Losing The Light Of The Moon

Reconnections and Party Punch

Chapter Eight: Reconnections and Party Punch

HORACIO

As I sat between Lorenzo and Umar, looking around the table at all the smiling faces, I couldn’t help but lament at how my life used to make sense. With that thought came the desire to quickly take another large gulp of the Sassy Sisters’ party punch—wolf version. I had forgotten the momentary joy that could bring me before the effects left much sooner than I preferred, much like I had forgotten about the sisters themselves…and I still wasn’t sure how I really felt about that.

There was part of me that felt it was best they had been forgotten in my mind, but then there was that other part of me—the very reluctant part—that was glad the memories and the sisters had been returned to Crescent Moon. Though I felt fate was incredibly cruel to Tatiana—her sisters discovered dear friends of old were their mates, while she was dealing with what I knew was the devastating loss of her mate.

Taking another large swig of the delicious albeit momentary mind-numbing punch, I went back to my reflection on the life that made sense to me, before returned memories of many of those sitting with me now left me both torn and irritated to my core.

I had always been confident and sure of myself, putting everything I had into the Spirit Walker army—that represented everything I was and wanted in life. In fact, it was my life, every facet of it made me who I am, nothing more, nothing less, lived it, breathed it. With the exception of my friendship with Umar and love I had for his entire family, being a warrior and Beta was the only thing that mattered to me. But time was passing quicker than I ever could have imagined…

As I have grown older—about to be forty six years old in fact—youth has begun infiltrating my world and my work, causing my already cool heart to ice over even more. I was being challenged at every turn now, especially on the field, a fact that had me working even harder to hold onto my position as the Spirit Walker Beta. Well, that and the fact that Alastor was about to rise to his entitled position as Alpha and wasn’t exactly sure he and I would work as well together as his father and I always have.

But there have been so many things happen lately—the return of the Mystic Fire pack, the integration of our powerful armies, the return of witches into our fold starting with Raven and the Firebird Phoenix, Loa, and now, the return of The Power of Three. All of it sending my mind spinning and wondering what other changes could possibly be on the horizon for me.

But, I was still confident despite the challenges I faced head on and along with Umar, who was three years younger than me, was still known to be one of the now four most powerful warriors in all the armies. The other two, of course, were the young Crescent Moon mates Beast and Tink, both of whom instantly became formidable adversaries to me in the ring. While I would never admit it to either of them, I respected their strength and abilities more than any other warriors I had ever worked with in my many years fighting in the Spirit Walker army—with the exception of my best friend, Umar—and privately appreciated what they brought to battle a great deal.

Pulling me from my thoughts, Umar leaned towards me, his large mug in hand, murmuring before he took a long sip, “You okay?”

Bringing my mug back up to set against my lips, I inaudibly replied, “Fine.”

“She hasn’t changed at all,” Umar reluctantly breathed out before tilting his cup up again.

“No, she hasn’t,” I cautiously replied under my breath before another large gulp of punch, grateful as my eyes moved towards Lorenzo and found him to be in deep conversation with Vivian currently.

My eyes betrayed my will power then, returning to gaze upon Tatiana again, whose familiar bright white smile shined across the table as she was enjoying Jace’s fun and playful reaction to the Sassy Sister concoction, “She didn’t deserve it, Umar.”

“No one involved deserved it, Horacio,” Umar dishearteningly whispered back, his gaze following mine, “Don’t worry. They will all help her through it…and we can too, if you choose.”

His words turned my grimace into a grin, “And completely ruin my reputation? Not sure that’s wise, old friend.”

“How did I know that would be your answer?” Umar thoughtfully replied, “You’re lucky I see past all your faults and remain by your side always, you know. I’ve questioned it quite often.”

“Liar,” I softly chuckled, reaching out to grab the open bottle in front of me, refilling our mugs, “I keep both of us young.”

Tatiana looked over at us then, her smile now radiating towards us as Umar and I nodded silently in return, holding our cups up appreciatively, causing her to lift and tilt her small glass slightly towards us in return. I couldn’t deny I was very much like Lorenzo in that we never liked or trusted witches—but, somehow, Tatiana found a way to be one of the few exceptions—an extraordinary exception in so many different ways to us both.

*************

TATIANA

It was well before dawn when I woke up in Crescent Moon for the first time in fourteen years. After an hour of tossing and turning as all the events of the previous day replayed in my mind, I decided to walk down to my favorite peaceful spot. As I sat down by the edge of the water, I wrapped the soft blanket I brought tightly around me, clutching it to my chest as a smile crossed my face, remembering the fun and unexpected joy had at dinner just hours earlier. Not long after, however, I felt restless again…

Bringing one arm out from beneath the blanket, I lowered my hand towards the top of the water, my finger slowly tracing a heart lightly atop the stilled surface as all my overwhelming emotions poured out, “Oh, how I wish I could turn back time. To the days when you were mine. To the days when our hearts were one. When our clock of love had just begun.”

My chest tightened as the thick stream of tears began to blind my sight, my voice cracking as I softly continued, “Oh, how I wish I could turn back time. To when your love seemed like a crime. When you held me tight for o’ so long. When your voice—oh, it was my favorite song! But the hands of time cannot go back. And I must learn to face that fact. May my love find you so you can see. My love for you, my dear Julien...my love for you is for eternity.”

“You really haven’t changed at all, have you? You still have a way with words and judging by the blanket, you and your hands must still get cold easily,” a deep voice called out from behind me, “That was incredibly beautiful, Tatiana. I have no doubt that Julien’s love for you was also for eternity.”

Embarrassed at my current state, I couldn’t make myself turn around to look at him. All I could muster was an inaudible whisper, “Hello, Horacio.”

“It’s nice here. Peaceful.” Horacio calmly replied, “It’s okay to cry, you know. I know that beautiful heart of yours—I would be worried if you didn’t cry, even with that lantern trick of yours. And I’m sorry about Julien…I truly am, Tatiana.”

I felt him sit down behind me before he cautiously continued in an unusual comforting tone, “I really hope you heard me just now. Julien loved you more than he could ever love anyone else. While it never should have ended up the way it did, you shouldn’t second-guess that fact. I can tell you one thing for sure—I was around him plenty over those last few years and he was different without you. The bright light that only you instilled in him…it was gone.”

Horacio’s words touched me deeply as new tears fell and I turned to face him, his blue-grey eyes sincere as they connected with mine, his usual hardened chiseled features soft as I suddenly noticed that what was once a short jet black close shaven beard now held a light mixture of white, as did his short, mussed hair. His massive strong muscles appeared even more firm, however, as the perfection of them outlined through his fitted black shirt.

“For someone who went to great lengths to avoid me all those years, I find myself very surprised at the kindness and care you are showing me right now, Horacio,” I ardently stated, “It makes me wonder just how much you have changed but thank you for what you just said. It means a lot to me.”

Rubbing his hand up and down his stubbly cheek, he uncomfortably replied, “I haven’t changed that much, Tati, which is why I will kindly ask that this conversation stay just between us.”

My eyes drifted to the ground for a moment as I let out a half-chuckle then peered back up at him, “That is the first time you have ever called me Tati, which means it must be very important to you. So, I will tell no one of your kindness, I promise. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you,” Horacio sighed out unevenly, “I prefer people thinking I’m an ass—makes it easier when I don’t have to deal with them. I like to keep a small circle.”

A warm smile extended across my face as I kindly asked, “Am I part of that small circle now?”

Turning his head out towards the water, he quietly stated, “You’ve always been a part of that small circle, Tati. Even when you weren’t here—even when the memory of your existence was taken away from me—you are the only reason I am sitting here right now. The reason I still exist and have been able to live my life on my terms is because you saved me that night.”

“I’m sorry you were never gifted another mate, Horacio,” I earnestly told him, “You deserved better than that. Dusan was incredibly cruel to you.”

“She’s a Luna like she always wanted to be. Fortunately, it’s a small pack far away from here and far away from me,” Horacio solemnly breathed out, fidgeting his hands slightly as he kept his eyes on the water, “We were both driven and I accepted her choice a long time ago. Her cruelty made it easier to refuse our connection. I moved forward and looking back on it, feel very grateful things worked out the way they did.”

His gaze returning to mine, he heavily exhaled out, “Not all connections are happy ones, Tati, and she would not have been happy with me. So, if you don’t mind, let’s change the subject as I don’t say her name, I don’t think of her, and I definitely don’t like talking about her. That part of my life was done a long time ago.”

Nodding slowly, I grinned, “It is still nighttime, technically, as we are a few hours before dawn means we could enjoy a glass of party punch. I will kindly ask that it stays between us, of course.”

“Bring forth the small glass and large mug,” Horacio wickedly grinned, “Your secret is safe with me!”

Flashing a matching mischievous grin, I dramatically flicked my hands upwards, instantly holding two mugs, each containing our respective punch, and extending his out towards him, causing Horacio to tease, “Well, look at you! Going full mug on me, huh?”

“Not exactly,” I sheepishly replied, “It’s only a fourth full. Dawn is upon us after all and I don’t day drink, especially as the effects last longer for me and I will be working with Raven today. That will require coffee—lots of it.” My mouth slowly extending back out in a grin, I mused, “I make a mean brew with that too!”

“I’m sure you do,” Horacio chuckled, “I don’t think there’s much you can’t do.”

“Speaking of which, this animosity between you, Umar, Tink, and Beast,” I sweetly cooed out, “Seems to me that your feud is such a waste of talent that could be brought together to form a very powerful and useful tool in battle.”

“Nice try, Tati,” he playfully retorted, “But as you are hitting me with the charm, that must mean you made this same attempt with Tink and Beast. I’m afraid the damage is done there. If I attempt a truce now, those within my ranks will feel I’m going soft. Not going to happen.”

Eyeing him wearily, I sternly replied, “You, my dear Horacio, seem to forget that I’m persistent. I will figure this out. Though I know you will not be this open with me often, I don’t like this animosity between all of you. I will figure out a way, especially as I feel it will be very beneficial and needed sooner than any of us would like!”

***********

JILLIAN

My eyes had been stuck on the ceiling for hours, attempting to daydream of happier things like being with my mother again, since I couldn’t sleep. Partially to distract me from her death and the prison I had been forced to live in now and partially to distract me from Arturo’s large arm that was laid out across my waist. I hated the feel of his skin against mine, forcing myself not to cringe every time he touched me. If I cringed, he got angry and if he got angry, it just made things worse.

Truth was, I felt sorry for Arturo in a way. When he was alone with me here? It wasn’t me he saw—it was his mate, Nora. He even called me by her name while satisfying himself on top of me and I let him, staying silent because I found when I did that, it was the only time Arturo was gentle with me.

As it was close to dawn, I decided it was time to work my way out of his grasp, slowly scooting out from under his hold to silently get dressed and head to the kitchen to start breakfast. As always, I carefully pulled his door shut before tiptoeing down the stairs so I wouldn’t wake anyone, especially him.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I couldn’t help but notice the bright yellow light filtering through the window. Walking over, I pulled back the curtain to find Amelia standing at the edge of the cliff in what looked like a trance, her aura of yellow magic flowing all around her before figures appeared like ghosts up in the sky. What was she doing? More importantly, who were these people? As I watched for several minutes, three ghostly women appeared—all young and so beautiful as they floated into the sky. As I took in their beautiful faces, however, another ghostly image appeared, but this time, it was a young man…

The instant I saw him, my breath caught in my chest as my wolf instantly flew into a frenzy, howling so loudly in my head that my ears continued to ring afterwards. Who is he? I knew who he was to me—he was my MATE! But who was my mate? More importantly, what was Amelia planning to do to him?