The Blood Moon Pack
Heaven
That’s one way to make an entrance. “You could have just teleported right inside,” Allie says as pack warriors approach the car.
“There are barriers,” Ahren informs us as he lowers the car window and casts the men an innocent smile. “Hi, my family is inside. We are just a little late to the party.”
“We’ll need to do security checks, Alpha Ahren.”
“Of course.” Ahren holds out his hand, slicing his palm with one of his nails that has now become black, allowing the drops of blood to fall onto the device they’re holding. The blood sizzles, and a green light flashes as he is identified.
This is a security device created by witches to confirm a person’s identity. It’s connected to a larger database that is accessed worldwide. Allie and I have to do the same. The car is then searched before the gates swing open, and we are allowed to pass through.
The entrance of the pack is lined with open land, and we begin our drive through a thicket of trees, down one of the few winding roads. The Blood Moon Pack was once not so big, but today it’s vast with a subpack – similar to the Black Storm Pack.
We drive towards the Alpha Mansion, and I take in my surroundings.
The vibe of the Blood Moon Pack is very different from that of the Black Storm Pack.
Where the Black Storm has a neat woodland area with several luxurious mansions, not to mention the Rossi Mansion itself, the Blood Moon has a more nature-filled vibe, one that allows you to smell the earth and nature from the moment you cross those gates, where the woods are not tamed, and the roads are still made of dirt.
There are no streetlights within the trees; it’s just nature.
We pass beyond the woods and finally reach the Alpha Mansion. The cabin-like villa is made of solid wood, with large windows that look into the rustic mansion.
It’s beautiful in a magical way, and when you step out of the car, you’re not stepping onto marble floors that create a barrier between you and nature, but onto soil that is so rich and powerful that it’s humming, alive with power that is yearning for me to call upon it.
This… this land is one of the most- my breath hitches as I stagger backwards as a damning thought enters my mind. The final battle… will be upon these lands.
“Heaven?” Allie snaps me from my premonition, and I look at her, knowing my face is pale. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” I answer softly. I look around at the glowing home, the rustling branches of the trees, and my heart aches for the destruction that will one day befall it.
“What was it?” Ahren asks.
I look down. “The-”
“Didn’t you know it’s rude to show up at someone’s home uninvited?” All three of us look up towards one of the windows on the first floor, where a shirtless Theo is pulling on a shirt over his sculpted, tattooed body.
“We apologise,” Ahren says with a smile.
“I was talking to Zombilesandra and Blondie. You’re welcome at any time, bro,” Theo says as he places his hand on the windowsill and jumps down.
Dust rises as his boots make contact with the ground.
“As much as I’d love to invite you inside, I have things to do, places to be, people to avoid. I’m out.”
He spins his keys on his fingers, throws them up before catching them, and saunters off.
I raise an eyebrow, but I don’t have time for this idiot right now. “Let’s go inside. Hopefully, things have been smoothed out,” I suggest.
Ahren, who’s watching Theo leave with an arched brow, nods. “I smell cookies.”
“You are weird,” Allie remarks as she saunters over to the door and rings the bell before pulling the door open.
I follow her inside, and Ahren brings up the rear, but the moment we’re inside, I realise the room is thick with tension…
Has anything been discussed yet? There’s no Jayce here. None of the quints are here… The Westwoods are all there, and Aunty Kiara looks grim, not an expression I see on her face often.
“Cookies, mind if I have one?” Ahren asks Grandma Red before he gives Uncle Liam and Grandad Elijah a handshake and then sits down beside Uncle Rayhan, who is staring at him with raised eyebrows. Kaden isn’t here, meaning he’s been left with Mama. He would have been a good icebreaker.
“You are all staying the night, right? I mean, it’s quite late,” Aunty Raven says, smiling across at everyone. Aunty Delsanra shakes her head.
“No, we wouldn’t impose; it’s not that far of a journey,” she says.
“Come, sit down,” Grandma Red says to Allie and me.
“Well, I’ll get right to it. I have apologised, but I know it’s not enough. I fucked up like an asshole, so you tell me, Liam, what can I do to fix shit?” Grandpa Alejandro says, now looking at Liam.
Uncle Liam sighs as he looks at his hands, and both Allie and I take a seat, squeezing in beside Aunty Kiara.
“You’ve apologised, that’s enough. You don’t need to keep apologising; it’s just fresh, and I think we all just need time.
” Uncle Liam is still looking down at his hands, a small frown on his face.
“You kept spouting nonsense, even when Aunty Maria was telling you to stop. We are all upset over Sienna, and we are actively working to find a way to bring her back. I will do everything in my power to help make that a reality, but you forget that my son was broken. Everyone in that room saw the pain he was in, and yet you kept going. And here you are, apologising to me when it’s him you need to make it up to. ”
Uncle Liam stands, his eyes sharp. “I have respected you, Alejandro, and sometimes I agree we all do things in anger, but the moment you began blaming my son, that was my limit. Jayce – the one who tries not to hurt anyone, and did everything he could to help her. That night, you made it clear, the difference between blood and not blood.”
The room is silent as he looks over at Uncle Rayhan, Aunty Delsanra and Jaddati. “I have no qualms with any of you, at all. You know that, Rayhan.”
“I know, and I don’t blame Jayce. If anyone, it’s my fault because if I were here, she never would have resorted to something like that,” Uncle says, and I see the guilt that he’s tried so hard to hide.
Uncle Liam sighs. “And I know he wouldn’t want me to say this, but he was willing to forsake his fated mate for her.”
“I’ve done fucked-up shit, but I was never called out the way I should have been. Until that fucker Leo anyway.” Grandpa Alejandro frowns before he stands up, towering slightly over Uncle Liam. “But I regret it, I fucking mean that.”
He does too. He continues, “I didn’t just hurt you and Jayce, but Elijah, Scarlett, Kiara, my own children and Azura. I will fix this shit; I’ll talk to Jayce.”
“He doesn’t want to talk to anyone,” Ahren says quietly. “He needs time.”
Grandma Red sighs before looking at her mate, who gives her hand a squeeze.
“I think we all need to try to move on from it,” Grandad Elijah says.
“Mistakes were made, things were said, but we need to stop holding onto that and just get on. Over time, that betrayal fades. Families argue all the time, but it doesn’t mean we don’t love one another. Same with friends.”
“So, I’ll suggest something,” Aunty Raven says now, as she stands up and looks at the two men.
She barely reaches uncle Liam’s chest, and her head is arched all the way back to look up at them as she plants her hands on her hips.
“Let’s take a family holiday, everyone together.
We have to bridge the differences. That will help, right? ”
Dante finally speaks up. “Maybe, but I think we will actually need to make that effort. Some things can’t be forced, and if small things are going to cause issues, then none of you are going to be able to handle what’s to come.”
His words send a wave of unease through the room.
“What do you mean?” Allie asks. He gives her a smile that he always reserves for her.
“Time will tell.”
“Well, let’s do this. Let’s plan some kind of trip then,” Aunty Delsanra says.
“Yes, and you make sure Raihana comes, and we will make sure Jayce comes, too,” Grandad Elijah says.
Grandpa Alejandro looks at Uncle Liam before speaking, “Just saying, both issues involve this fucker, maybe he’s the issue-”
“Al!” Aunty Kiara scolds, cutting him off, but it draws a small, tired smile from Uncle Liam.
“Maybe, but so are you,” Uncle Liam says bluntly. “And I get you’re old, but try not letting that become your excuse for being a jerk.”
“Didn’t think Dad needs an excuse,” Dante jokes lightly.
I look around. “So, regarding this holiday, I have a few ideas of where we can go?” I say, bringing everyone’s attention to me. A place that idiot can’t escape me…
“We’d love to hear them,” Grandma Red says.
“I’ll print out a list,” I say before I stand up. “Oh, and this might not be the best of times to bring this up, but the final battle will happen here… on Blood Moon territory.”
The room falls silent, too silent, as colour fades from most faces, and a few gasps echo in the silence as everyone stares at me.
“How are you sure?” Aunty Delsanra asks softly.
“I just am. This land-”
“Don’t believe everything she says.” Carter’s voice comes from behind us, and I turn to see him standing there with the rest of his brothers. The only one who clearly didn’t want to be there is Theo. Jayce is emotionless, his eyes hard. Renji looks worried, and Ares looks bored.
“I believe her,” Uncle Liam says firmly. “And knowing that… well, that helps in preparing things… I guess.”
“I do apologise for adding more worry to your already full plate,” I say quietly, “Excuse me.”
Not waiting for a reply, I leave the room, wishing I hadn’t spoken, but keeping secrets or waiting for the right time is a double-edged sword.
I walk to the front door, needing some air, leaving the deafening silence behind me, refusing for my facade to drop until I’m alone. My heart is steady, my face is passive, and I am in control.
I brush past the quints; the sight of all five of them together can be rather daunting. The moment I pull open the front door, I exhale very slowly.
The final battle…
I remove my shoes, and I wriggle my toes. I don’t really like walking barefoot in dirt, but I want to feel the earth. This earth. Slowly, I step barefoot onto the ground and walk across the garden. So much power, so rich…
It’s calming, and soon I forget I’m even barefoot as I walk around the garden, finding it very therapeutic. I should tell Mama about it, too, because I don’t want her to be the last to find out. I take out my phone and, whispering a spell so no one can overhear me, I call her.
She picks up on the second ring. “Heaven, is everything alright?” she asks.
“Well, yes, but I do have some bad news,” I begin quietly. I sit down on one of the logs and cross my legs, smoothing my dress.
“What is it?” Mama asks.
“The final battle… It’s going to happen here, Mama, on Blood Moon territory.” I don’t sound as confident as I did inside. “Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it to everyone.”
“You’re at the Blood Moon Pack? Never mind.” Mama sighs before continuing. “You did the right thing by telling them. How are they?”
“They were all silent,” I say, suddenly regretting it even more.
“That’s no surprise, but you did the right thing. I’m proud of you,” she says gently. I can hear Kaden making car sounds in the background.
I’m quiet for a moment, not knowing what to say, but she doesn’t hang up on me either. “It’s a beautiful pack; I’m sure they must just be weighing in on that revelation. It’ll be ok. Do you want me to come?”
“You’ll come to Uncle Liam’s pack for me?” I ask teasingly.
“I have no issue with him; he’s just such a rule follower.”
I giggle as I look up towards the window where I had seen Theo jump from. Well, not all of his sons are.
“No, it’s alright, you don’t need to. We’re going to have a family outing that you will not be able to evade, anyway,” I reply. “I’ll hang up now, bye.”
I end the call spotting movement in that same bedroom, seeing a ray of light as the door must have opened, and then I see Theo’s silhouette as he walks across the room, head lowered as he brings a lighter to his lips and lights a cigarette.
I smile cunningly as I stand up. Time to talk face-to-face.
I really have no idea why Hades would choose Theo Westwood of all people as his favoured.
He is absolutely infuriating, but I plan to get what I want by all means necessary.
Using a spell, I levitate myself up to his windowsill, sitting on it, before swinging my legs gracefully into his room. Rudely but still gracefully.
“Sorry for the intrusion, but we really need to talk.” I fold my arms and look over at him.
He sighs, blowing out a cloud of smoke that forms a skull. “You know, I really liked you better when you ignored me.”