In The Beginning, Chapter 108
We fell onto the snowy ground of the meadow with a thud, Daniel groaned in pain, and began shivering.
“Oh my God.” I mumbled out loud, realising how bad his injuries were, it had been too dark in the ship, but even in the weak winter sunlight, I could now make out the bruises that merged into each other like some twisted pattern. “I need you in the meadow!” I linked Kathy and Maria. I was about to link the guards on patrol when Daniel grabbed me roughly.
“What were you thinking? Why did you come for me? You should have sent the warriors!” He cried, his hands gripping my shoulders tightly.
“I wasn’t going to waste hours getting the warriors out there and giving them a chance to feed off of you!” I sobbed back, before his lips crashed into mine, his hand slipped into my hair, pulling my mouth closer, his tongue tasting all of me.
“Charlie...” He groaned, pulling back to look into my eyes, but whatever he wanted to say disappeared as his eyes rolled back in his head.
“Daniel?” I cried, shocked and scared for him.
“Oh, I think we may have bled him a little too much!” Hermes’ voice gleefully taunted. I turned towards him as I stood, placing myself between him and Daniel. I just caught sight of Kathy, Maria and the patrol rounding the bushes from the house in my peripheral vision. “You didn’t think we would let you go that easily did you cousin?” He smirked.
“You are not my cousin; you are a parasite.” I spat. “My name is Charlie, but you may address me as Luna! You can leave now peacefully, or you will all be killed.” The patrol had shifted and were moving to flank me on each side, snarling aggressively at the vampires, despite there being sixteen of them, against six wolves and me.
“I wonder if you will keep this adorable obstinate streak after my father feeds you to my mother?” Hermes asked sarcastically.
“I guess you’ll never know.” I shrugged, as I heard the pounding of paws on the frozen ground, and Hermes smirk morphed into a disgusted grimace. “Kill them all.” I ordered, when the reinforcements started leaping over bushes, and bleeding out of the treeline into the meadow. With my order, the wolves attacked, I turned back to Daniel, as Kathy and Maria started checking him over. I didn’t want to see Hermes ripped apart; it wasn’t a painful enough death in my opinion.
“We need to get him to the hospital or get a doctor out here.” Maria whispered to me as she cleaned the wounds that had stopped healing, and he was shivering uncontrollably.
“We need to get him someplace warm.” Kathy sighed in frustration.
“I don’t think I have enough energy to teleport again.” I cried, my tears falling onto his chest, helping to heal the worst of the wounds.
“How is he?” Ben asked, coming up behind us.
“We need to get him inside; can you help us?” I asked, feeling the exhaustion fully for the first time.
“Yeah, I’ll grab a warrior... he’s going to be okay though, right?” Ben asked, his concern obvious.
“He needs blood, and maybe an antibiotic wash for some of these wounds, but he should be fine in a couple of days.” Maria replied, Ben nodded, and retreated to find a warrior to help him. When I turned back to Daniel his eyes were open, and looking at me strangely, like I was a mirage, or a dream.
“Daniel.” I smiled, letting Maria and Kathy know he was awake.
“Charlie?” He asked confused.
“Yes, I’m here, and we’re safe.” I nodded, my fingers slipping between his.
“I need to keep you safe.” He mumbled, before his eyes closed again.
“Ben! Faster!” Maria called to him, seconds later they were picking Daniel up off of the ground, taking him up towards the house Kathy leading the way, while Maria and I followed after them. The vampires were dead or had run off, the remaining wolves were gathering the body parts left into a pile. The black sludge of vampire blood splattered and pooled on the ground polluting the once beautiful field. A wave of dizziness nearly took me out at the knees as we walked up the path to the house, Maria caught me before I went down, and helped me back up.
“Are you alright?” Maria asked me concerned.
“Yeah, just tired.” I sighed, as we crossed the threshold. Someone had moved the chairs, coffee table and rug from the living room, laid down a thick blanket in front of the fire, that they were lowering Daniel onto. Kathy and Annie had arms full of towels, and there was a box and a steaming bowl on the floor. Maria moved around me as I watched Daniel’s limp form be laid out, she whispered something to Kathy, who handed her towels to Maria before approaching me.
“Have you eaten anything today?” She demanded.
“I had a bagel this morning.” I said a little too defensively, and I saw several grins. Including one from the Eta as he left.
“Kitchen now, I’m making you something to eat.” Kathy ordered, I began to argue, when Ben turned around, and I realised he was naked.
“Yep! Kitchen!” I agreed, covering my eyes with my hands and jumping in shock, but not before I saw Ben do the same. “And can you get Ben something to wear?” I asked Kathy as Maria cackled at her husband’s embarrassment. “The doctor-?” I began.
“Already on his way with the Alpha’s blood, and more supplies. It’s better for the pack to believe whatever happened, it isn’t serious enough for the Alpha to be taken to the hospital, if we can.” Kathy explained softly, and I nodded, a half-remembered passage from one of the books Hyacinth had lent me about Lycan procedures and protocols came to mind. I took a seat at the breakfast bar, feeling the exhaustion in my bones. Kathy placed a large glass of water in front of me, I looked up to say thank you but the tea kettle on the stove started shrieking. She turned it off, and disappeared into the laundry room, returning with a pair of sweatpants, she picked up the kettle, and walked back to the living room. When she returned, she made me PB and J, and a very strong coffee, I smiled my thanks but only picked at the sandwich, the anxiety as I waited for Daniel to wake up, or the doctor to arrive, felt like a ball of ice in my stomach. Finally, I heard the screech of brakes nearby, before Ethan, the doctor I had met at the prison, raced into the house and began giving orders. Ben left the house in just the sweatpants, returning after a few minutes with another man.
“Luna? Do you remember Marcus?” Ben asked, introducing us for the first time, although we had met, he was one of the patrol guards I’d argued with the last time Daniel was hurt.
“Yes, of course “ I smile apologetically, I had told him how sorry I was after Ben had left, the day Tau attacked us, but it still felt awkward. “Are you or any of the men injured?” I asked, concerned.
“No, Luna, we are fine, a few scratches and bruises mostly...” Marcus trailed off looking to Ben for help.
“Marcus was the highest-ranking wolf to fight today, his squad were the first to arrive as they were patrolling close to the house. He also called for backup right away, and as such, it falls to him to report everything that happened. Especially with Alex and Robert at Appletree, smoothing that over, and leading the investigation away from the truth to a more palatable story of corporate sabotage.” Ben explained.
“Okay, but Daniel is in no state to listen to a report right now.” I sighed, exasperated and exhausted.
“We know, our laws state that if the Alpha falls in battle, the Luna takes over his duties until he recovers, or the rank of Alpha goes to another.” Ben said softly. I nodded, and allowed him to take me into Daniel’s office, Marcus trailing behind us. Once inside, Ben encouraged me to sit behind Daniel’s desk, while he took a seat on the couch, Marcus remained standing by the door.
“Please take a seat, Marcus.” I smiled.
“Thank you, Luna, but I have to get back to my post, so I will remain standing... if you don’t mind.” He stated, his eyes on the floor, and back straight.
“However, you’re comfortable.” I replied, and I saw the corners of his lips lift slightly.
“Report.” Ben ordered quietly; Marcus nodded to him before turning to me.
“We killed thirteen of the vampires, three managed to teleport, but they did sustain injuries... The one that you were arguing with Luna? He got away, but not before one of the men wounded him significantly. There were no casualties for the pack, and only one warrior needed to be transported to the hospital, his doc said he is gonna miss a couple of days training, but he’s good. And as of eight minutes ago the patrol reported no uninvited guests left on pack lands.” Marcus stated, like he was reading off a list.
“Anything else?” I asked, unsure what questions I was supposed to ask, considering how thorough he had been. “Oh, which doctor is treating the warrior? And what’s the injured man’s name?”
“The warrior was Cooper Evans; his doctor is Rios... I believe that is everything Luna.” Marcus replied, looking to Ben.
“That will be all for now, but Alpha may have questions later.” Ben dismissed him, Marcus bared his neck and left, while I grabbed a notepad and pen to write down the names for when I called them later. “We need to discuss next steps.” He said to me with a tired smile.
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