the ultimate luna

I’m running. My legs ache. My lungs scream for oxygen painfully like a hand constantly squeezing them. It’s cold the night has an eerie feeling to it tonight, branches reach for me clawing and gaping at my legs. My heart pounding in my chest I trip over a rock sending myself into zero gravity smacking my arm in a ditch “aarrgghh”. I scream as pain shoots up my arm, I wince holding the pain inside me biting my lip hard enough. I can taste the bitter metallic blood in my mouth.

My legs fumble as I try to get up, I manage to keep my balance and take off once again. Blood gushes out of my leg,a deep wound runs from my knee to my ankle making me feel queasy. I hear the men getting closer hot on my heels. I dare to look and as I do, the world falls beneath me like an endless loop in a dream and I’m flying, flying to the death an ear-piercing screech forms in my throat the men stop at the top looking down, my scream cut midway as I hit the water. I fight to get a breath from the surface as the water drags me under, my lungs burning like a big flame in a bonfire. Stars take over my vision. I look at the surface one last time as I do a figure dives hands ready to grab me must be death I think as my body slowly shuts down.......

Confused and disorientated, I slowly came too. What happened? I think then it hits me. I was running from a group of men then I remember water how I struggled for air then I saw a shadow, But I thought it was a hallucination.

I tried to figure out the rest when that feeling comes again like something beating on my chest, distant voices call to me, but I’m in my own world. I see a white light is this the end I think as I get lost in my mind. Bam! I felt that it was another beat in my chest and this time the voice was closer but sounding like I was underwater.

I fight for consciousness for a chance to escape the afterlife, I push through then it happens all at once. I cough up water taking my first breath for a while, I groan at the pain digging deep in my heart.

I open my eyes, it’s bright, I shut them, it’s freezing, I’m cold. More male voices. “Make it stop please” I beg them before blacking out once again......

I feel myself coming around feeling much better this time.

“Andrea, can you hear me” a familiar voice soothed.

“Elijah “I squeak holding out my weak hand his strong embrace upon my hand.

“What happened? Why did you run away last night? We were looking for you.” He replies concern in his voice

“I went for a walk in the wood and...” I start to trail off thinking hard about what happened.

“The men they were after me they wanted to kill me! Elijah, I didn’t know what they wanted “I blurt out crying struggling to open my eyes “I ran I had nowhere to go then I tripped and cut my leg. I got back up they were right behind me I only looked for one second then I fell in the water I couldn’t breathe ”

I stop tears scratching my eyes I slowly open them and look at my surroundings I’m in a grey room, Elijah looking deep in my eyes his sweet plum lips wink at me I’ve loved him for years like a big brother he’s always been there, but we’ve been getting closer quite recently hanging out more than often. I swallow a lump in my throat.

“Who are they and what do they want with me” I groan sitting up wanting to leave but Elijah pulls me back telling me to sit down.

“I ... I can’t tell you right now, you’re not ready “he says

“What do you mean you can’t tell me?” I say anger in my throat. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll find out myself” I get up walking to the door I’m about to leave when I feel a prick on my arm my legs fumble as Elijah catches me, I look into his eyes the light dimming around me

“You....” I try to speak but the words can’t come out and once again I’m back asleep into the world of fantasy........

I wake once again my head pounding this time Elijah isn’t here, I open my eyes letting the light surround me I slowly get up and walk to the window I notice I’m in a 1st floor building and I open the window the cold bitter breeze hits me, and I stumble back from the cold.

I walk closer letting the air in I notice that the woods are just outside this place is somewhat familiar and I remember running in the woods a few years back alone seeing this house, I look down seeing the ground not far beneath me I think about whether I should jump when a person walks below past the window ,its Elijah I wait till he’s out of sight before jumping the pain in my leg shoots up my body causing me to cry out in pain.

I bit my lip drowning the cry as footsteps approach round the corner I quickly limp to the woods behind a tree Elijah once again turns the same corner this time on the phone I move a bit closer trying to hear the conversation.

“Look I’ve told you already she is not ready to hear about the secret her family has been wielding for centuries “He pauses listening to the person on the other end of the phone

“But she might not be the luna were looking for I know that ever since I’ve been made to look after her that her family was part of witchcraft, but the moon god might’ve not picked her to be the one “He lowers his voice as he looks up to my window then looking out towards the woods.

“I’ve got to go “He hangs up once again looking up at the window before running off to the room as soon as he’s gone I start to run further into the woods hearing his voice grow more distant, as I pick up the pace running faster my memories flood back to me hitting me like punches in the face tears run down my face as I run faster my heart rate rapidly increasing.

I find a clearing by a riverbank and slow down placing a seat on the floor my shoes almost touching the soft waves of the water, I hear a twig snap behind me and I see a shadow in the trees I get up edging closer to the noise a husky breath makes me stop in my tracks the shadow slowly coming closer. I hold my breath in fright as a wolf enters the light stepping closer to me so close I can feel its fur brushing me, I kneel down and put my hand out the wolf lets me stroke its soft fur its eyes meeting my gaze its eyes look almost familiar I notice that the wolf is a boy as he pushes his muzzle onto my face making me feel warm this goes on for a while until we both hear another noise in the distance coming closer the wolf gives one nod to me before running of into the wood.

“Andrea? Is that you?” a familiar voice approaches me, and I notice its Elijah

“Stay away from me Elijah, I heard you on the phone I don’t think Shes the Luna? What luna there’s no such thing and my family doing witchcraft pfft give me some space okay “I shout anger bubbling in my throat making me all hot and flustery.

“I can explain...I just don’t know how to tell you “His voice lowering

“Just tell me all right whatever you have to say you can say it now! “I cry

“fine first off that wolf you were stoking wasn’t a wolf it was a werewolf and them men that were chasing you were rogues wanting you’re blood on their hands we believe that you are the luna of all werewolves that you are a gift from the gods but some people chose to abuse that and try to kill the luna for power” he finishes waiting for me to say something before continuing.

“I know this might sound weird but that’s why I was to protect you until you discover who you might be” I take a step backs the world spinning as I try to take in this information, I trip falling on my knees my breathing quickens.

Elijah tells me to calm down to slow my breathing but I can’t then he’s off into the woods in whisper his name the air disappears from the atmosphere then a different wolf appears walking towards me before curling up beside me its black fur covers me like a blanket and I don’t hesitate to put my hand on its fur my muscles slowly relaxing the wolfs scent sells almost familiar like Elijah.

My breathing slows a little as the world feels a little less dizzy, I put my head on its body feeling at ease before my eyes the wolf launches me onto its back before taking me back to the safe house.

When I’m taken back to the house, I notice this place is much different from my home. I ask Elijah why he tells me that all the men here are part of the dark moon pack and their purpose in most of the area is to keep the werewolf secret at bay and any humans who pose a dangerous threat to our kind.

“Where’s the alpha? Doesn’t every pack have one?” I question Elijah opens his mouth but another voice answers for him

“Indeed, they do I’m Rhode alpha of the blood moon pack and you are Andrea” He holds out his hand wanting to take mine, but I end up staring at him, mouth wide open damn he is gorgeous but I’m not that interested I think as I look at him up and down. His baby blue eyes look at me with anticipation and patience waiting for he to respond I at once place my hand in his feeling the soft warmth off his hand my cheeks instantly go red making him laugh making my face grow even Hotter. I look at Elijah who smiles at me the soft quick silence is then broken by Elijah.

“I’ve got to go and run some errands I’ll leave you with Rhode if that’s ok ill catch up with you later about the full moon that’s coming up soon” He hugs me before taking off towards the forest.

“What does he mean “I ask Rhode

“you’re turning 18 in a few days” Of course, with everything going on I completely forgot!

“And the full moon a week after your 18 you’ll be going through the first phase of becoming the ultimate luna it will be painful but in every person the wolf will help you go through the phases Elijah will tell you more” He finishes

“Can I ask you something? Aren’t alphas eyes supposed to be red?” I question

He takes a big breath before answering.

“Thats if they find their mate all wolves are different” He pauses as his jaw clenches, and I can see he looks tense. I placed a hand on his shoulder to give him some comfort. He smiles and then tells me.

“My mate was murdered in a raid of one of the rogue packs I’m hoping the moon goddess can forgive, maybe gift me with another luna one day. You know you are special Andrea because you were destined to be the ultimate luna who has healing abilities but we are not sure yet since you have not started the phase of turning yet, there is such thing as an ultimate alpha but only when the luna is killed which is a disadvantage of being the powerful luna hence the men that came after you.” He finishes waiting for a response, but my head is trying to gather up all this information which he notices.

“Don’t try and think about it all until you’re phasing, you’ll understand it soon” He winks before taking me to a kitchen for some lunch.

Elijah comes back later just before dinner wanting to take me on a walk which I do, he speaks to me about some more information about the full moon and we head back to the house finishing the day off with a nice supper.

3 days later...

I walk blindfolded Elijah guiding me by my hand. We walk further into the woods the scent of bark everywhere I’ve been getting a few hints of my transformation every now and then but not any massive things like I can smell a bit better and hear at a further distance, but I haven’t told Rhode or Elijah yet.

“Are we there yet” I giggle

“almost” I can hear the amusement in his voice as he leads me further stopping and then taking my blindfold off.

“Suprise!!!” everyone shouts. Music blasts seconds after followed by flashing lights and a banner above me that says, ’happy birthday Andrea’. Rhode comes over as well as some other males congratulating me on being eighteen

“Sorry about the party we felt like you had to have since this is your big day” Rhode whispers before hugging me and going back to the group he was with. The full moon is just round the corner. I’ll be transforming for the first time, which I’ve been told is energetic, but the wolf takes over, so you must be careful, but I’ve been hearing a few faint voices in my head. We all take shots laughing and dancing as the night gets darker having the best night of our lives.

We walked home half left from the party I’m falling over my own feet I’m that drunk! I trip over a few times Elijah and Rhode both taking care of me. We headed to my room, and I fell on my bed exhausted.

“I’ve got to go and sort things out I’ll see you tomorrow hope you enjoyed today” Rhode says before leaving me with Elijah.

“I need to talk to you about something” Elijah says

“Go ahead” I slur sitting up on the bed

“Andrea ever since I took care of you I....I have been falling for you and I just want to say I love you” he blurts cheeks flushing at his own words. I stay quite half drunk and not knowing what to say then I think hard before saying something I regret.

“I....love you too “I say feeling really sleepy my eyes felling heavy I lay down with Elijah warm at last before drifting off to sleep.

Andrea, can you hear me? It’s time to wake up tothe quiet voice calling in my mind. I groan before opening my eyes. It’s still dark. That voice keeps waking me up every night when it’s dark. I close my eyes trying to sleep but I desperately need some air, so I get up without waking Elijah and go outside

Andrea are you ready the voice asks

Who are you I demand sick of this voice in my head they don’t reply instead I double over in pain as my feet and hands elongate claws spurting out of my fingernails my teeth pointing the pain is almost unbearable as I fall to my knees back arched downwards fur starts to grow my clothes tighten as my body grows.

The pain elevates as more changes come in; I scream as the fur becomes thicker meeting other thick parts of my body. My face starts to protrude, my bones snap and reform slowly and the pain is too much to handle now. I scream making more noises that echo through the forest, my ears grow into weird shapes, my whole body almost finishing the transformation, my eyes turn green as the world upgrades around me I can finally hear and see things 10 times better. I howl in triumph, shaking my whole body as well as shaking off the tiny pain left over from the transformation.

I hear some distant howling as I run fast, hearing the soft crunching of leaves that trail my path. A bigger wolf catches up to me big and black. It looks at me confused as if it knows me before tackling me, we collide as we fall to the ground. I get back up, but more wolves jump on top of me growling as they pin me down a loud growl comes from behind them, and they spin around. A big brown wolf stalks towards me teeth bared hackles raised it towers above me before stopping right above me, I wine as I can tell this is an alpha wolf, but the smell is familiar.