Landon just shakes his head, and I let out a frustrated growl.
“You’re going to kill us, Landon! No. You’re going to kill yourselves. Castor will capture Trent, Jesse, and me. He will lock us up, and he will brutally torture us until we die from malnourishment. That is what you are sending us… me to! Don’t you understand?”
Landon is on his feet and in front of me in a matter of seconds. “Don’t raise your voice at me, Lana. The Shadow Pack will survive this because that’s what we do. We survive. I will not enlist help from other packs because I do not trust them. They will betray us.” I shake my head. He can’t be serious.
“Then trust me. Trust my judgment and trust that I am making the right decision.”
Landon places his hands on my face, rubbing his thumb along my cheeks bones. “I do trust you, Lana. But I won’t do it.”
I step out of his hands, feeling tears of frustration begin to surface. “Do you know who you sound like?”
I know I shouldn’t have said that once the words left my mouth, but it is true. He sounds just like his father; a man who wouldn’t see reason when it was being delivered right before him.
Landon’s face turns cold, and he gives me a look of disgust. “I am nothing like my father.” Landon turns to leave the room. I groan, throwing my hands up in the hair. He’s giving up, just like that?
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll sleep in one of the guest bedrooms tonight.” He stops at the door and turns his head to say over his shoulder, “I’m sorry if I hurt you, Lana. I truly am.” Landon exits the room then, closing the door behind him.
I can’t believe he just left, right in the middle of our conversation. What, just because he says it’s over, it’s over? Nothing was solved, nothing was fixed or mended. We just managed to make it worse.
***
The following morning nothing has changed. I could barely look at him. I don’t know if it was because I’d forgive him by simply looking into his eyes, or if it was because I was so enraged with him.
So, to avoid him, I decided to help Meggy with breakfast. She seemed slightly surprised but only offered me a smile as I took my place at the stove. I flipped the pancakes and made a few omelets for Jesse and Trent. They weren’t too fond of pancakes; they would choose a meat omelet any day.
I carry the food out to the table where Jesse, Blondie, Trent, Jenny, Natalie, Sarah, and Landon were all sitting.
Natalie looks up at me with a beaming smile on her lips. “Lana, what are you doing, serving us food?” She asks.
I give her a gentle smile as I place the pancakes in front of Blondie and Landon and the omelets in front of Jesse and Trent. Trent gives me a questioning gaze before he looks over at Landon. He knows something is wrong and is curious as to what it is.
“Lana…” Landon whispers while grabbing my hand gently. I rip it away as if his touch burned me. Trent jumps from his seat, letting out a growl as Landon gets to his feet. Landon grabs my arm and shoves me behind him, positioning himself between my brother and me.
“Landon, knock it off!” I tug on his arm, pleading for him to calm down. I don’t understand where all this sudden anger has come from, but it’s scaring me.
“Landon, stop!” Natalie cries from her seat. Her eyes are bugged out wide as she takes in the two males ready to tear at each other’s throats.
Landon growls down at his little sister. “Be quiet, Natalie.”
Trent grows even more angered, his eyes turning black and his canines showing. He was on the verge of shifting. “Don’t talk to her like that!” he snaps.
“Why should you care about how I talk to my sister?”
Oh, Goddess, no. This is the worst possible way to tell him, Trent! Please, just keep it in. Tell him when everyone is calm and not so moody. Plus, Natalie shouldn’t be here when Trent tells him! It will only confuse her.
“Because I’m her mate!” Trent snarls.
I feel Landon recoil, taken back by what my brother has told him. I feel his anger deteriorate as he takes in what was said. The whole dining area is quiet, shocked with the news. I look over at Natalie to see her mouth hanging open in complete shock. I feel so bad for her. This isn’t how she was supposed to find out.
Blondie slowly stands, his eyes studying Landon carefully. “Landon…” Blondie says in a warning.
Landon ignores his best friend for a switch goes off in his head, and he lunges for my brother.
“No!” I scream, watching as he shifts mid-air and tackles Trent to the ground.
Unlike Landon’s and Blondie’s meaningless tussle, Landon means to kill.
Chapter 16
Lana
March 10, 2014
I watch with wide eyes and an open mouth as my mate tackles my brother to the ground, sinking his teeth into his shoulder. Trent lets out a horrifying scream that shakes me to the core. He shoves Landon, trying to get him off so he can shift into his wolf as well.
Trent manages to get his feet in between them, and with a strong thrust, he throws Landon off. Landon lands on his feet, snarling at my brother who bolts outside, shifting into his black wolf. Trent barely has his wits when Landon lays another attack on him, pinning him to the ground and biting into his neck. Trent thrashes under him, clawing at his stomach and sides, but it has no effect on Landon. He is an Alpha, and Trent is only an Omega, promoted to a Gamma.
I run out after the two wolves. “Landon, stop!” I scream. He doesn’t listen. He’s killing my brother. “Landon, You’re killing him!” I move to intervene, but Blondie grabs my arm, shoving me back a few steps. He walks towards the feuding wolves, being sure to keep a safe distance.
“Landon, this isn’t you. It’s the moon. You need to fight through this, Landon. You need to calm down,” Blondie says, his tone soothing yet authoritative. “I know it’s been four years, but we’ve worked on this. Remember? You don’t want to hurt him. You don’t want to hurt Lana.”
At the mention of my name, Landon eases off. He keeps my brother pinned, yet his grip on Trent’s neck isn’t fatal. I watch the rise and fall of his chest as he heaves, trying to regain focus.
“That’s good. Good. Keep breathing, Landon,” Blondie says. I look over at Natalie to see her hugging Sarah, tears rolling down her cheeks. I can’t imagine how terrified she must be right now. “Can you release Trent, Landon?” I turn my attention back on my mate, seeing the conflict within his eyes. There is so much regret and guilt yet an immense amount of anger.
“Landon? Look at me, Landon,” I whisper, walking over to stand in his line of sight. His beautiful blue eyes scrutinize me, flickering between pain and rage. It’s as if there is an internal battle. My Landon against this enraged Landon. “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.” I give him a soft smile, taking a few steps closer. I notice him tensing.
“Lana, careful,” Blondie warns.
I ignore him, continuing my trek towards my mate. “It’s okay. I love you.” I reach a hand out, slowly extending it. As it nears his head, Landon growls around the chunk of neck in his mouth. I ignore his warning, sinking my fingers into the thick fur of his scruff.
Landon stands frozen for a few moments, looking at me with wide eyes, scared he will attack me if he makes any movement. But he slowly retracts his teeth from Trent’s neck and lifts his head, so it’s level with mine.
“It’s okay, Landon.”
He shakes his head, stepping off Trent. His eyes are wide as he takes in my bloody brother. He begins to panic, backing away from us and into the forest.
“Trent’s okay,” I tell him, but he just looks at me with horror-struck eyes.
What did I do? His voice is shaky, scared.
“It wasn’t you, Landon. It was the moon,” Blondie says. I look over at him. What does he mean that the moon did it?
No! I did this, Mason. I can’t control it. No matter how much we prepare and practice, I’ll never be able to control it. I’m so sorry, Lana. Landon gives me one last look bef
ore he turns and runs into the forest, disappearing as the trees swallow him.
“What the hell was that?” I hear Jesse ask from behind me. Trent gets to his feet, shaking his tangled coat. His eyes meet mine, and he offers a smirk before he heads into the house to change. Trent’s strong. I know he will be able to overcome this.
I turn my attention to Blondie who walks over and loops an arm around Jesse’s shoulders. “Whenever it’s a full moon, Landon loses control of his wolf. No one knows why, but it’s as if the animal in him surfaces and pushes Landon back. He gets angry very easily. It’s like a switch.”
I let out a tiring breath, running my hand through my hair. That makes sense. No wonder he was such a jerk yesterday. It was very unlike him. He is normally so calm and reasonable.
“How long does it usually last?” I ask Blondie, checking to see if Natalie was okay, but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. She must have gone back inside with Sarah.
“Three days. He should be calming down tomorrow or the day after that. Landon prefers to be in his wolf form during this, so he may not be back until the rage is gone.”
Jesse hooks her arm in mine and offers me a gentle smile, leading me into the house. I cast a look over my shoulder to look at the forest, willing Landon to come back out. I want to apologize, to tell him that we will get through this together.
Is he really going to sleep on the forest ground all by himself? That sounds so lonely and cold.
“Don’t even think about it, Lana. He is unpredictable in his wolf form. It’s best you leave him be until he comes back on his own.” I squint over at Blondie. Shouldn’t it be against the werewolf law to go into the Luna’s mind unwelcomed? Blondie arches an eyebrow, searching for my understanding.
I nod my head. “Okay. I won’t.”
I block my mind from him, silently promising myself that I will go find Landon and make things right. Landon won’t hurt me. He doesn’t have it in him. No matter how much his wolf tries to take control, Landon will never let anything happen to me.
Plus, he deserves to have someone care for him when he needs it. He doesn’t deserve to sleep outside on his own, struggling with his thoughts and emotions.
With Castor still out there, it’s not safe for Landon to be out so close to the territory border alone. He will not be able to hold off Castor and his warriors, no matter how powerful and enraged his wolf is.
***
At midnight, when everyone is asleep and the house is quiet, I gather a few blankets in my arms and a flashlight. I tiptoe down the stairs and out the backdoor, being sure to close the door silently behind me.
I sprint into the forest, waiting until I’m hidden by the trees to connect my mind with Landon. There is a tug at my heart, and I follow my instincts as they pull me further into the forest. I soon get on a barely trekked path, recognizing it as the one Landon and I walked the other day.
I smile as I reach the spot where we spent the day, seeing him lying as his wolf on the ground in a ball. Sensing me, he lifts his head and looks at me, letting out a low growl. It was only a warning. He doesn’t want me here. I ignore him and throw a blanket down, laying it out. I sit on it, patting the spot beside me.
Landon looks at it, shaking his head.
“Well, I’m not leaving. So you can come lie down by me, or we can both freeze tonight. Your choice.” I grab another blanket, placing it on top of me as I lie on my side, staring at Landon.
He has an internal battle, contemplating if he should risk it or not. “I’m really cold, Landon,” I whimper, faking a shiver.
Landon whines, crawling over to take his spot beside me on the blanket. I smile, draping the comforter over him and laying my head on his stomach. I sink my fingers deep into his fur and let out a sigh.
His blue eyes shine in the darkness, staring at me as I cuddle into his warmth. I see the fear, and I know he’s scared he will hurt me. “I trust you. Now, go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.” I lean over and press a kiss on the top of his head.
Chapter 17
Lana
March 12, 2014
I wake up to the sound of crickets chirping and birds singing. Wind blows over my face, wafting me with the scent of nature. The sun seeps through the leaves, settling on my skin in a comforting manner. The blanket I had placed over me last night is all knotted up by my feet. My shirt was hiked up, my hair a tangled mess, and I am missing a sock.
I sit up and look down at a sleeping Landon. He is now in his human form, adorning basketball shorts. The past two days, he has remained in his wolf form, and we’ve slept out in the woods the last two nights. He must have shifted in the middle of the night and changed into the shorts I brought for him. I knew the full moon’s effects would vanish sometime in the night.
“That was something I did not miss during my four years of being a human,” Landon grumbles, rolling over to press his face into my thigh. He slings an arm over my lap and remains that way for a few moments.
Convinced he fell back asleep, I reach down and play with the strands of his wild hair. I have missed Landon being Landon. I’ve missed his warm embrace, his throaty laugh, the dimples on his cheeks when he smiles.
Was this something that happens every month? Blondie said they were working on it… Maybe he normally isn’t this out of control. Maybe he was just out of practice.
At last, I am relieved. I know all his anger shot towards me wasn’t real. Sure, he may have felt that way, but the calm and rational Landon would have handled it better. I am positive he would have handled Trent’s news with a calmer attitude as well.
“How is your brother?” Landon asks, shifting his body, so his head is now on my lap. He opens his hazy eyes up to the sky. His hand grabs mine, pulling it over to his chest. His fingers intertwine with mine, holding tight.
“He’s fine, Landon. Nothing to stress over,” I tell him. Trent was up and walking away the moment Landon ran into the woods. His wounds were fully healed by the next day. Landon never had the intention of killing Trent. If he had, Trent would be forever still, six feet under the ground.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him. You have to know that, Lana. I would never hurt you or your family intentionally.” His voice is broken. I can feel his self-loathe as if it were my own. He’s beating himself up even though he had no control over it.
I lean down and press a kiss on his forehead. My thick blonde hair falls around my face, resting on his shoulders and chest. Landon reaches up and runs his fingers through my hair, lightly tugging at the end.
“I don’t like you being afraid of me,” he says. I am taken back by what he says. Does he really think that I was afraid of him? I knew that what was happening to him wasn’t his fault, that it wasn’t really him. I also knew that he wouldn’t hurt me.
I pin Trent to the ground, sinking my teeth into his neck. The metallic, coppery taste of blood fills my mouth, and in a sickening way, I enjoy it. There is a rage within me that I cannot describe. All I want is to tear this pup apart. I don’t understand why I was angry; I know it wasn’t because he was Natalie’s mate. In fact, he’s probably the best choice for my little sister. But there was an undeniable urge to end his life.
“Landon, stop!” I hear Lana scream from across the yard. I feel my heart break. I was hurting her. I was killing her brother, and that meant I was hurting her. “Landon! You’re killing him!” I feel her step closer to me and I look up to see the horror in her eyes as she watches me chew into her brother’s neck.
She’s scared of me…
I blink, clearing my head from the memory Landon shot through me. It wasn’t just a play of what happened, but I felt his emotions as they become my own. I try to sort my anger and my sorrow, tears gathering in my eyes.
I couldn’t deny the fact that I actually looked petrified. But not at him… I could never be terrified of him. I was scared that I was going to lose my brother, that my mate was going to kill my brother.
“No, Landon. I wasn’t scared of you. I could nev
er be.”
His expression is blank as his unseeing eyes take in the trees overhead. He doesn’t believe me. All that accompanies his mind is my horror-struck face, looking back at him.
He honestly believes that I fear him. If I do, why would I spend these past two nights with his tempered wolf? I trust him. I trust that he will never hurt me or anyone close to me.
“I’m so sorry, Lana. I wish you didn’t have to see me like that.”
I frown, tracing my fingers along his forehead, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Why does this happen to you, Landon?” I ask, watching his face contort into a grimace.
“I honestly don’t know, Lana. Ever since my first shift, I have always lost control during the full moon. It doesn’t happen to anyone else… Mason has been trying to help me, but it’s just too much. Three days of pure anger. I just isolate myself into the woods where I don’t hurt people I care about.” His answer only gave me more questions. Was Landon’s wolf different? Why was he affected when all of us weren’t? The full moon was just like every other phase of the moon.
I take a deep breath. We will get through this. I will help Landon as much as I can. I will not allow him to spend his nights alone in the woods. I will spend them with him out here, no matter the weather or his objections. I will not allow him to suffer through this alone.
“This changes nothing, Landon.”
“It changes everything, Lana.” He pushes himself off the ground, getting to his feet in one fluid movement. I look up at him in confusion. What is he saying?
“Landon?”
He gathers the blankets on the ground, pulling them from under me. I stand, crossing my arms across my chest. “I’m sorry, Lana, for everything that I’ve done. You deserve so much better.”
Blind Alpha: A Dark Fantasy Page 8
