I'm the Broken Luna

Chapter 2: Werewolves

[Rain Castanova]

"You okay?" Mom asked me while gently combing my long wavy brown hair that almost reach my waist.

"Yes, Mom," I said while looking at her beautiful face.

I purred when she kissed my forehead before looking dearly at my eyes. I felt her warmth and it made me feel sleepy. Palagi pa ring sumasagi sa isipan ko, gaano kaya kasaya kung nagkaroon ako ng mga kapatid? I'm sure our house would be loud as if there is always a party. I just wished that my parents would still consider to make pups one of this days.

I really want to have siblings.

"If that;s the case then, I'm will head off to the pack house now. Your Dad and I will be waiting for you there, okay? Bye, honey and make sure to lock the doors." She said and kissed me on my cheek before heading to the door way.

I heaved a long sigh. Everyone is excited about the arrival of Hollow Moon Pack but I am not, because I really don't like radiating powers in one place. I'm easily get intimidated and I really hate that feeling. I just wish everything to go smoothly because sometimes, the other pack's members are such a bunch of asshole.

After a couple of minutes, I decided to make myself presentable before bring myself to the pack house. I stood up from my seat and was about to climbed upstairs when I sensed someone else presence inside the house. Seconds later, his familiar scent made my brow knotted in confusion.

The smell of ocean breeze and lemons, it's James. What is he doing here at this moment?

The visitors of our pack will be here any moment by now, he should be at the pack house together with his father. I know for sure the pack house is very busy this morning because they want to impress the said visitors. But this guy escaped from all the cleaning and paper works.

James and his irresponsible ass.

"What do you want?" I asked him still not looking at his direction which was at the kitchen.

Maybe, he used the back door.

"Try to guess," halata sa boses niya ang pang-aasar.

He really love to see my scowling face, pareho sila ni Vee na gustong palagi akong nababarino. Ang sakit nila sa ulo kapag magkasama sila, isang mapang-asar na lalaki at isang palaging nakasigaw na babae. Kapag magkakasama kaming apat ay bigla na lang umaalis si Alex dahil hindi nito kaya ang ingay ng dalawa.

"Then, you may leave now," wala sa mood kong sagot sa kanya.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad paitaas but before I could even take another step upstairs, I heard a warning growl from him and it made me flinched. It made me scared for a second when his growl became low, as he was a beast of the night hunting his prey.

Shit! I forgot, he really is a beast!

"Don't you dare disrespect me!" he roared making me flinched even more.

Mabilis akong tumalon mula sa ikasampung palapag ng hagdan. Pagbagsak ko sa sahig ay mabilis akong yumuko bilang pagbibigay galang sa kanya.

"I'm sorry, Crown Alpha," I said in a low tiny voice.

I almost forgot that he's our Crown Alpha and we need to respect him and his family! My mind is just too clouded about what Alex said to me and it made me lose my thoughts for a bit.

The Hollow Moon Pack. That is the most strongest pack here in Asia, who wouldn't trembled in fear?

Even though, James is my friend and we always hangout and run for miles, I should still address him by his title. I just sometimes forget it.

"I'm just kidding, Rain. You can stand up now," he said and I could feel that there is a smug smirk that is plastered on his lips.

I looked up and meet his playful eyes with mine that screamed annoyance. And before I could utter a curse for him he already ruffled my hair!

What the?!

Naisahan niya ako! Akala ko ay talagang galit siya sa akin dahil sa hindi ko pagbibigay importansya ng kanyang presensya. He's really getting into my nerves sometimes! Ginagamit niya ang authoridad niya sa akin para mapag-tripan ako. Nakakainis talaga ang lalaking ito!

In the werewolf community, it's a bad manner to disrespect the Alpha and the Luna of the Pack and that also applied to their children. At sa kasamaang palad ang bestfriend kong si James ay ang aming Crown Alpha.

Siya ang susunod sa kanyang Ama na si Alpha Nick, our current Alpha kapag binitiwan na nito ang kanyang titulo. When James does turns eighteen, ipapasa na sa kanya ang titulo bilang Alpha of The Silver Moon Pack, our pack.

"Naisahan mo ako, James! Nakakainis ka talaga," I glared at him making him feel how irritated I am now.

"Aba-aba. Bakit, ha? Papalag ka na ba?" he asked then laughed annoyingly that fueled my irritation for him.

I stood up as I rolled my eyes that earned a snort from him. I was about to give him a punch on his face but he was fast and aimed for my sides!

Shit! I hate being tickled!

"H-hey. . . s-stop! J-james!" I said breathy surpassing my laughs.

Kahit anong sabihin ko para tumigil siya ay patuloy pa rin siya sa pangingiliti sa akin! Halos kapusin na ako ng hininga kakaiwas sa kanya pero mas mabilis talaga siya sa akin.

"Ano? Ano, ha?! Kaya mo na ako, Rain?"

Napuno ng tawanan namin ang buong bahay, may mga gamit din kaming nasagi dahil sa kagagawan ni James. Muntik na ring mabasag ang isang vase ng bulaklak mabuti na lang at naagapan namin iyon! Hindi nagtagal ay itinigil na niya ang pagkiliti sa akin.

Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit pinakalma ang sarili. Inayos ko ang aking nagulong buhok habang pinandidilatan siya ng mga mata. Napangisi na lang ako nang makitang mas magulo ang itim niyang buhok dahil sa pagsabunot ko kanina.

"Nasaan pala sina Alex?" tanong niya.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin nang magpunta siya sa kusina at paglabas niya ay may mansanas na siyang hawak, may kagat na. Nakapamulsa ang kaliwa niyang kamay sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon habang naglalakad papunta sa akin.

"I dunno," maikling sagot ko.

Inirapan ko ulit siya bago ako naglakad papunta sa isang sofa. Inaantok akong umupo roon at napahawak na lang sa aking noo.

Naupo siya sa tabi ko. "Nervous?" tanong niya pa.

"Slight," tanging sagot ko at tumingin sa kisame ng bahay.

Hindi ko alam pero kakaiba ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. Something big is going to happen, I can feel that. It may change something or someone, I just couldn't tell. After all, my gut feel never fails me that is why I'm kinda scared of what will happen.

"Wow, bago 'yon, ah! My future beta is nervous!" pang-aasar niya sa akin.

Unfortunately, I'm the future Beta of our pack. I'm the only child of the Castanova family that is why that title will automatically be pass down on me when the right time comes.

In the Werewolf Community, an Alpha runs a pack with a Luna on his side. They are mates and our leaders. Their words from them are rules in the pack and we should obey that.

Pumapangalwa lang ang mga Beta, sila ay ang kanang kamay ng mga Alpha. Ang pinakahuling malakas na rango ay ang Delta or the third in command. Ang mga Delta ang may hawak at ang nagsasanay sa mga pack warriors para mapaghandaan ang maaaring maganap na mga pag-atake sa pack.

About the title, being an Alpha hold so much responsibility on his back and on his heart. He must be strong to protect the pack and wise to make plans to make sure that every pack members are safe and attended when there is an attack.

But a Beta can have the title of being an Alpha when the current Alpha dies and there is no one from his bloodline can take the title. Or when the Alpha couldn't find his mate or he got rejected by his destined one. Because an Alpha without a Luna, can't run a pack, without a mate you can die, emotionally, mentally and physically too.

To find and have a mate is the biggest blessing a werewolf can have in their lifetime.

Mates. They are our other-half, our soulmates.

We are bounded to our mate, we just have to find them. The moment we are born in this world, the moon goddess gifted us a partner that will live with us for all eternity, through ups and downs. And we can recognize if it is our mate when we feel the magical pull.

The pull that makes us want to keep them forever, the tingles whenever we have physical contacts and when our wolf howl in delight.

And love at first sight is accurate in our race and it never fails.

We can't just ignore the pull, the mate bond because it was invincible to conquer. Whoever dare to defy the mate bond will suffer in an unbearable pain or worst it can lead in to someone's death.

James clapped his hands to caught my attention. "Hoy, ano natulala ka? Ano bang iniisip mo?"

"Duh! Hollow Moon Pack kasi iyon, 'no!" sigaw ko habang nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa kanya.

Hindi pa rin mawala ang kaba sa aking dibdib kapag naaalala ang pagdating ng malakas na pack dito sa aming teritoryo mamaya.

Visiting other packs is a very good idea. Minsan para makahanap ng ibang puwedeng maging kaalyansa para mas tumibay ang isang samahan. At kung su-suwertihin ay nasa ibang packs mahahanap ang mga nakatadhana sa amin.

"Try mo kasing mag-chill lang, hindi ka naman nila kakainin. T'saka balita ko 'yong Alpha nila, hinahanap na ang kapareha niya. Cool isn't it? Todo effort siya, 'no?" nakangiti niyang sabi sa akin.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya dahil hindi naman ako ganoon kainteresado.

"You know what? Pagtatawan talaga kita sa birthday mo. Magsaya ka na baby boy!" Tumatawa kong sabi sa kanya.

Mabilis na nag-iba ang itsura ni James kaya mas natawa ako. Salubong ang kanyang makapal na kilay at halos maningkit na ang kanyang mga mata sa inis. Walang pasabing ibinato niya sa akin ang natira sa mansanas na kinain niya kanina. Mabuti na lang at nakaiwas ako.

Perks of being a werewolf.

"Ha-ha, funny." Pinagpagan niya ang kamay niya bago siya tumayo.

I know na pe-pressure lang siya dahil malapit na siyang mag-birthday. Kailangan na niyang magseryoso sa buhay dahil hindi biro ang mga magiging tungkulin niya kapag siya na ang aming Alpha. War and pack stuff? Hindi iyon madaling i-handle.

Poor James.

"Ilang taon na ang Alpha nila?" tanong ko para gumaan ang mood dahil pakiramdam ko ay nag-iba ang aura niya.

I don't really want to mess with a pissed of James.

"He turned eighteen last month," sagot niya sa tinatamad na boses.

Ahh, kaya naman pala.

"Hey, I have to go. My Dad just mind-linked me, malapit na raw sila. You should be at the pack house too, Rain. Mag-ayos ka na, napakabagal n'yo pa namang kumilos na mga babae," he said as he gave me a pat on my head.

I refrained myself to punch him straight on his annoying face. I wondered why did I let myself get a friend like him. He is really a pain in the neck, it made me want to bury him on the ground.

"Alright. See you there," I faked smiled and it earned a laugh from him.

He must sensed that it was a fake smile.

"You don't need to smile if you don't feel like it, Rain. Hindi rin kasi bagay sa 'yo, para kang baliw."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya, akmang tatayo na ako para bigyan siya ng isang malakas na suntok ay mabilis siyang nakaalis sa harapan ko. Narinig ko na lang ang pagsara ng pinto at napapailing na naupo ulit sa sofa.

The Hollow Moon Pack.

"Weird," my wolf purred inside my head.

×××××