The Chosen Luna

Chapter two

CHAPTER 2

The people went about their businesses, oblivious to the entity in their midst. The look of disgust etched on his face was nothing but prove of the disdain he bore for the chaos he witnessed and humans generally. He was still breathing heavily from the little struggle he had with a bunch of werewolves that came to attack his boat but chose to ignore the incident because he was not yet in the right frame of mind to analyze it. Obeying the Moon Goddess was his only choice for survival, and he was committed to doing it for not just the full Moon Pack, but to put a halt to the incessant premature deaths his predecessors had fallen victim to.

“Why did the Moon Goddess decide me of all people to break this curse?” was a question that gnawed at his mind, threatening to overwhelm him if he didn’t get answers. Alpha Lewis managed to keep his cockiness at bay to prevent selling himself out. He had been strictly warned to stay undercover, and no matter how used he was to waiting hand and foot, he had to obey or lose his life. While he stood in his ordinary attire, yet braced in his royal demeanor, a human walked up to him, displaying the wares he had on his woven tray, urging him to buy them. The old man oozed a stench he could not stand, the lines on his face going up in folds as he moved his shaky hands over the wares on the tray he had brought down from his head, inching closer. Alpha Lewis brushed him off with a glare and an authoritative, “be gone, you miserable mortal.”

He was immediately taken aback by Ariel’s instructions echoing at the back of his head, and at the same beat, he left the old man on the ground and aghast, brushing his way through the crowd. The sight of so many people and the disquiet made him want to turn back and return home, but he chided himself for even nursing the thought of disobeying the Moon Goddess. His mission was not a simple one, but his jaw was lined with the same unwavering determination he saw in his father several times as a boy before his demise. Was the Moon Goddess sending him to the oddest places as a test? Alpha Lewis couldn’t tell.

A deep, dark frown appeared on his face as his gaze fell upon the dirt that lined the route he was instructed to take. He stood like a spectator, struggling to understand how he could navigate such an amount of mud and dirt on foot. He watched people walk through in a fashion that made him wonder whether they saw stairs leading to a castle, while he saw only mud and dirt. If he were to be in his Pack, he would not bother concerning himself with a road as bad as this, and if need be, he would get his servants to lay down while he trampled on them, but here he was, unable to help himself.

An unknowing groan escaped his mouth and his frown darkened. He bent down to adjust his boots before proceeding. Carefully, he stepped along the dirty road, eager to get to a shelter where he would carry out his search in the human world.

Unfortunately, the Alpha’s right foot landed on the wrong spot, seeming like a quicksand. He fastened his left foot on the hard ground that he could find, clutching a fistful of his robe, and cussing as he tried to free the right foot. The quick mud swallowed his foot to his ankle, leaving him staggering and helpless. He rocked his foot from side to side, trying not to think of the mess his great-grandfather must have made to leave him in such a bad spot. After creating enough space to pull his feet out, he overheard footsteps approaching from behind, they were fast, and so was his attempt to free his foot and leave the road before they got to him.

His right foot made an entire show of coming loose from the mud, forcing him to struggle with it until they caught up with him, snatching his little bag in the process and whizzing by at the same pace.

“Give that back, you peasants,” he called, coming free and dashing after them. They were fast, too fast for him to catch up, and he contemplated changing forms to pursue them after all attempts to get people’s attention proved futile.

They all seemed occupied with their business, turning deaf ears to him as he did to the cries of people.

Breathless, he came to an abrupt halt, assuming a sitting position on a nearby stool as he tried to even his breathing. He was in a residential neighborhood, and the little houses with open windows testified to that. Kids ran around, playing with a medium-sized ball made from rags that were coming loose from the excessive friction of rolling around on the dry ground. Their feet were whitened out from the dust they had collected since the play commenced. Some were bare-chested, while others wore dirty vests. Alpha Lewis decided to grace his eyes with the kids while he thought of what to do. Suddenly, the thought of how his great-grandfather got him into this mess came prying at his mind.

“Great grandfather, you could’ve done better,” he said to no one in particular, letting out a frustrated sigh as he rubbed his face.

“Why did you, of all people, choose a human when there were hundreds of female wolves in the pack to f**k with?” He went on as though his great-grandfather could hear him.

“And you didn’t stop until she died? Why so ruthless? She was old, and not even her cries could stop you? Why do you hate humans so much? And now I’ll have to suffer like this or die before I’m 30?”

The questions wouldn’t stop coming as the words of the Moon Guardian resounded in his mind. He could feel all the feelings he felt when he heard of the untimely death that would befall him if he didn’t act. His chest tightened as fear gripped his being. The courage he knew himself for slowly ebbed, leaving him scared for his life. Until that revelation from the Moon Guardian, he never gave a thought to the untimeliness of his great-grandfather's death. He breathed heavily, bending his weary body over, and allowing the soft rocking of the stool as a result of the leveled ground to soothe him.

Minutes slipped into hours as he napped peacefully amidst the disquiet of the environment. Without realizing it, he dosed until sunset when one of the kids who were playing ball tapped him awake because he needed to the stool. Alpha Lewis woke up grumpy, the reality of his potential homelessness dawning on him immediately, his eyes fluttering open. He stood up and decided to try his luck with the houses around the neighborhood, going from door to door seeking shelter. “Help!” a tiny voice called, sounding muffled and tired. “Somebody, help me.”

They pulled her forcefully, dragging her hair, and leading her to a quieter part of the neighborhood. Alpha Lewis heard the voice the first time, so he followed where he suspected it coming from and saw two people dragging a girl away, hushing her up, and leading her to an even more secluded place. He didn’t understand what was going on, but immediately dived into action and rescued her.

Easily summoning his powers and smiting them.“I’m Lewis," he said as an introduction, dusting his hands.

“Thank you,” she breathed.

“You’re welcome,” he said with a smile.

“Would you want me to take you home?”

“No, thank you.”

she said, getting on her feet and staggering a little.

“I insist,” he said, trying to catch her.

“I can handle myself, sir,” she said curtly, a look identical to the disdainful look etched on his face when he saw the bustling market was on her face.

“But. . .” he said, trying to make an argument as she walked away, but he followed her quietly until she walked into what he believed was her apartment.