Wolf of Crescent Moon

Part 1: Chapter 12: The Black Wolf

- Rieka’s P.O.V –

I stared at Ethan and thought of what he just told me. I cared about him, I really did, and the more I got to know him the more I understand why he is a mate. He made me feel safe even though what we’re doing is far from that.

If I didn’t have feelings for him, I wouldn’t have jumped in front of that bullet but I’m not sure I can say the words ‘I love you' yet. I was raised as a human, and yes… my feelings and emotions are completely different since my wolf woke up; however, I still make my judgments as a human would.

“Do you know who tried to kill you?” I asked changing the topic.

“I saw who it was but I’m not sure I should tell you,” he nods.

“It’s too late now, I’m already injured so just tell me who it was,” I say.

“Malik,” he said.

“I knew he was out hunting so it’s okay, I guess. You almost died, Ethan,” I say getting worried.

“But I’m not thanks to you,” he smiles softly.

“Why am I wrapped up?” I asked looking at my torse.

“The bullet Malik used must’ve blocked your healing. You were lucky the bullet didn’t penetrate your body deeper or you would’ve died on the spot,” he explained.

“Is it going to heal?” I asked looking at the tiny bloodstain on my side.

“It will but slowly and it will leave a mark,” he said and I nodded.

I looked at the window and the sun were already rising so I got up quickly but the pain in my hip forced me to sit back down.

“I have to go before Malik gets back,” I say.

“Okay, don’t worry I’m much faster than Malik. I’ll get you there before him,” he says and I thank him.

Ethan helps me stand up and helps me wear some clothes since the ones I had on were still in the cave. As usual, I fell asleep and when I woke up, I was near the palace and not in the woods like before. It only took me minutes to get to my room and get under the sheets before Malik made it home.

I try to sleep, but I spent most of the night numb it was not working anymore so I just closed my eyes and pretended like I was asleep.

******

The next morning, I left the bed as if I just woke up and wanted to go to the toilet but when I sat down, I remembered the hole in my body that kept me from doing anything like a normal person so I did everything very slowly.

When I got out, Malik was already awake and had his clothes on.

“Good morning,” he said and I smiled.

I walked towards him and he hugged me tightly so I gasped getting Malik confused.

“What’s wrong?” He asked his eyebrows almost touching.

“Nothing, just my period. It’s the cramps,” I lied.

“Oh, do you need anything?” he asked and I shook my head sitting back down on the bed.

“Okay then. I’m going to work, but if you need anything, you know what to do,” he said and left the room closing the door behind him.

Today is going to be a long day, I thought.

- Malik’s P.O.V -

On my way to work, I pass by the kitchen to grab something for me to eat and while I was preparing my food, I heard Josette talk to one of the chefs about one of my recent ‘dreams’.

“The prince was extremely angry and someone even tried to kill him but his princess saved him,” she said.

So, the black wolf was his mate?

“What did she save him from?” the chef asked.

“I don’t know, but she bled a lot. The prince helped her though she is fine now,” she continued.

So, the wolf didn’t die. They say black wolves are hard to kill and obviously, they weren’t wrong.

I took whatever I wanted from the kitchen and left in a rush. I needed to go to the warehouse and find out who these wolves were.

When I got there, I gathered some of my hunters in the weapon room.

“The black wolf from last night apparently didn’t die,” I tell them.

“How do you know that, your highness?” One of the men asks.

“I just do, now listen to me,” I say.

Thanks to Josette’s psychic dreams I can find out whatever I wanted, maybe even find out who the alpha is. How coincidental it is that we haven’t seen psychics for centuries and yet, when the king asked me to kill the Alpha King, Josette appears.

“I want you to find out who she might be. I don’t care what you do or how you do it, I want you to find her. She might be the pack’s Luna,” I say thinking of a plan.

“Yes, your highness,” they say and leave the room.

If we can catch the Luna and kill her, we could give the Alpha a slow painful death, something I’m sure King Aaron would be happy to see happen.

******

I walked into the King’s office after he called me and waited for him to begin talking.

“I heard you sent your men to find information about the black wolf. I thought you killed her,” he said without looking at me.

“Black wolves are the strongest between them all, my king. Killing them is not an easy task and yesterday was proof of that,” I answered.

“And what are planning to do with this info?” He asked.

“I plan to give the Alpha a slow death after killing her,” I explain.

“You think she’s the Luna?” he smiles and I nod once.

The king does not say a word afterward and looks like he is thinking of something.

“Malik?” He starts.

“Do you ever think that your friend… King Ethan, has too many secrets?” he asks.

“What do you mean?” I say thinking of his question.

“I mean, no one knows what his kingdom looks like or the people in it. We only see him during parties and sometimes his second. Plus, Selene is the name of a goddess… the goddess of the moon,” He explains.

“My king… what are you insinuating?” I ask still confused.

“I say we invite him over someday and put wolfsbane in his drink,” he speaks.

“Ethan? A werewolf?” I say my eyebrows furrowed.

“An Alpha,” the king smirks.

“What do you wish me to do?” I ask him.

******

It was very late at night and I was coming back from work. I entered my room but Rieka wasn’t there. Where did she go? I asked myself and closed the door again going to search for her.

I was searching the halls but couldn’t find her so I went downstairs maybe she was there.

“Malik? What’s wrong?” Josette asks me.

“Where’s your sister,” I tell her, and she looks at me quietly.

“She said she wanted to stay with me tonight,” she answers.

“With you? Why?” I narrowed my eyes.

“She said she doesn’t like going to bed by herself anymore so she decided to stay with me since you’re always late and busy,” Josette says.

“Tell her I’m home, she can come back,” I tell her then begin to walk away

“I won’t,” Josette stops me.

“She’s already asleep, you’ll see her tomorrow,” she said.

I decided to let it go and go back to our room and sleep. If she wants to stay with her sister let that be.

- Ethan’s P.O.V –

“Am I hurting you?” I asked Rieka while I was changing the cloth around her.

“No, I’m okay,” she answers.

“Did Malik say anything about your injury?” I asked.

“No, I told him I was on period,” She answered and I smiled.

After I was done, I helped her off of my bed and she leaned on me for support. I looked at her for a moment ad when she realized I was staring at her she smiled awkwardly.

“What?” She asked.

“Nothing,” I shrugged.

“What do you want to learn today?” I asked.

“I want to understand what you meant yesterday when you told me that pain is what you feel when you lose your mate,” She said.

“You don’t want to learn something else?” I ask but she shook her head.

“Okay,” I nod and sit her back down.

“So, every werewolf has a mate and this mate is more than just a partner. They’re a partner, a lover, a soulmate. When they say animals have more empathy and emotions than humans they’re not exaggerating. The death of a mate is a very common way for a werewolf to die, it’s like… a part of you is ripped out. To be honest, I always thought they were exaggerating,” I explain and stop to look at her.

“Until I met you,” I smile.

“I thought I almost lost you, Rieka. And I swear the way I felt when that thought crossed my mind was worse than anything I’ve ever experienced,” I continue.

We stared at each other for a while and I felt her heart beating really fast so I smiled.

“Why is your heart beating like that?” I asked my smile still on my lips.

“I just…” she started then stopped.

Without realizing it, I felt her lips on mine.

~ To be Continued ~