Moon's Blood: when destiny defies duty

Chapter 3

Jace pov

Struggling through the thick forest, every footstep caused bursts of agony to shoot through me. The throbbing of the arrow wound, silver-tipped, served as a continuous reminder of my encounter with the hunter. With Aria. My mate.

The mare idea of finding my mate, who is a hunter, my greatest enemy caused me to feel even more confused. Clenching my jaw, making myself concentrate on the task in front of me. Get back to the pack. Hide the injury. Figure out what the hell I was going to do next.

As the familiar scents of Blood Moon territory washed over me, I straightened up, schooling my features into what I hoped was a neutral expression. Luna would be waiting, and my beta had an uncanny ability to read me like an open book.

Sure enough, as I approached the border, Luna materialized from the shadows. Her violet eyes narrowed as she took in my appearance.

"Jace? What happened out there?"

I waved off her concern, hating the lie even as it left my lips. "Nothing to worry about. Just a close call with some hunters. Everything's under control."

Luna's frown deepened. She stepped closer, nostrils flaring as she caught the scent of my wound. "You're hurt."

"It's nothing," I growled, more harshly than I intended. Luna took a step back, hurt flashing in her eyes before she masked it with cool professionalism.

"Of course, Alpha. My apologies for overstepping.”

Guilt clawed at me, but I can't let her in. Not yet. Not when I barely understand what was happening myself.

I brushed past her, heading for the pack house. As I walked, whispers reached my ears, setting my nerves on edge.

"...three more attacks this week..."

"...hunters getting bolder..."

"...Alpha needs to do something..."

The irony wasn't lost on me.

Because in this moment, I, the leader they trusted, was concealing the fact that I had not just met a hunter, but also connected with one on a deeper level. The weight of my secret weighed heavily on me, making it hard to breathe.

I went back to my room and locked the door. It was only at that moment that I allowed myself to lean against the wall, a ragged breath slipping out of my mouth. I removed my shirt with a grimace, noticing the furious red injury below my ribcage.

While I cleaned and wrapped the wound, my thoughts returned to the open space. To fierce green eyes and the scent of jasmine and gunpowder. To the moment our gazes locked and the world shifted on its axis.

Aria. Even her name sent a jolt through the freshly formed bond. What was she doing now? Was she feeling this attraction, the same overwhelming combination of desire and uncertainty?

A sudden knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Quickly, I put on a fresh shirt to hide my injury.

“Yes," I invited, my voice more steady than I actually felt.

Luna entered, her face a careful mask of neutrality. "The pack is gathering for the meeting, Alpha. They're waiting for you."

I nodded, straightening my shoulders. "I will be right there."

While accompanying Luna to the main hall, I made an effort to concentrate on the current task. My pack needed me. I couldn't afford to be distracted by thoughts of a hunter, mate bond or not.

As soon as I walked in, the room went quiet and everyone stared at me. I looked over the crowd, observing the stress in their body language and the anxiety in their expressions. I looked at Finn, the youthful wolf seemed to be almost shaking with anxiety.

"Report," I commanded, my voice carrying across the room.

Finn stepped forward, his eagerness palpable. "Alpha, we've completed the border patrols as ordered. No direct confrontations with hunters, but we found fresh tracks near the eastern ridge. They're getting closer."

Murmurs rippled through the gathered wolves. I held up a hand for silence, even as my mind raced. Had those been Aria's tracks? The thought of her so close to my pack both thrilled and terrified me.

"Good work, Finn," I said, forcing myself to focus. "Double the patrols along the eastern border. I want eyes on every inch of our territory."

Finn nodded enthusiastically, but I caught the flicker of doubt in some of the older wolves' eyes. They wanted more. They wanted action, retaliation against the hunters who threatened our way of life.

If they only knew.

I continued outlining plans, my words feeling hollow even to my own ears. My mind kept drifting back to the forest, to the moment the arrow struck my flesh. To the shock in Aria's eyes when our gazes met.

"Alpha?" Luna's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Is there something more you…?"

I blinked and noticed that I had stopped talking in the middle of a sentence. The pack was looking at me, with confusion and worry showing on their expressions.

"I'm done for now," I said rapidly. "Dismissed."

As the pack filed out, I caught snippets of worried conversation.

"Is he alright?"

"Never seen the Alpha so distracted..."

"Maybe the hunters got to him..."

If they only knew how right they were.

Luna lingered behind, her violet eyes searching my face. "Jace," she said softly, dropping the formality of my title.

"What's wrong?"

I briefly considered confessing everything to her. Luna had been my constant support for many years, my most reliable counselor and companion. However, I couldn't speak the words. How can I describe something that I hardly understand?

"I'm okay," I uttered, the lie leaving a bitter flavor in my mouth. "Just tired. It's been a long day."

Luna's expression made it clear she didn't believe me, but she nodded. "Get some rest," she said. "The pack needs you at your best."

As she turned to leave, guilt crashed over me. "Luna," I called out. She stopped and glanced at me with a mix of hope and caution.

“Thank you," I said weakly. "For everything."

A sad smile flickered across her face. "Always, Jace. You know that."

After the door shut, I sank into my chair, feeling the weight of my secrets weighing heavily on me. I need solutions. I had to understand the situation I was in.

Unconsciously, I ended up making my way to the library of the pack. I breathed in the dusty smell of ancient books while searching the shelves for any clues regarding my predicament.

I whispered “mate bound” as I traced my fingers along the book spines. "There has to be something..."

I pulled out a promising-looking tome, flipping through the pages with growing frustration. Plenty on traditional werewolf pairings, but nothing about bonds with humans. Let alone hunters.

The sound of the door creaking made me quickly push the book back onto the shelf, causing my heart to race. Luna remained in the doorway, her expression impossible to decipher.

"Working late into the night?" she inquired, maintaining a carefully neutral tone.

"I'm just conducting some research," I stated, attempting to maintain a steady voice. "You never know when knowledge of rare pack traditions could prove useful."

Luna narrowed her eyes, and for a brief moment that made my heart stop, I thought she would confront me about my clear lie. However, she just nodded and exited the room.

“Don’t stay up late. As I said before, the pack need you at your best.” She advised.

Once the door shut after her, I released a trembling exhale. This could not continue. Eventually, the truth will be revealed. And when it does...

I moved my head from side to side, dismissing the idea. Deal with one issue at a time.

Fatigue eventually overtook me, and I returned to my living quarters. As I fell asleep, Aria was my final conscious thought. Of how her aroma had enveloped me, of the sparks that had flown between us.

I saw her once more in my dreams. However, now she offered an olive branch instead of a bow. She had gentle, welcoming green eyes. While I tried to touch her, the setting changed. Instantly, I found myself in the open space of the forest, with Aria's arrow sticking out of my chest. But, instead of pain, I felt… peace.

I suddenly awoke, my heart racing.The mate bond hummed in my chest, stronger than ever. I pressed a hand to my sternum, feeling the steady thrum of energy.

What did it mean? Was it just a figment of my imagination, or something beyond that? I found myself even more confused as the line between reality and fantasy seemed to be blurry.

As I saw the first light of morning coming through my window, I made a choice. I couldn't continue living this way, torn between my allegiance to the pack and the undeniable attraction of the mate bond.

I had to see her.

The thought should have terrified me. She was a hunter, dedicated to destroying my species. However, the logical part of my mind appeared to have taken control to the instinctual urge flowing within me.

I hastily changed my clothes, my thoughts running as I came up with a strategy. I'd alter the patrol routes, ensure my path would take me back to the clearing where we'd met. It was risky, maybe even foolish. But, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that I had to go there.

As I stepped into the cool morning breeze, Luna magically appeared next to me. "Early start?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.

I nodded, guilt twisting in my gut. "Thought I'd do a solo patrol. Clear my head.”

Luna looked into my eyes, and I resisted the temptation to avert my gaze. “Please be careful," she whispered."Something feels... off."

If she only knew how right she was.

I headed into the forest, my wolf senses on high alert. Every snapping twig, every rustle of leaves had me on edge. Was it Aria? Or other hunters, lying in wait?

As I neared the open space, a recognizable smell struck me with the force of a blow to the stomach. The scent of Jasmine mixed with gunpowder.

She's here.

I felt my heart beating fast as I entered the open area. Standing on the opposite side of the clearing, she was there. The soft light of dawn, made her crimson hair shine brightly as she casually grasped her bow by her side.

We stared at each other for a long period of time. The mate bond sang between us, a symphony of longing and fear and possibility.

Aria finally spoke in a voice barely louder than a whisper, "You came."

I gave a nod, unable to trust my own words. There were a thousand questions rushing through my thoughts. Why was she here? Did she feel this connection too? What did it all mean?

But before I could voice any of them, a shout rang out from the trees behind her. "Aria! Where are you?"

Panic flashed in her eyes. "You need to go," she hissed. "Now!"

I hesitated, every instinct screaming at me to stay, to protect her. But the rational part of my brain finally kicked in. If I was discovered here, it would mean war.

With a final, wistful glance, I blended back into the woods. While I was running, my thoughts were filled with the consequences of what just happened. She had come back too. She had warned me.

What did it mean for us? For our people?

I didn't have answers. But, on my way back to the pack, one thing became absolutely clear. Things would never be the same again.