A LUNA'S SHADOWS (RE-WRITE IN PROGRESS)

(Adira)

I heard the whispering before I opened my eyes; I felt the judgement. But was I dead or alive? Is this heaven or hell? Did they even exist? I did not know.

“Is she seriously worth risking a life?” One huffed.

“I don’t see it, I mean just look at her hair…” the other girl snipped.

“How stupid to just attack the humans on your own, right?” The other girl said.

“Screw lose for sure.” The other answered.

“Can’t believe we could have lost Jayce. What would this pack be without an alpha?” The other girl retorted.

“Bet she’s just as weak as she looks…” the other girl said in a sarcastic tone.

“And she risked it for a human, I mean, is she an idiot or what!” One girl chuckled.

“And this girl is awake.” I wheezed.

Pain shot right through me as I sat up.

“Careful of your stitches, they may take a little longer to heal.” One girl said hesitantly.

“Do you treat everyone this way?” I asked.

They both paled. They had a sudden realization that I had heard all their conversations hit them. The pair glanced at each other. The dark blonde with whisky eyes glared at me, while the girl with crisp white hair and bright sky-blue eyes stepped toward me.

“Sorry.” She muttered.

“Sure, sure you are.” I muttered.

I watched them walk out of the room; the door squeaked in an argument. A hand pushed it open, and I smiled to see him. Elijah, alive. He strolled over and cupped my face; I looked down at his leg to see it bandaged and sighed in relief.

“See, we’re alive.” He grinned.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Well, you went down after the bullets. Suddenly wolves engulfed the area and cleared us out and here we are!” He said.

“Did they tell you who they are?” I asked.

What if Vlad had found me?

“They just patched me up.” He grinned.

I rolled my eyes. Too trusting, too positive. Such, Elijah.

I winced and climbed out of the small single bed, eyeing the box-like room. Looking for signs of Vlad. A small desk, a tiny lamp with a black shade, a small single bed with what looks like hand-sewn patches… No musty smell. The window had been blocked up by wood on the inside. I pulled my shoes on and grabbed Elijah’s hand. I couldn’t hang around to find out just what type of pack this was. Shoving the door open, ignoring the searing pain as my body healed itself. Dragging Elijah through the plain narrow hall.

“Where are you going, little shadow?” A voice echoes down the hall.

Fuck, it had to be this guy.

Spinning around slowly, relieved but also annoyed. The familiar feeling ran through me, coursing my blood to pump. His eyes, just simply staring at me, caused a fireworks celebration in my mind. Making anything else hard to concentrate on. I gazed at him in what must have been a wonder, and without realising. Taking in his face, his fit body, the silver scar that ran down his cheek... I shook my head. Nope, not doing this. A small smile beamed from the corner but disappeared just as quickly.

“Thank you for your care, but we are aiming to leave this city,” I murmur.

“What if you joined us?” He asked.

“That’s far too generous…” I said.

“She reeks of Vlad, anyway.” A small she-wolf growled from behind the alpha.

“At least stay for a day or so to heal?” He insisted.

“Okay.” I sighed.

“Walk with me?” He asked.

I stared up at Elijah. He pushed me forward with a grin. I loved how not much bothered him. So I walked down a narrow hall with the alpha, listening as he listed the maze of rooms here. I barely remember one. I couldn’t even blame the drugs, my memory is shocking. He pushed a black door open, revealing a small office. A small desktop, maps pinned to the wall, piles of files scattered and a small unwanted plant yellowed in the corner. The alpha sat in his chair and stared at me for a moment.

“Tell me, why are you running from Vlad?” He questioned.

“Listen, if I can leave, I will. I won’t be a threat.” I said.

“I can’t help you if you won’t tell me, little shadow.” He breathed.

I wanted to; I felt trust between us, completely unbreakable. But, no. I can’t, I can’t trust a stranger. Look at my choices so far and Jay was family. Fucked.

“I just want to leave.” I blurted.

“Our pack isn’t like him, he only wants power.” The alpha said.

“If I told you what he wanted, you won’t want us to stay anyway,” I sighed.

“Try me.” He said, softly.

“He wants me, he wants me as his Luna.” I sighed.

“Why?” He questioned.

“My family, it was my uncle who brought me to Vlad. My family was captured and my uncle tricked me. They rambled on about some gene, something rare. Anyway, he woke it up, the gene. I don’t have many words to describe what it is. My brother and I, have not been raised in a pack and my parents haven’t told us much about how the wolf-side works. I guess dad and mum thought the less we knew the better.” I said with a sigh.

“A gene? A rare gene? What is your ancestry?” He said, rubbing his temples.

“My parents kept all that locked away. Dad only mentioned we had an Alpha line?” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Can you show me?” He asked.

“I can’t control it.” I panicked.

“I can teach you.” He placed a hand on my shoulder.

That touch, so small. So gentle, so many sparks.

“It would hurt too many. I upset your pack about my connection to Vlad, anyway.” I said.

“Not even you are trained, but it will surface without training and that would be detrimental if it is the gene I think it is.” He said,

“What gene?” I asked.

“Spirit.” He said simply.

He pulled me out the door. And that touch, that simple touch? Sent sparks flying. The entire time he gripped my wrist, pulling me down the hall through the confused pack members who walked by. A few evil stares from some she-wolves, a few whispers from everyone else who watched on, and then followed us down the straight narrow hall. Which made me more nervous. The creature, the very first one that had pulled itself from the depths below, had gone straight for Vlad. I had not muttered a word, barely had time to blink? What if I couldn’t control it?

“I never caught your name, little shadow wolf?” The Alpha said as he stepped into a soundproof area, similar to an old basket court.

“Adira, Adira Stone.” I smiled nervously.

“Jayce, Alpha Jayce Andrews.” He grinned.

“What is this place?” I questioned.

“Make-shift training ring.” He shrugged.

“Okay.” I trembled.

He gripped my hand a little tighter, gazing straight into my eyes with a smile on his clean-shaven face.

“With training, abilities are easily controlled.” He murmured.

Oh, so many sparks. My universe is full of bright fireworks.

Jayce walks to the end. He spins around with a wicked smile. I raised my eyebrows and nervously glanced around at the growing crowd behind me. I watch as he grows a ball of fire inside his palms and he runs it in loops above him. Throwing me a wink before he throws it at me. I gasp and dodge it. But he throws another and another, and another. I heard the pack mumble around me and watched their disappointing gazes. The wolf who couldn’t fight, the girl who dated a human. Just what else would they be thinking? Another fireball lands at my feet. Jayce shakes his head, and then he shifts. His clothes ripping off as his body transforms. I briefly glimpse his well-toned body and force myself to stare away. No, I am with Elijah.

A sable wolf leaps at me and I am pushed to the ground, deafening snarls fill my ears. Nothing, but then a flashback hits me. Vlad and his training ring. He held me down and swung a hammer into my ribs. Ugh, I shut my eyes. I remember the sound, the shattering of bones, and the immense pain it caused. Then I remember his words. As he wraps his hands around my neck, his grip tightens despite my struggles to free myself, and as I gasp for air, he whispers.

“Just remember how powerless you are, how weak you are and how pathetic you are without the darkness.”

It happened. It’s awake.