Blood Moon: Lunar Eclipse

Sephora

My body was draining of power. No matter how strong you were, there was always a limit to the extent of energy you could expel.

Another wolf charged through the shield; I watched as it suffocated in a cocoon of water whilst another was impaled by one of my many sharp icicles.

No matter how many I killed, they would just keep coming.

Part of me worried for my mate, for Aleksi. I may not have had the best reaction once I found out we were mates, but now I know what I want. I want to give us a go. Knowing he is behind me, fighting for his pack, pains me. I don’t know him, yet I don’t think I could control myself if anything happens to him.

I looked to my left, expecting to see Ariella. I grew agitated as I searched for her but failed to spot her.

I slightly pulled back, causing my water shield to wobble. I regained focus on the shield but continued searching for Ariella.

I heard a menacing growl to my right. My eyes welled at the sight of Ariella kneeling on the floor, with Fenrir in his wolf advancing towards her.

I looked between the shield, protecting the pack from oncoming slaughter, and my niece. I promised Freya I would protect her with my life.

It didn’t take me long to decide on my following actions. Both would suffer loss, but there was only one decision I couldn’t live without.

Ariella

Logan never stopped fighting.

I felt my body weakening, my body warmed with a fever, and my veins rubbed on my skin like sandpaper.

My power was depleted.

I didn’t fight hard enough.

Just as I was about to close my eyes and accept death, a clap sounded from my front. I turned my head to see Sephora standing protectively in front of me; Fenrir was sent flying several paces back from the impact of the blow.

He shifted back into his human form, but only to taunt Sephora.

“It’s been a while, Sephora,” he said, wiping the back of his hand over a small cut on his lip.

“You have already taken one of my bloodline from me; I will not allow you to take another!” she yelled.

Sephora raised her hands, calling forth a large wave of water. It encased Fenrir. I watched through heavy eyes as his body lifted into the air, the water still sheathing his entire body.

I saw his eyes widen in fear, his hands clawed at the surrounding water, but it was useless. His hands eventually wrapped around his neck as though trying to keep the last bit of air trapped in his lungs.

“This is for my sister, your unfortunate fated mate,” Sephora spat in venom. “You will never kill another person. No one will ever have to suffer your wrath again, Fenrir”.

Fenrir was suffocating, and his thrashing limbs became sluggish.

I wanted to watch; I needed to see it. After everything he has done, I relished seeing the suffering in his eyes.

Unwillingly, I felt my body collapse to the floor. My head lulled to the side as my half-hooded eyes were firm on Fenrir, determined to watch until the bitter end.

Then my eyes closed, darkness consumed me, and the noises around me seemed to get further and further away.

Sephora

My power was at its limit. This was the last thing I could do until my magic ran dry. I would have snapped his neck if I could, but this was the only thing I could conjure with the amount of energy I had left. Besides, watching him writhe in despair, detecting the dread in his eyes, was the perfect revenge.

Ariella was lying on the floor behind me, her body pale and slick with sweat, and a small wound evident at her side.

I needed to hurry. Ariella doesn’t have much time left.

I saw a horde of Shadow pack wolves hurrying towards us from afar. My barrier was down, so there was nothing stopping them from joining the fight. I couldn’t stop them even if I wanted to. I would have no more reserve left after this. If I could kill Fenrir, then the warfare would cease. The Shadow pack would submit to Logan. I could save everyone.

I kept my eyes focused on Fenrir. Soon, he would die. I just needed to hold out a little longer.

Ten more seconds…

Five…

Four…

Three...

Just as Fenrir was about to release his last breath, my body was hurled forward. My arms dropped, as did the water-filled cocoon, freeing Fenrir from the air. He tumbled to the ground, and I heard him gasp a deep breath as he spluttered water from his lungs.

I failed to notice the two wolves who had attacked me from behind. I released a gut-wrenching scream as one tore through my arm and another bit out a chunk from my abdomen.

I tried to finish him, but I failed…

Freya…

I failed you.

Aleksi

I witnessed as everything unravelled in slow motion. I paced forward towards my mate with speed I never knew I had.

But I was too late…

I tore through the first wolf I saw without hesitation, ripping out his jugular. The other followed the same fate; his abdomen sliced through as his insides decorated the floor.

I immediately shifted. I felt the hurt from the mate bond reel through me, but my focus lay on my mate, lying before me, slathered in blood. A drop of blood dribbled down her chin as I cradled her body in my arms, rocking back and forth, hoping, praying this was all some twisted nightmare.

Tears clouded my vision as streams of water cascaded down my face.

“Seph… Sephora,” My breaths were shallow, and my voice trembled.

I only knew my mate for a short amount of time, but the bond had already been formed. After waiting for so long, I was losing her. My other half. And all because I failed to reach her in time.

I felt a velvety, cold hand caress my cheek. I opened my eyes, gaping down at Sephora, who held a gentle smile even in her last moments.

Sephora

Having Aleksi close to me slightly eased the throbbing pain.

I wish I wasn’t so stubborn. I wish I gave us a chance. The loving look in his eyes tells me he is nothing like Fenrir. The same adoring gaze that Logan gives Ariella now falls upon me.

It took everything in me to reach out to my mate one last time.

I used the gift bestowed upon me.

The gift of foresight.

I needed to see what his life would be like in order to fully move on. Damn the consequences. I was dying anyway, so there was no life essence my gift could pilfer from me.

As I peered into his future, the one without me in it, I felt a palliative and loving emotion ripple through me.

“There will be another,” I barely managed as my lungs filled with liquid, slowly compressing my airways.

“I don’t want another mate; I want you,” he trembled as his voice shook and his lip quivered while he held me tightly against him.

“The moon goddess will gift you with a second chance…” I coughed up blood, unable to finish my sentence.

“I finally found you!” Aleksi screamed, both in panic and distress. “You can’t leave me. Not now Sephora!”

Aleksi drew me closer, his face snugly nestled in the crook of my neck.

Behind his hunched form, I noticed a faint cross-fade of warm, white light in the background.

Squinting my eyes, I tried to make out what was within the light and eventually, I saw a woman with bright red hair that flowed gently in the whimsical breeze. The light around her was warm and shimmering, with a subtle glow. She stood there with her palm outstretched and a smile I had missed for 21 years. It was a moment that filled me with a sense of warmth and comfort, as if all of my troubles had just melted away.

Freya…

I knew it was my time.

I felt my body grow numb; the pain from my open wounds vanished as though it was never there to begin with. My body tingled with warmth as I felt a magnetic pull towards my sister.

I forced myself to leave Aleksi with my final words…

“I love you, Aleksi…”

I rested my eyes and listened to the last words that will forever be with me…

“I love you too, Sephora.”

Aleksi

I couldn’t stop my body from trembling as I felt her hand fall lifeless to the floor. The pain that tore through my chest was unlike anything I had experienced; even still, I just held her even closer.

I pulled back, examining the face to which I was forced to say goodbye. I placed a gentle kiss on her cold lips, praying that all those tales told in fairytales would work.

But it never did.

I held her close, never wanting to let go. The battle faded into silence, the images becoming waves of fast-moving motions.

I was trapped in a trance I couldn’t break.

I didn’t want it to break because then...

I would have to accept the fact I had lost my mate.

Without warning, a blood-curdling scream reverberated through the raging atmosphere. Even causing some of the brawls around me haltered as they turned to face the sound.

A sound that was so broken, crazed and hateful it sent a sinister chill down my spine…