Secrets of the First Moon

Chapter 6: The Hunger

Arion POV

Visiting with the boys was quite enjoyable. It was nice to just talk about day-to-day things, hear opinions that were different than hers, ask why someone thought something, truly not knowing the answer, just everything.

Arion enjoyed thoughtful conversation and having people express their ideas, not worrying about what she thought or would say. Owen and William did that, especially Owen.

Walking with Owen as he told her different stories, she couldn't help but really notice him. He had such passion for life, such an imagination of what could be. He had dreams and wasn't scared of the world like so many other humans that they have interacted with.

Instead of letting his bravery make her worry, it intrigued her.

“What is it you want to do?"

Owen paused before answering. Arion couldn't tell if it was him thinking or scared of entrusting her with that information.

“I want to explore. But not like they are now. I don't want to settle any place particular, but roam the forests, mountains, valleys, all of it! I want to learn the ways of the wild because I think it is misunderstood and holds answers to questions we haven't even begun to ask."

Arion watched as his lips grew tight, regretting showing his true desire. So it was shame that had made him hesitate earlier.

“I agree with you."

Her response made him stop their walk momentarily and he looked at her. Arion's skin suddenly began to heat with his intense stare. She wanted to reach out and touch his face. To show he was supported. To comfort him.

He quickly picked up the pace again

“Do you? You don't think I am crazy for wanting to explore and basically be a nomad? Because everyone else does. I know I should take over my dad's shop, but that's not my purpose. I know it isn't. There's so much more."

Arion kept asking him questions about it sharing her similar thoughts as well. She felt so connected at his n***d truth.

The topic shifted as they came to wagons selling things other than food. Stasha raced around to look at it all as the remaining four moved more slowly, pointing at things here and there.

Laughter came easily with Owen and she enjoyed the moments they were sharing. This carefree feeling and hunger for life was refreshing. It wasn't just that though. He truly listened to what Arion said and acknowledged her thoughts and ideas. She had never had someone so interested in her words.

Arion looked to see where Stasha had run to. Instead of seeing Stasha, she paid attention to something else that made her smile even more.

The ever-fretful Reni was enjoying herself. And William was the sole cause of that.

Arion noticed William expressing clear interest in Reni. He was pointing things out to her, asking her opinion on what they saw. He had her try a fruit she never had had among other things he thought Reni would like.

Reni stayed quiet, but her expressions showed Arion that she was truly enjoying herself.

Arion almost broke into laughter when she caught William trying to sneak a thumbs-up to Owen.

When it came time for the feast, they separated to sit with their families. As was custom every year, they would also have dancing after they ate. This was a part Arion always looked forward to. This year she hoped her dance partners might expand past her sister and Reni.

Supper finished and the tables were cleared and moved while the band warmed up. Arion was visiting with her elders when she looked over and saw William ask Reni to dance.

As she watched the two make their way to the street along with other couples, she thought about how it would be to dance with Owen.

She imagined herself being held close by him, resting her head against his neck. Breathing in is scent and allowing him to lead her through the music. Arion always led, always was the decision maker. She usually loved it, but with Owen she wanted him to take the lead.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and spun around, upset she was caught off guard. Her stern face softened when she saw it was Owen.

“I didn't mean to scare you. I just got done…helping my father to the house."

Arion noticed how carefully he chose his words, which was understandable. Everyone knew that Owen's father was the town drunk and had already had his fill much earlier in the evening. Arion had caught a glimpse of Owen helping him stagger to their home. The woman she saw leading them was his mother she assumed.

Knowing the topic made him shameful, she said nothing. She didn't want him to linger on that, so she grabbed his hand and led him to the filling street.

“Can you dance?"

Owen fumbled with his words. When Arion found a spot, she turned to face him and saw he was nervous.

“If not, I can lead. I was just going to give you the opportunity."

“No, no, I can dance."

Arion was confused now. “Then why do you look embarrassed that I asked?"

“I'm not embarrassed. I just have never had a girl ask me to dance,"

“Well, if I would have waited for you to ask, we may still be standing by the wagons."

Owen laughed at that. “Well, not true but I feel you should know that the only woman I have danced with is my mother. She gave me lessons and still does once in a while. Mainly as an escape I think."

The last sentence wouldn't have been heard if Arion didn't have the keen hearing of her wolf-sense. It made her sad. Again, she felt the urge to push sadness away from Owen as fast as possible.

“Good!" She grabbed his hands again and asked him to show her what he had learned.

As the upbeat rhythm came to a stop, a slower one took its place.

Owen pulled her close against him. He slipped one hand around her waist and the other ran down her arm until meeting her fingertips. Owen enlaced their fingers as she put her free arm on his shoulder. They began to dance. The real thing was much better than what she had imagined just moments earlier.

Arion felt her heart quicken, never slowing down the entirety of their dancing. His scent was of the forest, which caught her off guard. He didn't smell like the stale blood of the butcher shop. His arms were stronger than she imagined. He felt powerful.

A strange sensation came over Arion. She felt helpless with Owen, but she wanted to. She didn't want to fight this and welcomed relinquishing all she was to him, willingly.

As the music went from slow to fast, they never stopped dancing. Arion couldn't stand to let go.

Laughter filled the air as everyone enjoyed the star-lit evening, forgetting about the fears that lay outside their haven.

In those joyful moments, Arion didn't think about why or what had changed. She simply lived in it.

***

Phinn was angry. It took all of his control to not let his wolf-state take over and lash at that pathetic human.

He watched as they danced. Even Reni was dancing with one. What was happening? How was this type of mingling ok?

He had already brought his worries to Dorin, who had pushed them aside saying they were doing as they were told. Dorin even told Malaki the same thing when the alpha had asked when the dancing started. Yet, the teacher had not stopped watching the four since this afternoon.

Phinn had asked Arion earlier to dance, and she simply shrugged him off. Why?

'Why would she dance with him and not me? Am I too intimidating? Is she just doing this to make me mad?'

He had no answers because it was Arion. Who knew why she did anything half the time.

Phinn took a deep breath to calm down. He noticed Dorin still watching.

“Damn it! I snagged my dress."

Phinn looked over at the outburst. Arion's dress was caught on a nail. He then saw the butcher's boy pull his dagger out from the sheath they all kept on them, and offer to cut the distressed girl loose.

He tried not to laugh when he saw Owen cut his hand while slicing the dress free. He rolled his eyes as Arion mothered over him.

“Huh, I could have sworn you cut it."

Phinn instantly looked back when hearing her comment. Owen had cut his hand, he saw it, but when he looked back at the two, there was not a mark on his hand.

How was there nothing? Phinn had seen the blood.

Arion brushed it off after hearing Owen say he was fine.

Phinn was not as easily convinced. When he sat back in his seat, he noticed Dorin staring too, only now his eyes were wide.

And just as quick as he saw the surprised face, it was gone, back to dormant attention. Dorin had seen it. Something bigger may have just came into play and Phinn was going to find out. He wasn't imagining it. He'd wait until it was time for them to go back to their home.

As Arion and Reni were saying goodbye to their pathetic human friends, Phinn made his way to the wagon where the incident happened.

Sure enough, there on the wagon and ground was the evidence.

Blood.