Outcast: Daughter of The Moon

Warring Thoughts & A Decision to Make

    By the time, Warren was done with all of the paperwork in his office at school, not to mention the several contracts he’d accrued over the past week and a half from his shipping company, he was done for the day. He had even told Falcon that they’d have to reschedule their meet with the Head of the vampire coven for tomorrow, insisting that the pack as a whole could last at least one more day around the town’s borders. 

    His visit with Kazmiyah was short and sweet that day as while he attempted to stay, it seemed that she knew that he needed the rest and begged him to go home to get some. Her selfless nature continuously reminded him of how special she was...and how guilty he felt about all things concerning her leading up to that point.

    Human was a component he’d have to constantly remind himself of when speaking or even thinking about Kazmiyah and her well-being. The factor alone was something on a large scale of probabilities-or lack thereof.

    There were times where he thought about just risking it all and allow her into the world of the Inhumans-into he, Crescenda, and Alora’s world. However, he knew that doing so would change things drastically in terms of the value of her life. He could not risk doing something so potentially dangerous but part of him felt selfish in making that decision for Kaz.

     She certainly was a strong enough-willed person to make the decision on her own, but the father in him was afraid of the risks she’d be willing to take just to experience the outside world.

    He was tackled full of guilt every time he came to the attic to see Kazmiyah staring longingly out of the window at the inhuman kids, wishing that she could be a part of a world of normalcy; and yet still realizing that her species alone would be a large blockade in terms of making friends and actually experiencing such normality. Or better yet, not getting killed.

    The guilt would wrench even harder when she hid her discontent and showed nothing but understanding and concern for him and his family’s welfare above her own desires. And that guilt had become even harder to bear lately.

    “Then let us turn her.” Valor, Warren’s beastly counterpart said through their telepathic connection. “We have the means-we were gifted with such an ability-let us use it!”

    “You know that we cannot, Valor,” Warren replied with frustration.

    “Why not?” 

    “You know why!” He hissed in exasperation of his beast’s pressure. 

    “There is a risk in turning humans. The complications that could arise may lead to an end that we cannot reverse...or bear.”

    “Is that not why we have been so hard in training her? So that she can be strong enough to withstand the transition if  ever we came to the decision to turn her?”

   Speaking it aloud, brought the realization to Warren’s mind. Yes, Kazmiyah wanted to become stronger for her own reasons, but Warren’s reasons far exceeded her desires. He had thought in the back of his mind that maybe one day he could turn her. Obviously, his beast held onto that thought so that he would not forget it. He sighed, lost on what to do.

    "I do not wish to talk about this anymore, Valor." He said to his wolf. "It is far too burdensome a thought."

    "Fine," His wolf replied. "But we need to face the fact that we cannot keep her there forever. We only have one of two feasible choices, War, and the latter is one that you refuse to talk about. Regardless, the decision needs to be made." 

    Shortly after, Valor fell silent, leaving Warren to think about the difficult choices that he'd have to make in future days to come.

   “So much on everyone's mind today. Yours in particular, at the moment, I see.”

   The cooing English accent of his mate seemed to send a tingle up his spine as his wolf began to call to her own. The sweet natural scent of her teased at him as she walked into the room; wild blossoms and sweet lavender.

    Crescenda was one of the most beautiful women that Warren had ever laid eyes on. Her eyes were a pure hazel golden with exotic speckled accents; her hair a  reddish-golden brown that cascaded down to her breast. Her lips were a perfect pout, lush pink that pieced perfectly against her fair, slightly sun-kissed skin. She was perfect in every way to him. And what did him in every single time without fail, was that smile of hers.

   Crescenda sat next to him and touched his hand, taking him from his thoughts of her. A smile hinting at concern across her face as she looked at him. She kissed the corner of his lip, feeling that he wanted more and he showed as much when he pulled her back in and took her lips into his partially atop of her, his hands wrapped around her waist.

   It was a passionate moment that Crescenda reluctantly paused, gently pushing away from him. She knew that while his feelings were real, there were things weighing on his mind that he was trying to use her to forget. 

   She could have delved into his thoughts to see what they were; but more than anything, Crescenda appreciated the talks with her mate. She wanted him to tell her what was bothering him on his own accord. Not having to invade his mind, always assured her that they still had that unbreakable trust.

   “What’s on your mind?” She asked.

   “Right now, you.” He teasingly said.

   To this, she chuckled and kissed his bottom lip before pushing him farther away. “I meant before I entered the room.”

   He sighed. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

   “But it needs to be discussed nonetheless.” Crescenda countered. “I can practically feel the stress emanating from you.”

   Warren looked away when she said this. "Thought I was the one with that ability." He muttered. As much as he loved Cres-as much as he wanted her at that moment. The call of his problems still lingered in the back of his mind.

   “I’ll take a wild guess and say it’s our daughter,” Crescenda countered, ignoring his sarcasm.

   “I am worried about Alora,” Warren said. To be honest, he was concerned about Alora but his concerns about her were placed at slight ease after his encounter with Falcon that day. “In terms of her choosing Falcon to mate instead of actually waiting for her own, but I do think she has made the right decision in choosing him after our talk today-”

   “Good to know, darling, but I wasn’t talking about that daughter,” Crescenda said. There was silence in the room at this point as she knew she struck a nerve in talking about Kazmiyah. She knew that Kaz was the root of his frustrations this night.

   “You know I don’t like it when you call her that, Cres.”

   Crescenda found amusement in the insecurity lingering on his every word. “The only time I could ever hear self-doubt in your voice.” She chuckled. “Funny how a little human can have this effect on you, my love.”

   “I wish I could find the same amusement that you apparently do.”

   “Oh, Warren, you are her father.” She said.

   “I don’t deserve to be called her father, Cres.” He said, finally looking at his mate. He sighed and looked away. “I’ve never met a human so genuinely good.” His head dropped. "I've never met anyone that genuinely good," Warren said under his breath.

   “Yea, we did quite a good job on that one, I must say.” Crescenda pridefully expressed.

   He scoffed. “Then why-why are she and Alora so much different? Complete and utter polar opposites!?” 

   “Because, if we are being honest with ourselves, Alora is our miracle child. Kazmiyah, we happened upon. There were certain things awarded to Alora that we just could not give to Kaz. She understands that, and as much as we love our Kazmiyah, the painful truth of it is that she does not belong in Crescent-not unattended. It is easier to reward a pup amongst pups as opposed to a human amongst the none. ”

   “She understands," He hissed in dissatisfaction with the idea. He knew that Crescenda was right, but that did not make it fair. "Sure she understands," Warren shook his head. "She should be resentful, not understanding! If I were Kaz, I'd be very resentful. I might even hate us." He added.

   “Of course it should cast resentment-and it has,” Crescenda informed.

   Warren shot his gaze worriedly at Crescenda. He was suddenly alarmed as he realized what his mate was telling him.

   “You read her mind?” He was flabbergasted. “How?” It was usually hard to get into Kazmiyah’s mind; just as hard to feel her emotions as well, which was unknown to happen when it came to humans or even inhumans where Warren Crescent was concerned.

   “She was caught off guard,” Crescenda said before she smirked. "You know I would not have been able to confirm otherwise," 

   He looked away again, disappointed with what his mate had just told him about Kaz's feelings. “She must hate us.”

   “No,” Crescenda said. “She doesn’t hate us at all. In fact, I think she dislikes herself more than anything.”

   “What?” Warren incredulously replied. “What are you-”

   “She hates herself for feeling unfulfilled with her life,” Crescenda said. “She feels as though she is being ungrateful by having these emotions and that she has no right to have them at all. It’s also why she lies about what she wants for her birthday.”

   “You found out what she most desires, I take it," He assumed.

   "Yes, but then it did not take a telepath to figure it out.” She nudged her love. “You know that.”

    “And what does she want, exactly?” He asked in fear that it was more than her just wanting to leave the confines of her room.

    “To be free of that room-to be a part of the world and not just an observer of it.” Crescenda sighed. "She said just wants one day, but...we both know that she wants more. And who could blame her?"

    “Did she want...to leave the town?” He asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer.

    “She just wants to be a real addition to our family, War. She wants to meet Alora and just be with us.” She answered him.

    This brought a smile to the Alpha’s face. Hearing that brought hope to the notion that maybe Kaz wasn’t too upset about being stuck with the Crescents. It was suddenly that he became a little more open to the idea of her being a part of the family. Though, he still had his reservations.

    “She really is an extraordinary girl,” Crescenda commented, interrupting his thoughts.

“Her powers if she were to become a wolf, would probably far exceed that of the wolf pack or even the Lycans. And she’d be a great Beta to Alora-Alpha even if we were insane enough to risk it.”

    Warren could not help thinking about what his mate said. Crescenda was right; Kazmiyah seemed to have a huge amount of potential as a human. Sometimes this caused him to wonder if she was actually one of the rare breeds of superhumans he'd heard about and just hadn't come into her powers yet. “She would.” He finally mumbled in agreement. Regardless, of what she may have been, however, he knew that she'd be far more formidable as a wolf.

    “Then why do you not do what you most desire? You're the only one in this town with the power to do it.” She asked with a sympathetic smile.

   Warren shook his head. “Because of the risks. Aside from that, Kaz may not even see this as a gift, Cres. It's one thing to hear the stories of our kind. Of course, someone of the human world would find amazement in that; but....there are the bad moments." He sighed. "Turning her would be one of those difficult moments-very difficult. And….her life would be at extreme risk.” He looked at Crescenda. “Her life is too precious.” This was indeed the most worrisome reason why he just could not bring himself to make such a decision.

   “But we cannot make that choice for her," She kissed his shoulder. "You have to give her that choice, War,” Crescenda replied. "We have to allow her to think for herself. She is more than capable."

   She was and knew this, but there was still a slim chance that she'd make a decision that didn't know if he could live with.“What...what if she makes the wrong choice, Cres?” He asked, feeling as though he was talking to Valor again.

   “And what exactly is the wrong choice, my love?”

   “I-I don’t know, Cres, I-” He matched gazes with Crescenda. “Turning Kazmiyah-or trying even-risks her life-staying human means that she will remain a shut-in.”

   “You have trained her body to withstand the harshness of the transition. There is always a great chance that she will get through it. If she remains human….then we either allow her into our world and risk her life anyway-or….you let her go into a world where she belongs.”

   “And probably never see her again,” Warren said in disappointment.

   "I don’t know about you, love-but that is the worst outcome of all.”

   He sighed. “What do I do, Cres?”

   "You let her make her own decision, War,” Cres said.

   “Returns to the question-what if she chooses the wrong answer?” He mumbled. After a moment of thought, he finally looked at Crescenda.

   “And what, I ask again, is the wrong answer, War?” Crescenda asked once more.

   This time they both knew what that answer was. “Losing her to a world of humans of course.”

   She sighed, smiling at Warren. She ran her fingers through his black soft curls. “I know. Nevertheless, we still have to allow her the chance to make a choice.”  She chuckled lightly. “She is our first. The oldest of our girls and she has every right to choose her own path. Just as we allowed Alora to do.”

   The thought of giving Kazmiyah such a choice nearly petrified him but Crescenda was right, she had to choose of her own free will. “When should we do it?” He asked. “Soon, I guess.”

   “Much sooner than you may think, love,” Crescenda said, rising from the bed.

   Warren looked at Crescenda, curiosity renewed. "Why is that?”

   “Her scent lingers, and it has become stronger and more difficult to hide,” Crescenda informed him. She turned around and looked at Warren. “Falcon has caught a whiff of it.”

   Warren looked at Crescenda curious and concerned. He stood from the bed. “How do you-”

   "He was particularly unguarded today.” She squinted curiously. "Just like Kazmiyah," she noted more so to herself the coincidence than Warren. “Until he realized that I was alert to his thoughts.” She chuckled. “He seemed to have thought that maybe you were stepping out on me with a human.”

   “What?” Warren growled, his beast just as offended as he. 

   “Relax, War.” She smiled. “He quickly thought otherwise once he took a once over of me.” She laughed. “Now, I’m sure he thinks that I am the one stepping out on you.”

   The simple thought of her words riled him and Valor up. “You're only adding fuel to the fire, Cres." To this, she simply chuckled. "I’m glad you find this all amusing,” Warren said, turning away from her.

   Before he could fully find his footing when he turned around, she was in front of him, arms wrapped around his body as he towered over her. She kissed his bare chest softly and looked up at him.

   “I could never step out on my, War.” She said. “Azura, could not fathom being without Valor.” She added, as she accepted the tingle that her beast was emitting just at the mention of Warren’s wolf. “You are my chosen, Warren Crescent. Always.”

   When Warren grinned, she pushed him back onto the bed and allowed her silk robe that covered her bronze-colored negligee, fall to the floor before she lowered her lips to kiss him.

   The kisses were soft and passionate at first until a growl escaped Warren, his lust for her growing steadily as he felt her grind against his manhood. A groan freed itself from his lips, unable to do with the teasing that his mate was torturing him with. Within the next second, he was on top of her, his incisors bared and his eyes aglow with his wolf.

   He aggressively showered her neck with kisses, nicking her every so often as he knew it was her weakness. He kissed the spot where he’d marked her nearly two centuries ago before lifting up one last time as he felt her gently push him back so that she could look into his eyes.

   “We’ll go to her Friday.” She said, referring to Kazmiyah, as she touched his lip while biting hers, counting the moments until Warren's made contact with hers again. She had to free her mind of this statement first, however.

   Warren smiled, closing in on her lips once more. “Friday.”