A LUNA'S SHADOWS (RE-WRITE IN PROGRESS)

(Jayce)

Stirring, I felt a cold pressure on my neck. Groaning as I sat up on the creaking old bed. The sound of whispers around me as I opened my eyes.

“Hey Alpha.” Viv sighed.

I stared at the collar around her neck. A sudden panic washed over me as my hands spring to my neck. Instantly feeling dread as I feel it, the cold metal resting there. I tug at it, yanking it as hard as I can.

“Fuck this.” I muttered.

“We will find a way out, Alpha.” Viv sighed.

“Where are the other’s?” I asked.

“They put survivors in here. Unfortunately, we ran at a loss Alpha. Even with Adira, the explosion was unexpected.” She sighed again.

“Where is Adira?” I asked, panicked.

“I don’t know, Alpha.” Viv said.

“So you’re our saviour, are ya?” An old wolf chuckled.

“Just ignore him.” Viv growled.

“Do you know how many of you young, strutting, overconfident, premature wolves attempt this shit?” The old wolf teased.

“No one planned for an explosion, old man.” I hissed.

“What makes you think you would have even survived had there not been an explosion, young wolf?” The man said with raised eyebrows.

“We had a she-wolf...And she had the... Spirit gene. “Jayce whispered.

“Impossible, that gene hasn’t been seen in centuries and belonged to one family who was murdered long ago.” He ruffed.

“We didn’t believe it, but then we saw it. She pulled these souls from the ground and they protected her. She nearly killed our Alpha.” Viv breathed quietly.

By now a crowd had formed, curious if they had heard the whisper of what they thought was a long-dead gene.

“Then where is this wolf?” The old man asked.

“We don’t know sir, only that they separated us.” I said.

“Excuse me? Spirit gene?” A wolf spat behind me.

“Did I stutter?” I growled.

The young wolf stood about my height, he was lean with the lightest hair and blue eyes. Eyes that glared at me for some reason.

“You have my sister!” He growled.

“She joined us…” I said calmly.

“How am I supposed to believe that? When you are here, bragging about having her?” The young wolf rushed forward, shoving me.

“I am only giving you all some hope!” I said.

“Hope? Putting a target on her back by telling any wolf you see? Some are desperate enough to tell these humans anything!” He growled.

“You don’t know me, wolf.” I growled.

“You--“ blaring alarms cut him short.

We all rushed out to get a glimpse of the commotion. I followed the crowd as they gathered at the fence. Shots are fired, but nothing was visible. The smell of smoke filled the air. A dusty haze thickened over us. A slight beep and the collars dropped. I stared down at mine in amazement. Glaring at the gates, I threw a fireball and melted into the lock. Every wolf, weak, old, young or short and tall, barged through. Official’s shot rounds, taking a few out at a time, but the bulk of us made it into the forest. Just as I hit the edge of the forest, Viv appeared, crying.

“What is it?” I questioned.

“I found my brother. He-he didn’t make it.” She sobbed.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered.

“That wasn’t the only thing. Adira’s blood was on him. She must have taken him. I found him outside that grey, square building just outside the gates.” She whimpered.

“Did you see any sign of her?” I gasped.

“No, the snow was too thick. But maybe the first round of commotion was her?” Viv suggested.

I gazed back. Wolves rushed past us. Some bumped us. I gave her longer... I wanted to rush back. But I wasn’t enough to take them all on. Viv tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the officials that walked through the forest not far.

“We have to go, Alpha.” She sighed.

I nodded. Time was up. There is a pack waiting for me at home. Just as I stepped to walk, a woman appeared in front of me. A bunch of blondes, untamed curls in a nest on her head.

“You knew my daughter?” She whispered, collapsing just as she said the words.

I picked her up and with Viv flanking me; we bolted to the packhouse. I found a spare room and laid the women down on the bed. Her body is covered in bruises and fresh blood leaked from a split lip. I sighed and sat beside her bed. Waiting for the weak women’s body to heal. I must have dozed off, escaping to the land of dreamscapes. One where the call of our kind is wild and free, the dream that made me realize how much we are fighting for. Our pups, families, and ancestors, we need to heal, and we need freedom. Being locked into a forced human-run community isn’t what needs to happen, they had murdered and tortured more of them than we have ever touched of them.

“My daughter..” the woman called out, waking me from my sleep.

Her eyes fluttered open, and I waited silently.

“Do you have her?” She groaned.

“Who is your daughter?” I frowned.

“Adira, I need to know you have her!” She cried.

“No, we don’t know where she is.” I sighed.

“The other wolf, he took my son and mate...He was after her as well.” She whimpered.

“Another wolf?” I asked.

“The one with storms in his eyes…” she groaned.

“Was there another pack?” I panicked, a sudden realization hitting me.

“Yes, they took them…” she rasped.

“Damian!” I called from the room.

I watched as her eyes rolled back and her body lay lifeless on the bed. Damian rushed in and tried to bring her back to our world. Her injuries had been so severe and her body too weak to heal in time. When Damian shook his head and rested a hand on my shoulder. Rage built. And I knew if they didn’t have Adira, then they would be after her. Calling for my best trackers. This was a war and we no longer had time to muck around. First, I wanted Adira brought back and second; I wanted a safe world for our future generations. Damian pulled the blanket over the women. Adira’s mother and we called for our team to give her a burial. She remained unnamed; we did not know who her parents are, and who I presumed was her brother. I could think of only one wolf who would have mastered this plan, Vlad.

“Jayce, why are you even this invested in her, she’s attracted more death than anything good!” Kaylee growled.

“She could help us turn the war around!” I growled.

“And what else? Get more of us killed? Because they couldn’t just blow her up?” Kaylee snickered.

“I get your concern over Vlad, but what if he got his grip on her? How many of us would die? Do you think you could take Adira on?” I growled.

“Sure Alpha, I could land a knife in both of ’em.” She grinned.

“Get out of my face.” I shoved her and walked away.