Blood Moon Rising: Book One of The Moon Series

Chapter Eight || Secret Revealed (Valus)

Chapter Eight || Secrets Revealed

Rogues are wolves who were banished from packs because they were unpredictable and/or did something so terrible that they could no longer be trusted to live the pack life. They are sent off on their own with no help and are black listed for all packs to see. Rogues tend to have very distinct characteristics compared to regular wolves. Their skin takes on a sickly hue as you almost never find them out in the daylight and the whites of their eyes become red. They tend to look and smell just like an outcast would, unkept.

Novan did not look like this though; well the skin was a little less sickly and his eyes were red but he seemed well taken care of. Valus looked into those deep blue eyes surrounded by the red and came to the conclusion that Xander was not lying to her. Which made the pain in her heart a little less hurtful because she knew he wouldn’t have done what he did unless he was trying to protect her.

Valus had been walked in by a different rogue than the 2 before, a random one that basically disappeared into the shadows and she couldn’t sense him again. “Would you like something to drink?” The voice caused her to focus on that man before her. “I would like my friend back. SAFE and sound.” She growled at him, and it brought a smile to his lips.

“Of course my dear. Anything you wish, but first we are going to sit down and chat.” He motioned towards the chairs around his desk. Hesitantly she proceeded forward, “There is nothing for us to speak about. I know who you are and no, I don't care. I will be returning home with my pack.” Valus stated as she held onto the top of the chair to steady herself because everything in her wanted to destroy the man before her for even the little bit of pain he caused Cora.

Novan, however, sat down unfazed by her. “Oh, but I think we do. There’s just so much you do not know. To start, you know who I am but do you know why things are the way they are? Do you know why you were born there... but was taken from here? There are so many secrets being kept from you, my dear... and you just don’t understand anything.” He sounded so nonchalant as he spoke, swirling his drink around in his glass staring at it. Valus stood there silent, resolute in her thoughts as he continued.

“When you were 15, those monsters you call family came in here.. murdered your mother and kidn*pped you. They were going on and on about The Prophecy. That you were meant for something greater than all.. this.” He paused and slowly waved his fingers around him. “And that ‘Prophecy’? Is that how you want to live your life? To be forced to follow a path that may be laid for you but not chosen for you?”

His words resonated in her, was she doing what she wanted to do or was this all destiny? She wondered, pausing with her resolve before shaking her head and steeling herself as she looked at him, “Because it’s true! I was destined for something better than this. How could I ever have been happy here?” She asked him, and he growled slowly, “You would have known nothing else. You would have had your real mother and father to care for you!” He barked his words and she smirked.

“I had a real mother and father actually. Who both cares for me deeply and—“ Novan cut her off, “Yet have you heard a word from either of them since starting on this rescue mission of yours!?” He glanced at her, eyebrow raised, watching her smirk fall. “I’m sure they have their reasons.” Valus replied quickly and hoped it sounded as tough as she thought it did.

It did not because he drank the rest of his drink without a care to her words before standing and walking over to her. Placing his glass down, he reached for her but she shrunk away. He chuckled devilishly,

“You wanna know a dirty little secret about your beloved Xander.” His lips pulled back in this nasty sneer, Valus’ heartbeat sped up. “So you know of alpha abilities right?” Novan asked and she nodded slowly, “Well, the bigger part of them is that each pack has their own ability that is dormant in their genes until they reach ascension. And do you know what the Harvest Moon pack’s very own ability is?”

Valus snapped her head away because he had come around her, his fingers skimming the back of her hair. “The ability to erase memories.” He whispered harshly into her ear; Valus involuntarily and very audibly gasped, covering her mouth while shaking her head. “No.. stop it now.”

A repulsive chuckle ripped from this man’s mouth, “Oh yes my dear. I mean at the time it definitely wasn’t him so you can mark him off that list. But can you honestly tell me you cannot recall a time where there was a memory block in your mind. Something you couldn’t quite put your finger on since he has come into your life?” He patted her cheek and she slapped his hand away. Valus was becoming very angry every moment she spent with him.

“It seems like I struck a nerve.” He mused as he walked away to pour another glass, looking at her, “I did not bring you here to hold you captive. I actually intend to allow you to leave, which is why you have not seen many of my pack.” Valus was confused, “Why let me go?”

Novan smiled, this time it was a little sweeter than before as he took another sip, “Because you will come back. I’ve put way too many questions in your mind and I’m going to let them linger there. Ask your family, ask Xander. And because in the end, family always comes home.” It was Valus’ turn to let a ugly laugh pass her lips, “Hah! I’m not your family. I’ve seen what you do to people. How you hurt people. And for that, I’m going to hurt you.”

Valus ran at him, and suddenly a woman stepped out from the shadows. From the concrete flooring sprouted thorn branches to stop her causing the room to shake. She barely had enough time to cross her arms in front of her before they knocked her back, her arms taking the damage. Valus flipped backwards quickly, and slid back on her feet and hands. Wincing slightly she stood, “Are you f*****g serious? Fight your own battles Novan!” She growled loudly and Novan snickered, “Leave young pup, before I show you the damage this witch can do.”

Valus hesitated for a moment, she was not prepared for a witch fight but could she really just let this man get away with everything. She weighed her options heavily before she growled, turning and sprinted out the door. That laugh followed her all the way down the stairs, rippling through her before fading away.

________________________

She made it to the top of the dungeon stairs as she saw Kane and Remus walking up. Xander in tow behind them as a wolf. “Where’s Cora?” She asked breathlessly, watching everyone exchange glances. “Liam has her.” Kane said carefully it seemed, “Is she okay?” Once again, everyone’s eyes traveled to each other causing Valus to sigh inwardly to herself, “I know she’s hurt you guys, just–”

Remus turned to walk back down, cutting her off, without so much as a look and Kane stepped to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Where’s Novan?” Valus found the only pair of eyes that would look into her own, looking right into Xander’s as she said “He’s probably gone by now. He told me to go... because I had to find some answers. He thinks I’ll come back to him.”

Xander made no movement as their eyes searched each other and that seemed to tell Valus just enough about his knowledge of things. An anger was building within her that she couldn’t contain for much longer and even more so with him every moment there was silence between them. Her wolf was clawing at her in an attempt to ground her, something was telling her that he had nothing to do with all of it... but she needed to know.

“Let’s go out and meet up with Liam.” Valus said solemnly before proceeding down the stairs and following Remus.

Valus opened a link, Liam! Wait, we’re coming!

I’m not far, but Valus... you aren’t going to like this... Liam sounded so sad, so defeated.

Closing the link, Novan did hurt Cora more.. Valus continued to sprint. Everyone was quick on her heels. Xander was coming up fast and leaped in front of her, causing her to stop. “What the hell are you doing Xander?! Let me go.” She went to step around him and he whimpered loudly at her just before he shifted but Kane stepped up and grabbed Xander, “Let her go man.”

Valus’ eyes lower, “Why are you guys acting like this?” She took Kane’s cue and stepped around Xander and there Liam stood with Remus next to him looking out at the woods and away from Valus, holding Cora. Valus’ heart slammed into her chest,

“No.” Her knees gave out but Xander caught her, a knowing look in his eyes. Not now... get away from me... Valus’ eyes grew wider as tears formed in her eyes, she shoved him away and ran over to Cora’s body which Liam had laid down, stepping away as Valus slid in on her knees.

Her hands framed Cora’s face, that beautiful face that was dirty with blood and dirt, and Valus could see the streaks on her face where the tears flowed. A scream... a sob... both ripped out of her chest, up her throat, burning with the heat of a fire and she collapsed.

This was all her fault... Oh Cora. This can’t be it... Goddess why?!!!

A hand landed on her shoulder and a seemingly different hand on the other. She looked up and could barely tell through the tears as she saw Remus to her left and Liam to the right. Both heads bowed, Liam was crying too but Remus’ looked a different kind of broken. Defeated. He had just lost his mate. Valus hiccuped through her tears that weren’t stopping as she tried to wipe them away. She just ended up sitting back on her heels, crying into her hands. This pain was not letting up.

All of this... for some goddess damned secrets! The same lines repeating in her mind over and over.... it’s all her fault. That should not be Cora laying there. It all kept going until a pair of arms pulled her back and it was Kane’s turn to lift Cora’s body very gently. Valus stood there, watching the look in Kane’s eyes as he turned to begin the walk back to the campsite.

Remus and Liam soon followed, leaving her in the arms of the man apart of all of this. And for a moment, just a moment, she let that be her sanctuary.

Valus turned quickly and captured Xander’s lips, arms sneaking around his neck and fingers into his hair. He groaned into it and returned her kiss for only a moment. Embracing her close before putting his hands on her shoulders and prying himself away from her grip. Valus growled in frustration and Xander grabbed her hands in his own, “This is not the time Valus. I will not be remembered for this!” He spoke in that alpha voice that just pissed her off. “I don’t care right now Xander! I need you.”

She cried and he looked so pained, “The fact that you don’t care right now is very telling on how much this is not what you need right now.” Xander’s thumbs soothed over her knuckles but she just couldn’t right now. She didn’t need his soothing words, no... Valus needed to forget.. she calmed slightly and looked at him, “Make it go away.”

Xander took a step back releasing her hands, “Make what go away?” Valus clutched her chest over her heart, feeling like she wanted it ripped out of her. “I can’t handle this... none of this. I don’t want to remember any of it.”

And that made Xander understand a little more. “No. Hell no! What the f**k Valus? You can’t just forget the hard times. You can’t just forget Cora! The disrespect of that request is a bit much right now don’t you think? You want to be Alpha, but you can’t handle a loss? I understand how much that hurts..” He stepped up to her, ”You need to be honorable right now. For her if not anyone else. Do you understand me?”

Something in Valus had snapped when she let the next words come out of her mouth, “You didn’t seem to care when you took my memories before.” Valus watched the pain flash in Xander’s eyes. Maybe she’ll never return from this but if she ever did... she would be apologizing every day for it. She turned and walked away, leaving Xander standing there.

Please... don’t hate me…

It took only a moment for the realization of her request to hit her. Goddess, she scrubbed her eyes as tears started again. Valus all but jammed the heel of her palms into her eyes, willing for the scream of frustration that was in her chest not to come out. Xander did not deserve that from her and Cora’s memory was nearly tainted by her lapse of judgment. Her weakness. Shaking her head as she marched towards the campsite not far behind the guys, she could feel eyes on her back. Xander must be watching her closely, seemingly always protective of her.

They will get this sorted out, Novan will be dealt with and Valus will spend forever apologizing to Xander for her actions.