Midnight Luna

Hailey’s POV

I was alone. The place was dark and gloomy. A gust of wind blew against me and I felt a cold shiver run up my spine. I saw nothing but blackness. I searched for some familiarity but there was none. Panic started to build up in me as I extended my arms frantically trying to feel my surrounding. Just then my hand touched a smooth surface that was cold, almost freezing. I walked along it, resting my hand on it and after a few seconds I came to a small opening. I looked in it and saw a small light that was shining at a great distance away. Taking a breath, I walked towards it, carefully watching my step because it felt like I was walking on nothing. As I kept nearing it, the light began to grow bigger and bigger until I was standing right next to it. As I squinted my eyes, adjusting to the bright light, it slowly morphed into a person and within seconds standing in front of me was Goddess Luna, as beautiful and breathe taking as before. Only this time she had a thin silver crown which was placed perfectly on her head and in the centre was the most beautiful stone I had ever seen. It was dark blue, like the colour of the ocean on a starless night. I smiled and ran to her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. She laughed and hugged me back and immediately I felt happy just being in her embrace. I pulled back as he placed a small kiss on my forehead.

“Hailey, my child, I am so proud of you. You have proved to everyone that you are my daughter and worthy of my gift. What you did today has made me so happy. You have done immensely well in the past few months and now I know that you are ready. You have completed your training and when you connected with your wolf to save those wolves today, that was the last test. And you passed it flawlessly. I am indeed so proud of you.” She said, placing he palm on my cheek. I leaned into her hand and smiled, feeling elated, almost as if I was in a state of euphoria.

“Thank you mother. I will always try to fulfill your wishes.” I said honestly. She smiled and then walked back, away from me.

Suddenly a white circle was drawn around me, a few feet away, with a white silvery light coming from within it. Beautiful designs started appearing in the circle as if an invisible hand was painting it, ever so fine and complicated strokes, it looked almost impossible to do. I watched in awe as the delicate details of the design slowly grew and surrounded me. Luna stood a little away and watched with a smile on her face. The light from the designs was so pure and warm, almost like that of the moon. After it was complete, I turned around taking in every minuet detail, loving the warmth and peace the light sent through me.

“Hailey. You are now ready for my mark. This will let you know and understand your whole potential and strength. It is like a final step before you completely and in the true sense gain my powers. You have to accept and respect the life the fates have given you. You must promise to always strive to do what’s best for the wolf world and give up all weaknesses. You’ll have to make sacrifices beyond measure but you must do so without any hesitation. You are the only one who can save my creation from consuming itself. You are the last hope of the wolf kind and you are fully aware of the dangers that come with it. Are you perfectly clear about your destiny?” She asked in seriousness. Her eyes bore into mine, as I contemplated the meaning of her words.

I looked at her, fearing the inevitable. My instincts told me to run back and hide, but my mind and soul told me otherwise. I knew I was strong in body and mind and had always known it in the bottom of my heart that when the time comes I will be ready. And I was, my wolf was confident and I wanted, with every fiber of my being to help all those wolves in the world. I was prepared to face anything and I was confident that no matter what I will carry out my mother’s wishes till my last breath. This was what I was born to do. And just like that my fear vanished filling me with a new conformity in myself.

“Yes. I am ready, mother.” I said with assurance. She smiled and then lifted her hands. I felt myself slowly being lifted from the ground. The light below me glowed brighter and brighter as its powerful rays started to circle around me, into a cocoon of pure white light. As I looked down I realized I was naked and the light was slowly seeping in through my skin from my pores. It looked so surreal, as I felt it enter my very existence. I turned mid air and threw my head back, when a sudden surge of power rose within me, sending shots of pleasure within me. I watched in awe as the light began forming a design on my back starting from the neck and slowly making its way down to my back. It stung as I felt the strokes etch itself on my back. My body jolted and my fangs and claws extended, as a deep, heavy growl escaped my throat.

“My blessings are with you child. Be strong.” I heard Luna whisper as the light slowly covered me completely filling the very insides of my body. And then there suddenly, in a flash, it was gone and I felt myself falling down into an abyss. I tried to grab on to something but there was nothing there except thin air. I screamed but no sound came from me.

“Be strong.” Her voice echoed in my mind. I closed my eyes and calmed my heart and relaxed my body. The air around suddenly cooled and I felt myself stop. Slowly I opened my eyes and adjusted to the light streaming in from the drapes. I sat up and looked around the room recognizing it as Zach’s room. Was it a dream? But it felt so real. I smiled as I thought of mother Luna and all that she said. I remembered every detail surprisingly, as I played the scenes inside my head. I lifted my arms to tie my hair into bun, when I touched something on my neck. I quickly got up and walked up to the long mirror in the corner. The back of my neck had a bluish colored streak starting from behind both the ears. I removed my top and turned, and saw that the streaks extended and joined, leading to the center of my back where there was a huge moon and within it was the most perfect and delicate sketch ever made in the history art. The intricate lines circled around the moon, forming a thick border around it. It then parted and travelled till the end of my spine forming into a graceful V. The fine writing within the circumference of the moon looked like an unknown language. As I looked closely the designs in the centre of the moon outlined a wolf’s face, howling upwards. Inside the V, written in fine cursive print was the words ‘Midnight Luna.’ The elegance and alluring nature of the drawing made it seem like it was indeed a work of the gods.

“Wow. That looks so bad ass.” I mumbled and my wolf grinned. After staring at every turn and curve of the tattoo for another few minutes, I decided to go out and make sure the pack was alright. I noticed there was still dirt and blood on my hands and t-shirt, so I quickly entered the bathroom and had bath in record time. Changing into a comfortable pair of jeans and a loose t-shirt. I made sure the tattoo was covered but it was a still visible from the nape of my neck, so I opened my hair letting it fall perfectly on it. One last look at myself I walked out and down the stairs. The living room was quiet and there were very few people in there. As I went into the kitchen a young girl came up to me and next thing I know she was hugging me like her life deepened on it. I stood there paralyzed but then patted her back awkwardly in reassurance. As she pulled back she had tears in her eyes. I looked at her questioningly as worry crossed my face.

“I am so sorry. I get so carried away with my emotions.” She laughed through her tears. I smiled and reached out to wipe them away and suddenly an image of grey fur flashed in my mind. I looked at her closely and realized she was the little wolf who was injured last night. I didn’t know if I had succeeded in helping her because I thought I blackout but now I knew it worked.

“Well I am happy to see you fine and safe.” I said genuinely glad. “I can never thank you enough. I owe you. I am so gratefully, Luna” She said. My heart flipped hearing that particular title. It was the first time I was ever addressed by that name and it felt amazing. I couldn’t hide the small spark that lit up in me, I loved the sound of it, so foreign but yet so familiar.

“No. You don’t. I did what I did because I couldn’t let you go. After all you are my pack.” I replied, lightly squeezing her shoulders. She smiled and then thanked me again and ran to some of her friends who stood a little away. I watched her, happy I could help her. She was indeed so young and beautiful.

I quickly made myself a PB&J sandwich and munched on it as I walked out onto the porch. There were people already fixing up the damage to the house and a few were cutting down the charred trees. The air still smelt of burnt wood but it was slowly subsiding. The dead bodies from last night had been cleared out but there were still traces of blood patches on the ground.

“Well I am so glad to see you’re fine.” Came a deep voice from behind. I turned and grinned widely jumping into his arms, squeezing the life out of him. He smelt like that sweet smell of old oak and lilies.

“Oh Nate. I am so happy to see you. I have missed you so much. ” I mumbled in his chest. He hugged me back tightly and kissed my head. “I ran as soon as I heard. I was so scared that you might have gotten hurt.” he said slowly, worry evident in his voice. I stayed there in his arms for a while longer and then pulled back.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. Just a little tired.” I shrugged kissing his cheeks. He held my shoulders and examined my face, looking for any evidence of a lie. But I was actually fine and didn’t feel any hurt or pain. “okay I believe you.” He grinned, letting go of me.

“So how’s things with you and Esther?” I asked, smiling at him knowingly. “We are fine. I love her and she loves me back. Things could never be better. She is an amazing person once you get to know her.” He said. His face said it all and the happy look in his dazed eyes made me happy too. This was how I wanted him to be always. I prayed to never see my beloved Nate like that again, I thought back but quickly cleared my mind of them.

“Hailey, there’s some here to meet you too.” He suddenly said and turned, allowing me to see the one person I had truly missed for the past five months. I stared at him as he walked closer, old feelings that I thought no longer existed, bloomed within me. He was just as I remembered, except the sad and frail look in his eyes. There was a slight faded beard running along his jaw making him look rugged and a few years older. Without thinking I raced towards him and flung myself into his arms, letting the tears fall. It had been ages since the last time I saw his face and I couldn’t resist myself. He still meant a lot to me and a part of my heart suddenly knew that I stilled loved him. Seeing him upfront made me realise just how important he was to me. My wolf was glad to see him again but she didn’t want to be in his arms. She didn’t like the feel of anyone except her mate. I mentally scolded her for forgetting all that Liam had done for us. But she didn’t listen. I knew my heart needed to be next to him and my mind agreed so I just shushed her. I stayed there, as he held me in those familiar strong arms.

“Oh Hailey. I am so glad to know that you’re alright. When I heard I swear my world stopped and I came here immediately, needing to know for myself if you were fine. My world crashed when I heard you were hurt. Oh god Hailey I missed you so much.” he whispered as a small tear from his eye fell on my hand. I looked up and cupped his face, looking into those love filled brown eyes. The times we spent together entered my mind as I stared into those big brown orbs. He looked down at me and his eyes flicked down to my lips, as if asking my permission to make a move. My wolf screamed to let go, but I stood there transfixed, battling my feelings for him.

Suddenly a loud horrifying growl filled the air, snapping me out of my senses. My wolf purred at the sweet smelling scent of her mate and within seconds I was torn away from Liam and wrapped around by a pair of strong arms. I was facing Zach’s bare chested body and as I looked up, I saw his eyes shining yellow and his fangs coming out forming a snarl. He looked so scary that even I was terrified. Okay so maybe I shouldn’t have just thrown myself on Liam like that in front of everyone but that moment nothing felt so right. I couldn’t just ignore the past I shared with him and I owe to him too.

“If you touch my mate again, I will kill you.” He said slowly, but the venom poured with every word. Liam just shrugged but as his eyes fell on Zach’s arm, protectively around me he looked hurt. I needed to talk to him, we deserved some closure. After all he was the only one who stood by me when I was alone. I had to set things right, before I even thought of moving on with Zach. So I did just that as I fought with my wolf internally, she argued, hating the idea of staying away from her mate. But somehow I fought her, my anger rising and that’s when realised that I was actually going against the wishes of my wolf. This was not supposed to be possible as the demands of the wolf was always superior to the human demands. And then it hit me. I was part witch, which actually allowed me to be in control. Taking a breath and steadying my emotions, I looked back at Liam. His eyes connected with mine and he nodded understanding my message.

I had to do this I thought as I slowly stepped out of Zach’s arms and walked backwards. He turned towards me, questioning me with those deep grey eyes, but when he realised my intentions, hurt and rejection showed up on his handsome face as unshed tears pooled in those magnificent eyes. My heart clenched in pain watching him like that but I had to do this, if I wanted to give myself completely to him I had to sort out these feelings I had for Liam.

“Hailey, baby. What are you doing?” He asked, his pain hitting me in strong waves, making me flinch. His voice was so low and sad, that I thought of just letting go and running back into his arms again.

“Zach let me go. I have to do this. Please try to understand.” I told him, letting him know that this was necessary. I hoped my face said it all, trying to assure him that I’ll come back. He shook his head, as I saw his heart break. He looked so vulnerable that it made this even more hard. “I’ll be back. I promise.” I whispered only to him and then turned and caught Liam’s hand leading him away towards he car. I didn’t look back, knowing that I would change my mind if I saw his face again.

“Thank you Hailey. We need this.” Liam said slowly, as he started the car. I just nodded, as my mind filled with images of Zach’s broken face.

"Forgive me.” I said through our mind link. Hoping he heard it.

Zach’s POV

I watched as she walked away from me, holding that bastards hand. My wolf wanted to tear his arms off when he saw him embrace her, but when she walked away his strength just weakened. I didn’t know why she did what she did. Does this mean she had feelings for him too? My heart squeezed at that thought but in the logically part of my mind I blamed myself. It was obvious that they had a long and close history together and it was because I forced her to go. If I wasn’t so stupid and selfish, she would never have meet him and never even have had these doubts at all. She would have been only mine. I never hated and loathed myself so much before.

I couldn’t get over the thought of his hands on my mate. The pain in my soul suddenly felt too much, but I held on. Maybe she should talk to him. Maybe it will help her get closure, I tried telling myself. But then why was the pain not going away? I slowly turned and walked inside the house and to my room, ignoring the pity in everyone’s eyes and locking the door behind me. I will wait for her. She promised she’ll be back. I’ll wait and when she does I’ll never let her have these doubts ever again. I’ll prove to her that she is mine and only mine. Suddenly the image of them hugging entered my mind without any warning and filled my head, which caused my wolf to push out in rage. I let him out as I crawled into the corner of my mind letting him take complete control. I knew that it was not safe to give him control as things may turn worse as he was also to emotional but right now I just needed to not fell anything. Before I blackout, I heard her small voice whisper.

"Forgive me.”

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