Pruitt
The First Werewolf stared at his plate, his body still and his face frozen in thought.
“Is everything all right, pet?” Luna asked.
finally nodded.
“Good, because I think you’re in for a real treat,” she whispered to him before tapping a fork on her glass and standing up to address the room. “Could I steal your attention away for a quick announcement, gentlemen?”
The sounds of a busy fraternity house breakfast stopped, all eyes now on Luna and .
“I know that some of us regard Mr. Mondamin here as an outsider, but today he is our family.”
The men at the table looked from Luna to , then erupted in applause. stared blankly, prompting an under-the-table kick from Luna. His mannerisms quickly changed as she activated her power, both of their pupils disappearing for a matter of seconds before returning to normal.
“Ah, yes,” said with a smile, his demeanor shifting entirely as he stood and bowed. “I greatly appreciate you all welcoming me in with open arms. And rest assured, I’m rooting for the Moonhaven Wolf Pack at tonight’s game.”
Luna nodded, a movement that involuntarily sent back down in his seat. “Now, I know the Dark Moon clan hasn’t participated in such traditions for at least a century, but what better way to welcome Mr. Mondamin into the manor than with a special show, hm?”
Unsure of what was coming next, picked up his cup and took a sip. He felt the thrall of Luna’s control fade from inside of him, leaving his mind racing. What’s happening? Am I in control or is this just an illusion? he thought to himself. Before he realized it, he had finished the whole drink.
“As we all know, we had many unwelcome guests last night, but there’s one still remaining within our walls,” Luna continued. “Alo, please come on out.”
felt a sudden cramp in his stomach, keeling over in his seat and dropping his glass to the floor as the table applauded once again. Sweat beads forming on his forehead, he was surprised that no one took notice. That’s when he realized why.
Alo appeared from a connecting room, chain in hand, emotion absent from his face. As he stepped into the great hall, he pulled with him the bloody and beaten vampire that knew as Orpheus. “The prisoner, as you asked for.”
Orpheus treaded carefully to avoid the pockets of direct sunlight cast in through the glass ceiling all around him. Alo tugged at his bindings, pulling his hands into the light. The vampire screamed as they sizzled, producing smoke and the smell of burning flesh. Alo released the slack, allowing the prisoner to slink back into the shade.
“W-what’s happening?” asked , his glare shifting from Alo to Orpheus, then back to Luna.
“Our esteemed guest, Mr. Mondamin, was kind enough to kill this one’s companion last night by feasting on his vampire flesh. It rotted away quite nicely, I might add,” Luna teased, her elbow pushing into ’s chest. “Now, as I’m guessing vampire doesn’t pair well with eggs and orange juice, I thought we’d invite him to give us a fiery little show with our morning meal.”
With barely enough time to digest what Luna was saying, shot up from his seat. “Huh?”
“You heard her,” Alo said, pulling back ’s chair and gesturing him toward the vampire.
“Look, we weren’t tr-tr-trying to hurt any of you,” pleaded Orpheus as he fell to his knees. “We have no qualms with the werewolves.”
“Vampire trash!” Dachre shouted from the table, tossing his toast at the weeping Orpheus.
The room erupted with insults and slurs directed at the prisoner as Alo handed the end of the chain.
“Make him suffer!”
“Give him the sunlight!”
“This’ll make a great show, trust me,” Alo whispered to , who looked down at the chain and back to Luna in confusion.
“Mr. Mondamin just needs a little coaxing,” said Luna, standing once again and walking over to him. “Oh, and let’s just try to avoid any burn marks on the carpet over here. The replacement chandelier I ordered is already eating away at the fraternity’s remaining budget for the school year.”
“, y-you know me!” Orpheus shouted. “I’ve known Uriah for decades. He found me when I was sick and dying in the hospital. Terminal cancer, can you believe it? Promised me a new life. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
listened to the vampire’s heart-wrenching story, but showed no emotion. He yanked the chain forward, tugging Orpheus across the floor. Orpheus howled as the sunlight briefly touched his arm, but yanked him to another shaded spot.
“That’s right, torture him!” Alo cheered as he moved to his seat at the table.
looked from Orpheus to Luna, a devious smile forming on his face. “ You want him to pay, my queen? ”
Luna nodded, a shiver running up her spine. “Yes, . Show me.”
walked up to Orpheus’s shaking body and hoisted him into a standing position. The chain in his hand was connected to a metal collar wrapped around the vampire’s neck. He dropped his end of the chain, instead wrapping both hands around the collar and lifting Orpheus up off of his feet.
“Please, !” Orpheus begged. “Please, no.”
looked Orpheus in the eyes, the same crooked look on his face. “You want mercy, vampire?”
“Yes! Please. Pl-please.”
used all his strength to push in the collar. This made the table go wild. Luna smiled approvingly. Then the collar broke. Orpheus dropped to his feet.
“Finish it!”
“Dust him!”
“Show ‘em how the wolves do!”
Orpheus tried to crawl away, but was faster. He put his foot on the vampire’s leg to stop him from moving and grabbed up the chain again.
“That’s right,” Luna said softly. “Give your queen what she wants.”
“Argh!” shouted, spinning around and whipping Luna across the face with the chain.
The table went wild again, but not for the same reason. Luna fell back to the floor, Alo rushing to her side.
“She’s controlling you all, can’t you see?” shouted. “She’s not your queen! She’s your downfall.”
As the room fell silent, two short, stout men dressed in chef’s clothes entered through the adjoining kitchen doors, both with a large cart before them. On each, a carefully designed arrangement of donuts and cookies surrounded two large, three-tiered Bundt cakes. The sweet sights were placed upon a metal platter with decorative tablecloths adorning the carts just underneath.
moved fast, ripping the tablecloths from the carts in a single stroke. The entire room collectively gasped, but the dessert remained unscathed. tossed the tablecloths at Orpheus. “Cover yourself. Get to the original meet-up point. Now! ”
The vampire nodded, the fear in his eyes replaced with a glimmer of hope. He disappeared before the werewolves could react. made a dash for the kitchen, but not before a bloodied Luna rose to her feet and ran after him, a handful of her brainwashed minions in tow.
visualized Luna and her werewolves as football players on the field, diving out of the way to miss their attacks as they tried to pounce. All right. Remember coach’s big plan, he thought to himself. He dove between the carts, knocking one on top of Alo before he got to his feet.
“Don’t you dare ruin this cake!” Luna hissed, grabbing one end of the standing cart and staring in the eyes. They glared at one another from either side of the dessert display. “It’s my favorite .”
“Save me a piece, will you?” winked, flipping the cart at just the right angle so that Luna met the cake face first.
ducked into the kitchen, ran past a seated Strix, and followed the exit signs illuminating the ceiling. Reaching the back door, the last person he expected to see was the only one standing in the way of his freedom.
Oh, fuck. Here we go, the First Werewolf thought to himself as he made eye contact with Haven. “Hey, man, look…” he began, letting out an exhausted sigh.
Instead of blocking him, the other werewolf simply opened the door and tossed him a set of keys.
? Old red truck out front,? Haven’s voice bounced through ’s head. That’s when he remembered the kiss from last night—his last moment of consciousness before Luna took complete control over his psyche—and it all made sense.
ran outside, his werewolf hearing picking up on angry voices coming from behind him. “Where’d that traitor go?” howled one of them.
“Think he wrapped around and went to the west doors,” he heard Haven reply.
turned over Haven’s engine and put the vehicle into reverse, peeling out of the parking lot. In the mad rush of things, he missed the familiar scent of his human boyfriend in the backseat.
“Surprise, babe!” Griff said as he appeared in the rearview mirror.
“G!” nearly lost control of the truck. “Oh, damn. You scared the hell out of me.”
“You scared the hell out of me!” Griff teased, giving a playful punch to the shoulder before climbing into the front passenger seat. “Fortunately, I was able to craft a little potion that should stop Luna’s control over you until we can find a more permanent solution.”
’s face wrinkled in confusion. “Wait. How’d I?—”
“I slipped some to Haven and asked him to help you next.”
Remembering the glass Haven handed him at breakfast, the werewolf sighed. “And how’d you do that?”
“Oh, it was easy,” Griff replied with a chuckle. “Found him out on his routine morning jog.”
“So, he’s the one who bit me?”
Griff looked down. “I hope you can forgive him.”
“I can.” swallowed hard. “I hope Uriah can forgive me.”
“Huh?” Griff asked.
“G, I’m so sorry about everything.” ’s eyes were watery as he drove. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
Griff scooted close to his lover, wrapping his arm around ’s chest. “Don’t be. I’m just glad you’re here with me.”
“I’m glad, too,” kissed Griff’s head. “I’m glad, too.”