#2 When the Moon Turns Red

Evie

“Molly, why did Kira call me Luna?” I asked her as we drove through the city.

“Oh, that’s just what we call the Alpha’s mate.” She shrugged.

“What exactly does the Alpha’s mate do?” Something told me Luna was more than just a name.

“You don’t have to worry about all that right now.” Molly said, avoiding the question.

“Molly….” I groaned.

“Honestly, Evie, it’s not important right now,” I glared at her and she sighed loudly,

“But, if you really want to know, the Luna takes care of the pack just like the Alpha does. She becomes the Alpha’s partner in every way. An Alpha never runs his pack more effectively than when he has a Luna.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because the Luna is the only one who can control and mellow out the Alpha. The Luna outranks the Alpha, in that way. The Alpha tone doesn’t work on the Luna, but the Luna tone will work on the Alpha.” I had no idea what that meant. I stared at her blankly,

“The Alpha and the Luna both have tones of command, voices that no one in the pack can argue with.” She explained.

“That’s what Noah did to all of you when he made you leave the guest house yesterday.” I said, thinking out loud.

“Yes, exactly.”

“I’m not a leader.” I muttered to myself.

“I told you, you don’t have to worry about it right now. When you’re ready, the mate bond will show you what to do. You were chosen to be Noah’s mate which means you were also chosen to be a Luna, you’re made for the job.” Molly’s voice was more serious than I had ever heard it before.

It was strange to hear how loyal she was to the Alpha and Luna, and to the pack. Honestly, it scared me a little. I had never felt that loyal to anything, I don’t know what it feels like to be bound by duty and law to serve someone. I’m not sure I was made for that kind of leadership.

“Besides, you don’t have to worry about being liked. The pack will automatically love you the moment they learn you’re the Luna. That’s the way it works.” Molly added.

“You just follow them blindly, even someone you just met?” I asked, surprised.

“The Moon Goddess chose them and the Alpha chose his Luna, that’s all the assurances we need.” She shrugged.

“I’m not gonna lie, Molly, that freaks me out a little.” I said.

“Yeah, I figured it would.” She chuckled as we pulled into the all too familiar parking lot.

“I didn’t know we were coming back here.” I said.

“It’s pack land, not too far from the packhouse. Humans don’t come out here unless they’re invited.” She said, shutting off the car.

“Why did you invite me out here in the first place? It seems risky to invite humans to a werewolf party.” I asked.

“Because you’re the Luna.” Molly shrugged.

“Molly,” I groaned frustratedly at her,

“You didn’t know that then.”

“But, I did, at least Kira sensed it. She told me to invite you.” Molly said, exiting the car. I quickly followed her,

“And you just listened?” I asked, surprised.

“It happens a lot, actually. Our wolves have stronger instincts than we do, so when they offer a suggestion, we follow it.” I shook my head at Molly. I was jealous of her ability to live life so nonchalantly.

“Where are we going?” I asked as we walked towards the guest house,

“And how did that door get fixed so fast?” I pointed towards the front door of the house.

“Beta Greyson fixed it after you left. It’s not the first time, don’t worry.” She laughed, leading me behind the house.

“Kira likes the woods.” She added, pointing towards the treeline behind the house.

“I do not.” I admitted, planting my feet firmly outside of the trees. Molly turned around when she sensed I was no longer behind her,

“Alright, I can shift just inside the treeline that way I’m at least hidden if anyone wanders out here.” Molly suggested and I nodded in agreement.

“Okay, you ready?” She asked and I nodded. No, not really.

Molly closed her eyes and when she opened them, Kira was staring back at me. Molly and Kira grinned, taking a deep breath.

Suddenly, her back arched violently and her body started jerking and popping. Loud cracking sounds came from her bones as she twitched down onto all fours. In a second, fur exploded from her skin and a giant, white wolf was standing in front of me. Her eyes were level with mine as she stood well over 5 feet tall.

I stood, unmoving, staring into the black eyes of Kira. I kept telling myself that this wolf was Kira and Molly, that she was nice and friendly and safe. But, I couldn’t help but flash back to my last encounter with a wolf.

I walked out of my house to enjoy the last of the afternoon sun. It was May in Massachusetts and the warm weather was finally breaking through the cold. It was a cloudless day and the sun was hot on my skin, reminding me of the warmth I used to feel at home in Hawaii. I walked across the small deck and looked out across my backyard. The yard was lined with a picket fence that bordered the dark woods behind it. The woods always worried me, the dark abyss was so uncertain and so unknown.

I squinted into the darkness, willing the last of the sunlight to show me inside the forest. I rubbed my eyes, trying to clear my vision, unsure if I was seeing it correctly. A pair of golden eyes were staring back at me. I gasped and dropped my coffee cup, barely noticing as it shattered at my feet. All at once, a large creature crashed through the fence and sprinted across my yard.

Before I knew it, I was standing face to face with the largest, darkest wolf I had ever seen. He was hovering above me, of that I was sure. I screamed, but was quickly silenced when the wolf reared up on its hindlegs. He dropped down, slicing his paw across my chest. I cried out as my tattered shirt fell to the ground. I twisted my body away, trying to shield myself, only to feel his claws graze down my back.

I remember my body hitting the warm planks of the deck and seeing the wolf’s golden eyes staring into mine. I remember thinking how familiar those eyes were and how they seemed to be speaking to me. I heard people screaming in the neighborhood around me and then the wolf was gone. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a hospital bed three months later.