His Blue Moon Princess
Chapter 26

I turn around, facing him. I can't believe he really came!

Damian is holding me tightly against him, but his silver eyes are glaring at Vincent. I notice that everyone in the plaza has reacted to his presence. A lot of people have instinctively stepped back, shapeshifting to their wolf forms or regrouping with their peers. I'm sure some people even ran from the scene right away.

But the most scared one is definitively Vincent. He doesn't dare to look up now and is obviously shaking. Honestly, I don't feel sorry for him; I'm tired of his attitude, and if Damian can finally get him to understand his place, so be it. "What are you doing here?" I whisper.

"I couldn't sit still while you were fighting this trash. And I have a few things to settle once you're done with him..."

His ice-cold voice is definitely aimed at Vincent. Even his pack members don't seem so sure about staying close to him now, as nobody wants to have a share of Damian's wrath. But I'm not like them; I don't fear him. Instead, I'm feeling even more confident feeling my mate next to me, holding me. I glance at Vincent, too, letting him make up his mind.

He is now looking at me, but carefully avoiding Damian's piercing glare.

"We agree to your terms, but we would like to pledge allegiance to you, Nora. I promise to do as you said, and I do recognize that I have been lacking as an Alpha."

To me? I don't understand why they would obey me instead of Nathaniel. Aren't they supposed to form alliances with other Clans instead of a single person? Now it's like he is submitting his Clan to me, but I'm not sure I want to be responsible for the Jade Moon Clan... Though in this configuration, it would be more like having ownership while Vincent is managing it. When our eyes meet, I think I get it. My earlier words really did have an impact on him. Is it possible that I do have Alpha potential, as Tonia and Nathaniel thought? I exchange a look with Damian, but he just nods, his eyes still on my former Alpha. He is clear: I can do whatever I please with them. So I turn to Vincent.

"That's fine for me, then."

"All right... The Jade Moon Clan, with me, Vincent Greene, as its Alpha swears a total and willing allegiance to Nora Bluemoon. May the Moon Goddess be our witness tonight."

A few people in the plaza applauds or whistles. Nathaniel and Damian both seem content too, and my mate gives me a swift kiss on my forehead.

"Well done, princess."

I smile and blush, still a bit shy. I believe it's the first time Damian called me by something else than my first name... I lean my head against his chest. I'm tired, but his warmth is the best thing right now. But as he glances down, I see him frowning with an angry look all of sudden. I forgot the blood running from under my sweatshirt. I shake my head and try awkwardly to lower my sweatshirt on my thighs.

"It's okay, it's not that bad."

But he is not listening to me, his eyes fixated on the thin trail of blood. He turns to Vincent, and his about to say something, but all of sudden both Bobo and I suddenly turn our heads in the same direction.

Alec's smell. I'm sure of it. Bobo jumps ahead of me and starts running in that direction. I only take a second to shapeshift, escaping Damian's embrace. I hear Tonia behind me. "Nora, no! Don't!"

But I'm not listening and not stopping. Running on all fours, I'm right behind Bobo, following Alec's scent in the north-west direction. I'm sure my brother was close just a second ago- we can't lose him again. Bobo is much bigger, but I still catch up to him, proving that I'm definitely faster than most. We run side by side, chasing the same person.

I hear, or sense, other people running behind us, too, but no one is apparently able to catch up to us. We have to act fast; I can't slow down. We chase him for a long time, and enter further into the industrial area of the city, running past several warehouses. Is that where he was hiding? This is a remote area of the city, so it could make a good hide-out.

I finally spot my brother running in his wolf form ahead of me. He is a mix of light brown, white, and sand colors that I can easily recognize even in the dark. He is fast, too, but not as fast as I am, and I'm catching up. It's only a matter of seconds now. We have arrived at the Docks area, which I am not familiar with. From what I can see, there is nothing but old warehouses on our left and the sea on our right. But if Alec keeps going North, we will end up on the Sea Moon Clan territory, and I definitely don't want to enter there, or else we will be attacked right away.

But I'm almost on him! I realize I ran ahead of Bobo and lost him, but I can't think about it now, and he can't be too far behind. He will probably catch up soon. I have to focus on catching my brother. But without warning, I suddenly see him turn around to face me. I wasn't prepared for that, and I try to slow down as much as I can. Alec seizes the occasion right away and jumps on me. For a second, I thought he was about to attack me, but instead, he pushes me on the side with all his strength. I'm already unsteady because of my run, and I can't defend myself. In a split second, I realize what he is doing.

He just pushed me in the sea.

Alec knows I don't know how to swim.

My body brutally hits the surface, and I gulp a lot of water unwillingly. I try to paddle, but I'm disoriented by my sudden fall and the freezing water surrounding me. I can't believe he got rid of me so easily!

I have to replace the surface, but I'm choking, unable to breathe. I'm panicking, trying to fight off the water blindly, desperate for air. I'm starting to feel numb and tired. A dark veil is taking over me, and my head is spinning....

Hang on!

Air! I feel myself being pulled out of the water, and I start coughing unstoppably. Someone's patting my back, helping me breathe and pulling my hair out of my face. I hadn't even realized I had shifted back. "Are you okay?"

That's the voice that was talking to me during the fight! I want to answer, but I'm drowsy and just nod while trying to catch my breath.

"It's okay, breathe. Use the mind-link to talk to me, don't waste your strength."

How do I do that? I try to formulate a clear thought, and I feel my wolf helping me somewhere in the process.

Thanks.

I feel her shapeshifting next to me before I can take a glance at her. But when I look up, I immediately recognize her creamy-white fur and her gold, mesmerizing amber eyes. I've seen this wolf before. She was the wolf accompanying Nathaniel when I went to the Jade Moon Clan a few days ago.

Don't worry, they'll be here soon. Bobo got him. Just catch your breath, your mate is coming. I gotta go. Her voice echoes in my mind.

Wait! Who are you?

I can't stay. I'm not supposed to be here. Don't worry, I'll replace you again. Don't tell them you saw me. Especially not Nate.

I want to say something again, but before I do, she's gone. And I am in no condition to be able to try and catch her. I'm exhausted, and can only lie on the ground. I close my eyes to try and chase the dizziness away, but an unknown smell suddenly grabs my attention: other wolves.

I hear growling and I try to stand, but I'm way too tired. It's no good... I look up and see a bunch of unfamiliar wolves have started circling me. They appear menacing, and I'm sure they are from the Sea Moon Clan. This is really bad. I'm lying on the ground, too tired to defend myself or even return to my wolf form! A guy in his human form goes ahead of his peers with a nasty look on his face.

"Look what we got here... A pretty mermaid just landed on our docks, boys. Are you lost, sweetheart?"

I answer with a growl. He is clearly making fun of me. Gosh, why do I have to be defenseless and n***d now?! He frowns at my growl, unhappy with my response. I wish I could be more menacing than that, but even my growl shows how weak I am at the moment. In response, all of them start growling back and come closer.

Suddenly, a large shadow flies over us, and a black wolf attacks them without warning. He pins one of them to the ground and breaks a neck in one swift motion. All of the Sea Moon wolves take a few steps back, some getting ready to attack, some afraid. It takes me a few seconds to recognize Liam's fur, and by then, another beast comes.

He is pitch black, darker than night. Moving slowly, his fangs showing, the menacing wolf exudes the most dominating aura I've ever felt. He seems even bigger, surrounded by shadows. I gasp. All of the Sea Moon wolves are focused on his presence, obviously wary of him. No one dares to move an inch.

Damian finally reaches me, standing above my n***d body, in an obvious protective position. He is guarding me and looking straight at the man who talked to me with killer eyes. The guy gulps, his gaze switching from Damian to me back and forth. The terrified look in his eyes says it all.

"I... We didn't know, we just... wanted to check on her... It's..."

But Damian's eyes are still on him, without blinking. He is not growling or moving, but even I can feel his anger from here. Liam lets go of the neck he had his fangs in and shapeshifts. I avoid my eyes from the n***d teen in front of me.

"Hey, I thought you guys wanted to play, what's this?"

Gosh, Liam, you're having way too much fun right now...

"We don't want to cause a fight. We just came to check why intruders were approaching... And you attacked us first!" He shows his injured comrades, still laying on the ground. I can't tell if they are unconscious or dead, but the amount of blood on the asphalt is not good. Liam obviously doesn't care.

"So what? Do you want to complain? You guys should have stayed on your turf, instead of coming to take a peek at my brother's mate while she was vulnerable."

"We did not know who she was!"

But Liam shrugs. Above me, Damian lowers his head, gently pressing his muzzle against my cheek. He's worried about me. I raise my hand to lose my fingers through his fur. I'm so tired... I feel like I could fall asleep here, on the ground. I hear a car coming, and rushing steps towards us.

"Nora!"

It's Tonia. She approaches me and covers me with a large coat. Finally! Someone who is bothered to let me out naked... Damian has been mostly covering me with his body, but still. He gets up, and I can hear him changing back, too. When I look up, he only has a pair of jeans on despite the cold, so I can see his bare torso... I never noticed how muscular he is. I look away, though I'm probably too cold to blush now anyway.

Suddenly, I feel strong arms pulling me up, and Damian is carrying me. It's a bit embarrassing, being carried like a princess against his chest when I'm wearing nothing but a coat! And in the middle of a territory dispute, to boot. I'm soaked, tired, and I probably stink more than I can smell. "Can't we just go home already?" I ask.

Liam turns to me with a pout, visibly annoyed that I'm ruining his fun. But Damian doesn't care. He turns back without a care for the dozen hostile wolves behind him and heads for the car, Tonia following closely behind us.

"What about Alec?" I ask.

"Bobo got him, don't worry."

Behind us, I hear Liam growling. He and the Sea Moon Wolves haven't moved. But we reach the car, Damian sits at the back, still keeping me in his arms. "Liam!"

The youngest Black brother can't disobey, but he still gives a glare to the guy.

"Next time, guys."

He runs quickly to join us and finally sits in the car while Tonia drives. I notice a few wolves outside that must have come with them, but they all quickly disperse as soon as the car starts. I try looking for the creamy white wolf from earlier, but I don't recognize anyone.

"What about Nathaniel?" I ask.

"He stayed behind to take care of things with the Jade Moon Clan."

I nod. Why didn't she want him to know her presence? I assumed she was from the Velvet Moon Clan, but it seems more complicated than that... And how could she mind-link with me? She is not from the Jade Moon Clan, and aside from that, only relatives or bonded mates can do such a thing.

Tonia put the heater on, and I'm starting to feel much hotter already. With head resting against Damian's shoulder, I feel his fingers gently running through my hair, and his other hand around my waist, holding me. What a day...