#1 The Rise of the Crescent Moon

August

I growled at Dr. Brown even though none of this was really his fault,

“Why isn’t she awake yet? It’s been three days!” I slammed my fist into the door.

“I know Alpha. Physically, she’s fine. But, she’s been through a lot mentally and emotionally. We have to give her brain time to rest and heal.” Dr. Brown said calmly. I nodded at him and waved my hand, dismissing him.

I sat down next to Josie, holding her hand in both of mine. I hadn’t left her side in 72 hours, no matter how much I wanted to go down to the dungeon and murder that rogue. I ran one of my hands through her hair, pushing it away from her perfect face. I adjusted her medical gown over the bandages that covered her wound.

The rogue wolf left his claw marks across my mates chest and shoulder, missing her neck and face. She healed quickly enough in the first 24 hours to close the wound, suffering minimal blood loss. But, that’s where her wolf healing stopped. She still had red, angry looking scars that required ointment to keep from getting infected.

I laid my head down next to her and dozed off until the feeling of someone shaking my shoulder startled me awake. I shot up in my chair and met the gaze of my beautiful mate.

“You’re awake!” I nearly yelled, grabbing her face with my hands.

“Too loud.” She grumbled, wincing.

“I’m sorry love, are you in pain?” I said quietly. She shook her head,

“Just thirsty.” I quickly grabbed her a cup of water and adjusted the straw so she could drink it without straining.

“How long have I been out?” She asked after a while of drinking.

“Three days.” I answered. Her eyes widened and she attempted to sit up,

“It’s okay, love, just rest.” She winced at her wounds and settled back into bed. She looked down at her chest.

“It’s mostly healed already. Dr. Brown just wanted to keep it clean to avoid any infections.” I said as she observed the bandages.

“What happened to Elm?” I growled at the sound of his name leaving her perfect lips.

“He’s in the dungeon waiting for me to deal with him. I didn’t want to leave your side until you were awake.”

“Deal with him?” She questioned, but I could tell she already knew what I meant.

“He will die for what he did to you.” I waited for her to argue, but the argument never came.

“Where were you?” Her words broke me.

I clenched my fists as Arlo cursed at me for being so far away. I hadn’t heard Josie when she first reached out because we were in the process of shifting to attack Victoria. We were too distracted with our own rage to notice our mate was in danger.

“Victoria paid me a visit.” I growled.

“They separated us on purpose.” Josie said, her eyes wide. I nodded,

“I think that was their plan, yes.”

“Tell me what she said.” She demanded and I obeyed, not leaving anything out.

“Well, I don’t think her and the son are on the same page anymore.” Josie said at the end of my story.

“Why?” I asked.

“He told me that it didn’t matter what Victoria said, he wanted me. It seems like they have two different agendas.” I growled at the thought of him touching my mate. Josie settled her hand on my cheek, calming both me and Arlo.

“He won’t touch you.” I muttered.

“I know that.” Her voice was as sweet as her smile that reached her sparkling eyes. I pressed my forehead against hers, drinking in her scent. She touched my cheek with her fingertip and I relished in the comfort her touch brought me.

“We need to come up with a plan to keep you and the pack safe. I won’t be defenseless.” I stated, pressing my lips against her forehead.

“And we will. I assume you’re having E…the rogue wolf interrogated?” she asked. I ran my thumb across my mate’s cheek bones, memorizing her every feature.

“I’ve had several wolves eager to take turns in that department.” I smirked and Josie shook her head at me knowingly.

“Go.” She ordered. I looked at her in surprise,

“Josie…”

“Go deal with him. It’ll make you feel better.” She smiled and I couldn’t help but return it, she knew me so well. I struggled with the idea of leaving her but really wanting to rip that rogue apart.

“Really, August, I’m fine. Besides, I have my brother to keep me company.” I was confused at first until I sensed someone new in the infirmary. I didn’t have to turn around to know Jared was now in the room. I nodded,

“Alright, but I won’t be long.” I promised her, kissing her lips deeply.

I heard Jared clear his throat awkwardly behind me. I turned away from her, clapping Jared on the shoulder, before leaving the infirmary. I nodded at Hayden who was standing guard at the door,

“Stay on alert.” I ordered him.

I marched down to the dungeon, on a deadly mission. I could hear Ethan and Wyatt integrating the rogue from the top of the steps. I smirked at the sound of Elm’s screams, happy to know my Beta and brother were doing their jobs.

“Oh, you’re in trouble now.” I heard Ethan growl as he sensed my presence.

“Alpha.” The cell guards greeted me with a bow of their head, unlocking the door to Elm’s cell.

“What do we know?” I said when I entered the cell, taking in the scene. Elm was hanging from the ceiling, his arms tied above his head and his feet dangling just off the floor. He had a bloody face and torn clothing hanging off his bruised body.

“He’s the Alpha of a pack of rogues who formed a few hours north of here under the direction of a witch named Victoria whom he calls “mother”.” Wyatt answered like he was giving a book report. I eyed him oddly,

“Wyatt’s proud of himself.” Ethan responded to my strange look. I rolled my eyes at the pair of them.

“I know all of that, Wyatt.” I grumbled and watched as his smug expression vanished from his face.

“Oh.” I shook my head at him, squaring up to Elm.

“Why does the witch want the Alpha bloodline weakened?” I demanded, grabbing a fist full of what was left of his shirt.

“I don’t have to talk to you.” Elm spit a mouthful of blood at my feet.

I sighed, pushing Elm away and watching as he swung back and forth in the air. I cracked my neck in frustration and turned my back on the rogue. Ethan and Wyatt shared a knowing grin. I clenched my hand into a fist and faced Elm again. Without hesitating, I slammed my fist into Elm’s face.

“You will answer my questions.” I ordered in my Alpha voice, knowing this false Alpha was no match for my command.

“She wants to make wolf-witch hybrids and your pack is the only thing standing in her way.” He said submissively.

“What does my pack have to do with it?” If it weren’t for Josie and her knowledge of the Alpha’s Legend I wouldn’t have any idea about the hybrids and I would have been in no position to prevent it.

“This pack got the upper hand on my mother’s coven forty years ago. They would have killed her and the remaining witches if it weren’t for a deal that was struck between her and the Alpha. Mother agreed not to create hybrids, ever, whether on Crescent Moon territory or not. They sealed the pact using their blood, therefore ensuring that the deal would stand until the end of one of their bloodlines.” Elm admitted in a defeated tone.

“Victoria can’t create hybrids until this pack’s Alpha bloodline is destroyed.” I said, pacing the cell. Elm nodded.

“Victoria tried to make a deal with me. She said she was patient and would play the long game if she had to. She would either muddy the Alpha bloodline by filling it with mortal DNA or she would immediately remove my Alpha genes. How can she do that?” I asked.

“She has a potion she created using magic that you would drink, removing the Alpha gene and thus ending the contract.”

Potions, magic, witches….nothing prepared me for all of this.

I found myself getting even more disappointed and frustrated with Alpha Johnathan. He had his back against the wall, he did what he had to do, but not informing his Beta was irresponsible. I vowed never to keep secrets from my Luna, Beta, or Gamma; I would never put my future pack in this situation.

“Why not just force me to take the potion? Why mess around with all these deals?” I questioned.

“The potion requires you to drink it willingly.” Ah, that makes sense. I think.

“What are your pack numbers?” I needed to know what we were up against.

“Over 200 wolves,” I smirked, our member totals held around 1,000,

“With a coven of nearly 100 witches overseeing the pack.” I frowned, that wasn’t so good.

“You should know that if I die, mother will take revenge on the pack.” I snarled at the rogue’s threat.

“And what happens to the deal if she mascures our pack?” I imagine there’s some sort of clause that has kept her from just killing us all.

“The death of the Alpha and his family does not end his bloodline in the eyes of the deal.”

“Then how exactly can she enact her revenge?” It was Elm’s turn to smirk,

“She can murder your mate.” A ferocious growl escaped me as Arlo took control of my body. He used my hands to snap Elm’s neck, effectively ending the Alpha of the rogues.

“Was that wise?” Ethan asked after several moments of silence.

“I don’t care.” Arlo growled at them using all of his Alpha might and Ethan responded by nearly hitting his knees in submission. I shook free of Arlo’s control and returned to myself.

“Sorry Ethan.” I apologized, walking towards the exit.

“Clean this up.” I grumbled before leaving the dungeon and heading towards the comfort of my mate.