His Lost Moon

Chapter 8

Dustin's POV

"Dustin, are you coming?" Jack called over his shoulder, as he headed toward the door, "We need to get ready for dinner..."

I was standing on the balcony overlooking the gardens, deep in thought, when Jack called.

"Go ahead," I said, and turned around, "I will meet up with you and Diana later..."

"Suite yourself," Jack said, grabbed hold of his mate's hand, and left the sitting room.

My mother had postponed the next-in-line Alpha meeting to later tonight. They had to attend some emergency meeting somewhere else... not that it should bother me... I was used to them not being around much...

I guess that's the hand you are being dealt when you are born into a royal family...

I sighed, the thought of the Council crowning me as the next-in-line Alpha was still weighing heavy on my shoulders.

There was no way my mother should even consider such a thing... she knew very well I couldn't control my temper...

I saw movement from the corner of my eye and I lifted my gaze.

A pure white wolf came walking out of the forest and her sapphire eyes were full of concern...

Mother...

Wonder what happened that she look so worried.

My mind raced back to earlier today when the black SUVs arrived at the packhouse.

Jack and I were on the training ground when we spotted the fleet.

"The Royals have arrived," Lupa said, amused.

I ignored my wolf and turned around to head toward the packhouse.

I wanted to find my mother and tell her to stop her absurd ideas, but to my surprise, I found my father entering the packhouse alone.

"Where is mom?" I asked, catching him off guard.

"Well, hello to you too, son," Dad growled under his breath.

"Hallo father, where is mother?" I asked again, ignoring his growl.

"Out on her routine run..." he answered, annoyed, and lifted two suitcases from the floor and headed toward the elevator.

That was typical of my mother... running off into the forest the second she arrived.

Dad dropped the suitcases in front of the elevator and turned to face me.

There was frustration and worry written in his eyes, but I tried to avoid it. I already had enough on my plate as it is, and I wouldn't be able to manage more issues.

I headed toward the stairs, hoping to reach the top before he spoke.

"Ayla is here..." he said, and I stopped in my tracks before my gaze snapped back at him.

I haven't seen or talked to Ayla for ages, and I wonder if it would be awkward between us, "and I think you need to talk some sense in your sister's head..."

The elevator door opened, and dad picked up the suitcases and got in. He didn't give me any indication of what was going on.

Well, now that mother has returned, I had better get going and get dressed. Nerina requested to have a small dinner gathering before her shifting ceremony.

I took off toward my quarters, took a shower, and got dressed, then headed toward the Alpha Quarters where dinner would be served.

It was quiet when I arrived and found Jack and Diana patiently standing and waiting on the balcony for the rest of the family to arrive.

"Finally!" Jack said as soon as he saw me, "what took you so long?"

"I got distracted," I answered, "where is everyone?"

"Grandmother and the Council had a quick meeting in her office..." Jack answered.

"Why..?" I asked, but Jack cut me off.

"Something happened while gran was out on her run, and she wanted to discuss it with the elders..." he answered.

"Oh..." was all I got out.

Slowly but surely, everyone arrived and we took our places at the table.

Nerina was fiddling uncomfortably in her seat, she looked a bit spooked.

The shifting shouldn't bother her, she has done it many times before... her father, Zander, was just forcing her to follow tradition because she came of age...

Wonder what her problem was tonight?

Ayla, followed by her guards, walked in next. The annoyance plastered on her face... she searched for my gaze, and gave me a quick but genuine smile.

I gave a nod of the head in return...

My mother was the last to arrive, and her silver eyes were sparkling out of delight as she greeted everyone, that was until her gaze fell on me... worry crossed her eyes, but she didn't say a word. She soon moved her gaze toward Nerina, and the same worry crossed her eyes again.

"She saw something..." Lupa said, and I scrunched my eyebrows together.

"Like what?" I asked, concerned.

Did mother figure out why I lost control when I killed Dean? Does she know the reason behind it? I have done everything in my power to cover up the reason...

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you could take your seats..." Zander called the room to attention, and the few people standing outside took their seats at the table.

Zander did the welcoming, smiling at Nerina and our food was served.

It was between all the chatting and celebrating that I got up and walked toward the balcony...

Something inside me wanted me to be outside and under the moon... something outside was calling me to find them... something was making me long for someone I had never met...

"Penny for your thoughts?" Ayla's soft voice came from behind me and I turned around, capturing her soft blue-gray eyes.

"Hallo Ayla," I greeted her and opened my arms for her. She took the opportunity and gave me a well-overdue hug.

"I have missed you," she said in my chest.

A knot formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard.

"And I for you..." I pulled her away from my chest, to have a good look at her. It's been so long... "how is the royal pack treating you?" I asked.

"As good as it gets," she said and took a step away from me, "things are different from the day you left..."

"How different?" I asked, sensing something was bothering her...

"I have decided not to take the crown," she answered.

"But you are the next-in-line Queen Luna, the Moon Blessed Wolf..." I argued.

"And you are the Moon Blessed Guard, not them," she pointed to the guards watching us, "if you are not by my side, I will not take the position..."

I was dumbstruck... "but..."

She shook her head bewildered, cutting me off.

"You left without a word!" She said with tears in her eyes, "you didn't even say goodbye. You left me to fend for myself! While I had to act like you were dead!"

She let out a breath as her gaze dropped to the floor, but when she lifted her gaze to search mine, pure anger radiated from her.

"It is because of him that we are in this predicament. If you hadn't befriended Dean, you wouldn't have killed him..." she sneered.

"Ayla..."

"Save it," she growled, turned on her heels, and stalked back into the dining room.

Ayla never liked Dean, and my mind raced back to the morning before I lost control.

Ayla waited for me in the kitchen, her big soft blue-grey eyes grew wide seeing the tired black rings hanging around my eyes.

"Morning Brother," she greeted me carefully and lifted a perfect eyebrow as she pinned her gaze on me.

I deliberately turned my back to her, knowing that her eyes carried questions I couldn't answer...

"Morning," I greeted her back while I opened the fridge door.

"Mother left pancakes in the oven," she said.

"Thanks," I answered and grabbed the milk.

Breakfast went fast, and soon Ayla and I left for school.

The Moon-Heaven Academy was situated about twenty miles outside The Royal pack, and the school was the center point between all the different packs in the area...

The drive to school was faster than I had hoped... and soon the big wide gates greeted us as they came into sight.

I brought the truck to a stop in my parking spot, got out, and opened the passenger door for Ayla.

We headed toward the building where a group of kids stood outside waiting for the first bell to ring.

"Dustin, my man, my buddy, old pal," Dean's voice filled the air, and Ayla growled under her breath loud enough for me to hear as she rolled her eyes, seeing Dean waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, surrounded by a group of teen wolves.

Ayla was anything but fond of Dean... she disliked him from the first day we met.

At first, I thought she was just jealous of Dean and our friendship, but soon I learned that the hate she had for him was deeper than I could ever imagine, and Ayla wasn't afraid to show her true feelings towards him.

Something about Dean had her on edge, and she refused to be associated with or even be in the same room as him... she did everything in her power to stay clear of him.

On the other hand, Dean didn't mind her hatred and went out of his way to make Ayla uncomfortable.

It got to the point that it was difficult to balance my responsibilities staying at Ayla's side and being friends with Dean.

I sighed, as the Moon Blessed Guard, it was my responsibility to look after my youngest sister and guard her with my life...

Dean pulled me into some sort of man's hug, and Ayla pushed passed us with a growl, extending her aura to warn Dean to back off as she rushed inside, searching for her friends...

"Welcomed back!" Dean said, smiling slyly as his gaze stalked behind Ayla as she entered the building.

"That wasn't necessary," I said, c*****g an eyebrow at Dean as I glared at him.

"She started it!" He pointed his finger like a five-year-old toward the door where Ayla disappeared, defending himself.

"Hmm," I answered, and pulled my lips in a thin line, "and you are no better. Stop fueling the hatred..."

"Oh, come one Dustin, live a little," Dean said, smiling slyly, "there was no harm done! I'm just teasing her..."

I sighed defeated... and nodded my head.

Accalia, Dean's twin sister, and one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever come across, quietly climbed the stairs and jumped on Dean's back, taking Dean totally by surprise.

Dean's facial expression was classic and I couldn't help but laugh as Accalia made her brother carry her up the stairs toward her locker.

I was surprised that even though Ayla couldn't stand Dean, she and Accalia were getting along quite well... maybe it was just a girl thing...

I shook my head, picked up my backpack from the floor, and started climbing the stairs.

Dean was good-looking, fairly built just like me, and stood close to 6'1, he had golden blond hair with the same color blue eyes as his sister. The she-wolves were crazy over him and he didn't shy away from willingly test-driving them... it was only Ayla who couldn't stand him...

My mind raced back to the first day Dean and I met. We were just pups, around the age of five, running around on the training grounds after our fathers, seeking new adventures.

Dean's father, Alpha Greg, was part of the Royal Council and was in charge of warrior training in the Royal Pack, under my father's supervision.

Dean and I clicked the moment we met...

The school bell rang and I rushed toward our locker to get my books.

Dean dropped his sister at a nearby locker and rushed to my side.

"What subject do you have, the first period?" Dean asked, letting out a breath.

"English, then Math," I answered, "you?"

"History, then Wolf 101," he growled unhappily, "I'll see you at lunch then..." he said as he took off toward the east side of the huge building.

My English class was on the north side of the building and I slowly made my way toward my class.

I scanned the hallway, finding Ayla walking a few feet in front of me, chatting with one of her friends.

I entered my English class the very second the second bell rang.

"Please take your seat, Mr. Wolfgang," Mrs. Walker said as she entered the classroom, "open your textbook to page 59, and follow the instructions."

The first and second periods passed faster than I expected and the bell rang for lunch.

Ayla and I made our way toward the cafeteria and we both took our seats at different tables.

I waited patiently for Dean to arrive, watching all different kinds of wolves enter the cafeteria, but no sign of Dean.

Lewis, a senior in our school and a Lycan Alpha took a seat at my table, his gaze pinned worryingly on me.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Lewis?" I snapped, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.

"It's nothing," he answered, but his yellow eyes were betraying him.

"Don't lie to me Lewis," I growled under my breath, "now tell me what you are hiding from me!" I demanded.

Even though a Lycan, Lewis could control his temper, something most Lycans couldn't do.

"You are not going to like this," he said, leaning over the table, "but Dean is getting himself into some crazy sh*t..."

"What kind of sh*t?" I asked.

"Dustin," Zander called, forcing the old memory from my mind.

"Yeah?" I answered, a bit confused.

"Let's go," he said, gesturing to everyone leaving toward the exit, "it's time..."

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