Silver's Bane

Chapter Eight Howling at the Moon-2

“Mister Prentiss?”

Gabriel turned toward his door at the student’s call. Behind the girl, he saw Jules.

“I’ll be just a moment Kara,” he told the girl and walked passed her. “Jules!”

Jules stopped but heisted before turning around. “Gabriel.”

“You’ve been ignoring me. Why?” It came out more of an accusation than a question.

“I needed time,” she said.

“Time for what? I was worried the…” he hesitated, knowing they were a stone’s throw away from a student in every direction. He lowered his voice to barely a whisper, “wolves may have found you.”

Jules sighed. “You’ll just have to trust that I can take care of myself. You set them on this path Gabriel. The consequences are yours to bear.”

Gabriel was stung. He knew he’d reacted impulsively when the Alpha had threatened them, but he hadn’t realized how much his actions must have been bothering Jules. She rarely spoke to him like this. If she’d only done what he wanted to do years ago.

He’d asked Jules to relocate, once they’d discovered the extent of the pack presence in Aboit. But she had refused. By then she had befriended Monica and to her leaving wasn’t worth sacrificing their growing friendship.

“We can’t talk about this now. You know that.” Jules’s tone was harsh, authoritative.

“We can’t just not talk about it either,” he said, under his breath. He knew Jules, that was her way. When she didn’t want to deal with something she pretended it wasn’t a problem for as long as she could. “I have to run study hall today. Come to our place tonight, we can talk about it then,” he suggested.

She considered a moment longer than was reasonable and then nodded.

Satisfied, he turned back to his classroom and the waiting student. Kara was peaking around the doorframe whispering fervently to a friend.

“We’re not having an affair, girls. Get to class.” The pair scampered off, Kara’s question seemingly forgotten.

LUCA

Luca had been in relatively constant contact with Jules throughout, this, their first day together while apart. He read her latest message before he started the Jeep.

“I’m spending the evening with my friends. I probably won’t respond for a while.” Luca had gathered that she meant she’d be with her coven tonight.

He punched in a reply, “perfect timing. I’ll be away from my phone for the next few hours. Full moon.”

The Jeep’s engine roared to life as the key turned. He was not looking forward to all the inquiries concerning his behavior of late. However, if he was late this time, Carson may actually have his head. Still, it was comforting to know that Jules was safe for the night. All the wolves would be preoccupied.

Luca’s phone beeped. “Oh no! I completely forgot that little detail.” She was poking fun at him for overlooking the fact that vampires can’t go into the sunlight.

He smiled widely. At the next stoplight, he replied with, “sure you did.” Luca glanced up through the windshield. The moon was already on the rise.

The next message he received winked at him with the addition of, “have a good hunt!”

Luca put his phone down without replying. He had arrived. He pulled up to the fence at the local preserve, which was already lined with cars. This was the night of the full moon, tonight the animal would take over. Werewolves could, of course, turn at will. But during the apex of each full moon cycle, the animal inside was forcibly, wonderfully, released.

The patch of gravel next to Carson’s vehicle was left open for the pack’s Beta. Luca parked the Jeep there and climbed out. With a running leap, he launched himself over the chain-link fence, landing with a thump on the other side. Luca wasn’t sure how Carson managed this, but every full moon, the pack that Carson called his own, gathered to pay their respects to their Alpha and run as one.

A few young wolves howled as Luca approached one of several groupings of werewolves. “Hi Luca,” said a female wolf, batting her eyelashes at him.

He smiled cordially but moved farther into their midst. Some wolves bowed slightly toward him when he passed. Luca saw many familiar faces, some he did not expect to see tonight.

Kyle playfully barked in his direction. Hayley, standing next to him, smacked him on the back of the head. Luca joined them near the center of the gathering pack.

“I’m surprised you’re here,” Luca commented.

“I am too,” Kyle admitted. “However, our almighty Alpha informed me that I was to be here, or else.”

“What do you suppose that means?” Hayley asked worriedly. She took Kyle’s hand and made a face at Adam, who had scowled at her.

Luca shrugged. He didn’t want to worry Hayley, but, he figured it probably had something to do with whatever punishment Carson had decided Kyle deserved for his insubordination.

Kyle ran his hand down Hayley’s long, silky hair, kissing her on the side of the head. “It’ll be fine.”

Watching them together made him think of Jules. Of his new-found passion for her. Of his need to protect her. Everything seemed to bring his mind back to Jules.

Carson’s howl pierced the darkening night sky. And it was met with more howls, Luca, Hayley, and Kyle did not join them.

“Once again, it is pleasing to see you all,” Carson began.

Some wolves continued to stand in their human form. Some of the more feral wolves crept from the woods in their wolf form. Luca, Kyle, and some others began to sit on the grass, knowing Carson’s speeches tended to run long.

“Looking at all of you shows me the inspiring strength I have behind me…”

“Here we go,” Kyle muttered.

Hayley kicked him lightly.

Luca suppressed a snicker.

“A lot has progressed since the last Moon Hunt, but first and foremost I must announce a cause for celebration.”

Kyle looked at Luca, who was silently hoping Carson hadn’t had Jules killed in the last ten minutes of radio silence.

“A wedding has taken place,” Carson continued.

Luca’s eyes grew wide.

“Kyle Cooper, Mrs. Cooper, please join me.”

Hayley hesitated but was nudged forward by her father. She reached out her hand to Kyle, who took it, pulling himself off the ground.

Luca worriedly watched as the couple walked, hand in hand, up to where their Alpha stood.

“We celebrate with this couple that, with my full blessing, have been joined together as one.”

Luca balked. Like hell they were. He looked at Kyle, who seemed to be very confused, if not a little unnerved by what Carson was saying.

“Her father and I talked at length before I allowed this union…”

Luca knew that Carson had talked to Hayley’s father, but to demand her hand for himself, not grant it to somebody else. Luca looked at Joe Reynolds. Hayley’s father looked rather subdued. What had he given or promised Carson, to ensure that Hayley and Kyle were safe? Luca shuttered to think of it. Owing Carson that kind of a debt was bound to unravel a few nerves.

“After tonight’s hunt has concluded, a celebration will be held at my home, the home of your Alpha. All are welcome.” At this, he gave a sweeping gesture, but the statement was untrue. If you were not one of Carson’s favorites, you were not actually invited. This was of common understanding amongst the pack. This suggested inclusion was just for show.

Luca suppressed an eye roll as he half-listened to Carson prattle on. Luca let his mind wander after Kyle and Hayley had safely rejoined in him the grass. He listened for the word vampire to pull him back to what Carson was saying, but it never came. Carson didn’t say a word about the current threat to Aboit, or the pack. Luca found this odd but was relieved all the same.

As Carson’s voice continued to wreck the peace of the evening, Luca spied something a bit odd. Looking over Carson’s shoulder, Luca focused in on a pair of late arrivals. Being late to the Moon Hunt was not a normal practice. It was a woman Luca had never seen before and a teenage boy. The woman was tall and beautiful, stately even. The boy wore tight jeans and a t-shirt that dripped with irony, a stocking cap covered most of his dyed black hair, and he looked like he pretty much permanently had something better to do with his time.

Once it must have become apparent that the majority of his pack was seeing something he wasn’t, Carson turned to look behind him. Luca prepared himself, this kind of disrespect was generally considered a punishable crime. But Carson made no move against them.

The woman spoke without waiting to be addressed. “Micha is dead. Carson, we need your help.”

“Demetria Harrison,” Carson said invitingly, which was odd.

A few of the wolves near Carson, who had been hanging on his every word, jeered at the audacity of interrupting their Alpha’s speech.

Carson rose his bulky arm to silence them. “This woman has come back home, we will welcome her,” Carson instructed. “Ben, Luca,” he said, then motioned for them to join him by the woman’s side.

Max bounded up beside them, but Carson held out his hand, sending the over-eager wolf away.

“Tell me what happened, Demetria,” Carson instructed, almost softly.

“I didn’t see it happen but my son Ricky did.” Demetria motioned toward the teenager.

Ricky glared back.

“Tell our Alpha what happened, baby,” Demetria instructed the boy sweetly.

Ricky rolled his eyes and paused. “It was a vampire,” Ricky said finally.

Carson’s eyes grew brighter, hungrier.

“How do you know? What did it look like?” Ben asked.

“I didn’t get a great look, but…fangs, pale skin, red hair…”

“Female?” Carson nearly shrieked.

“No, it was definitely a dude.”

Carson’s face fell.

“When did this happen?” Luca asked.

“Last night.” Ricky didn’t say more.

Luca flinched. Poor kid.

“We’ve been living in Fort Miles,” Demetria said. “Micha, my husband, was looking into the sting of murders there. They were vampire killings, he was sure of it. He must have closed in on the demon. When it attacked, it overpowered him, but he fought hard. His sacrifice gave our son a chance to run,” Demetria’s voice cracked as she spoke. She reached out for her son’s hand. He yanked it away before she could take it.

Carson rested a hand on her lower back. The gesture was a bizarrely intimate one.

“Demetria, I’m so sorry. Where are you staying now?” Ben asked.

Luca was starting to put things together. This woman must have been part of this pack’s past. A past that took place before he had come to Aboit.

“Nowhere yet. We grabbed the important things and came straight here. I didn’t want to take the risk that that monster would come back to finish the job.”

“I understand,” Carson said. “You and the boy can stay with me. At least until you get back on your feet. I must say, it will be nice to have you back with us.”

“I’m truly grateful, Carson.” Demetria smiled at Carson like he had just rescued her from certain death.

“It’s not a problem in the slightest,” he assured her, putting one hand on her shoulder, close to her neck. “It’s my job as Alpha now, to take care of you. Do you have a car?”

“We do.”

“Let’s go now, so you can get settled before the pack arrives,” Carson decided.

“Are you sure? The full moon…” Demetria looked around at the many pack members hovering nearby, pretending they couldn’t hear the conversation being had. Luca couldn’t believe she had blatantly questioned him.

“Of course, I’m sure. We can be back to the Den by the moon’s apex, and my Beta can lead the hunt tonight,” Carson said smoothly, motioning dismissively toward Luca.

Luca’s fingers twitched, it was a lot of power to hold, leading the Moon Hunt.

“Your troubles are over, dear one.” Carson brushed Demetria’s cheek with one finger. “You are no longer alone; you have me now.”

Demetria blushed.

Ricky rolled his eyes but said nothing.

“Wolves!” Carson demanded the pack's attention. “Your Alpha must take his leave. Your Beta, Luca Cain, has command.”

Demetria’s eyes grew wide at the announcement of his surname. Several wolves muttered their approval. The boy, Ricky, Luca noted looked mildly interested, but only for a moment.

Carson began to propel Demetria in the direction of the preserve’s entrance.

“I want to run with the pack,” Ricky announced, not following his mother.

“I don’t know Sweetie. I…” Demetria began, turning to face him.

“Demetria, dear, let him. After what he’s been through, the hunt may be just what he needs. Besides, this way you and I can catch up.” Carson instructed, but Luca seriously doubted there was any concern for the boy in Carson’s motives.

“He can catch a ride back with me,” Luca offered.

Demetria looked from Luca to her son and back, then she conceded. “I’d like that,” she said to Carson. She was now looking up at Carson like he’d hung the moon.

With that, Carson and Demetria walked towards the entrance to the preserve. Luca turned away from their receding forms.

“Find me after the hunt,” Luca told Ricky, then moved to address the pack. It was obvious that he held the position of power now, all faces turned obediently toward him.

During the following minutes, Luca allowed the pack to prepare for the change. Some wolves began to remove their clothing, some simply their outerwear. Some of the teenage girls tucked their phones in their b*a’s. Whatever a wolf changed with stayed with them, became part of them. So, how one chose to run was seen as a highly personal decision. Luca always found that the less you had tying yourself to your humanity the more freeing the run, the more animalistic his werewolf nature became. This is how he preferred it. This is how he let the wolf fully take over, to leave everything behind.

After only a few more minutes, Luca knew the time was right. The moon had risen high in the night sky. But most importantly, Luca could feel the pull of the animal inside him intensify. “With the moon, with the hunt, with our pack, let’s do this!” Luca shouted, building their anticipation with his own. The need to run as one was taking over his senses.

Kip, Ben, and Kyle appeared at his side. Ben glared at Kyle. “You lucky dog,” Kip whispered to Kyle while glancing over at Hayley, who stood next to her family, prepared for the change from woman to wolf.

Luca’s insides twisted, the moon’s power pulling the change from inside him. Normally, when Luca shifted into wolf form, he was still himself inside. Even as a wolf, he was in full control of his thoughts and actions. Tonight, things were different. Tonight, like all other full moons, Luca would lose the part of him that made him human. Tonight, the wolf would run free.

Luca’s shoulders bent forward, his body curling in on himself. It was time. He turned his back to the pack and let out a great howl, which started a chorus of responses. Luca focused what was left of his concertation, he bounced on his heels a moment longer and then bolted, in human form, farther into the forest.

He could hear the footfalls of the pack taking off behind him. Once his adrenaline was pumping, his mind was clear, and his pack was paces behind him, he launched himself into the air. In a flash of light, he turned from man to beast. His swift paws landed soundlessly on the forest floor. The man he was, now fully buried inside the animal.

Luca was lost in the hunt, fueled by heightened senses, and gathering strength from those who ran with him. He sniffed, the scent of deer came to his nose. He turned, leading the pack in a new direction. The wolf ran as fast as he could, his heart pounded in rhythm with his pace. He was liberated from his conflict with Carson, from his concerns for Jules, all of it. For this moment, he was consumed by the freedom of the pack. He howled as he closed in on his prey, the moonlight glistening off his silver coat.