His Lost Moon

Chapter 9

Dustin's POV

I silently walked with Jack and Diana down to the clearing. I hadn't been down to the clearing for some time, it reminded me so much of what happened when Jack and I shifted a couple of weeks ago.

My mind raced, reliving the night of my shifting and a cold unwilling shiver ran down my spine.

"So, are you ready, bro?" Jack asked as we walked down to the clearing for our first shift, excitement visible on his face.

"As ready as can be," I answered, irritated.

I haven't had much sleep in the last few nights and it was visible on my face.

My mother made me and Jack welcome the Alphas and their ranks to the shifting ceremony.

"Check that one out," Jack whispered, and pumped me in the ribs, pointing his finger to a girl with light brown hair and big brown eyes.

She was sure pretty... but not my type...

Now that we have our first shift, we will be able to sense and find our mates.

Oh, Goddess... my eyes suddenly widened at the thought of finding my mate...

I wasn't ready to settle down yet... not because I didn't want a family...or a mate... but because of who and what I was...

My mate would surely reject my ass if she found out I had killed my best friend in cold blood.

I sighed, "oh, Goddess, please, just not tonight... I wouldn't be able to live through the humiliation of getting rejected on my first shift tonight..."

"Dustin," a young Lycan grabbed my hand and shook it, forcing me out of my grey thoughts. He had a young she-wolf at his side, looking a bit worried.

It took me a moment before I recognized who the Lycan was standing with a broad smile before me...

"Lewis?" I gasped, surprised.

"In the flesh!" he said and warmly smiled at me, "how have you been, mate?" he asked.

F*ck! I mentally growled, Lewis was the last person I spoke to before I killed Dean... he knows about Dean's sh*t... the sh*t I have kept secret to honor Dean's reputation... and his pack...

"Life could be better," I answered, keeping my pose, "and you?"

"Playing Alpha..." he said.

Ah, yes, Lewis was a senior when the sh*t hit the fan and I left... I guess he took over his father's pack.

"Is that so?" I said, acting surprised, "I am so happy for you! Congratulations!"

"Thanks, man!"

"And who is this beauty? Is she your mate?" I asked, and turned my attention to the girl, standing next to him.

She was well looked after, with short black hair and dark brown eyes...

"No," he answered, shaking his head, smiling down at the girl next to him, "this is Cindy," he said and moved his gaze to me, "she is my cousin... we are hoping that while we are at your shifting we might just stumble into finding our mates..."

I gave him a nod of my head in understanding and turned my attention back to the beautiful girl standing next to him.

"Well, nice to meet you, Cindy," I said, and took her hand into mine to shake. Her cheeks turned crimson at the gesture.

Lewis and the girl took off toward the sitting area, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

I slowly became nervous. Every wolf I have so far greeted came from the Royal and surrounding packs.

Even though the councilors didn't say much, and greeted me with respect, there was still a look of worry in their eyes.

"Dustin, Jack..." My mother's voice filled the air, followed by her scent and that of my father's.

I sighed, feeling my heart form a knot in my throat. After the whole deal with Dean, my relationship with my parents was rigid.

My mom pulled me into a hug, excited to see me, "How have you been? We miss you," she said.

"I'm okay mom..." I answered, swallowing hard at the lump in my throat.

"How are the nightmares?" She asked, and waited for an answer. Her silver-colored eyes, reading me...

"They are fine..." I lied.

My dreams or nightmares were so real that I could taste, feel, hear and see everything happening to me like it was happening at that very moment... and I had no control over them...

In the mornings I would be soaked in sweat... yet, that wasn't what had me on edge... it was that I woke up with a new change of clothes...

A couple of months before I killed Dean, I set up a camera in my room... I wanted to see if I wasn't sleepwalking... what I saw wasn't for the faint-hearted...

Mother gave me a knowing look, but didn't say anything, she looked frustrated, but quickly shook the expression off...

"Grandmother!" Nerina called, and my mother turned her attention to her.

I internally sighed and thanked Nerina for grabbing my mother's attention...

Nerina, Jack's younger sister, was a carbon copy of my mother. She had the same features and rave-colored hair.

They were the same height. It was just Nerina's forest green eyes that were different from my mom's silver-colored eyes.

I was surprised to see Nerina willingly come down to the clearing for the ceremony. She usually would do everything and anything to skip ceremonies this large.

I guess her parents must have forced her to attend.

Even though Nerina was a fierce fighter and an Alpha's daughter, the pack wasn't too fond of her and treated her poorly by ignoring her existence. Not because of something she had done, but because Nerina shifted at the age of five and the pack branded her as a cursed wolf...

Even her brother Jack treated her indifferently and refused to be associated with her...

I made a point to be friendly with Nerina in the beginning. I make her feel like she belonged, that she could talk and trust me...

That was until Jack reprimanded me... and told me to stay away...

I found it absurd and refused to listen to him. She was family, and the family stuck together...

I took the opportunity and asked Jack why he acted so poorly toward his sister.

"She wants to claim the Alpha position from me..." he stated.

"Who gave you that idea?" I asked.

"My mother..." he answered, "she overheard Nerina and her mother talking about it..."

Lea was Jack's mother. She and Jessica were both mated to Zander, Jessica being Nerina's mother and Zander's fated mate and Lea, Jack's mother, and Zander's chosen mate. Interestingly enough, the girls were sisters and could easily be confused as twins.

I didn't believe a word Jack told me, and I took the issue to Zander.

Even though Zander was upset and angry, he discussed it with his mates, and the issue was settled, but it didn't change Jack's attitude toward Nerina.

About a month later, just after Nerina's fifteenth birthday, things changed for the better...

I wasn't sure what had brought the sudden depression in Nerina... but it did almost cost her life... yet, due to her near-death experiences, Jack changed overnight and became the brother Nerina always wanted and needed...

Nerina, on the other hand, became an independent, fierce fighter... and she was good... most probably the best warrior I have seen in a long time...

It didn't change the pack's outlook on her, they still saw her as a cursed wolf, but Jack accepted his sister and things started to look better in our family...

My father came and stood before me, and shook my hand, not saying a word.

I refused to find his gaze... knowing it would read worry and distress in them...

I nodded my head, and he let go of my hand, turning to Jack and taking his hand to shake.

"Jack old boy," my father's voice echoed inside my mind, "you look good. Are you ready for tonight?"

It hurt...

My father would rather have a conversation with his grandsons than with his son, me...

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when my father and mother made their way to the stage to take their seats.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Zander's voice boomed over the PA system, quieting everyone down, "we would like to start the proceedings..."

Jack and I took our position next to the stage.

Zander would introduce us and then, as soon as the moon reaches its peak, we would have our first shift.

There were only two wolves that would be introduced to the pack tonight and when the ceremony was done, we would have a quick run around the pack border with the ranks to get the pack accustomed to the new scents, and then we would feast in the ballroom.

The introduction went fast, and everyone cleared space around us, to shift.

Jack started his shift first, the breaking of bones echoed through the quiet clearing. His shift went quite fast, and just as we thought it was over, his wolf curled himself into a ball, whimpering like it was suffering.

"What's happening?" I mind-linked Zander worried, and took a step closer toward Jack.

"Stay where you are!" Father commanded through the mind-linked and I froze at my spot.

"His wolf and magic side are fighting for dominance," Zander answered me through the mind-linked.

"I don't understand," I said, shaking my head.

"He is a half-breed," Zander answered, seconds later, and the wolf got to his feet. It released a howl, and Leah, Jack's mother, walked closer to her son.

Leah smiled, nodding her head, like she agreed to an unspoken request, and pulled her hands through Jack's wolf's fur. The wind suddenly pushed through the clearing and surrounded Leah.

"Uhm... Zander?" I mind-linked.

"He is transferring the magic to Leah..." he explained.

I didn't see the rest of the transfer, my body heated up and every part of my body burned...

I fell to my knees, screaming out in agony as the bones in my body broke and took shape.

Every cell in my body felt like it was ripped into pieces and injected with liquid silver, then sought back together with a dull needle.

My mind suddenly became heavier, as the presence of the newcomer filled my mind, and the pain of the shifting started to subside.

"Finally!" my new companion spoke, but I ignored him, concentrating on the new feeling running around my body...

My skin heated up like I had a bad sunburn and I could feel how my new fur sprouted from burning areas on my skin...

Seconds felt like minutes... minutes like hours...

I was panting out of control when I felt the pain subside and I opened my eyes.

I was lying on the ground... everything around me looked more clearly, and more colorful... my hearing had increased and I could hear a deer walking deep in the forest.

I pushed myself up onto my shaken legs, seeing the midnight blue color on my paws.

Interesting color, I thought.

Members around me gasped out and my head snapped toward them, seeing the worry reflect in their eyes...

A blue force was running around my body, and the extra energy around me was extraordinary.

"What's happening?" I asked my new wolf.

"I am siphoning magic from Lea and Jack," he said.

I growled at him... "why?" I asked.

"Because it is fun..." he answered, smirking mischievously.

"Stop! Stop it now!" I demanded.

"Make me!" He taunted and lifted an eyebrow.

Does this wolf have a death wish?

"No... you can't hurt me without hurting yourself..." he said.

"I didn't ask you..!"

"I can hear your thoughts, dummy!"

I released a fierce growl, turned the beast around, and forced him to run toward the forest, in the process breaking the siphoning link.

I made my way toward the waterfall and slowly walked toward the cold clear water. I wanted to see my reflection.

My new wolf was sitting at the back of my mind, watching me in amusement.

When I reached the edge, I bent my head over and saw the spectacular beast stare back at me with glowing green eyes.

My legs gave in under me, feeling the bones break and take shape again...

What the f*ck is happening?

I cried out in agony... feeling my body take another wolf form.

My mind became clouded and feeling extensive pressure filled my mind...

"Oh, my Goddess..!" I cried out.

"At last!" A new voice growled inside my mind, startling me... the pain of agony subsided slowly from my body...

I shook my head violently, trying to release the pressure from my mind, and my eyes snapped open...

Why do I taste poison on my tongue?

F*ck! That's impossible...

I got to my feet and looked into the water, searching for my reflection.

"What the f*ck!"

Golden eyes stared back at me... and the beast's reflection made me shiver out of fear...

F*ck no!

I shook my head in denial, but seconds later, the same pain ran through my body... and another presence made himself known by expanding his grey claws before me and releasing a fierce roar that shook the forest.

Can't be... there is no way what I was seeing was true... this must be some kind of dream...

"Dustin to the world..." Jack called and snapped his finger before me, forcing me to return to the land of the living.

I blinked a few times, confused.

"Nerina is about to shift..."

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