Apocalypse: The Huntress Luna

Chapter 28

(Magnus)

I stared at the back of her head as I watched her slowly walk into the fading light.

Her sweet scent was still lingering in my nostrils and I felt myself touching the place where her head had rested against my chest.

My goddess, I was falling hard for this woman and I didn't even know her last name.

I wanted to run after her.

I felt like we were connecting on another level tonight and I'm sure it wasn't just me.

I turned to face the barracks and was about to continue on when an unexpected sound filled my ears. The pitter patter of footsteps and the sound of a racing heart was coming towards me and I turned back to see Andy within arms reach.

"Hey, you're ba-"

And just like that, with her hands on either side of my face, she pulled me down and onto her softly parted lips. 

I couldn't believe it.

Was this really happening??

My body immediately lit on fire from within and my arms snaked around her as I lifted her off the ground. It took every ounce of my being not to wrap her legs around me and run off into the night but I held her tight enough that she would get the hint.

I craved her. 

Craved this immense feeling of completion she gave me when her body was flush against mine.

This is what it must have felt to be one of the Lycaon Alphas of old, to have your Animus by your side to lead your people.

There haven't been many Animus matches since the Fall seeing as it was risky to visit other settlements. Our people have had to settle for what they could get but when a match was found, we Alpha’s would organise the celebration ourselves.

Coming back to my senses, her mouth's sweetness overran me and I hungrily took every second that I could get, relishing it’s silky smoothness. 

Our lips danced around each other as we began to slow down, warm and inviting, and I could hear Amicus yipping in pleasure from within.

It was strange hearing him yip because I've never heard such a sound from him and I promised to give him sh*t about it later.

When we finally pulled away for air, I let her feet touch the earth once more and I leaned my forehead against hers.

“So?” I questioned.

“So, what?”

“So was our kiss ‘normal’ or was it as good as I said it would be?”

“Wow! Cocky much?” she laughed, her eyes lighting up her face, “but saying that it was amazing would be an understatement. I’ve never felt anything like that- ever.”

“You and me both.”

A figure came up beside us a few feet away and I felt my skin twitch at the interruption. 

“Magnus, we are ready for you bro.”

Damon was standing with his hands in his pocket, trying to look casual as he took in the sight before him. 

Andy fearlessly broke her smile away to stare Damon dead in the eyes as she slowly unwound herself from me.

She continued to stare him down as he tried to look anywhere but her face and I couldn't hold back the smirk on mine.

“Oh hey, Huntress. Glad to see you’re awake. I hope you’re having a good first night back,” he coughed out.

“Thank you, Damon. I was having an amazing night until you showed up. Now I better head back but I will see you boys around?”

Her sass was doing something to my body and if I opened my mouth, something inarticulate was definitely going to come out.

She leaned in for one more tender kiss and then turned on her heel and left.

Goddess, there were tingles in places I never knew could tingle.

Her signature swing of her hips as she walked had me mesmerised and I never have felt this whipped in my life.

“Did she really just sass-talk us? Right before making out with you- again?”

“Really, Damon?” and I lightly scuffed the back of his head.

“Whaaaaat?”

“That’s going to be your future Luna. C’mon, let's get going.”

“Future Luna, huh? Wow, our very own Huntress Luna! She is going to be feisty!”

……………………

The meeting commenced once we arrived and we made sure we had a few on look-out outside the door.

I let everyone share any intel they had gathered around the recent breach so that we could paint a picture of what really happened.

From the sounds of things, noone had seen who had planted the explosive and there was no evidence left around the gate besides bomb fragments but a few had noticed increased tension around the settlement.

The people had become wary of us since the attack and were keeping a respectable distance.

“I don’t get it. It’s not like we weren't the ones that saved their asses the other day!” Marisa dralled.

“Yeah! Back home, our humans would have welcomed us with open arms! Not flatten themselves against the walls when we pass by,” another quipped.

Others began grumbling their agreement until a voice quietened them.

It was our custom to respectfully let every person speak in gatherings, no matter the age or rank.

“Yes. ‘Our’ humans would do that because they were raised alongside us. But these people, by the looks of things, hadn't seen a Lycan up close until a few days ago. Let alone a Vargul. They are afraid of our beasts but let’s show them they don't need to be.”

We all looked over at the owner and it had come from Jacob, one of the brothers.

He sat a little timid in his seat but held his head strong. 

I knew I sensed a leader in this one and I gave him my nod of approval.

Before anyone could interject, I stood to my feet.

“Jacob is right. They are afraid but we are not the beasts they think we are. Let us take his example and be extra helpful where we can be, but dont push it. You all have your orders and we will wrap it up here in Tectum soon enough.”

The meeting was then adjourned and I stood back, mulling over my thoughts.

Things were getting complicated here and I had to keep our end goal in sight. With this newly acquired research, we could finally…

As the others disbanded, Joseph quietly made his way over to Damon and I with his brother Jacob in tow, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Lycaon, I didn't want to present my findings in front of the others but can we speak in private?”

Nodding, I led them to a secluded office at the other end of the barracks and let him speak.

“What do you have for us?”

“Do you remember that small explosion that happened in a lab the same day as the breach? Well it turns out that it wasn’t an accident. I spoke to a couple of the Watch who were there assessing the aftermath and they both said that the room looked ransacked by the explosion which I thought was strange so I got a hold of the report-”

“Wait. How did you get a hold of the report?”

“I uh, cashed in a favour from one of the Watch…”

“Cashed in? What did you… Never mind, I don't want to know. Carry on.”

“So looking through the report, I noticed that the bomb used was way too small-league to cause the kind of damage they claimed. Meaning-”

“Meaning they used it to cover their tracks...,” I finished.

“Exactly. They were probably looking for something and my guess is that research we nicked. But here is the real head-banger. The explosive they used was a smaller version of the one used at the gate.”

It was Damon’s turn to look concerned.

“Wait, hold up. You’re saying that whoever is setting off these explosives is also looking for the research we acquired?” 

"It's a long shot but I'd say it's a pretty good guess, Beta." 

“What I want to know is why you know so much about explosives,” Damon threw in, crossing his arms.

“I... just like to read, Beta,” and he looked down at his twiddling thumbs.

Damn.

This means we have some competition and they are proving to be very dangerous.

"That's great intel, you've done good tonight. You both have. You boys can call it a night and if you hear anything else, make sure you link me straight away.”

They gratefully took their leave and left Damon and I alone in the dim room.

"Magnus, you know what this means right?"

Damon was hardly ever worried but tonight, it was etched into his eyes.

"Yes. There is another party at play here and we don't know who or how many. Plus, who knows whether it was their intention to create a full on breach."

"Sh*t. And now that we know what we know, we can't present our findings to Tectum. They are gonna have to stay in the dark about this one and we need to leave as soon as possible to get it back home safely.”

He watched my face as he knew what that meant.

Home.

Back to the Archivio where we can go through this precious research.

And a hundred miles away from a piece of my soul.

"Maybe Tectum will still send their people with us? I'm sure they will be up and running again soon and can spare them?”

“Don't worry about that now. What worries me is that Tectum will be left vulnerable since the research will be with us but these new players don't know that. We need to find a way to let them know so that they follow us instead of endangering these people again.

I think it’s time to pay a visit to Selene.”