Blood Moon's Tears

The nightfall draped the Golden Eclipse Pack’s territory in ethereal darkness as Lucian patrolled its perimeter, accompanied by Torao, his trusted Delta. They moved with calculated steps, their senses attuned to the slightest disturbance in the air. A scent reached Lucian’s nostrils—a scent that stirred memories he had long tried to suppress. Instinctively, he shifted back into his human form and positioned himself at the edge of their territory, awaiting the arrival of the familiar presence.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing your face after so long, Sama’el?” Lucian’s voice resonated with a mixture of annoyance and caution, his eyes locked with Sama’el’s intense ruby-red gaze.

Sama’el smirked, his lips curling into a sly smile. “I wanted you to hear the good news from the man himself. Besides, it hasn’t been that long,” he replied a hint of jest in his voice.

Lucian’s curiosity peaked, and he pressed further. “It’s been four years, but please, do continue. What news is this that required your personal delivery?” Lucian’s words held a thread of suspicion, not fully allowing himself to drop his guard in the presence of the man emitting a hostile aura.

A mischievous smile played on Sama’el’s lips as he responded, his voice taking on a triumphant tone. “I’ve found my mate. I wanted you to know that you don’t need to worry about me anymore. I’ll leave the female omegas of your pack alone now.” he declared, his voice almost singing the final words.

A tinge of scepticism laced Lucian’s response, mingling with the slang that crept into his dialect. “Is that so? Is that all you wanted to tell me? Yuh could have easily conveyed this information through a letter.” Lucian’s deliberate choice of informal language reflected his reluctance to maintain a formal façade in the presence of the man exuding a hostile aura.

Sama’el smirk widened, relishing in the discomfort he elicited. “I was hoping to smell disappointment or some other emotion coming from you. I thought you would be thrilled that you don’t need to fight me anymore for members of your pack little wolf.” He taunted, his arrogance palpable.

Lucian’s expression hardened, his voice dripping with disdain. “You sir don’t deserve the satisfaction of smelling anything from me other than anger. You disgust me and I hope yuh long-awaited mate knows how vial of a being you are.”

Sama’el’s taunting tone persisted, pushing Lucian’s patience to the edge. “Ah, I see. You’re jealous. Such a shame you’re masking your scent from me. You know I get off on smelling people get all wild up.” He teased, attempting to ignite a reaction.

“I’m not jealous. I also found my mate recently but that’s none of your concern now, is it? You betrayed my trust and my father’s, Sama’el and I see no reason for you to keep tormenting me when yuh know damn well I can rip yuh head off at any moment if I so desire.” Lucian snapped, his fists clenched tightly his eyes ablaze with an intensity that surpassed their usual radiance.

Sama’el chuckled, seemingly unfazed by Lucian’s threat. “Yeah while that maybe so. Your wolf will never let you do that. We’ve been through too much together. All the same, I’ll take my leave before your Delta picks a fight he can’t win.” Sama’el stated, taking note that Lucian was the only one in human form. With a swift motion, he tossed something towards Lucian.

Without so much as glancing at the item, Lucian instinctively placed it around Torao’s neck. Suppressing the overwhelming urge to exact revenge on the person who was once considered family, he shifted back into his formidable wolf form and resumed his patrol. As the night wore on, the moon reached its zenith, and at 5 a.m., Lucian and Torao returned to the pack house. Upon arrival, a scene awaited them that disrupted the calmness of their return. Chase held Velenna in his arms, her tear-streaked face reflecting distress. Lucian consciously moderated his tone, mindful of not alarming the girl who clung to Chase as if her life depended on it.

“What the hell did yuh do this time?” Lucian’s words carried a blend of frustration and concern, although his Beta understood the depth of his anger.

Chase defended himself, his voice tinged with exasperation. “I didn’t do anything. Vel wanted to play with Lele, but she started crying when Lele declined.”

Lucian let out a heavy sigh, not particularly eager to deal with his niece at the moment. She’s always been too spoiled for his liking, knowing her indulgent upbringing under his father’s influence is what caused her to be this way. He orders both Chase and Torao to cheer her up using any means necessary while he went to check on Lele, a sense of foreboding weighing on him.

“Boss, what about the locket you gave me? What should I do with it?” The Delta asked while he removed the item Sama’el had bestowed upon Lucian from around his neck.

Lucian paused, his thoughts momentarily diverted. “Right, that… Put it in the drawer of my desk in the office. I’ll deal with it later.” He replied, his mind already focused on his next course of action. With determined steps, Lucian ascended the staircase, his thoughts consumed by the events that had unfolded from when Lele arrived at his pack.

Lucian arrived at the guest room where Lele had spent the night and knocked on the door three times, patiently waiting for a response. When none came, he tested the doorknob and found it unlocked, granting him entry. Inside, he was greeted by the sight of Lele in the process of changing into the clothes she had arrived in the previous night and he was captivated by what he saw. He began having unholy thoughts about the 5’4” woman standing in front of him. Imaginations of kissing her full lips and marking her ivory skin invaded his mind, while the overwhelming scent of cinnamon and strawberries intoxicated his senses. Her scent was undeniably alluring to him. Only the Goddess knew what she was doing to him and his wolf at that moment.

Lele, aware of his intrusion, spoke up with a matter-of-fact tone as she pulled her top over her head. “You know it’s rude to just barge into a woman’s room, don’t you, Mr Lyall?

Lucian, undeterred by her reproach, responded bluntly. “Well in this pack if you don’t respond it’s either you’re not in the room or your silence will be taken as consent to enter. If you didn’t want anyone to come in then you should have locked the door. I may be a beast to some but sense was made before book.”

Lele scoffed, dismissing his explanation, and puts the used towel in the hamper that was provided for her laundry. Without making eye contact, she expressed her gratitude for his hospitality and brushed past his imposing figure, intending to leave the room. But before she could make her escape, he grabs her hand. The sudden contact sent electric shocks coursing through her arm, causing her heart to race once again. She turned back, meeting his gaze with jade-green eyes, silently questioning his audacity. Simultaneously, she noticed that his once Cognac-colored eyes now shimmered with a rich golden hue.

“You’re leaving so soon?” Lucian asked his voice a bit huskier than before.

Lele responded coolly, reaffirming her decision. “Yeah. I have places to be and people to see. Besides, I remembered when I agreed to come here it would only be for one night.”

Lucian, his possessive nature surfacing, questioned the validity of her statement. “Who did you make that agreement with? As far as I’m aware, I told you that you can stay as long as you’d like.”

“I told Chase,” Lele replied, yanking her hand free from his grasp. “Besides, I stayed for as long as I wanted, and that was for one night.”

Her words struck a nerve with Lucian, triggering a growl. “Chase is not the Alpha—I am,” he asserted, his dominance apparent. “And how could you leave after meeting me? Don’t you feel anything?”

“My feelings have nothing to do with this. What I feel for you means nothing to me. You don’t think I know who you are? You’re ‘the’ Lucian of the golden Eclipse Pack, the son of the ruthless golden Alpha Lyall. One of the biggest Alphas to ever grace the Wolfen society. The last thing I want is to become a target because of this damn mate thing. I was fine on my own and I’ll continue to be fine.” She spat.

“You’re delusional is what you are. How can you seriously deny that I’m your mate when I’m standing right in front of you Lele? How can you really lie to your alpha saying that you were fine on yuh own? Don’t you think if that were the case you wouldn’t have needed to come here to sleep for the night in the first place?” His aura seethed with anger. She was really denying him; her fated mate! His wolf was scratching every corner of his mind for full control but to no avail.

“You’re not my alpha! You’re Chase’s alpha, you’re the alpha of everyone else in your damn pack but you’re not mine. ” Lele declared, her voice filled with anger. My alpha died 6 years ago to some wolf that couldn’t handle rejection. Don’t ever speak to me like you know every damn thing there is to know about me. I hate mates and I hate wolves like you. Always thinking they can control everyone and everything just because they’re bigger and have unparalleled strength compared to everyone else.” Lele declared before storming off.

Lucian’s inner wolf roared within him, demanding dominance and recognition. He wanted to just pounce on her, to make her see how delusional she was. He was determined to make her accept that she was his no matter what the cost.

Breaking him from his thoughts was the sound of his niece Velenna’s crying. Rushing to see what the commission was about, all but ready to kill anyone that upset his niece to the point of crying for a second time; Something she hadn’t done since the night they found out what her abilities were. His anger fell short when he saw what caused her to emit such a sound and seeing the scene below him his anger was completely replaced with one of concern and confusion.

To his surprise, he found three wolves in the foyer of the pack house. Among them, he recognized Chase, standing defensively between the other two wolves and his crying niece. Torao, his loyal Delta, shielded Velenna with his black-furred body. The scent of cinnamon and strawberries emanated from the brown-coated wolf—Lele. Reacting swiftly, Lucian leapt from the second-story bannister, landing in front of Chase, and took a cautious step toward Lele. His acute sense of smell detected the scent of blood, and upon closer inspection, he noticed an injury on Lele’s left hind leg—a bite mark.

“It’s okay. Let me help you.” He whispers to her gently while taking another cautious step, his golden eyes filled with concern but that’s as far as he could have made it before Lele snarled at him and took off through the front door.

Torn between pursuing Lele and ensuring Velenna’s safety, Lucian felt the internal battle raging within him. His wolf urged him to follow his mate, while his human side demanded he checks on his niece. At that moment, Velenna made the decision for him, tugging at his leg and reaching up towards him signalling her desire to be held. Heterochromia, the mismatched eye colours of his half-shifted form, briefly displayed, indicating his internal conflict. Lucian conveyed his concern through his gaze as he turned towards Chase as he was the last to shift back into human form.

“What happened?” He demanded, his face serious.

“I bit her.” The young girl’s response caused his eyes to turn fully gold, indicating his wolf’s rising anger.

“Why would you do something like that?” Lucian’s voice was lower and more intense than before, but he maintained a calm demeanour.

Chase stepped in to provide an explanation, stating that Velenna didn’t appreciate the way Lele had treated her earlier. When Velenna asked Lele if she would go hunting with her, Lele responded rudely, saying she wasn’t her mother and that Velenna should bother her instead. Lucian’s eyes returned to their normal cognac colour as he made eye contact with Velenna, understanding the pain she felt whenever anyone other than himself brings up her mother.

Memories of the past flooded Lucian’s mind, taking him back to the devastation of the Grey Fangs’ packhouse.