Chapter 13 Bloodmoon
After the last few days of not leaving my bedroom, I was ready to get some fresh air.
I have found that I am fond of clothing that have galaxy themes in either dark blues or purples.
So today I grabbed a simple navy blue ruffled knee length skirt and a gold smooth three quarter length shirt.
I strap my kunai to my thigh as Aylin grabs all black pants and blue shirt that has gold filigree.
I love that he likes to match with me, even though he’s huffing about leaving our room.
I pin my hair up and add a gold tiara that has three points.
The middle point has a large diamond in the middle of it and the two others have dark blue gems.
“You look beautiful Celest,” Aylin leans over and kisses my forehead, just as our bedroom door crashes open.
“Alpha, Luna, I am so sorry to intrude on your time but we have a big problem, the Bloodmoon pack has been spotted in the forest. Zion is at the front and Alpha Marcus and Luna Marcella have been seen as well. Alpha, they are not alone, there are about 70 to 100 wolves with them.”
Archer says out of breath. “We are not even sure where they came from, we were patrolling the border and one minute there was no one and the next thing we knew, they were all in the forest.”
“This is my fault Aylin, if I hadn’t come here your lives wouldn’t be at risk,” I say.
“Celest this isn’t your fault. You were never supposed to be with them. Now they are angry that their plans didn't work and you are growing into the Luna you are meant to be.”
Aylin looks to Archer, “Call the pack together and we will go and confront them, they are not welcome on my territory. Celest, you haven't had the training needed to help with this, I would like you to stay here.”
“I will not! These are my people too and I am going with you. You’re right I have no training, but Hera has been warning me about a dark presence and I think she is referring to them. I will not sit here and let people get hurt because of me!”
“There is no time to argue with you, please just be careful,” Aylin grabs my hand and we walk to the front of the Inn where a group of men and women are already waiting. Within minutes we have at least 100 pack members standing before us. Aylin stands before our people and begins to speak.
"Look around you, at the man and woman to your left and to your right.
You are here because you are brave, because you are loyal, and because you swore to protect those we hold dear.
But I ask you to look beyond these lines.
Look at the people waiting for us. They bleed when cut, they love their families just as fiercely as you do, and they are standing there, right now, bound by the very same heavy duty that brings us here today.
The march into conflict is not driven by bloodlust or a craving for destruction.
The goal is to restore peace and defend our home.
But the message is clear: the greatest victory that can be claimed today is not one measured by the lives of those cut down.
True victory is returning to loved ones with steady hands and a clear conscience.
When the step forward is taken, it should not be with a heart full of hate.
Fight with discipline. Stand like a wall, hold the ground, and give every chance for the opposing side to lay down their arms.
If the opportunity arises to spare a life, to show mercy, or to offer a path of retreat, it must be taken.
Let it never be said that a fatal strike was chosen when a firm, merciful hand could have ended the day.
Every soul spared today is someone who gets to return to a mother, a father, a spouse, or their children. Let the legacy be one of resolve, but also one of profound grace.
Hold the discipline. Protect one another. Do everything possible to ensure that when this day is done, everyone can look each other in the eye, knowing that they did not just survive, but stayed true to their humanity.
Now, move forward with courage, and with the hope of peace.”
The pack erupts with howls and hollering.
As Alyin and I strip, and shift into our wolves and run toward the forest, followed by our pack.
Once we reach the forest's edge the smell of the Bloodmoon pack is all around us.
They smell of cinnamon and apples, and it overtakes the smell of the forest.
We can see paw prints and foot prints all through the snow.
“Show yourselves,” Aylin calls out, “we know you’re out there!”
Zion comes out first, his wolf is black with a white stripe up his face and down the back of his neck like a horse's mane, I recognise him immediately.
Hedoes not compare to Capella. Marcus and Marcella follow behind him in human form.
Capella growls loudly pulsing purple mist through the air.
Zion and the people I used to call family actually looked nervous as they stared wide eyed at Capella.
She is at least two and a half times bigger than Zion is.
“Why are you here Bloodmoon?” Aylin growls out.
“You are not welcome in this territory.”
“I am here for my sister,” Zion growls back, “I want her to rot in the dungeon for being an abomination, and you too, Aylin. We do not need the lycan people to roam our lands. If I knew what she was, I would have destroyed her as a pup!”
Alyin snaps his jaws at Zion, “How dare you speak to the Alpha and Luna of the Pleiades Pack in that manner.”
In our link I speak with Aylin, “Something isn’t right Aylin. There is a very dark aura around all of them. I can see something flickering and floating around their heads. I have never seen it before. Zion isn’t in control of the pack. Why are Marcus and Marcella not speaking or in the front line?
Plus, look at the other wolves, they look scared and the ones staying in the forest look like they would surrender if given the chance. Something isn’t adding up. My senses are being pulled to these floating things. I need a better look.”
“I don’t see anything floating around their heads…”
Alyin is cut off as Capella begins to growl and Zion runs toward Aylin. The Bloodmoon pack follows suit howling and rushing our people. Capella and Sterling stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the front of our pack's defensive line, our wolves vibrating with anger at the intrusion.
“Remember everyone, blood lost, could be a life lost.
Hold the line!" Sterling roared. "No teeth to the neck!
Ground them!" The Bloodmoon wolves slammed into the Pleiades Pack like a wall of brown and orange fur.
The forest floor instantly erupted into a chaotic, churning mass of dust, flying leaves, and deafening roars.
Despite the terrifying noise, the restraint was surgical.
Zion’s wolf lunged directly at Sterling.
Instinct screamed at me to throat-bite him to save my mate, but I remembered we are trying to bring peace.
Capella pivoted on her hind legs, using her kinetic strength to slam her body into Zion's ribs.
The air left the wolf's lungs in a loud huff as he crashed into the dirt.
Before he could recover, Capella pinned his front paws with her own, baring her teeth in a fierce, dominant snarl directly over his face until he whined and tucked his tail, a psychological submission, not a physical execution.
“Zion, I will not go back with you, Aylin is my mate and I am the Luna of the Pleiades Pack.”
Capella allows me to speak through her, “We want peace, Zion. We don’t want blood lost, or lives lost.”
I am speaking loudly so others can hear me.
“We want to bring harmony to all people including the Bloodmoon Pack.”
My body is pulsing purple ripples through the air and many of the wolves stop in their tracks, whimper and bow.
Alyin looks at me, “You’re aura is pulsing Celest, your true powers are presenting themselves. Look, more than half the pack stopped fighting and are submitting to you,” he speaks to me through the bond.
Looking around I can see a few wolves bowing to me.
I lift my head high into the air and howl, stopping the remaining wolves, then I begin to speak.
“Members of the Bloodmoon and Pleiades Packs, We stand here under the moonlight, not as beasts ruled by instinct, but as separate packs bound by choice.
For too long, the legacy of our kind has been defined by division.
We have let the fear of our own nature, our size, our power, and our raw fury, turn us against one another.
We have fought over territory, over dominance, over pride.
But tonight, we remember the ancient truth that guides us: the strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.
Harmony is not a gift that is simply given; it is built.
It is forged in the silent moments when we listen to each other’s howls across the meadows, forests, and hills.
True harmony requires us to redefine what it means to lead.
An Alpha is not a tyrant who demands absolute submission.
A true leader is the anchor of the pack.
They with their Luna are the providers, the teachers, and the caretakers who ensure that no member, young or old, is left behind in the dark.”
My voice is loud and the pulsing from my body continues and all eyes are on me, even Zions.
“To bring peace to our ranks, we must establish a foundation of trust.
We must balance our primal need for independence with our necessity for cooperation.
Every member of these packs has a purpose, a strength, and a voice.
The young bring swiftness, the hunters bring sustenance, and our elders bring wisdom.
When we honor these roles instead of fighting for control, our differences become our greatest advantage.
Look around you. We share a bond forged in moonlight and instinct. We know the weight of the pack, but we also know the beauty of the pack, the unwavering loyalty, the shared warmth, and the courage to stand together.
Let us leave behind the chaos of fighting.
Let us commit to clear communication, mutual respect, and unconditional support for one another.
When we care for our weakest, we elevate our strongest.
When we howl together, let it be not as a warning of war, but as a chorus of unity, letting all who hear it know that we are unbroken, we are at peace, and we are one.
Let us stand shoulder to shoulder. Let our unity be our legacy. We are not just a pack, we can be family.”
I throw my head back and howl to the moon, and every wolf there, minus Marcus, Marcella, and Zion join me. They have accepted me.
I look down at Zion again and the Moon Goddess reaches out to me.
“Those are possession sprites Celest. They take over a being causing them to lose control of their own actions. They have been known to take over whole populations causing anger, aggression, and violence. It normally leads to the downfall of the pack, population, or nation.
We haven't seen them in thousands of years. If you can catch one, Agnes, and Hera can examine it.”
“You are being affected by possession sprites Zion. Marcus and Marcella are too. Aylin we need to capture one of the sprites so Hera and Agnes can examine it.”
Zion begins to struggle beneath my paw so I snap my jaws shut.
He stills a little but I must find a way to remove the sprites.
I lift my paw and he runs over to the Alpha and Luna of Bloodmoon.
“We need to contain Zion, Marcus and Marcella and remove the possession sprites,” I say loudly.
“We are not going to harm them and we will return them to Bloodmoon once we can remove them. I know this is a new found trust. If you would like to send a trusted member with them, we can house them as well” Every head turns to Marcus, Marcella and Zion.
All members of the Bloodmoon pack and Pleiades pack form tight circles around them, three members deep.
I shift back into a human, Stella trots over a bag of my clothes and I get dressed.
I stride over to them, “possessed by sprites or not, I will never forgive you for what you did to me. I will protect this pack and love all of its members, new or old but I will not have a relationship with the three of you.”
I grab Marcella’s right arm and start walking her back to the Inn.
Marcus and Zion follow and are being guarded by fellow wolves.
“Zeta please prepare a room for the Alpha, and Luna of the Bloodmoon pack, as well as Zion.”
I say through the mind link. “We need to keep them safe but also make sure they can't escape before we remove these sprites.”
“Yes, Luna. I will have them ready momentarily,” she responds.