Blood Moon Rising: Book One of The Moon Series

Chapter Nine || The Pyre (Xander)

Chapter Nine || The Pyre

The walk back was painfully quiet. Valus wouldn’t look at him and the others were keeping silent as well. Probably because this tension could be cut with a damn butter knife.

They had returned to the campsite to gather their things and allow Xander some time to change. Valus never left Cora’s side. He did, however, overhear her speaking with Liam about the funeral as well as taking time to speak to her father about her memories.

Just what kind of things did that man tell her..? She had stared at him on those dungeon stairs with such anger that all he could do was stare at her back. And that thing about him taking her memories in the past, Xander felt ashamed to say he couldn’t tell her honestly that he never had. Somehow he would find a way to make this right.

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Discreetly, all of them made it to the Valus’ house. Alpha James came down the stairs quickly, taking in the sight around him. He stepped back as Kane came forward with Cora. “What... happened?” James asked, walking over to Cora and brushing back her hair. “Novan.” Valus spit the name out with a scratchy voice, one that came from crying a lot. Xander’s heart was aching for her but right now he could not give her what she needed.

One name could turn a man's eyes dark with anger, “That monster... Did this to her...” James growled, a sound rippling through his chest. He straightened and looked at Liam, “You take her body to the morgue to be cleaned and prepared. The funeral will take place tomorrow. Kane, would you accompany him?” Kane nodded and followed Liam out. Remus watched as they left, finally speaking out, “I have something to do, if you don’t mind Alpha.” He spoke quietly to Xander and with another nod, Remus sulked out.

Valus turned to her father, and Xander knew what was coming next. “We need to talk.” The words came out hushed but angry. Alpha James looked her over before motioning her towards the study. Even he knew right now was not the time to try to stifle her. Xander followed, he didn’t care if she made him stand outside the door; he was not leaving her alone again.

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Entering the study, Valus stopped and Xander shut the door as James made his way to his desk chair. After he sat he looked at her, “What did he tell you?”

Valus glared, “Why did you take me from them?” James looked away, “The elders told of the prophecy long after your parents had been banished from the pack. Cassidy and I knew that we needed to find you. To stop you from being raised in... that life.” He paused briefly, “Your mother dying was never part of the plan. They fought hard to keep you even knowing we were trying to give you a better life.”

“So you just killed her?!” Valus’ hands spread out around her in a questioning stance. “Did you even think of the repercussions? That some day I might just, I don’t know, find out!” She was yelling. Xander stepped forward but Valus’ head snapped around at him, “Don’t.”

“I do not have a good enough explanation for you!” James stood yelling back, “What do you want me to do, Valus? I’m sorry that you got to live a better life because of us. I’m sorry we wanted to give you alpha!” He was jabbing his finger into his desk, “What do you want from me?!”

Valus inhaled and said simply, “Give me my memories back.” And James slumped into his chair, rubbing his temples. “Only the ones who can erase them can give them back.” Xander perked up, “Then I can?” Anything. He would do anything to prove himself to her. Valus looked back at him, something flashing behind her eyes that he couldn’t place.

“I’m sorry Xander but no, the original wolf who took them is the only one.” James glanced at him. Xander’s head dropped with a growl, of course that would be the case. He barely understood the ability as it was and he has no real idea on how to even begin to help her retrieve the one he did take.

Valus continued talking through his thoughts, “Who did it, dad? Who took my memories before?” She asked. James looked away, “Elder Hames. Back when Xander’s father was still alpha.” Xander stiffened, it all makes sense now. The birth records were his way of trying to tell her what her pack had done. “Then we go to Elder Hames.” She stated and walked out of that office without another word.

Xander looked at James, the alpha looking defeated to say the least. “It was for the best, I assure you Xander.” James hadn’t even looked up at him, and all Xander could say was “If she finds some way to forgive you. Appreciate that for the rest of your life.” James inhaled deeply and nodded in agreement, “Yeah. But I know she’s a strong wolf, she just needs time.”

Xander felt his chest tighten as he stood straighter, “I took away a memory from just before her ceremony.” James glanced at him with confusion, “I was on a run and ended up across the territory lines without even realizing it and she spotted me. I didn’t want there to be a problem with the ascension just days away so I erased her memory of me… and the fact that that was the moment the mate bond formed.”

James let out a breath that he seemed to have been holding the whole time and leaned forward onto his desk, “And you don’t know how to return the memories?” Xander replied, shaking his head simply, “No. And I know she’s more mad about the fact that I did it.” It felt weird to open up to James like this but with everything that was going on, he was possibly the only person who could understand Xander’s position on this. “I’m sure that she will forgive you as well, Alpha. Ask Elder Hames when you meet with him, he should be able to help you. If anything else, you could at least explain what you just told me. She will understand, I promise.”

Nodding slowly, “I should go.” Xander turned, pausing for just a moment to look at James, “Thank you.” James nodded and turned in his chair until the back was facing Xander. And with that, Xander left after Valus.

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His own grandfather was a part of this. Xander thought to himself as he tried to catch up with Valus who was sprinting towards the House of the Elders. “Valus! Wait.” He yelled as he finally got a grip on her arm, stopping her. She yanked away, “No. You stop. There is too much going on right now.” She practically hissed at him. “You need to talk to me. Please. Let me get this off my chest. You have listened to everyone BUT me about all of this and yet you are treating me the worse.”

Valus’ face dropped as she listened to him, finally listening to what he had to say. “You’re right.. I’m sorry Xander.” Xander finally saw a glance of the woman he’d been falling in love with all along. “I swear to you that I will do anything in my power to protect and back you up. Everything that is happening is not your fault.”

He grabbed her hands, “Nothing. You got that! They are the actions of selfish, SELFISH people who put this on you. And I’m sorry for the small part I played in that. I didn’t know who you were and I was across your territory lines without permission. I was just protecting myself when I took your memory.”

Valus swallowed and dipped her head in a slow nod, “I know Xander... I know it doesn’t look like it but I do understand this circumstance. Cora, however, is at least partially my fault. If she hadn’t been so close to me—“ Xander cut it off, “That was also the actions of a selfish man. He knew what had happened, he kept you from her. She died while you were there, Remus watched it happen. He was helpless to stop it.” Xander pulled her close, thankful for the closeness of her, and the feeling of her arms around him.

“We will end this once and for all. I don’t know or care if this was all a part of that damned prophecy but we will make sure this never happens again.” Xander whispered into her hair, placing a kiss there. “When we are finished with Hames and the funeral... I will make all of my part of it up to you okay?”

He pulled back and looked at her and thanked the goddess when a small smile graced those perfect lips as she agreed. He framed her face with his hands and placed a tender kiss on her lips, she sighed into it and he realized that there will never be a day that he will ever allow her to feel like he wasn’t there for her and her alone.

He loved her.. and he intended to show her.

The thought surprised the hell out of him. Valus took that moment apparently and stayed in his arms and Xander was thankful for a moment to breathe. He just prayed to the Goddess that she couldn’t hear the fact that his heartbeat had begun to pick up. It’s only been about a week at this point, more if he went back to that night. Maybe it was the bond that quickened the process but he was in love with this beautiful, strong woman.

He pulled back slightly, hooking a finger under her chin and lifting her face. Valus looked up at him, her eyes searching as he silently looked over her. “Is everything okay with you?” She asked quietly, almost a whisper… And Xander let a small smile grace the corner of his lips before shaking his head, “No but I’m sure everything will be soon… Let’s head inside okay?” Valus took a second to watch him before inhaling and exhaling the same breath, “Yeah.” She let him go and started to head towards the Elder’s home.

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They walked into the Elders home, it seemed Vacant for the most part. Hames came walking down the stairs, “Your father called me, Valus.” Xander put a hand on her back to let her know he was right behind her. Valus spoke, “I want the memories that you stole from me.” Hames walked over without another word and placed two fingers on each of her temples.

Xander stood there helpless as Valus began to shake. He couldn’t tell if she was crying or if this was too much for her. What did they take away? What was she seeing? He was panicking for her and especially when a scream ripped from her throat as her knees hit the ground faster than he could catch her. Xander fell to her side, rubbing her back. “Valus?” He looked up at Hames with a glare, “What did you do to her?”

Hames pushed his robe back and stated, “She wanted her memories back. They were taken for a reason. When she was brought here she would not sleep, all she did was cry. Nightmares engulfed her in the darkness. She was 15 when she was brought here, her parents made her fight us. They let her watch her mother die.”

Xander growled, “Then maybe you should have just left her alone from the beginning! Do not look at her like any of this is her fault. You all did this to her...” he looked at Valus as a thought crossed his mind. “Hames. I need you to tell me how to give back memories.” Xander reluctantly stood from her side, hoping she understood but sure she was still mulling over the return of her memories.

“It’s actually fairly simple when it’s a memory you’re apart of. It becomes more complicated when you don’t know what memories are missing, unless you were the one who took them originally.” Hames explained dryly.

Xander gritted his teeth before speaking, “It was our first meeting.” His grandfather’s eyebrows raised for a moment before he nodded, “Alright, well just bring the memory to the front of your mind, focus on it hard as you touch her mind and push it out of your mind towards her. It’s easier when you touch her temples in a direct way, let the memory flow through your mind and fingertips to hers.” Xander nodded quickly, “Okay I got it. I can’t do it right now cause I won’t push on all that you just gave her. So if you excuse me, I’m going to take her home.”

Hames dipped his head in a bow before turning and making his way back up the stairs until he was out of sight. Xander bent down and helped Valus up, she practically put all of her weight on him. Without another word, Xander walked her home; all the way to her bed where he laid her down.

As he covered her up and went to sit, she grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave.” Xander smiled, “I wouldn’t dream of leaving you ever again.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek before moving around the bed and propping up his pillows, he climbed into the bed and sat with his back against the headboard. She rolled and laid her head in his lap.

“While I am glad they gave me back these memories. I can understand why they took them now. The things I saw as just a child.... no one should ever see.” She mused in a very tired voice as her eyes began to close. He let her know he was listening as he brushed her hair back, petting it slowly and soothingly. Soon she was sound asleep, and hopefully he could keep the nightmares away for the night.

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Wolves had a sacred ceremony of burning wolves on a pyre under the moon as a way to send the wolf home to the true mother. Xander mused to himself as he and Valus made their way up the torch lit path towards the pyre. Liam in front of them while Kane and Remus followed behind. Everyone was dressed in white ancient looking clothes, they were loose fitting and all were barefoot.

As they reached the pyre, every wolf gathered around it in a circle. Cora laid there, dressed in white as well; her arms laid across her chest and overlapped at her hands. Her sandy brown hair had been brushed and cleaned of the memories of her last moments. Her parents stood at her feet as an elder stood at her head.

“Today we mourn the loss of a sister, a daughter, and a friend.” The elder held up his arms, looking to the moon. Causing everyone to look at it as well, “May the Moon Goddess watch over her, May Cora run free in the forests of the night and bask in the moonlight. May she always watch over us and let us all keep her in our prayers.” Bowing heads, everyone prayed to the Goddess.

“By ashes, she will travel into the arms of our Moon. By fire, we set her wolf free.” The elder lifted his torch and everyone stepped away as it came down on the edges of the pyre, slowly lighting all around before reaching Cora. And flames were all there was, the ashes breezed into the night. Xander watched as they were carried away, wrapping an arm around a crying Valus and pulled her close. Tonight he will let her find comfort in him, in any way she pleases. Tonight she deserves anything her heart desires.

When the pyre officially lit, the shift began. Everyone let their wolves out, and a mighty howl erupted through the air. And as a pack they ran through the forest as a final goodbye to their comrade.

Xander’s and Valus’ wolves really stood out amongst the pack with their darkly colored fur, Valus’ being more of a deep redish/brown. She looked beautiful as she ran in the moonlight, with Xander following closely on her heels. She looked back at him and did a slight dip to the left away from the rest of the wolves and he followed her until they reached the sea. The place they had met. Valus had stopped as she reached the rock he had first seen her on, and turned to him. Her eyes, blue irises stared into him as he stalked towards her.

Her head dipped in a weirdly playful way as her back end lifted and tail wagged. Was she trying to play? Xander’s head tilted to the side and she leaped from one side to the other. He chuckled inwardly to himself as he let a low growl ripple from his chest and lowered his head, baring his teeth.

Xander pounced towards her and she leaped away. She did that a few more times before he dipped his large head and caught her hindleg then leaped onto her, grabbing her scuff lightly between his teeth, pinning her down for only a moment. He let go and backed off before shifting and Valus followed suit. “I want you.” She turned, surprised as she looked at him when he spoke.

Xander stepped towards her, “I want you, Valus. But I need to give you something first.” He couldn’t read her face but her eyes said it all, she wanted him too. He reached and pressed his fingers to her temple, pushing the memory through himself and into her mind. She gasped softly as the mate bond felt like it went from transparent to more solid. Xander breathed in, and out slowly feeling more of her than before. “I want you, Xander.” She whispered back as her eyes caught his.

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The door to Valus’ room crashed against the wall, Xander’s back to the door. “Slow down Darling.” He had to say between kisses, Valus wasn’t holding back.

Things were okay between them and Cora was put to rest, her memories were back and she still wanted this. Xander gripped her waist, pulling her close to him, to their desire. He was going to give her the one thing she longed for... someone to trust in. Someone who would be there for her, always.

This was long awaited for and Xander could tell as he turned them away from the door, kicking it shut behind him. He lifted her up, holding her thighs as her fingers wrapped themselves in his hair tugging him closer. Their kiss went on passionately until Xander sat her down on the bed extremely glad there were no clothes to shred through.

Xander took a moment to admire her passion. It was his turn to wrap his fingers in her hair and tug it back as he kissed his way up from her breasts to her neck. She snaked her thighs around his waist and pulled him close. Xander growled deeply as he began to enter her, she winced below him before rocking into it. He felt his canines growing as he buried his face into the space between her neck and shoulder.

Once fully seated within her, he clamped hair on that spot to seal the bond between them. Xander’s eyes flew open as the l**t and desire inside him doubled, all the feelings between them flooded him. He groaned as he began to move within her. Valus clung to him, putting her face in his neck to muffle her noises. What little he did hear brought him so much pleasure until they reached that point and just like in a story, the finish was a downward spiral they were taking together. All the way down to the bed in a huff.

Xander pulled his face from her neck, inspecting the mark left. Looks like he did something right for once, he chuckled to himself. “What are you laughing at?” Valus looked at him, reaching up to caress his cheek. “Do you really have to ask?” He smirked,

Or do you already know? He said through a link. Valus laughed and scooted her body up to her pillows, he followed her to plant a deep kiss on her lips. It was so good to see that smile again and to hear that laugh.

As he pulled her close for sleep, he wondered what was next... “We are going to fight. Novan will pay for the pain he’s caused. We will rid the world of his evil, together.” Valus said as she nuzzled into him. And suddenly, that became tomorrow’s problem as Xander closed his eyes breathing in the sweet air around him, and embracing his true mate for, what feels like, the first time.