Broken Luna

Fate

~JUDAS POV~

Talon! I hear a dainty voice growl, fierce and clearly unimpressed by this ‘Talon’ she spoke to - I am taking her to the pack doctor now, the poor thing is no threat. She is wounded and needs care, not an inquisition!

My brain feels like it is in that buzzing, vibrating state of being on the edge of passing out. Consciousness floating back and forth. My body aching and the low whimpers of Anya as even now I could feel her trying to struggle for control again - control to take away the worst burden of our pains.

It touched me that someone would try to protect me such as that… I never thought anyone would. Let alone a wolf that lived in my mind. I couldn’t speak, because I was still a wolf. I could feel it.

Our body felt as if it was both trying to break itself as it also tried to be undone. I wanted to open my eyes - to see any threats. I could hear more people now. Perhaps more wolves. But each eyelid felt as if bricks stacked upon them.

“Look at the wolf, Kar,” I heard concern and tension in the deep rumble of the mans voice. Threatening.

“And?!” the woman didn’t seem to back down.

“How is that not a threat?”

“The poor thing is in pain, in need of help, and unable to shift back!” I whimpered at the feeling of hands moving to pull me from the ground. Black taking over once more.

~~~~

I was not sure how much time had passed. But the next time I felt myself coming into consciousness the pain felt… less. Leaving me to wonder if it was because of my wolf…

No. We’ve been given pain killers - the voice was becoming a comfort to me. Even if it still felt strange to know it was another living entity that was part of me. Though thankfulness that it implied that Zyanya was also feeling less pain.

Trying so hard to focus on our body. But something made me feel like I was floating. Not fully attached to my body. Still so unsure of what was happening. What was going to the both of us. Struggling through the fog trying to feel myself. Feel this strange body that had become ours.

“It’s okay,” I heard a voice to my right, tensing. It was the delicate melody of the female I’d heard before I’d blacked out. The one that had been trying to help us. “I know you’re scared. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

Finally I managed to open my eyes. Looking at the stranger. She was a beautiful young woman. With fair skin covered in a light pattern of freckles, and the most breathtaking powdery blue eyes I’d ever seen. A kindness in them. Warmth despite the icy pale of them. A smile pulled the corners of her lips. I wanted to speak. But found a whine was all I produced. She seemed so… small. Slight. But there was no question a power about her.

“I’m Karma,” the woman spoke, lifting a hand slowly to stroke my muzzle, “I’m sorry if my mate frightened you. Talon is simply very protective of the pack. It’s not every day we find an a rogue alpha wandering near our borders.”

Confusion filled me, I could even feel the confusion in Anya. Alpha rogue? I asked in our mind. The woman couldn’t answer. But Anya tried to, I’m not sure why they think we’re an alpha. We’ve no pack…

The woman continued to study us, nodding to our wolf form, “have you been having trouble shifting back?”

I nodded.

Karma continued to stroke our fur. Something about it was soothing. Gentle. Safe. “Has it been long?”

How was I to answer? Another whine pressed from our lungs. “I know it’s hard to answer without a mind link, but has this ever happened before?”

I shook my head no. She nodded lightly, “must be scary. You seemed to be in bad shape when we first got to you. At least you’re healing now. Is the wolf in control?”

Zyanya seemed to huff, I wish I was. I wish either of us was… I understood that. Because neither of us felt really fully in control of our body. I still felt like I floated. We shook our head no.

Karma lifted a brow, “Oh… That is strange. Usually that would make it easier to shift back…” a frown creased between her brow. Then realization of something seemed to dawn on her, lips forming an o… “Oh sweetheart, was this your first shift?”

Whining with a nod. She got a slight glazed look in her eyes for a moment, then made a hurumph noise, “I told the buffoon that I was right. That you’d been no threat.”

I c****d my head at her. Zyanya felt amused. As if she understood something I did not. I think she was talking about her mate.

“Must have been dreadfully scary to have your first shift and find yourself in trouble. That must have disrupted the bond between you and your wolf. The first shift is hard enough on its own, without having to get shot on top of it. I think both of you are just out of alignment still. But you’re safe now. I can help. It’s… A gift of mine I guess,” she rambled on, giving a brilliant smile and scratching behind my wolf ear. Moving she rose - walking to the door.

Funny. It was just now I seemed to notice I was indoors. In a simple room. How we’d gotten here… I didn’t know. Though I tensed at the door locking. She gave a sheepish grin, “just to slow Talon down in case he decides to check up on me. Chances are he isn’t going to approve of what I’m doing. But don’t worry!”

She moved around, pulling out supplies from a drawer - one being a blade. Whining I backed away. A soft apologetic look on her face, “I don’t want to hurt you. I do need to mix our blood though. Just a little knick on my hand and your paw - and I’ll be able to communicate with you…”

I hesitated. Even Zyanya felt weary. But this woman could have killed us in our sleep. She could have harmed us. Instead she was being gentle. Kind. Do I let her do it Anya? My wolf paused, assessing the woman wearily. But finally answering.

I think we can trust her…

We lifted out paw hesitantly. The woman gave a brilliant smile, lifting the blade first to her palm, “I’ll do mine first, okay?” I watched as the blade danced lightly over her palm. As a light line of blood started to slip over the pale flesh of her hand, lifting to lightly knick our paw before she settled our wounds together.

A strange warmth spread. Feeling almost like… A thread. A link. A yelp left me as a loud bang slammed into the door. She looked at us apologetically. “He won’t hurt you. He won’t hurt me, and I won’t let him hurt you, he’s really just an overgrown teddy bear,” she assured.

“KARMA!” the voice was a roar. Another slam. “What are you doing? I smell your blood!”

“Look at me,” fear rose as I forced my eyes back to the blonde woman. ‘Can you feel our link?’ I jumped at the realization that I heard her voice - in my head. Just as clear as I now could hear Zyanya… She grinned at that, understanding it was a yes. ‘Focus on my voice - think of that thread and follow it. Let me guide you both to your center sweetling. Ignore everything else’”

I had no idea why the door held with such a brutal assault - it felt like the room shook. But both my wolf and I tried to focus on Karma. Focus on the tether. It was surreal how it started. A sense of warmth, of being centered. Of finding that link between my body and mind again. Even Anya acknowledged the feeling.

Try to shift now, the voice was gentle as always. Reassuring. And despite a moment of hesitation, of doubt, Anya and I focused. Think of your human form… And we did. She gave an apologetic look as she noticed a pained whimper from us, it is going to hurt. I wish I could take the pain sweetie. But the shift will not be pleasant…

Whines turned to howles, but in time I realized the pained screams that had replaced them. Mine. My human voice. Human sounds. I felt faint from the agony. Felt like everything was breaking and trying to fix itself again. I hardly noticed the pounding that continued. Hardly realized that the man hadn’t broken in.

Karma cradled me and hummed as I finally, panting, sobbing, found myself back in my human body. Tears in her own eyes as she brushed my cheeks, “you’re going to be okay little one,” she assured. She hummed and rocked my aching body. Lulling me to a sleep. The sound of a body slamming on the door like a steady drum…

~~Karma POV~~

Talon was not happy with me. I knew that he would not approve of me doing what I’d done. The girl was a rogue. An alpha white wolf. It was clear there was an aura of power. But my wolf and I never saw it as a threat. We saw her as she was. A scared girl. Frightened, and wounded.

Sure, I could have waited for our Alpha to return to help her. But that would have just been… Cruel. Talon was a good man, kind at his core. If a bit ridged in the idea of rules, and doing it by the book. Perhaps that was why the moon goddess had put me with him. I was not like that. Rule books never held me back from following my heart and my gut.

Such as I was for this girl. Though her wolf was massive - my heart told me she needed a guardian. A champion to show her kindness. Guide her. And I would answer that. And I did. I’d done a blood bond. Knowing that the moment the scent of my blood hit the air my mate would know what I was doing.

Luckily the pack medical center had walls and doors made to withstand a werewolf. To ensure a mate couldn’t stop doctors from helping their other halves in dire times. Though she knew he was just trying to protect her - she couldn’t let him intervene.

And after the girl had changed, now lulled into a sleep despite my husbands endless pursuit to get in… I had known I’d done the right thing. Her wolf was mighty - but the poor creature in my arms now was tiny. Small and frail. Skin and bone. I’d be surprised if she was more than five foot tall.

Talon, are you done having your tantrum? I mind linked my mate. Knowing he’d not appreciate the idea of me calling his actions a tantrum.

Tantrum? Really Karma? You’ve locked yourself in a room with a rogue. You bled! Huffing as I rolled my eyes.

I had to communicate with the girl. This was her first shift. The trauma of getting shot must have disrupted her and her wolves ability to center to find their human form. I could hear him snarl. It just made me smirk slightly at him. Knowing he’d not want to admit he might have been wrong. He was proud. I didn’t mind. I could stand my own.

A sigh, “My love… you could have been hurt…” Running a hand through the messy dark hair of the young girl as she slept. Shivering at the rumbling baraton of his voice. Even from the other side of the door it affected me.

“Maybe. But she was hurting. Scared. Alone. I would have been cruel to ignore a young pup in need,” I could hear him scoff. Despite it I could feel he understood. Who understood me better than him? He might not like that I supposedly put myself at risk. But at the same time - he understood I couldn’t have stood by.

“That isn’t a pup…” I moved to carefully find a simple gown we kept for patients in the room, moving to dress and cover the child. Child. She was eighteen. If this was her first shift she was technically an adult. But I could not see her as anything but a pup. Lost in the world.

I knew he was listening to me now, I could almost envision his tall frame leaning against the door, following my movements. I can sense she’s come from a world of sorrow and pain, Tal. Willow wants to protect her. As do I… Willow was my wolf. And she was resolute in her desire to adopt the girl. She cared not of the age. She’d felt the desire and need to protect and provide comfort to the stranger.

I stopped by the door, I’m letting you in - but if you wake her, or move against her. Mate or not, I will protect her.

I could hear his wolf, Atticus, whine through the mind link. And I smiled. Neither would do s**t now. Opening the door to be greeted by the disheveled look of my mate. I laughed lightly lifting a hand to brush an errant strand of hair behind his ears. Playfully tugging the end of his beard as he leaned in to kiss me possessively.

Though his eyes flickered to the bed. Looking almost surprised at how tiny the girl was. Looking at me, yet still not appearing like he was going to admit that maybe I’d been right. “I’m waiting…” I chastised lightly.

Talon grunted, “what. Just cause she can get smaller doesn’t mean she isn’t a threat…” stubborn as a mule, my mate was. Though to be fair - small really didn’t mean harmless. But this girl… I felt it in my soul. She needed a pack. A family. To be loved and cared for. Something told me she’d been denied such things.

Finally my mate sighed, “you know I just want to keep everyone safe. Jem has been acting weird. And Bran - the kid always is weird. But he’s been… more odd. And while they’re off the land I have to make sure you - that everyone is safe…”

I nodded. I knew this. But that didn’t mean I would ignore what my heart told me. And he knew that as well. “Jem is going to be back soon. Let me talk to him about our little wolf when he does,” Talon snorted at me calling the stranger little wolf but I ignored it, “she needs a home, family. I felt it. I’m sure he’ll understand.”