Chapter 62 The Blood Moon Rises

*Diana*

From the serene beauty of the beach, I was sent back to the cold reality of excruciating pain. I had to thank the Moon Goddess though for taking me away from most of the suffering. However when I returned to my body, the pain I felt at the beginning was just but a taste compared to what I was experiencing now.

To be honest, it felt I was being repeatedly runned over by a truck. The pressure on my skin and my bones was immense, I couldn't move. My  breathing was labored and I couldn't even open my eyelids. When I heard the sound of the first crack come from one of my bones in my arms and felt it break, I began to scream.. I could hear Uncle Mik telling me not to fight it as my body morphed into my wolf. I wanted to tell him I didn't have any control of what was happening to my body.

When my neck started to move side to side and my mandible started breaking, I thought my face was going to split open. I felt my eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets. I only stopped screaming when my face elongated into a snout and my teeth and my tongue grew so long and big, it filled my mouth.

When the the last bone of my body cracked into place, I saw every one and every thing as clear as day. To me, the dark of the night wasn't a hindrance to my vision. I could even see through the walls of the house.

"We are finally one," Onyx said. She growled, clearly irritated about something. "This small tent is laying on my head like a hat." She wiggled her head free of the tent and I saw the tent fly up into the air and land several meters away.

"It must mean, Onyx, you have a big head," I giggled.

"We, Diana, we have a big head," she corrected. She stood and I finally understood what she meant.

Onyx practically towered over everyone. The people scattered around us looked like ants. She was even taller than the trees around the estate. Basically, I could have several people climb up on Onyx's back and she could run with them on top of her without fussing with their weight.

Onyx lifted her snout to the sky and I saw the eerie red moon hovering above us. She inhaled deeply and howled. I saw the snow fall from some of the trees from the force of her howl. She wanted to announce to all wolves near or far that she was back!

The wolves, who were scattered on the lawn, fell to their knees and bowed. I felt like royalty. Onyx laughed at my naivete. "Yes, we are of a higher power. They must know their place."

Then, just like magic, we were standing infront of each wolf who was bowing at us. We peered into each of their eyes and I saw all their memories, sins of their past as well as sins done against them. I also saw Onyx's plans for each one of them with Andrew's being the most striking. I didn't know he was related to the High Lord Wolf nor did I know his amber eyes were an important omen of his pack. The Amber Eyes pack has seen their fair share of problems after their Alpha went missing and Andrew rejected the idea of going back whilst the High Lord Wolf turned his back on them even if they were instrumental to his ascent to power. Their problems weren't centered on wealth and finances though, but on the health of the members of their pack. The members believed it was because of the absence of amber eyes.

Elder Allen, on the other hand, was a stubborn old woman. She didn't bow at Onyx at first, so her wolf took over. Her wolf then bowed at Onyx and apologized incessantly for her human form's mistakes. I did have to hand it to the Elder though, she had dirt on everyone which she used to her advantage. She was unfortunately met with a brick wall when she met Alpha Connor. She tried so hard to manipulate him into selling a portion of his territory, even trying to use the "absentee Alpha which caused the death of his brother" bit. It didn't work. Although she was a vile, lonely old woman, she was useful and Onyx needed her to manipulate the Council.

Onyx also came to stand infront of the High Lord Wolf. He had heard Onyx's howl in the wind while he sat at his balcony, sipping a glass of red wine and gazing up at the Blood Moon. He immediately knelt down, bowing his head in reverence. When he looked up, Onyx was standing infront of him. He screamed like a little girl and fell backward on his floor.

I saw how he liked to make use of his time, organizing orgies left and right. He even threw an annual "Gentlemen's Night" which usually happened the day after the Christmas Ball. No wonder the sponsors and donors were so adamant at meeting with him before the Christmas Ball. It was actually during that meeting where he would reveal the venue and theme of the party. Well, that wasn't going to happen this year, since he now had a problem with erectile dysfunction.

The High Lord Wolf rejected the idea of having a mate because he was afraid his offspring would not bear the amber eyes his pack longed for. It was total nonsense, but it was a reason he felt justified his decisions and orgies.

"Make sure your queen is met with the regalness she deserves or I will bite off the head that hangs between your legs," Onyx growled.

"Of course, my queen. I have already taken the liberty of preparing her and her entourage's ensembles for the Christmas ball. I have also prepared her residence if she needs a place to stay with it her servants," the High Lord Wolf's voice slightly trembled as he answered.

"Good. The image of the human form of your queen is now seared into your memory. Make no mistake."

I also saw my grandfather. He was seated at a table in a private room with another gentleman who was sweating profusely. The gentleman had a puzzled look on his face.

"Did you just hear that? The howl?" The gentleman asked my grandfather.

"You must be hearing things, J.J. We don't have a queen," my grandfather answered.

"So you did hear it. What do you think that was all about? The Blood Moon has risen signaling chaos and change."

"There will be a change, yes. I will become a High Councilman," said my grandfather. The other gentleman snickered and raised his glass at him, then he suddenly froze, trembling.

"J.J.? What's going on with you?" My grandfather stood up while the room dimmed around him. Onyx revealed herself to him, pouncing at him through the darkness, her teeth bared, her mouth opened. He suddenly passed out on the floor.

I finally came back to my human form and found myself in the loving arms of Ethan. He was so happy that my suffering was now a mere memory and noticed I was clothed after shifting back. I lifted my head from Ethan's shoulder and saw my father. I went to him and hugged him. He put his coat around my shoulders and yelled for someone to fetch the Elder.

"Good, you're already wearing white, Diana. It's time you and Ethan are mated," he said.

_______________


*One*

The shipment should have been here an hour ago. I had sent Second out to follow the tracker and locate our shipment. The Mage has been late before, yes, but when that happened, the trucker would usually speed their way back to New York. Every minute my shipment is delayed, earns a penalty.

Tonight, the Blood Moon rises. I felt uneasy as the moon turned that ghastly red color that resembled blood. I looked down at my hands and remember the blood that once stained my hands.

I was cocky in my youth. I came from a pack in the Midwest whose Alpha was a greedy sonofabitch. I fought for the fair treatment of all wolves, especially the ones who had to bow the lowest. I was an Omega myself, a slave served to toil day in and day out.

I had a pittance of a salary. I was envious of the human workers who shared the same job as me, yet were able to buy the things that people usually want, a house, a car, a vacation, even dine at a nice restaurant once in a while or watch a movie with a bucket of popcorn and Maltesers. I had to contribute most of my salary to the pack which left me with practically nothing while the higher ranking wolves were able to sit down and share a bottle of expensive wine. I got fed up when I found out the bottle of wine was worth more than my rundown cellphone.

I challenged my Alpha who was an old coot about to give way to his son who was another spoiled brat. I thought I could win against him and I almost did, if he didn't have a silver dagger tucked within the folds of his robe. That's when I realized, there was no chance in hell any of us could win when our Alpha was a cunning cheat.

I was banished from the pack, never to return. I thought my freedom would make it easier for me now that I didn't have to give the pack any more of my wages. Unfortunately, being banished meant I was also fired from my job. I tried to look for a job elsewhere, however my Alpha had already made sure I was blacklisted from being hired in all the companies I tried to apply to. The fucked up thing was he demanded my family still pay my contribution which left my family almost penniless.

I decided to leave the Midwest and test my fortune in the East Coast. I was such an idiot to think it would be better here. I didn't know the Council of Wolves controlled most of this area and they either imprisoned or killed a rogue if they happened to come across one. Security was always tight and it was difficult for a rogue like me to cross state borders.

I met Second camping in the woods, the sweet smell of venison cooking atop a crackling fire. I hadn't eaten for days and the smell of the meat was so mouth-watering, I just had to get some.

"It's illegal to kill deer when it isn't hunting season," I said, coming from behind him. I was surprised ti hear him chuckle.

"I've smelled you before. You're the one who acts like he's a homeless human." He turned to face me. "We are wolves. We can hunt and kill. We do not need to beg for scraps like what you've been doing." He pointed to the log beside him. "Sit down. The venison is almost done cooking." After months of begging, this wolf had asked me to come and share his food. I never left his side after that night.

He had a low-paying job at a construction site so he talked to his boss about adding me to the crew, negotiating I could do a lot of work for a fraction of what was normally paid. Since his boss wanted to cut down costs, he hired me on the spot. With my wages, I was able to buy a nice tent which he and I could share. We found a nice spot beside a stream and lived content. We had money to buy toilet paper if we needed it and some beer if we wanted to drink.

But all good things come to an end. After several months, construction finished. We were called in to have a word with the boss. I thought he was so impressed with our work, he wanted to make it a regular thing. I was very wrong.

"My men have some concerns about you boys working with us. They think both of you are illegals, maybe criminals. Although I would like for you to continue with us, I'm afraid I have to let you two go," he said.

We tried finding alternative ways of earning money, but we were always turned down. When all of our money was gone, we decided we needed to con our way into getting it. We started with the "drop wallet" con, where either of us would drop our wallet infront of a potential mark and when he bent down to pick it up, snatch his wallet from his back pocket. Sometimes we would distract a paying customer who placed their cash infront of the cashier. It wasn't enough though and soon we were mugging people or breaking into people's homes.

We decided to make our way to New York where it was packed with tourists and a bunch of rich people who didn't know what to do with their money. We made it to New Jersey where a group of rogues had called dibs on the territory. That didn't sit well with me so I challenged the leader. The fight didn't last for five minutes. That was when I became One.

My phone suddenly rings and I pick up.

"One, the mage freakin' double-crossed us!" Second hardly gets mad unless someone does the unforgivable and cons us.

"You found the tracker?" I asked, wondering where he found it.

"Yeah, strapped on a bus from Rhode Island," he answered.

"I'll handle this." I hang up and was about to dial the number of the head of the rogues in Rhode Island to take the mage down when I heard it...the howl.

It was so loud, my head throbbed. I thought I was going to pass out. It came with a message, "The black wolf, your queen, has been reborn."

An image of a black wolf with green eyes appeared in my mind, it's long pointed teeth grasping my severed head as it walked, my blood dripping, leaving a path where it walked. My stomach churned from the vision. I took the trash bin at the side of my desk and vomited inside it.

After the howling had stopped, someone started banging on my door. I couldn't speak. I was still nauseous and my head was killing me. I stood up, held on to anything so I could to stay up and walked slowly to the door to open it. I was able to unlock the door but I fell backwards on the floor as the door opened wide, revealing Fourth at the doorway.

"One, did you hear that loud howl? I got a splitting headache -... What are you doing on the floor?" Fourth picked me up and helped me into my chair. His forehead was scrunched up in a frown, obviously still affected like I was.

"I envisioned my death, One. It was horrible," Fourth said, rubbing his forehead with his hand.

"Me too, Fourth" I said. "Me too."