His Blue Moon Princess
Chapter 23

I can't believe my own eyes. He looks thinner and messy, but it's definitely my brother, Alec. And he is staring at me, too. What is he doing here, of all places? Is he looking for me? What do I do? He doesn't look like he wants to approach me. More like... He is glaring I run back into the store, panicked.

at me.

"Bobo, Tonia, my brother's here!"

Both of them jump on their feet and follow me outside. But Alec isn't in sight anymore. I run to the place I spotted him, but there is no one. Damn! Where did he go now? I look down to Bobo. "Did you pick up his scent?"

"He's not sure. There are too many different smells, it's a public place after all... Nora, are you sure it was your brother?"

"A hundred percent sure. He was definitely standing there, and he saw me, too, he was watching me."

"You think he was the one watching you earlier?"

I would not be too sure about that. The feeling was... Different. I shake my head, looking at Bobo who is still inspecting every inch of the floor. Tonia asks me how he was dressed, and picks up her phone to give out orders. She is sending out people to look for Alec, but I can't help but feel nervous. I keep looking around, hoping to spot him somewhere among the crowd. I don't like the way he was looking at me, so full of hatred... Even worse than before.

I shiver, and it has nothing to do with the temperature. Bobo notices it, and comes to lean against me. My wolf tells me he means it's okay, not to worry. I just nod, too anxious to speak. Why do I feel so nervous all of sudden? I don't like this situation. Something's off. "Nora? You okay?"

Tonia comes to put a hand on my shoulder, but I shake my head.

"I want to go home. Now." I just say while staring where Alec stood

"Okay. Let's get back to the parking lot, then."

I don't say a word for the whole trip back. I know Tonia keeps glancing at me, but I ignore it. I just feel anxious for some reason, and I can't shake this weird feeling off. I really wish Damian was here. I'm nervously playing with my phone, but I can't bring myself to call him. I know he's busy, and I don't want to bother him for something so trivial. Maybe it's just me being paranoid.

Once we are back at the apartment, Bobo is stuck to me. I know he is trying to reassure me, and I'm thankful for that. For a second, I wonder what to do, but I decided to go change into one of my gym outfits and grab my boxing gloves from my room. Without asking Tonia anything, I just head to the gym upstairs, with Bobo following me, as usual.

I don't like this feeling. I try to punch it off on the sandbags, irritated. What is Alec planning? He clearly wanted me to see him, so what now? I never know where to stand with my brother... Alec has never acted like a sibling to me. He was the worst back when we were still in the pack, and he showed no remorse hitting me. Yet I could never completely resent him. Because he is my brother, and because what happened to our parents messed him up a lot. Maybe I was blinded all along.

I remember the last time I saw him. He was ready to let Marcus r**e me, and to kill me. I'm sure he would have if Bobo and Tonia hadn't intervened. Always visit Ebookex.com for more novels and updates I throw a couple more punches, with all my strength. What is wrong with him? Why does he hate me so much? I feel like I'm missing something here.

But I can't let it go anymore. I need to settle things with my brother for real. For good.

I keep the punches coming and even fail to notice Tonia entering the gym. I only realize she's there when she starts talking.

"I see someone needed to blow off some steam."

"Did you replace him?" I ask, panting.

She shakes her head, and bring me a few black-and-white pictures. I take off my gloves to look at it while she puts my hair into a ponytail.

"The surveillance cameras caught him at the west entrance of the mall, but that's all we could gather. What do you want to do?"

This is the first time she is asking for my decision. I take a while to think, but I already know what should be done. I give her back the pictures.

"Find him. I need to talk to my brother, seriously. You have his full name, and we know he's still in town. Without a Clan, I doubt he would go anywhere on other Clans' turfs, and I think he is watching me. He's probably somewhere in the Blood Moon Clan's territory." My wolf agrees with me, though she wants to go replace him herself. But that would be reckless, and I promised Damian I wouldn't do anything dangerous. And somehow, I feel Alec is up to no good following me. But I just can't leave it like that. Tonia nods with a big smile.

"Now that's an Alpha talking!"

I roll my eyes. Since we discovered this whole mystery about my secret birth, Tonia and Nathaniel have been going on about my hypothetical Alpha genes whenever they get an opportunity. I don't really want to have to think too deeply about it. This whole matter about my non-recorded existence is already enough of a headache as it is. But, as a matter of fact, I also believe my brother may be able to enlighten me about that. All the more reasons to get ahold of him.

A couple more days pass, but no sign of Alec.

It's nerve-wracking. I try to chase my worries away by keeping myself busy, switching between my studies and workout sessions, but it's no use. We still can't confirm his location, and I have no idea what he wants. Moreover, I wish I could ask him some questions, about our parents and the mystery surrounding me.

Damian barely has any time to call me at all. Seems like he really is as busy as Tonia said because I can only manage to have him on the phone a few minutes a day. Apparently, they are about to reach an agreement with the Rising Moon Clan, but that makes the neighboring packs uneasy, and thus, some conflicts are bound to rise.

"My brother said you had made your decision," says Damien.

"Yes. I'm not really sure this is a good idea yet, but... maybe it's worth trying. I need to end things once and for all with the Jade Moon Clan."

I'm sitting on the couch, brushing my hair with my fingers while holding up the phone. It's almost midnight, and Bobo is sleeping like a baby against my legs. Damian sounds dead tired, yet he gave me a call, as promised.

"You can do it, Nora. Put that scum back into his place or I'll come and do it for you."

I can't help but smile. I've noticed Damian is less polite when he is tired.

"I'll do my best."

"We're still looking for your brother. He really knows how to stay under the radar. Nathaniel even gave the word to our allies, but no one has spotted him yet."

I have been thinking about this matter a lot. Recently, I had an idea about how to get ahold of Alec, but I'm not sure this will work.

"Damian, I think I know when we can catch him. But I'm going to need help."

"Tell me."

"I think he will be there at the duel against Vincent. Alec is rancorous. Peter and Vincent banished him, so I'm sure he will want to be there to see the Alpha being demoted. He will definitely replace a way to see the fight, and that's when we will have a chance to catch him." "We can have people watching the grounds. Two days is more than enough to gather them; I'll ask Nathaniel to take care of it."

I leave out a sigh. Why do I feel this will be our last chance to catch my brother? If he has been watching me recently, why is he staying away? Does he already know my connection to the Blood Moon Clan? I haven't told anyone that Alec was the one who tried to strangle me that night, and I'm not sure if I should say it. Damian might seriously kill him if he knows...

We discuss a bit longer about what preparations should be made to be sure to catch Alec, but I still feel uneasy. What if we do catch him?

"Damian, can you promise me something?"

"What is it?"

"When we catch Alec... I want you to promise me you won't attack him."

"Nora, what is this about?"

I know he suspects something. He probably wonders why I would be worried about him hurting Alec, but I can't possibly tell him the truth. However, I can't be sure that Alec won't talk and spill the beans. Moreover, Alec is always so harsh while talking to me, and Damian is not the most patient person...

"Just promise me, please."

He stays silent for a while.

"...Okay, I promise."

That's one last thing to worry about, at least. I sigh, tired by all the anxiousness. I rest my head on the sofa and close my eyes for a second.

"I miss you," I whisper.

"....Same here."

"I wish I could see you right now."

"Same here."

I chuckle a bit. He really is tired.

"Are you just going to keep saying that?"

He stays silent for a while, and I'm thinking we should hang up to both catch some sleep, but I hear his voice before I can talk.

"...I want to come all the way over there and kiss you again."

I blush, embarrassed, and hide my face with my hair even though he can't see me.

"...Same." I whisper.

***

The next day was the last one before the duel against Vincent.

To be honest, I was not as worried over the duel as I was about Alec's matter. It felt like my brother held all the answers I was looking for, and I was worried we might miss him again. Even the siblings felt my anxiety and stayed next to me all day. Tonia even trained me for a few hours, though it didn't help me blow off all the steam.

However, when we got back to the apartment, to my surprise, both Nathaniel and Liam were there. As elegant as ever, Nathaniel was simply standing still in the kitchen while discussing with his younger brother. Liam, however, was lazily lying on the couch and just sat up as I entered the room. He casually waved at me.

"Hello, princess," says Nathaniel.

"What are you both doing here?" I asked, worried.

The two of them coming to the apartment didn't seem like a simple, friendly visit. And I know I can't trust Nathaniel's smiling face. Liam rolls his eyes and leans on the couch, leaving the explanation to his older brother.

"We just wanted to come and see you before the duel. How do you feel?"

"I'm fine," I answer honestly.

It's true. Since I've been living away from my Clan for a whole month, Vincent doesn't seem as threatening as he once was. I'm not exactly overconfident in my fighting abilities, given that I have only shape-shifted a couple of times before, but I don't intend to hold back and act scared either. It's just wishing for that matter to be settled for good.

"Good! Well, Liam and I will be there tomorrow, as well. Damian wants to make sure his princess doesn't run into some... unnecessary trouble."

He means if the Jade Moon Clan attacks me. They could try to hurt me before the duel, or even replace someone else to challenge me if I win over Vincent. Moreover, during a fight for the Alpha Position, a Clan is usually weakened, making it easier for Rogues and other packs to launch an attack. However, none of the local packs would dare to do such a thing if the Blood Moon Clan is there. And with Liam and Nathaniel present, the Jade Moon pack members will have no choice but to acknowledge whatever is the duel's result. "Thank you. Did you talk to Damian?"

I'm sure the two of them already discussed the matter of Alec. Nathaniel nods with a smile.

"Yes. Don't worry. We will prepare accordingly to be sure to catch him."

"Just focus on your duel, Nora. Trust me, my hunters won't miss your brother," adds Liam.

I feel better knowing the Black brothers will be there. As expected, Damian most likely won't be able to come, but I know I can trust these two. Even if no one from the Jade Moon Clan will be on my side, they will. "What of Marcus Sickels?" I ask.

That is a matter that no one dared to bring back on the table for a while, but I need to ask. I'm sure Nathaniel was on it, and I need to know if there is a chance he will show up, too. But he just shakes his head. "Still no trace, sorry princess. We are still looking into it."

If I stabbed him, he couldn't have gotten very far without help. And I remember how much blood there was, it was no light wound!

No, for now, I should just focus on the upcoming duel with Vincent. While I go to sit on the couch next to Liam, Nathaniel keeps talking.

"Your birth matter is still a blur. Your parents were indeed part of the Gold Moon Clan, both of them. It's not a pack we are on good terms with, but I still managed to get some information. Apparently, the Blackwoods got married in their mid-twenties after your mother got pregnant with your older brother, and moved in together to start their family. It seems like they estranged themselves from their Clan's matters after that, but more importantly, no one remembers them having a daughter."

To be honest, I don't remember living among a Clan before the Jade Moon, either. But it is not totally uncommon for young couples to detach themselves from the matters of their pack to focus on their family. Especially those with young pups. "What happened to them, then?" Suddenly asks Liam.

All eyes converge on me. Of course. I bet Nathaniel already knows, if he was looking into it. He probably already told Damian about his replaceings, too. But now that Liam is asking me, and with the siblings present, I can't really hide it anymore. I really don't want to say too much, and my memory isn't too good either. I might as well keep it to what Nathaniel should know, as it is all in the police report.

I take a deep breath, and answer with all the composure I can gather.

"They died. About ten years ago. When I was seven, my... my mother killed my father and then took her own life."