Merciless Luna

Chapter 2

Today is the day! Finally, I get to go to college and leave this place behind. As I walk out of my room with a couple of boxes and a suitcase with my clothes, my mother is standing nervously at the kitchen, her eyes skittering about in what looks like...fear? As I make my way to the kitchen, she musters the courage to walk up to me and give me a hug. I have to say I'm taken aback by her sudden acts. It’s been so long since my mother was awake, much less coherent like this?

“Are...are you sure you’re staying on campus?” she questioned me nervously. I sigh, knowing that she was making it difficult for me to leave. I did feel bad leaving her behind. We’re practically on our own, and I feel she won’t take care of herself when I’m gone. “Yes mother. The school is almost two hours away. It would be impossible to commute back and forth everyday” I reply in return. She sighs, wringing a rag in her hands uncomfortably.

“Will...you visit me at least?” she asked meekly. I felt a pang in my chest, because at the end of the day she is my mother and managed to keep me alive all this time. I give her a reassuring smile and hug her again. “I’ll try to come by every other weekend. I won’t abandon you mom” I let her know. She nods into my hug and pulls away. “Promise me though...promise me on the night of the blood moon you’ll be here before the moon rises to its highest” she told me. That’s right, the blood moon. Once a year the moon rises with a reddish hue, and it always seems to happen on my birthday. For some reason that was the only day mother would be alert, attentive, and make me a birthday meal. It was the one time in the year where I felt I had a family. My gaze softens and I nod. “Of course. I rather spend my birthdays with you. I’ll be here without fail!” She gives me a smile of relief and walks me outside. There’s a cab waiting to take me to my new home, and the driver helps me load my things into the trunk.

I have to admit, I’m pretty nervous being on my own. I have no idea who my roommate will be. I don’t even know if I’ll be the only wolf there as well. The blood moon is this weekend, so at least I’ll be back home in a week and see how it goes from there. Giving my mother one final hug, I get into the cab and get driven off to my new destination.

About 2 hours later I’ve arrived at the university. It was huge to say the least. I gulped, realizing that maybe I’m way in over my head. Still, I was accepted, and it is a school where it was nearly impossible to enter unless you have high grades, and high placement in the exams. Not to toot my own horn, but I am a sort of Brainiac when it comes to school. Which is why my ultimate goal is to be a doctor and help others. I went to the registrar’s office and obtain the information needed on my classes, as well as getting my ID for the dorms. Apparently, it’s a swipe only entry, so if I lose my ID card I would pretty much be s**t-out-of luck. Making my way down the various stairs and finally reaching the hall where my room was located, I quickly shuffled inside. A strange scent engulfed me that made my nose twitch as I walked further into a room. There was another girl sitting to the right opposite of the bed I’m assuming would be mines.

She perked up and turned around, smiling widely. “Heya roomie!” she said a little too cheerful. “Uh...hi” I managed to reply back. She chuckled as she got off the bed and I must say she was quite the catch. Her hair was a dirty blond, tied into a short ponytail with bangs framing her delicate face. Her eyes were jade green and she was curvaceous, with a bust that looked to be larger than my own. “I’m Maya” she said, extending her hand to shake. I smiled and shook back, not sure if I wanted to dive into my name just yet.” Rajeira” I finally mustered to say. She whistled, wiggling her eyebrows and grinning from ear to ear. “That is such a sexy name!” She laughed after seeing me look confused, blinking slowly as if I didn’t hear her.

“Um...I’m sorry what? It sounds like a guy's name...hardly sexy” I scoff waving my hand nervously. She laughs, and somehow that laughs puts me at ease. She wiggles her nose a bit and tilts her head. “So what pack are you from?” I froze in place. She knew? Wait, her scent, of course she would know...she was like me! I slowly put my belongings on the bed, unsure as to how to answer her. “What do you mean?” I asked innocently. She raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. “I can smell you...and it’s a unique scent...it’s so warm and inviting...like warm vanilla sugar with a hint of cinnamon” she explained. I shrugged, not really sure how to answer that.

“I lived with my mom my whole life, so I don’t even know how to answer that question” She looked at me with apprehension, before uttering in a whisper. “Are you a rogue?”