Lunar Temptations

Ch 37

It felt surreal to be back here, especially considering our past interaction, which wasn't exactly a calming memory. Walking in there, I had only one motive in mind, and that was to gather as much information about the case as possible. A part of me felt bad for not sharing my doubts about Esther with Zayden, but I was doing it for the greater good. If it was the truth, it would eventually come out.

We had made it past the entrance when my phone began to ring. Unclasping my hand from his, I took my phone out. It was Winnie. I had almost forgotten that I had texted her to call me. I gave an apologetic look to the man beside me, "Sorry, I have to take this," I said, hoping he would understand.

A nod came from him, "I'll be in the meeting room. I'll send someone to escort you when you're done."

I nodded as we both took off in different directions. I strode off to a nearby lounge before picking up, "Hey."

"Hey, is it a good time to call?" She asked.

It wasn't, but I knew I couldn't hold this off any longer. It was getting delayed day after day, and delaying it any further would only keep me from the truth. I looked around quickly to find the lounge empty of any person.

"Yeah, it's alright. I just have a quick question," I said, standing by the window and overlooking the greenery extending over a large area. It was truly breathtaking in the day, to watch different types of plantations here. We were wild creatures, and we had come from the wild, but this was quite contrasting to our nature. The different flowers and grass planted. In my wolf form, it would take me mere seconds to spoil all that up. But, as I had said before, Esther was all about impressions. Not only wolves, but even humans also visited this place to conduct business with the Castillos. They were well known in the human world as well for their business antics and success. This place didn't come with being the leading family of the Night Walkers pack but rather from the generational wealth they had generated in the human world.

"Is this the same question from that day?" She asked.

"Yes, the very same. I wanted to explain it in detail in person that day, but..." I trailed off, sighing and remembering the unfortunate events of that day. "Anyways, I am sending you a picture. Check it out." I said and pulled my phone down to send her the picture of that room with claw marks. I had taken it before meeting the girls that day so that it would help Winnie understand the situation. I didn't need to tell them that it was supposed to stay confidential, because that was something we sisters have always taken good care of - keeping each other's secrets.

"Woah, that's feral." She murmured as I placed the phone back on my ear. That was what I had thought too, feral. "What about them?" her voice came again. I took another look around to make sure nobody was there before continuing.

"They belong to Zayden. He locks himself in there, mostly at night, and he's angry, fierce - it's like a Zayden on steroids." I tried to explain it in the most possibly sane way. But I knew it sounded weird, too weird in fact to determine anything, especially over a phone call. She didn't say anything for a while, and when I was sure that she was thinking of him as a lunatic, did she finally speak up?

"Is he always angry, or does this happen at a specific time?" Her questions made me feel as if I was visiting a doctor to find the cure for my husband's untreatable disease, hoping that would give a less terrifying verdict. Wait, did I just think of him as my husband? Oh, dear Goddess, I was really losing my mind.

"Mostly at night, but he's not himself at that time," I replied. She hummed for a while as if pondering over it, "He could be in heat, but it doesn't last-" She began to say as if talking to herself before pausing short. "Wait, for how long has this been happening?"

"Ever since I came here, it could be happening for a long time, and no, he's not in heat." I rubbed a hand over my temple, massaging it. This was too tense for me, and I didn't know, but a part of me was anxious to know what it really was, maybe because of what Esther had said to me that I would be his end, all the while staring at those claw marks. It was as if she knew, and it had something to do with me.

"Apparently, it has something to do with me," I said eagerly, spilling all the details that were coming to my mind. She pondered over it for a while, "What is it? Please tell me you know something." I urged her. She remained silent as if trying to figure it out, and I had never waited that eagerly for an answer ever before.

"I have some guesses, but none of them seems to be the case." She sighed aloud. Disappointment rang through me, and I felt my hopes falling until, "Though, some research might help confirm it." She added. Relief flooded through me as I became reassured that there would be an answer and I would get it soon.

I immediately nodded as if she was in front of me rather than on the other end of the phone. "Yeah, you do that and let me know as soon as possible," I said, putting the phone down after saying a quick bye and telling her to keep me updated. I straightened the dress that I had put on this morning and double-checked my ring. It was a precious one, and I had barely worn it after the engagement. Mostly because I wasn't exactly ready to accept whatever had happened, and the ring was too precious for me to wear all the time. I was afraid to lose it.