Wolf of Crescent Moon

Part 1: Chapter 4: The Mate

- Rieka’s P.O.V –

Ethan’s second offered to take me back and even though I did not want to be alone with him, I didn’t know my way back so I let him accompany me.

Our walk was silent, we didn’t share any words and I just followed him. I was thinking about what the king told me, about me being a werewolf and being his mate. In one of Josey’s weird stories, she would tell us that a mate is a partner or a wife.

How is any of this possible?

Me? A werewolf? I only heard of them in myths or scary stories but never expected them to be real or even me being one of them. And if so, why did I not know about it.

When we arrived at the palace, Luis stopped and wouldn’t walk any further. I looked around and of course, the guards were around the entire place but he was with me so he didn’t have to worry.

“Be careful,” he said.

“Thank you for taking care of me and bringing me back,” I bowed my head slightly.

“It was all Alpha Ethan, thank him when you accept him and your true self,” he spoke then left.

I entered the palace and went straight to my room and found Malik walking around on his phone. As soon as he saw me, he hung up the phone and rushed to me.

“Where were you?” he asked the worry in his voice.

“I needed some air so I went out for a walk, I’m okay,” I told him reassuring him.

“I was worried when I couldn’t feel you next to me,” he spoke.

“Rieka, there are a lot of creatures out there. Don’t go out without me or be careful,” he cupped my cheeks but all I could think was the ‘creatures’ he referred to.

I smiled and then we both went back to bed ignoring what happened.

******

The few days were normal, I did not see Ethan and everything was okay but… I missed him and I barely knew him.

I wanted to do as he told me and ask Malik about werewolves but I didn’t know what I was more worried about, me being wrong and that werewolves do exist or the idea of Malik thinking I’m stupid for asking such a question.

We were currently in the dining room having lunch, the entire family was gathered around one table and waited as we were being served our meal. Everyone was chatting and enjoying their time.

“Please, begin,” my father said and we all started eating.

“Josey, told us another story today, tell them,” Alex my younger brother said and everyone listened.

“The prince finally found his princess, but he was worried. He thinks his princess might not accept him so he will not achieve his goal,” she spoke.

It reminded me of Ethan when he told me I’m his mate and I choose to laugh at his face.

“Does the princess love the prince?” Malik asks.

“Of course, she’s his mate,” she says. What was Josette saying?

Josey always has those weird dreams and for the first time they were coming true, and it felt like I was living them because they were similar to my situation.

“Does she know that?” he asks her again.

“I don’t know, but she is scared to believe him,” she said and everyone was silent.

“Scared to believe him? She doesn’t she is his mate?” Malik asks.

“Malik stop asking her such questions,” I told him because part of me felt like she was talking about me but another part wanted to believe these were just dreams.

“No, she doesn’t. She doesn’t know anything, to be honest. She grew up in lies,” Josey ignores me and answers.

“Josey, sweetheart let’s talk about something else,” my mother says feeling uncomfortable with the topic.

Josette nods her head and continues eating her meal as if she didn’t say a word but the tension around the table never went away. I knew why I was uncomfortable, why were the others so calm?

After we were done eating, Malik and I went back to our room but I stayed behind so I got some sweets from the kitchen. On my way back to my room, I could hear Malik talking so he was probably on the phone. I approached the door a little and lucky for me it was ajar for me to listen clearly.

“We need to capture the big one, do you understand?” I hear him say which caused me to furrow my eyebrows.

“I don’t care if you don’t know who it is, find him,” he raised his voice a little.

His words reminded me of what Ethan told me. He explained that Malik is a hunter but doesn’t know he is hunting him, nor that he is the Alpha. After what happened yesterday, how I woke up in the woods, the king finding me and healing me, Josey’s dreams, now Malik. It all tempted me to do as Ethan had asked me.

I only entered the room when he finished his call and he smiled when he saw me walk in.

“Malik?” I started and he hummed.

“Do you think werewolves exist?” I asked.

“What?” He looked at me with wide eyes.

“Where did you hear that?” he was getting nervous which made me think King Ethan was never lying to me and I embarrassed myself laughing at him when he was so kind to save me.

“Calm down, it’s just one of Josey’s dreams. She got me wondering if there’s a possibility,” I lied.

“They’re just dreams, none of this is real, remember?” he cupped my cheeks and I nodded.

Ethan was right. Asking Malik this question was going to make him react this way and he knew it. This means… he’s right about me which also means I grew up living a lie, just like Josey said.

******

I waited for the sun to set and the palace to calm down before I got up making sure Malik stays asleep this time, wore different clothes, and took the knife Ethan gave me before. I walked out of the palace making sure no one saw me and ran to the woods.

I gulped down the water in my throat and scratched my arm just like Ethan told me and blood came out, but what truly scared me was the speed with which my wound healed. It looked like nothing happened.

And this is when it truly hit me…

I’m a werewolf.

- Ethan’s P.O.V -

It was late, so I was on my way to my room when I felt a sting on my arm. I directly looked at it and it was red. It looked like a cut so I figured that Rieka used the knife. Soon the redness disappeared which meant she healed. Her wolf is awake, she’s no longer a human.

I smiled knowing my Luna is waiting for me so I ran to her.

I could switch to my wolf form but I could risk killing her so I stayed in my human form and ran. A couple of minutes later, I saw her waiting in the woods so I approached her slowly.

“Rieka?” I said and she turned to me.

“I believe you,” she said and I smiled but tried to suppress it. What was the point anyway, she can feel my happiness?

“You’re happy, I can feel it,” she looked at my eyes and I nodded.

“Do you want to go to the packhouse?” I ask.

“All I want is to learn the truth,” she says.

“There’s one catch though,” I spoke.

“I can’t show you the way to the house,” I explain.

“You’re going to drug me like last time?” she asked.

“It’s not a drug, it’s just something to make you fall asleep, you’ll wake up unharmed,” I say and after some thinking, she agrees.

I approach her and look into her eyes before sticking the needle in her neck and in seconds, I felt her weight falling onto my arms. I carried her and walked with her to the packhouse.

******

An hour later, Rieka wakes up and she looks around the room like before. She was on the same bed I put her on last time so she didn’t feel like she did not know where she was. I approached her once her eyes fell on me and sat on the bed facing her.

“Are you okay?” I ask and she nods.

“Where do you want me to start?” I ask knowing she is searching for answers and I was ready to give them all to her.

“I don’t know, I’m still so confused. Twenty-one years of my life were a lie,” she says then looks at me.

“Then I’ll start,” I say.

“I’m the alpha of the pack, meaning I’m the king. Everyone here is a werewolf which is why no one knows what Selene looks like. I don’t allow anyone to come here because of the hunters. Luis is my beta meaning my second, of course, I have other betas but he is the leader. We also have omegas meaning the servant and the citizen are just citizens, no titles.” I explain as much as I can.

“And me?” she asks.

“You’re my Luna, in other words…” I start.

“Your mate,” she continues.

“But aren’t mates supposed to… love each other?” she asks.

I clench my jaw thinking of her question.

“Rieka, do you feel what I feel?” I ask and she nods.

“Did you think of me the past week?” I ask and she nods.

“Do you feel like you belong here?” I ask but she doesn’t nod.

“I don’t know where I belong,” she sits up straight.

“Look at me,” I say and she does as asked.

“I know you’re married and I know all of this is very new and complicated and above all scary,” I explain.

“That is why I’m here. I’m ready to help you and teach you, but do you accept me? As your mate?” I continue.

She stares at me for a minute then at her hands on her lap than me again.

“Yes,”

~ To be Continued ~