Joy stepped into the throne room of the Enclosure the next day, giving herself a tour of the place. Her eyes roamed over the paintings and artefacts on the walls. Her fingers grazing over them. There was a large spear stuck to the wall, out of her reach. From what she could see, the spearhead was blunt, and the wood was more of a reddish brown. The wood of a tree she could not identify. A necklace with a red gemstone dangled from the neck of the spear. Her eyes gazed at it for a long time, and she even tried to jump for it, drawn to it.
"It's really pretty isn't it?" A voice sounded from behind her and she whipped around.
"Oh. Adonis Krii," she sighed, looking back at the necklace. "What is it?"
"It's a key for the gate to the Blood Moon village," he drawled, glancing at it.
"Why do you guys have a key to the Blood Moon village gate?" She scrunched her face.
Because..." He paused, cocking his head to the side. His eyebrows furrowed and he pouted. "I don't know... I never asked why." He shook his head.
Joys eyes narrowed. "So, they don't tell you anything, do they?"
"Not unless I ask."
"Why didn't you ask?"
"Because I'm not interested."
"I see."
"Anyway, want to see the training room? It's much more fun than this place." He smiled.
"Sure."
"Follow me," he nudged her, and led the way to the room.
They went down a hallway and through a door with a staircase that went further underground. The path was pitch black and Joy closed her eyes, using the wall to navigate her way forward. She took each step lightly, in fear of losing her life. Krii had gone far ahead of her, taking two steps at a time.
"It would be a lot easier if you opened your eyes," he told Joy.
"Well, it's dark anyway. I can't see either way."
"Use your wolf's eyes, Joy Macheka." She could feel him rolling his eyes and she rolled hers in return.
"Don't tell me what to do Adonis Krii," she muttered, though she obeyed. Her eyes fluttered open and, in a moment, she could see the steps behind a dull yellow light. She still took her steps carefully, balancing herself with the wall. She stopped at the foot of the steps as Krii flipped on a switch. Lights flickered on, brightening the room.
"Sure, have these bright lights here, but fail to put lights on the bloody staircase." She rubbed her eyes.
"Yeah, Reid told me to fix that and I forgot." He scratched his blonde head. "Anyway," he huffed. "Welcome to the training room. Where we do all the training." He smiled. A heart melting smile that could bring anyone to their knees. She could see what Jemima saw in him. He had a handsome face that brightened even more when he smiled. She could picture him walking the runway on Fashion Week.
"How did you and Jemima meet?" She blurted, scrunching her eyebrows, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Oh my, that's so sudden." He stepped towards a chest filled with weapons. From swords to knives. Spears and arrows. Bows and bow-staffs, nunchucks, and weapons Joy could not identify.
"I'm just curious. Don't get me wrong, you two look great together. But I just wanna know how it happened."
"Okay, I'll tell you. If..." he pointed a spear at her. "You can win."
"That's hardly fair. You've had years of training. I barely just started."
"Don't think I don't know about those self-defence classes." He narrowed his eyes.
"You're a creep Adonis Krii." She moved to the weapon chest. "Adonis Creep," she muttered, pulling out a spear.
"No, no." He waved a finger. "Pick something else."
"Like what?"
"Sword?" He shrugged.
"Are you sure?" She smirked.
"Actually, go for the bow-staff." He changed his mind, mostly in fear for his life. "That's the one Jude and Lyssa started with."
"Oh really?" She pulled the long stick out of the chest. Her fingers brushing over it. "And how exactly do you use this?"
"Just try and whack me with it." He grinned. "Jude can teach you the proper way to hold it or use it or whatever."
"Okay?" She mumbled, testing it between both hands. "Wait, why are we doing this? What's the point?"
"There is no point, it's just fun. And you want to know how I met Jem."
"You can just tell me without the weapons."
"Don't be a party pooper. And... this is my way of apologising for everything happened. Us keeping stuff from you. You can take it out on me... and beat me up instead of Jude. If you can." He spun his spear in the air, and around his body.
"I feel like there's more being kept from me." She tried to mimic him, but ended up hitting herself.
"There probably is." He stopped the spinning, smirking at her as she tried to continue only to hit herself again. "But you'll find out eventually. When the time is right."
"Argh, this is useless." She threw the bow-staff to the floor. "And what do you know Adonis Krii? Have you ever had people keep such a big secret from you?" She rubbed her aching arm.
"Not that big. But... it still sucked."
"Yeah right." She scoffed.
"You see, I'm what is called an Outcast," he started.
Joy gasped, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets. "You were part of the Blood Moon pack?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"What happened?"
"I couldn't stand their system. I wanted to be free. I just wanted to go outside." He sat cross-legged on the floor. "So, I escaped. Went to the human world and stayed there for a while. It was... hard, you know? To adapt to a new environment. But I gave it a shot."
"Did you manage?" She joined him on the floor, genuinely intrigued by Krii's life story.
"Barely." He snorted. "I considered looking for information on a few Blue Moon pack elders. That way I could go back. When I arrived at one of the houses, I found out that..." he paused, scratching the back of his neck. "I found something out. Something important, and I was about to go back to the Blood Moon pack with that information when I smelled her." He lowered his head, biting back a shy smile. Joy did not miss the rainbow glinting in his eyes. "It was like, grass and plants... earth. I felt like a child playing in the rain." He rubbed his mouth with one hand, an attempt to soothe the aching on its corners, as he recalled the feeling.
"She'd been watching me spying on them the entire time, but hadn't said anything."
"She smelled you first." Joy breathed, her mouth falling into an open smile.
"Yeah. And she protected me from her family. Her brothers discovered me before I could escape and I got locked up in one of the prisons the elders have in their houses. But Jem helped me sneak out that night. She got into so much trouble because of me."
"How old were you?"
"I was 16. She was 17."
"Did you go back to see her?"
"Every night." He shook his head, chuckling a little. "I couldn't stay away. We met in the woods near the Blue Moon gate, and she yelled at me every time for being foolish. But I could tell that she was happy to see me."
"Did you guys ever get caught?"
"Yeah." Her brothers saw her sneak out one night and followed her.
"What did they do?" She scooted closer, amusement shinning in her eyes. "Did they beat you up?"
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"No way," she covered her mouth, "they beat you up."
"It was more of a welcome to the family initiation," he defended himself.
"They beat you up." She cackled.
"Anyway, after I was welcomed... I became an official member of the Blue Moon pack. They took me in like I'd always been one of their own. They trusted me because I was Jems mate, and I made sure not to break it for the same reason." His chestnut eyes narrowed and darkened as he stared straight at the wall. Well... that's what I thought was going on."
"Why? What happened?"
"Her parents and Reid didn't really trust me. I was doing my same Outcast job, only I had place to stay."
"They used you as an informant?"
"Yep." He let out a humourless chuckle. "You can imagine how I felt when I found out. They made me feel safe, and welcome, but they used me."
"And you forgave them?"
"For Jem. I know it's nowhere near the same as what happened with you and Jude. But... I know that mates are born loving each other, even before they know each other. And that love is stronger than everything else. So, even if you dont trust him yet-"
"Trust his love for you," she finished the sentence for him. "Heard that twice already."
"It's true." He cracked his knuckles. "Anyway... the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack found out and a fight broke out between the two packs."
"All because you left their pack?"
"No. There were other reasons, besides me betraying them." He ran a hand across his face and squeezed his eyes shut, as if the memory pained him. "I had kept some other, crucial information from them which they found out anyway, and during the fight they kidnapped Jem and trapped her in one of their dungeons."
"And, let me guess, you risked your life to save her?" She mocked.
"No... someone else did." He opened his eyes and faced her. "Lyssa."
"Oh," she cast her eyes to the floor. "Is that how she...?"
"Yes."
She huffed, scratching her head. "All I asked was how you met Jemima and you've told me your whole life story. Why?"
He shrugged. "You'll know when the time comes."
"Stop being so cryptic Adonis Krii." Her lips curved into a smirk. "Adonis Creeptic."
"I think you spent too much time with Channing." He pointed a finger at her.
She brought her hands together and placed her chin on them, staring at him. "Adonis Krii," she said.
"Joy Macheka." He mirrored her actions.
"If you want to make it up to me. Keep treating me the same way you do." Her lips formed into a small smile. "Like we are siblings. Always on each others case, but can talk to each other about such distressing things."
"It's my birthday in a few days," he uttered. "I expect a gift. Don't say I didn't tell you."
"How old are you turning?"
"Twenty-six."
"I'm not really good at presents." She pouted. "What should I get you?"
"It has to be a surprise Joy Macheka." He lifted himself up and held his hand out to her, which she took. "And I should say, it is not the thought that counts. It has to be a good present."
"You're annoying." She picked up the bowstaff and swung it at him, but missed.
"Does that mean we can fight now?" His lips curved into a smirk.
"Are you prepared to lose?" She countered.
"There you are," Jemima voiced as she stepped in and walked towards the weapon chest. "I've been looking for you all over."
"Why? What for?" Krii asked her.
"Not you." She rolled her eyes. "I haven't had the chance to fight you yet." She pointed a spear at Joy.
"W-What?" Joy muttered.
"Back of the line Jem," Reid walked in. "The Alpha fights her first."
"Woah, woah, woah," Joy raised her hands. "I am not fighting anyone. I did not agree to this."
"Oh, come on guys, you can't just barge in here and want to fight her. I was here first and I haven't had a chance yet," Krii told them.
"Don't you know the expression Alphas first?" Reid raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'm pretty sure the expression is ladies first," Jemima said.
"Jude," Joy mumbled and ran towards him as he quietly stepped in. He held his hands out for her and she hugged his waist like a little child, even turning to frown at the others.
"Why are you guys bullying my mate?" Jude questioned.
"She's a cry-baby," Jemima muttered, rolling her eyes. "Reid, you and me?" She challenged, and the Alpha's mouth twitched upward.
"Don't cry after I beat you." He stepped towards the weapon chest and rummaged through it for a weapon.
"I won't be the one crying," Jemima sneered as she took a fighting stance.