Blood Moon: Lunar Eclipse
Ch1 - A Mothers Love

Freya

I paced back and forth on the creaky wooden floor of my room, anxiously chewing on my thumb. I needed to get out of here, away from him. If he knew my secret, he would do unspeakable things to both of us. But the window of opportunity was getting smaller and smaller by the second.

I was about to lose all hope until I caught a rust-coloured key slide under the small crevice in the door.

She did it!

I clasped my hands together in relief and knelt to pluck my rusty salvation from the floor. “Thank you Helen. I will forever be in your debt,” I whispered before I placed the key in the hole and turned...

Then I ran…

Through the corridors…

Ascending the spiral stairs…

Down to the basement, and from there, towards the dilapidated stables.

It was dead of night, so no one unexpected should be up. I have been here long enough to memorise the guard’s routines and patrol spots, meaning I have precisely 2 minutes to climb over the crumbling stone wall undetected.

I sprinted as fast as my frail legs could take me. I dragged myself up the barricade, barely holding onto the external stones and unsteady rocks to mount higher. It was a towering wall of unreasonable height, but I couldn’t stop; I couldn’t give up. Not when I had come this far…

Not when I have someone so valuable to fight for.

I eventually reached the pinnacle and peered down. The drop was high. I had to scale down carefully, or else I could harm the one thing I was risking everything to protect.

I heard the clang of metal slowly approach from a short distance below. It probably belonged to two guards on patrol. If they turned the corner, I would be caught, and my only chance of leaving this hellhole would cease. I would also be putting Helen at risk, and I couldn’t do that to her. Not after everything she risked to save us.

Slender, rotting vines encased around the outside of the stone wall. I swung my legs over and reached for the thickest vine I could see. I delicately scaled down, careful not to grab sickly vines that might snap and cause me to fall.

I could not afford to use my magic, not in my state. It could kill the one most important thing I am trying to protect.

I reached the ground; the fresh green air had never smelt so infatuating. However, I did not have the time nor the luxury to ravish in the freshly purified air. I was running on pure luck by this point.

I dashed across the green fields, heading towards the forest front.

Once I breached the woodland trees, I never stopped running.

The thought of him replaceing me kept my adrenaline pumping and my legs active.

I dashed past fallen branches and clipped trunks. Minor cuts shrouded my uncovered arms and legs. The thin red nightgown I wore was now decorated in involuntary slits. But I couldn’t care. I would run naked if I had to. Nothing would stop me.

Not until I knew we were safe.

My exposed feet were intermixed with dirt, grass stains, and dry blood spots.

I have no idea how long I ran for, but I finally reached the other side of the forest.

The wolves would still be able to catch my scent. My dry blood was probably scattered all over the forest floors, making a clear path exposing where I was.

I initially panicked when I spotted a floating cloud filling the sky. Warm rain stormed down on me. My feet began to clear of the blood, dirt, and grass stains. My arms and legs cleansed of dry crimson slits.

I was clean. My scent in the forest washed away, creating a mask from the animal’s heightened senses.

It wasn’t just a stroke of luck.

My sister ran from a thick patch of shrubbery before embracing me in a gripping, long-overdue hug that I had been looking forward to for many, many months. Her water magic flourished further as the surrounding rain persistently beat our skin.

My sister pulled back and examined me. A slight frown befell her soft features until she looked there.

Touching my stomach, she tenderly smiled.

“Let’s get you two home.”

21 years later

Ariella

“Is that all you got, Redford?” Noah breathlessly taunted.

After eight rounds of sparring, we were both breathless and exhausted but still just as determined to win, especially considering this final match was the deciding factor.

I don’t usually lose, which could be deemed surprising considering my short, 5’2 stature and somewhat small frame. But that’s what gave me the best advantage; my opponents consistently underestimated me.

“I was holding back Reed. Didn’t want to puncture your grand ego by letting a girl beat your ass so easily again,” I goaded.

That was all it took as he launched at me, swinging his fist in the air as he did.

But I was too fast.

I swerved his attack and then glided my leg along the ground, causing him to land on his ass with a satisfying thud.

Just as he was about to get back up, I sprang forward, wrapping one leg around his throat and another along his abdomen, trapping his arms.

I could feel his struggle in my grasp, but it was futile. There was no way he was getting away. So he did the only thing he could do…

He admitted defeat. He submitted, just like everyone always does in the end.

The instant I untangled myself, he breathed deeply to catch his stolen breath.

“You nearly had me there Redford,” he hyperventilated.

“Will you ever learn? Never underestimate me,” I smiled sweetly.

“I pray to the moon goddess that when you replace your mate, you’ll be the submissive,” he teased.

“No way! My mother’s a dominant. It just runs in the family,” I confidently replied.

Noah chuckled and threw his arm over my shoulder as we walked away from our training field.

I met Noah Reed 3 years ago when I kicked his ass during training. It messed with his ego, so he kept challenging me. Before I knew it, we were good friends.

Noah was a ladies’ man; with his soft blonde hair and light green eyes, most considered him a pretty boy. It’s ironic, considering his stocky frame and tall build.

“You coming to the Lunar eclipse tonight?” he asked.

The lunar eclipse. A generational tradition in our pack for the future alphas to mingle with unmated wolves in hopes of replaceing their mate. All unmated males and females over 16 must attend the Blood Moon celebration, as it’s called. Not very imaginative, considering our pack is also called the Blood Moon pack.

There are significant consequences if you don’t attend, but I skipped the last few. The Alpha found me out last time, so I have no choice but to participate this year.

I don’t think I wanted to replace my mate. I liked being single and having the freedom to do what I pleased. Besides, I haven’t even felt the heat yet, which is uncommon as most females feel the heat between 16 and 18.

When the heat hits, it means the bond between you and your mate has been solidified. I’m 20, yet I don’t think it would bother me if I never had to experience it. The heat was supposed to be the most agonising, excruciating pain you would ever go through; even changing into your wolf for the first time was a walk in the park compared to it. If there was something worse than breaking every bone in your body all at once, for hours on end, I don’t think I wanted to experience it.

Not ever.

“I don’t have much of a choice,” I grumbled.

“Hey, it’ll be fun. Even if you don’t replace your mate, there will be plenty of other male wolves to practice with,” Noah wiggled his eyebrows. I replied with a light shove to his chest.

“You’re still 20 and a virgin Ariella. Have some fun before you eventually meet your mate,” he said enthusiastically.

Part of me was never interested in dating or sex. Sex was something most wolves never shied away from. It was interlaced into our very biology.

But I just never wanted to do it. Maybe I was saving myself for my mate?

“I don’t think there’s a single woman you haven’t practised with,” I lightly scolded, focusing the attention elsewhere.

“What can I say? The women love me,” he winked.

I broke out in a fit of laughter. “I’m surprised your head hasn’t exploded with that egocentric, self-absorbed ego of yours,” I poked the side of his head.

“Say what you want Red, but I know you’re just jealous.”

“In your dreams,” I scoffed.

“Hey, I’m home,” I shouted to no one in particular.

“Hey honey, in here,” my mother, Selena, responded.

I walked into the kitchen to discover the whole kitchen had been attacked by flour and pink food colouring. It looked like a pink flour bomb had gone off.

“Just finishing off a cake for a client. You hungry?” my mother asked as she removed her apron to reveal a spotless blue floral dress. My parents owned a bakery; it was popular amongst humans and wolves alike.

My mother was well looked after for her age. She had short auburn brown hair and deep brown eyes with a tall and slender frame. I, on the other hand, was only 5’2 and one of the smallest in my pack.

“I’m famished. Just finished a training session with Noah,” I answered.

“I know you don’t like celebrating it, but I thought I could do something small this year. It’s a gift from all of us. Happy birthday Ariella,” my mother smiled as she held out a small velvet black box.

As I opened it, my eyes were met with the shimmering sight of a silver necklace. The pendant was embellished with a captivating lunar eclipse design, and upon turning it over, I discovered that my name had been delicately engraved on the back. The centrepiece of the necklace was a small yet striking moonstone.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful,” I said whilst my thumb stroked the moonstone, a subtle smirk playing on my lips.

“Aren’t you supposed to attend the Blood Moon celebration tonight? And happy birthday Ariella,” my father’s voice came from the doorway.

“Thank you, and It’s still early, so I’ll head to Caroline’s later,” I finished.

“Well it’s not every day my daughter turns 21, so enjoy yourself,” my father said as he kissed me on the temple.

My father, David, had these bright Caribbean blue eyes, just like my brothers. He had short, light brown hair and was slightly round in the stomach area. Nonetheless, he was fit and healthy as always. My father also had his submission mark on his lower back.

The submission mark was given to a wolf once they mated. If you were the dominant, the submissive would bear your mark, similar to a tattoo. When you see your mate, you usually know which one you’ll be. Some dominants expect complete obedience from their mate, whilst others are generally only more dominant in private.

My mother was a dominant, hence my confidence in being one too. Besides, my rebellious and confident personality would never allow my submission. Not unless my mate was someone of a very strong bloodline, and the chances of that happening were incredibly slim to none.

“You might even feel the heat this year,” my mother exclaimed, breaking me from my thoughts.

“Maybe,” I shrugged nonchalantly as I took a bite from the sandwich before me.

“I feel sorry for whoever they are,” my father chuckled.

“Red hair is a sign of confidence and empowerment but also courage and sensuality,” my mother winked.

“It’s time for me to go,” I shoved the rest of the sandwich in my mouth and waved my parents goodbye. I knew where this conversation was going, and I really didn’t want to be there for it. My mother was always trying to hook me up with random wolves.

I get wolves are confident in their sexuality, but talking to my parents about it… just no.

Walking to Caroline’s, I felt something delicate stir deep inside my gut. It wasn’t painful, it wasn’t fear, it wasn’t excitement. I couldn’t explain what it was. But it came and disappeared just as quickly.

Little did I know, the heat I had been dreading to hit would arise within a matter of hours from now, and that insignificant, delicate stir was a warning of what was to come.

It would be swift and instantaneous.

Nothing would be able to satiate my hunger for satisfaction except for one particular wolf.

A wolf I would try my utmost best to disobey and fight with everything in my power.

Yet the bigger question is…

Would I be the dominant I always knew I could be?

Or would I succumb to my mate’s domination and become the submissive I have always feared?