The Red Moon Pack

Season One. Chapter 9.

Sebastian was not impressed with what had been happening. It felt like things had been peaceful until that girl had arrived. He knew she was not causing the issues, but it seemed she was a magnate for it. Julian’s newest attack had sent a bit of a wedge between Redmoon and Halfmoon packs. It had been managed and fixed, but things were a bit tight between them all now. Julian had not said much in questioning and it seemed to them all that he had gone a bit crazy. Nobody understood why and so he was removed from the Redmoon cells and taken back to Halfmoons hospital for mental assessments. He seemed to be a danger to those around him and Sebastian’s father was not happy by this. He argued with Alpha Brent from Halfmoon.

However, Alpha Brent was aware of Adira’s background and claimed she was not even an official part of the Redmoon pack, so in law, there had not been any law breaking due to the fact that Julian technically saw her as a rouge, which law between the packs said even if on school property a rouge can be attacked and taken down if they are a threat. Considering the way she had defended herself when he came at her in the classroom with all the other students, she to him was a threat.

Nobody else would have agreed to this, knowing Adira and her real personality, but what proof did they have. Word for word. So they had nothing holding Julian in their Cells any longer then he had been. Sebastian still felt that something was not right over the whole thing, Julian was dangerous and he was worried, with Julian back in Halfmoon Pack, he would win them over to his story and let him be… giving him the chance to come back again to do what ever he was intending when it regarded Adira. That was why Sebastian was on guard and sure there was a lot more going on. It seemed too simple for him to have cornered her in a class room. Adira was very shy and reserved but she always seemed to understand when to protect herself. How could it have been so easy for Julian to harm her this time? What more was there.

His actions and attack created disagreements between students of each pack at the school and during the first football game of the season a large fight broke out. While the Halfmoon pack claimed that Adira was a rouge, the Redmoon pack was sticking up for her and saying she was a part of their family. Things had come a long way for her. This was, because people were trusting her. She worked hard in the pack hospital and everyone whom she had helped were grateful to her, so of course they were all starting to trust and respect her.

Adira arrived in the hospital in a dangerous state and had become unstable. She was not invincible, they had all known that, and Julian had hit a weak spot. When Doctor Shelt came out of the theatre, he did not look too happy. He could not even look them directly in the eye.

“What is happening?” Alpha Gabriel was the first to speak.

“She is still in surgery.” He said with a shake of the head. “Due to the silver, she is threateningly weak and having not shifted yet, her wolf can not help her recover. The toxin of the silver has well embedded into her blood stream now and we are doing everything we can to help her.”

“Can you drain it, like she did with the vampire venom?” Nathanial asked.

“We are trying, but… it is not that easy. While vampire venom hits a blood stream directly, with the silver, when it cuts through the body, it soaks not just into the blood stream… but everything else it passes.” Doctor Shelt said with a heavy sigh. “It means even if we drain the blood in her system now….”

“The silver will return because it is embedded into the muscles and skin…” Alpha Gabriel said to finish the sentence. “Is there anything we can do to help that?”

“The only thing… close the wounds and prey her body will heal in time on it’s own.” Doctor Shelt said softly. “I know she is strong, so I hope she can pull through this… but it wont be easy and it will take time, how long… I cannot say.”

“Wounds?” Maximus asked confused.

“The major and first point of impact was in her back, between the shoulder blades where she may have not been able to reach.” Doctor Shelt confirmed. “I would suspect that she was unaware of the attack, this would have instantly weakened her, the tip was still in there, so when the knife would have been ripped out, there was no way of getting the tip. I would say the rest of the wounds came while she was trying to fight and get away. She had a couple of more stab wounds, one to her side and one in the chest, very close to the heart. She was lucky to not have been killed.”

The news of this had shocked them all, it was brutal and very clear that Julian had intended her real harm, likely an attempt to murder. He so far had failed. It has been four weeks, and while Adira was still in the hospital, she had not yet died. Alpha Gabriel had reached out to Lord Vincent, to pass on the news. He did not like Vampires, but he respected that fact that the blood sucker had bought the young girl up from a baby, protected her in a strange way from his own blood suckers and had never really made any attacking move against their pack.

That was when she had first been taken to the hospital, four weeks ago and there had been no news back. Alpha Gabriel was not sure if the message got to Lord Vincent, seeing as nothing was not yet returned. He was busy and he had last night decided to send two trusted wolves, to reach the boarders of Lord Vincent’s territory and request a meeting, to make sure the information was received.

Four weeks on from the attack, and he, Sebastian, was once again sitting in a chair, next to Adira’s hospital bed. There were drips and monitors connected to her. It was strange, how while she was fighting for her life, she laid there looking like she was just simply sleeping. She seemed so innocent and peaceful. Reaching a hand out, Sebastian brushed some fingers down the side of her face. Her skin was smooth and soft, warm. He did not understand what that strange pull to her was, or the way his body felt when he would touch her. She was not his mate, he would have sensed that already. She may still be sixteen, but being werewolves, they matured faster then full humans and so the mate bond would have been there by now for a young girl like her.

Who was she really? Why the pull towards her and why did other people feel it as well?

Letting out a sigh, Sebastian took his hand away from her face and stood up, moving over to the window of her room. While last time they had left her in the dying room, this time, she was in a more privet room, a single bedroom in a protected ward. Right now, they could not trust the fact that Julian was really going to leave her alone from now on. He seemed so determined and until they knew the whole truth as to why, they needed to make sure he had no more chances.

Staring out the window, Sebastian started to think a number of different things to himself. In the past four weeks, eight games of football had taken place and by half time fights between the teams had started out. Tension in the halls of the school where high and it seemed that park was against pack. He needed to think like an Alpha, to come up with a way to make things settle, so the packs did not go to war over all of this. They needed a gathering, a feast maybe, to ease the nerves between everyone. Both sides needed to discuss what took place and understand their opinions each, they did not have to accept, but they could come to an agreement.

Sebastian mind linked his father, knowing that Alpha Gabriel had a lot of stuff going on, and did not like adding more to the list, but as Sebastian was not yet the leading Alpha, he still needed to clear it first. They discussed it over and agreed. Normally, they joined in celebration for traditional meetings, but this seemed a good chance to strengthen the treaty bond with each pack. Alpha Gabriel praised Sebastian on his idea and believed it would be a good idea to also invite two other near by packs they were allies with, to make it known as a good will and no tricks involved.

He understood and started to put thoughts to plans. Normally, he would write it all down, but he had no writing equipment with him, so he linked with Kinley to check what he was doing. Kinley of course had been at home, laying on the couch, a bowel of food on his stomach and playing video games. Playfully he complained that Sebastian was bothering him, but he was straight to it when he was asked to take notes. So working together through mind link, they came up with plans and dates. The gathering would be within two weeks, on a Saturday night. It would not be for any set occasion, but more to have a gathering to create bonds, a chance for unmated wolves to maybe find each other, and for pack matters to be discussed by the Alpha’s.

When he and Kinley were finished, Sebastian felt a bit more accomplished and more relaxed. He hoped all would go well and no hiccups would arise. They needed something good to take place for once. Letting out a deep breath, he turned around, to go back to the chair, however, he stopped, shock running through his body.

“Adira.” He spoke softly.

She turned her head, looking around at him. He waited, a small smile on his face, glad to see she was awake. He had not even heard her waking up, maybe because he was busy in mind link with Kinley. She was sitting up, resting on the end of the bed. When she looked his way, her eyes seemed some what unfocused but after a small moment of time, while he waited for her to respond, her eyes seemed to go back to their normal look, shy, reserved, but also determined.

“Willow.” She said, not breaking eye contact.

“Willow?” he asked frowning.

“She… is an… infiltrator.” Adira told him.

She was trying to stand up, her whole body started shaking and Sebastian moved forwards. It was clear she was trying to get out of the bed, like she needed to go do something, but she was too weak and he got there in time to hold her up before she fell to the floor. She looked scared and worried and that made him scared and worried.

Father. Adira is awake. Keep it between us. Something is going on and I need you here now.

He cut off the mind link and after some time and a few refusing words and actions from the young girl, Sebastian finally convinced her to get back onto the bed and rest. She had only just woken up, how could she even think about getting up now.

Calling in Doctor Shelt, he arrived very excited, glad to see Adira awake as well. He did a general check over, but wanted to make sure he got a chance to do a further one later. He confirmed that her heart rate and pulse was at a good level now and the fevers were gone. She was recovering, but she was still weak and would need to spend more time in the hospital to recover. She did not like the idea, but they did not give her the choice of an option. Sebastian, trying to do the right thing, told her he would increase guards to keep her there. This did not go down well with her, but with his order, she could not fight it, she had to stay.

When his father arrived, they closed the door to the room, not letting anyone else in and asked Doctor Shelt to keep nurses away. It was clear something needed to be said and Sebastian had a feeling with the way Adira acted, it was not something they needed other people to hear and spread news about until they had effectively delt with it.

“Adira, I want you to tell my father and I what you know.” Sebastian said carefully. “Please understand, we will listen and not take anything lightly, we know you came from a different place then wolves we normally accept to our pack, but… I think we can trust you enough to know when you are lying to us.”

“What is it that you have?” Alpha Gabriel asked.

“In the classroom… it was Willow first.” Adira advised. “She asked to talk when school had finished. I agreed, I thought… she was good. I was wrong.”

“What did she do?” Alpha Gabriel asked firmly.

“I was packing up, she gave me a spill that she did not like me much but was trying to pretend so nobody would think anything was off.” Adira said frowning. “She stabbed me with the knife in my back and before she walked out… she said… her Lord will come and I needed to be out of the way’.”

“Her Lord?” Sebastian asked with a frown.

“The knife… if you still have it… there will be a marking, an engravement, of a moon and thorny rose. This is his symbol. The Dark Lord.” Adira whispered.

“How do you know of this on the knife?” Alpha Gabriel asked frowning.

“I could not pull it out, when she left the room… so I broke it off… I saw the knife.” She admitted.

“How was Julian involved?” Sebastian asked, not sure how that worked out.

“He came in after she left. Willow must have assumed she did her job.” Adira told them. “I could feel… the silver. We fought and he got the knife, using it a couple of times himself, before I got out.”

“Where is Willow now?” Alpha Gabriel asked looking over at Sebastian.

“She was gone for a week after this… said she visited family in another pack. She has since returned and just does her normal.” Sebastian explained, feeling angry at this news.

“Can we trust her?” Alpha Gabriel asked worried.

“No.” Sebastian shook his head. “Willow seems unharmful, but she is a sneak. I have always known that. She hangs around me… because she likes me… anyone getting close… they get hurt… now it seems to make sense. However, she was Stacey’s friend, so we kept her around the group. I just did not think… things would get this far.”

“Right…” Alpha Gabriel nodded in thought. “Right… we keep this detail between the three of us. Your gathering… she will be there?”

“I will invite her personally.” Sebastian nodded.

“I want to catch her out… I want to bring her down. If she is here working for the Dark Lord, then we must make sure we have proof and then stop her doing anything more.” Alpha Gabriel stated, then looked to Adira. “I want you to rest and recover, we will make sure word of your waking stays silent, so she does not find out. Clearly she feels safe that you are unconscious and can not out her. I hope you can help us at the gathering… to catch her out.”

“I will do my best to help you Alpha.” Adira said with a nod.

They spoke more, calling Doctor Shelt into the room and one nurse. They assigned the nurse to be the only one to care for Adira while she was staying in the hospital and by Alpha order he made sure they understood nothing can be spoken of Adira’s waking. They both agreed, not being able to refuse an Alpha command. A plan was formed for how they could catch Willow out at the gathering and how Adira would take part in that. It was a good plan and all that Sebastian could hope for was that it would work.

By the time that they finished the discussion it was into the evening and Luna Iras was calling the two males home for dinner. Like all of a sudden all their trust was on the girl, they told her to rest and left the room. They did not ask for anyone to guard, one because they did not want word getting about regarding what was going on, and two, they trusted Doctor Shelt and the nurse to keep an eye on things. Further more, no visitors and once again Alpha Gabriel used an Alpha order on the whole hospital staff to not allow any visitors without his confirmation first. Only he and Sebastian could visit without confirmation. They claimed that Adira was in an unstable state, and there was risk of infections from her. They could not refused and so happy everything was in place, they left the hospital and headed home.

At the pack house, Luna Iras had cooked a family roast. They did not get to have family dinners often and most times they were always joined by other wolves. This time, it was just them, and it had been calm and enjoyable. The twins were their usual cherry self and Sebastian spoke about the plans, the public plans, for the gathering in two weeks. They were all keen for it, and the Twins promised to help with planning and sorting things out…. And getting the word out to the packs. If there was one thing they were good at and that was being popular with the two Packs and would be heard for sure.

After their meal, Sebastian followed his father up to the Pack Office and they sat at the desk, going through paper work together. It was calming as much as it was paperwork, but it was also required. Sebastian had to know how to do these things. He would be taking over soon. While there was a tradition for an Alpha to take over at eighteen, his father was in charge of things by this age, however had only became the offical Alpha at the age of twenty and after he had found Iras when he was nineteen. That was what had been expected by Sebastian’s grandfather, for his son to have a mate before becoming an Alpha. This made Sebastian wonder. He was eighteen now and his father was hoping he could take over when he turned eighteen and said he was ready… but was he? He did not even have a mate, a Luna to help him lead the pack.

“Father…” he spoke up. “What will happen if I have not found my mate by the time I am really ready to step up? I'm eighteen now, I know traditon would say I should be taking over now, but I know there is more I need to learn and it is too soon. But what if I do not find her?”

“I am sure you will son.” Alpha Gabriel smiled softly. “It took me years to find your mother and I have never looked back since.”

“Yes… and grandfather made you wait until you had a Luna before he allowed you to step up.” He said thoughtfully. “What if I have not found mine by then?”

“My father was very set in his ways. Yes, having a Luna does give you strength, your mate will give you strength once you find them.” Alpha Gabriel explained. “However, you can still be an Alpha before you find her. It has been done many times.”

“I wonder where she is out there, who she is.” Sebastian sighed.

“I bet she is going to be somebody very special. Kind heart, gentle, but also observant and strong. She will help you lead and gain respect of those around her. Our pack will fall in love with her and she will help us all in many ways.” Alpha Gabriel smiled.

“Will she even like me when we meet?” Sebastian asked unsure of himself.

“Who would not, my son, you are the perfect mate.” His father stated.

“Why? Because I am good looking as the girls all keep saying. I have a stupid fan club at school and they drive me crazy.” He replied. “I just wish… she was as you said… but not as possessive…. Like….”

“Like who?” His father looked up and smiled.

“It does not matter.” Sebastian said shaking his head. “There is no mate bond…”

“You like the girl?” his father asked surprised.

“I do not know father.” Sebastian admitted, looking out the window. “When she first got here, I felt a strange pull, but it turns out… I am not the only one. I thought… maybe because she had not shifted maybe that was blocking the bond… but I was wrong. It just… when we talk and she actually… talks… I always have this feeling in my stomach, that… I don’t know… it is hard to explain.”

“You know, it is not a crime to feel attraction towards others. Before I met your mother, I was in the same boat. I had a good friend and I felt something, but I knew she was not my mate. It upset me, but as soon as I met your mother, it all made sense. I understood why… because that friend was so much like your mother, but we were simply not meant to be together forever.”

“What happened to her?” Sebastian wondered. “What was she like?”

“She was beautiful, kind hearted and caring. Just like your mother. She had these beautiful eyes and a curtain of fine hair. She did not take s**t though.” Alpha Gabriel laughed. “I remember one time when there was a gathering with the Halfmoon pack and Alpha Brent… before he was Alpha tried to pick a fight. She got right in there and shoved him aside, straight into the pool that was at the party house. That is now a common story we share a laugh over… because he found his mate that night due to her actions.”

“Was she his mate?” Sebastian asked curiously.

“No…” he answered with a shake of the head. “To be honest… her mate… he was from a different pack all together. I only met him once and we did not know a lot about him. He and his family had been here on a visit and the moment they met, that was it. She was devoted to him, and when they left the next day, she left with them.”

“And now?” Sebastian asked expecting the worse. “Is she… alive?”

“Out there somewhere.” Alpha Gabriel nodded. “Her new pack is very privet and secluded… if my father was alive, I might have been able to ask him the pack name. After all these years I have forgotten it and sadly, because of the seclusion, I knew I would not be able to stay in contact with her anymore. The day she left… that was the last I saw of her.”

“She seemed very special to you.” Sebastian commented.

“If I did not have your mother, like I said, I would have expected she would be my mate.” His father replied with a smile. “She was special, she was different and not a normal wolf. It is hard to explain it… but… it is almost like… she was more then a wolf.”

“What was her name?” Sebastian wondered further.

“April.” His father answered.

Sebastian fell silent for a moment. April. A nice name, a name he had always had on his mind if he was to have a daughter one day. Maybe that was why, because he was his fathers son and it seemed this woman had left such an impression on his father.

April…. She had moved to a new pack very quickly and had not been heard of since. Would there be any way to find out the name of that Pack? Send a guard there to speak with April, maybe invite her for a visit… Sebastian smiled, liking that idea. He knew his father would like it, and he was sure his mother would not mind. He was devoted to her, no doubt about it, so there would be no need for their Luna to feel threated by a friend of the past coming to visit. Sebastian looked over at his father, hoping he was thinking along the right lines.

“Grandfather may not be here any longer…. But maybe his records are.” He stated.

“What do you mean?” Alpha Gabriel question, half clicking onto the idea, but wanting to confirm.

“Well, wouldn’t there be Pack meeting records somewhere right? Maybe we can find who the Pack was by finding the visits from that date.” Sebastian stated.

“Yes… maybe so… I will have to have somebody look in the archives and see if anything is there. Well done my son… thinking like an Alpha already.” His father smiled.

“Thank you father.” Sebastian responded.

“And on the matter… when it comes to Adira… give it some thought… we know your Mate will be out there some where… but it is your choice in the end.” The Alpha stated.

“What do you mean?” Sebastian wondered.

“You mother and Lady Beta may have told you of the mate bond and how it works. But I can tell you also, that the mate bond is there at your choice as well. The one you choose may not be as strong as your true mate, but it will still be a powerful bond once the mating is complete.” He explained.

“Oh… I did not know that.” Sebastian said thoughtful.

“Well, I am sure you have heard of second chance mates. Think of it like that. We will always find somebody to love. One out there is destined for us, but we may find others along the way or after that will have that meaning to us as well.” Alpha Gabriel explained more.

“So… could she… Adira… maybe be a second chance. Like, I feel this feeling, but not as mates… but something is there.” Sebastian asked.

“No… a second chance mate will have the same pull as your destined mate, and only after you have met your true mate. It might not be as powerful, but you will know for sure whom they are.” His father told him.

Sebastian fell silent once more, thinking that all over in his head. So, Adira was not his destined or second mate…. So what was she? Why did he have this feeling about her, this urge to want to protect her, look after her, treat her like his own princess. He could not explain it, but the more she was around them, the more he had those feelings.