The longer a secret is kept, the harder it is to confess it. And as the Blue Moon drew near, Jude became a nervous wreck. He wasted time with each passing day, pondering on whether or not it was the right time to tell Joy.
"There you are," Joy uttered, entering the hut. Jude was sitting on the floor, staring at the window. Ive been looking for you.
"Why? Is something wrong?" He frowned. "Do you want to leave?"
"No." She squinted her eyes. "Absolutely not. Why would you even ask that?"
"I'm sorry," he huffed. "It's nothing. What's up?"
"Well," she sat herself in front of him, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples with her fingers. "I have the biggest headache in the world, I feel like I'm going to pass out any second. And I don't know what to give Krii as a present today."
"Just get him anything. Or don't bother. Krii never appreciates the presents we get him. There's always something wrong."
"No, I can't not get him anything he's my new brother."
"Okay then, do whatever you want." He shrugged.
"What's wrong Jude? You don't seem okay." She took his hand in hers.
"I'm just a little tired." He forced the lie out.
"From the training. Figuring out how to stop the Blood Moon pack from attacking us," he huffed.
"Okay, but they're not attacking today, are they?"
"I don't think so." He laughed under his breath.
"Then let's be happy and celebrate the birth of Adonis Krii." She shook his hand.
"Okay okay," he smiled. "I'm glad to see you so happy."
"I'm glad to be happy." She grinned, standing up. "Oh, have you seen Jemima and Thelma? I've been looking for them all morning."
"Nope. Maybe they are in the Enclosure."
"Argh, I don't remember how we separated last night or what happened." She rubbed her forehead. "I hope I didn't say anything weird. I don't even drink, why did I do that?"
"You'll be fine. Jemima has a special tea for hangovers, so head to her hut and I'll tell her you are coming."
"Okay, see you later," she mumbled as she stepped out into the too bright sunlight,. She squinted her eyes and moved in the direction of Jemima's hut.
"Good morning Joy Macheka." Krii swung his hand over her shoulder.
"Shhh, why are you screaming?" She groaned.
"Because it's a beautiful day to be born." He beamed.
"Happy birthday Adonis Krii. I'd hug you if my head wasn't about to explode." She sighed.
"Where's your wife?"
"No idea." He removed his shoes. "What do you need? I can help you out."
"Something for this hangover."
"Of course I can help you. I always have those." He stepped into the hut and came out with a teapot and cup. "Looks like she already made some. Did you guys have pre-birthday celebration without me?" He poured some of the tea into the cup for her.
"Something like that." She took a huge gulp out of the cup and swallowed the sweet tasting tea. "But I can't remember anything."
"That's what you get for stealing what the grannies made for me." He poked himself.
"Didn't they make it for the Blue Moon celebration?" She finished off the tea and handed the cup back to him.
"Same thing. It's tomorrow, are you excited?" He placed the cup and teapot back into the hut.
"I don't know. I just kind of pushed it to the back of my mind. I guess we'll just see." She shrugged.
"Hi Uncle Krii. Hi Joy." Maya walked up to them. "Have you guys seen my pony?"
"No love, I haven't," Joy responded.
"You lost it?" Krii cackled.
"Don't laugh she's my only pet." She pouted.
"Okay, okay, I'll help you find it." He walked up to her after waving at Joy.
"Pet," Joy muttered to herself. "That's it." She clapped her hands and jogged to the Enclosure.
Jemima and Thelma were sitting in the kitchen. Staring at each other anxiously..
"There you are," Joy huffed, and both women jumped.
"Woah, I'm sorry," she giggled. "What's up with you two? I've been looking for you everywhere. I need your help."
"With what?" Jemima asked, trying to act natural.
"Getting out of the village."
Thelma and Jemima glanced at each other. "So, you remember last night?"
"No. Why? Did I say something about leaving? I can't remember anything. Was I weird? Is that why you're avoiding me?"
"We're not avoiding you." Thelma shook her head. "Last night was fine. You both just drank too much."
"Oh," Joy smiled.
"Give it to me, it's mine," Kayla chased after Khaya into the kitchen.
"Hey now guys what did I say?" Thelma scolded them, snatching a stuffed bunny out of Khaya's hand. "You're cousins which are basically siblings so have to learn to share." She led them out of the kitchen.
"Siblings? Sib-lings," Joy muttered to herself, her eyebrows furrowing. "Siblings."
"Why do you need to go outside the village?" Jemima asked her.
She shook her head and beamed at Jemima. "I have an idea for a present for Krii."
***
The villagers gathered around Krii's hut, some for the food, and others to speak with him. He felt like a king, sitting on a rock as people presented gifts to him. He smiled at every villager who gave him anything, but frowned at his family, especially Jude who got him nothing.
"What is this?" He pointed at Joy's gift which was in a little cage, munching on a cabbage leaf.
"A pet bunny," she beamed, and a snort came from somewhere in the crowd. "You were so upset about me making you release that one the other day, so I got you another one."
"Are you kidding me Joy? I wanted to eat it. What am I supposed to do with that?"
"It can be a companion. And when you need someone to talk to, you can talk to it. It's so cute. I even have a name suggestion."
"Let's hear it." He folded his arms.
"Bob."
"Bob?" One of his eyebrows shot up.
"Bob and Bobby, the perfect duo. Double B. B and B. B squared." She winked.
"I told you in advance that I wanted a proper present. What is this?"
"What do you mean? I went outside the village and caught this for you. I put so much thought into it and you're making me sad right now." She pouted.
"I told you that I don't care about your thoughts. I want something valuable. You're rich in the human world, you should have given me a building to manage. A private jet. A trip to an island. A Krii inspired fashion show."
"I didn't think of that." She grimaced. "Well, no returns. You're just gonna have to accept it. I'll get you something expensive next year."
"Next year?"
"Yeah. Your birthday only comes once a year."
"I'm not waiting a whole year," he wriggled his finger at her, "Christmas."
"What?"
"There's Christmas. You better up your game Joy Macheka." He picked up the cage. "Let's go Bob."
"He likes it." Jemima nudged Joy's shoulder and both women smiled. The villagers began to disperse, laughing among themselves while others remained to keep feasting.
"You guys could actually be real siblings," Jude said to as they headed to the Enclosure.
"Yeah." She nodded. "Siblings," she sighed. "Sib-lings. That word."
"What about it?" He asked.
"It's at the tip of my tongue. I don't know why." She shook her head. "Siblings."
"Don't worry it will come to you."
***
Joy sat in her room in the Enclosure. She was dressed in a new wolf fur dress. It had short sleeves and reached mid-thigh. The music from Krii's bonfire party seeped though her window.
"It gets more frustrating the more I think about it," she gritted, scratching her hair. "Sib-lings. Siblings. Siblings. Whose siblings?" She rubbed her eyes.
'Wait until you find out that you have siblings and are actually from the Blood Moon pack.'
She shot up at the sound of Jemima's voice in her head, her heart palpitating.
'I knew he was going to break my heart again.'
Her own voice followed and she rubbed her chest to calm her heart.
"Again Jude?" She whispered.
The sound of the music grew louder as she stepped outside. There was a fire close to the center of the village. Everyone was excited about Krii's birthday and the approaching Blue Moon.
Joy stepped around the people until she reached Krii who was dancing with the pups and Bob in his arms.
'Krii,' she called his surname into his head and he turned, a bit perplexed, but amused.
'Macheka,' he smiled for a second, and it disappeared when he saw the tears on the surface of her eyes.
'What is it?' He stepped close to her.
'How did you steal the key?' She spoke into his head causing him to frown.
'Why?'
'You said you'd tell me.'
'But this is so sudden.'
'Just tell me. Please.'
He could see the yellow flashes in her eyes.
'Reid hangs it on his throne.'
With that said, she headed back for the Enclosure. Ignoring Krii who called after her.
The throne room was empty when she stepped in, but she made sure to look around before she approached the throne. She searched around but could not find the key.
"That liar," she grumbled.
"He didn't lie." Reid voiced behind her and she whirled around. He had the key hanging in his hand and he threw it to her. She caught it with both hands, giving him a quizzical look.
"You know now. So, you're free to do whatever you want."
"How did you know?" She sniffed.
"I'm the Alpha, it's kinda my job. Anyways, it was nice having you around." He turned to leave.
"You won't ask me to stay? To fight with you guys. Maybe I'll shift with Jude."
"No I won't. You already know the situation. So, I won't ask you to stay. You make that decision. Besides, it would be good for you if you left."
"Why?"
He turned back and faced her. "Because Rollin has been searching for his half-breed sister who might be the Attacker for their village. The only thing missing in his plan to take control of all the surrounding packs."
"Me?" Her eyes widened.
"You. So, if you want to be safe, I suggest you return home since they can't go there. I'll make sure Jude doesn't follow you this time."
"What if I wanted to stay?"
"Then you'll shift before they get here and prevent them from getting in."
She bobbed her head up and down and gripped the key tighter as she turned around, running out. She ran past the music and laughter, all the way to the waterfall. She plunged into the water, allowing herself to sink for a bit too long before rising. She swam to the waterfall as Krii had said, and allowed the water to hit her head before letting out a scream blocked out by the roar. She sank herself into the water again, then allowed herself to float up. She coughed and spattered as she stepped out of the river, laying herself down on her back on the grassy bank. She felt a sting in her palm and opened it to find the key digging into her flesh, a little bit of blood trickling out.
'Joy?' She heard Jude's voice in her head and had the urge to ignore it, but didn't.
'Come to the waterfall.'
This was his chance. The moon was going to change colour in less than a day. It was now or never. He exhaled as he approached the waterfall.
She dangled the key in front of him. "I'm only still here because I want an explanation, though I don't think you have one. How do you explain not telling me this?"
"I couldn't bring myself to do it."
"Well can you bring yourself to do it now or should I just go?" Tears were on the surface of her eyes, burning them.
"Your mother was a member of the Blood Moon pack before she came to us."
"What?" She blinked.
"She was the daughter of the Alpha, his first born. But because of the Blood Moon rules, she couldn't be the next Alpha and she wasn't chosen as Attacker. Her offspring, however, were permitted to challenge the Alpha when they became of age. And they could be chosen as Attacker since they were of royal blood. Lyssa was mated to a strong wolf in the pack, and they had twins. A son and a daughter. She didn't want her son to even think of becoming the next Alpha, so she tried to run away with him, leaving her mate and one-year-old daughter. She found the Blue Moon pack and made friends with the future Luna, my mom. But the members of her pack found her and took her son. They wanted to kill her, but she managed to run away to the human world, and settle there. She had lived there for two years before she fell in love with a human, and with him she had another child. A daughter. You. To keep you safe, she had to leave and return to our pack. When she returned, her old pack attacked again and kidnapped Jemima."
"Okay stop. I thought I could handle it but I don't think I can anymore. Tell me a sheep story instead." She wrapped her arms around herself.
"Her son and daughter were raised to hate all traitors, family included. So-"
"Tell me a sheep story, I want a sheep story," she gritted, foaming in the mouth as tears wet her face.
"The twins killed their mother. Well, the daughter specifically. Fast forward to today, the son is the Alpha, and the daughter is the Beta, but they have no Attacker."
"So, you're just going? Dumping it all at once? You're not going to be gentle?"
"If I'm gentle I'll end up lying again."
"Is there more?"
"The mother of my child, is the person who killed your mother. Your sister," he stated. "She tricked me by pretending to be my mate. I don't know how, but she did."
"That's a whole lot of drama," she breathed. "My mate's child is my nephew. And just when I start to forgive my mom I find out she was an evil princess. Oh, and I have siblings."
"Lyssa wasn't evil. She was just born in an evil pack. She was good, and I believe a lot of them are," he cracked his knuckles. "It's just this feud that was started by our ancestors."
"What was so bad about a woman being in charge that he had to rebel and make such a mess?"
"I don't know."
"Why didn't you tell me all this?" She questioned, wiping her eyes. "You know, it's always back to square one with you. Just when things are going perfect, another secret surfaces and I have to force it out of you." She shook her head. "Will it always be like this? You have a secret, I find out from someone else, I have to beg you to tell me, you apologise, I forgive you, repeat. Will it always be like that? Because you should know that youre hurting me."
"I don't mean to."
She released a soft sigh. "We should get some rest. The Blue Moon is tomorrow we have to be well rested to shift."
"Thank you."
"It's not for you." She shook her head. "It's for the village... and my mother."