Beasts

by Angelina Kanan

  A noise to my left alerted me I had company. Pretending I didn’t realize, I continued forward. When she leapt, I dodged, circling around to see her land. She snarled at me, teeth bared, saliva shooting out. The wolf wasn’t any bigger than I was, her fur such a sleek black color, there was no mistaking that this was Nomi. Our movements were slow as she decided what her next move was, my eyes scanning her body in anticipation.

  Like a lightning strike, she sprung at me, teeth catching my hair. It was small, but she’d gotten me, nonetheless. My wolf growled, yelling at me to show her who I was. Nomi had made it clear she didn’t respect me. Not only did she question me being here, it had upset her to see Sebastian choose me last night. We exchanged movements, taking turns inflicting wounds. Neither of us had managed to shed blood yet.

  I had trained with many lycans, but she was different. Her strength was fueled by something else, propelling her forward at a speed that caught me off guard every time. Her motive wasn’t the same as those in the past. She wasn’t training nor having fun. The only goal in her head was to get rid of me. This wasn’t about winning a fight, this was territorial. Nomi didn’t want me here and was fighting to make sure I didn’t get to be.

  I had everything on the line. If I lost, the treaty could be, too. That’d put a large dent in my budding relationship with Jackson. Countless lycans and wolves wouldn’t get the chance to find their mates. We were no longer surveying, constantly moving and ducking around each other, movements frantic.

  Snarls and growls filled the air, angry that this wasn’t working in her favor. The wolves who’d stayed hidden before were gathering to watch, and Nomi backed me toward them. It was a dirty move, making me have to account for the other wolves. They ducked and jumped out of the way, but it added a level of distraction she needed in order to gain the upper hand.

  Her teeth clamped down on one of my legs and I yelped in pain, kicking her off. I scrambled away, lifting myself to my feet. The one she’d bit throbbed in pain, not wanting to hold all of my weight. That was going to hurt tomorrow.

  I growled at the wolves surrounding us, some of them nipping at me, warning them to get the hell back. It looked like they were on her side, keeping me caged in with very limited freedom. There were at least five surrounding me aside from Nomi. I pounced on one of them, rather than Nomi, taking her neck between my jaws and tossing her aside. The she-wolves weren’t expecting me to attack them, but I was taking no chances. They cried out in anger, moving farther back so as not to be easy prey.

  I turned back to Nomi, the two of us getting back into a rhythm. My leg was straining, and I knew it couldn’t take another attack. Her eyes kept glancing down, and I knew she was aware of my injury. I looked between her and the others, suddenly nervous that they could mind-link. Just as I had expected, they joined in the fight. Strategically, they took turns wearing me out. One after another would occupy my time, spontaneous and hard to anticipate. I wanted to cry. My leg had been hurt again, and I had a tough time standing. With there being multiple opponents, I didn’t have the chance to injure them the same as they could with me.

  Even though I had very little knowledge of the Hunt, I knew this was wrong. They were able to challenge me, not gang up on me. It was meant to be a test of strength. If one could take me down, I wasn’t a worthy choice. This was no test of strength. No one could last against 6 lycans determined to see you fail. I struggled on, failure not an option. I welcomed every emotion I’d ever felt, inviting it to course through my veins as a reminder of all I'd lived through.

  I saw Gabby-alive, dead, decaying as a wendigo. I summoned the grief, the betrayal. My mom being executed always bothered me, but I hadn’t known her. There was nothing to forgive my father for. Love had been enough; he had been an idol of mine. He was a strong alpha, and his pack was prosperous and happy. The decision to kill Gabby had ruined everything. I couldn’t look at him or anyone at the pack. No one had stopped it; they were powerless to their evil leader. He was not the man I had believed him to be, and they were not strong enough. Images of her from my dream came to mind, followed by Sebastian.

  I had just gotten to a place where I was willing to let him in. This could not be my fate. I was his mate, and I deserved him. My strength would match his, despite not being fully lycan. If I couldn’t take on 6 of them, how could I handle a pack full?

  My leg was bitten again, and I howled, dropping to the ground. It was bloody and matted, in desperate need of care. Nomi barked, and the rest of them backed off as she stalked toward me. I realized why they called it the Hunt. At first it had seemed because you were meant to hunt your mate’s scent to join them, but this was it. These wolves had hunted me and were going to have me as a trophy. Nomi’s eyes glistened, the only light coming from the full moon above. I glanced away to look at it, not liking the smug feeling I got from her. The moon. She had chosen me. I’d been gifted by her, and this was my destiny. Nomi would not have it.

  A sound more feral and angrier than I’d ever heard before filled the air. It was thunderous, no doubt stretching miles into the quiet forest. A force filled my lungs, spreading to the rest of my body. The noise had come from me, renewing my strength. Rising back on my feet, the other wolves dropped to the ground, whining and bowing their heads in submission. Nomi slowed her movements but didn’t stop. I gave a warning growl before striking her to the ground. She exposed her neck with a whimper, yielding. I bit at her, reminding her who was in charge, then turned and ran off.

  I had unleashed the force of an alpha, something not to be taken lightly. Stronger alphas can unleash it at will, but they do so sparingly. It isn’t something to be manipulated. I hadn’t known I was capable of one so strong. Luna’s aren’t known for them, but then again, I was an alpha’s daughter and had my own pack.

  The image of Sebastian was in my mind as I raced through the woods towards his scent. No one else bothered me, knowing where the growl had come from. I had won; Sebastian was mine.

  He was waiting in the clearing, laying down, but got up as I came closer. Slowing down, the pain in my leg returned, and I noticed my limp. He licked my leg, whimpering softly. When his eyes met mine, they were swirling with questions. I nudged him with my nose to let him know it was nothing. Around us, the pack gathered, each one coming to a stop. They raised their heads and howled their approval to the moon goddess.

  Sebastian took off, and I followed, unsure what happened next. Was this part of the hunt? I took my time admiring him. His fur was messy, dried blood in some spots. Who had he fought? His form was massive, no surprise considering his human body, and his hair was the same dark brown color I was growing to love.

  We entered a familiar clearing of grass, coming to a stop at the pool from my dreams. The waterfall gently shone in the light of the moon. He disappeared behind it into the cave and came out in a pair of harem capris, resting mid-calf. “You can go change, too.”

  Brett had chosen a wrap that I’d bought at the festival. We had spent quite a while going back and forth that morning; me insisting I didn’t want to wear a wrap. He’d won, obviously. It was beautiful and comfortable, hugging all the right places. It was interesting that I had come here in my dreams, stranger to think Gabby had been here, too.

  Sebastian was standing in the water when I left the cave, patiently waiting. I stepped into the pool, surprised at how warm the water was. It was still and quiet, both of us just standing, enjoying the peace. My leg didn’t hurt while I stood in the pool, something I was grateful for.

  “You are no simple Luna.” He spoke softly, one of his hands coming up and playing with my hair. “Never have I heard of a female with the alpha strength you possess.” His voice stayed soft, in tune with the ambience of the pool. “You will make a perfect queen.” Pride ran through me, my wolf pleased with his words. “This is the Moon Pool. The goddess has blessed it with her magic, and it is here where we shall become one.”

  Wolves had a similar union, but they had no Moon Pool to join in. Many of
them held ceremonies much like the weddings of humans. Gabby had a small ceremony with both her and Eli’s immediate families. It was sweet, a promise of forever.

  Sebastian took my hand, “Is this what you want?” I nodded, but he shook his head. “Forget the treaty, forget your destiny. Am I what you want? Do you look in my eyes and choose me for duty or for yourself? It will not hurt me, just be honest.”

  This was the reason we had come, yet he was hesitant. At some point, he stopped wanting to do this for business, as well. His feelings were invested, and he was willing to wait until mine were, too. I smiled at him and lifted my free hand to his face. His beard was soft beneath my fingertips. I gripped his other hand tightly. “Sebastian Drakov, I am here, willing and ready to be yours. You are the new beginning I’ve yearned for; the hope I thought had died long ago. You are my today, tomorrow and forever, and I will spend the rest of my life making sure you know it. I am yours.” Tears were in my eyes as I spoke. I knew she was here with me, watching and sending her love. I was with my mate, and it was everything. Why had I ever been afraid?

  He leaned down and gave me a chaste kiss. “Selene Knight,” He smirked, mimicking me. “If in any way I would bring you the same comfort and peace you bring me, let me grant it. If my heart could heal you and make you whole, then it is yours to keep. My love has grown with every beat of my heart and will continue until it gives out. You are the light I have gone so long without; the stars in my sky. No matter what you face, know that you’ll have me by your side, this, I swear. Under the light of the moon, I give myself to you - mind, body and spirit.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him toward me. I wanted to feel every piece of him, real and alive and mine. His lips were soft against my own, sweet and slow. I ran one hand from his neck down his arm, tracing the outline of his muscles. My stomach fluttered at his strength. He held me so gently, taking his time exploring my mouth. One hand rested on my hip, while the other held my face. I needed more, tracing over his chest, his rough hair doing nothing to cover his muscles. I pressed myself closer to him, abandoning his neck and exploring the parts of his back I could reach. He followed my lead, the hand on my hip feeling its way up and around my back.

  I couldn’t get enough, holding myself against him, rubbing and feeling all the skin available to me. Despite the water, I was getting hot. Our mouths danced against each other’s perfectly; learning and exploring. We hadn’t let ourselves explore one another before, and it felt like we had all the time in the world now. He pulled back, panting, eyes darker than the sky. I grinned at him, welcoming the arrival of his wolf.

  I had never needed something so bad, a fire growing in my stomach and spreading anywhere it could reach. He traced down my arm, following the paint, leaving goosebumps in his wake. His touch was electric, excitement coursing through my blood. I watched as his canines extended, and he tilted my head to look at him. “May I?” It was the same thing he’d asked before, but this time was different. Everything would change after this, our souls becoming one. I didn’t even have to think, tilting my head back further to expose my neck to him. He inhaled sharply, one of his arms snaking around my back. He held my head with his other hand and sunk his teeth into my neck. I melted into his arms, leaning into the arm holding me against him.

  Everything exploded, my mind opening to suck him in. Memories, thoughts, feelings all gushed out. I was overwhelmed with pain and anger, soothed with love and laughter. It was a rollercoaster, winding and spinning out of control. Luckily, he was there to steady me, a sense of calm radiating from where he touched me. I felt his tongue sweep over my neck, and I moaned. I couldn’t focus on anything, tingling everywhere. I was falling, with no end in sight. His mouth came on mine again, leading me through the chaos. He brought my mind to him, my eyes opening as everything became still. I had just given him access to every part of me.

  My wolf wanted her turn, my teeth lengthening painfully. They were throbbing with need, wanting to be connected with him. He chuckled and showed me his neck, “I’m all yours.” It was all she needed to latch on. The moment his blood came out, it swept me away. Strong as the ocean’s tides, I was dragged into him. I saw every piece of him, vulnerable and innocent. Everything about him entered my body, fitting perfectly between all of the pieces of myself. He was beautiful and alone, a mess of hurt and hope. I pulled away, licking at his neck to put him back together again. Just as he had done with me, I met his lips with my own to summon him back. He made a noise, opening his eyes. His mouth was opened in awe.

  I knew how he felt, a pull connecting us. It was like a direct link to his mind, inviting me to join him. I felt my need matched by his, the feeling in my stomach growing as I looked into his eyes. He was perfect, handsome and strong. There was nowhere else I belonged except with him. He placed my hands around his neck, then lifted me up, my legs wrapping around him as he led me out of the water and into the cave.

  CHAPTER 33

  He’d had the cave all set up for us to stay the night. We’d stayed up for hours, exploring each other and taking the time to become one. My wolf was at rest, glad to finally be with her mate. I barely noticed the sun peeking through the waterfall, content in his arms, asleep. I closed my eyes, not wanting the moment to end.

  “I know you’re awake,” He chuckled. “I don’t imagine you want to waste what little time we have left on the island sleeping in a cave.”

  “I’m comfy.” I grumbled back. “Wait,” I sat up, alarmed. “What little time? When are we leaving?”

  “I figured we’d leave early tomorrow morning. We’ve been away long enough; I think we should go back and help. You disagree?”

  “No.” I pouted, “But I like it here.” My fingers were absentmindedly drawing swirls on his chest. He had scars everywhere; a constant reminder of all he'd been through. Last night, I'd taken my time to kiss them all, holding him and reassuring him we'd have a happy future. Together, we'd fantasized about everything that would come. It had been lovely.

  “I like you being here, too. The sooner we handle the wendigos, the faster we can return.”

  “You’re going to plan a council meeting?”

  “We’ll need to plan how many to take and who to leave behind.”

  “Can you make sure Leith comes?” I didn’t want to risk an interaction with Diana or Maverick without Leith and Brett there.

  He raised an eyebrow, “If I didn’t know better, I might be jealous.”

  “Of Leith?”

  “He put up quite a fight for you last night, a little part of me thought maybe…” He trailed off, deciding not to finish his sentence.

  “I think that fight was because of you, dude.” I laughed. “You’re the one that left him with me for 6 years, unable to give me the answers I wanted.”

  “Fair enough.” We were up, getting dressed and packing as we talked. “I guess the fight could’ve been worse.” He glanced at my leg.

  I had forgotten how upset I was still. “That wasn’t a fight, it was an ambush!”

  Confusion took over his face, “How so?”

  “They ganged up on me during my fight with Nomi. There were 5 other wolves caging me in, taking turns at me.”

  He frowned, anger filling his features. “That should have never happened. I’ll have words with her later.”

  I held up a hand, “You don’t have to. I won.” I smirked. “Besides, I don’t think she’ll try it again after how it ended. Her wolf knows who’s in charge.”

  “Don’t we all.” His face softened into a smile, and he followed me out of the cave. I glanced around, thinking about being here in my dreams. I’d been at peace last night, Gabby leaving me to a dreamless sleep. I still didn’t know why it took place here, though.

  “I dreamed of this place.”

  He kept his eyes on me, reading my face carefully. “What happened?”

  “It happened twice, actually. It first happened the night I received the daggers.”

  “What daggers?”<
br />
  “I got moonstone daggers when I saw Reya and Cain the other day.”

  He came closer, a slight expression of awe on his face. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  I shrugged, “I didn’t think it mattered.”

  “It does. Those weapons rarely choose an owner. They tend to burn you if they don’t want to belong to you.”

  Of course, they were magic daggers. Why would I get normal ones? “Gabby was complimenting them the first time, only, she was a child. She said the moon goddess gifted her to me, to help with something. She never said with what, though. I woke up too soon.”

  “And the second one?”

  “She was older, and we talked about you. It was like she was there again, laughing and catching up with me. She asked me to do something for her at the end.”

  “I don’t think those were dreams, Selene. I think your sister was there with you for a reason.”

  My voice quivered, “What if she doesn’t come back?”

  Sebastian hugged me, “It doesn’t sound like she fulfilled her reason for returning. You will see her again until her purpose has ended.”

  I wanted more time with her, but not like this. Again, I didn’t know how much time I’d get with her. It could end in an instant, leaving me as crippled as the first time. “I miss her so much, but that just sounds like torture.”

  He pulled away, looking at me and rubbing circles on my back. “Is she buried somewhere?”

  I hadn’t stuck around to find out, “I don’t know.”

  “Am I allowed to ask?” I walked away from him toward the water, sitting on the ground, so the water covered my feet. It was soothing, helping to calm my nerves. I didn’t talk about her with anyone. Those who knew only knew enough to understand. I felt him sit down next to me. “I’m sorry.”