Joy's senses returned to her as she was engulfed in a comfortable warmth, a strong feeling of déjà vu overwhelming her. She felt the softness of Thomas beneath her, her aching bones relaxing on top of the fur. Muffled voices sounded around her, becoming clearer as she came to.
"But how did he get in?" Someone hissed, Jemima.
"It looks like there's a hole in the barrier," Krii responded. The playful tone Joy had grown accustomed to was gone, replaced by stone cold seriousness. She almost didn't recognize him.
"I've told a few of the boys to keep a look out until Reid comes back. Or-"
"No," Jude cut him off just as Joy's eyes fluttered open.
"I thought you said this place was, 'safer than you think Joy'," she imitated his deep voice.
"It is."
"Then what was that?" She hissed as she sat up. "I almost died, forget me. Your son." She pointed at Khaya. "Khaya could have been badly hurt, or worse," she whimpered, tears formed in her eyes and she rubbed them away. "Why did that guy attack us?" She croaked.
"He's an intruder from the Blood Moon village," Krii answered. "He's not one of us."
"He managed to create a hole in our barrier and slip through." Jude added, his eyes fixed on her, waiting for her reaction.
She rubbed her lips together with her eyebrows raised, absorbing the information.
"So," she started. "There's another village. One with evil wolves who are clearly more powerful than you guys since they managed to create a hole in your... magical barrier thing." As she spoke she was staring straight ahead, her voice an even tone.
"I know it's a lot to take in," Jude said.
"Damn right it is," she snapped, standing up a bit too fast. She wobbled a bit and closed her eyes to ease the dizziness. Jude reached out to help her but she pulled away from him.
"Take it easy," Jemima told her, handing her a cup filled with a warm liquid. Joy was hesitant, but took it.
"What is this?" She sniffed it, and took a small sip. It tasted sweet on contact with the tongue, but became bitter in the throat. She gagged, setting the cup down. "I'm not drinking this."
"Are you the same girl was kicking that guy's butt a few hours ago?" Krii asked, amusement in his eyes. "You can't drink a little medicine now?"
"It tastes bad, I don't like it," she huffed. "I refuse to drink it."
"Then good luck getting rid of those aches," Jemima drawled.
"I drank all of mine so you should drink yours," Khaya's small voice sounded next to her.
"Fine, I'm only drinking it because you asked," she glanced at the cup and picked it up. "Here we go," her face contorted as she downed it all. Her body trembled and she gagged.
"Good, now you will start to feel vibrations your stomach and a stinging sensation in your veins. You might want to peel your own skin off because of it but don't worry, it will pass." Jemima informed, a bored look plastered on her face.
"You couldn't tell me that... before?" She winced and grunted, but didn't scream. She gasped as the pain increased, clenching her fists. The veins in her neck protruded as she felt an agonising ache in her stomach. Tears stung her eyes and she exhaled, as a tingling sensation replaced the aching. She wiped her eyes and sat herself down.
"Wow," Khaya breathed. "You're so much braver than uncle Krii."
"Khaya," Krii warned.
"He screams every time he takes the medicine," Khaya giggled, a memory tickling him.
"Khaya!" Krii roared getting up to chase him. Jemima opened the door for Khaya who managed to escape, Krii close behind him.
"I'll go and help the villagers prepare for tonight," Jemima sighed, following the two out.
"What's tonight?" Joy asked, gazing at Jude whose arms were folded and eyes closed.
"Glo." He opened his eyes and stood up. He grabbed a plate and glanced at her. "Are you really a vegetarian?"
"Yeah," she coughed, avoiding his eyes.
He shrugged and dished out a few vegetables from a pot that was above the fireplace. He placed the plate in front of her, then proceeded to pull some bread out of what looked like an oven below the fireplace.
The sweet aroma filled the room and her stomach grumbled in approval.
"Eat slowly," he said.
"Okay," she dug in. "What's Glo?" She hated eating in silence, and since there was no music to fill it, she let his voice do the trick.
"I think I've heard one of the elders say that humans call it Earthshine. A dull glow of the unlit part of the moon. Sunlight is reflected from the earth, to the moon and back. And the shine is powerful enough to make the moon... Glo. It happens all the time, before and after a New Moon. But it becomes a big deal for us if a Blue Moon is approaching."
"What happens when there's a Blue Moon?" She had stopped eating, gazing at him.
"Two mates, one has to be of Royal Blood. They merge, and shift under the glow of a Blue Moon, and become the Protector."
"The new leader?"
"No. Just a Protector, stronger than the Alpha together, but weaker separate. And they are not always one. They unite when there's a problem too much for the Alpha. Also, they are responsible for keeping the barrier strong." He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and intertwining his fingers. "Each generation has its own Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Protector. When a new Alpha becomes of age, which is 20, the older one steps down from the throne."
"Wait, hold up. So, let me guess, it's just one bloodline that gets to rule?"
"Pretty much. Unless you feel worthy, then you are free to challenge the Alpha."
"What happens to the loser?"
"Usually he yields."
"Except?"
"Many, many, many generations ago, someone challenged the Alpha next in line because she was female, and he didn't want to be ruled by a female. His older sister. He lost the fight, but refused to yield, so he went rogue. Him and the wolves who agreed with him. The Protector at the time advised the Alpha to go after them and have them executed, but she couldn't bring herself to kill her own brother, so she let them be. A few years later, the rogues had formed their own pack, with similar systems as ours, only that their pairs shifted under the light of a Blood Moon. While our Moon occurs naturally, theirs is formed by magic. And their pairs shift into what is more of an Attacker than a Protector."
Her eyes hadn't once left him as he explained. She had to blink and nod to keep herself from just falling asleep to his voice, but not because he was boring, on the contrary his voice was lovely to listen to. She could listen to him for days and not grow tired. He had the voice of a storyteller, eloquent.
She racked her brain for the question that almost slipped her mind. "So, do you guys like... worship the moon then?"
"No. We only draw our power from it, but we don't worship it."
"What do you worship then?"
"Who... you mean," he raised his eyebrows and she nodded. "The Creator. Beyond the moon, further than the stars. Has the universe in the palm of His hand."
She pursed her lips, slowly bobbing her head up and down. "Cool."
She searched her brain for another question. In as much as she was curious, she asked mostly just to listen to him speak.
"Okay wait, if... if there is this Protector who is responsible for keeping the barrier strong how come that other guy managed to slip through?"
"The pairs' powers grow weaker as they grow older, and when a new pair for the Protector is chosen, the other pair loses their powers. But, right now, theres a bit of a problem. We don't have a new pair yet. Each Blue Moon passes without the pair being chosen."
"Are all the Royal wolves mated?" She inquired, chewing on her bottom lip.
"No, only one is left. The Beta."
"So, maybe the Beta's mate is in the other pack then."
"We- They thought of that, and tried to unite the packs about six years ago. But, they were wrong and things got a bit messy."
"What happened?"
He exhaled, shutting his eyes. "I'll tell you another time."
"Do you have a mate?" She blurted. "Wait, that's a stupid question. You have a kid, of course you have a mate."
"No." He sounded tense.
Her eyebrows gathered together. "You and his mom weren't mates? What you couldn't wait?" She snorted. "Isn't there some rule against sleeping with someone who isn't your mate?"
"Finish your food Joy." He stood up, headed for the door.
"Jude." She rose as well, her head tilting to the side as he faced her. "How do you know my name?"
"What?"
"I never told you my name," she folded her arms. "So, how do you know it?"
"I heard your friends call you," he whispered, avoiding her eyes. "That's how I found out."
"Jude!" The door swung open and Krii bolted in, panting.
"What? Was there another attack?" Jude panicked, his eyes wide.
"No, not at all," he breathed and stared deep into Judes eyes, communicating with his mind. 'Reid's back.'
4 DAYS EARLIER
Jude sniffed the air, and stepped forward, his paws crunching against the debris. The caravan in his sights had been parked there for exactly five days, he'd been counting as he waited and watched. The blood he smelt belonged to one of three camping women, specifically the one who rarely went outside. Joy. That was her name, but he knew that already. He knew a lot about her. He only caught a whiff of her scent and he was certain, she was the one. His one.
He had to be careful, before approaching, he didn't want to scare them. Her. He was going to try and get her alone, then gently explain everything to her. The excitement in his core was palpable, his heart pounding each time she stepped out of the caravan. He prayed she would sit outside like the other two, and the Creator heard him. Joy stepped out of the caravan holding a coffee mug. She looked more beautiful that night. Her soft smile glimmered, bringing the stars to their knees. Fireworks erupted inside him before they exploded in the air.
"What are you still doing here?" Krii whispered, giving him a start. He stepped on a twig and it snapped louder than expected. He heard Joy's frightened whispers and growled at Krii, before immediately shutting himself up.
"What are you looking at?" Krii asked. "Are you people watching? Fun, I wanna play too."
"No, I'm not people watching," he hissed. "Go back home."
"I'm bored and I can't sleep."
"Go play with the pups."
"They're sleeping."
"Jemima?"
"She's hanging out with Thelma."
"Krii, you have tonnes of friends in the village. Go back and pick one to annoy."
"Why can't I stay here with you here?"
"Because I'm having some private time."
"Since when?"
"Go away Krii," he turned his attention back to the caravan. Only two of the women were sleeping, one being Joy. The other one was stepping toward the caravan with a knife. He saw her open the hood and cut something before rushing back to sleep like nothing happened. From where Jude was standing, he could smell the leak.
"Let's go back together," Krii nudged him.
"You go first," he grunted. "I'll catch up."