The Chronicles of Moon
Chapter 83

White Wolf

The moon rose higher and higher, and it was time to move the gathering outside where the low stage had been stet up. After the joining of her pack with his, which is more a ceremony than anything else, they had all already joined the pack over the last few days. They are now all Twin Falls members, but Moon will officially join Colin and the pack in front of everyone in attendance. After she and Colin are expected to shift and lead the pack in a run.

Colin won’t be shifting only she will and she will reveal what she is to them all, hoping they accept her and the change that her presence means. A joining of all the packs. While they still don’t plan to rule the packs like in the old days, they want to set up a council and sign peace treaties amongst all the packs. Seeing that they could all manage to be here for a party you would think they would welcome the change.

Colin makes the announcement, and people begin heading to the doors that will lead them to the garden. Again Moon found her heart racing. She is going to reveal herself to everyone. Thinking about all the reactions of the crowd of Alphas and Lunas make her head spin.

“You ready for this?” Colin asks. She barely registers him speaking to her until he takes her arm. “Are you all right?

“Oh yeah. I guess I just have stage fright. I will have to shift. They will all see what I am.”

“You know they all came here just to see your Luna ceremony, and I think that is a good sign. They didn’t have to come but they did. Selene may have given them a nudge in the right direction.” Colin strokes her cheek smiling, looking at her with so much love it hurts.

“You really think so.” She asks, a glimmer of hope sparking in her.

“I do. Now let’s get this over with.” Colin smiles wider, making her smile as well.

“Please. I want things to go back to normal already. Well as normal as they can be.” She giggles a little.

The night air is getting chillier, which would have bothered her before she got her wolf, but now she hardly notices the chill in the air. Ash she and Colin walk to the stage. Moon tries to pay attention to what he is saying, but her thoughts take over, and she only really hears some of it as she looks at all the people staring at her. It feels like there are more people than were present for dinner and dancing.

“Most of you know I’m not big on speeches but the joining of my Luna’s pack and mine is something to celebrate. We gain strength in each other, and I think that is something that can benefit all of us. United as one pack now, we can rely on each other to help build a brighter future for us all.” Colin’s voice is loud and clear, and as soon as he finishes, the pack erupts in cheers as a few Alphas exchange looks wondering if he was just speaking of his own pack.

Colin turns, and Moon takes the queue to join him at the front of the stage. She knows what to expect. He asks her all the stander questions; if she will stay by his side, defend the pack and lead as his equal? She agrees, and they share a kiss making the pack cheer louder still. Sharing the goblet is a little off-putting to her, but she tries not to let it show. Drinking blood has never been high on her agenda, but it’s what has to be done apparently. Moon wonders if there is a better way of doing this in the future.

After she sips from it, she is hit with the rush of voices of all the pack. She knew it would happen, but it felt strange, and nothing like she had prepared for. She can hear them all, this is what Colin lives with day in and day out. Moon is glad she remembers it from her life before and how to quiet the voices blocking them out.

“Let’s get to the run, shall we?” Colin says, winking to Moon. She nods, moving to the curtain at the side of the stage to slip out of her dress without everyone seeing. She does, and when Kiara emerges, the unified gasp of the audience is remarkable. Most stare in shock, mouths gaping then they start whispering.

“The white wolf. She’s the white wolf. Does that mean what I think it means?” Someone asks loud enough everyone can hear.

“It means things need to change, and we hope you are willing to work with us. No one wants to return to the way things were, but a change needs to be made. The moon goddess sent her to help us replace a way to work together and become stronger.” Colin announces over the growing hum of the crowd. Kiara stood proud at the front of the stage, unafraid and bold as always.

’What if we don’t want a change?” another yells.

“We are destroying ourselves. That needs to stop. We need to work together, all of us. We are stronger together.” Colin tries to persuade them in his favor. The murmuring crowd grew louder and becomes unruly.

Kiara raises her head, howling so loud and long that everyone is forced into silence again. She walks behind the curtain, and everyone watching Moon returns wrapped in a silk robe.

“We don’t want to rule over the packs.” Moon announces. “That will do no good. We need to work together. I ask that we try to work this out and stop all the needless bloodshed of our own kind. If we continue the way we are, there will be too few of us to even survive. Watching as smaller packs fight off rogue attacks and do nothing but claim their land as your own later is wrong. How do you expect to survive? There are bigger threats out there, and we are so worried about fighting amongst ourselves to notice, and we will be powerless to stop them.”

The silence is painful until David speaks up. “I agree with Alpha Colin and his Luna. I have seen some of those threats. I saw her fight the Goddess of the dawn, hell-bent on destroying us just to get back at the moon goddess. We didn’t even know she was using our own kind against us. If the Luna here had wanted to, she could just tell us to follow them, and we would have no choice. They are letting us decide for ourselves, and that says more than words, doesn’t it?” Mutters of agreement begin to fill the air, and while Twin Falls pack has remained silent, they now start adding to the discussion with stories of the fight.

“A meeting then, and we will discuss this new future you have in mind.” The first Alpha that brought up his concerns says as the crowd begins to get out of control with tails of the battle. Moon can’t see who it is speaking to her, but she nods.

“A meeting is all we ask for,” Moon replies, standing tall, and Colin takes her hand, bringing her his comfort and strength as her heart threatens to beat its way out of her rib cage. She only hopes the others can’t tell how nervous she still is standing, trying to channel as much of Kiara as she can.

“A meeting then.” The others agree over the whispering group behind them.

“Good now. Who is up for a run?” David adds, making Twin Falls pack howl with their approval.

“Well, it could have been worse, I guess,” Colin says in Moon’s ear, and she sighs. “Let’s run, shall we?”

Moon shifts behind her curtain again, but when Kiara steps out, the giant wolves filling the garden stare at her with their yellow glowing eyes she thinks the worst for a moment but the wolfs raise their heads, howling their approval. The wolves know better than the humans what is best for the packs. Kiara and Farrell join them in the howl. It can be heard for miles, and even the wolves on patrol stop to join in. the sound washing over everything and everyone.

This is the start of a new beginning, Kiara says, and Moon feels like she’s holding back tears.

Wolves know best. We should trust them more. She sniffles.

That we do, Kiara replies boldly. Before leading them all in the run, Farrell close by her side.

To new beginnings. He links her seeming to read their mind.

This is the start of something. Kiara says, smiling to herself.

Epilogue

Moon spent the last six months wishing people were as easy to convince and work with as wolves. While they had been willing to change and follow Moon and Colin’s plan, their human counterparts had taken much more work to win over. In the end, though, most were won over. Some Moon and Colin felt only relented to save face and might be a problem later.

Some of Caleb Maddox’s pack seemed willing to join Twin Falls, while others joined other packs to be with family or friends they had there. With Caleb gone, they felt free of the relentless Alpha. It was the council’s first order that Caleb is dealt with accordingly when Colin revealed Caleb’s crimes against his sister, and other things came to light when many of his old pack members stepped forward.

The attacks on other packs have stopped, to the delight of many small packs. Now, if there is, a dispute over borders or a pack needs to expand. It is brought to the newly formed council. All eight members were selected and voted on by the packs themselves.

Moon and Colin also have a place on the council, but more as supervision than decision-making. David has a spot on the council as well. It seems he has more friends than Colin gave him credit for. For the moment, things are peaceful. The rogues are being dealt with by all the packs now. They are no longer a problem for the smaller packs getting protection from the larger packs now instead of them waiting for them to fall just to take over their land or pack members. There is even talk of forming something like the human military to defend all the packs.

Rumors of vampires are beginning to circulate in the packs. A plan of action is being formed to deal with them in case they decide to make their presents known again. For now, though, they remain only rumors and things that scare pups in their nightmares. Moon hopes someday people will stop telling tails about them to the pups. She also wonders if it could be Eos again. It is unclear what became of her. Selene still looks for her as well as trying to help Helios replace Callie, but both seem impossible to locate.

“Moon, can I go play in the woods?” Bella asks, bouncing, already dressed in her snowsuit, still holding bunny close to her.

“Well, you are already dressed, so I guess so,” Moon replies, smiling at her warmly.

“Great, Sammy and me are going to make a snow cave and snowman. I bet he beats up the snowman again, saying he needs the practice.” Bella shrugs, looking a little annoyed at his constant training. Moon laughs as Bella runs out of the apartment.

“I think she spends more time with that boy than with us,” Colin says, joining her in the kitchen. He wraps his arms around her from behind, placing his hands on the small round bump of her belly and kissing the top of her head.

“At least she has a friend, and she should enjoy the snow. Spring will be here soon.” Moon says, still smiling and placing a hand on his.

“True, but that boy.” Colin sounds worried. While Sam has excelled in Ben’s youth training classes, He even needed to be moved up to join the older kids; Colin still feels protective over Bella spending so much time with him.

“You worry too much.” Moon laughs, turning in his arms to kiss him. “Let’s just enjoy things right now.”

“I can’t promise not to worry, but I do enjoy every moment I have with you and our family. I will try not to worry about him leading her off on some fool mission. Do you remember the last time they took off? They got lost in a cave.”

“Sam didn’t lead her in there. If I remember right, Bella was the one that went exploring, and he followed her.” Moon tilts her head raising a brow.

***

“This is not living,” Jamie growls. He spent months hiding from every pack. They are all looking for him now, thanks to Colin and Moon setting up this council, making him an enemy to everyone and unwelcome to any pack now. Even rogues wouldn’t take him in, knowing full well it would be the death of them if they did.

Jamie walks through the frozen snow, trying to remember the last time he ate. The beard on his face was the only thing keeping his face warm. He would shift, but he’s too close to humans now. It isn’t safe. He also hates going into town; when he enters any new place full of humans, they stare at him like some vagrant. He hates begging humans for food or living with them, so avoiding them is his choice, but he may have to if he wants to live through the last of winter.

“You look lost.” The smooth voice of a woman catches him off guard. He didn’t smell anyone around. Where did she come from? He turns quickly to see the beautiful blonde looking at him. She’s wrapped in a fluffy fur coat and hat. “Let me help you. Are you lost? You will freeze if you stay out here much longer.”

The woman is strange but breathtakingly beautiful. Jamie can’t get any sent from her at all. It’s confusing to him, but his mind is tired, and he’s so hungry.

“Where did you come from?” He dumbly asks. She gives him a half smile.

“My family and I live just over there.” She says, pointing to her left. “Come with me. We will give you a warm meal at least.”

The promise of food has his attention. He walks toward her, and she turns, looking over her shoulder. “This way.” She says. When she looks forward again, licking her lips and smiling, her fangs already extending, she has been so hungry, and while he isn’t much of a meal, he’ll have to do. A rogue wolf is better than a missing human, drawing attention to her and her family.

***

“Sammy, I had the strangest dream. I dreamed I was a wolf, but…” Bella trails off as she shoves a stick into the snowman, making a crooked arm.

“But what?” Sam asks eagerly, wondering if she finally remembers something.

“Never mind, it’s silly. Oh, no bunny fell. He’ll get all wet.” She rushes off to save her stuffed animal as Sam’s shoulders drop. If she would just remember, then he wouldn’t be the one telling her, and he wouldn’t be breaking the order. He wishes she would just remember that night as he does. He hates she doesn’t know how amazing she is. He has promised himself he will be by her side to watch out for her. She is something special, and he knows it. He can’t wait for the day she knows it too. So, until that day, he will be right there with her no matter what, and something tells him he’ll be there even after that.

***

“Wait, you want to send Sam where?” Tim asks Ben.

“I want to send him to the academy. That boy has more potential than I have seen in a long time. He can be something great, and they can train him.” Ben says excitedly for the boy and the future he could have. “The council is going to start a special force of wolves, like the human army, if you will. Wolves are trained to defend all the packs. He is leader material.”

“You really think so?” Tim asks, getting excited for his son now as well. Grace grips his arm.

“He won’t go now, though?” She asks tentatively. She is worried about what sending him away to school will be like for her son.

“No, but he will be old enough in a few years. I just want you to think about it, and I can reserve a place for him now if that is what you decide.” Ben smiles, reassuring her.

“We will think about it.” Tim replies, “Thank you, you really believe that much in him.”

“Yeah, I do. He’s really something else. I have a feeling about him.” Ben smiles at the couple, making them both proud that he is so impressed with their boy.

“Grace, I think we should save him a place there. It would be a chance for him to be more than just a warrior like me. He could be a leader.” Tim says, taking her hands. They had struggled in the past, both coming from hard lives before they moved to Big Springs to start over, and now they are starting over again at Twin Falls. The promise of a better future for their only pup is hard to pass up.

“Okay, then save him a place there if you can, but it costs so much to attend a school like that,” Grace says, turning to Ben.

“Don’t worry about that. I will ensure he has a place, and the cost is not something you need to worry about. I really believe in him.” Ben says, “That boy is special. I just know it, and I will do what I can to see he does great things.”

***

“If you go, I will hate you and never forgive you, Samuel!” Bella yells, crossing her arms. She’s holding back tears after hearing him tell her he’s leaving at the end of summer. She will be losing her best friend. They have spent nearly every day of the last five years side by side, and now he’s leaving her.

“You don’t mean that, Bells. You are my best friend.” Sam gives her sad puppy eyes, and she breaks a little more.

“No, I don’t, but I will hate that stupid academy, and I hate that you agreed to go. You said you wouldn’t.” her voice is low and starting to shake as tears threaten to fall. She looks down at the ground to avoid looking at him anymore.

“I know, but it’s a good chance for me. Alpha and Beta kids go there. Your dad and Beta Chris went there. I would never get a chance like this. I need to go, my dad thinks it’s a good opportunity for me, and they plan to send me no matter what. I don’t want to leave you, but I have to. Just don’t hate me. I will be back for holidays and breaks. It won’t be so bad, I promise. I will call and write to you too. Just don’t be mad at me, please.” He moves closer to her face, her dark hair blowing in the breeze, hiding her face. He slowly moves her hair to see her dark eyes. Tears rim her lashes, and one fat tear rolls down her cheek, breaking his twelve-year-old heart. “I will Come back.”

“Pinky swear.” She demands, looking straight into his blue eyes, holding up her pinky in front of them. He hooks hers with his.

“I pinky swear. I will come back.”

The end for now