The Awakening: Book 1 of The Bloodmoon Wars (A Paranormal Shifter Series Prequel to Luna Rising)

by Sara Snow

  “That’s the point. I don’t want to get drunk tonight.”

  Pouting, she gave the cup to a man walking past us. He didn’t even look confused as to why he was just handed an empty cup and kept walking.

  “Why are you so gloomy? You love festivals. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing is wrong,” I told her and smiled genuinely to prove it. “I like watching all of you.” I turned her around and placed my chin on her shoulder. “Look at all of them.”

  We stood there for a moment, watching everyone. Theanos grabbed Cyrus and began dancing with him, much to Cyrus's annoyance, but still, he kept dancing as everyone cheered them on.

  Theanos turned out to be a rather fun person. With his perky personality, it was hard to see him as a demon—kind of like Cyrus, although Cyrus wasn't anywhere near as perky. Skye chuckled as Theanos tried to hold Cyrus around the waist to dip him, the way a man would dip a woman while dancing, but Cyrus grabbed a chunk of his hair and used it to slam Theanos to the ground.

  Laughter thundered around us, and I stepped from behind Skye to stand at her side. “Sometimes it’s more fun to just observe. Besides, I’m not in the mood to dance tonight.”

  I could see her questioning look from my peripheral vision, but I kept my eyes dead ahead. “What’s been going on with you?” she asked knowingly.

  Frowning, I shrugged. “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, don’t do that, Elinor. I know you. You've been distracted for weeks now. It's like you're not really here." She bit down on her lip. "What happened with Meeka is still bothering you, isn’t it?”

  “I think about it every day. But no, it’s not that. Nothing is wrong. I just think . . .” I sighed. “It’s nothing. I’m just in a mood, I suppose. But I’m okay.”

  She continued to stare at me with concern before exhaling heavily. I knew she wouldn’t let this go, although it appeared she was about to . . . for now. I had no doubt that in a day or so, she’d be hounding about it again.

  "All right, if you say so. I thought your mother was coming to the festival?"

  My mouth turned downward. “Yeah, she said she wanted to take Jackson. They’re probably here somewhere.” I began looking around the crowd, finding it odd that I hadn’t run into my mother and brother just yet, when I caught a glimpse of something that made my heart skip a beat.

  In the crowd stood a man in a cloak. I swallowed hard as I stared into blue eyes—his blue eyes.

  He’s here. My vampire’s here.

  I stepped forward, and as I blinked, he vanished. I frowned, my eyes darting back and forth through the crowd.

  Was it really him, or had I just imagined him?

  “Elinor?” Skye placed her hand on my arm. “Are you okay?”

  “Oh, yeah, I’m okay. I thought I saw someone.” I turned to her and hugged her quickly. “I think I’ve had too much wine. I’ll be right back, okay?”

  "Oh, alright then. Do you want me to come with you?"

  I shook my head, and she walked off to join Theanos and Cyrus. I glanced in the direction I had seen the eyes, and I turned and began walking towards the woods. I was losing my mind, seeing him when he was not even there. First it was the dreams, and now this. What would it be next?

  I began to pick up the pace as my bladder grew heavier. Human wine did nothing to intoxicate a werewolf, but it sure tasted great.

  The sounds of the festival began to fade the further I walked. Sure, I could find an outhouse somewhere, but I also wanted a breather. I was not entirely sure what was wrong with me, but I was just not in a celebrating mood.

  You need to stop thinking about that bloodsucker!

  I rolled my eyes at my own thoughts. I’d never had an interest in dating anyone—not that my father would allow it, anyway. Sure, there’d been a few men I’d found attractive, but I’d spent so much time focusing on becoming a Guard, that attraction hadn’t had a chance to go anywhere.

  Men also avoided me because of who I was—because of who my father was. So I seldom had much contact with the opposite sex. So I didn’t understand why thoughts of my vampire made my stomach clench and my heart rate soar. Maybe if I learned his name, shattering the mystery around him, I’d lose interest.

  I readjusted my clothes after relieving my bladder, sighing with relief. I spun around at the sound of a branch snapping, and my eyes instantly went black as I called on my wolf. I stood there for a moment, listening and smelling the air, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

  My shoulders relaxed somewhat as I began walking deeper into the forest. I was just being paranoid.

  I hadn’t imagined him. He was really there.

  Finally, I caught a scent, though it was subtle. I began turning in a circle slowly, my claws still elongated just in case the vampire I smelt wasn't the one I thought he was. "Come out," I called out as I stopped turning. "I know you're there."

  “Goodnight, little wolf.”

  I spun around again, a gasp lodging itself in my throat. He was standing right behind me! I stared up into those blue eyes, lost. He smiled, and I did my best to get a hold of myself, exhaling heavily through my nose and feigning annoyance.

  “Have you been watching me?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Were you watching me while I peed?”

  He snorted.

  The human-like action had me arching a brow. “I wouldn’t do such a thing . . . unless you asked me to.”

  My eyes widened for a second. “That’s not funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be. There are many things I won’t do to you unless you ask me to.”

  I lost the ability to speak for a moment as his eyes dipped to my lips before wandering back up to my eyes. I blinked rapidly and stepped back. He stepped forward. I would never admit this, but his intimidating aura was a little frightening . . . and very, very exciting.

  “Are you afraid of me, Elinor? I won’t hurt you. I need you to know that.”

  He removed his hood and revealed his face in all its flawless glory. His eyes were burning so brightly in the darkness that I was rendered speechless for a moment. I was admiring his long black hair that was loose around his shoulders when I finally realized what he had said.

  “How do you know my name?”

  He shrugged. “I overheard your friend say it at the festival, although I knew before that. You’re quite popular around here, for multiple reasons.”

  “So, you’ve been asking about me?” It was my turn to sport a smug expression, but thinking I could somehow push his buttons turned out to be a waste of time.

  He smiled. “I have been. I needed to know about the young wolf brave enough to be out on a full moon. Although, in your case, it was foolish, not brave.”

  “I was going to thank you for saving me, but now I think I’ll just tell you to go to hell.” I turned to leave, and he appeared before me. His smile was stunning, and I hated it. I hated how he could get under my skin so easily. “Get out of my way, or I’m going to rip your throat out. And for the record, no, I’m not afraid of you. I might be young, but I’m not helpless. Try anything, and you’ll regret it.”

  The smile on his face withered and died. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m very much aware you’re an Alpha-born, and you handled yourself well that night. However, I’ve had the sense that you’ve been looking for me.”

  “Looking for you?” The sudden change in topic threw me off for a moment. “Why would I do that?”

  He titled his head to the side. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

  I clasped my fingers behind my back. “Aren’t you the one who just said I was foolish? Why would I go with you?”

  "There isn't a full moon tonight," he answered as he stepped past me. "I also said you handled yourself well against that Bleeder. I'm sure you can do the same with me, but it won't come to that. I have no intention of feeding on you, Elinor.” He stopped walking and looked over his shoulder. “Come, it’ll be sunrise soon.”

  He stood there wai
ting for me and against my better judgment, I decided to go with him. I knew what he was. I knew the darkness that resided in him. Yet now I knew all too well that vampires didn’t own the monopoly on darkness.

  I saw it the moment Council Member Levi had told me to kill Meeka.

  We walked in silence, and I took the time to really study him. We were walking for what felt like an hour at least, and while I should be worried about where he was taking me, I wasn’t. I noticed his gaze was never steady, always on the alert for danger.

  I felt safe around this man, but it was just one more thing about him that puzzled me.

  I had thought he was near flawless until I spotted a scar peeking out from below the neck of his cloak. It was very thin and pale, and I couldn’t help wondering how he’d got it. His gaze turned my way suddenly.

  I looked away. “So, um, what’s your name? Since you know mine,” I asked quickly to avoid any awkwardness. He smiled at me. “After all,” I added, “I think it’s only fair I know it, since you’re dragging me through the forest to Goddess knows where.”

  “My name is William, but everyone calls me Will.” He reached out and grabbed my arm when I tripped and almost fell. I was stunned by his strength as he helped me stand upright again without moving the rest of his body. “Be careful, Elinor. I don’t want to see you wounded again.”

  He kept saying things like that, things that made me wonder if he cared about me. I looked down at his fingers wrapped around my elbow. His fingers weren’t cold as they’d been the night he’d saved me, which surprised me.

  His touch was . . . warm.

  He released me, and his hand returned to the cover of his cloak. I mentally shook my head, unable to believe what I had just felt.

  All vampires were cold to the touch—they were all dead, after all. But there was so much about them that we didn’t know, that was still cloaked in mystery, it was hard to tell what was true. Now, suddenly, I realized something else. I’d been so caught up in seeing him again that I hadn’t realized that my heartbeat wasn’t the only one I could hear.

  My eyes steadily began to widen with worry that I’d placed myself in yet another dangerous position. I stepped away from him. “What are you? You’re not a vampire.”

  He didn’t look surprised by my reaction. He looked disappointed. “I assure you, I’m a vampire,” he said as he continued to walk. “Just not the kind you’re used to.”

  I fell in stride with him again. “I can hear your heartbeat. I mean, you didn’t have a heartbeat before. . . . So how do you have one now? Your hands aren't cold, like those of a corpse. And your eyes are blue. You're nothing like any vampire I’ve ever seen."

  “Please, Elinor, let it go. I’m a vampire, and that’s all you need to know. There is a lot that’s not known about my kind.” He turned to the left. “We’re not all the same.”

  The sound of rushing water met my ears. “Clearly,” I mumbled, but he didn’t respond.

  I had told myself I wanted to see him, to thank him, to learn his name, and be done with the mystery of the blue-eyed vampire. Yet, here I was, more curious than ever. How was this even possible? How was something like this not widely known? No wonder he didn't smell the same way other vampires did.

  I decided to give the topic a rest, for now. I'd hate for him to get angry and for us to end up fighting. That would be a disaster. Because no matter what he said and how I boasted, in a battle between us, I was pretty sure I wouldn't win.

  Maybe that’s why you shouldn’t have followed him.

  We finally came to a stop at a cliff that overlooked the sea. I knew about this cliff, but I'd never been this far in the forest. It wasn’t part of my pack's territory.

  The view—the black sky and bright stars above the gentle ocean—was simply breathtaking. My shoulder slumped as I released the tension that had built up. I was going to be okay. He wouldn’t hurt me. I could relax.

  “Elinor?” I looked his way, my name but a whisper on his lips. He sat down and held his hand up to me. “Sit.”

  I sat down beside him, and we watched the sky in silence. A shooting star flashed across the heavens, and he leaned over. “Make a wish.”

  “Pardon?” I looked his way but quickly turned away when I saw how close his face was to mine.

  A blush crawled up my cheeks. I bent over to rub my eyes, but I only did it so my hair would fall forward to shield my face.

  “Are you sleepy, Elinor?”

  Goddess! Would you stop saying my name like that?

  “No, I’m okay.” I took a deep breath. “Why would I make a wish?”

  He reached out and moved my hair back from my face. I didn’t look his way but continued to study the calm ocean. I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t understand why my heart skipped a beat as his finger brushed against my ear.

  “It’s something humans do when they see a shooting star. They make a wish, hoping it will come true.” He tilted his head to the side, watching me.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose, unable to endure his staring any longer. “Please stop doing that.”

  “Do I make you nervous?”

  “Does wishing on a star actually work?” I asked, deciding to ignore his question.

  I wasn't going to let him get to me, but from the way he chuckled, I knew he was enjoying messing with me. Who’d sent this man into my life, and why was I allowing him to stay?

  "I don't know," he finally replied. "I don't think so . . . but it's a beautiful thought, isn’t it?"

  What would my father say if he could see me now? Here I was, sitting by a cliff with one of the creatures our Guards hunted. On the other hand, here I was, sitting with someone, a creature I’d been taught was consumed by darkness and bloodlust, and he was talking about how beautiful wishing on a star could be.

  “Why did you save me?” I blurted out. “I mean, thank you, but why? You were hunting with your kind that night. So why did you save me?”

  I waited for him to respond when he suddenly stood up. He reached down, expecting me to slide my hand into his, and I sighed, then did it. It was evident getting this man to answer my questions was going to take some work.

  He pulled me up gently, and I shivered as he led me closer to the cliff’s edge.

  “It’s almost sunrise,” he whispered under his breath before looking out at the incredible view again. “Would you like me to walk you back?”

  “So you’re just going to ignore my question?”

  He sighed as he began to remove his cloak. I noticed that he was wearing clothing that was similar to the Werewolf Guard’s uniform, but his was all black. "You don't hold back when you speak, Elinor. It’s refreshing. But I really must be going.”

  I frowned. “Heading home before sunrise? That’s good. I’d hate to see you burn to a crisp.”

  He chuckled. “Your sarcasm is noted.” He stepped back suddenly, and his foot caused some of the earth to break away from the edge of the cliff.

  I reacted the same way I would have if it had been anyone else in danger. I rushed forward, my hands outstretched, but then stopped myself just before grabbing him. My hands fell to my side with embarrassment as he smiled.

  “I’ll see you soon, little wolf. Until then, stay out of the forest on a full moon. Okay?”

  “I make no promises,” I replied with a smile. He lifted his hand as if to touch my face, but before he could, he leaned backward and dropped off the cliff.

  I stepped forward and leaned over the cliff carefully, watching as he fell, then disappeared into the water. I stood there for a moment, waiting to see if he’d resurface, but he didn’t.

  He might have been a little eccentric and super-secretive, but I knew I’d be counting the days until I saw him again.

  Elinor

  I slowly walked until I made it back to the festival. By the time I got there, the darkness was slowly fading, making way for the dawn.

  Many people had already left, leaving mainly those who were i
ntoxicated and the die-hard partiers still there to carry on. It didn't take long for me to spot Skye and Theanos, considering that his wings were still on display.

  “Hey, where have you been?” Skye asked as she leaned against Theanos, her eyes glazed and her words slurred. I eyed a stain on her dress, no doubt from spilling her drink. But it was her bruised knuckles that had me wondering what I’d missed.

  “She got into it with a kitsune,” Theanos explained as he threw his arm over her shoulder to help keep her standing upright. I shook my head but smiled as she giggled.

  “I-I won fair and square.” I had no idea what she had won, but her face suddenly fell as she leaned towards me. “You didn’t answer me.”

  “I was just wandering around,” I replied, looking around the now trash-covered town. “Where is Cyrus?” The moment I turned around, though, I had to step back. Theanos was standing directly in front of me, his face inches away from mine, his nostrils flaring.

  “What the hell are you doing, sniffing me like that?”

  He stepped back, his mouth gaping open. Suddenly, I realized there was a faint smell of Will on me. I hadn’t even noticed it, and as drunk as Skye was, she wouldn’t either.

  “Well, well, well, Ms. Elinor. You’re not at all who . . .”

  I punched him in the gut, and while I didn't do it hard enough to hurt him, it did knock the wind out of him. He hunched forward with a groan as Cyrus fell from the sky, his wings flapping before disappearing into his back.

  “What the hell is going on?” he grumbled as he joined us. “What did you do?” he asked Theanos, who grimaced.

  “You saw her punch me, right? So why am I the one being accused of something?” He glanced my way quickly. "I like you, Elinor. You’re not at all what I expected.” He waved a finger at me. “You have a curious spirit, and I like that.”

  I saw the knowing smirk on his lips grow.

  “What about me, then? I’m only the one who’s been drinking with you all night.” Skye pulled away and stared up at him. “Why is it you’re not drunk?”