A warm sensation kissed Joy's skin as she felt herself regain consciousness. She turned in her half-asleep state, facing the source of comfortable heat. The heat she felt was red, its light slightly stinging her closed eyes. She smiled, inhaling the aroma of roasted nuts, smoke and something else. The place smelt like a home, not hers, but a home nonetheless. She snuggled into the blanket beneath her.
'Cashmere?' She thought. 'No, this feels a little softer. What is this fabric?' She stuffed her head into it and felt herself sink deeper as she inhaled. A strong smell attacked her nostrils and her head shot up. Her eyes watered and she coughed, crawling away from the blanket. "What is- that smell!" She screeched.
"That's Thomas," a little boy spoke in front of her. "He doesn't smell that good," he grinned a wide toothless grin. He looked six or seven years old.
"Thomas," Joy whispered, nodding her head.
"The blanket has a name." She looked around. They were in a small hut. A rocking chair sat next to the wall, facing her. What looked like a stove was built over the fire place and on the ground was the black blanket she had been lying on.
She recalled falling off the cliff, her hand slipping from Tanya's, then darkness.
"And who are you? Where am I? How did I get here? Where are my friends?"
"Khaya," he said, slowly counting his fingers. "I'm not allowed to tell you. My daddy brought you here." He paused, thinking of his last answer. "I don't know."
"Who's your daddy?" She rose up along with her panic. "Where is he? Why can't you tell me? Is this some kind of sick game?"
"Ummm... can you ask me the first one again please?"
The door creaked open and a man walked in. Tall and well built. He had short hair, a brush cut and his olive skin shone in the dim light of the fireplace.
"You're awake," he rasped, stepping into the hut. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't interrogate my son."
"Who are you?" Joy asked. Though her tone and expression were serious, she felt her heart speed up in response to the sight before her. The mans face was moulded beautifully, complimented by turquoise blue eyes that held warmth and kindness.
"That's my daddy," Khaya answered her.
"I'm his daddy," the man repeated.
"Okay," Joy huffed. "Where am I?"
The man took a few steps forward and Joy took a few steps back, her eyes narrowing at him. His head tilted and he smiled. A soft smile that shined in his eyes and he wasn't even showing his teeth. His eyes seemed glow more on the green side, the blueness only an outline.
"Blue Moon forest," he answered, stepping towards the fireplace. He threw a few small planks into the fire and used a wire to mix them. The fire burned brighter, filling the room with its warmth.
"Right," she breathed. "Where are my friends?"
The man shrugged, placing a pot on the stove. "I don't know."
"They were over the cliff? I fell off a cliff."
"I know. You landed in the river and I got you out. You've been unconscious for three days."
"What?!" she shrieked and Khaya covered his ears. "Three days?! Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You looked so comfortable sleeping I didn't want to disturb you." He deadpanned.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course not. How was I supposed to wake you up?"
"Okay. Okay. Do you have a phone I can use?"
"What's a phone?"
"Are you serious?" She rolled her eyes. "Give me a phone I need to call my dad and tell him to pick me up."
"I would if I had one."
"Oh, I see," she raised an eyebrow. "This must be what a hostage situation looks like."
"What?" The man scrunched his nose.
"You decided to target my family for the obvious reasons. You must have been planning this for weeks. Tailing me. That's how you found out about this secret trip I was taking." She smirked. "Well, my family is not easy and it's only a matter of time before a SWAT team bursts into your little cottage."
"Khaya go outside," the man instructed and he obeyed without a word.
Joy stared after the little boy with sadness in her eyes.
"And you use little children for your evil deeds. People like you should rot behind bars."
"Those are interesting things to say to someone who saved your life." He sat himself on the floor, on top of Thomas. He gestured for her to sit on the rocking chair and she shook her head, folding her arms.
"Suit yourself," he mumbled. "You are in a village just below Blue Moon forest. This is the Blue Moon pack, we are werewolves and my name is Jude." He spoke calmly, as if explain two plus two to a first grader.
Joy's eyebrows scrunched, her eyes narrowing. The formation of a dangerous glare.
"I have a meeting with a French partner. A deal to sign with a Swiss company. Two dinners in South Africa and a fiancé. To. Kill. Do I look like I have the time to play games?" Her eyebrows rose, emphasizing the question. "If I'm not a hostage just say so. Why lock me in here and tell me stupid stories?"
"Theyre not stupid, theyre not stories and the door is not locked," he answered, a smirk forming on his soft pink lips, the green in his eyes shining even brighter.
"Give me a phone," she gritted.
"I don't have one."
"What kind of a person doesn't have a phone?"
"I'm not a person."
"Fine," she sighed. "Forget it." She marched past him and headed out the door. Bloody psycho.
The hut she came out of was the only one on a high rise, overlooking the rest of the land. Many more small buildings with thatched roofs were scattered in the vast area. Adults, children and animals seemed to go about their day to day lives. There were fruit trees and other trees as far as her eyes could see. Patches of lawn and flower gardens lined and surrounded each hut. "Woah," Joy breathed. Her sneakers trudged against a barren path as she made her way towards the village. A few ladies carrying buckets of water and firewood on their heads walked past her.
"Excuse me," she said, but none of them even spared her a glance, continuing with their chatter as if she was invisible.
"No way," she muttered to herself. "This is a kumusha* set up." Her eyebrows furrowed together. "Okay, but where? There's only one village next to Blue Moon forest and according to the map it was further ahead. We were going back, so how did I get here?" She scratched her head.
She stepped around one of the huts. A man was crouched shirtless under a tree, groaning.
"Excuse me," she stepped closer to him.
He let out a growl and his bones twisted and turned under his skin, fur sprouting from it. He stood tall on four paws, and turned to her, baring his teeth. After a snap of his canines at her the wolf man bolted through the village. Joy had to hit her legs to make them move back. She turned and ran back to the hut on a hill, her breath hitched in her throat, her heart forgetting how to beat. She came to a stop next to the wall of the hut, using it to balance herself as she forced her breath out and reminded her heart how to beat a little too fast. She felt her stomach churn, the sting of bile creeping up her throat. She wretched and spit where she stood. She clutched her empty stomach, her eyes watering and nose running. She wretched again, wincing at the pain caused by her convulsing stomach. She heaved, stepping away from the wall in reverse.
"What is this place?" She wiped her mouth and eyes, her hand shaking as she sniffed.
"Blue Moon forest," a female voice sounded behind her and she whipped around. "And you must be it."
What seemed to be a permanent scowl was plastered on her otherwise beautiful face. It had an oval shape, decorated with two forest green orbs that seemed to judge her very existence. She had a small, pointed nose and pouty lips. They were a soft pink shade that contrasted well with her caramel skin. She had a beauty spot on the top left side of her mouth, which curved into a sneer.
"What are you staring at?"
"Nothing." She looked away, surprising herself. She had never in her entire life backed down to anyone. But suddenly, in this enchanted forest, she felt inferior.
"She's cute." A blonde haired, brown eyed man appeared next to the forest beauty. "Hi cutie," he chirped, flashing a gorgeous pearly white smile.
"Cute?" Joy scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Let's go inside." The green-eyed beauty commanded and they both obeyed, following after her.
Jude was now sitting on the rocking chair, his fingers on his chin, his eyes on the door.
"Zab- Zab- Zabala," the blonde-haired man spoke. A playful grin on his face.
"Krii," Jude nodded at him. A soft smile graced his face as his eyes moved to the woman. "How are you Jem?"
"Irritated," she said, her face expressionless.
"Why did you have to bring it here?"
"It was either bring her here or let her die in the river." He raised his eyebrows.
"You should have chosen the later." She moved to the stove and stirred the pot.
"Ummm... I'm right here," Joy said, pointing to herself.
"Don't worry sweetheart, I see you," Krii winked at her.
"Are you people or whatever you are, going to tell me what is going on?" She snapped, a fiery glare directed at Jude.
His smile disappeared, replaced by a cold stare. He folded his arms, challenging her in addition to accentuating his biceps. He blinked and his eyes were blue. "Do you recall falling off the cliff?" He asked.
"Yes." She continued to stare at him, though her eyes began to soften.
"What else?"
"Nothing, I'm blank from there."
"Well let me repeat myself. You landed in the river. I got you out. You've been unconscious for three days. You're probably starving," her stomach growled in agreement, "I cured your ankle. You woke up, and now we're talking. Any questions?"
She played around with the ankle she had forgotten about, then huffed, staring back at him. He cocked his head to the side, waiting for a reply.
"How do I get back home?" She asked.
"There's a key to the village gate that only Reid uses," Krii answered.
"Krii!" Jem snapped.
"Who's Reid?" Joy stared between them.
"Our Alpha," Krii answered again, ignoring Jem's glare.
"Okay, that's like a leader, right? Let's go ask him for it so he can let me out."
"We can't," Jude spoke, his eyes hadn't left her since they had started talking.
"Why?"
"Because he's not here. He'll be back in two months."
"Two months?" She gasped. "There has to be another way, I can't stay here for two months."
"There is no other way." He shrugged, his tone apologetic. The blue in his eyes fading, allowing green to dominate.
"I have important meetings to conduct and attend. I can't waste my time stuck in wolf land."
"Blue Moon land," Krii corrected.
"What. Ever." She growled, running a hand through her afro.
"Look at her she's growling, she's fitting right in." Krii laughed.
"Don't encourage it," Jem snapped, glaring at him. She transferred the contents of the pot to a plate, then placed it on the ground. "Eat," she glanced at Joy.
"What meat is that?" She pouted, staring at the plate.
When Jem didn't answer, Joy looked at Jude who shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not the one who prepared it."
Joy cleared her throat, looking away. "I'm a vegetarian," she said.
"Then starve," Jem gritted, leaving the hut.
"Don't mind Jem. She's like that with everyone she likes," Krii smiled. A smile that made him more handsome. His blonde hair glistened in the light of the fireplace, and his chocolate eyes seemed to glow. "Let's try this again," he sat himself on the ground, on top of Thomas. Jude leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and his chin on his intertwined fingers.
"I'm Adonis Krii, but I go by Krii. Everyone calls me Krii." He introduced himself. "The grumpy lady is Jemima, or Jem. And this is our-"
"Jude." The man cut him off. The two of them stared at each other, a silent conversation going on between them. "I already told her," Jude said out loud, and Krii nodded.
"Jude has a son, his name is Khaya. The smartest one in our pack I tell you. This one time-"
"I don't care Adonis Krii," Joy sighed and Krii's face contorted. "I just want to go home."
"And you will," Jude responded. "Just not now."
"Okay," Joy paced back and forth, running her hand through her afro. "There should be a signal though. When my assistant went to the rurals she could still get her work done. Is there a way I can communicate with my family then? Some kind of telephone?"
"We don't have any."
"I don't understand. Then how do you guys communicate? Stand on a cliff and howl?" She snorted.
Krii and Jude shared a look, and when they didn't laugh or deny it," Joy coughed. "So, I'm like really... kumusha?"
"Sure," Jude answered. "Let's go with that."
"What's happening right now?" She gasped, covering her mouth. "I can't be kumusha. I've never been kumusha, how am I going to survive here? I dont know how to cook with a fire. Or to collect firewood. Or to carry a bucket of water on my head." She gestured to her head, then let out another wide-eyed gasp. "What if they make me slaughter a chicken? Or a goat? Or a cow? I don't know how to slaughter a cow, please don't make me slaughter a cow."
"You won't need to since you're a vegetarian." Jude said.
"But..." she paused, licking her lips. "Right. I'm a vegetarian." She nodded. "A vegetarian who needs to go home."
"I need her to go home," Jem walked back in. "Or I'll have to eat her." She bared her canines at Joy, swiping her tongue over them.
Joy glanced between Jude and Krii. "You eat humans?"
"Don't worry, she's just joking," Krii laughed. "We are not allowed to kill humans."
"She can be an exception. She doesn't smell like a human." Jemima glared at Joy who sniffed herself.
"It's because I haven't showered in days, sue me."
"Jem outside please," Jude stood up, his voice authoritative.
"Whenever they leave like that theyre about to fight."
"Are they married?" Joy asked, placing herself on the rocking chair. She found herself curious about them. Him.
"Brother and sister." He stretched his arm and grabbed the plate of meat that Joy had declined. "You don't want this right?" He dug in.
"Help yourself," she mumbled.
"Don't worry about going home," he spoke with a mouthful. "This place isn't so bad once you get used to it."
"I'm not planning on getting used to it."
"What will you do if you end up liking it here? It can happen you know."
"It wont happen." Her eyebrows furrowed.
"And what will Reid say when he comes back?" Jemima said, following Jude back in.
"I'll handle Reid," he answered her. Krii and Joy stared at them in silence.
Jemima turned Jude around, forcing him to face her. Her eyes, a dark green, narrowing at him. "Staying among the villagers has made you weak," she spat.
Judes eyes burned a blue flame and he produced what sounded like a real growl from the back of his throat. "Staying close to me has made you forget your place." His tone was low and Joy held her breath, observing the tears that shined in Jemimas eyes.
"Right," she gritted. "Forgive me. I'm only your sister." With that she stormed out of the hut. Ignoring Krii who called and sped after her.
Jude sighed, closing his eyes.
"I wish there was a way I could go home right now," Joy spoke. "The last thing I want is to cause problems between siblings."
"Don't worry about it," he opened his eyes. They were green again.
"Your eyes," she whispered. "How do you do that?" It could have been the sadness she felt after seeing the siblings argue that made her want to console him. It could have been the comfortable warmth in his eyes that made her want to see his smile. Whatever it was, she went with it.
"The green eyes are mine. The blue eyes belong to Ash."
"Who's Ash?"
He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a glowing set of abs. Joy's eyes widened and she felt the heat rush up to her face and whirled around, covering her eyes in the process.
"What's going on?" She demanded, her tone a bit frightened.
"Relax," he chuckled. His bones produced a similar sound to the one she had heard from the wolf man earlier.
"You're doing the wolf changing thing aren't you?" She squeezed her eyes shut even tighter, an attempt to block out the images from earlier.
"Shifting, yes. You can look now," he said. His voice still sounded normal so she removed her hands from her eyes, slowly turning to face him. She blinked her eyes open, her mouth gaping as she took in his wolf form. He was a black and white wolf, standing as tall as she was.
"Woah," she breathed.
He took a step forward, and she took a step back, a memory ringing in her mind.
'Nice doggie...'
"It was you," she hissed, pointing at him. "By the cliff. That was you, you made me fall off."
28 DAYS EARLIER...
"Mel, have you seen my phone? Joy searched under the cushions.
"Nope," Melania stretched the word, popping the p.
"I need it, I have loads of work that needs to be done."
"Relax, you can live without your phone."
"No, I absolutely cannot! Its the tool I used to make a living." She looked under the sofa. "Oh, here it is. Gosh, imagine living in a world without phones."
"I don't even wanna think about it," Melania mumbled.