eyes. Her triplets were everything she had and cherished. The new fear that fought her was the fact that she didn't even know if they were treating them fine where they were. That is the least they could do for her before she finds the culprits.

Could this be one of her clients? Who else would hate her so much and target her kids?

She sat on her couch and let the tears break out freely. Her heart clenched tightly in her chest and it hurt so badly. It's been a long time since she let it all out. Every other thing could go wrong and she would stomach it. Sometimes, a project goes wrong, losing a potential customer, being accused and asked to pay a huge sum for damages, any other thing but losing her kids, that's going too far. The kidnappers did hit a hard spot, they knew what could kill her.

"Luna..."

She jumped in fear, realizing she wasn't alone the whole time.

"Who's there...?" She sniffed "Dylan? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you, Luna. You don't deserve what happened to you, your kids don't deserve it either. Those beautiful, lovely kids..." Dylan was saying when Luna cut in.

"Wait, how did you know about them?" Luna asked, furrowing her brows. "Luna, you are the one holding back. I care about you a lot and I hate seeing you this way. Let me into your life, Luna. Let me help you". He said, stretching forth his hand, willing to take hers.

"Dylan, please not now. I have told you several times that I don't want to rush anything. I want to figure out how I truly feel about this. Don't use this situation as a weakness against me". Luna said, backing away from him.

"Oh no, Luna. Don't think like that. I am not trying to do anything like that. I just want to be a shoulder you can fall on, a comforting hand to hold on to and a trusting companion to open up to. This is not about my feelings for you, I really I'm not that selfish". He said, moving closer to her, she didn't move away. She allowed him to hold her.

"It's okay to be scared, but remember you still have control over it. Your fears can only consume you when you allow it. Fight it, Luna. You are strong enough" he said, and Luna broke down in his arms. Heart-breaking sobs escaped her mouth and the tears kept flowing. She wanted her kids back and she would do just anything to get them back, even if it meant confronting her fears again.

The night was long and sleepless for Luna. She couldn't even take a bath in the moon anymore, she only stared at the beauty with a teared stained face.

***

ORION walked into the shaman's office distinguished by its usual herbal and mint smell, glass jars containing specimens lining the wall and potions kept on the side table waiting to be completed. The old shaman coughed from the inside before walking out into the main office. He smiled at Orion before walking round to his table to have his seat. Orion did the same.

"Why did our morning meeting change to this time of the night, Rowan?" Orion started the conversation, crossing his right leg over the other.

"Your friend was here... or should I say 'former friend'" the old shaman laughed at his own joke, but Orion only raised an eyebrow in oblivion.

"Bucker. That's the one. The i***t was here and I know you can't walk in here to meet him. It won't be a pleasant get-together. I have too much here. I can't sacrifice a break. I've forgotten you have too many enemies to keep notes of". The shaman laughed again, making Orion laugh this time.

"It's not my fault they are too dumb to accept who the boss is here, but it is my fault those f****d up bastards are still alive". He said, and they both laughed heartily. Orion could only feel himself around Rowan.

Rowan was his family friend for a long time. He basically watched Orion grow up. When Orion's parents died, Rowan continued in their legacy to make their son turn out best, but that secret remains among confidential anomalies.

"There are more important things that require your attention". The shaman suddenly said seriously. "Are you still taking notes of the days of rejuvenation?".

Orion sighed, dully adjusting the Rolex on his wrist. "Why is it called rejuvenation when it's the exact f*****g opposite?"

"Don't wanna scare the grown-up wolf". Rowan laughed jokingly.

"Ha ha, I feel a whole lot better". Orion replied sarcastically.

"That's the charm, my boy. Keeping you relaxed till the main day. We are getting you ready for that day because it will hurt so badly like a mother fucker. You would say I told you so. They normally make it sound less unfortunate, but I'll tell you the truth, it's hell. Most times, even Alpha's don't survive it". Rowan said, walking towards a table filled with amulets and precious stones.

"It's the f*****g Blood Moon, no joke". Orion sighed slowly again.

"You just need to take caution and remain strong, my boy". Rowan cracked playful laughter... "Nah, who'm I kidding? You won't have any strength left on that day. As long as it remains in the sky, you are still f****d". Rowan's voice turned serious, he stared straight into Orion's eyes, wanting him to c***k and show any signs of weakness.

"Quit it, Rowan. Don't strain your poor eyes" he said, smirking. Rowan burst out laughing, handing him a grape juice with an herbal potion added.

"Good. A slight sign of weakness is the first step to destruction. They are everywhere, Orion. Keep your eyes open. If you can make it through the Blood Moon day, you've crossed seven seas of elixir and that's all you need".

Orion downed the glass of juice. "You're good to go. The heartbeat is normal''. Rowan said, and Orion made his way to the door.

"Don't stress over it too much". Rowan said, making Orion stop in his tracks. Without turning back to the shaman, he said "Tell that to a weak wolf" and with that he was gone.

The shaman shook his head, raised his hand towards the door Orion had a while ago and mouthed a blessing chant.