Wolf of Crescent Moon

Part 2: Chapter 2: Shooters

- Ethan’s P.O.V -

“I can’t do anything, you’re the real Alpha,” I said and sat down.

“What does this mean?” She asked.

“This means that Crescent Moon is yours,” I said.

“No… I mean why didn’t you mark me. I’m ready to give you all immunity,” she sat down next to me.

“No, never,” I shook my head.

“But why?” She frowned.

“Because this power is what killed your father and if I let you do what he did, I would be killing you,” I say.

All this has been very overwhelming. I just got here, I can’t kill her to save a pack that isn’t even mine.

“Ethan,” she places her hand on my shoulder.

“I’m going out,” I said and left the room right after.

I walked through the halls of the packhouse then saw the disguised waterfall and crossed it.

I continued walking until I was alone in the forest.

I walked for a couple of minutes thinking of everything that’s happened these past few days.

First I learn my mate is the real Alpha, I also learn that if I mark her I would be killing her. Kratos was down in ashes and now I have no idea how the pack will react to the news I just told them.

I looked up at the moon and it was almost full so I closed my eyes hoping some miracle will come and rewind everything back to before I met Reika and I involved myself in this mess.

“I can feel what you’re feeling you know?” I heard her soft voice and instantly wished I never thought of not meeting her.

“You regret meeting me don’t you?” She asked and I wanted to lie and shake my head but it was no use.

She can feel it.

“Ethan, I understand that all this isn’t what you expected it to be. I didn’t expect any of it either,” she approached me.

“One day I was getting married to who I thought was the love of my life but then I meet this king who made me feel ten times more loved than the other man ever did. Suddenly I learn I’m half-animal and have a pack whose vulnerability depends on a mark,” she explained as I stared deeply into her eyes.

“I know how much you love this pack and I’m never going to take it from you,” Reika said.

“It’s not right. It’s yours by blood,” I shook my head.

“No, no listen to me,” she cupped my face.

“I lost this pack when my father died and my mother chose to hide the truth from everyone for a stupid crown,” she spoke.

“Look, I’m finally happy. Yes, I wished my kingdom didn’t blow up and my mom didn’t die with it, but you saved me, my sister, and my brothers. The least I can do is not take your family from you,” she continued.

“I could never take Crescent Moon from you. You’re the reason it’s safe, you’re the reason I’m safe, okay?” She held my face so my eyes didn’t leave hers.

“We’ll find a loophole around all this mess, I promise,” she continued.

I removed her hands and wrapped mine around her waist and kissed her.

“Why wouldn’t you take the pack? Even though I love it so much, why don’t you want to be Alpha?” I asked our faces still inches away.

“I know how it feels to lose a part of your family, I couldn’t do that to you,” she spoke and I kissed her again.

“Let’s go home,” I said and took her hand.

* Two Days Later*

The pack was getting ready for the full moon once again. Reika and I decided to each have their cave so this time I’ll be alone in my hideout for the first time since I met her.

“Are you ready?” I asked and she nodded taking her bag for after the transformation.

“Let’s go,” I said and opened the door letting her pass first.

As usual, the pack was outside their homes getting ready to leave and after everything werewolves have gone through, everyone was hugging each other and praying they’ll be back alive and not with a bullet in their crane.

Soon everyone started going in different directions until the area became empty and silent.

Usually, the Alpha leaves last after making sure everyone is gone and safe and now that I have a Luna… or Alpha… she stood next to me.

“Stay safe,” I told her and she nodded.

I started walking away.

“Stay alive, Ethan,” she said behind me and I looked back at her and nodded reassuring her.

Soon I got to my hideout and followed the same routine as every two weeks.

Clothes, chains, break my bones, become vicious, back to human form…

A routine I was definitely sick of but had to live with if I wanted to keep my mate alive.

I was fixing everything behind me when suddenly I started hearing gunshots.

I quickly ran out to go check on my pack. It was my role to know where everyone’s caves were in case something like this happens.

Unfortunately, people believe werewolves are incredibly strong. Well… that’s true, only if Reika and I mate meaning when I mark her, that’s when we become what we’re supposed to be.

I ran to the closest cave and found my first pack member safe but hidden in the corner.

“Robbie? Are you okay?” I asked and he nodded.

“I heard the bullet from further into the woods.

“What about your mate?” I asked.

“I didn’t feel anything so I’m hoping she’s okay,” he answered and I nodded before I ran back out to the next cave.

This time, however, I wasn’t so lucky.

I found a body lying outside the cave. An omega.

I knelt to check the pulse but there was none. I looked at the now pale face and his eyes were still open so I closed them with a pain in my heart.

I made my way to Luis’s cave and found him still there.

“You heard the gunshots too?” He asked.

“Would be hard not to consider there are hundreds of them,” I said after checking that he’s okay.

“What about your mate?” He asked me.

“She’s okay, for now,” I said.

“I have to go to her cave, you check on the rest and check if you find another dead body,” I said before walking out of the cave.

“Another?” Luis asked as he followed me out.

“Yeah, an omega, Marcella’s mate. Now I’m assuming she already figured it out so I’m counting on you to tell her boys,” I told Luis and he nodded before we both went in separate directions.

- Reika’s P.O.V -

After I transformed back to my human form, I heard very loud gunshots coming from everywhere.

Who is shooting?

I quickly grabbed my bag and got out of the cave to find Ethan.

On my way there, I found a body on the floor. I turned the body around to see who it was and it broke my heart seeing who it was.

“Reika,” I heard Ethan’s voice and looked at him feeling relieved.

“Oh thank god you’re okay,” I hugged him.

“Don’t worry you would’ve felt our connection break if I had died,” he wrapped his arms around me as well.

“You found another body?” He asked and I look at him with confusion.

“She’s not the only one who died?” I asked and he nodded.

“Who is it?” He asked not able to see the face of the woman lying on the ground.

“It’s the woman who took care of my brothers and sister,” I tell him.

“We’ll inform her husband that she’s here so he can see here before we burn her body,” he said and walked toward the body.

“Burn it?” I asked my eyes following him.

“Yes. If we bury the dead wolves the hunters can find their graves just like they found our graves and extract wolfsbane out of their canines or conduct so crazy f*cking experiments on their bodies,” he stared at the motionless body.

“Let’s go, before we receive one of these bullets,” he said and we headed toward the packhouse.

“How many bodies?” Ethan asked his beta.

“Alpha…” Luis hesitated.

“How many f*cking bodies Luis,” he asked again.

“Eight, three injured. They’re in the medical center,” Luis said.

I felt Ethan’s heart drop for a moment when he heard the number.

He sat down on the couch and looked at the floor tiles.

“How?” He asked.

“How did this happen? How did they find our locations?” Ethan asked but it looked like he was asking himself.

“Maybe it’s Malik’s men,” I said.

“No, it’s not possible. Hunters use a very specific kind of bullet. The bullets we took out are far more dangerous,” Luis explained.

“Dangerous how?” Ethan asked.

“I don’t know how they got it, but the bullets were covered in wolfsbane and silver,” he said.

“Wolfsbane?” I asked.

“I thought Kratos was the only place you could get the plant,” I continued.

“Maybe they searched the area enough to find one branch. That’s enough to cover thousands of bullets,” Luis explained.

“No. I’ve been to Kratos it’s completely destroyed, there’s nothing left and even if there was a branch left, it would’ve died in a day or two because of all the smoke and fire around the kingdom,” Ethan explained.

“Okay, then there’s one other way they could get it,” Luis said.

“There’s a traitor among us,” Ethan said.

“Alpha, wanting to betray you is one thing, but who would willingly go through all that pain to help the enemy extract the substance from their own canines?” The beta asked but Ethan remained silent.

“I don’t know, Luis. But if it were a k********g we would’ve known about it by now. Someone willingly betrayed us,” Ethan said.

“Ethan, calm down,” I sat down next to him feeling his heart beat faster.

He was angry.

“Calm down,” I repeated while resting my hand on his shoulder.

“Luis, inform the family of the deceased that the ceremony will be tomorrow at dawn,” Ethan said and the beta nodded before exiting the common area.

“Why is this happening?” Ethan rested his back on the couch and put his palms on his face.

“I’m losing control, Reika,” he spoke to me.

“You’re not,” I try to reassure him.

“Yes, I am. This never should’ve happened. My pack never betrayed me before. I never had this many wolves lose their lives before in one single full moon cycle. Reika I’m losing their trust,” he said.

“Ethan you just informed them about the immunity thing. If one of them was able to stab you in the back in two days then they must’ve been planning this for a while,” I tell him.

“Then this means I haven’t been a good leader for a while now. Maybe now that you’re here they’re starting to feel who the real Alpha is,” he said before standing up.

“That’s not what I meant,” I say standing up as well.

“I’m going to bed,” he said and left the room.

I sat back down trying to think of a way to help Ethan.

I hate that he feels like he’s worthless or that he failed the pack. I could feel the sadness in him but didn’t address it.

I left the packhouse and headed straight to the house my siblings have been staying in.

“Luna,” the man said.

“I’m sorry for bothering you at such a time and my deepest condolences for your wife,” I say and he lowers his eyes.

“We’re wolves, we knew this would happen to us someday,” he said.

“I’ll call your siblings,” he said.

“Actually no. Just Josie please,” I said and he nodded.

“Please, come in,” he opened the door further for me and let me in.

“Reika?” I heard my sister's voice.

“Josie,” I looked at her.

“I need you for something,” I spoke.

“What for?” She asked.

“I’m sure you know who shot at us tonight,” I started.

“And I need you to tell me who it is,”

~ To be Continued ~