Marked Under Blood Moon

⚜ Decisions ⚜

After returning back from the Night Woods, several meetings took place before the alphas came to a final decision. After several heated debates, they decided to follow the First Wolves.

Though the decision was unexpected, it did not bring much unrest among the normal wolves. After the display of magic by the First Wolves, nothing seemed to be out of ordinary anymore.

Still, there are some wolves who were rather curious—wolves like Lucas who pestered others.

"Damien, say, what do you think about the Moon God Continent?" Lucas nudged his friend's shoulders, his voice strangely curious, like that of an ignorant child.

"I've mentioned it to you many times, and you brushed it off by saying 'Men don't believe in fairy tales!'. You even called my precious ancient wolf mythology book useless!—" Damien halted his speech as Lucas twirled around before coming to a stand before him. Needless to say, the flirtatious man started to flirt with his own friend. Imitating the demeanor of a tender woman, Lucas spoke softly.

"Oh, Great Warrior! I can give you anything..."— Lucas smiled as Damien stood petrified, more like ashen as Lucas traced along Damien's sharp jaw line with his fingers. Controlling his laughter, Lucas continued—"...as long as you answer my questions."

Gritting his teeth, Damien swatted away Lucas's naughty paws off him. "I'll answer any of your questions, as long as you cease this nonsense!"

Knowing that he finally had his way, Lucas had an expression of triumph on his face. On seeing the deep frown marring Damien's handsome face, Lucas's smile widened. "If not for your stubborn attitude, I wouldn't have had to resort to such seduction. Loosen up yourself, else no woman would want you..."

"Is that all you want to say or ask?"—Damien folded his arms against his chest—"If so, then I'm leaving."

"No, wait!"

Damien raised his brows, indicating Lucas to speak.

“Well, it’s true that I didn’t believe you. Now, I have no choice but to believe.” Lucas ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “What exactly is the Moon God Continent?”

“It’s a long story—”

“I have all the time in the world.”

“—prepare your heart, for it’s not the one with a happy ending.”

And, so Damien narrated the story to an eager Lucas.

…

“What the...” Lucas trailed off as the story came to an end. An evil wizard, the sacrifice of the white wolves and the betrayal of their kind — Lucas felt a myriad of emotions in his heart.

“Won’t the white wolves mince us if we return back?” Lucas shivered.

“I think that the First Wolves will be the target of their wrath. We don’t have to worry.” Damien sounded confident.

Lucas couldn’t help but agree; Out of the three First Wolves, only two were alive and they were responsible for the death of the other; indirectly. Somehow, Lucas felt sorry for the two arrogant First Wolves.

…

Moon God Continent.

Jenna walked through the familiar corridors, she stopped before the familiar white stone room. Balancing the food tray on her left hand, she knocked on the door.

“Come in.” The familiar melodious voice soothed Jenna as always; a smile involuntarily crept on the maid’s face.

The smell of ink and the sounds of flipping a paper greeted Jenna as she entered the study.

“Your Highness, please break your fast. You can study the scrolls later.” Jenna said as she eyed the figure who was drowned between the countless stacks of papers, scrolls, and books.

“Oh, Jenna, it’s you!” the figure spoke without lifting her head. The flipping sounds of the papers resumed, “Please leave the food on the dining, thank you!”

“Yes, Your Highness...” Jenna followed the instructions, after placing the tray on the table, the maid excused herself.

The food cooled down by the time Adele placed her quill in the quill stone.

Pushing her body out of the chair, Adele stretched her body, interlacing the fingers of her hand as she brought them above her head. Brushing off the invisible creases in her long gown, she strode towards the table.

There was a sumptuous spread across the stone plate: A loaf of bread, Blueberry jam spread, Bunch of grapes, and a palm-sized jar of wine. As she breathed in the aroma of food, Adele cleaned her hands using the basic cleansing spell.

Plopping on to the chair, she started to gobble the food without paying any heed to proper decorum. Adele had a voracious appetite which greatly contrasted her petite, well-proportioned figure. Bread, jam, and grapes; in the blink of an eye, the plate was wiped off clean. Hugging the tiny jar of wine to her bosom, Adele resumed her work. She began to study the scrolls and leather-bound books carefully.

Knock! A series of knocks interrupted her work; Adele's brows twisted into a frown out of displeasure.

"Your Highness, Beta Xander requests your audience." The frown eased at the mention of the beta: her friend and her subject. Relaxing her heart, she ordered the guard to let the man in.

Outside the study, Xander looked both anxious and angry at the same time. He had been away from the pack for a while, and he was greeted by the news that their princess agreed to let the Brown and Black wolves into their home. He would care less if they enter the Moon God Continent, but he was totally against the idea of letting the pack of traitorous wolves into their home: Lands of Lenar. So, the moment Xander heard her consent to go in, he barged into the royal study.

"Your Highness, I strongly oppose your decree! Bringing in those traitors into our home, it's total madness, I say! We can't allow those wolves into our home—"

"Xander, calm down!"

"Listen to me, before you jump into your conclusions!"

"Pardon me for speaking out of turn. Your Highness, please enlighten this ignorant subject." If not for the ramrod back and the pensive expression on his face, Adele would have thought that he is mocking her.

"The wolves are being murdered, and some wizard is making Wolfstones out of wolf spirit..."— Xander's eyes widened at the revelation while Adele stared back at him, her face devoid of any emotion—"And, do you expect those fattened wolves on the earth to know any combat? They're as good as dead without our protection; Earth or Moon God Continent doesn't make a difference against a wizard."

As the realization slowly dawned upon him, Xander nodded while his heart thought 'No wonder, her highness agreed to allow them to into our home...'

"Xander, you are to escort them back to our—""Can I refuse?" Xander spat in distaste.

"This is a royal order," Adele spoke calmly. Xander's thoughts of protest disappeared as soon as he faced Adele's harsh glare.

Knowing that only doom waited for those who angered their princess, Xander immediately surrendered. "It's my duty to bring them safe and sound."

"Good. You are dismissed."