Star-crossed Luna

Chapter 4

Marcellus

The night sky glittered with stars. The only light in the forest came from the almost full moon that hung in the sky. Its soft glow casted dark shadows around me as I ran to the south border. Nothing but the sound of my paws hitting the soft earthen floor could be heard. The stillness and silence of the forest was unsettling. Damn earth and pine had replaced the familiar salty air. The unfamiliarity was putting me more on edge.

The southern border was close and exotic shifter scent was getting stronger. I had no idea what I was running into. Azriel had limited information from a border patrol that said about ten shifters from the Eclipse pack were stationed at our border and demanded to speak with me. They gave no information as to why or what about, though I had an idea. Right before I usurped the role of Alpha from my father, he had gone on a murderous rampage. Stormed into Eclipse territory, killing anyone in his way as he marched to their pack house, and slaughtered the alpha and his entire family. The whole Alpha line was gone, leaving the pack without a leader and protector. The g******e he caused was the last straw, and what drove me to stop my father.

Several dark figures came into few in the distance. I stopped and ducked behind a tree to shift back into human form and put on a pair of sweats. My fur had been keeping me warm and was now realizing how chilly it was tonight. As I approached the figures, their features came into focus. There were nine of them. In the front I recognised who I thought to be the beta, everyone else I couldn’t place. The disgust on their faces hurt me to my core, I wanted desperately to right the wrongs of my predecessor.

“Who the hell are you,” the beta spat, “we requested the Alpha.”

“I am Alpha Madden. Marcellus Madden. My father, Arsius Madden is no longer leading the Equinox pack,” I said firmly.

“Oh so he’s sent his little s**t of a son to do his dirty work then?”

“My father is not the Alpha, I am,” I said again, more assertively.

“Well, go home and bring that asshole here. He’s the one we want to talk to,” he was being incredibly hostile, but I couldn’t blame him. His alpha and probably best friend was killed by my father.

“I’m sorry but that isn’t possible,” I looked the beta in the eyes, “he’s dead. I killed him.” He was quiet for a moment but kept his eyes on mine, gauging if I was telling the truth or not.

“Good riddance,” he smirked, “but now his little brat has taken over. So what? You plan on doing the same thing? Kill your own father so you could take all the power for yourself?”

“Quite the opposite. I just want peace, unfortunately he wouldn’t listen to reason. The fight that ensued ended badly,” I explained. He still didn’t seem to believe me. He turned his attention to his packmates, probably communicating through a mindlink. I needed them to believe me, I didn’t want a war, though that’s what they seemed to be chomping at the bit for. Our numbers were hurting, many died during my father’s attempts to dominate all the nearby territories, and many left after I took over. I needed to make peace, or better yet allies, everywhere and anywhere I possibly could.

“You stole our closure… our revenge!” the pseudoleader finally said.

“That was not my intention, nor do I condone vengeful vendettas,” I said, my voice low and serious. The plan behind demanding the Alpha meet them here was now becoming more clear. They wanted to avenge their pack.

“I know you were expecting my father, but I’m sure I can help you with whatever it is you were hoping to,” I paused, trying to choose my words very carefully, “discuss here.” They exchanged glances at one another.

“You came here alone?”

“Yes.”

“And your father is dead? As well as your mother? And you were their only offspring?” I didn’t like the questions he was asking.

“That is correct,” I said hesitantly.

“And your Luna?”

“I never found my mate, or partnered,” I replied and I narrowed my eyes at him, now realizing the point of his interrogation.

“You shouldn’t have come here alone, young alpha,” the malicious evil grin he had was sickening.

“I didn’t come for a fight, I want to apologize for my father’s actions, and hopefully repair relations between our packs,” I tried reasoning with them.

“We’re far beyond that now,” and he took a step across the boundary line. I let out a low warning growl.

“We can still be civil.”

“No. We can’t. There is no being civil when dealing with a monster like you,” his words cut deep. Deeper than I wanted to admit even to myself. I was trying so hard not to be like my father. Maybe it was useless? Maybe I was doomed to follow in his bloody footsteps. A snarl ripped from my throat. Deep repressed anger began bubbling up, unrelenting rage flowing through my veins. I couldn’t control it anymore, for so long I stifled my emotions and it was all coming up at once in a flood of fury. My wolf was now on the verge of ripping out of me, my arms and legs trembled as I struggled to keep it under control. While I had been struggling with my inner turmoil, the enemy shifters surrounded me, all of them in their wolf form. I didn’t want to kill anymore, I didn’t want to fight. But maybe it was all pointless in the end? Maybe this is all I was ever meant to be? A monster. The enemy wolves were closing in on me. And I let go, handed the reins over to my wolf, and all I remember seeing was red. Blood red.

“Hey! Marc! What the hell happened?” My Beta’s voice reverberated through my head, bringing me back to my senses. I looked around, gazing at the lifeless wolves around me, then down at myself. I was covered in blood, and it wasn’t mine.

“What the hell happened? Are you ok?” Zane asked again.

“Yeah. I’m fine. I just,” I hesitated, “I lost it,” I said honestly.

“We’d better get home. This isn’t gunna go well when they find out what happened.”

“I know,” I sighed and stood up. I looked down at the bodies one last time, disgusted at myself, at what I had done.

My father was right, I am a monster. Just like him.