Born of the Moon

Chapter 6: Trap

CARAMIA:

I wake up with a start, but calm down as soon as I realize where I am. I was dreaming about my mate again... it felt so real, like she was speaking to me and asking me to meet her, but I know she will never do that. The dream ended the way it always does, turning into a nightmare where she sinks her teeth into my neck. I always wake up at the pain of her fangs piercing my skin overtakes me, exactly like it did on that day.

I sit up in bed and wipe the sweat off of my brow. I’ve dreamed of her every night since she attacked me, and sometimes it’s pleasant, too pleasant. The good dreams make me ache for her, want her… But it always ends the same way, with her fangs on my neck.

I’m back in my own bedroom, I only stayed in the pack hospital for two nights. After that I was mostly healed and felt okay to sleep in my own bed. I’m still on bed rest through, my energy has not fully recovered yet… Or at least, that is what I tell people so that I can remain in bed and hide away in my room. I’m not ready to face everything going on outside of these four walls.

I get out of bed, overheated by my dream and make my way to my en suite bathroom. I open the tap and wash the gleam of sweat from my face, splashing some water onto the back of my neck to cool me down.

“Good Morning, Sleepyhead.” My wolf teases me in our mind. She has become very frustrated at being cooped up in here. We haven’t even gone out for food, someone always brings something up to me at meal times.

“What do you want?” I ask in annoyance, hardly awake enough to deal with her incessant whining.

“Guess who paid us a visit last night?” She says in a low sultry voice.

I frown at that, gazing at myself in the mirror, knowing she will see the reprimand in my eyes. She shouldn't be speaking to anyone while I’m asleep. She has no tact, no filter whatsoever. Who would be d*mb enough to mind link to me while I'm sleeping? My eyes fall on the small white scar clearly visible at the base of my neck. My mate's face pops into my head, but I push it away. I need to focus on the matter at hand.

“Who?” I inquire, trying to keep my tone calm.

“Our dear little mate.” She replies with a pout, as if this is all just some big joke to her.

Why the h*ll would our mate want to speak to us when she’s the one who tried to kill us in the first place? More importantly, how did she even get close enough to link to us without anyone detecting her?

“I know, it’s all very alarming.” My wolf says, replying to my thoughts. “We’ll definitely need to work on the very big cracks in our defenses, and I don’t think it’s motivating anyone to do their f**k*ng job when their Alpha is hiding in her room, too d**n scared to face them.” She pits at me, hitting me where it hurts.

I know she’s right, I am afraid. I am always the one who is afraid, while she has no fear at all. Too bad I’m the one holding the reigns. “Too bad indeed.” She teases. I hate that she can hear everything I think. Sometimes I wish there is a place in my mind I can go to be alone.

“What did she want?” I finally manage to ask.

“She wants us to meet her at midnight in the spot where she previously tried to rip our head off. I don’t know about you, but I smell a rat.” My wolf replies with a low growl.

“You don’t trust her?” I inquire, not sure how to feel about any of this.

“Of course I don’t trust her, but she is our mate. So, I think we should go and just keep our guards up.” My wolf suggests.

“What if she tries to kill us again?” I ask, trying to keep the fear from my voice.

“I’m counting on it.” My wolf replies arrogantly.

“I don’t want to kill her. I’ll never survive the aftermath of killing my own mate.” I state, shocked at her callousness.

“Don’t worry, I don’t want to kill her any more than you do. I met her wolf, and I think she cares for us too, our mate is in there somewhere. A wolf can never walk away from their mate, it is the human side that does that.” My wolf explains, her voice almost… caring.

“What do you suggest we do?” I inquire, she must have a plan. It seems that while I was still sleeping she was figuring out how to handle this whole mess.

“You forget, we are technically her Alpha. So, we just make her submit.” My wolf states, as if that isn’t going to be hard at all.

“I don’t want to be her Alpha, I want to be her mate.” I argue, not really agreeing that she will respond too well to being dominated.

“Look, the wolf part is accepting of us, but the human part is fighting back. We need to break through that part before we can trust that she won’t stab us in the back again. The human inside the wolf needs to accept us as her mate too.” My wolf has never been so insightful before. I find myself enjoying her philosophical side.

“Be careful.” I tease. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you’ve gone soft.”

“Oh, trust me. I’m going to be ready for her tonight. If she tries anything I’ll be giving her the beating of her life.” My wolf says through gritted teeth, and I just let out a defeated sigh. There she is, the monster underneath the skin.

There is a knock at the door and I go to open it, it is Beta Rex. I haven’t seen him since that day in the hospital, something must be wrong.

“Alpha Caramia, I’m sorry to disturb your rest, but the scouts suspect there was a perimeter breach last night.” Rex explains. Of course, they finally figured out that my mate had been here, but they wouldn't know why, or maybe even who.

“I know, Beta Rex.” I decide to say, enjoying the look of utter shock on his face.

“How?” He stutters, trying to regain his composure.

“It was the wolf that attacked me, she wanted to talk to me.” I explain.

“How did she get in?” He requests, still dumbfounded by the whole thing.

“I don’t know how far she got, I don’t think she made it into the pack house, but she definitely came much too close for comfort.” I muse. “How did the scouts finally figure it out?” I ask.

“They found wolf tracks leading into our territory and followed it up to the treeline of the pack house. The smell of the wolf couldn’t be identified, because it's masked by a fowl odor.” Rex elaborates.

So, that’s how she did it. She must have lathered herself in something that has such a strong smell her own scent would be undetectable, clever girl.

“Tell the scouts I’ll be out shortly to brief them.” I command.

“Are you feeling up for it?” Rex inquires with raised brows, but seeing the displeased glance I give him he quickly adds. “Alpha Caramia.”

“I’m feeling much better today, I think I’m fine to resume my duties as Alpha.” I reply sternly.

“I’m glad to hear that.” He says with a small smile, but I can't help feeling like he isn't glad about it at all.

“On second thought, have the entire pack gather at lunch time. I would like to address them all and answers any lingering questions they might have about that night. It's high time I tell them what happened in my own words, but first we need to handle the break in our defenses. I’ll be out shortly to discuss it.” I command.

“Yes, Alpha. I agree.” He replies swiftly.

I close the door and quickly get into a shower, feeling ready to be the Alpha my pack deserves again.