The Heir of Crescent Moon

Chapter 7 - Blood Moon

Everly POV

Over the next two weeks, I ran back and forth from the office and home to finish my work and be involved with the hiring. I was thankful that I was involved. I am a bit particular when it comes to working with people. I don't always get along with others, and especially in this field, someone of my gender and age can be challenging for some people to accept that they have to take orders from me. This is why I generally work alone. But while I get by, I want stability and to contribute to the pack, which has done nothing but support me all my life.

I needed to show my pack that I was still a valued member and cared about them. Why? I didn’t know. It could be because Cory is finally Alpha, and I know he will be amazing, or it could just be because the changing of the guard is a signal that it’s time for this generation to step up.

Or because you want to make sure our friends succeed because we care about them. - Tozi answers.

Or that. - I said, making sure not to delve too deeply into the whys. They are my friends, after all. I want them all to succeed.

The first set of interviews for regular staff was done via phone with the same modulator I had used. Dad and Cory insisted that this was the fairest way. It was weird to hear the same monotonous voice repeatedly, but I began to see their point. Without looking into eyes and facial expressions, it was hard to see anything but the words and could begin to see what was real and what wasn't.

At the end of the two weeks, we'd narrowed the list of six hundred to about four hundred. Considering we would be hiring about two hundred and fifty of those, we had made significant progress, though I don't remember a time in my life when I talked so much.

I got a text in the middle of the last interview, and when I saw the name light up, I ignored it and continued with the interview. I didn't pay much attention to it until it beeped again and then again. Finally, the phone rang, and everyone looked at me.

“Sorry,” I said, looking at my phone and turning off the ringer.

“Is everything OK? We could finish this one without you.” Cory volunteered.

“No.” I shook my head and turned off my phone. I would deal with it later. I continued the interview and then asked for a small break after.

“Hey! I thought you were avoiding me.” Paolo said the moment he picked up the phone.

“I was working, Paolo. How can I help you?” I said a bit short.

“Oh, sorry. I thought you were a freelancer and mostly worked at night.”

“I was. I got a job now though, so I'll be unavailable most of the day.”

“Oh, I see. What kind of job did you get?”

“I'm working in the new Salonen Industries building as the head of the new department.”

“You're working for Alpha Cory?” He asked, and I detected a hint of anger in his voice.

“I'm working for my pack. Yes. Is there a problem?”

“I thought you didn't want to be associated with them anymore? You always talked about how everyone judged you for it.”

“That was a decade ago, Paolo. People changed. I've changed,” I said, not understanding why I was even explaining myself. “What do you need?”

“Right, sorry. I was wondering if you'd like to go to dinner?” He said. “Like old times.”

I was tempted, but then again, I wasn't. Paolo was my first real boyfriend, but I meant what I said. I wasn't the same person I was a decade ago. At least, I was trying not to be.

“Listen, Paolo. It was really nice catching up with you, and I'd like to stay friends, but I am not in a place where I want to be dating. I am just moving back home and starting a new job as head of the department. I want to concentrate on all of that. Friends?” I asked.

“Sure. It was a shot, anyways. What's the head of a department doing with a simple warrior and mechanic, right?” He said, and it sent a pang of guilt through my head.

“No, it's not that. At all. It really is just bad timing.”

“Maybe another time, then.” He said and hung up.

I sighed. I had seen his intentions to take up where we left off that night at the bar, but I thought I'd have more time before he tried. I really wasn't looking for anything but to be home again. I haven't dated in almost four years. I just haven't felt the appeal. I was not drawn to anyone.

That's not quite true. - Tozi answered.

I didn't bother to respond. I went back inside and sat down for the next interview.

After we were done for the day, we decided to eat dinner at the office to go through the remaining candidates.

“Should we remove all the blinders, then?” Dad asked.

“Yeah, I don't see why not. The next interviews are in person.” Cory answered. Dad started fiddling with the app, and then our tablets beeped. Eagerly, I put down my moo shu pork and opened it. I scrolled through the names and then stood up to do a little jig.

“Your friend is on the list?” Cory asked, smiling at me.

“Yes!” I said.

“What's their name?” He asked.

“Ziomara Johnson.” Right after I said that, everyone went to look at their tablets.

“What kind of pack name is 'Adolescent evolutionary anomaly reptile assassin's pack'?” Jo asked.

I smiled and shook my head. I told her to put something there so they wouldn't filter her application out to the human candidates.

“Wait a minute...” James said, looking like he was thinking a little too hard. “Is that...” James looked at me before a smirk appeared. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?”

Everyone looked down at the pack name again, seeing what James did.

“Is this a joke? Is there a reason she won't give us her pack name?” Cory asked.

“Yes.” I answered. “Because she doesn't belong to one.”

“Is she not a wolf?”

“She's a wolf.”

“A rogue then?” Jo finally caught on. I nodded and looked at their reactions. None of them looked disgusted or perturbed, just like I had thought.

“Why?” Cory asked. This is where things got trickier.

“I would love to tell you, but it's not my story to tell.” I told them. “But I can tell you that she's a good person, and she is not a danger to you or the pack. I wouldn't bring her if I thought she was.” Cory nodded. I knew he believed me when I said I wouldn't endanger the pack. I was happy to know I still had his trust even after all these years.

“Are we allowed to ask her?” Cory asked.

“You won't have to. She plans to tell you everything, but it's a story best told in person to her future Alpha if she feels like she can trust you.” I said pointedly. Cory's face became pensive before he nodded and dropped it.

We moved on to the other people. I signaled a few that I knew would make good additions and a few I knew from past experience would have trouble taking orders from me. Only one person I absolutely vetoed, and I was thankful when no one asked me why. I drove home with Dad today to find a bouquet of roses on the table.

“Dad, you still got it! Mom's going to love them, I bet!” I told him. I wasn't fond of roses, but I knew Mom would swoon over them.

“That wasn't me.” Dad said, and a growl escaped him. “Who the f**k is giving your mother flowers.” He snarled. Whoops. “Is nothing f*****g sacred? She's my mate! She's been my mate for almost thirty f*****g years.”

Dad is a very rational and calm man. He loves his job and his family. He usually doesn't get angry. Annoyed, yes, but angry, no. I have seen Dad mad very few times in my lifetime, but Mom having an admirer would definitely be a good reason for the anger.

Mom came walking in with a smile on her face, and Dad growled louder.

“What's wrong, amor? Why are you angry? What happened?” She asked, alarmed at Dad's reaction.

“Why is someone sending you flowers? And why aren't they in the trash?” He growled, his eyes black, but I could also see the hurt flash in his eyes at the last question.

“Flow- oh mi rey (my king).” She said sweetly, going to Dad and wrapping her arms around him. He took a deep breath in her hair to calm himself, but I could still see his wolf right under the surface. “Those aren't for me. I wouldn't even bring them in the house if they were.”

“Then what-”

“They are for Evie.” She said, turning to me with a twinkle in her eye.

“Me? Who would send me flowers?” I asked

“Who is sending my Evie flowers?” Dad asked at the same time. Somehow, I wasn't surprised that he still seemed as pissed as when he thought they were for Mom.

“I didn't read the card. I just accepted them.” She said.

I walked to the flowers and looked for a card.

Congratulations on your new job.

-Paolo

I sighed and hid the disappointment I felt at the note. I smiled and grabbed them, intending to take them to my room.

“Who sent you flowers?” Dad asked.

“Noneya.” I stuck my tongue out and left the kitchen.

“Amor, let her be.” Mom warned.

“A man sent flowers to my house for my little girl, and I'm just supposed to let it go?” He asked her.

“She's twenty-five. She's not a little girl anymore.”

“Maybe I can hack the delivery place. What was the name of the company?” I heard Dad thinking out loud when I was out of the kitchen.

“Evergreen Roswell! You will not invade your daughter's privacy this way.” She growled at him. I chuckled. Mom always had my back.

I put the flowers on the dresser and stared at them. It was a sweet gesture, but I couldn't help but think that I had dated Paolo for almost a year and a half, and he should have remembered I don't like roses. It's not that they weren't pretty. I read long ago that roses haven't smelled as they should in decades because they have been bred for durability. When we visited Mexico, I asked my mother to take me to some gardens there. The smell of those roses...it was indescribable. I smelled the flowers on my dresser. It was a barely-there scent that made me sad.

—

“I told you it wasn’t a problem, Zi. I enjoy a good road trip. Plus, I’ve already driven this myself. I know all the good places to nap.” I said, helping her load the last luggage into her small SUV.

“But aren’t you missing your first full moon back with your pack coming with us?”

“I was there last month, and there will be more. Come on. I’m excited about this. I’ve been gone a month, and you need to tell me everything that’s been happening here.”

We made sure the small rental trailer was securely fastened to the back and started on our way. We talked about the projects we wanted to start with and decided we would move in together. I was too old to live with my parents, but I didn't like apartments. They made me feel claustrophobic. I had considered joining the pack house, like my brother Everette, but only the top levels for the ranked members had balconies. The warrior and guest levels were bigger than apartments but had no balconies. I wanted a place to put a few plants out. I spent too much time on my own and too much time sitting at a computer desk. I need a bit of greenery and fresh air.

As it was, I was already bigger than your average she-wolf. I allowed Tozi her time to run, but I had never trained or worked out like most wolves felt the need to do. My hips were too wide, and my stomach was soft. I spent ten or more hours of my waking day on a computer chair. If I didn't have the metabolism of a werewolf, I'd probably have an issue with my weight. My only solace was that my mate should still love me as I am...whoever he was...if I ever met him.

“Ev...are you listening to me?” Zi asked.

“Sorry. What was that?” I said. Zi was driving while I was trying to nap.

“Do you need a bathroom break? I think I need to pull over and change Molly.”

“I could use some coffee.” I said, stretching.

“You didn't seem like you were sleeping. Did I wake you up?”

“No, I was just lost in thought. Where are we?”

“We just entered Missouri.” She answered while she maneuvered us into a gas station. I looked up at the full moon above us. It was almost at its peak. Everyone should be getting ready to look for their mates and run with the pack. I felt a slight pang of hurt as I thought about how many full moons I've missed and how many times I could have met my mate.

We're twenty-five. It's unreasonable for people to think we could make all ninety full moons. He's out there. We'll find him, but you also need to stop running away. We need to face it. - Tozi responded.

I know. I promise I'm done. - I told her.

I grabbed a coffee and a few snacks, and we went back on the road. About twenty minutes later, Tozi started pacing.

What's wrong? - I asked her, sitting up and looking around.

I don't know. Something is happening. Something bad - she said.

To us?

No. I don't know. I don't think so.

Then what is it? - I asked. She wasn't making any sense. A few moments later, I felt a deep pain in my heart, and I let out a sob. It felt like someone had plunged a knife through it, and I couldn't breathe.

Zi pulled over. I opened the door and dropped to my knees. I was sobbing, holding my chest, and I didn't know why. After a few minutes, the pain left, but I continued to sob, and Tozi continued to howl in my head.

Eventually, I calmed down. I stayed there, trying to understand what had happened until Zi started to shake me.

“What the f**k is going on, Everly!” She shrieked at me.

“I don't know.” I managed. I looked up at her and saw the fear in her eyes, but then my eyes settled on the full moon behind her.

“Zi...” I said. She turned around and gasped. “A blood moon, but how di-What does that have to do with you? What happened to you?” She asked.

“I don't know, but we need to get home,” I said. I took the keys from her and got into the driver's side. The moment she got in, I took off. We were still nineteen hours from home, but I knew I could drive it in less than seventeen. I tried calling everyone, but no one answered, and I had no equipment to find them.

I had Zi calling just about every contact on my phone, and no one was picking up. My stomach was tightening the more I drove, and I was close to a breakdown. I didn't take any breaks other than pump gas and refused to let Zi drive. I needed to get home. I needed to find out what was happening. We finally arrived at the pack gates close to three in the afternoon. I was startled to see the number of guards at the gate.

They let me through right away but wouldn't tell me what happened. They told me Cory would wait for me at the front of the pack house. I couldn't drive very fast. Wolves were running all over the place, some on the patrol routes while others were in their human form carrying wood. My heart sank. It was so much wood, and there could only be one reason for it. Pyres.

I finally made it to the front of the pack house. Cory and James were waiting for us at the front. There was blood covering both of them. Their eyes were bloodshot, and neither looked like they had slept.

I got out of the vehicle and ran to Cory. He grabbed me and hugged me tight.

“I'm so glad you weren't here.” He whispered.

“What happened?” I asked when I pulled back.