A Quest To Reclaim

The full moon had risen and the pack had risen with it. Four grey eyes belonging to Gabrielle and Declan scanned the expanse of woods below from the top of Winter Ace hill. “Tonight holds much better for you, Gabrielle,” Declan said, comforting her. “You shall get the big kill and prove your worth to the pack.” Gabrielle was beginning to smile, an then she froze and said, “I hear something.” They turn just as Anna emerged from behind a thicket. They couldn’t see the look in her eyes, as she always wore a hood, but they knew she didn’t mean good. Anna never meant good. “You must feel triumphant that you get to hunt alongside the next Alpha.” Anna scoffed. “He is my mate, in case you have forgotten,” Gabrielle retorted. “Only because you usurped me with your witch powers and influenced the decision of the Moon Goddess.” “That is ridiculous, Anna” Declan said. “You should get over that, I'm never mated with you.” “Tonight, everyone shall see her for what she truly is; a curse upon our pack,” Anna said and turned to Gabrielle. She was close enough and Gabrielle could see her scornful face under the moonlight. “You shall never be the Luna of the Grey Crescent pack.” “Leave now!” Declan had had enough of Anna. Not wanting to infuriate him, she spun around and walked off. “They all think that of me,” Gabrielle said, turning away. “This is the first major hunt since you turned eighteen and bonded fully with Nina. Tonight, they shall know your worth when you get the big kill.” “I know you are just trying to cheer me up.” Gabrielle sighed, lowering her gaze. “But after losing two mates mysteriously, I can’t help but feel this way.” “I mean it, Gabrielle. Tonight’s kill is yours.” Declan lifted her face, pecked her forehead and looked into her eyes. “I have seen what you can do. It would be foolish of anyone to underrate you.” His lips came in contact with hers and she heaved, slackness leaving her posture as she opened up and let him fill her with the vigor of a mate. “That’s all it takes; a kiss from you and I feel like I can take on the world.” “You can take on the world, my love.” Declan pointed to a spot in the woods. “Do you see it?” There was movement beneath the cover of trees, so slight it could barely be detected by the usual eye. But there was nothing usual about Gabrielle tonight. Hers and Declan’s fates as the next Luna and Alpha of the pack hung on the outcome of the night’s hunt. If there was any night that needed her best, it was tonight. “Of course, I do.” Gabrielle chuckled. “I have perfect eyesight. Nina’s powers are surging through me and it's a full moon. I can spot an ant all the way from here.” “But this is no ant. This is the giant prize for the night. You have to kill it and make yourself the hero of the pack tonight.” Gabrielle straightened herself, leaped and dashed straight down into the woods, Declan right on her heels. Nina, her wolf growled in her head, guiding her as she cut through the woods. As Gabrielle neared the animal, her fingers stretched into sharp claws, her eyes were bright green and each burning breath filled her with exhilaration. She was merely a few feet away when the bison fled into the woods, bellowing as it went. “If you want to make this any more challenging,” Gabrielle muttered between puffs of accelerating breaths. “I am up to it.” The animal charged, its huge antlers uprooting small trees and shrubs as it went and throwing them in the way of its attacker. Gabrielle ducked low to avoid a tree branch flung at her. The bison ran faster, putting more distance between itself and Gabrielle. "Nina, I need you for this one,” Gabrielle yelled as she leaped over a log and landed on all fours. Her body transformed into a beautiful silver wolf, her fur, shimmering under the moonlight. Nina’s long legs took longer strides, and she howled as she ran. She could feel the presence of Declan’s wolf. He was transforming right behind her so he could match her increasing pace. “I can feel you, Nina.” Declan said. “You are doing great.” Nina could hear him clearly over her racing heart and her galloping paws. “I need to flank it,” Nina thought and Declan, on cue, cut to the right side of the bison. It took a left turn just as Nina dove out of the bushes and crashed into it. Nina and the bison stumbled down the side of a hill with Nina slashing and gnawing as she went. A thick trail of dust rose as they tumbled down and to the bottom of the ridge. When the dust cleared, Nina had the bison’s neck clamped between her strong jaws. The bison grunted, shuddered, and then it lay still, surrendering itself to its fate as blood pooled from its neck. Declan was standing above Nina. “You did it.” He leaped down, landed on his legs and stood upright. Nina also stood and shifted back to Gabrielle. “I never doubted the Moon Goddess’s choice of a mate for me.” He smiled and wiped a streak of the Bison’s blood from Gabrielle’s cheek. “You have proven your worth tonight, my love. No one shall ever challenge your place beside me.” “Except for Anna,” Gabrielle teased. “Even she cannot do what you have done here tonight. Anna is mated to my brother, Dylan. Now that you have made the grand kill, we shall be made Alpha and Luna of the pack.” Declan pulled Gabrielle in, looking into her bright, grey eyes. “I can’t help the way I feel when you look at me this way.” Gabrielle took a deep breath. Her heart raced as his presence, his scent grew around her and enveloped her. “Then don’t help it.” A knowing smile from her lover was all she needed to succumb. She shut her eyes, her body almost thrumming with anticipation. A kiss from Declan was sure to make Gabrielle experience life in its fullest and under the full moon, their connection was at its peak. What Gabrielle felt when their lips touched was more than exhilaration. It was a rush that filled her with vigor and at the same time, made her feel greatly relaxed. She surrendered herself into her arms, deeper into his kiss. “I can feel it; our hearts beating together.” “You are the hero of the pack, Elle,” Declan said. “I shall tell everyone of your bravery tonight.” “I couldn’t have done it without you, Declan.” “You would have. You belong here and no one can take that from you.” Declan raised Gabrielle’s face and kissed her again, deeper this time. She suddenly stopped and withdrew. A grim feeling enveloped her as the moon was promptly hidden behind a cloud. “Something doesn’t feel right.” Gabrielle sounded terrified. Her eyes darted from side to side in search of the slightest sign of danger. “What is wrong, Elle?” Declan peered into her worried face, surprised at the sudden flip of her countenance. “I have felt this way before. It’s a gut feeling I get just before something terrible happens.” “Something terrible?” Declan asked, confused. “You just made the kill. We should celebrate.” “No!” She said. “We have to leave now!” The ominous feeling grew, and she could feel its thickness in the air around her. “What’s that smell?” Gabrielle asked weakly. “It seems like burnt petals.” Declan sniffed the surrounding air, his alertness kicking in. “The strangest kind.” A rogue wolf with patchy black fur stood on the ridge above, its fangs bared and drooling with slime. It’s bloodshot eyes told of its deadly intent. Its limbs, long and sinewy had its claws digging into the earth, telling of its readiness to pounce. “It is here.” “What is here?” “Death.” The s***h from the wolf missed Declan only by the breadth of a hair as the rogue wolf lunged towards him. Declan lurched backwards. The ground beneath Gabrielle tipped over and she fell limply to the ground. “A rogue assassin,” Declan observed aloud. “You shall meet your end tonight.” “I am no rogue,” the black wolf said. “I am known as Death’s own Squire.” Death’s Squire had only raised its hand to strike her when Declan’s brown, large wolf slammed into it, knocking it several feet away from Gabrielle. “You protect her.” Death’s Squire grunted. “That makes you weak and vulnerable.” “I love her.” One long stride brought Declan between Gabrielle and the danger posed by the scrawny black wolf. “And the only way you will harm her is by going through me.” “I shall do that with pleasure.” Death’s Squire snarled and charged towards Declan. “You are no match for the future Alpha of the Grey Crescent pack. Give up now and I shall show you more mercy than you deserve.” Declan had his foot on its neck. “Mercy? Never!” Death’s Squire said in a guttural voice and clapped it’s paws over Declan’s face, suddenly producing a plume of a dark, powdery substance. “What have you done to me?” Declan coughed, staggering backwards. “Breath it in. That magical puff is the smell of dismay and of death. Your death,” Death’s Squire said and turned to stare at Gabrielle on the ground. “And your failure to stop me from killing her.” “Save yourself, Declan,” Gabrielle cried. “This time, you die with your mate.” Gabrielle watched helplessly as Death’s Squire’s jagged claws came down to her neck. She shut her eyes, surrendering herself to her fate; imminent death. With every breath he could muster, Declan let out a loud howl. It was a wild call. Death’s Squire suddenly paused and stared into the woods with uncertainty all over its hideous face. It withdrew. “You dare cheat death again,” Death’s Squire roiled in frustration. “I shall be back with a legion,” he said, his voice retreating into the woods. “Please, stay with me.” Gabrielle went over to him, her face soaked with tears. She looked into his eyes. “I’m…glad. You’re alive,” Declan said in a wet voice and blood spurt from his mouth. “What would my life be without you, Declan?” The last thing she saw before he died was the look of fulfillment on his face. He was glad he could save her life, even though it had cost him his. “You killed him!” Anna’s shrill voice said. Gabrielle did not hear her coming, but the accusation stunned her. “What?” Gabrielle said, turning to rise weakly. “I did no such thing.” “Get away from my brother, witch,” Dylan said, arriving with the rest of the pack. “We shall make sure you burn for this.” Dylan pointed at her. “Take her to the dungeons.” Who would believe her now that the only one who stood by her is dead?