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Pure Moonlight

By: Shadowsung



Hi Everyone-

Have so many story beginnings, I wanted to put a few up to test reactions before writing more- So if you like it, comment below to encourage me to post more J

<3 Shadowsung

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alluna looked around the chaos that engulfed the room. She felt like the eye of a living storm. All around her, crowds of drunken people throbbed and pulsated to the rhythm of the music that was swirling through the crush of bodies. She watched her friend, swathed in everything pink and phallic that her other friends could find. She knew it was her friend's hen's night, but she couldn't bring herself to celebrate found love when she had just lost hers. She had been single for over a week and was still going through the galleon-of-ice-cream-a-day stage.

It's not like I should miss him, she thought to herself as she forced a smile onto her numb lips for her friend. Paul had been an ass for over a year, wanting to consummate their relationship without making any steadfast commitments. She had finally grown sick of his constant and unwelcome advances and kicked him out, but she still missed the companionship he provided.

"Ally, stop moping and dance with me!" Kate shouted over the dense music. Ally plastered her fake smile on her face and forced her hips to move in time with the music.

~

Zac was pacing the length of his room. Piles of reports ate up his desktop, with piles and stacks of bad news followed by bad news. Why did the world have to come down on me now? He thought to himself. Keith, his second in command knocked once and entered the office. Tall, dark and handsome, Keith was a well-known heart-breaker and careless about his choice in bed-partner. As a friend and beta, he was steadfast as well as loyal and Zac relied on him for both.

Keith flopped into his chair and swept his fringe off his face. 'You need a break Zac," he said, looking closely at his leader. He was privileged to be on such personal terms with the alpha, but they had been friends before they could remember.

Zac sighed and paused his pacing to look out the window and down to the streets below. It had been a while since he let his hair down, and Keith was a good drinking buddy when he was in this mood. With a smile he conceded, drawing a whoop of glee from his friend. After a quick shower and change, Zac met Keith at the lobby, where they and two other betas piled into a black hummer.

The night was not going as planned. Zac realised very quickly that he was not in the mood for the usual frivolities and advancements made by drunken females. It had always surprised him that sober people found his kind imposing and terrifying without reason. As soon as alcohol was involved, inhibitions were turned away and they only saw the chiselled, handsome exterior. After turning away the fifth drunken woman to make advances on him, Zac found himself scolded by his second. "Mate, the girls just wanna have some fun!" cried Keith, his arms full of drunken booty, "just smile and wave- they are putty in our paws!" and with that stumbled away, towing the giggling girls with him.

Zac's wolf suddenly reared its head. It wanted to get away from the drunken crush of people and be in the open air. He had to agree, and made his way out the back entrance.

~

Ally had had enough pretending. She was just about to say goodbye to her girlfriends when their song came on. It was the first song they had danced to, and he loved to say they would play it when they first made love. She looked up at the DJ booth, and there he was. Paul had not changed a bit. He was looking straight at her, his eyes boring straight to her core. Sickened, she grabbed her bag and weaved through the crowd to the closest exit.

Though the ally way behind the club was disgusting, the cold night air was refreshing after the stale booze and sweat that saturated the space within. She leant against the wall sucking in the oxygen through her nose, trying to calm herself down.   A noise to her right startled her. A bush was rustling next to the dumpster. She heard a low growling sound as she approached the bush. Grasping through her bag, she pulled out a packet of beef jerky strips she had thought to bring to ease the side affects of alcohol. The growling was replaced by sniffing and a large black nose appeared from under the foliage.

"It's ok, boy. You can come out," she said gently. As she withdrew the offered jerky slowly the nose followed. The head of a big dog emerged from the bushes.

Ally had never seen a dog like it before in her life. She loved dogs and thought she knew of all the breeds. It was jet black with long, thick and silky fur. She gave it the jerky, which it took very gently from her hand. It sat down and chewed happily on the meat, its eyes never leaving her. She checked under its belly to discern the sex. Just as she discovered it was male, he realised where she was looking and growled. Ally stood up quickly, 'sorry,' she said, blushing. She fished another jerky strip and gave it to him and scratched behind his ear. The dog's eyes rolled and he pressed his head into her hand, making her smile. His panting made it look like he was smiling too. Suddenly his head snapped up and a growl emitted from the depths of his chest. Ally backed away slowly, thinking he was growling at her. She was wrong.

"There ye aare, ya littl minx." A rough voice said behind her.

Ally spun around in fright. In front of her were four burly strangers standing as menacingly as hired muscle can. The one in the middle, who had spoken said, 'Him teld us ye woulds be out 'ere.'

Ally backed away from the men, towards the growling dog and bushes. She could easily defend herself against one, maybe two, but four was pushing her limits, which Paul knew. They slowly advanced on her as one giant ominous wall. She kept retreating slowly until her back hit the wall of the building opposite.

With a loud howl, her dog friend took off, for which she was glad. She didn't want him getting caught up in this. She raised her fists and adopted a defensive stance. The men chortled at her, as they came closer. As soon as they were in striking range, she ducked from one guy's reach and punched the guy on the far left , while striking out a kick on her right. A blow caught her in the stomach, knocking the air from her lungs.

She collapsed to the ground and they continued to hit her. She kicked out with her legs, knocking two of them on their asses. She quickly got up and punched a guy in the face with all her might. Her fist met his nose with a sickening crunch. Hands grabbed her from behind and wrenched them back. The door to the club opened with a scrape. Ally thought she was saved. Then her captor spun her around and she was faced with the last person she wanted to see.

Paul was standing there casually, with a smirk across his face. "Ally, darling, I missed you" he said in a honey coated voice. He started to advance on her when low growling echoed down the alley. There was Ally's dog friend standing at the alley entrance. He looked bigger, and much more menacing. One of the men picked up a brick off the ground and threw it at him, which missed. Suddenly the air was filled with thundering growls and from the shadows came at least 5 more giant dogs. Fear for the glorious creatures swept her up like a storm. She kicked against her captor, looking at them frantically, "run! Get away from here" she screamed at them. Paul's eyes turned red and an inhuman hiss tore itself from his chest. She kicked his shin to grab his attention. He turned and slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoed across the alley.

The black dog growled louder and they all started advancing down the alley in a V, with the great black dog at the point, all with their heads low, lips pulled back and snarling from deep in their chests. The men all faltered at such a sight. The man holding Ally let her go as they all fled. She fell to the ground, semi-unconscious. All the dogs cased after their quarry except the first, who stopped next to Ally and checked her with his cold nose. He then lay down next to her and waited.

~

He had just morphed into his wolf when the door creaked open and someone came out. He thought it was a smoker; as a human he hated the smell, as a wolf it was unbearable to his heightened senses. He growled from the bushes, hoping to scare them away. From under the foliage he saw a beautiful woman approaching his hide-out, fishing in her bag. He caught the smell of dried meat, just as she pulled out the jerky strip. He could smell no alcohol on her breath, but she was surely about to feed a strange dog. He stuck his nose out of the bush, mouth watering at the smell of beef. She pulled it back slightly, trying to fish him out. It worked because he wanted the strip so bad. Once he left the bush he was hit by the most luscious scent filled that the open air and it wasn't the jerky.

He slowly moved from the bushes, nose in the air, following the mouth-watering scent. He ate the offered jerky, regarding her. She bent down, and he quickly realised she was looking at his private parts. He growled in embarrassment, she also looked bashful and apologised. A woman who treats animals like people, he thought to himself, I like it. She fished out another jerky and gave it to him, then hesitantly scratched behind his ear. It was the one spot he couldn't get to himself, and he pressed his head into her hand, smiling a doggy smile.

A slight breeze brought a wave of scents from behind her, stale smoke, alcohol, B.O and drugs. He growled menacingly at the threat the new smells presented. Over the girl's bent shoulder, Zac saw 5 burly men, surely hired, approach her. Already feeling protective he crouched to spring at them. His human mind cut across his instincts, making him realise he would need backup. He howled loudly and took off up the ally. He felt his five betas who were with him get outside and phase. As their minds entered the pack mindscape, he was pacing. Using the mental link of the pack, Zac showed his friends the events he just witnessed. They all growled at such a cowardly picked fight. The betas launched themselves into the alley way behind their alpha in point formation, with him leading the way. They slowed their advance down the alley, growling as menacingly as they knew how.

The fight wasn't going as he thought it would. Zac expected the girl to crumple at the face of four attackers, but her fighting spirit showed through. He silently ordered his betas back into the shadows. He made his way closer, watching the fight with awe. She was quick and strong, but there were four of them. Eventually they subdued her between two of them, just as the door to the club opened once again. The girl's face alighted with hope of a rescue, but the man that stepped through was the last person she expected. Her furious struggles resumed.

The new man advanced on her, like a predator circling his prey. He was almost close enough to touch and there was fear showing in the girls eyes. Zac decided enough was enough. He growled loudly, the menacing sound bouncing off the close walls. The man looked for a second before deeming it unworthy of his attention. One of his minions picked up a brick and threw it wide, trying to scare him off. Cold fury raced through Zac's form. His betas melted out from the shadows behind him, snarling.

Get them, Zac ordered silently.

Pure Moonlight Ch. 02



Hi everyone,

Sorry the next chapter has taken so long, I hadn't expected such a big cohort asking for more. I am now on "holidays" and should be able to get more done .

Don't forget to comment and rate.

Hope you enjoy,

Shadowsung

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ally woke with a start, and sat up, gasping. Her memories flooded through her mind, ighting off four huge men; being hit and grabbed; Paul advancing menacingly, her arms being gripped tightly by goons. Fear threatened to consume her until she was hyperventilating.

Pain seared through her side, bringing her back to the present. Taking care to slow her breathing and calm herself down, she looked at her surroundings. She was in the middle of a giant bed in an even bigger bedroom with cream and stone colours. It looked like it came straight off the cover of a home magazine. She slowly got up, and adjusted herself on her unsteady feet. To her horror she realised she was only in her skimpy panties and a man's shirt.

She went to the window and opened it wide to find steel bars attached on the outside and locked with a missing key. The view from the window was an amazing countryside she had never seen before. She wasn't in the city and she had no idea where she was. She looked around the room trying to decide which of the many doors could be an exit. After playing a quick and childish game of "eeny, meeny, miny, moe", Ally walked to her chosen door. With a deep breath she turned the knob and launched herself.... Into the huge closet. 

She looked around in dismay. From one bad situation to another, she felt like she just couldn't get a break. Then she heard movement behind a door on her left, across the bed. Stealthily, Ally grabbed a pillow and a tie as the first weapons she could find. She positioned herself next to the door as the handle turned and opened.

Out stepped a gorgeous man, over a head taller than Ally. She had already started to swing and at the last second, changed angles to bring the pillow hard against the back of his head. He reacted lightening quick and grabbed the other end of the tie. She pulled it up and over her shoulder, taking his arm and the rest of him, using his momentum to carry him in an impressive arc before he met the ground with a crash, as the wind was knocked from his lungs. 

She launched herself on top of him, using the towel that was around his neck to try and strangle him. His muscled arms flexed around her, as they rolled until he was on top. He looked down at her in amusement, while she struggled in vain to budge him. He shifted slightly and she felt lots of skin contact. Her face turned bright red and her struggles were renewed. A smile crept across the man's gorgeous face as he continued to watch her futile efforts.

All of a sudden, as though a switch had been flicked, she stopped fighting to escape and began moving to feel his smooth skin, feeling delicious friction through the thin material of a single shirt. He followed suit, creating more friction against the heat of their almost touching skin. He slowly moved his hand up and under her shirt, feeling her hot skin jump under his skilled fingers. By the time he reached her bare breasts Ally was panting with pleasure, moving underneath him, drowning in their combined heat. Zac looked deep into her eyes while he fought an internal struggle with his wolf. He bent down to her and kissed her slowly and gently on the lips.

She moaned quietly and kissed him back, keeping up the movement underneath him. He felt himself harden against her hips as he rubbed himself along the contours of her body. She moaned louder and kissed him harder and desperately. The heady aroma of her arousal filled the room, spurring him on. He sat up and ripped open the shirt; buttons flying everywhere. He pulled the torn shirt from her body as he feasted on the bare flesh before him. He leant back down and kissed her deeply and passionately, kneading a breast while feeling as much of her skin as possible with his other hand.

A door to the side burst open and another man came barging in, his eyes glowing a molten gold. Zac stopped his seduction, to fend off the intruder, his wolf ready to rip the stranger's throat for getting too close. "Keith, OUT," Zac growled menacingly.

Keith stopped dead at the sight of the pair on the floor, and with a huge grin his eyes changed back to brown. He slowly bowed and backed out before closing the door again. 

But the switch had been flicked off. Ally came to her senses and punched the heavily distracted man across the cheek, knocking him off of her. She got up and rolled across the bed, away from him, taking the sheet with her. She wrapped it around herself and pressed herself against the wall. Mentally she berated herself at her dismal behaviour. She had never acted like that before in her life! 

Zac, left alone on the floor, got up slowly; making sure the towel was still covering his entire waist, his raging hard-on creating an impressive bulge through the fabric. 

Within the privacy of the pack quarters he wouldn't have bothered; it was very pro natural. Humans, however, seemed to be rather perturbed at nudity, he had found. 

His wolf was pacing internally, brought up by Keith's interruption. It wanted nothing more than for him to ravage this strange, human female and make her his forever. He fought his wolf back, feeling his eyes bleed back into their human green hue.

"It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you" Zac said gently, approaching the bed cautiously. This human was absolutely fascinating to him- his own kind could hardly scratch him, yet she had caught him by surprise and actually managed to knock him on multiple accounts. 

Ally's eyes opened wide at his voice, which was absolute music to her ears; husky with a slight accent. He took a hesitant step closer the bed, "I'm Zac," he said and smiled gently, trying to reassure and calm down the little human.

The name sent shivers down her spine as she hungrily stared at the almost perfect person in front of her. Finally she managed to force out, "Ally."

The man's smile widened, "Pleased to meet you. My, err, dogs found you in the alley way behind that bar last night. I brought you here, where you would be safe. I had a doctor look at you; two of your ribs are broken and you have bruises and cuts, but you will make a full recovery."

Reminded of the pain in her ribs, she put a hand to her side, finding thick tape holding them in place. She looked at him suspiciously. He smiled and held up his hands, "Doc is a professional, and he wouldn't let me in while you were uncovered."

Ally stared at the gorgeous man in awe 'They were your dogs? They didn't look like dogs, they were huge... What happened to the jet black one? I would love to see him again." She smiled at the memory of that beautiful creature.

"All in due time, Ally. I have a few questions for you first." He said carefully.

Ally swallowed nervously, "fine, shoot."

"Who were those men and what did they want?" he paused before asking, "And where did you learn to fight like that?"

A shadow crossed her face, "I didn't know the guys, and I, um, took a few self-defence classes... you know, to be safe and all."

Zac crossed his arms suspiciously, he knew she took more than 'a few self defence classes' but decided to let it slide. "So what did they want with you? They seemed to be specifically looking for you."

She broke eye contact with him and stared out of the window. Her mind was reeling, trying to think of a valid lie. The best lie was one born from a seed of truth, she decided. She looked back at the gorgeous man, who was looking at her expectantly. "One of them was my ex-boyfriend, and I honestly didn't know the other men." She said bluntly.

She exhaled her breath and watched him closely. His handsome face gave away none of his thoughts or emotions.

Zac knew she was leaving things out, but what she had chosen to say was the truth, of that he could be sure. Without thinking he spoke again, "I don't care who they are, I don't ever want you to see them again."

Ally blustered at his nerve. Looks aside, he was a jerk! She hiked up the sheet and stood a little straighter, "How. Dare. You! You don't know me, you have no right to tell me who I can and can't see! Look I appreciate your... helping me. But I want my clothes and I want to go home now." She folded her arms and glared at him.

He was in complete shock; no one had spoken to him like that for over 160 years! His wolf urged him to dominate her and force her to submit to his will, as everyone in the pack should. She's not pack, he reasoned with his beast, she is completely human and we would only frighten her. His wolf grumbled, but accepted this as truth, but it made promises that they would dominate her later then, before retreating. Sending his consciousness outward, he was met with a pillow straight in the face.

"Are you even listening to me?" she cried. "I...want...to...go...home!" she yelled, throwing a pillow with each word. Ducking the pillows he launched himself across the bed and pushed her hard against the wall. His bare chest connected with her, the sheet doing very little to smother the pure animal magnetism reeking from his naked torso. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. She brought her hands up to fight him. He grabbed her arms and pulled them above her head without breaking the kiss. With one hand, he held her there while the other explored her body under the sheet. 

The switch had been flicked. She stopped struggling and began to kiss him back. Her lips parted, giving him access to her mouth. He probed at her with his tongue, enjoying the sounds she was making. The smell of her arousal clung to his nose, pressing him further. His kisses got harder more urgent and passionate, his tongue penetrating her hot mouth repeatedly.

He dropped his hand and used both to stroke her body. Slowly he pulled the sheet down, revealing her perfect breasts. Her newly freed hands explored every inch of his naked body, his towel dropping and left forgotten on the floor. He kneaded a breast, pinching the nipple and playing with the mass while his other hand groped her rounded ass. His hips gave little thrusts into her, pushing his raging erection into her hips.

She felt like her body was on fire, trailing everywhere he touched her. She had never felt like this in her life! Part of her mind had detached itself and watched in dismay as she melted into this stranger's touch, moaning into the depths of his mouth and they explored each other.

He was so hard and ready. He pulled the sheet down her body slowly, relishing in the feel of their bare skin making full contact. His hands explored her body, relishing in her supple softness that yielded to his touch. He lowered his lips to her neck and breathed in her pure scent. He planted kisses and nibbled on her collar bone.

Ally felt her legs collapse, Zac was the only thing keeping her pinned to the wall. His attention to her neck was making her feel really good; she closed her eyes and moaned gently in his ear. She tilted her head to the side to give him more access.

When she bared her neck, Zac nearly lost control of his wolf. It wanted out to have some fun too. He forced it back, using all of his will power, promising it release later.

His hands followed the luscious curves of her body, stopping at her hips and the last remaining scrap of clothing on their combined person. He hooked his fingers through the panties and began to lower them over her hips. He began kissing her mouth in earnest.

When Ally felt him taking off her underwear a cold chill swept through her and the small part of her mind that had stayed detached got control. It was like a bucket of ice water had been poured over her. She saw it all in horror- her nakedness and his; his huge erection straining at her hips.

She shook her head, making him grip at her tighter. She pushed at his chest, but that did nothing. With all of her might, she gathered up all of her energy and channelled it in an outwards explosion.

Zac was horny; he just wanted to take her. He was so distracted he didn't notice her freeze up. He didn't notice her shaking her head; he could barely feel her hands pushing him away. All of a sudden he did feel her energy channel up through her torso and arms as she pushed him with a force he never would have expected from such a tiny little human. He was blown away from her and the wall, and came crashing down on the bed. Dazed, he lay there for a second- his mind still trying to catch up with the events.

Ally quickly grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around herself. "What did you do to me!" she screamed at the prone figure on the bed. She looked around frantically. She remembered which door the other man had come in from, and raced to it. She heard a strangled noise from the bed, but ignored as she launched herself through the door and into freedom...she hoped.



Pure Moonlight Ch. 03



Hi everyone,

I have attempted a longer chapter with this one, despite being sorely tempted to cut it at about halfway. What can I say, I'm a short story writer. Thank you for your continued patience- I will get there eventually J

I am about to get very busy and I'm not sure how much time I will have spare for writing. Be assured that I am finding time as much as possible until then.

I hope you enjoy

Shadowsung <3

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ally launched herself out of the door and straight into a brick wall... at least, that's what it felt like to her. It was the guy who had rushed in to the room. She had charged into him, and been knocked backwards. He had hardly budged, but stared at her in surprise.

Adrenaline pumping, Ally jumped up and managed two steps before she was tackled to the ground.

"I am really sorry," Zac said conversationally, as he held her down, "I had envisioned this going a lot better than it has."

Her struggles didn't seem to phase or move him at all, despite the effort she put into it. Ally fought like a wildcat, ignoring the pain searing through her ribs. Tears streamed down her face. She hated feeling overpowered and weak. A pair of knees appeared next to them. Zac turned his head to see his pack healer, Doc, preparing a needle. He growled a warning deeply, the sound vibrating in his chest.

"Easy my Alpha, it is a sedative, she needs to calm down or she'll hurt herself more."

Ally felt a stab of pain as the needle went into her thigh. Her struggles slowly died as the sedative took hold. Zac eased off of her, kneeling next to her unconscious form. He looked down at her dejectedly. He felt his eyes sting at his very poor first encounter with the woman who could very well be his future mate.

Keith looked down at his alpha sadly; he could see his best friend's hurt at the situation. He had no idea what to do. This was completely unchartered territory; no one had ever denied or suppressed the Attraction before.

Zac slowly collected himself. He picked up his human and carried her back into his room. He put her back into his bed and allowed his pack healer to look at her again.

He paced impatiently while he watched Doc work. He kept going over the entire event in his mind, trying to figure out how he could have done things better.

"You'll wear a hole in the floor, my friend," Keith said jokingly from his chair. Despite his relaxed exterior, he was ready to jump on his Alpha, should he get carried away again.

Zac looked at his friend, his face exhibiting the slow torture within. "What did I do, Keith? How could I blow it so badly?" Zac looked half crazy, his eyes bloodshot and his hair mussed from running his impatient fingers through it. Keith got up and pulled his alpha out of the room. It was incredibly hard work, as Zac didn't want any unmated males anywhere near her.

Keith had finally put two happily mated betas to guard the door with strict orders that no one, except the good Doctor, enter the Alphas' chambers.

Outside, Zac inhaled the cool autumn air as he felt nature seep into his being, claming him down. Wordlessly the two friends stripped, put their clothes in the linen bins by the back door and phased.

His wolf in control, Zac ran. He hardly noticed that he had left his friend in the dust. He loved running as a wolf; the ground being eaten quickly under his nimble paws. The wind blew past him, and he flew like an arrow. His worries stayed with him, which was unusual; normally they simply melted away.

Keith listened to his best friend's thoughts, hearing the turmoil within. The scouts saw a deer herd out this morning, Keith said suggestively, his grin coming through his mental voice. Zac felt a smile break his face, Perfect.

~

Together, the pair hunted in perfect synchronisation, having been together as wolves since their first shift. They chased rabbits through the forest for a while, revelling in the thrill of the hunt.

Finally, they found the herd of deer, hidden deep in the woods. Together, they brought down the biggest doe in the herd. They howled to the rising moon, thanking Luna for her bounty. As they devoured their kill, Zac felt much happier than he had been since the little human (Ally, his mind reminded him) had dropped into his life. Reminded of her, he lost his appetite.

Come on, friend, said Zac to the slightly smaller (but still giant) brown wolf, let's get back.

At the back door, they shifted back to humans and collected their clothes. The unmistakable smell of dinner wafted through the open halls, reminding Keith he was still hungry. With a clap on his friends shoulder, Keith ambled off to find more food.

~

Zac popped his head into his room, and stopped to talk to Doc who had glared at him when he walked in. "She fractured another rib and moved her other broken ones," he said angrily, "what in Luna's name happened?"

Zac felt his face flush with guilt. "I believe she is my mate. I may have... gotten carried away with the Attraction..."

Doc's anger evaporated instantly, "Congratulations, my Alpha, on finding your mate! May Luna bless your hearts and fill your souls," he said joyfully.

"Congratulations may not be in order yet, Doc," said Zac grimly, "She... Ally her name is.... seemed to feel the Attraction as well, but then she suddenly snapped and hit me... twice."

Doc looked at his Alpha in shock, "...but, no one has ever refuted the Attraction before, that I can think of. Of course humans haven't been mated with for a very long time in this pack." He began to pace, his mind whirling on all the possibilities.

Zac fell into the chair beside his sleeping beauty and picked up her hand, just to touch her. He closed his eyes and listened to her breathing and pulse which sounded almost like a song to his ears; one he could listen to for the rest of his long life.

He looked up at Doc, pain etched across his features, "She hates and fears me... I blew it! I came on so strong when she was responding, that she thinks I have done something to her."

His mind's eye showing him the look of complete pain and mistrust on her face and her echoing cries of "what did you do to me?" He also remembered her energy channelling, which had him confused. Normal humans didn't have that kind of power.

"What is she?" he asked Doc curiously.

Doc stopped dead and faced his Alpha. "She is human, to the best of my knowledge, Alpha. I have sensed, nor traced anything unusual or supernatural about her... why?"

Zac waved his hand in a non committal gesture, "I'm not sure, I just thought I'd ask. Watch over her? I need advice from the elders."

Doc nodded and bowed his head as his Alpha left the room. He looked over at the figure in the bed, amazed that such a small creature that had changed their Alpha so much, in such a short space of time.

~

Zac found the elders in the topmost room of the mansion. The four old women were sitting in a circle, their pale, weathered faces upturned to the bright moon above; shining through the opened roof.

He wasn't required to kneel as an alpha, but he did incline his head in respect.

Without moving from their positions one said, "Come in, Alpha, what are your troubles this fine evening? Luna shines bright and pure; you should have no worries this night."

Zac knelt in the middle of the circle and turned his face up to the moon. "Honourable and wise Elders, I seek counsel on a matter that brings my heart great sorrow." He said. He told them about Ally and everything that had transpired since he first met her in the dark alley behind a bar.

"Naughty, Naughty," tusked one of the elders gently, her voice playfully scolding, "You forgot she was not of our kind and not used to such bold advances. She is human; of this fact you must never forget. No matter your feelings and passions, she will not accept you as easily as our own kind would."

"Now, she hates me. What can I do?" he asked dejectedly, hating his pain and feeling weak.

"All is not lost, dear Alpha, for you have the Attraction on your side."

"You must court her as a human would. Woo her; win her back," added another.

"You must suppress your passion until she is ready. Use the Attraction, she cannot stay away from you now that she has known your scent," said the third.

"Luna has brought you together, but she will not give you all you desire so easily, my Alpha. That would make you spoilt" the fourth put in, smiling.

"Thank you, Honourable and wise elders; this has given me much peace." Zac said.

"Remember Alpha, Luna smiles on all her children of twin spirits, she loves us and bathes us in her pure moonlight. Rest and be well."

Zac got up slowly and moved towards exit. Stopping in the doorway, he turned and bowed to the four elders, who had not moved. "May Luna bless you," Zac said gently.

"May she bless us always," replied the four in unison as he shut the door quietly.

~

Zac returned to his seat in his room and began planning his second attempt at his woman's heart. He stared at her face intently, memorising every aspect of her perfect features. He stroked her hand gently, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin. She shifted slightly and he saw a small smile in the corners of her mouth. He idly wondered what she was dreaming about.

Keith walked into the room quietly, "you sent for me Alpha?"

"Yes, I need a car brought round. I'm taking her home."

~~~

Ally lived on the other side of the city to where his pack grounds were. She was just inside his territory on the borderlands between his and a rival pack. The pack in particular was the Dunntel Pack, who had been causing him some grief for the past year.

He ignored this fact, caring only for his Ally being home safe. One of his betas had retrieved her purse from the nightclub, and they had used her driver's licence to find her address.

She lived in a small and relatively neat townhouse on a side street. Taking care of his armful of Ally, Zac watched as Keith tried to find the key to the front door from the mess of keys in her purse. Finally finding it, he opened the front door and briskly searched the house for threats. Signalling the all clear to his Alpha, Keith stepped outside and stood watch at the door.

Zac carried Ally upstairs and found her bedroom. Whilst small, it was tastefully decorated, though there were clothes littering the room. It must be all the outfits she had tried on before going out the night they had met, he realised.

He laid her gently in her bed and pulled the covers over her. She shivered a little and reached out to the empty side of the bed with a little whimper. Zac smiled and got into the cold bed with her. She rolled over and snuggled up to him, curled on her side, her head lay on his chest. Her little smile returned as she snuggled deeper into him. Zac wrapped his arm around her and gently kissed her crown.

He lay like that for a little while, until Keith grew bored and came to get him. He set his present on the dresser, along with the letter he had written.

With a final kiss on her cheek, and touch of her hand, Zac left her room silently, wondering if he would ever see her again.

~

Sunshine was streaming through her windows, and birds were chirping outside. Ally woke slowly to the persistent sound of her alarm beeping. Groggily she rolled over and slapped her hand around her bedside table, eventually hitting the "snooze button". She rolled back over and continued cuddling the pillow that smelled so nice.

Suddenly her eyes snapped open as she recalled the crazy dream she'd had. She sat up in bed, her head spinning dizzily. She looked around her bedroom. That was one hell of a dream, she thought to herself. She wriggled to the side. Pain shot through her ribs. Looking down, Ally realised she was wearing the stone coloured shirt from her dream, and underneath was the heavy taping around her ribs... which had been broken. Her mind whirled, no dream... real!

Ally suddenly noticed a giant bouquet of crimson roses sitting on her dresser, amongst her makeup, jewellery and perfumes. Propped against the vase was a parchment envelope, with her name in fancy scrawl across the front. Slowly, she got up and picked up the letter. The smell of the roses was intoxicating to her, and she took a second to bury her face in the blooms to calm herself down. Sitting back on the bed, she opened the letter with shaking hands.

Ally,

I know I scared you yesterday, and for that I am deeply sorry. If you don't remember, my name is Zac. My dogs found you in the alley behind Carlton's Bar the night before last. You had been attacked by someone you told me was your ex-boyfriend. I brought you back to my lodgings and had a doctor look at you. A few of your ribs are broken; they have been taped up to heal, but Doc says you have to try and be gentle on them.

I was very pleased to meet your acquaintance and I am afraid I came on too strongly. I did not mean to make unwelcome advances on you in any form. You are a very beautiful and attractive woman, so much so I lost all sense of decency.

There are many things I wish to tell you about me and the nature of our meeting. It is up to you if you forgive me and if you ever want to see me again. I can be contacted any time; day or night on 1645-4852-78895, if you want or need to talk.

I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my tactless behaviour.

Yours Faithfully,

Zachariah Coleman.

Ally read the letter, her mouth open. Their meeting came rushing back to her mind. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered the passion that she had felt. Thinking about his gorgeous lips on hers made butterflies in her stomach and a dull ache further south. She wanted to be mad at him, but she just couldn't. Her body had responded in a way that she had never felt before, and clearly it was trying to tell her something that her mind just hadn't picked up.

She remembered her attacks on him, and felt ashamed of herself for such violent behaviour. Her knuckles were bruised from punching him in the face, which she had done so with all the force she could muster.

She put the letter back in its original place, and hopped in the shower. The hot water was wonderful on her healing body. In her nakedness, she could see she was covered in bruises from the beating she received behind the bar. Stepping out of the shower, Ally sat on the bed and stared at the flowers and the letter. She eventually made up her mind that she was just going to forget the whole thing and pretend it didn't happen.

She had the day to herself and her house was pretty much clean. She wandered around the house, looking for constructive things to do. She spent the morning doing odd jobs, then settled for a book after lunch. Reclined on her couch, snuggled against the cushions, she opened one of her old favourites. Ally loved reading, she always had, but she just couldn't focus. She managed two chapters before she threw it aside with a disgusted sigh. She couldn't put her finger on what was wrong.

She changed into her yoga clothes and rearranged her lounge room. Tai-chi had been her favourite exercise ever since Kate had dragged her to a class. It was through Tai-chi that Ally felt most in tune with the energy that filled her core. Just like her book, ally couldn't concentrate, and the normal soothing feeling she felt had been replaced by impatience and irritation.

She felt like she was waiting for something, but she couldn't figure out what it was. It was most infuriating.

Eventually the sky darkened as the long day drew to a close. Ally spent a good hour in her bathtub, soaking away her unease and pampering herself with various lotions and scrubs.

Feeling very pretty, Ally put on her silk nightgown. It was black and lacy. The cool material rubbed at her nipples, which were hardened from the cold. She hopped into bed... it was cold, and it took a long time to warm up. Shivering beneath the covers, Ally smelled a wonderful scent coming from the vacant side. Hesitantly, she wriggled over and laid her head on the pillow. It smelled of him. He had been in her bed! The nerve of the man! She was angry, but she snuggled deeper into the pillow. After a long day, she slept soundly, cuddling the pillow.

Ally woke up the next morning, sill cuddling the pillow. Groggily, she slumped down stairs and fixed herself some cereal as the smell of brewing coffee slowly dragged her into semi-consciousness. Sitting at the breakfast bar, she saw her phone sitting on the bench.

She had thought about Zac all day yesterday and dreamed of him all night. She picked up her phone and put in his number. She then simply stared at the little green button that would connect them. She lost track of how long she sat there, staring. She put her phone away, reminding herself that she wasn't thinking of him and she was supposed to be forgetting about it all.

Her home phone rang, making her jolt in surprise. Was it him? Had he called her? She raced to the cradle and wrenched up the phone.

"Hello?" she said breathlessly.

"Ally! Thank GOD! Where the hell have you been?" came the voice down the end of the line.

"Oh, hi Kate!" said Ally, feeling her heart sink; it wasn't him.

"I tried calling you, like, a million times, girl! You really had me worried!" Kate said down the line.

"Sorry, Kate. Things just kinda happened- I haven't even gone through it with myself yet," replied Ally, still thinking about Zac.

"Are you ok now? Obviously you're finally at home and stuff, but when I couldn't get a hold of you..." she trailed off.

"My phone died, and I went out for a drive yesterday. I had to think," Ally invented quickly.

"Man, you need to stop moping about bloody Paul already! He was a douche and no good for you!" said Kate impatiently.

It took Ally a second to remember who Paul was, as he lay completely forgotten in the back of her mind. Zac Coleman... her mind rolled the name around, loving the sound. She heard his voice in her head; the gorgeous sounds he made when she kissed him back. No, I'm forgetting about all of it. He doesn't exist.

"Hello? Earth to Ally? Are you even listening to me?" Kate's voice snapped her back to the present.

Shaking her head to rid her of the daydreams ally said, "Listen, you wanna meet up for coffee next week?"

"Sure, oh I can show you pictures of my dress- we bought it yesterday from Claire's Boutique! And we picked out the bridesmaid dresses- you're gonna look so pretty, and we tried some cake- I need your opinion on which one to get; there is this divine blueberry sponge or a delicious mud-"

"KATE!" Ally interrupted, "I get it, Silly. You can tell me all about it, when I see you next week ok? I gotta get going- I have a class in an hour that I can't skip again!"

"Oh, crap. Sorry Ally. I'm just so excited about the wedding! Can you believe it's only a month and a half? 46 days! Oh my god! I have less than 50 days! I am so not prepared! We haven't even looked at-"

"Bye Kate! I'll see you next week." Ally said

"Bye-" Kate said distractedly

Ally hung up the phone and took a deep breath. Kate had been her best friend for years; they had known each other since primary school- she had been there, holding Ally's hand at her mum's funeral a couple of years ago. Ally knew she could never repay her friend for her strength that horrible day.

Reminded, she went over to a picture hanging on the wall in the lounge room. In it was her mum and her at the park when she was 6. She was on a swing, a joyful smile across her face, as her mother pushed her with laughter and joy etched across her beautiful face.

A tear rolling down her cheek, Ally polished the glass and wiped away the dust with a rag. "Miss you so much, Mum." She whispered quietly to the picture as she re-hung it.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 03



~

Sitting in class, Ally sketched in her notebook, with one ear listening to her lecturer, her mind wandering as free as the clouds. She was doing a degree in accountancy at the local university. She'd always wanted to be an accountant and her mother had had encouraged her to go for it. Now in her final year, Ally was so close to her goal.

Most people were completely surprised at her choice of profession; accountants were supposed to be boring, ugly people in ties and suits with no sense of humour, countless had told her. Many people thought she was far too pretty and lively for a career in accounting. With flowing blonde hair, a lot of people made the silly assumption she was ditzy, and cared only for her looks; a mistake ally was always quick to prove wrong.

She spent a lot of time shrugging away the disbelieving looks when she refused to be put into a neat label. She had always loved math, and it had always come to her easily; she didn't care what people thought of her or her choice in career.

Ally's mind wandered, not really watching what she was doing on the paper. When the lecture ended she blinked at her book. A perfect sketch of Zac looked up at her, his eyes twinkling in knowing mischief. She didn't even realise she had done it; it was as if it had just appeared on the page.

She mentally berated herself, why can't I stop thinking about him? That's it! No more. Not going to think of him. I'm going to forget Zac Coleman. I will forget him... I will forget his gorgeous green eyes, and his dark hair, his muscular torso... his soft lips as he kissed me... his hands as he- NO! Shaking her head, she quickly made her escape.

Ally raced home and took a very cold shower before trying to read her book again. She couldn't. After milling around the house, Ally gave up threw herself into bed.

~

The week passed slowly and miserably for Ally. Try as she might, she couldn't get Zac from her mind.

She would catch herself thinking about him at the oddest moments; in the shower, on the couch, in class and even in the line at the supermarket. It drove her crazy; she hated him, yet she couldn't help herself. There was something about him that sent pleasant shivers down her spine.

At the end of a long week Ally, decided to spend the afternoon watching a movie she had rented in an attempt at distraction. Her eyes kept flicking to her phone on the coffee table. With a sigh, she threw down away the cushion she was cuddling and picked up the phone. She listened apprehensively to the dialling tone. When the line opened, before he could say anything, Ally blurted out, "Do you wanna meet for a coffee? We need to talk."

~



Pure Moonlight Ch. 04



Hi everyone!

I've finally gotten the ball rolling now that I have time. I am sorry it has taken so long. 

Thank you all for waiting so patiently.

Hope you enjoy!



---------------------

Chapter 4

~~~~

Ally blurted out her favourite coffee shop and a time before putting the phone down and taking a deep breath. He had said a single word of acceptance at her terms, but her heart still leapt at the sound of his voice. So much for not thinking about him, came a tiny sarcastic voice from the back of her head.

"And now I'm having internal arguments with myself!" she cried out loud. Her voice broke the silence that had fallen over the house. She took a deep breath and felt much calmer than she had in days.

The calm lasted a single breath before the clock's ticking seemed to increase in sound. Each tick came as if a gunshot was firing through her house. The birds screamed outside and a lawnmower down the street was a tank on a rampage. With a scream of frustration she launched herself through the house.

After taking two valiums, she collapsed on the couch with a sigh. Taking deep breaths, she felt her heart beat slow down and breathing grow deeper. Soon she was in a trance and just let her mind drift. She had been so high strung, she felt like a bow pulled to full capacity. Humming with tension at all times had drained her energy more than she had realised. Slowly her mind drifted, like an idle breeze flowing through a forest.

Her mind inevitably came to a shuddering halt as it focused on the object of her frustrations. Zac Coleman had whirled into her life and she had not been the same since. Looking at the clock, Ally realised she had over an hour before she was to meet with him. Her nerves spiked at the thought. She spent a long time picking out her outfit very carefully. She wanted to send all the right messages. 

~~~

Sitting in a booth and sipping her third fresh caramel latte, Ally felt nervous. She had been quite early after all her indecisiveness. Time seemed as though it had slowed down and stopped. She sat there impatiently, fidgeting in her seat. Every time the bell at the front door rang, she would look up expectantly. 

"Looking for someone?" asked a sultry voice in ear. The most arousing aroma engulfed her as she spun around to face him. Her memory had done him no justice. He was even more gorgeous than her imaginings. He was looking at her reverently, a smile on his lips as he took all of her in. He looked like a man standing in the rain after a drought.

All of her primping and worry about her dress seemed suddenly trivial. Somewhere deep inside her, she knew he would love her and think her a beauty in any scrap of material.

Ally got up and hugged him, as he planted a chaste kiss on her cheek. His nostrils flared as he lowered his head to her neck. He stayed that way for a second, breathing in deeply through his nose as she had done with her roses. He pulled away, his eyes closed and smiling.

"I missed you." She blurted out. His eyes snapped open and he looked at her just as surprised as she felt.

She quickly sat down in the booth blushing. She felt his warmth envelope her as he slid in next to her. The couple sat entranced, both trying desperately to think of anything to say. Ally memorised every feature of his face, taking in every little detail.

He had a little mole underneath his earlobe on the right side. His nose was slightly crooked, probably from a break. There was a small length to his stubble; she surmised it must be at least a few days worth of growth. It all suited him, as though each little detail was added like a deliberate stoke of a paintbrush to create a perfect painting.

His eyes were pools of molten emerald as he surveyed her with the same look on his face. Although he stared at her, Ally noticed his eyes were slightly glazed over and almost distant.

She was correct in this observation. Zac's wolf was almost dancing in happiness as they basked in their mate's scent. The week had been hard on both of them- his wolf in particular, who did not understand the silliness of human behaviour.

He had done his best all week to keep his distance. He sat on her porch each night, content to guard her, he followed her discretely, just to make sure she was safe at all times. His human sensibility argued that he was being creepy and stalking, but his wolf countered with the circumstances of their meeting. Unfortunately, both sides of Zac agreed with the fact their mate had more going on than she was telling.

Sitting there, basking in his warmth, Ally felt all of the muscles in her shoulders relax. It felt like plunging into a hot mud bubble bath. She felt her mouth pull at the sides in a bright smile that she just couldn't help. Zac looked down at his mate's pretty face and saw her light up, and his heart leapt as he knew she had embraced the Attraction at last.

They sat beside each other, talking about their weeks, and general chitchat. The waitress snapped them out of their little world.

"Can I get you anything gorgeous," she simpered to Zac, batting her eyelids. She tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and threw her hips, inviting him to look at her body.

Ally rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. She hated girls like that; clearly they were... something, but clearly they were spending time together, and this rude girl had no business in flirting outrageously as she was.

Zac tried to keep his rage internalised. His stare hardened at the silly chit who dared to act so despicably in front of his obvious date.

The girl noticed the chill and the change in colour emanating from the gorgeous guy's eyes and promptly dropped the act. As quickly as she could she took his order and almost ran behind the counter. In less than two minutes shouting could be heard from the kitchen. A plump man, sweaty and in a stained apron came out and bowed.

"Mr. Coleman, I did not realise you had graced this fine establishment with your presence. 
I wish to deeply apologise for Kate's shameful behaviour. I hope I have not offended you or your guest. Assurances, Sir that she will be punished for her conduct." He bowed deeply to the couple before waving forward another waitress, who placed a cup of coffee on the table before the pair backed away slowly.

Ally was wide eyed in shock at the behaviour. Zac sighed, and looked down at his human beside him. He wished LeFarius hadn't made such a show, when his guest was clearly human. Ally felt Zac's hand tighten, she looked down and dimly realised that they had been holding hands the entire time. She couldn't remember who went for it first, but her hand fit in his so perfectly, it was as if they had been carved from the same stone.

She looked up to see his emerald pools staring down at her, "I'm sorry about that, Ally."

She swallowed, "It's ok; you can't help the way other people act. The bowing was... interesting. What was it about?"

Zac sighed and studied his mate carefully, "I come from a very wealthy and old fashioned family. My father used to require the people below his station to bow. They forget that he is no longer in charge."

"In charge of what?" Ally asked curiously, he always seemed so aloof; she wanted to get to know him so much better.

"I'll tell you later. How about we go for a walk around the pond?"

"Sure, I'd love to" smiled Ally; she loved walking.

~

Falling into step beside Zac, Ally felt perfectly at home. Being with him felt so natural and she couldn't figure out why. Normally she was guarded and reserved around people, but she felt like she had known him for lifetimes. 

They walked around the lake, taking in the beautiful, sunny day, the perfect greenery and each other's company. They laughed and they joked, sharing stories and playing silly games with each other.

Zac was having the time of his life. He had never felt so at ease with anyone else. He was purely himself as he wanted to be; not an alpha, not responsible, not a best friend... just himself, for the first time in his life.

His attention was so focused on her luscious lips that he leant in, breaking off what she was saying, so he could kiss her. It started as a simple peck. Her lips moulded to his as their kiss deepened. Slowly, Ally fell into his arms, kissing him back. She had been thinking about his kisses for an entire week and her imaginings once again had done the real thing absolutely no justice.

Zac was so distracted by his armful of Ally that he almost missed the rustle of the bushes nearby. Instantly his head snapped up. His wolf paced as it caught the scent of 6 – no 8 – hostiles approaching. Growls echoed around the lake that suddenly seemed very deserted and dangerous.

Ally froze up, Zac's reactions making her cautious. Men sprouted from around the bushes near them, surrounding them in a neat circle. Ally counted 8 in total, and they all looked like hulking menaces. "Are these more friends of yours, my dear?" asked Zac dryly. 

Ally looked up at Zac surprised, "No, darling, I can't say they are," her tone matching his.

One of them took a step closer to the couple, he was a little bit shorted than Zac but he was much burlier.

"We're here to take the girl to our boss. We have no issue with you. Be on your way and we won't hurt you," said the leader.

A growl tore itself from deep in Zac's throat. They were in the city, which had always been neutral and no-battle zone for Weres. These men were way out of line, but he gathered they didn't care. He stared down the leader and growled, "This woman is my date and you may not have an issue with me but I have an issue with you. If you value your livelihood and family you will leave us in peace and I will forget this breach."

With that the thugs descended on the couple, growls echoing along the lake's surface. Ally was completely bewildered at what was happening, but there was no time to think about such things. She ducked out of the clutching hands of one of the men. She dodged the fists flying, while landing a few glancing ones of her own. With a growl she was grabbed from behind in a bear hug. She kicked back as hard as she could, but she felt as though she were kicking a brick wall.

Zac was not faring so well either. He couldn't phase in front of Ally because he didn't want to scare her. Instead he poured as much of his hybrid strength into his frame as he could without altering his outward appearance. The hair on his arms and legs had gone thicker and darker, and his eyes had melted into a mix between his normal green and gold, but no one noticed.

The attacking Weres had no such qualms; they had morphed into their hybrid forms, increasing their strength to amazing lengths compared to a weak human. Their faces contorted into snouts and their legs morphed into wolf-like structure. Their nails turned to sharp claws as they tried to take the lone man down.

A scream broke the noise of the fray, making Zac look around for his mate. She had been grabbed from the behind and it looked like she was being crushed. He took a step toward her when a claw came out of nowhere and landed a score on his cheek. Zac whirled around, grabbing the offending hand and breaking it at the wrist.

The pressure around Ally had grown to very uncomfortable levels. She screamed at the pain as her still repairing rib cracked again. She kicked harder and found his sensitive manhood.

With a howl she was dropped to the ground. She landed with a thud and got to her feet as quickly as possible. She came face to face with the leader. Her eyes grew wide in fear and shock at the changes that had taken over his form. He grabbed her arms and clutched her tight as she tried to fight back. She kicked out again and landed a blow to his sensitive parts. Unlike the man who had grabbed her before, this one didn't let go. With a growl, the man-beast backhanded her to the ground, her head making a sickening crunch as it made contact with the cemented path.

Zac heard the hit and the sound of his mate hitting the ground. A roar erupted from the alpha as he fully morphed, giving in to his beast's power. In his hybrid form he stood taller than them all by a foot, and outmatched them all by a long shot. Pure rage built up within him and blinded him.

Had anyone been watching, it would have been a blur. Zac saw it all in crystal clear slow-motion as he struck and blocked with perfect precision. It took less than minutes before all of the men lay at his feet, severely wounded and mostly unconscious. He stepped over bodies as he leapt over to his unconscious mate. Fear replaced his anger as he pulled her up from a small pool of blood. She had a nasty gash on her head and she had a black eye swelling. Zac's lips pulled back in a snarl. He howled to the skies, calling to those from his pack nearby.

Zac ripped off his shirt and used it to try and stop the bleeding from his mate's head. He held her in his lap gently; his ears open for anyone approaching.

"Zac, what happened?" panted Keith, running down the path in hybrid form. He stopped dead at the sight of the bloodied bodies and his alpha, bloodied and clutching his mate.

"I don't know. The men aren't dead, just knocked out. Search them. I want to know who the hell they are and what the hell they wanted with my mate." Zac growled.

A few minutes of silence followed as more of the pack's betas showed up. They searched the men, confiscating their pack emblems from their necks. Keith dropped one into his alpha's hand. "I never thought I'd see the day when Carl Braanan would order a kidnap on a human woman."

"I don't think he did-" started Zac

"Zac," interrupted Keith, "I know he used to be part of the treaty, but-"

"No, they said they were bringing her to their boss, not their alpha. I believe these men had gone merc."

"But why keep on their insignia?"

"I don't know," said Zac, "but I intend to find out. Bring the car around."

"What are we going to do with her?" asked Keith, pointing to the unconscious Ally.

"We're going to bring her home. I have a feeling she will like it better this time," replied Zac with a smile.

And with that, he slowly stood up, holding his unconscious mate in his arms. He turned from the lake and headed to the waiting black four-wheel drive.

~~~

Dim light faded through the tiny, barred window high in the wall as the men stood in a miserable huddle, trying to ward of the impeding cold. It was a dank and depressing place, and smelt of old blood. Ken, the leader of the little group, didn't know why the boss insisted on meeting them in the dungeon. His arm throbbed, probably still broken, despite their species' fast healing abilities. He observed his arm in the flickering light of the few candles scattered around the room. Thankfully his bruises over his eyes had subsided and he could see clearly. A cold voice came from the shadowed corner, breaking his train of thought.

"Let me get this straight." It said quietly, "all eight of you were thoroughly beaten by one Were and a little human girl?"

"You never told us she would be with Zac Coleman, alpha of the Coleman Pack! We had our insignias on! We may have started a war!"

"I have no concern for you or your pathetic kinds' actions," came the reply, "I do have a concern that I paid you handsomely for a small errand, and yet, here you stand, without the delivery you promised me. Not only did you fail to deliver, but you failed to follow my orders that the girl not be harmed."

"That was an accident! She-"

"Was I not clear in that instruction?" yelled the shadow, "Did I stutter? There is no excuse for disobeying a direct order, you insolent creature."

"Listen, you creep," Snarled Ken, "We went in there without knowing and you dare tell us it's our fault, you-"

A clawed hand swiped out of the shadows, almost too fast to track, taking the Were's head from the jaw up. Blood splattered across the dead Were's shocked comrades. The semi-headless corpse swayed before falling in a heap with a sickening sound.

"You are all pathetic. Get out of my sight" said the voice quietly, "before I change my mind."

Two of them stooped to pick up their leader's body when red eyes flashed in the shadows, "Leave it" the voice hissed, "it belongs to me now."

With a yelp, the Weres ran from the dungeon without a backwards glance as devouring sounds filled the dungeon.



Pure Moonlight Ch. 05



Hi everybody!

It's yet another "Short chapter"- Unfortunately it is all I had time for before my computer was packed away for transport. Hope you enjoy it despite its length.

Please rate and comment- I really enjoy receiving feedback on my stories. If you have any questions, feel free to send me private feedback and I will do my best to answer them for you.

Enjoy!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ally woke up suddenly, her head throbbing mercilessly. She felt the spot where the pain centred and found a bandaged lump. She closed her eyes and took inventory of the rest of her body, slowly moving parts to test them. She had a black eye, an assortment of bruises, sprained an ankle and one of her ribs had probably cracked again. She turned to the side, feeling the pain in her rib and the pulling of the taught bandage, stopping her from moving too much. Ally concluded that she had taken a royal beating.

She figured she had been out of it for a while when her bladder started loudly protesting. Looking around the familiar room she had woken up in, she broke out in a smile. She lay back into the bed and snuggled on the colder side, taking in the rich aroma of Zac's scent. Her bladder refused to let her stay long, so with a sigh she got up and went to the door that Zac had first came out of. With a gasp she surveyed what was his ensuite, which was bigger than her lounge room at home. The centrepiece of the room was a giant spa bath surrounded by potted plants. It felt like she had stepped in to an urban jungle.

Her bladder finally silenced, Ally washed her face and observed herself in the mirror. She had a few visible bruises. She was wearing a male T-shirt which was much too big for her, but covered up her otherwise naked torso. She also had on the lacy panties she had worn to the coffee shop for Zac, hoping that he would see them. With a sigh she returned to the bedroom

She had too much energy to go back into the gorgeous smelling bed, so she moved around the room, taking in the parts she had missed in her panic the last time she had been there. There were pictures on the wall of Zac and friends and family. There was a picture of a dark haired little boy with dark-haired parents laughing and smiling at the camera while at the beach. Ally smiled at the picture, recognising the love and joy she missed from her life. Feeling the chill in her underwear and T-shirt, Ally found a fluffy, white dressing gown hanging up in the bathroom. It felt warm and cosy, but even better was it smelt like him.

Ally found a glass door leading to a small balcony that had two café chairs and a table. It was a brisk morning, and the air had a hint of chill that felt wonderful to her face and still throbbing head. She bundled up in the dressing gown, and let her mind wander as she took in the gorgeous scenery and the view of the rolling hills.

~~~

Zac had been taking care of some pack business that had stacked up since he had been pre-occupied, when Keith dragged him to the mess hall for breakfast.

"The pack hasn't seen you for days, mate. You have to make an appearance or some will begin to question you. Pack unrest is the last thing we need right now," his friend told him as he was frog-marched down to the mess hall. The smell of bacon and eggs rolled from the noisy room, calling to Zac's stomach, which growled in response. Keith chuckled and said, "See! Your stomach agrees- now come on!'

The mess hall was full of people eating and laughing. The noise level dropped as the Alpha walked in. Everyone dropped their cutlery and stood to attention as Zac made his way through the crowd to the buffet line. Zac smiled and nodded to a few as he passed. After getting his food and sitting down at his table, everyone else followed suit as the noise slowly rose again.

Playing with his food, Zac found he couldn't stop thinking about Ally. He quickly polished off his meal, grabbed a tray of food and left the mess hall. Zac knocked gently on his bedroom door and entered quietly. 

"Good morning, sunshi-" he stopped dead at the empty bed and room. Alarmed, he felt the breeze coming from the open door. He panicked; his wolf was mortified that his mate would run away from him, again. He howled to the ceiling as his heart broke.

"Cut out that racket!" cried Ally from the open doorway, "my head is pounding, and you aren't helping!"

Zac stopped mid-peal to stare at her. "I thought you had run away," he said guiltily.

Ally smiled and shook her head, "I was outside, enjoying the view, but the one in here is much nicer now," she said with a smile. "Is that for me?" she asked, pointing to the tray.

Zac looked down, having completely forgotten about the tray he held in his hands, "Oh, yeah... I thought you might be hungry." He said, "Why don't we go back outside?"

The couple moved out onto the balcony while Ally ate her breakfast. Keith came into the room to find out the cause of the noise. Zac had to awkwardly explain the misunderstanding before sending his second away with the empty tray.

Zac scooped Ally out of the chair and carried her back to his bed. He took off his dressing gown and put her under the covers and promptly hopped into bed next to her. It was his dream come partially true; lying there, next to her. His cock was hard; hoping the second part of his dream could come true too.

"How are you feeling?" asked Zac, shifting to hide his raging arousal. He casually put his arm around her shoulders.

"Pretty beaten up, to be honest. My head is hurting a bit, so are my ribs." She said, snuggling into his chest. 

He grabbed the pain pills Doc had prescribed her that were on his nightstand. "Here, take two of these." He said, handing her the pills and a glass of water. He watched her as she took the pills and snuggled back into him.

Ally found cuddling Zac was the most natural thing she had ever done. It was like breathing and he felt so warm.

"I'm so happy you find my room much more to your taste this time, Ally." Zac said quietly. He couldn't restrain himself any longer, as he lifted up her chin with his free hand and gently kissed her lips. She tasted so sweet and soft that he kept kissing her.

Ally was a little shocked at first, but he tasted so nice that she was soon kissing him back. She opened her mouth as he gently pushed on her lips with his tongue. He was lost in her as his tongue explored every inch of her mouth. Suddenly his tongue was pushed out as she pushed hers into his mouth, giving him the same treatment.

Zac rolled over onto her slightly, his hands caressing her face and hair. She moaned at his gentle touch. His hands grew more confident, as they made their way under her shirt to find her ample breasts. Ally sat up as Zac pulled off her T-shirt, leaving her torso and chest completely exposed. 

With a kiss, Ally lay back into the pillows as Zac gloried in her bountiful breasts. He broke their kissing and moved his mouth to a pert nipple. Taking the little nub between his teeth, he sucked gently, causing her to moan deliciously. While he sucked and nibbled on one breast, his hand fondled the other. Ally arched her back, pressing her aching nipples into his mouth and hands, driving him further. Her breasts were prefect; they filled his hand perfectly.

She pulled at his shirt, silently demanding he match her, which he complied. His perfect chest exposed, Ally ran her hands through his hair and along all the skin she could reach. Ally was panting heavily as Zac swapped his talented mouth to her other nipple drawing more moans from her. Ally pulled on Zac's hair sharply, pulling his mouth up to hers as she kissed him frantically.

Without breaking the kiss, Zac pulled down her panties leaving her completely naked.

Ally felt very uncomfortable being naked in front of a guy, and yet it felt completely natural and arousing at the same time. He kissed each of her nipples before moving down her body, kissing her navel and stomach. When she realised his destination she pulled his arms, pulling him back up so he could look at her.

She had gone a deep shade of red, which he thought was adorable. "I haven't ever... done... anything before," she stammered, embarrassed to have to admit to her inexperience. 

Zac was overcome with joy; he would be her first and her only. He smiled at her and kissed the tip of her nose. "I won't do anything you don't want me to, and we will take it slowly; I promise." He leant down and kissed her deeply, reigniting the passion. 

He returned to his journey south of her body, kissing her all the way. When he reached her pubic zone, her legs snapped shut, showing her fear. Zac kissed her gently and looked up at her big blue eyes. "I promise, you will like it," he said soothingly. 

Slowly her legs loosened and opened, releasing perfume or her arousal that Zac inhaled with delight. He slid between her legs, kissing each of her inner thighs, drawing a giggle from her. "Hey! That tickles!" She protested through the giggles.

He gently explored her plump lips with his fingers, as he gently pushed his way into her slit. Despite her inexperience she was heavily aroused, as he drew his finger through the moisture that had welled. Ally moaned deeply at the exploring finger that was causing sensations to course through her body. She needed something, but she didn't know what. Instinctively she knew that Zac could most certainly give her whatever it was.

Zac leant in and licked from bottom to top of her molten valley, making her jump. He licked again, quick and slow, causing her to moan. He paused to poke at her unused entrance, stretching it around the tip of his tongue. He then turned his attention to her little bud, gently prodding it, making her hips spasm in surprise. "I don't know what you did," Ally said moaning, "but do it again!" With a smile, Zac complied, loving the sounds that she was making. He gently took her clit between his teeth and nibbled, making her shudder in pleasure.

Skilfully he licked and nibbled, knowing exactly how to tease and pleasure her. Ally felt something build up inside. It was like she was waiting for something to happen. She gripped his hair and held him to her as he continued to build her up. He gently prodded her opening with a finger, slowly stretching it around the digit. Ally moaned at the intrusion. Zac buried part of his finger inside her before see-sawing in and out of her, while manoeuvring his tongue around the intrusion.

Suddenly a wave washed over Ally, unlike anything she had ever felt before. She groaned his name as she felt her pussy twitching around his invading finger. Gasping and panting, she pulled Zac up her body before kissing him deeply. She could taste herself on his lips, making her more aroused. She wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling his erection press on her thigh through his pants.

She undid his buttons and fly before pulling them and his underwear over his hips and down as far as she could reach. Zac kicked them off before lying on his back. Ally lay on her side next to him, amazed at being naked in bed with a guy. The covers had come off during his ministrations, leaving them completed exposed to each other. Ally's eyes roamed his body, blushing at the sight of his exposed cock.

"Touch it," dared Zac with a grin.

Ally hesitantly reached out a stroked it, amazing at how hard it was. Slowly she grew more confident in her caresses as she explored his anatomy. He moaned quietly, letting her know he loved her touch.

She stopped her ministrations to kiss him. Slowly she drew back, making him roll onto his side to chase her retreating lips. She lay on her back and tried to pull him back on top of her; wanting to feel his warmth and weight on top of her again.

He rolled on top, both relishing in the feel of full contact between their naked bodies. Ally felt as though her skin was on fire. They kissed frantically, passions running high, their hands exploring the each other. 

Ally bucked her hips wanting to be satiated but unsure how. Zac felt her need and definitely felt the same, but he had to stop and make sure she was ready. He pulled away and looked at her very carefully.

"Are you really sure you want to do this, Ally? Once it happens, it can't be undone and if we start I am not sure I have the will to stop. You won't be a virgin anymore."

Ally bit her lip as she thought. She couldn't deny herself any longer. Her body was on fire and Zac was the cause and solution. She grabbed his head and pulled him down before kissing him deeply, physically telling him her answer. 

He kissed her back as he began rocking into her body creating delicious friction between them. Ally threw her head back and moaned. Zac looked down at the vision of perfection underneath him, her neck exposed and pumping with want. He sensually nipped and nibbled at her neck and collar bone, sending jolts of electricity down her body.

He rocked his hips; his manhood finding its natural counterpart. Slowly, he penetrated her outer lips. She gasped as his hot head slithered its way into her valley, and he moaned when rivulets of moisture greeted him. He moved his head up and down her wet slit, gathering her juices. A gorgeous moan from her let him know that he was doing delicious things to her. He paused at her entrance, poised to fulfil their need.

His cock head strained against the unused opening, creating pressure that was delicious to them both. With a small thrust on his part, the tip of his manhood passed her defences and slipped into her, causing moans to fill the air. Keeping himself under tight control, he made tiny thrusts in and out of her opening, slowly stretching it over himself. Ally felt like there was a fire in her belly, and he was going to do a fine job of putting it out. All of her fears over her virginity were eased in his gentle yet passionate treatment of her.

Putting a little more pressure behind his thrusts, Zac felt like he was slowly pumping his way to heaven. She was so wet and tight; the perfect fit for him. He slowly pushed himself further and further into her each thrust drawing a moan from her. 

He gently pushed himself into her, as he felt his cock hit her maidenhead. He stroked her face gently, "this will hurt a little bit and there is nothing I can do about it, I'm sorry. I promise the pain will be short and it will feel good after." Ally nodded her eyes filled with trust. Zac pulled out gently, toying with her opening. He leant down and gently nibbled her neck. He thrust up hard, his cock breaking through the thin barrier as he bit down on her neck, taking extra care not to break through her skin.

Ally cried out in pain as he broke through, but the electricity from his attention to her neck was quite successful in distracting her from the slight pain. Zac held himself still within her, allowing her body time to stretch and grow accustomed to his sizable intrusion. The pain subsided, and Ally's fire returned. She bucked her hips, trying to recapture the pleasure.

Zac loved the sensation of her bucking underneath him, as he slowly continued his march to her core. He took it slowly, pushing in a little way before retreating then thrusting back in further, causing her to moan each thrust.

Finally their pelvic bones met as he buried himself to the hilt in her body. They were both panting heavily as he bent down to kiss her, his tongue dancing with hers. Gradually he began thrusting small thrusts deep in her core. Her passage fully sheathed him tightly and each thrust made the most delicious sensations for them both.

Zac started building up momentum in his thrusts, coming out further and going in as deep as he could. Ally was in ecstasy beneath him; his weight pressing down on her, his manhood deep inside her causing sparks to fly across her body. Her moans came regularly and her hips started bucking back, increasing the pleasure for them both. 

Pressure built up in Ally until she felt like was going to burst. She threw her head to the side, moaning loudly.

Sensing her close release, Zac began to nip and nibble at her neck as he drew close as well. He bit her a little bit harder sending a jolt of pleasure down her spine and causing a reaction from her pussy that radiated throughout her body. Zac felt her already tight sheath spasm in her orgasm, which brought him even closer. He grabbed her hips and his thrusts got wilder.

He pounded into her, pushing himself as deep into her as he could before pulling out. He pumped her as a second orgasm ripped through Ally's body. The second wave of spasms hurled Zac over the edge. He buried himself deep in her core with a roar as his cock twitched and spurted deep inside her. Zac collapsed on top of Ally, both panting heavily, as she milked the last few drops from his manhood.

Zac rolled to the side with Ally following, so they lay curled together. He pulled the blankets back over their cooling bodies. Ally seemed to fit perfectly under his arm. He kissed the top of her head as the couple basked in each other's glow. Ally felt sore in her secret place, but happily content at the same time. She was over joyed at the circumstances. She pulled her head up, wanting to kiss him again, when pain shot through her ribs, making her wince.

Zac caught the spasm of pain that crossed her face and panicked. "Ally, are you ok? I hurt you didn't I? I am so sorry, we shouldn't have-"

Ally put her finger over his lips, stopping the flow of words from his mouth. "I am ok, silly- I just overdid it on my ribs, that's all."

Zac felt a twinge of guilt. In his lust he had almost forgotten her injuries. He mentally berated himself for letting his needs get in the way of her wellbeing.

Seeing the expression on her new lover's face, Ally knew he was blaming himself. She grabbed his face in her hands, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "I am fine. Hell, I am more than fine. I never thought I could feel this good," she told him, still feeling her blood pulsing.

Zac silently prepared himself to tell her that they needed to have a talk. He had meant to reveal his second nature to her before going anywhere physical with her. It was the backlash from denying the Attraction on her part that had made this event happen before it was prudent. He felt a big twinge in getting her involved without her knowing fully what exactly she was getting into.

"Ally," he said seriously, "we need to tal-" A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Keith walked in and bowed to the alpha couple in the bed. The air was filled with the unmistakable aroma of arousal and sex. He hid a smile for his alpha.

Ally felt her cheeks turn a bright crimson at her naked state and pulled under the sheets a little more.

"What is it?" asked Zac impatiently. He had hoped to get a full conversation in with his Ally without being interrupted.

"Zac, Alpha Braanan is here, as you requested," reported his second.

"Serve him refreshments; I will be there shortly," he replied waving a hand.

Ally looked between the two men in confusion. Keith left with a short bow and left the room. Zac watched his lover carefully, trying to guess the thoughts going through her head.

"I have some business that needs to be taken care of immediately. I hate to leave you, but you need some rest and some time to recover." He told her gently, kissing her forehead gently. 

He got up and dressed quickly and efficiently before kneeling on the bed and stealing another kiss from her. "I Promise I will do anything to make it up to you."

"Anything?" she asked, her voice dripping with arousal.

"I would do anything for you my love. But you are making things hard for me" He said, kissing her again. With great reluctance he got up from the bed.

Stopping at the door, Zac had to look back at his soul mate laying in his bed and watching him with a glow in her eyes. His wolf howled inside in victory. With one last smile he was gone.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 05



~~~~~

Echoing snarls of rage bounced off the stone walls of the dungeon as the Shadow watched the glowing vision in the mist rising from a luminous cauldron. "I'd do anything for you" reverberated across the space. Pathetic minions scattered under the force of their master's wrath as he took out his frustrations on anything within reach. Kicking aside a corpse he paced the dark space, his cloak sliding through the crimson pools that covered the floor. 

"All I not lost," he whispered quietly to himself, he stopped in revelation; a quiet chuckle escaped his throat, "It can be undone." He waved his hand to summon the book he required, rather than fetching it like a useless mortal. Examining the volume's dusty and evil pages, his pale claw tapped as he paused at the one he needed. His maniacal laughter filled the dungeon, as his minions cringed in horror and fled from whatever he had planned.

Completely oblivious, the woman in the vision lay back into the bed and slept with a smile on her face.



Pure Moonlight Ch. 06



Hi everybody!

This chapter has been a long time in the making; I have been struggling to focus on the one story in my free time. I don't have an editor besides myself, so there may be a few mistakes... fair warning for Grammar Nazis ^_~

I haven't actually written the entire story, so I am kind of writing this on the fly... Let me know what you think. Constructive, encouraging and positive comments are loved and appreciated from everyone!

Hope you enjoy this Chapter :)



~~~~~~

Ally relaxed into the cushy pillows that playfully threatened to devour her. She could feel the smile that was plastered on her face as she felt the soft tingly feelings between her legs. Her ribs and side was sore, but surprisingly not as sore as she thought it would be considering what she had just done.

She had always been a fast healer, remembering her broken arm at ten years old healing within 4 weeks. She had never broken a rib before and she was sure that sex would not be on the list of acceptable activities. She still couldn't believe she had finally had done it. She expected to feel different, but the only thing that had changed was a happy and smugly satisfied feeling deep within her.

Part of her was horrified at her behaviour towards an almost complete stranger. She had given him her virginity. That part of her was slightly afraid of the feelings she felt for him. She promised herself that she would stay in control next time and make sure they took things slower. Just thinking of him made tingles race up her spine. Her mind took over, stripping him naked and exploring every inch of his gorgeous naked body... Feeling hot and bothered, she got up slowly and went to the bathroom, deciding to try out that luxurious bath.

She filled it with bubbles, stripped and slowly sunk into heaven. She felt the hot water sink into her very bones, easing the ache in her still healing body.

~~~~~

Curt Braanan impatiently paced the study growling under his breath. Zac entered the room and the older alpha rounded on him, "What's this all about Zac? You get your betas to haul me down here then make me wait? Now I respected your daddy; heck I was good friends with him up until... well you know... but I have had it about up to here with you. I have my own problems to deal with so this had better be good!"

Zac tried to maintain patience, but quickly lost all semblance, "Curt!" he barked, stopping the older man in his tracks, "What was that all about? What's on your mind?" he motioned to the antique armchairs positioned by the roaring fire. Sitting down he poured them both a healthy nip of his finest scotch, hoping to loosen his rival's tongue.

Curt didn't even look at the glass as he knocked it back and held out his glass for another. Both Alphas waved their hands and the other people in the room disappeared. He poured the man another, healthier nip having decided alcohol would most certainly calm him down and loosen his tongue. 

There was a slight pause while Curt downed his second drink and received his third, Zac broke the silence, "Curt, what is troubling you?" He had his own bones to pick with the man but he looked deeply troubled already.

Curt hiccupped slightly, "It's my son," he said miserably.

"Scott?" asked Zac, "What's wrong with him? He is only a few years younger than me and-"

"And yet here you are; Alpha of a fine pack, responsible, caring, organised and rumour has it, you have found yourself a mate. By the smell on you, you've been entertaining a human."

Zac smiled widely, "Yes. She is perfect and everything I ever hoped for. Her being human doesn't change a thing for me. I will soon have the talk with her and I will see to it we are bound. I'm not seeing what my standing and I have to do with Scott?"

"Scott is lazy, arrogant, conceited, self-centred and in no way remotely ready to take up the position his birthright entitles him to!" blurted out the alpha in a single breath.

"Huh," said Zac after a moment, unsure of how to respond. "To be entirely fair, Curt, it was not so long ago that I was the same," he smiled.

Curt looked up surprised, "What changed?"

"My father. He saw his end coming and he knew he had to be sure that I was ready. He, like you with Scott, had been preparing me for the role of an Alpha, grooming me for leadership and all the duties and responsibilities pertaining to the position. But this process is flawed. It didn't give me an accurate view of the position. See, he believed that one cannot lead without having first followed and one cannot order without first obeying. He believed it is impossible to understand the life of the pack until you live as part of the pack. Being a Betalpha means that I never had to be an omega with the other children, I never had to rise up the ranks or earn my way by working."

He paused and took a sip of his drink before continuing, "So, I was demoted. Not in rank of course, I hadn't done anything wrong to warrant it. The demotion was in the duties I was expected to perform. I was sent on messenger errands; I set the table, cooked the meals, set the tables, made the beds and scrubbed the bathrooms. I was put into a dorm with people my own age, where I really got to know the people that are now my most loyal in the pack. It was quite a humbling experience."

Curt chuckled, "Ah, that father of yours always was a step ahead of the rest. So you are telling me that it was a good experience?"

"Well, I hated him for it for quite some time. I resented him and his orders. But it was an interesting experience and I don't think I'd be who I am today if it hadn't been for it. I wouldn't call it a good or fun experience, but it was constructive, insightful and very humbling."

Curt sat there silently, rubbing his chin. "I shall keep this wisdom in mind. Thank you, Zac. Sometimes I forget that you are not your father. You look so alike, and I see so much of him in you." He looked deep into his glass, and then shot its contents, "Now. What did you call me out here for? What can I do for the mighty Coleman Pack?"

"As we mentioned before, I have indeed found my mate. We were walking around the lake in the park, which is well within the agreed neutral territory according to the King Treaty all the local packs signed and uphold. Now imagine my surprise when we were set upon by a band of Weres, in full daylight and in hybrid form no less! It was a touch and go fight, as my mate does not yet know of our existence. I could not phase in front of her for fear of scaring her off. She was set upon by a few of the thugs while I was preoccupied and she was knocked unconscious."

Zac felt his rage boil and had to take a moment to contain himself, "As you would imagine, I did not take this too well. Our laws are sacred, we do not harm females or children and nor do we risk exposure to the humans. In my rage I took them on. I held back and didn't shed any blood, I just knocked them out."

"That is quite an exciting tale," said Curt cautiously, "but I am not seeing the significance."

Zac got up and went to the wooden box on his desk. Sitting it on his lap and opened the box. "The significance, Alpha Braanan, is that I confiscated these from their prone forms," said Zac with a touch of forced patience. He held up the handful of necklaces he had collected from the thugs. They all bore the Braanan coat of Arms, with the name of the owner engraved on the back. It had long been a traditional birthing gift for Were offspring and kept throughout their lifetimes.

Curt bristled at the sight of the necklaces. He snatched them and carefully inspected the names. With a growl, he looked up from the jewellery, his eyes glowing dangerously, "Where are my men?" he growled, "It will be up to me to discipline them, not you, arrogant pup!"

Zac felt his rage boiling inside again, "Curt, you old fool, I left them where they lay to wake up failures with headaches. I took these as proof of their transgressions and to find out the reason why you would insight a war after so long at peace."

Curt's face turned an ugly shade of red, "I have done no such thing! How dare you drag me here and accuse me of these sorts of things! I was once a great friend of your father's who-"

"Who you had a falling out with," interrupted Zac, "You never actually made up before he passed. This is me trying to figure out if you are trying to ruin my happiness and the peace that has comforted this area for over a decade. You are on my lands, Mr. Braanan, and your men have breached several of our laws including two of our most sacred. So yes, Curt; I dare. And here is my warning to you. If you try anything to break the Treaty you signed, you will woe the day you were born!"

Curt's face looked like a red balloon about to pop. "You... You were the last one to see my men; I have not seen them in some time. If you are keeping them prisoner, Coleman, there will be war! There will be casualties and there will be justice. From now on you make sure that none of your pack venture within a hair of my territory or I may see fit to take my own prisoners! This includes your little human!"

Zac's eyes glowed red with rage, "Don't. You. Dare. Threaten. Her." He said deadly quiet, "I will kill you if you so much as touch a hair on her head, mark my words old man." Curt stepped back, realising he may have overstepped the bounds. Zac advanced as he continued; his voice quiet and calm despite his burning eyes, "For the last time, I have not seen your men since I left them unconscious for attacking us. You can hear my heartbeat, it is impossible to lie between Weres."

The old man blustered, "Loopholes- you may not have seen them, but you men could have locked them up! I hold you responsible for them, and I want them returned! THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY!"

At the yelling, betas from both packs came into the room to see the two alphas facing off. They shifted nervously, looking at one another. None of them wanted to get in between two fighting Alphas. With a wave of his hand, Zac turned away from his father's long time friend as he was hauled out of the room. He watched from the window as the Alpha got into his car below with one last glare before speeding off into the sunset.

After a few deep breaths he was calm enough to let go of his fists, pumping his hands to get the feeling back. He was not happy with the meeting, but he hadn't expected any better. Curt was losing control of his pack and his son was not yet ready to live up to the title.

~~~~~~~

Zac walked into his rooms, loving the smell that had permeated the space. Looking around, he realised his room was messy and Ally was nowhere in sight. Doing his best not to panic this time, he searched his off rooms, the balcony, even the mess of quilts on his bed. He sniffed the air, trying to smell for foul play. Braanan's words echoed in his mind.

He went to the mess hall looking for Keith and not finding him either. He pulled out his phone and called his friend, listening impatiently to the dial tones.

"Hello?" Keith answered his phone. Zac was about to speak when he heard the tinkling laughter of his mate in the background.

He growled uncontrollably, his outside form shifting, "Where is she?" he growled down the phone.

"Now listen, Zac, It's not what it sounds lik-"

"WHERE IS SHE?" he roared into the phone. His voice took on the deep timbre of an Alpha giving a command. Keith had to follow the order even if it was digitally transferred to him.

"The East gardens, Boss, but-"

Zac snapped his phone shut, racing out and heading to the gardens with murder in his eyes.

~~~~~~~

Ally felt her fingers take on the wrinkled pruney look and decided to get out. She came out to find the room had been straightened, the bed made and a neat pile of clothes laid out on the side of the bed she had woken up on. It consisted of a matching set of lacy underwear, jeans and a tank top. Her eyebrows rose when she noticed they were all expensive brand name items. As a student her budget rarely allowed for op shop clothing, let alone brand new.

She took a tour around the room again, picking up things and inspecting them. There really wasn't much in the room as far as personal effects went. She felt disappointed because she was hoping to glean some information on the mystery man who had literally swept her off her feet on numerous occasions.

It did not take long before Ally grew bored and irritated, pacing the room searching for something to do. Upon finding nothing of else interest, she opened the door and walked into the back of a giant man standing in front of it, feeling a sense of Déjà vu. 

She stumbled backwards with a grunt; the man was built like a brick outhouse!

"Forgive me, Madame," He said, going red, "I have been asked to watch the Al- boss' room and he kindly asks that you don't go anywhere while he is unavailable."

Ally blustered, "Does he think I'm going to steal stuff or something?" 

"No, Madame. It's just that this place is very large and he doesn't want you to get lost. A few people around here would have a lot of fun in making you lost... As a practical joke, of course."

She crossed her arms and regarded him carefully, "Whatever. There is nothing to do, and like hell I'm staying inside and doing nothing all day."

"I'll have to check with someone before I let you go anywhere, Madame."

"Ally."

"Sorry Madame?"

"My name. It's Ally, not Madame."

"Sorry Madame Ally." He said, the corners of his mouth twitching. Ally felt her face break into a smile as she shook her head.

"So, Mischief, can I have your name?"

The man looked slightly startled for a second. "It's Bartholomew; Bart to everyone except my Granny Tessa."

"Pleased to meet you, Bart," she said with a smile. She held out her hand to shake. The man stared at it sceptically; he looked at her closely before taking her hand slowly. She shook it slowly and shook her head at him again.

The man from before came strolling up the corridor. He nodded to Ally's new friend who stood back to attention like the guard he was meant to be. Keith looked down at the little human that had his best friend in knots and sighed inwardly. "Madame Davies, my name is Keith Donaldson. I am glad to see the clothing fits nicely."

"Thanks for the clothes. I think I can pay you if I could find my purse..."

"A pleasure, as the clothes were just something I found lying around. It is a pleasure to finally meet you properly."

"Nice to meet you too. Please, call me Ally. That goes for you too, Bart," she said, poking the stoic man in the ribs, "None of this Madame business."

Keith smiled, inwardly laughing at her humour towards the beta guarding her door. Bart looked uncomfortable to be associating his future alpha by her first name.

Keith cleared his throat, drawing her attention, "So what seems to be the problem Mad... um... Ally?"

"There is nothing to do in here, and I am definitely not the sort to sit around all day. I would like to soak up some of the lovely sunshine."

"There is a balcony, it's just on the other side of the-"

"I know where the balcony is, Keith," she interjected, "I want to be outdoors properly, like, in the garden? There is a garden in this massive place, right?"

Keith nodded, "The East Garden would be lovely at this time of day if you would like a tour?"

"That would be splendid," she smiled at him. 

He looked down and realised he had forgotten something, "I will have to find you some shoes first, of course," he said pointing to her bare feet.

Ally waved her hand dismissively, "No need. I hate shoes and prefer to go without them."

Keith looked sceptical, but the angle of her chin told him she would be stubborn if he chose to pursue the matter. He shrugged internally- it was her call. Bowing gallantly, he gestured to the direction they would be going, drawing a giggle from her as she gracefully curtseyed in return. Keith was pleasantly surprised. If his friend hadn't already claimed her as his mate, he thought he would like to try his hand in wooing the witty human.

As they walked through the house, Keith explained the pictures and portraits that adorned the walls. He led her down a grand staircase to an even grander entrance hall with giant double door. Outside there was a small porch lined with marble columns. There was a great space covered in gravel a fountain in the middle and a 12 foot high wall with wrought iron gates. The whole place was reminiscent of period movies she had seen. She half expected to see a horse and cart filled with women in giant dresses appear. She suppressed a giggle at the thought and tried to pay attention to her guide, 

"As you can see Ally, the house is a mansion; it dates back 250 years ago, when the area was first settled and it was built by Zac's ancestors; the first Colemans in the country having migrated from Europe."

Ally whistled; impressed by the history that surrounded her. He led her to the Eastern side of the great wall to a double gate. Ally felt like she had stepped into a dream. Butterflies crossed her path, fluttering gently in the breeze. The garden was a series of hedges and plants, with paths, seats and in the centre Ally could see a grand, multi-tiered fountain. There were birds singing as they bathed in the top tier. The soothing sounds of the water, the birds and the warm sunshine on her face had Ally at total ease. 

"It is sad for me to see this place now. It has slowly been let go. This was Zac's mother's garden, she organised the landscaping and did most of the work herself. She passed five years ago, and there has been no time to care for this place."

Ally looked around again and saw he was telling the truth. The initial look showed a lovely garden, but a second glance showed the weeds, the untrimmed hedges, and the fountain was growing a layer of green. It made her sad to see such beauty being lost. She would have loved to see the garden in its original form.

They circled the garden paths, Keith regaling the tails of mischief he and his alpha had gotten into in their boyhood. He had her laughing until she couldn't breathe. They stopped at the centre and watched the birds playing in the fountain, enjoying the sunshine and easy company. A young girl walked around the corner of a hedge, being pulled along by 6 large black and tan puppies.

Ally laughed and crouched down to say hi. She knelt in the dirt and romped with the puppies, who were all crowding around her, licking everywhere they could reach.

Keith's phone started ringing. He turned away and saw he was about to get in serious trouble. He answered his phone as Zac asked her where she was. Just then Ally laughed really loudly, when one of the puppies licked her ear. Realising how it would sound he tried to calm his boss down. He cringed when his Alpha commanded him, and had to obey. Zac hung up on him and Keith knew his time was about to be up if he couldn't placate his Alpha before he ripped out his throat.

~~~~~~~

Zac's wasn't moving fast enough. With a growl he infused his legs with the power of his four paws and sped up. People scattered out of his way, as their alpha flashed past like a growling bullet. He burst out of the front doors and raced the East gate. He was growling deep within his chest- a sound that humans can't hear, as he turned the corner past the first hedge and into the sunlight.

~~~~~~~

Ally loved playing with the gorgeous puppies. The girl had been uncertain-almost looking scared, but with a nod from Keith she calmed down. She even smiled at her future Madame Alpha playing in the dirt with the pups.

Not 2 minutes after Keith had been hung up on; they heard their Alphas approach and his growl. The girl began trembling uncontrollably. She dropped onto her back, fully exposing her belly and throat in submission. Luckily for them, Ally had her back to the girl and was focused on the pups.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 06



Keith turned and was grabbed by a very feral looking Zac. "Where is she?" he growled low. Ally's giggle broke his concentration, and he looked past his friend. She was on her knees in the dirt playing with puppies and giggling.

At this sight, his anger was completely abated. A smile broke his face at the broad smile gracing her lips and the twinkle in her eyes. He imagined her playing the same way with their children, and his smile grew wider.

Keith, seeing his Alpha's attention elsewhere, gently prised his neck from his grip. "I tried to explain," he muttered quietly.

He looked at his friend, and felt a pang of guilt at his overreaction, "I know Keith, but I am not mated to her yet and I jumped to conclusions. My orders were to not let her out of the room."

"I know, Zac, but your other order was to keep her happy and she wasn't happy being cooped up. She never left my sight; I have been entertaining her, which to me was the most important part of your orders. I didn't want her feeling like a prisoner."

Zac left Keith where he was and went to join his mate on the ground. The puppies crowded around them both. Zac grabbed his human and hugged her tight, feeling the angst from his meeting melt away as he breathed in deep her scent. Zac looked behind Ally at the omega girl, still on her back, throat exposed.

Ally looked and saw what he was looking at, "Did the puppies trip you over?" she asked with a giggle. She held out her hand to help the poor girl up off the ground. The girl looked at Ally's hand then back to her Alpha. He nodded discretely and with a smile the girl took Ally's hand and was hauled to her feet.

Ally patted down her back, dusting off all the dirt before doing the same to the puppies who were now brown and covered with the dust. Zac caught the omega's eyes and nodded his head, dismissing her and leaving the puppies with them. She smiled at Ally and hurried off without a word, quietly grateful to be out of the Alphas' presence.

Ally smiled at Zac, seeing a twinkle in his eyes, she blushed. She got up slowly, the puppies crying at losing their playmate. She brushed off the dirt that covered her and took Zac's hand. "I'm more of a cat person, but these puppies are adorable!"

"They are. I am much more of a dog person," he said with a cheeky grin.

"How did your meeting go?" she asked as they started walking around the garden, with the trail of puppies following.

Zac sighed sadly, "Not as well as I'd hoped, but I am not honestly surprised."

Ally gave him a hug and they returned to strolling around the gardens holding hands. Looking around, Zac was very saddened to see the garden becoming slowly overgrown. He didn't have the time to come out here anymore, and he hadn't realised that it wasn't being taken care of. He owed his mother to keep her favourite sanctuary as she had kept it while she was alive.

Ally squeezed his hand and he looked at her surprised, "I like it here, this garden is so exquisite. I'm not much of a gardener, but I would love to have a place like this."

"Then it's yours," he said with a smile.

She stopped to gape at him, "You're giving me a garden?"

He smiled wider, "I guess I am."

She looked around, smiling broadly "Well... Thanks I guess."

"I will organise for people to help you in maintenance. Now I don't know about you, but I remember leaving a certain someone in my bed this morning with a promise of a repeat performance."

Ally looked up with surprise, seeing the smouldering in his eyes, she felt her arousal build. She smiled and battered her eyelids.

"I don't know," she said stretching out her lean body and giving an exaggerated yawn, curling her tongue like a cat, "I could go for a catnap." She grinned cheekily at him, "Race you!" she cried, racing off.

With a whoop he chased after her, revelling in the hunt of his mate. He stalked her through his house, calling out the directions, making sure that she found her way to his room.

She was thoroughly enjoying the run and chasing. She was very grateful for his yelled directions as she knew she would have been hopelessly lost in seconds. She reached his door and was quickly pinned to it, his body pressing along her back. Both were panting heavily and she could feel the heat along his body. He whipped her around and crushed her against the door again, pressing his lips to hers. Ally moaned as she melted into the heat he was exuding. Their kissing grew hot and heavy. Ally turned her head, panting. Zac buried himself against her neck, breathing deeply while nibbling along her neck.

She could feel his feel need pressing along her hips. Her arousal was clouding her head and Zac was not helping. The nibbling along her neck was sending delicious sensations down her spine and building in her stomach. She reached behind her, found the door knob and opened the door. The pair tumbled giggling onto the floor. Zac paused his ministrations to pick her up and deposit her on the bed. He slowly stripped her down, revelling in her exposed skin. His hands wanted to be everywhere at once.     

He could smell the garden scents on her, mixing with her own personal scent. He was happy for his decision and knew he would love smelling her like this anytime. Ally was trying to remember something she had promised herself about staying in control but his teeth on her neck was making all thoughts fly out the window.

He made short work of her top, ripping it in half to reveal her lacy black bra. With one hand he cupped a breast, moulding it with delicate fingers. Ally arched her back, pressing herself harder into his hands. His other hand slipped under and deftly undid the strap. He slowly and sensually pulled it down her arms before flinging it across the room.

He looked at her exposed form and smouldering eyes. She lurched up and grabbed his head, pulling his hot mouth back to her. She plunged her tongue into his mouth, boldly exploring while running her hands across his body. She drew away panting, her shaky hands stripping his shirt.

He could feel her breast pushing into his chest, heaving with her panting, drawing his arousal to desperate heights. Their kissing reached fever pitch, their hands exploring each other as the clothing on the floor piled higher.

The feel of their naked skin caressing caused friction and electricity up her spine. His thigh caressed her crotch and she could feel the slick wetness that coated his heated skin. He rubbed harder, drawing delicious groans from her. His cock ached and his need was driving him wild.

He moved on top, covering her body completely with his, revelling in her hot skin. He lined up his cock with her wet entrance, using his head to rub up and down along the slick valley, teasing her. She bucked her hips, moaning in erotic need.

He thrust a little, spearing the very tip of himself into her, groaning at her warm and welcoming tightness. His hips bucked slowly and gently, pushing more of himself into her bliss. Sweat covered his form in the exertion of keeping his marching pace slow and controlled.

His control slipped and he thrust harder than he had meant to, drawing a deep groan from her. The sounds coming from his mate spurred him on as he buried himself home within her. Ally moaned and bucked her hips, feeling every inch of his pulsing length.

He savoured the sensations, his wolf crying out with happiness. He started moving deep inside her, listening to the sounds of his lover. Crying out in ecstasy Ally bucked her hips, sending tingles up her spine. 

His thrusts sped up loving how loud and responsive the woman beneath him could be.

Urges took over and before she realised she was up on her knees and Zac was behind her. He held onto her hips and guided his cock back towards its happy place. They both moaned as he slipped back into her velvety softness.

Ally bucked her hips, feeling him drive deeper into her than he had before. Zac quickly lost control and found himself thrusting wildly into Ally as she bucked and moaned beneath him.

With a choke, Zac stopped suddenly; his wolf trying to force its control. It wanted to grow its knot and mate her right there. Panting Zac fought with all his might to stop his instincts from taking over. His wolf couldn't understand why he didn't want to mark her and make her his forever. She was in the perfect position, his wolf reasoned, and he had put her that way, so clearly he wanted it.

Ally looked over her shoulder, confused when he stopped and didn't start again. He had a glazed over, distant look in his eyes. She clenched her muscles around his cock and wriggled her hips. He shook his head and looked at her. She smiled at him, "You ok?" She asked.

He smiled, "Yeah. How about we move around a little?" He drove his cock deep within her, hugged her ribs and rolled them over, causing Ally to giggle hysterically. On his back Zac was able to push his wolf back and focus on her pleasure.

Ally was surprised to be straddling his hips and facing away from Zac. She swung her legs around feeling less than graceful to face him. It felt so odd to be on top of him and looking down into his deep eyes. With a smile she moved her hips experimentally. 

He watched her hungrily as she slowly explored the new position, bouncing up and down along his length. She moved her hips and moaned, her breasts bouncing up and down and feeling sexy under his smouldering gaze. Her movements grew wild, her hands laced through her hair. Zac reached up and took hold of her gorgeous breasts, moulding them in his hands as she moved above him. 

He pinched her nipples and played with her, enjoying her vocalisations. She arched her back, feeling pressure build within her stomach. She braced herself against his chest and rocked harder, building up the pressure until she felt she would burst. Zac felt his orgasm building and knew Ally was getting closer too. He left her breasts and grabbed her hips, guiding her along his length and thrusting up, increasing the depth of his penetration.

Ally felt her muscles tighten around his cock as her orgasm swept over her. With a cry she plunged herself onto Zac, feeling her walls contract around his shaft. Zac groaned as he pulsed his load into her, his cock gripped by her convulsing muscles. Panting, she collapsed into his chest, feeling their pounding hearts. Slowly their breathing calmed. Ally could feel his softening member as it slowly slipped from her. He wrapped his arms around her as she slipped down next to him.

They cuddled together, their warm bodies providing a nice heat that sent more tingles down her spine. She lay on her side cuddled under Zac's arm as she traced circles around the nipple by her head, buzzing happily. Zac lay on his back, cuddling his mate, clouded in contentment. Remembering his wolf, he realised he would need to have the talk with her soon. Unfortunately for him, he had never known anyone to take a human, so he had no idea how to broach the subject nicely.

He decided to take it one step at a time.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled her hand away from distracting his thoughts. "Ally," he said hesitantly, "I wanted to talk to you about something before we got... um.... Preoccupied."

She smiled cheekily, "We can always be preoccupied again," sneaking her hand down his naked torso. Zac felt his cock twitching to life, but the conversation was more pressing. Once he had her secured then they could distract each other until she couldn't walk straight. His wolf growled with agreement. 

"I wanted to talk about you moving in with me."

Her hand stopped its march down his body and Ally stared at him in shock, "But, we've only had one date, we barely know each other!"

"I know. It's just... I feel this connection with you. I want to get to know you better with you right here."

"So do I, but I think that it's moving too fast for me. I mean, the fact that we have slept together says I want this to work, but I need a few days to think about it. I really should be going home."

Zac looked really hurt, and Ally felt her resolve soften. "Come on, I need to go home... I have a cat there you know. She is lucky that she has a self feeding and watering system or I would be in big trouble. I will call you in a couple of days and we can meet up again, though I may have to break out protective gear" she joked with a smile, "It seems that I attract nothing but trouble recently."

Zac smiled weakly, "The more reason I worry about you."

"I'll be fine; I always have. But I do have a life that really can't be put on hold any longer."

Zac wriggled his eyebrows with a cheeky grin, "You sure?"

She groaned and moved out of his reach, her mood dampened by how fast their relationship was going. "Down boy," she said smirking, "I'm gonna need to recoup from you. Don't forget I am new to this."

Zac watched as his mate got dressed. She picked up the tatters of her top and glared at the incredibly smug man watching her from the bed. "What do you suppose I do now?" she asked incredulously.

He smiled and picked up the phone and pressed a button. "Keith, I need you to rustle up a replacement top, same size. Can you also bring the car around? Ally is going home. No, it's just for a little while... You can tell her that yourself, and hey if I couldn't what makes you think you can?" he laughed loudly and hung up, shaking his head.

"So," he said, smiling and patting the bed, inviting her to join him.

"Oh, no. If I get into that bed I will never get home!" she said mock seriously.

"There is merit to that..." he replied, looking happily thoughtful.

"Come sit on the balcony with me and let's just talk... You can manage that, can't you?" she asked with a smile, slipping on a dressing gown and stepping out the door.

With a sigh Zac came out, pulling up track pants and slumped into the seat next to her. The couple sat in silence for a while; Ally watching the sky turn a dusty pink, Zac arguing with his wolf. It thought that he was being stupid, letting their mate leave the safety of his manor. He argued that she wanted to go and he couldn't stop her, lest she reject them for trying to force her to remain.

~She is not of our kind,~ he told his sulking wolf, ~She will be back. We will be patient.~

"So," she said again, breaking the silence, "What exactly do you do for a living?"

Zac's mind raced, he had no way to explain his position with the pack. "Well, I own and run quite a few business ventures in town. Family businesses mostly, been in the family for years... much like this house," he said with a smile, "I grew up here, along with everyone else that lives here. What about you? What do you do?"

"Well, I am currently studying to be an accountant," she said with a proud smile. Zac gaped at her in shock, "Yeah I know," she grinned, "I don't have the looks to be an accountant; I've heard it all before. What can I say; I have always liked numbers and maths"

"You don't look anything like the accountants I have to deal with... you can do my taxes any day," he said with a grin.

Their chat was cut short by Keith with the top and the news that the car was waiting.

Walking through the dark house, Ally felt sad and she knew by the looks on the two men's faces that they were too, but she had to go. She needed space and she was stubbornly ignoring the part of her begging to stay and forget everything else.

Stopping at the open car door, she looked back and met his pleading eyes. They kissed once, his lips barely brushing her velvety mouth before he pulled away. She gave a small smile at him then hopped in the car. Keith clapped his friend on the back and jumped into the front. Zac had no choice but to watch as his best friend drove away with his unclaimed mate.

As the car pulled out onto the road, a mournful howl pierced the silent night.



Pure Moonlight Ch. 07



It has been one hell of a month since I last submitted, and I am sorry so much time lapses between chapters. My university career is drawing to a close (2 more assignments to go!), so hopefully there will be more time for writing. 

CHAPTER 7- WOW. I can't believe I reached this far. Your comments and feedback have helped me a lot in continuing- thanks everyone! Don't forget to do it all over again here- I still love feedback and comments, like every other author :)

This is a shorter chapter than the last, but a lot happens... I chose to cut it where I did because the scene that follows is a ridiculous 3K+ words (which I haven't finished writing). Hopefully it will be up before the end of the month.

Hope you enjoy!



~~~

Upon the suggestion of my proof-reader (aka boyfriend), I have given a name to a tradition given to the Were's in my world, since I have yet to come across a similar thing.

Iydam (pron: Eye-Dum) -- A piece of jewellery, generally a necklace or bracelet, with a pendant. 

One side of the pendant holds the engraved shield or symbol of the pack they belong to and the other holds their engraved name.

Traditionally it is given to a child upon their birth by parents and used as a form of identification by other Weres.

~~~~~~~~~

Silence pierced the dungeon with tension as the shadow creature watched the mist rising from the ever bubbling cauldron. The vision in the mist held a dark car as it drove into the distance. The shadow paced by the swirling haze; lost in thought.

The misshapen figure of one of his minions watched the vision with beady, emotionless eyes. "Master," its voice high pitched and whiney, "this is good, isn't it? It means you can go get her now that the wolves are no longer protecting her."

"Fool," replied the shadow, "She still has the beginnings of the mating bond. Even if the Coleman Alpha hasn't sealed it, it's still there. It makes her useless for my needs. The bond must be broken, but it cannot be done by magical means. It must be done by them."

"How, Master?"

The shadow pointed to a pile of rags in the corner. He muttered a single word and the pile started to move. The woman, covered in rags opened her eyes and sat up, eyes wide at the macabre surroundings. "Where- where am I?"She asked sleepily.

The shadow moved over and crouched in front of her. Her eyes widened further and she gasped in fright. She looked down, refusing to make eye contact with the hideous form in front of her. A talon reached under her chin and forced her to face him.

"It is interesting, my dear. Ambition has a certain... smell about it. It becomes you quite nicely," The voice whispered, silky smooth and deadly.

The girl blushed and stared at him. "What do you want?"

The creature smiled under its hood, "Why, my dear, I want to make you happy, providing you make me happy first."

She regarded the figure sceptically, "What do I have to do?"

"All you have to do, my dear," he said gently, "is feed your dear alpha this." He held up a tiny vial filled with a crimson, viscous liquid. "Don't worry. It is completely harmless for him. Two drops in his breakfast will suffice. And I would make sure his new... mate... is not very welcome within the pack. A human in the den should not be tolerated."

She took the vial and inspected it closely before returning it and watching the creature closely. "What do I get in return?" she asked doing her best to appear disinterested.

"Why, what you've always wanted, my dear; Zac Coleman and his pack."

She looked at him in surprise, how did he know? He chuckled menacingly, "Oh, my dear. Your face is so expressive! Never mind how I knew. Just make sure I am happy, and then you will be too. My only suggestion is that you make doubly sure that you do not do anything to arouse suspicion or anger your alpha."

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "That's a tall order. The penalty for conspiring against the pack is death. I'm not sure I am ready to stick my neck on the line... unless," she paused thinking quickly, "Unless you can guarantee that I will not die as a result of this transaction...."

The creature regarded her for a moment, "Fine. I give you a blood promise that you will not die as a result of this transaction." He clicked his fingers and a parchment appeared with his promise on it. A dagger magically appeared in place of the vial. He sliced through his thumb and pushed his bloodied print into the paper. He grabbed her hand and sliced her thumb in a swift motion. She bit back a yell as he drew her thumb across his still wet print. She felt her blood smear across the paper and mingle with his, and some of his blood seep into her cut. She shuddered as she felt a chill sweep through her body. He dropped her hand and wiped his hand on his robe, as if he had touched rubbish.

A mischievous smile broke out across her face, "I shall make sure we both have our happy endings, my Lord."

His returning smile made hers falter, for she had never seen such an evil expression in her life. He reached out a talon and touched her forehead, watching the flash of terror as her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she slumped back onto the floor.

He stood up and turned away from the girl, "Deal with that. Make sure it makes it back to where ever you found it, Minion."

He returned to his cauldron, speculating as he stared into its bubbling depths. His plans were slowly falling in to place.

~~~

Ally stopped on her doorstep and turned to face Keith. She smiled at him, knowing full well how awkward he felt. "Thanks for the ride, Keith," she said.

"You're welcome. You have my number if you ever want a ride back."

Ally smiled hesitantly at him, "I'm sure I will take you up on it..."

"Zac is a great guy, Ally. I know he comes on a bit strong, but he would literally do anything to see you happy. Happy wouldn't begin to describe how he would feel if you came back to him soon. Surely you feel something for him?"

Ally bit her nail, not wanting to look at him, "I'm not sure why! The depth of wanting I feel when I am near him is just... too much. I just need to get away from it and get a chance to breathe."

Keith looked unhappy, but nodded. He gave her a quick hug and went back to his car. He opened the door, paused and looked back at her. "Don't be a stranger now, you hear?" With a roguish wink, he jumped into the car and took off into the night.

Ally chuckled as she found her keys and opened the door. A horrible smell hit her nose, telling her she had definitely missed almost two days. Her cat, Lilly, sat on the edge of the rug in the lounge room, obviously torn between giving her usual friendly greeting or being pissed at being left alone for so long. Ally opened up all the windows and dealt with the two used litter boxes. Plugging her nose at the smell, Ally saw her cat sitting there, staring at her with an expression that said "that is what you get for leaving me." With a swish of her tail she went into the other room and curled up on the couch.

Liberally spraying the air freshener through the house, Ally checked her calls. To her horror she realised that she had completely forgotten about poor Kate and had accidently stood her up for their lunch date.

She called up her friend, begging forgiveness and organising a new date, promising to make it up to her. That taken care of, Ally went and fixed herself some leftover dinner, feeding some to Lilly and regaining the mildest of friendly gestures. She spent the night simply watching the television and petting her cat. Her mind wandered ceaselessly over the past couple of days and all of the events that had taken place. Her disaster of a date with Zac had ended with a brutal attack, but her mind was so fuzzy and her head hurt so much when she tried to think about it. The egg shaped lump had gone down, but she could still feel the aches and bumps that she had received. She felt like she was missing something, but her head hurt so much, she found it easier to not think about it.

Turning off the TV, Ally was struck by a feeling she had not felt for quite a while. With a start she realised she felt a little lonely. Sure she had talked to her cat more than anyone else, somehow her imperious looks were not enough of a reply in conversation as she would have liked. She made her way upstairs and began to get ready for bed. Dressed in a cotton slip, she threw aside the scatter cushions and slipped under the covers. Once again she was struck by lack of heat in the bed and a deep sense of loneliness.

She lay there in the dark, her cat snoring softly at her feet and stared into the abyss. She wondered how Zac was going, if he was in bed and feeling the same way. The snide part of her mind suggested he had already moved on to his next conquest and had forgotten about her. With a start she felt her eyes water and her stomach roll as though she had been punched. Stubbornly she ignored that mean little part of her mind and tried to meditate her way to relaxation and sleep.

~~~

Keith groaned, feeling blood trickle across his head. Everywhere hurt. His seatbelt dug into his shoulder, keep him suspended firmly in his seat. His head was spinning, and his arms dangled against the roof. He could feel the wheels of his upturned car still spinning. Trying to shift around in his seat, he almost screamed as he felt his shoulder relocate. Panting through the pain, he tried to move around, feeling his body already beginning to heal.

The night was dark on the country roads; a thin sliver of moon could be seen, illuminating little in its light. The trees that shrouded the highway were knobby and twisted; their gnarled face-like features were warped into the grotesque likeness of demons. It was as though they had contorted themselves to glare at him and the metal contraption that had disturbed their peace. Chest heaving, Keith ripped his seatbelt and fell to the roof in a heap. His screams pierced the silent night, scaring nesting birds from their roosts in a rush of noise and feathers.

Looking through the windscreen, Keith saw a shadow separate from the trees and approach the car in a wandering gait. Eyes wide, he watched as it approached the car and stopped, speculating methodically.

"Help me!" Keith managed to shout at the motionless shadow. 

It swayed from side to side then moved forward in a rushed blur. Metal screamed as the car door was ripped off and thrown away. The shadow melted lower and stretched out; a grotesque, taloned hand appeared from the darkness. It grasped his bloodstained collar and pulled his prone form, screaming from the upturned wreck.

Dragged across the road a short distance, the hand released him; leaving him slumped on the ground. Keith groaned and rolled to his back and looked up at the shadow, dimly realising it was a human shaped figure wrapped in a liquid black cloak. The hand reached down and he couldn't help but flinch. He felt a tug on the back of his neck and a tiny metal snap. Eyes wide, he watched as the creature carefully observed his Iydam, twisting it in the dim light.

A deep, menacing chuckle resounded through the cold night air, "You'll do quite nicely," it rumbled. It tossed away his necklace in the opposite direction to the car, Keith hearing a tiny thud as it hit the grass. A twin hand appeared alongside the original as the creature crouched over his prone form. The hands cupped his cheeks, Keith shuddering at their cold and slimy touch. Two sharp talons rested against his temple, piercing the skin. 

A blood curdling scream ripped itself from Keith's chest as it seemed like a thousand red hot needles were suddenly being fired through his head. The talons on his temples were ice cold, and he felt the hands shift as the icy feeling went deeper into his head, slicing through the excruciating heat with an unbearable frost.

Relief poured through him when the hands pulled away, leaving him feeling sick and sluggish. He watched as the creature stood up and looked around before vanishing into the darkness. Silence and cold surrounded Keith as he felt the darkness mercifully take him.

~~~

"Rick!" called one of his betas, his hand covering the mouth piece of the phone, "It's Lance, and it's not good."

Rick heaved a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair impatiently, "What is it? Why did you call me?" he said, picking up the phone.

"Rick, I had to call you; Curt and Scott are tied up, and we can't get in contact Nate, which makes you next in line."

He felt his head throb and his stomach sink; this was not going to be good. There was a silence. Lance realised there would be no answer, so he continued, "Ambulance crews brought in a guy who had been in a car accident. He's a Were and in very bad shape. He doesn't have any identification on him, nor does he have an Iydam anywhere. We need a clean-up crew at the scene and I need authorisation to clear him from the hospital records. He will heal much too quickly and the humans will notice. We need to get him out of there before they do. We need permission to bring him to the den to heal."

"Ok, I give permission for all that, I guess. I will organise and head the cleanup crew. Leave the address with me and I will deal with it."

There was very little time, so he didn't waste it on pleasantries. Within 20 minutes Rick lead his team of 4 other Weres to the site of the accident.

The site was not hard to find- the black car had not been moved from where it had stopped on its roof. It had been severely burnt and slightly exploded. The plates had been ripped off, making identification even more impossible. Together, Rick and his men upturned the car and searched it for evidence. The fire had cleared out anything recognisable. At his request his two Betas flipped the car on its side and using their Were strength, picked it up and carried it off the road and into the thick forest. Rick was amusedly reminded of watching two humans moving a couch in the same fashion. The two men worked together, weaving the car through the trees until they reached a clearing a good distance from the road. They put down the car and sat down, panting from their efforts. The other two wolves and Rick scoured the area where the car had been, picking up loose parts and anything that would indicate an accident. Satisfied, Rick and his crew got back into their car and drove back to the compound.

The John Doe was brought in by an ambulance driven by Weres, who dropped off him and all his charts to Lance, who had been setting up one of their turning chambers into a care bay for the unconscious Were. There was no telling who he was or how he would react when woken, so for the sake of the entire pack he would be under constant guard and in a re-enforced steel room that could withstand a nuclear attack. Normally it was used for forced turnings or mentally unstable Weres and thankfully very rarely used. 

In no time, the man was hooked up to the required machines and thoroughly checked. Every so often he moaned in his sleep, but he never woke. Lance was very confused; his injuries were substantial -- it was quite the list, but it should not have rendered him so deeply unconscious. A Theta nurse appeared, carrying a basin full of steaming water and a sponge. The Weres had moved so quickly that, except for his numerous cuts, was still mostly covered in sweat, blood and dirt. The Nurse stripped back the bedding and cut away his ruined clothes in an impersonal and business-like matter.

Lance watched carefully as the nurse cleaned up the unknown man, watching him for any signs of waking. After sponging him down, the nurse altered his bed angle and retrieved a curved basin and began to wash his hair. Lance then noticed the two pin pricks on the sides of his temples. He leaned in closer to get a better look. They were very small holes, but tinged with black lines lacing around them. Carefully, he put his hands up and pressed his fingers to the spots, trying to judge the depth. As soon as his fingertips made contact he should have noticed the horrible chill that they held, but he was too distracted. The second his skin made contact to those spots the man sat up dead straight in the bed, blood-curdling screams echoing off of the walls of the enclosed chamber. Water and bedding flew everywhere as the nurse shrieked and backed away. Lance quickly withdrew his hands and the man fell back, as unconscious as he was before. It felt like it had been hours that he screamed but it had only been moments. 

Lance stared in shock at his nurse, who was staring back, equally stunned, "What the bloody hell was THAT?"

~~~

Zac spent the night tossing fitfully in his cold bed that haunted him with puffs of her faint scent. Thoughts whirled through his head; what if she never came back? What if she did, only to run again when she found out what he was? Would she accept him? What would he do if she didn't?

When the sun finally reared its head over the horizon he got up, feeling tired and cranky. After a hot shower he caught his haggard reflection in the mirror. His bloodshot eyes had bags under them, his skin was sunken and hollow, but worst of all there was no light in his eyes.

One night.

One night without her had reduced him to this. How could he cope without her for eternity? He couldn't. Tears fell from his eyes as he imagined a long, cold life without her. He clutched his chest, feeling his heart scream as it shattered into a million pieces. He now understood how mates went crazy when the other half of their being died.

Swiping away at the tears, he felt his wolf join the monologue. It snarled in distain at his self-defeatist thoughts. She WILL accept them, she WILL love them and she WILL be with them for the rest of their lifetimes. They were not immortal like other species that walked the Earth, but they lived longer than humans.

He needed her to accept him; both parts of him and allow him to open her second nature. He had no idea how to approach her and reveal his true nature. He decided it was time to visit the Elders once again, they had never steered him wrong before, and they may be able to help him again.

~~~

"Dear Alpha, you look terrible," smiled the old lady, her eyes never leaving the large globe that hung suspended in the middle of their circle.

"Not been sleeping?" asked another, chuckling.

He couldn't help the growl that escaped his throat- he had no time for joking.

"Ignore my sisters," said the elder closest to him, glaring at the other three, "What answers do you seek, dearest leader of our pack, how may we help you brighten this fine day?"

"It's is my mate-"

"The human."

"Yes. I need to tell her about us before we mate, and I am not sure how long we will have before my wolf loses control."

"Tisk tisk, Alpha. You should have more control of that wild guide of yours."

"He let her go home, Sister, he has control," countered his defender.

"Is there a way I could soften the blow to her, a way to ease her into the idea. I think there is more of a chance of success that way than barraging her with the information."

"You are wise to assume so, Alpha. Give us a minute to confer and we will decide if we can be of assistance."

Zac dropped his head and stood outside the door, which closed in his wake without being touched.

He paced impatiently, waiting for the ladies to make up their minds. They were so old that time no longer mattered to them. He knew they could be anywhere between a few minutes and a few days.

"Come inside, dear one, before you wear holes through the floor and fall through," came a voice. Zac jumped, the door had opened so silently he had not picked up on it.

He moved inside as the door closed behind him once again. The four ladies motioned as one to the cushion in the middle of the floor underneath the orb. He moved into their circle and settled himself.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 07



"We have decided," came a voice from behind him. Zac shifted uncomfortably, not liking facing away from two of the elders. "We will help you."

Zac stopped his shifting a smiled. The one to his left moved, "We will give her dreams that allure her to our natures. Within these dreams she will witness you shift and we will project a feeling of safety, love and acceptance. This should help ease your path in enlightening her."

A smile broke his face and his eyes filled, "Thank you, wise elders. You have brought me much joy this day."

"Humans are notoriously fear-filled creatures, so be warned dear one. She still may not take it well. They are sheltered and do not cope well with surprise information such as this. You will still need to be slow and caring through this process. You still have the Attraction on your side. It will ease the path for you both."

Zac bowed his head, he knew this, but he felt this was the advantage he needed to ensure he would never have to live without her.

"To fulfil this, we will need at least a hair from each of you, and you will need to envision the dream as you want it to happen. She will react, but you cannot control that; you just have to control your end and let the runes fall where they may."

"Thank you wise elders, I have both here at the house, I want it done for tonight." With a nod of his head, he strode out of the room.

~~~

It took very little time before he had the requirements for their spell. He found himself sitting in the middle of the room on the cushion once again as the elders surrounding him began to chant. Giant pillar candles behind each Elder suddenly burst into flame, making Zac jump. The elders, eyes closed, continued their chanting. All of the hair on Zac's body stood on end; inside his wolf's hackle rose as the air seemed to get as thick as honey and crackle lightly in his heightened senses. Each of the four elders raised their hands, their chanting never slowing. 

The hairs collected of the two of them, sitting on a handkerchief in front of him, were picked up by an invisible hand and raised into the air. Floating, they seemed to dance with one another with the twirls and twists around, their coil getting tighter until they seemed to be one strand. Suddenly they too burst into flame. All four elders clapped their hands in unison as their chanting abruptly stopped. An eerie silence was left in their wake as the candles' flames all went out.

"It is done, dear one. You may be at peace. The first dream will take place tonight, when both of you sleep, your dreams will connect and combine. You, as the instigator, will have control. In these dreams your will can alter the environment, but not her; her will is her own at all times." Said one, sounding bone tired.

"Now be gone with you, we must rest." 

Almost before he could blink he was at the door, unseen air currents pushing him through the exit. He turned and nodded his head low, "Thank you very much, Wise ones; you have given me great joy. May Luna bless you, ladies."

"May she bless us always," they replied before the door shut in his face. 

~~~

Zac spent the day running through his plan in his head. He went through his Alpha duties doggedly, his mind elsewhere. His pack, knowing this, made his life easier. Most concerning was Keith never returned from dropping off the Alpha's human. No one was sure if he had been ordered to remain, and no one had the rank or inclination to disturb their alpha.

The sun slowly sank below the horizon, almost stopping to torture him longer. Finally, as dark embraced the land Zac retired to his room. Never in his life had he been so excited and nervous about sleeping. It took quite a while for him to be able to relax his nerves and stop his thought processes to actually get to sleep. He briefly considered sleeping pills, but he didn't want to affect the dream. Breathing deeply, he willed himself into slumber.

~~~

Ally had been cleaning and studying for the entire day. The sun took its last wink over the horizon as she stretched and extracted herself from her book-laden desk. Feeling slightly guilty about having wasted a perfectly fine day, she curled up on the couch with her newly re-friended kitty and put on a movie. She looked at her phone, feeling the loneliness sinking deeper. She desperately wanted to call Zac or anyone just to hear the first human voice for the day. Company had always eluded her but until now she had never really noticed how lonely her life was.

Feeling depressed she tried to focus on the movie; she quickly realised it was a poor choice. "I love you," said the handsome character over a swooning beauty. Ally curled up her legs and hugged them. She had pushed away the first man to show a caring interest in her. In frustration, she turned off the television and retired.

Beating her pillow into submission, Ally did her best to ignore the creeping cold and loneliness settling over her heart as she fell into sleep's welcoming embrace.



Pure Moonlight Ch. 08



Hi Everyone!

Sooner than expected- this is the dream scene! I finished writing it and am so happy! It is 2,600 words (about the same length as the first chapter and half the last one). I was just so excited and I wanted to share it ASAP. I implored my twitter followers (37 and counting 0.o) - and Donalde replied: in the immortal words of rocky go for it.

So here I am- Going for it!!!

So this chapter is for you Donalde-

Hope you and all my readers enjoy it and get tingles like I did writing it ^_^

<3 Shadowsung

~~~~~~~~

Ally wandered through the forest, looking calmly at the trees that surrounded her. She felt at home; like this is where she was meant to be. Her body was covered with a simple cotton shift, no dye, no flash; just simple...natural. With a start she realised she had no underwear on.

After a moment, she looked around and saw no real reason for concern; after all, there wasn't anyone around to judge. Her troubles and fears seemed to blow away with the playful breeze that wound between the trees. The sounds of the jungle layered over itself, creating acapella music which she found relaxing and delightful. The sun was bright, but the leaves of the canopy filtered its rays into a lovely green hue. Everything around her felt so natural and real.

Birds called to her overhead, making her smile.

She wandered aimlessly, enjoying her surroundings and the peace that settled into her soul. She paused for a second, frowning at the sensation of being pulled somewhere to her right. It was so light she hadn't fully felt it until she stopped. It was insistent and her curiosity peaked. She moved towards the pull, her footsteps silent despite the leaf litter and twigs around her. Slowly she melted through the dense forest like fog.

Gradually the trees started to dissipate. She stepped out from behind a large tree and found herself in a clearing awash with the glorious hues of nature. Wildflowers of all colours grew in spades, causing a chaotic cacophony of colours. A figure sat on a large stump in the centre. There were no flowers in a perfect circle around him, like the eye of a vibrantly colourful storm. She slowly floated through the field of flowers and stopped on the grass that surrounded the stump. It felt luxurious under her feet and between her toes.

"I've been waiting for you," the figure said quietly. Ally jumped; she had almost forgotten the man on the stump. The voice was familiar. A warm glow rose up inside.

"Zac?" she asked, moving around to see his face. The log was at her waist and he was perched, sitting cross-legged on top. His eyes were closed and his hands held loosely in his lap. He was meditating and seemed to be as much at peace as she was. With a squeal of delight she launched herself at him, her heart singing in happiness. He gave a little choke as the wind was knocked from his lungs, but he chuckled and said, "I missed you too."

Encased in his arms she felt safe. Pulling away, Ally looked up into his crystal blue eyes. "I'm sorry I left. I just had to go home and get my stuff in order. My cat wasn't happy with me," she explained. "She missed me as much as I miss you."

"Shhhh," he said, kissing her forehead, "I know; it's ok... I love you." He felt her stiffen in his arms and his heart stopped. He hadn't meant to say it so soon! He was afraid she would run. After a second, she relaxed, "I love you too," she whispered, surprised. It was so quiet he nearly missed it. He held her close and felt he could almost fly away.

"My angel," he whispered into her hair, stroking her gently, "You fell into my lap from the heavens and I don't ever want to let you go."

She cuddled into him further, feeling so comfortable and safe. "Zac?" she said after a minute, "where are we?"

"We are in the forest that surrounds my home. I grew up exploring these woods and I have always felt at peace here. I brought you here because there is a discussion we need to have."

"Oh?"

"I have a secret that has been passed down for generations in my family. I want you to be a part of my world, but you have to know and accept the truth before you can. Do you trust me?"

Ally hesitated, wondering what on earth could be so big a secret. The pleading look in his eyes made her heart melt. She could no sooner deny him than cut off her own hand. She smiled at him and took his hand, "with my life," she replied calmly.

His smile made her heart leap for joy as she felt her lips mirror his.

He took a deep breath and hopped down from his perch. He picked her up and sat her in his stead. He stood between her legs, his hands on her thighs just for the contact.

"Ally, I am not entirely human. What you see is only half of my being. I am a Werewolf, in the flesh and blood. It is not like the Hollywood version; I am of no danger to you." He paused and watched her perfectly calm face, waiting for a reaction.

Ally's mind went numb. -Impossible, her mind said, -This has to be a dream!

She heard his words repeated in her mind and the look on his face that told her he believed this to be the truth. "I.... I don't understand," she said simply.

He breathed a sigh; she hadn't denied anything. "Werewolves and other supernatural creatures have been part of every culture since the history of time. There is evidence splattered across every continent, every settlement, and every culture. It has been so long since we publicly acknowledged ourselves that we fell into myth and folklore, but we are still in the pages of history and we are still here today- hiding in plain sight."

He took a deep breath, "Humans all have a second spirit within them, called their Spirit Guide, feral nature, gut feeling or instincts. This takes the shape of an animal that reflects the wild and untamed part of our true nature. Normal humans have evolved to push down this being and in most people it goes almost completely unnoticed their entire lives. There is a special type of person whose family has never relinquished the bond between our two selves. We can communicate with it, and we can unleash and let it choose our forms. It is completely upon the will of the individual."

"so... you're saying... you have- a wolf inside you?"

"A wolf spirit that is the second half of my nature, yes. We are two halves of the one whole. Humans are merely half of their whole being, but because they never know and barely feel their other half, they never realise they are without. Ying and Yang, the traditional symbol of balance is based on our true nature- two halves of one whole in perfect balance."

"You said it can choose your form?"

"Yes. The human half of me has dominant control over my form, resulting in the man you see before you. My wolf can also take charge and form his shape with my flesh, resulting in a wolf. We can also meld ourselves together and create a hybrid of sorts, but that is only in strong shifters."

Zac was trying not to breathe too heavily and give away his nerves. She was silent and still, what was she thinking? It looked as though she was processing the information, which was good, right? She had made no move to accept or deny.

Ally paused; he still believed what he was saying. She looked at him closely and saw he was watching her. She decided to test this truth; there was no way he could fake what he was telling her he could do.

"Can I see it?" she asked quietly. Zac was startled. He hadn't expected her to actually want to see him shift; he thought he would have to show her. Being asked was a good sign to him.

"Of course," he said, "but you have to stay exactly where you are and trust that I am in no way any danger to you. I wasn't planning on shifting for you just yet, but I will always be happy to oblige your wishes. Are you sure you want to see my other half?"

Ally thought about it for a second before nodding.

Zac pulled off his tunic top and shimmied out of his pants, both were of the same material as what Ally wore. Ally caught herself looking at his manhood and blushed, looking away bashfully. Zac caught the movement and moved closer, using his hand to make her look at him, "You have seen every inch of me as I have you, my love," he said grinning, "Why look away now?" he pressed himself into her.

She blushed even deeper and shrugged wordlessly. Zac chuckled warmly and gave her a kiss before stepping back.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Zac controlled himself, allowing the change to occur slowly. Ally was mesmerised as she watched his muscles ripple beneath his skin.

At first the changes were so small she almost missed them. The air that surrounded his form grew hazy, like the horizon in the desert. Through the rippling air the man she had given her body shifted. Fur broke out across his skin like a wave. His form lowered and lengthened as limbs silently reshaped themselves. Hands morphed into paws and a tail sprang out from his arched back. She stared in shock as the air around the new beast eased back to normalcy, revealing Zac to her. In place of the man stood a tall and proud wolf, its midnight fur glistening in the sunlight that gently poured into the clearing. Ally frowned slightly; she could have sworn she had seen this beast before...

It shook out its body and stretched before sniffing the air and looking at her. Ally felt fear rising in her stomach. She bit back a scream. The two beings stared at each other, the silence stretching between them both. --You asked him to, her mind told her sarcastically, - it turns out there was truth in his words.

The wolf's molten eyes never left hers as he watched her for any sign of anything. He smelt her fear spike when he had first shifted, but now there was almost nothing. It was as if he had overloaded her capacity for new information.

The need to be accepted surged through his being. His wolf wanted- needed her to accept both of them. Very slowly he lowered himself to the ground and inched his way closer to the stump.

Her fear spiked again, but he let out a small whine and looked at her with hurt in his eyes.

Ally was still trying to process the possibilities when the wolf dropped and came closer to her. She wasn't ready for the movement and flinched. The wolf stopped its slow progress to whine and stare at her with those uncanny and un-animal-like stares. Even in this form she could see hurt etched across his features. Guilt stabbed at her heart as she watched him withdraw dejectedly.

Carefully she got down from the stump, putting it between them so she could approach him on her terms. When she peeked out, he had not moved; his golden eyes trained on her. She carefully stepped around; reminding herself of his final words.

She shuffled a stepped closer; a short distance between them. She could feel the energy and tension radiating through the air.

Another step; she could make out his dark whiskers that sprinkled his snout.

Another step; she could make out the individual hairs of his fur along the length of his body. His tail wagged slowly; eyes pleading.

Just one metre separated them. Ally felt a familiarity with those eyes that regarded her so carefully.

Ally knelt in the grass and held out her hand.

Zac raised his head. She was holding out her hand for him... He sniffed her politely... She reached closer...

He felt the warmth of her hand on his snout. He closed his eyes, wanting to howl in triumph...

~~~

"Wake up, My Alpha!" called the jubilant Theta carrying a silver tray. She had a smile from ear to ear as she set down her burden on the dresser ane opened the curtains before returning to fiddle with the tray arrangement. Satisfied, she turned around with the tray and found her alpha in front of her growling. Her smile faltered.

"How dare you wake me!" he growled furiously, "I left a note for Keith to say that I was not to be disturbed!"

"But Sir," she stammered, "I received no notice from him- I never realised my orders had been changed!"

"Get out," he growled low.

She looked frightened until she spotted his morning glory. "I could help you with that, Sir. Please, allow me the chance to... atone... for my indiscretion?" With a pretty smile she gently rubbed her hand over his need.

He was aching with the sexual tension he felt without his mate nearby. He froze when she touched him, torn between the offer of release and his mate. She coolly noted his indecision and decided for him. She got to her knees and released him from his pants. Her mouth settled over him as she expertly used her tongue down his length. Inside her mouth, his primal instinct took over.

It didn't take long; his mind whirling with images of his mate in the woman's place. With a growl he came down her throat, feeling her gulp everything he offered. She pulled up with a smile as she used a finger to trail her tingling lips for missed globs before licking it sensually, sickening Zac to his stomach. She moved back over to the tray, her back to him for a second before she bowed and left the room.

Zac was so clouded with guilt he didn't see her pocketing a small red vial into her chest pocket as she made her exit.

~~~

Ally felt his whiskers tickling her palm and smiled. The wolf closed its eyes... and disappeared.

With a start Ally looked around. The forest around her was dissolving. There was a moment of darkness before reality started to focus. She was hovering above a dark and dingy alleyway. She could smell the dumpster, mould and other foul things. Music pumped through the walls, a steady heartbeat in the otherwise silent night. The heavy door opened; the music growing louder before the loud bang reduced it back to its muffled beat. A woman had exited the door, breathing in air quickly as she held the graffitied wall for support. She was pale white and frowning. With a start Ally realised she was looking at herself and a feeling of Déjà vu swept through her. She watched the scene of her past; hovering above it.

A growl from the bushes; a nose sticking out; her offering jerky.

Men advancing menacingly; fighting them fiercely. Pain.

Captured; held. Paul!

Ally watched as Paul moved towards her old self, remembering the fear that had coursed through her body.

The beast from the bushes returning with friends; growling, snarling, biting, pouncing.

Paul whirling around hissing; his eyes glowing a demonic red.

Ally watched her prone body collapse onto the cold, hard ground. Her befriended beast returned, his friends still chasing. He lay down next to her, his whole body alert. He nudged her gently with a whimper.

He looked up and made eye contact with the real her. With a start she recognised his eyes...

the man...

the beast...

Her lover.

I love you, his gorgeous voice whispered meltingly into her ear.

~~~

"I love you too," she mumbled into her pillow. Her gentle snores filled the room once more.



Pure Moonlight Ch. 09



Hi everyone

The response from the last chapter was mixed to say the least! I am not sorry for what I wrote, but I understand that people are upset by it. Once again, everything that happens in the story happens for a reason!

I hope you enjoy this chapter

<3 Shadowsung

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ally woke, feeling refreshed for the first time in days. She stretched leisurely in bed, listening to the morning call of the nesting birds from the tree in her front yard. She dimly remembered having a dream, but her memory was foggy. She shrugged; it was normal- she could never remember her dreams. All she could think about was it was different from her normal dreams. Since she couldn't bring up the details, she let it go.

She wandered around her house, doing little chores she had been neglecting. The day was bright with promise, and she felt herself smiling and humming.

~~~

"Keith!" Zac roared, almost smashing his fist through his second's office door, "If you're in there nursing a hangover, I'll rip you to shreds!" He launched himself into the room in hybrid form; ready to inflict serious pain. What he found stopped him dead in his tracks. There was nothing.

The air was stale and stuffy, the curtains drawn on the bright sun, the desk untouched. The note lay on the desk where he had placed it on top of the piles of paperwork. His stale scent from the night before was the freshest in the room. Confused, he went in search of his friend's secretary.

Amy was at her desk, looking completely frazzled, "No sir... No, I'm sorry, but he isn't here at the moment... Where he is doesn't matter- he is on important work for the Alpha and not here... Sir, threats are not going to make him magically appear. Fine call him at your own detriment, but the Alpha is very busy and does not wish to be disturbed... Look, I'm sorry but you will just have to try again lat-"

Zac took the phone, startling the secretary, "Who is this?" he growled into the receiver.

"Oh, um, Mr Keith? Hi, my name is Rick. Listen, I'm from the Braanan pack and I'm calling about a very important-"

"Not interested," Zac growled into the phone, "Whatever your Alpha has to say to me he can say it to me himself." He hung up the phone with a decisive click.

"Amy," he said, in his nicest possible tone, "Where is Keith?"

"Um, I, oh. I don't know Sir," she squeaked, "I haven't seen him since he took the human home. We thought maybe you had ordered him to stay and watch her?"

"No, Bart is watching her- Keith was to come straight back." He said, "Do you mean to tell me... That my second in command... has been missing for nearly two days and NO ONE THOUGHT TO TELL ME ABOUT IT?" Zac felt his control slip and his form start to shift. Amy cringed in her seat, showing her trembling neck in submission.

"Sorry my Alpha, we thought you had ordered him and he had forgotten to tell us. I didn't want to ask you because you have-" she paused.

"I have what? Spit it out, theta," Zac said in a calm and controlled tone that belied the manic look in his eyes.

"You've been... preoccupied... with the... human. We didn't think you wanted to be disturbed."

With a roar, Zac tore from the room his rage almost blinding him. He threw himself down the corridors, scattering frightened people in his wake. Blinded by rage he couldn't believe his friend's absence had not been noticed! He was young for an Alpha, but that was because he had proven himself clever and capable. His behaviour since meeting Ally had been less than stellar. Growling, he berated himself. The corridors whirled passed as he ran. He didn't stop until he reached the East gardens.

The smell of flowers and home poured through his system, burning away the rage like mud in the rain. The rage had been dampening the main emotion coursing through him. Feeling much calmer, Zac felt the guilt rise up within. The scene of his betrayal replayed itself in his head. He fell to his knees and was sick in the garden beds. Pain heaved itself through his shuddering form; his wolf howling silently.

"Ally," he cried into the flowers, "I'm so sorry!" His rage returned in a flash; he pounded his fist into a patch of untainted dirt, "What the hell is wrong with me?"

~~~

Caitlin heard her alpha sick in the bushes and knew she was the cause. The little red vial was heavy in the chest pocket of her uniform. She had slipped him two drops when she first got back to the den; eager to test its results. Already in two days from a distance, she could see the effects snowballing.

She hadn't been able to observe him as closely as she would have liked; the Alpha was constantly locking himself away. She had only just been able to slip him two drops before he locked himself in the attic with the elders. The ones in his breakfast that morning had been much easier.

She knew it was these drops that had made him susceptible to her advances, if only briefly. The events of the morning had been a test. She was honestly surprised that he had let her do what she did, and she began planning on having him fucking her mercilessly by the end of the week, but when she finished she saw the hatred and guilt flash across his face, making her think twice. Listening to him in the solitude of his garden, she felt her heart break.

She hadn't wanted this; she had wanted him to notice her, and love her; not some human. It hurt her so much that he looked straight through her for months since she brought his breakfast every morning. She thought if she could just make him notice her, she could make him forget about some pathetic little human. The deal she had made with the Shadow creature had seemed so tempting at the time.

She had started rumours that had spread like wildfire, just as she had promised. With them twisting and distorting as it passed from ear to ear, unrest among the ranks grew; A human stole the heart of the most eligible Were in the pack? A human to rule over them all? A human to bear the sons of a long and proud line? There were whispers of sorcery and trickery; A spy within the pack, starting at the top. No one could ever trace it back to the one source; she had made sure of that.

Eventually the whisperings would reach the Alpha, but at the moment he was too busy being wrapped up in his guilt. Keith would have noticed these to begin with and put a stop to them, but he had been mysteriously absent. Must be guarding the precious human, the whisperings were saying.

Caitlin heard Zac's cries and apologies and felt sick with guilt herself. I'm what's wrong with you, my poor Alpha, she thought to herself miserably, this is not the way to earn love.

Making up her mind, she pulled the disgusting little vial from her pocket; she knew she was unable to bear the weight of it and her guilt anymore. She summoned up all of the force she could muster and threw it, wanting it as far away from her as possible.

Excruciating pain almost made her scream. Blinding hot heat seared the flesh on her hand. She dropped to her knees and pulled her hand to her chest, but the pain continued. The tiny vial was seared into the palm of her hand. "You made a deal," a deadly voice whispered silkily in her ear, "You will keep your end of the bargain, or you will wish you had never been born."

She felt a shiver run down her spine as a tear leaked from the corner of her eye. The searing stopped and she was able to pull the now cool vial from her hand and put it back in her pocket. Her palm was a horrible red and covered in blisters, it looked as though she had held it in naked flames. With a sob she rushed back to her room.

She gently smeared burn cream all over her burns and waited. Nothing happened. The burning pain continued, causing her to cry out every so often. It should have healed by now, she thought, sobbing quietly. She lathered it in more burn cream, and curled up around it as heart wrenching sobs tore from her chest. She promised herself that she wouldn't ever touch her Alpha again. Tears fell down her cheeks and she wished she had never accepted the deal in the first place.

~~~

"Hello? Hello? Mr Keith? Damnit!" Rick growled, hanging up his line. He ran his fingers through his hair. "How long until Curt and Scott get back?" he asked.

Lance, lounging in a chair across the desk shrugged, "Curt is out looking for Scott, who never came home. Take this as practice for being a beta, Rick."

Rick sighed, "I was never even trained to be a beta- my entire family has been a long line of thetas and I was perfectly happy with that. If it weren't for Katie, I wouldn't even be here. Upon your suggestion, I rang all of the packs in the local area- The Kings aren't missing any males and Coleman's man is 'indisposed' apparently. Curt took all of his betas who travel with him to other packs, so there is no one here who recognises him. What do we do with him now?"

Lance shrugged again, "I guess that makes him a rogue, especially since he didn't have an Iydam. We now have to play the waiting game until Curt gets back and makes an alpha's ruling, or we wait until he wakes up and we can assess who he is, what he was doing on our lands, and possibly integrate him into our pack."

Rick nodded, "How is he doing?"

Concern crossed Lance's face, "He is still unconscious, which is worrying. Most of his wounds have healed, yet he isn't waking up. Hell; his wounds shouldn't have incapacitated him. I don't like those points on his temples; they bother me. It is almost like there is an infection there, but it's not one I have seen before. I still can't touch or inspect the wound site, which is barely healing. It's currently unknown when he will wake up."

Rick and Lance stared into space, both their minds occupied with their own problems.

Down the hall, the stranger lay still in his bed, surrounded by beeps and the whirring of machines. A nurse checked his heart rate then put up another drip bag before leaving him once more. Anyone looking at him would think he was sleeping. Inside, he was going through his own personal hell.

~~~

Zac slowly made his way to his office. Since that fateful night he had met Ally, it felt like he hadn't spent as much time here as he used to. He sifted through the piles of reports, requests and other meaningless files. He picked up the phone and called his tracking team.

Within minutes he had a group of his five best trackers standing to attention in front of him. He sat there, evaluating every one of them for a minute before he chose to speak.

"Keith never made it home two nights ago," he said softly, "I know people thought I had ordered this, and he had not passed on his orders. This is not true. His orders were to come straight home. Now I think something has happened to him. A few days ago, Curt Braanan warned me to keep my people off his territory. Ally's home is most unfortunately situated within his lines, so Keith had no choice. I suspect foul play, which is why you are here. We are going to find him or find out what happened."

~~~

The tracking team were very efficient and brisk. Within two hours of combing the darkening country roads they had found the cleaned up scene of an accident. Noses to the ground in wolf form; they picked up bits and pieces and together read the accident.

Across the road the leader chuffed to Zac, who was still in human form. He walked over the road, his heart beating furiously for fear for his best friend. The wolf nudged something in the grass, using his snout to loop around the silver chain and pull it from its grave. Zac knelt down in front of him and pulled it from his nose. It was a necklace covered in clumps of dirt. He used his water bottle and washed it clean.

Looking at the shiny jewellery, he felt sick all over again. It was Keith's Iydam. Before he had time to think about it, a howl from the other side of the road had him up and sprinting. The wolves howled as they led him through the trees until they came to a clearing. Lying in the middle of the glade was the crumpled corpse of black car that was Keith's favourite and the one he had taken the night he drove Ally home.

The leader of the tracker team shifted, completely at ease despite his nudity, "Sir, there was an accident, the car rolled four times and skidded for a short distance on the roof. There is a small amount of Keith's blood, but nowhere near enough to indicate serious injury. We caught the scent of --"

"Ally?" Zac asked, she had seemed alright in their dream, but he had to know for sure.

The man shook his head, "She wasn't in the car at the time of the accident. Keith was heading in the direction of home when it happened. We did catch the scent of Weres, who cleaned up the scene; probably Braanan."

"Are they the ones that caused the accident?"

"Negative Sir; their scents appear after." He paused and frowned slightly, "Sir, there is also an underlying scent that none of us have ever smelt before," he shuddered, "we cannot place it, but it was here at the time of the accident."

"What was it?"

"We don't know, Sir... it's nothing we have ever come across, but it is worse than... anything I have ever smelt. It almost smelt like... pure evil." He shuddered again, as his comrades did too.

A warning bell went off in Zac's head. "I got a call from a Braanan underling before," he said quietly, "I bet they have him. They were probably calling with a ransom for him!" he growled angrily, rage building again. His meeting with Curt replayed, From now on you make sure that none of your pack venture within a hair of my territory or I may see fit to take my own prisoners!

"We cannot be sure of that, my Alpha. The scene indicates he was picked up by humans, possibly emergency crews by the scent. The Braanan cleared up the accident, probably to avoid questions and keep the Secret."

"No," he growled furiously, "They have taken my second in command, and have announced war on my pack. Let's go. I want border details doubled. I want no inch of our border to be unmanned. Scour our territory. Take any trespassers prisoner!"

He launched himself into the car, the others scrambling to follow wide-eyed. This was not like their alpha- he was normally the last to jump to conclusions and always remained cool. They exchanged looks but chose wisely to say nothing to him.

~~~

Zac fell into his bed; his body still in physical pain like someone had punched him in the gut. Emotions whirled uncontrollably through his body. He violently thrashed around under his sheets, trying to find a comfortable position.

He stared at his glowing clock. It was midnight and he couldn't sleep. With a growl, he got up and retrieved sleeping pills from his cabinet. Taking two, he waited impatiently for them to kick in.

~~~

He felt wobbly in the dream, and everything felt funny to him. It was as though he was drunk. The edges of his vision blurred and the room spun a little. Must be the sleeping pills, he thought to himself. He had made up his mind that he would tell Ally about his transgression and beg for her forgiveness. It was a matter of how. He wandered the house and grounds, looking for his mate, his heart heavy in his chest.

He eventually found Ally in the East Gardens, kneeling in a flower bed, pulling out weeds. He coughed gently behind her, making her whirl around and smile happily. "Zac," she cried out, jumping up and giving him a hug. She smelled of earth and flowers, which he found alluring. He tottered a little bit, feeling off-balance.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Ally appraising him, "You look drunk."

"I know," he slurred, "I couldn't sleep, so I took some sleeping pills. I think they must be causing this."

"Why couldn't you sleep? Is something bothering you?"

Guilt stabbed at him as he stepped out of her embrace. "Ally," he said seriously, swaying slightly, "There's something I need to tell you."

She waved her hand, "I remember the dream last night, though I didn't when I woke up. Somehow tonight, when I realised where I was, I knew it was a dream, and I completely remember last night." She hugged him again, "I know who you are, I know what you are, and I don't care. It doesn't matter to me. I love you." She smiled brightly; "I have never said that to anyone except my parents and my pets, but I can say it to you and it just feels, so right! I love you, I love you, I love you!" she giggled, stepping up to give him a kiss.

Zac felt a tear slip from his eye. Ally's smile dropped, "Zac? What's wrong?"

"I-I'm sorry. When I disappeared last night I was woken up... It was one of the women from my pack... I don't know. Since a couple of days ago I have felt... weird. Like, I'm not in control of myself."

Ally froze, watching him, "I don't understand."

Zac felt the guilt stab harder, "She... touched me, then she... well, she took me in her mouth," he made a face, feeling disgusted, "I was so surprised; I don't know what happened. It was like the sane part of me was locked away and unable to react. I feel so guilty and disgusting. I'm so sorry. I am going to reassign her somewhere else, far, far away from me. I didn't mean to hurt you; I didn't want this. She is assigned because she was trusted to maintain a professional distance."

Ally felt numb, "I... I don't know what to say... I guess... We never really had any exclusive deal going- we never spoke of commitment, I guess... I mean, I'm not your girlfriend or anything..." she felt a tear roll down her cheek.

Zac grabbed her face with his hands, cupping her cheeks gently. He wiped away her tear, "You are so much more than that to me. You know what I am; then you should know that we mate for life. You are my mate. I knew since I first laid eyes on you. I love you so much it hurts me. I would do anything for you."

"Then how could you do this to me?" she whispered, pulling herself from his embrace. "After what you just told me, how can you say those things?"

"Because I want to make it right. I didn't want to sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn't happen." He got down on his knees, "I want to beg for your forgiveness. I am so sorry and it will never happen again."

Ally felt her heart aching as she pictured him enjoying another woman, "I need time. I don't want to see you right now. Please just... let me out." She started moving around agitatedly, looking for an exit from the horrible dream, "Let me out right now, Zac. Let me go back to sleep and wake up and forget this. Let me go!"

Zac knelt there, his heart hurling across waves of guilt and pain. He could barely hear her. The Attraction is still on your side, the elders had said. He got up, desperate. Moving over to Ally, he grabbed her tight. He hugged her then brought his mouth down to hers. Their lips touched gently, Zac praying it would work, "Please, I am so sorry. I love you." He whispered.

Ally pushed him with all her might and slapped him across the cheek. The unmistakable sound echoed across the space. Without a word she turned around and marched away from him. Out of his sight she ran into the woods as fast as her feet could carry her, tears blinding her way.

Zac called out to her, but she kept running until she disappeared from sight. He fell to his knees with a broken sob. Pounding the ground with his fists, Zac accepted the pain in his hands better than the tidal wave threatening to consume his soul.

~~~

Ally woke up to the sun shining through her window, but her mood was a black storm on the horizon. Her pillow was wet where her eyes had been. She tried to remember her bad dream, but all she felt was pain and hurt with no specifics.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 09



She climbed into the shower and scrubbed herself vigoursly, trying to wash away the uneasiness. She stomped around the house, irrationally angry at everything. Racking her brain, Ally couldn't think of anything that would have made her feel this way. Looking closely at the calendar she realised that she was probably just feeling some PMS.

Putting on her Mp3 player, she turned up her favourite tunes as she marched into the backyard armed with gloves and pruning shears. She spent the morning weeding, hedging and mulching her yard. It was soothing, and she felt herself relaxing as she focused on the task. When the sun was high overhead, she wiped her heavy brow and made her way into the cool confines of the kitchen. Taking out the ear phones, she helped herself to a cool glass of water.

On her way to take a shower she noticed her answering machine was flashing. She pressed play, listening to the masculine voice she had missed for the last few days.

"Hi Ally, it's Zac. How are you? I know you wanted some space, but I was wondering; did you want to meet for a coffee? We need to talk."



Pure Moonlight Ch. 10



Here we are! I cannot believe that I have managed to write 10 chapters!

A huge thank you to all my readers, especially those who have emailed, commented and rated. Love to you all. Keep up with the emailing, commenting and loving; it makes my day to hear from my readers!

For anyone who appreciates irony, we have come full circle, but we are not chasing out tails.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and the ones to follow.

<3 Shadowsung

~~~

Dark Storm clouds raced across the sky as lightening flashed and thunder rolled, its deafening boom breaking across the flat and barren landscape like a bomb. Caitlin sat up dazedly, the fog in her mind slowly clearing. Her hand was shiny and red, but completely healed. She could have cried with relief. A lightening flash across the sky brightly lit up the sky for a moment before the darkness closed over again.

Caitlin stood up slowly and took in her surroundings. The sand that covered the ground was dull and dark and the trees that studded the area where black and gnarled. There was nothing living about this place. Fear crept up her spine. This was a place for neither the living nor the dead. This was limbo and trapped for eternity here was said to be worse than hell itself.

"A little cliché, don't you think?" came a bemused voice behind her. Spinning around, she faced the speaker, still too stunned to reply. The figure bent down to pick up a handful of sand and let it slowly flow between his fingers like a black waterfall. He looked up, meeting her eyes with his ice cold ones, "It has been done before, so many times. I was hoping for something creative."

Anger raced up her spine at his calm demeanour.

"YOU!" she roared, leaping at him, "What did you do to me!"

Just before she had reached striking distance he held up his hand, stopping her motion as though he had caught her throat. Her air passage closed over with a strangled croak as she clawed hopelessly at her neck. He released her, letting her drop to the ground in a heap.

Heaving air into her lungs she coughed before lunging at him again, swiping morphed claws through his abdomen. The heavy cloak fell to the ground in a black mound that began quivering violently. Black spiders of varying sizes exploded from the openings of the pile and swarmed over her. A terrified scream tore itself from her mouth as she tripped over her own feet. The spiders crawled up her legs, moving as one writhing, furry, black mass.

Thousands of black hairy spiders kept pouring from the cloak, drowning her in a sea of creeping legs and wriggling bodies. Caitlin did her best to try and crawl away, but there were too many. Her world filled with spiders as she felt them burrow into her ears and nose and crawl down her throat, choking the blood curdling screams fighting to escape her chest.

Suddenly she could breathe again, heaving deep lungfuls of air and spluttering. The spiders had disappeared and he was standing there watching her, smiling amusedly as though she had done something mildly entertaining. "Where are we?" she asked timidly, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"This?" He chuckled, "Why surely you recognise this. It is your nightmare after all." He swept his arm to include all of the surroundings.

"Why are you in my dream?"

"I am not just in your dream, my dear, I am controlling it." He held up his hand and gave a flick, and suddenly they were sitting at a dinner table. Working at the kitchen bench was her mother and father, talking and giggling happily.

Caitlin remembered this time from her childhood. Tears fell down her face as she drank in her parents; lost to her for years.

"Memories are funny things aren't they? I have full access to those too," he said with a smile. He waved his hands again and the house was engulfed in flames.

"NO!" Caitlin screamed, "Stop! I don't want to see it again!" She closed her eyes tightly, the bright light from the flames flickering across her lids as she heard the dying screams of her parents all over again. A thundering boom took over the roar of flames as she felt darkness close in. Opening her eyes, Caitlin found herself back in Limbo, almost to her relief.

"How did you-"

"Do all this? It's laid out here," he said, magically conjuring up the contract she recognised as the one they had made. He grabbed it from the air and started looking at it. "You know, you really should read the fine print to these things, they really can be killer."

He muttered to himself while pulling the parchment down making it grow longer. "Aha! Here we are, Paragraph E subsection 2.4J, The signatory (you) hereby relieves his or her subconscious to the contractor (me) to ensure maximum communication and understanding."

Caitlin blinked at him confusedly.

He sighed and the contract disappeared. "It means," he said deliberately and slowly, "That I can control your dreams and all sorts of yummy things to make sure that you hold up your end of the deal. Which currently, you are not. So this is me, communicating to you my displeasure, understand?"

He advanced on her menacingly, murder in his cold eyes. "You said I could not be killed as a result of this transaction," She stammered, fearing for her life.

He paused before smiling, "I did too," he conceded silkily, "Only think how much more pain you can go through without dying. I could make you wish for it all too easily. Pain can be a part of your subconscious.

"I can make your insides burn and your skin freeze and yet, there will be nothing for anyone to see... nothing to treat or remedy, just pain so great that you cannot even move. I will destroy everything you care about and treasure in your pathetic little existence and make you wish for death. As you so diligently reminded me, however; you cannot die from this transaction. Pity for you, really. Unless you keep up your side of our bargain, then it will be easy and pain-free.

"I will always be watching... Remember that. You signed the contract and you will honour it."

With that, he vanished from sight, leaving Caitlin alone in her nightmare, the darkness closing around her and no one to hear her pitiful cries of regret.

~~~~~

Zac paced through the compound, willing time to go faster. He walked in circles around the east garden, watching the new gardeners at work fixing it up. He felt guilty about the neglect he had shown to his mother's precious garden. Truthfully, it had hurt so much when she had died that he could not bear to remember the happy times they had spent together in such a place.

Footsteps behind him broke his concentration. "My alpha," Doc called, "I have some news."

"Is it about Ally?" he asked concerned.

"Yes, my alpha. Do you remember when she first came in? You asked me what she was, and I said she was human?" Zac nodded, motioning for him to continue, "Now... I am not so sure," Doc said hesitatingly.

"Since you asked it has been bothering me. When you brought her to the compound wounded and unconscious, I warned you I had never treated a human before- I treated her much like I would have for one of us. I have been speaking with Dr Lance of the Braanan pack for a while now. As you know he works in the Hospital in town as the head Werehealer and hospital liaison. He has extensive history with treating humans." He paused fiddling nervously with the folder he had in his hand.

"And?" asked Zac, wondering where his healer was going.

"I did not know it at the time, my alpha, but Ally's injuries should have rendered her an invalid in huge amounts of pain. She should not have been able to move. She heals quicker than humans- not quite as fast as our kind, but much faster compared to a mortal. Lance sent over her medical history and she has been a fast healer since her early teens." He held up the file for Zac to see.

"What are you saying, Doc?" asked Zac carefully.

"Lance and I agree; if she is entirely human I will eat my foot, shoe and all. You picked up on it before we did my alpha. You asked me what she was- what made you ask that day?"

Zac searched his memory, "The day I asked you, she had refuted the Attraction twice; no one has ever done it before, not even humans in our history. She also... pushed me. I am not sure how to describe it, except that I felt her energy gathering then thrust out to me, knocking me back. I have never felt that before and I have never been blown that far back by a mere push."

"Interesting... I wonder what she is. She cannot be Were; we would have scented her Guardian spirit's presence. She is not entirely human, my alpha; of this we can be sure of."

With that, he bowed and left his alpha to ponder the million dollar question: What was his mate?

He wandered around the garden, pondering his mate when he realised the time. He rushed to his room to get ready to go see his mysterious love.

He ordered his chauffer to make a stop on the way, and then raced to her house.

~~~

Ally tidied up her house and waited nervously. Since their last coffee had not gone so well, she had suggested that Zac come to her house. Despite her angst, she felt a need to see him; be with him in every sense. She had never felt this way in her life. She still could feel something on the edge of her conscious, causing some distress, but it was easily ignored by thinking of Zac and his body.

She thought about their short time together and the things that had happened. She polished her mother's picture for the fourth time that morning, wondering what she would think if she had been around to see it. Would she be disappointed in how quickly she gave herself to him? Would she be happy that she had found a man that caused such great happiness? Ally was disheartened to know that she would never be able to know her mothers' thoughts on her lover.

The doorbell sounded, breaking her concentration. She rushed to the door and opened it with a smile. There he was, standing tall and proud on her doorstep. In his hands was a large box, covered in gorgeous wrapping paper. She smiled at him and beckoned him inside. He placed his burden on the coffee table and smiled at her. He stepped up to her and kissed her gently.

"This is for you," he said simply, gesturing to the box. Ally felt her smile widen.

"But it's not even my birthday!" she ripped the wrapping paper open and opened the box.

She stared at its contents confusedly. Gently she reached in and pulled it out and gently set it on the coffee table. In front of her, in a shallow, wide blue pot was a tiny forest of 12 trees, their tiny foliage joining to make a canopy not two hands high. Moss grew on the uneven ground and over the tiny rocks that were studded through the pot. She frowned, "It... it feels familiar" she said, trying to remember if she had ever seen it before. She gently ran a finger along the length of a tiny trunk. In the middle of the forest she could see something almost weaving between the trees. Gently she fished it out and held it in her palm. It was a rusty brown wolf figurine roughly carved from wood; its features were simple yet effective.

"It's a wolf," he said, watching her carefully, "I carved it myself many years ago. It symbolises the wild part of our hearts and natures that we all have inside us. The saplings that made this forest came from the one surrounding my home. It is over 240 years old. It was cultivated by my ancestors who sought to replicate the landscape."

"It's so beautiful. You shouldn't have. I can't accept this; it belongs with you and your family."

"That is what I am trying to say... I would like you to be a part of my family."

Ally felt her heart stop. She looked at him, her mind going at a million miles an hour. He looked so wary, as if waiting for another rejection. He would hear no more from her. She couldn't run away from her feelings any more.

She stepped up to him, her hands on his cheeks, as she pulled his face down for a kiss. It started as a chaste peck but grew more passionate. She wrapped her arms around his neck as they explored each other.

Zac cupped her fine ass cheeks and pulled her up. Getting the hint Ally wrapped her legs around his waist, their kiss never ending. Zac pulled away from her lips and delved into the fleshy part of her neck, making her moan and buck her hips. The smell of her arousal filled the room, spurring Zac on.

"Ally," Zac started, worried, "you don't have to-"

"Take me," she groaned, "I want you now."

Hearing those words made Zac almost weak at the knees. Had he been mortal he probably would have dropped her. His grip remained firm on her ass as he moved up the stairs. He pressed her against her closed door, bucking his hips and his rock hard need into her, still attacking her neck. He fumbled for the doorknob, wanting to get her into bed and make her scream his name.

Ally was on fire. She was drowning in her simple need for him. His attentions to her neck were sending jolts down her spine and giving her Goosebumps. She could feel his need pressing against her hips and she felt hers increase in response. She felt moisture pool in her pussy as he bucked his hard-on against her.

Suddenly the door she was pressed against gave way and she felt herself falling backwards. Just as she was worried about hitting the floor, she hit her mattress with a small squeal of delight.

Zac followed her down onto the bed, finding himself in the loveliest of positions. His hands roamed freely across her body, tugging and pulling at her clothes as she did the same to him. Their lips met again in fervent kissing, their tongues duelling for dominance.

The pile of clothes on the floor grew as more and more of their bodies were bared. Finally all that stood was her panties; pretty silken lingerie that Zac took the time in admiring. He shimmied down her body to take a closer look. They were pink and lacy and coated in her arousal. The smell was too overpowering to be close to and do nothing. Zac slid her panties down her milky thighs before flicking them onto the pile on the floor.

The smell was so intoxicating and decided that he had to taste her again.

He spread her legs and put them over his shoulders, giving him complete access to her throbbing mound. He spread her dewy and plump lips apart, revelling in her arousal. He licked the length of her, gathering her on his tongue for sampling, causing her to shriek loudly. Her nectar was addictive as he delved into her valley, nipping and sucking; licking and caressing.

Ally was burning; bright red staining her cheeks. His attentions were like petrol on a fire, her moans filling the room. It didn't take long for her to climax on his talented tongue. He could feel her tightness shuddering around the length of his tongue inside as she cried out his name.

Panting heavily, Ally sat up and pounced on Zac. Pulling and prodding she got him to lay down in her spot as she started to massage his naked body. She tweaked his nipples gently, giggling at the face he made. She ran her nails softly along his hard torso, following the lines of his muscles. Pretending to ignore it, she completely bypassed his straining need that was almost screaming to be touched. Moving down his legs, she massaged his thighs, pulling his legs apart and running up and down the inner length.

She gently touched his package, making him twitch. A moan escaped his lips, urging her on. Using her hands, she traced every line of his most private area, as though memorising it. Tentatively, she lowered her head and licked the tip, surprised by its velvety softness covering a rock hard member underneath. A hoarse groan tore itself from his heaving chest as she engulfed his member in one fluid motion.

He almost blew his load when he opened his eyes and found her staring up at him, her mouth taking in his hard length. He held her head and gently pulled her up for a kiss.

She straddled him as she kissed him, the heat from her pussy poured over his throbbing cock.

She broke the kiss and swooped down to his neck, attacking it as he had done her. He melted into the bed, shuddering as pulses coursed through his body from his neck.

Unconsciously he bucked his hips, and felt his tip brush along her length. She moaned into his neck, so he repeated the action. With each bite at his neck, he thrust up and along her.

Ally changed the angle of her hips slightly and his next thrust caused the tip to penetrate her heat. They moaned together as Ally slid herself down onto him, spearing herself on his hardness and enveloping him with her tight, wet heat.

Her hips met his and she ground deeper onto him, taking him as deep as possible. She sat up and threw her head back as she slowly rocked and ground her hips. Zac held onto her as he watched her bounce and rock on him and enjoyed the sensations she was causing him.

He watched her perky breasts as they bounced on her chest, the motion almost hypnotic. He grabbed them both in his hands and massaged them.

"Harder," she moaned, moving faster. Zac complied, kneading her delicious mounds and manipulating them. Ally thrust her chest into his hands revelling in their treatment. He let go of her flesh and pinched her nipples. He twisted and rubbed them gently, listening to her delighted sighs of encouragement.

Her movements became jerky and hard as she neared an orgasm. Zac grabbed her hips, thrust himself as deep as he could go and rolled them over so she was on her back. Ally squealed in surprise as she felt herself pinned to the bed.

Still holding onto her hips, he took over as he thrust into her, pushing her into the mattress.

She moaned and pulled her head down to hers for a kiss, his rhythm never faltering. Their tongues duelled while he plundered her delights, the sounds of their moans and cries filling the air.

Zac moved down to her breasts, seeing them pink and flush with the nipples swollen from his attentions. He took a nipple in his mouth, rolling it along his tongue and nibbling on it, listening to her squeals of delight.

An orgasm washed over Ally, knocking the air from her lungs. The only sound she made was a small, breathy whimper, but Zac could feel her twitching and milking him while he continued to thrust.

He felt his knot growing at the base of his penis, and he began to worry. He didn't want her to see it and panic, and he knew he would never fit it inside her without her noticing. He had to fight his wolf and his instincts to bury the growth within his mate, mark and make her his forever.

Zac weighed down on her further, closing the gap between their bodies and hiding his new growth; his thrusting never changing pace. He took a nipple in his mouth once more in the hopes of distracting her. Just thinking about it made him shudder delightfully. He refused to give in to his urges, promising himself that he would do all those delicious things in time; after he had told her everything and given her the choice.

His wolf tried one last time to convince him to mate her, but was quelled with the thought of betraying her by removing the choice from her.

Ally moaned, her eyes closed and her head thrown to the side. Zac took the invitation and abandoned the nipple for her collarbone with a squeal from Ally.

While she was distracted he slipped a hand between their bodies and began to rhythmically stroke her clit, hoping to finish together and avoid the discovery of his throbbing knot. He felt her insides shuddering and milking him, bringing them closer to completion.

He rubbed her clit harder and faster to match his growing pace of thrusting. Their panting grew frenzied with their movements; the sound of flesh slapping flesh filled the room.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 10



Ally let out a loud groan as another orgasm swept through her body. For some unknown reason, she felt the urge to bite his neck as he thrust above her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him deeper while she reached her arms around his neck and brought him closer.

She sunk her teeth into the tender part he had nibbled on her neck.

Feeling her teeth sink in the flesh at his neck took Zac over the edge. He felt her pierce the skin and draw blood, marking him. He didn't know how she knew to do so, but she had. He cried out as he thrust himself as deep within her body as his knot would allow and came, spilling his seed deep within her twitching and pulsing body.

They lay together; their bodies entwined and basking in the glow of the other. Their breathing slowed as they cuddled.

"What are you?" Zac asked quietly, looking down at his mate.

She smiled up at him, "I am me and I am in love with you."

It made his heart soar to hear her say those words, but he had hoped he would be able to shed some light on her true nature.

He shrugged and figured he would have plenty of time to figure her out during their lifetime together.

"I got something else for you," Zac whispered gently. He leaned over and rummaged through the pile of clothes. He sat back up and pulled her up with him.

He handed over a rectangular box covered in velvet. Gently Ally opened it, not sure what to expect. Lying on a thin, delicate chain was a silver locket. It was the shape of a love heart made from feathered wings. It was beautiful and she was lost for words.

"Open it," he encouraged and she complied. Both wings opened at the centre, revealing its secret. Inside the locket, in miniscule writing were the words, 'My Angel'.

She was lost for words. Zac put his arms around her and whispered in her ear, "You fell into my lap from the heavens and I don't ever want to let you go... My Angel."

Ally felt a distinct feeling that she had heard those words before. She threw her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. They sat up and ally held her long locks up while Zac secured the chain on her neck.

The locket looked as though it belonged there, it suited her so much. She hugged and kissed him, thanking him for his wonderful gifts.

The couple had just snuggled down when a phone rang out, muffled amongst the pile of clothes. Ally yelped and leant down, scattering the pile and unearthing her screaming phone. She mashed at it until it stopped, a blush mantling her cheeks.

"I forgot that I had organised to meet up with a friend today. I missed out on our last catch up while I was with you..." She looked upset, forced to choose between him and her friend.

He kissed her on the forehead, "I will still be around when you have finished visiting your friend, Angel."

Ally grabbed his cheeks and pulled him down and kissed him passionately.

~~~

Kate Braanan was waiting at a small table, basking in the sunshine by the time Ally arrived. Jumping up, she rushed over and gave Ally a huge bear hug. Hesitating against her, she sniffed deeply, sensing something different about her friend. Breaking the hug, Kate looked at her friend closely. A light blush mantled her cheeks and there was a faint aroma of sex that she had to work to detect.

Underneath all the smells, Kate could smell an unknown were. There was definitely a lot of catching up to do with her friend.

"So," Kate said slowly, "Where have you been hiding lately? I haven't seen you in ages."

The blush deepened, "I... met someone," Ally admitted sheepishly, "He is amazing!"

"Does he have a name?" Kate asked, hoping to find out the new lover's identity. She was trying to remember if anyone from the pack had found their mate in a human recently, but none came to mind.

"Zac," Ally gushed, her eyes brightened. Her hand went to her neck where her new locket sat, "He gave this to me this morning."

"Well, I must meet him and you must tell me more!" Kate said, "Once we have finished our coffees, why don't we go back to your place- I have your bridesmaid dress here and I want you to try it on. There is only 4 weeks to go, you know."

Ally looked at her, surprised, "You seem much calmer about it now," she remarked.

Kate smiled, "Rick took me to an overnight spa retreat; I feel very relaxed now. He dropped me off here, so I will have to catch a ride with you to your place."

They spent an hour chatting and laughing over their coffees. Eventually, the friends got up and headed for home. They didn't notice a shadow following them, watching their every move.

Bart, hidden in the bushes, watched as his new Madame left with the Braanan woman, arm in arm and giggling. He pulled out his phone and dialled his Alpha, worried about the potential meaning behind it all.

~~~

Caitlin was pacing her room, rubbing her hand and mulling her situation. She felt so trapped.

"Problem, dear?" asked a silky voice. Caitlin felt weak at the knees she turned to face him, but refused to meet the glowing red eyes beneath the hood.

"No, no problem," she said as airily as she could. "As you requested he has been fed the drops every day. I have not done anything to warrant a check up." she nervously fiddled with her hands.

"No, you have not," he conceded, "I am here to play a part, and I needed a safe place to appear, so I thought I would drop in and see how you were doing," he smiled, but the warmth never reached his eyes, "I see that you are busy my dear, so I shall change and be on my way."

He turned on the spot, thick black mist covering his figure. When the mist had settled, Caitlin gasped; Keith stood in front of her, except for his demonically glowing red eyes, it was the beta exactly. The man blinked a few times and Keith's normal hue took over.

She couldn't repress the shudder that slid down her spine. With a sardonic smile, he bowed and left the room, leaving her rooted on the spot, completely speechless.

~~~

Zac had just returned home when a young boy came rushing up with news.

"Keith?" Zac asked the young boy, "Where is he?"

"If it pleases, my alpha, he awaits you in his office." The boy said with a bow. Zac patted the boy on the shoulder before launching himself through the grounds and compound.

Keith was standing at the window his hands behind his back as he gazed out.

"Keith," Zac cried, "Where the hell have you been?! You had me so worried!" He pulled his best friend up into a hug, grimacing at the smell. He was dishevelled and obviously hadn't bathed since his disappearance.

"I was... captured. The Braanans had me prisoner. I escaped and made my way back. I heard interesting things while I was there, my alpha; rumours and whispers I am sure I was not meant to hear."

"Are you ok, my friend? Are you hurt? Why did they do this? This is their second act of war! This will not be tolerated! Call in the betas, we must discuss battle strategy. We shall give them war."

"My alpha, listen to me! This is not just war; this is espionage, trickery and deceit. There were whispers of spies in our pack. Of witchcraft and black magic. Someone new to the pack is a witch and she is casting spells on us all to keep us unaware."

Zac sat dejectedly. The Doc's voice ringing through his ears, 'She is not entirely human, my alpha; this we can be sure of....'

"No" said Zac, feeling a pain in his chest, "It can't be. She is my mate."

"Zac," Keith began. He was interrupted with a shrill sound coming from Zac.

Pulling out his phone, Zac read the number and answered swiftly, "What is it Bart?"

Keith watched as Zac merely nodded to his phone before collapsing in a seat; his heart shattering into a million pieces. He closed his eyes for a second; pushing away the betrayal and hurt that threatened to consume him.

"What should I do, Keith?" asked Zac quietly.

"You said it yourself, the Braanans have declared war twice now, and she has been seen with the daughter of the man you are now hostile with. She has clearly chosen her side."

Zac stood and stared out his window. After a minute, he nodded, resolute in his decision, "Call out the other betas, we will take some prisoners of our own."

Keith smiled a most evil smile, his eyes glowing faintly red, "At once... My Alpha."　

~~~

"Oh Ally, it's beautiful!" exclaimed Kate as they observed the mirror closely.

Ally was in her bridesmaid dress, trying it on for the first time. The dark blue silk length flowed down her lithe body; bringing out the striking colour in her eyes. The cream trim and embroidery showed off her assets and figure nicely. It had been hand made to her measurements and fit her perfectly.

Together they gently clinked their champagne glasses together, toasting to their relationships and future happiness.

Kate had put on her bridal gown and they laughed and giggled happily as they modelled for each other.

~~~

The betas that had surrounded his former mate's house stood sentinel while Zac stood silently listening to Bart, "My Alpha, please consider! That is your mate in there! There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation. Going in there and taking them by force will not be conducive to finding out their reasons and it will not help the situation with the Braanan pack. You are better than this!"

"Zac," Keith said quietly, "she is in there right now with the enemy. You can hear them laughing... They are laughing at you."

Zac nodded; his gaze steely.

"Zac," Bart cried desperately, "You must-"

Zac snarled and backhanded his beta, "You will not address me so informally and nor will you dare to tell me what to do! I am your Alpha; I run this pack and you must obey!" He advanced on his man, growling deep in his chest.

Bart knew he could not best his Alpha, so he showed his neck in submission, before bowing and moving away sadly.

Zac turned his hard gaze to the house where he could hear the laughter of the woman who had broken his heart.

Get them, he ordered his men silently.



Pure Moonlight Ch. 11



Hi everyone!

This story is a work of fiction from my own mind and hand. I started this story and posted it, and I am going to finish it. There are dark times ahead but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. And no, it's not a train!

Lots of love to all my patient and supportive readers! I will continue this story and I will finish it because we all deserve a happy ending.

I love reading comments from people who are enjoying the series; it really makes my day and encourages me to write more. 

If you don't like my story or the direction it's heading in, that's fine- but I don't want to hear your negativity. If you have useful suggestions or critiques then feel free to contact me (preferably with a reply email, to give me a chance to discuss).

　

As always; rate, comment, fawn, share, link, love


Shadowsung

~~~ Chapter 11 ~~~

　

　

The room was almost silent except for the frequent tiny beeps of the machine closely guarding the stranger's life. The nurse sighed as she sponged him down, appreciating the toned planes of his body. The man was sweating profusely and muttering incoherently. He had been running a fever most of the morning at well over the average Were and seemed to be experiencing delirium in his unconscious state.

She watched his face contort into a snarl before morphing into horror. The man gave a strangled cry. Convulsing, he sat up straight screaming, 'NO!"

The nurse nearly leapt from her skin. Lance rushed past her, grabbing the strangers' shoulders and pushing him back to the bed. The man arched his back, convulsing and screaming pitiful screams as the nurse re-attached the restraints attached to the bed. She had removed them to get to his back for the sponge bath.

Suddenly the man stilled completely. Lance released some of the pressure and looked at the nurse questioningly and received a shrug in reply. They both looked at the man, carefully inspecting him for injury.

His eyes snapped open and he gasped for air before coughing roughly.

"Look at me," Lance commanded, "You are safe, stranger. You were in an accident; we brought you back here to take care of you."

"I know. I watched you," he replied. "In my unconscious state I was still able to witness everything that has been happening through black magic that was placed upon me. Thank you Dr. Lance, and to your alpha, Curt for his hospitality but my pack needs me very badly at this moment, for my alpha is about to make the biggest mistake of his life," he tried to move but found his hands bound to the bed.

"We cannot let you go until we are satisfied that you are not a threat to anyone and I have been given leave by my Alpha to release you. Since he is... not available presently, you will have to be patient," Lance explained gently. "Now, what is your name and from which pack do you hail from?"

Keith closed his eyes and tried to draw in breath to calm himself. His body was humming with the urge to shift and run to his Alpha, but he knew that attempting to do so would keep him restrained longer. "My name is Keith Coleman of the Coleman pack, 160 years old. I am beta and right-hand man to my Alpha, Zachariah Coleman; best friend since childhood. I am the son of William and Shania Coleman, both now in Luna's Embrace. I am unmated and childless. The Coleman Estate and my home lay to the South East of here on our pack lands. 

"My Iydam was not found on me at the scene of the accident because it was removed by the man who incapacitated me with black magic. He now holds my form and advises my Alpha to commit unspeakable acts using my voice. I must be set free before it is too late. Please, Lance of the Braanan Pack, know that once I am free I shall desert your lands for my own as fast as my feet can carry me. Faster, if you will lend me a car."

Lance took a breath to take in all of the information. He had heard of Keith, but he had never met him. While the man did look very desperate, his wolf knew that he was telling the truth and to trust him. After a moment, he nodded and began to undo his bindings, wary for any attack. 

Lance helped Keith off the bed and watched as the man fought to remain standing. The points on his temple were still there but fading, he noticed. The doctor helped him into some clothes and walked with him down to the garage. Out of his pocket he pulled a set of keys. "Take my car, and may Luna speed you to your Alpha, Keith of the Coleman Pack."

"And may she bless you and yours always, Lance. Thank you very much for your help." The men clasped wrists in a Were farewell before Keith jumped in the car and sped off down the driveway, praying he was not too late.

　

　

~~~

　

　

Ally had just poured herself another glass of champagne when Kate stopped talking and sniffed the air intently. She looked at her friend, an eyebrow raised at her odd behaviour. 

"Did I leave the gas on or something? What's up, Kate?" she asked curiously.

"I think your boyfriend is here, I don't think he is very happy," she replied hesitatingly.

"What do you mean? Zac would never be-"

Her reply was cut off by a giant man crashing through her lounge room window and taking Kate down with a tackle. There was the sound of smashing glass all throughout her house mingled with their screams.

Ally was grabbed from behind and lifted into the air. She kicked out behind her; her foot meeting sensitive flesh. As soon as her feet were on the ground she leapt to her friend, who was still struggling under the man pinning her to the floor. "Run!" Kate managed to scream.

Ally turned to run and came face to face with Zac.

Anger and hatred twisted his once handsome features; his eyes were black as coal and cold as snow. His eyes alone stopped her dead in her tracks. Her heart faltered at him giving her such a look.

A black bag was thrown over her head sealing her into darkness with nothing but her last glimpse of Zac's burning face to occupy her mind.

　

　

~~~

　

　

The bag was removed and Ally found herself in a dungeon cell. Kate was on makeshift pallet opposite her, unconscious. She rushed to her friend and let out a sigh of relief as she stirred. They didn't get the chance to talk because the sound of the door being opened alerted them to their company.

He stormed in, determined not to let his howling wolf get the better of him. He had been fighting with his other side that she was not who they thought she was and they had been deceived.

"Zac!" Ally said and rushed to the bars, "What is going on?"

　

"How could you do this to me?" Zac asked her, feeling his eyes burning with unshed tears. His wolf was howling at seeing their mate behind bars at their hand. Mentally he pushed away his meddlesome spirit into the confines of his conscious.

"Do what to you mean??? I am the one in a cage, Zac!" She shrieked in reply, her arms wide to include her small confines, " I have done nothing to you! I loved you! I let you into my heart and into my life even though clearly there were higher powers against us! I have been stalked, attacked, hurt and now kidnapped by you and your henchmen, and you dare to ask me what I have done to you?!" Ally paced the cage angrily.

"Just tell me, witch," he spat, his chest aching at the glares she was throwing at him, "Tell me how I break this spell. You are not my mate, I know its witchcraft, so just... tell me how to break it."

"What the hell are you on about? I'm not a witch, I was your girlfriend. You've gone crazy," she said in dismissal, hoping that she was just having a bizarre dream. She sat down on the pallet and closed her eyes, willing herself to wake up.

Kate sidled over to the bars, "Alpha Coleman, listen to me," she whispered desperately, "I have known Ally for years; we went to school together as little girls, she is not who you have been led to believe. She is human; not witch, Were or any other Supernatural being. You're making a big mistake! She does not know the Secret or anything about our world. If you feel the attraction, then it is true- she could not fabricate it."

"Zac," Keith whispered from behind him, "she is the daughter of the man you are now at war with and your prisoner; of course she would say these things. She is trying to buy time and waver your resolve in this course of action. You heard them; they were laughing at you. They are not laughing now, are they?"

Zac looked to see Ally watching him with cautiously, her eyes betraying the hurt she was feeling. She gave up on the dream idea and approached the bars again.

"Zac," she whispered quietly, "I'm scared. I haven't done anything to you. I loved you. Why are you doing this?"

He growled in frustration, his anger and rage built inside him until he could barely see. With a shout he slipped his form as his wolf broke free and came to the surface with a roar. 

It was so violent and fast, Zac felt a burning and ripping sensation through his body; it was not designed to shift so quickly and was given no time to adjust. His form literally exploded, leaving skin fragments on the surfaces like shrapnel from a bomb.

His wolf shook himself down and snarled at his human's folly.

Ally watched as her ex-lover exploded into a giant wolf, the same one she had seen in the alleyway that fateful night, except it was almost three times the size. It stared into the cage, snarling viscously and baring enormous fangs. A bloodcurdling scream tore itself from her before she collapsed in a dead faint.

Kate roared in anger and crouched over her friend; cradling her prone form. "You were right," she yelled angrily at the snarling wolf, "There is no way Ally could be your mate. You would never have done this to her if you were!"

Zac growled and paced the bars. The war within himself was exhausting and confusing him greatly. He howled loudly and raced from the room.

"You don't deserve her!" Kate screamed at his retreating form, her words echoing off the walls.

　

　

~~~

　

　

Ally dreamt horrible dreams, muttering and tossing in her sleep. 

She was running through a dark forest and something was after her. Dead, gnarled trees caught at her clothes and flesh, taking tribute for her passage. Cuts and rips grew across her arms, legs and face as she pushed her way through the boned arms threatening to grab her in the darkness. Something inside urged her to keep moving; to get away from him. She didn't know what or who or why, but in her gut she knew. Disembodied voices whispered and cried out around her, telling her to run and get away.

She burst through the sadistic trees and into a dark clearing with a stump in the middle of the space. The field was covered in a sea of the blackened corpses of flowers; their stems twisted and turned into shapes that screamed the agony they had felt. Sitting on the stump was a man, his bare back to her. It was Zac. She didn't know how she knew; but she just knew it was him. Her heart warmed; she was safe. A smile cracked her lips as she stalked up to him.

"Zac!" she cried out happily. The man on the stump shivered, a shadow coming over him. Ally stepped forward.

"Zac?" she asked hesitantly, her smile slipping. She reached up and touched the man on the back. With a snarl he rounded on her; a giant wolf face, with glowing red eyes and drool dripping from his snapping and snarling powerful jaws as he descended upon her.

　

　

Ally woke with a gasp, sitting up straight in her bed. "Psst," came a hiss at the bars. Ally looked over and saw that Kate had succumbed to sleep on the rough pallet bed.

She turned to inspect the figure on the other side of the bars.

"Who's there?" she whispered suspiciously.

"It's Keith; I need to talk to you."

Ally sighed and moved over to the bars. "What is going on? Why is Zac acting like this? What happened before? Why am I in here?" she shook her head confusedly, trying to gain control of her runaway thoughts. Her head was bursting with questions that had been left so unanswered. Her chest was heavy and aching, and drawing breath was getting harder for her. Her eyes burned and a sniff escaped her.

"I just... I want to say. I'm sorry," he said looking down, "I thought you were something that you are not, and I advised Zac wrongly. His treatment of you and your friend is not right. I want to make it right."

Ally looked at him suspiciously, "And how exactly can you help? He is your boss."

"I can help you to convince him to let you go. You still hold power over him while he believes you are his mate. If you remove those feelings, then he will not be interested 

in keeping you here."

Ally looked confused, "What is this about mates?"

Keith shook his head, "It is not for me to explain it to you, all you need to know, is that while he thinks of you as he currently does, you will remain here. You need remove these thoughts and feelings. There is a special phrase in our culture that indicates a person's unwillingness to continue a relationship. All you need to do is say these words and he will undoubtedly let you go, and you will never have to see him again."

A sharp shot of pain raced through her chest, never see him again. It hurt her a lot, but she was hurting even more behind bars and being accused of falsities. She nodded to Keith, her eyes hard, "teach me the words," she said quietly.

　

　

~~~

　

　

Keith pushed the car as fast as it could go, going crazy with worry. He had to stop his Alpha at all costs. Lights blurred past the window as he sped through the night.

He felt his Alpha cry to the skies and he numbly realised that he was too late. He pulled the car over and gave into his wolf, who was demanding release. He dropped to his knees, not bothering to strip.

The shift happened quickly, as he shook out his coat and took off, leaving a trail of shredded clothes behind him.

I have to get to Zac, he thought to himself, I can make things better if I can just get to him.

The wind blew through his coat as he moved across the landscape like a bullet. He still had further to go, but he felt better running.

The smells and visions blew past him like water over rocks. Hold on, Zac, he thought, I'm coming!

　

~~~

　

　

Bart had stood his post, hating himself and his alpha. He had heard the shouts and the yelling echoing along the walls. He heard his Alpha snarl and a high pitched scream that was cut off quickly. He had jumped, fearing the woman's health. His legs quivered under the pressure of his Alpha's orders. He was a mere beta; his Alpha had given him an order and he had to follow. 

"You don't deserve her!" echoed off the walls of the prison cells, and he couldn't help but agree. 

His humanity wanted to disobey the orders and help the poor women. He knew in his heart and in his gut they were innocent pawns, but he couldn't figure out for who.

His wolf inside had been accepting with the orders because that was the way of the pack. The Alpha cared for and protected them all; and the stronger wolf would keep them safe.

His human side disagreed; something was off with his Alpha. He had always had one of the best noses and scenting ability even for a Were. It was what got him a promotion to Beta status. He had noticed a taint surrounding his alpha; an unpleasant smell he had never encountered before and couldn't make sense of it.

He had spent hours at his post; he knew he was being punished for his outburst at her house. He used the time to consider all of the angles of the situation and all the possibilities and explanations.

"Bart?" called someone quietly from around the corner, startling him out of his trance. He turned the corner and found Keith. Angry at the Were for his part in Ally and her friend's imprisonment, he growled low.

Keith put his hands up in a defensive gesture, "I know, and for what it's worth... I'm sorry."

Bart stopped suddenly, eying the taller man curiously.

Keith stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking sheepish, "I was wrong. I thought horrible things about Ally and the Braanan woman. I edged Zac on, thinking it was for the best. I don't believe so now. I watched his interrogation and I realise now they are false."

Bart didn't know what to say to this. He went back to staring ahead, waiting for the other man to continue.

"I have just talked to Ally myself. I do not believe she is a threat to us and she has vouched for the Braanan woman. I taught her the Ending Phrase. Hopefully it will be enough to make Zac forget about her and release her."

"And if it isn't?" Bart asked quietly, "You and I both know this is not exactly a 'by the book' courtship."

"We will help them escape. They can find refuge at the Braanan compound and we can hopefully convince Zac to let go of this war before blood is shed."

He paused before continuing, "Then I will need your help."

"My alpha has ordered me-"

"To not interfere, contact or interact with the prisoners. He said nothing about you getting a car and leaving it and its keys in a convenient place for an enterprising young man or woman to find...." Barts eyes glowed; he hadn't considered a loophole in his orders.

"Here are the keys to the hummer," Keith said, handing them over, "If things go badly we can help them escape in that while we hold up the chase." 

He looked at his watch, "It's 9 o'clock; Zac will come down in an hour. Ally will utter the Ending Phrase and we will monitor his reaction. If he lets her go, then everything will be fine. If he doesn't I will contact your phone. You need have the car ready to go."

Bart nodded and watched the man carefully, breathing in a deep sigh. His sharp nose detected... nothing. Numbly, he realised he could not pick up the man's scent. He inhaled again through his nose. There was that trace of black again, but it was covered with Keith's scent. 

Bart was confused; he had never known the beta to disobey his Alpha's orders in such a way. Keith nodded and walked away, leaving the sentry with nothing but his thoughts and a darkened landscape.

　

　

~~~

　

　

Caitlin was frozen in indecision. How dare that creature take the form of Keith! What was he up to? The evil glow in his eyes told her that it would not end well.

She paced her room, her mind whirring. Finally, she threw caution to the wind and launched herself out of her room, sniffing the air desperately for her Alpha. 

She found him in the East Garden, pacing in front of the sparkling fountain, its water doing nothing to soothe his mood.

"My Alpha," she whispered, kneeling in front of him, "I have a confession to make. I am so sorry."

Zac stopped his pacing to watch the small woman on the ground. Never had she been so softly spoken and he had never heard her apologise for anything. He raised his eyebrow and sat on the lip of the fountain, "What is it, Caitlin? Can't it wait?"

Caitlin cringed at the dangerous tones hidden in his calm voice, "No, my Alpha, I am afraid it cannot. What I have to say if of the upmost importance to you and the pack." She hesitated, knowing the consequences she must face for her actions.

"What is it?"

"Yes, Caitlin," came a whispery voice behind a hedge, "What is it that you need to bother the Alpha with?" Keith came out from behind the bushes, menace written across his features.

Caitlin went rigid with fear; the smell permeating the air. Zac looked at Keith, wondering what had gotten into his friend. Keith looked at his Alpha and smiled handsomely, "She is talking about her seduction of you the other day. She hopes to weaken your power base by alienating you from me. She tried to blackmail me into following her in a coup. Your 'mate' and the Braanan Were was in on it the whole time. I interrogated them after you left."

Zac growled menacingly at the quivering form at his feet.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 11



"My alpha," Caitlin cried, "I never-"

"Silence," he growled, "I have had enough treachery this day. You will be jailed in the dungeon cells, away from your conspirators. And you had best start praying to Luna for mercy, for I will show you none!"

He marched away from the gardens, his chest heaving with the cataclysm of emotions threatening to destroy him.

Keith looked down at Caitlin, his eyes glowing red. "Tut, tut" he said quietly. His red gaze hardened as her screams pierced the night.

　

　

~~~

　

　

Ally was laying in the pallet with Kate, her sobs that had echoed off the cold and dark walls were gone. Kate was holding her close sand rocking them gently, trying to figure a way out of this.

"Keith came to me while you were sleeping," Ally told her quietly, "He told me to say some special phrase and it will make Zac stop treating us like this."

Kate stopped rocking for a second, "What were these words?" she whispered.

"I will not say them unless I have to. I don't even know their full meaning but even I know they are powerful."

Kate nodded, suspecting she knew what those words were. "What are we going to do?" she asked.

"We are going to get out of here and as far away as possible, and then you are going to tell me everything."

"What are you talking about-"

"Don't give me that, Kate! You and I both saw what we saw, and yet I was the only one surprised. You knew. You knew what he was... is."

Kate sighed, "Yes," she agreed quietly, "I knew. I didn't want to have to tell you the Secret, especially not this way, but the fates have made it so" she sighed, "I wasn't surprised because... I am what he is. Everyone here is."

"And what is that?"

"You know already. I know you well enough to know that you have figured it out."

"I still want you to say it; I want to know I'm not going crazy."

"You would call us Werewolves," she replied quietly, ignoring the gasp from her friend, "We are therianthropic; lycanthropes particularly. You have stumbled head first through the rabbit hole and the world will never be the same again. For that, I am sorry."

"My boyfriend is... a werewolf. Doesn't this normally happen in movies or those prank shows?"

"Ally, legends are always made from seeds of truth lost in time. We have stayed mostly hidden for a reason; most humans have never been able to accept the truth that they are not at the top of every food chain."

The friends were silent for a long time. Kate sat up a little straighter, sniffing the air, "Are you ready for round two?" she asked nervously, "Because he comes again, and he is pissed."

Ally and Kate stood up, watching the door, trying to hide their nervousness. The door was wrenched open and her old beau opened stormed in.

"Out," he ordered the two guards quietly. They hesitated, seeing the murder in his eyes.

"OUT!" He roared at them, the Alpha's timbre appearing to force them to obey.

The two betas scampered, throwing apologetic looks to the two girls in the cage.

"Temper temper, Alpha," tutted Kate quietly, "You are meant to have more control than this."

Zac ignored her, his eyes on his wary mate. She refused to look him in the eye. Despite the ache in his chest and everything going on, he felt compelled to lock her up in his embrace and brush away her tears. He wanted to kiss her and... he roared in frustration, causing her to flinch.

"What have you done to me?" he asked her furiously, "You cannot be my mate- you must have tricked me somehow. How? How do I stop it?"

Ally looked at him for the first time since he entered the room. His hair was a mess. There were deep, dark circles under his crazed, once hypnotising eyes. She stepped up to the bars and put her hand out to him, resting her cool hand on his warm cheek, "I have done nothing to you, Zac. I have loved and cared for you since I woke up in your bedroom after you saved me. A part of me still loves you, despite all you have done. It is not too late, my love. Let us go and we can talk about this."

Zac felt his eyes grow weak, he wanted nothing that to hold her in his arms. He reached for the keys. A low hiss echoed through the room, suddenly, he blinked and came to. He roared at her and pushed her through the bars and away from him.

She flew backwards and was caught by Kate.

"Enough tricks! Tell me what I want to know! Tell me how to stop this CURSE!"

"You want to know how to stop it? Fine! I will stop it," she said dangerously, stepping out of her friends arms.

"I abjure you," she said, stalking towards the bars. Her voice grew louder as power built in the room, "By Luna's hand we were tied and by my own I cut it. I abjure you. I refuse to share my spirit and my heart with the unworthy. I abjure you. I see you no longer, I hear not your cries and calls. Be gone from me and mine." she reached the bars, her eyes cold, "By Luna's witness, I ABJURE YOU!"

Zac's wolf howled as their connection was broken. For the second time that night, it broke free of his skin, howled loudly and raced away from the woman who had captured their heart.

The power that had built up in the room left with him. The ache in her chest was replaced by a sickening hollow feeling that was much worse. Ally collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, "What have I done?" she wailed.

Kate rushed over and consoled her, "You did what you had to."

Keith entered the room, the prison keys in his hand, "Let's go before he comes back," he said, "Bart is waiting with a car- you need to get as far from here as possible."

He followed them out into the darkened night. No one saw the evil smile that graced his lips and the red glint captured in his eyes.

Bart handed over the keys to Kate and giving her directions as Ally strapped herself into the passenger seat. 

Keith leaned over the window, "I promise I will see you soon," he he promised her with a smile. Ally could only nod and stare straight ahead.

They drove into the night, the car silent apart from Ally's quiet sobs. She curled up in the seat, hugging her knees to her chest, trying to fill the gaping hole in her chest.

　

　

~~~

　

　

Keith neared the compound, his pace never faltering. He could see the lights across the main house and scented out his Alpha; almost knowing where he would be. He raced passed confused sentries, who recognised the beta, but hadn't seen him leave the manor.

　

~~~

　

Zac forced his human form back as he paced his room, feeling the same pain as Ally. His eyes burned and his wolf howled. He had asked for this. Guilt swept through him at forcing her hand.

The words she had used were sacred to lycanthropes. Taught to each generation through written word, they were never uttered aloud for the power they held. He knew of only twice the words had been said; and neither had been in his pack. Those words could not have worked on a spell connection. They could only break a true mating bond created by Luna herself.

And that means, Zac thought to himself, she really was my mate. His knees buckled and the hollow ache in his chest grew worse. "She was my mate. And I have ruined it!" he covered his face in his hands. 

There was a knock at the door, which he ignored. The knocker grew louder. "Go away," he said menacingly.

The door burst open and Caitlin threw herself at his feet. She had scratches on her almost naked body and a pair of their special Were cuffs dangled from one wrist.

"My Alpha, you must listen to me! The man you think is Keith isn't... Keith!!! It is an impostor. I don't know who is he is, but he means us all harm! We have been betrayed!"

Zac's head grew clouded, "What are you talking about? Keith returned to us from the Braanan manor after being held captive."

"It was a lie told by an evil creature, My Alpha."

"How do you know? Where is your proof?" he asked, his arms across his chest. He was tired of looking at her and wanted to be alone, but he couldn't bear the thought of more treachery he had missed.

"I... have no proof but my word, and I swear it to Luna! Ask him a question only the real Keith would know!" she suggested desperately.

"What is going on here?" asked Keith from the doorway. His gaze hard as he took in the woman cowering on the floor, "I am sorry, My Alpha. I had locked her away as you ordered. Clearly I did not punish her enough."

Zac looked hard at his best friend, "She was just telling me an interesting story, my friend."

"Did she now," asked Keith lightly, his eyes never leaving her, "and what was this fabulous tale she spun?"

"She seems to think that you are not who you say you are," he replied watching the other man carefully.

Keith broke out into a smile, and look ed at the Alpha, "That is absurd, I am your best friend! Surely you would know me!"

"It is black magic, My Alpha. He deceives you; he lies!" cried Caitlin.

"Zac," said Keith, still smiling, "Do you remember, our 14th birthday, when we found our way into that cave. You stole your Father's ceremonial knife?"

Zac smiled, "We became blood brothers under Luna's watchful eye. We were alone and told no one." He held out his arm to show the scar.

Keith rolled up his sleeve to show the matching scar. The men turned to the woman cowering on the floor.

A four-legged blur burst into the room, phasing into a man as he tackled Keith to the ground, "Those are my memories and my body you stole!" he growled dangerously.

Zac froze at the sight of two of his best friends, "What-" he asked.

The Keith underneath laughed maliciously as his eyes turned blood red, "Stupid mortals; so easy to fool," he hissed.

Keith lifted him up slightly before smashing his head on the floor, "What do you want with my Alpha?" he roared.

"With your pathetic Alpha? Nothing," he said with an malevolent smile.

"Then who?" asked Keith confusedly.

Zac's mind whirled and clicked. He groaned and fell to his knees, "ALLY," he cried.

The red eyed Keith vanished into a cloud of black smoke, his laughs echoing around the room, "You are too late, pathetic mortals!"

~~~



Pure Moonlight Ch. 12



Hi all,

I present Chapter 12 of Pure Moonlight!

I am sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up- I know I left it on a hanger, there will be a few of those, this is another (just thought I'd warn you).

It also disappointingly short, but it is the most natural spot to pause before we get into really lengthy stuff, so bear with me. I know it is short by Literotica standards, but you have to realise this is 10 microsoft word pages, which is huge and merely compressed down for the internets, so appreciate my effort people!! Not my personal best, but still a accomplishment , so I make no apologies for the length.

Anyone complaining about the length will find a rotten banana in their mailbox! (mystical voodoo curse music)

My writing time has also been sadly limited with distractions and very unfortunate circumstances in my personal life. Hopefully in a couple of weeks things will be back to normal (as normal as they can be for me, anyway).

Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

As always Rate, Comment, Private feedback, Share, Tweet, Like, Whatever G+ does!


P.S. My word broke so I have no spell checker... I did my best to find the mistakes, but there are bound to be. 

~ 12 ~

Ally sat in silence, curled up in her seat and hugging her knees. The ache had gone; leaving her feeling completely empty. It was far from an improved state. The thought of Zac did nothing for her. Having gotten used to the warm feeling thoughts of him inspired, feeling nothing was almost painful. It was like thinking of a brick wall; there was no emotions or sentiment attached.

The silence in the car added to the tension as Kate nervously adjusted her hands on the steering wheel. Her friend had been silent since they left the compound; staring silently into the distance.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Asked Kate nervously.

"Not really," croaked Ally, wiping her dry face.

"What just happened is a pretty big thing, Ally. You discovered the existence of a hidden species hiding in plain sight, you were betrayed by your boyfriend and forced to do something that no one in my pack has ever seen done." She paused, struggling to phrase the question that had been niggling at her, "how does it feel?"

Ally hugged her stomach tighter, "Empty," she whispered quietly, "I don't know how to describe it. I just feel...hollow. It's as though my heart has been ripped out; it doesn't hurt... it's just not there."

"Ally," Kate whispered, feeling for her friend.

"Is... Is it reversible?" she asked hesitantly, not sure what she wanted the answer to be.

"I don't think so," Kate said, "You have to understand that those words are sacred and taught out of necessity. No one likes that lesson and it not much is actually known about it. It was given to us by Luna as a way out. It is not used lightly and has only been used three times that I know of. Hell, even the lessons are handwritten. Those words are too powerful to be spoken aloud unless they are meant." 

"Wait? What? What do you mean the lessons are hand written?"

"It means when we are taught the lesson, it is written down for us to memorise, and we have to write it out until we have learnt it by heart. The words are never spoken."

"But," Ally said hesitantly.

"But what?" Kate asked.

"Keith," she replied, "He spoke them to me... He told me the words verbally and had me repeat them until I got them right..."

"No," Kate said dismissively, "No wolf would ever utter those words. One of those three times was a teenager who spoke them aloud on a dare. He never found his mate and spent a long life alone. We know what is at stake with those words."

"But Keith spoke them," Ally insisted.

Kate shrugged, her eyes on the road, "I do not know what possessed him."

Kate seemed rather focused on the road and didn't want to discuss it, so Ally let it go. She curled up tighter turning her attention to the flashing glimpses of trees as they tore through the night.

~~~

"You are too late, pathetic mortals!"

Keith felt the cloth under his hands vanish and scanned the room desperately. Caitlin sunk to the ground, exhausted and hurting.

Zac held his head in his hands feeling completely out of control. "Ally!" He screamed to the heavens.

Keith rounded on Caitlin's quivering form, "Where has he taken her?" he demanded holding her up by her scruff, Caitlin sobbed and shook her head. He shook her like a rag doll before throwing her across the room with a roar of frustration.

"Keith! That is not how we treat pack!" Zac growled.

"She is no longer pack, my alpha, not once you know of her treachery. I saw everything. That creature put me under some kind of coma. I watched it all like a horrible dream; unable to move or speak or do anything," he paced the room, looking almost deranged as he went after her again.

Zac stood in between them, "She will speak of her crimes and admit to them by her choice, not your force," he said calmly.

Keith blinked at his best friend and nodded slowly, "You are wise, my Alpha." he turned and went to the window, muttering quietly to himself.

Zac turned to the woman he barely knew on the floor. "What is going on, Caitlin?" "My alpha I am so sorry!" she sobbed, "He tricked me, bewitched me and threatened me! That... creature... He promised me things that I thought I wanted. In return, I... I had to do something for him."

"What? What did you do?" Zac asked patiently, his wolf pacing with frustration inside him.

"I had to feed you this... stuff." She pulled out the evil vial from her pocket, "When I didn't it burned me and he threatened to do worse than kill me. My alpha I am so sorry! I wish I could take it back! I have been trying to right my wrong. I tried to tell you about the impostor, I tried to help!"

"Where has he taken her?"

"I honestly don't know! I was kidnapped and put to sleep, then he woke me up, made the deal and knocked me out again, I never saw anything but the dungeon he was in! I swear it by Luna!"

Zac looked down at the broken woman inside her. It took all his will power not to unleash his beast. It wanted out to tear her limb from limb for her betrayal. He pulled her Iydam from around her neck and inspected it carefully as he fought to maintain composure.

"You have betrayed this pack, Caitlin. The crime for such a betrayal is death. In light of the fact; however, you did try to amend your treachery, I shall spare your life.

"Your punishment is thus; you are exiled from this pack. You are not to step foot on our lands or speak to our people. The punishment for breaking your exile is death and I will show no mercy. Be gone, Caitlin, you are my pack no more." 

With a partially morphed claw, he scratched an 'X' through her pack insignia, marking her as exiled. He tossed it back and turned from her sobbing form. He joined Keith at the window, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezed it tightly.

Zac opened his mind to the pack, proclaiming his judgement of the woman, Caitlin. Two betas opened the door and moved over to the grieving woman.

Caitlin lay sobbing on the floor, her heart broken. The pack was all she had ever known. She had never left the town area and she had no idea what she would do. No pack would take a betrayer and she had very little experience with humans.

The betas picked her up and dragged her from the room, bowing to their Alpha respectfully.

"I have to find her, Keith." He said quietly, his eyes burning and his chest aching.

"I know," he responded, "I think it is time you visited the elders."

"I shall," Zac promised, "You rest. I will send for you when we are ready to head out." He clasped hands, and hugged his friend. 

He walked through the mansion quickly, barely noticing his route. He stopped at the door and knocked. The door swung open to reveal the ladies sitting in a row facing him. Zac fell to his knees before them, exhausted, "Please," he whispered, "You have to help her."

"My Alpha," they cried in unison, "What has been done?" 

~~~

Kate and Ally had been silent for quite some time. Each were lost in their own thoughts. Each of them trying to think of something to say to break the deathly quiet of the car.

"Ally," Kate began, glancing at her silent friend.

"Look out!" Ally screamed, pointing to the deer that had wondered into the middle of the road.

Both women screamed as the car swerved wildly across the road. Ally screamed and held on tight as the car ran off the road and smashed into the large trunk of a gnarled tree. Silence filled the air, broken only by a loud hissing coming from the crumpled engine.

Ally groaned and shifted her head. Blood poured down her face from the cut just above her hairline. Through the smashed glass of the windscreen she could see the tree and faint lighting from the still illuminated headlights.

Her ears ringing, Ally quickly took inventory of her injuries, realising that she had gotten off lightly. The car had hit the tree mostly on the driver's side; the front end crumpled into the base of the tree. Even though the tree had been on her side of the road, it was Kate's side of the car that had bore most of the impact. She was confused for a second and turned to ask Kate what happened.

"Kate!" Ally screamed as her eyes finally adjusted to the gloom inside the car. Her best friend had been partially crushed from the waist down, the steering wheel in her lap and her legs pinned by the weight of the faintly glowing dashboard. She coughed weakly and opened an eye.

"Are you ok?" she croaked, a small trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"I will be fine.," Ally stuttered, "I will call an ambulance. We're fine. You're going to be fine. Everything is going to be-"A sob broke her words, as she took in her friend. Tears fell down her cheek, "Kate," She whispered, "I'm so sorry."

"I'm going to be fine. I heal faster than you. That's why I took the hit." Kate said matter of factly, coughing to clear her throat. "Just give me a sec and I will work my way out. You grab your things and hop out. I need you to call Rick for me. I'm sure he would have felt something and is worried sick."

Ally stared at her friend in disbelief, not moving. Kate sighed, "Honestly, I promise- it is worse than it looks, I am going to be perfectly fine, now get out before I get mad," she said, grimacing as she pushed gently on the steering wheel. 

Ally nodded and silently slid from the car. The only thing she had to grab from the car was a jacket she had borrowed from Keith before they had left. Stepping from the car, Ally caught a smell she knew. She moved to the front of the car, surveying the damage and listening to the hissing still coming from under the crumpled bonnet. The smell was stronger and unmistakable.

"Kate," Ally called out, "Get out! I can smell petrol! It could go up!"

Kate looked up and through the shattered windscreen at her friend. Her eyes widened "Ally!" She screamed, "Look out behind you!"

Ally froze on the spot, but before she could turn hands grabbed her and pulled her tight against a body. A hand wrapped itself around her mouth, clogging her scream. In front of her Kate struggled in the car, morphing slightly and trying to get free. Her captor dragged her further away from the wreck and into the trees. Ally heard a word whispered in an alien tongue and a small fire lit at their feet.

It travelled towards the car that was still hissing in a straight line like a fuse. Ally could see her friend struggling to free herself from the car, but both knew she wouldn't be fast enough.

Her captor dragged her struggling form further backwards into the trees, but her focus never leaving her friend in the car.

Kate stopped struggling and watched as her friend was dragged away by the hooded black figure. "I'm sorry," she whispered, closing her eyes. A small tear escaped and ran silently down her cheek.

The fire caught the fluids leaking on the ground and a wall of flame sprung up between them.

"Kate!" Ally screamed, pulling the hand from her mouth and heaving uselessly against the restraining arms constantly pulling her. "Kate! Kate! Get out of there," She sobbed.

Black tendrils waved across her vision; blocking out the horrible red and orange flickering. Her struggles weakened and her legs gave out. Her vision went completely black and she felt herself falling.

~~~

Caitlin was dumped unceremoniously in the centre of town with nothing but the clothes on her back, her meagre life savings and her scratched Iydam. The latter was to be a constant reminder of her betrayal and exile. She sat on the curb, head in her hands. 

Her wolf had retreated into the deepest confines of their shared consciousness. They were not the strongest and all wolves relied on the pack to keep them safe and happy. It knew the price of exile for most werewolves; madness and eventually death. No decent pack would accept her after her original pack had cast her out. She could fall prey to rogues if she wasn't tough enough to fend them off or she could be taken out as a threat from another species.

"You ok, Missy?" a gruff voice over head interrupted her thoughts. He had been watching her from his diner across the street. She had not moved for over 2 hours since a black SUV had literally dumped her on the pavement. He had been worried for her and eventually worked up the courage to come check on her. 

The woman looked up, surprised. Her eyes were bloodshot and there were dark puffy circles under her eyes. She was toying nervously with a necklace around her neck. "I... Don't know." She said quietly," Can someone survive loosing everything they ever took for granted?"

The man tutted and sat down next to her, rearranging his worn apron and dusting off his hands. "I would have to say it depends on the person."

Caitlin looked at him curiously, seeing him watching her intently, "There are many different types of people in this world, Missy. Basically they fall in two categories, fighters and losers. The fighters never give up, and mostly succeed. The losers," he chuckled grimly, "They are just like their namesake. To be honest... You don't look like a looser to me."

Caitlin smiled, "I have to say, I feel like quite the loser right now. I have done some really loserish things these last few days." She couldn't help the sniffle that escaped.

"Ah, but the only difference between being a loser and being a fighter, is choice. You choose to be what you are. At the moment, yes you are choosing to be a loser. Your choice and your will are powerful things. They shape who you are. You're human, you make mistakes and you screw up. But you learn from them and you buck up, and make your wrongs right. No matter what, you fix your mistakes or do what ever you can to make things better."

She smiled at him, "Are you an angel?" she asked.

"No Missy," He chuckled, "But you looked like you could use some help. I needed the same myself at some point, and I'm always happy to pay it forward... I own that diner," he said pointing across the street," If you need money, I am happy to throw some shifts your way," He offered, "You look like a reliable and hard working lass. I always need people like that. Just come in and let me know. I had better get back in there."

"Thanks," said Caitlin quietly standing up. The man offered his hand out to her. Caitlin stared at it for a second, trying to figure out the alien human gesture. She recalled something about shaking hands, so she gripped his gently. He shook her hand up and down before waving and crossing the street again. 

Caitlin stared at the half moon that watched over her, "Thank you, Luna, for sending him," she whispered. She closed her eyes and opened her senses, trying to figure out where to go and what to do. The answer was simple. She had to find her alpha's stolen mate. That would be her restitution and the key to reclaiming her old life and righting her wrongs.

Caitlin pondered for a second how to find her. Due to her jealousies and insecurities, she had never met, seen, heard or smelt the stupid woman. She could not track the human herself. The creature that had enslaved her was soulless and impossible to track. She closed her eyes and tried to remember as much detail as she could of the day she made the deal that ended her life as she knew it.

It had been a dungeon. Cement walls, floor and ceiling. She had been dumped on a bed of rags. She had only really concentrated on him at the time, but her brain had registered a whole host of different things. There had been shelves across one wall with dusty boxes. She could smell a slightly salty breeze and the faint cry of seagulls. The ocean was at least an hour away at its closest point.

The servants, minions, like demons. They had been short, like dwarves, but ugly and twisted, with red eyes, pointy teeth and talons. They had smelt terrible, like rotten eggs and old blood. She sneered; them she could track. 

With a new determination, she stepped into the shadows, stripped and phased. Her wolf came roaring to the surface, changing their form quickly. With an eager yip, she tore off through the shadows.

~~~

It did not take long for Zac to tell his elders what had transpired. He knelt before them, lost for words and out of tears.

"This is grave indeed, My Alpha," said one seriously.

"I am not sure that we can help," intoned another, frowning.

"Bring us something that has known her and we shall try to find her," said the third gently.

"We do not need to tell you to hurry, my alpha. You know as well as us that she could well be in danger." Zac nodded his head and raced down to the holding cells where he had imprisoned his mate. His empty chest throbbed as he took in the cage. He went to the pallet she had been lying on, thinking to get a hair from her pillow.

As he picked up the cushion, something silver dropped to the floor with a tiny clatter. It was the locket he had given her. It's wings open, revealing his message. A sob wracked itself from his chest as he looked down on his last gift to her.

He picked it up and gently cradled it to his chest as he sent a desperate prayer to Luna for her protection, "Please," he whispered, "She did not deserve this."

He raced back to his elders and presented it to them. The four old ladies positioned themselves in a tight circle the locket held in all four of their outstretched hands in the centre.

They bowed their heads and began to chant in a foreign language. The locket began to glow, illuminating their old and weathered faces with pale blue light.

"Zac," came a whisper from the doorway. He spun around and saw Keith beckoning him over.

"What is it Keith?" He asked wearily, still not entirely sure if he could trust him.

"The car that they took, it had a GPS," he said quietly, "I managed to track it down. It stopped for some time, then stopped transmitting, but I have the last location it had; maybe there are some clues, or a trail."

Zac brightened, "I have the elders tracking her dow-"

He was interrupted by four terrible shrieks. The men turned to the elders, who were clutching their eyes and wailing. The locket was glowing blood red and shaking violently in mid air.

Without thinking, Zac raced in and batted the locket with a spare cushion that had been lying on the floor. The necklace clattered to the ground and was still and normal. Not trusting the innocent façade, Zac poked it cautiously then picked it up. It looked as it always had, so he put it in his pocket before turning his attention to the elders, who had quietened, but were shifting restlessly.

"My elders?" he asked timidly.

"My alpha," one whispered.

"Things are much worse than we ever feared," said another.

All four women looked up at their alpha, who blanched at the sight. Their eyes were pitch black and had blood seeping from both edges.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 12



"What the hell happened?" cried Keith in horror.

"My alpha, your mate. She is in mortal danger. We cannot help you. You must find her. She is the key."

"The key to what?" asked Zac confusedly, trying to ignore their disturbing stares.

"Everything," they answered simply.

"Now go!" one cried

"We must rest."

"Hurry!" said another,

"Find her! Save her, stop him!" cried the fourth.

Zac felt himself being pushed out the door.

The door slammed behind them, Keith looked at Zac.

"Do you still have those coordinates?" asked Zac. 

Keith nodded, "I have two teams in the cars ready to go, Zac."

Zac sighed grimly, "I missed you, friend," he clapped him on the shoulder, "I'm so sorry I didn't-"

"Save it," said Keith seriously, "Let's go get your mate."

~~~



Pure Moonlight Ch. 13



Hi Everyone,

It has been such a long time. Too long really. It has been 9 months since my last chapter post. Whilst I never intended there to be such a time lapse in posting, so much has happened in my life; my engagement, my first niece (my first time being an aunty), buying our first home and my dog having to be put to sleep are some of the notable events.

It has been so long, that I would strongly suggest everyone read at least the previous chapter (or it all over again) to reacquaint themselves with the story. I cut this chapter in half, since I want to polish the second half, but this part is ready to go.

Please comment/send private feedback and rate. I love hearing from my readers and always do my best to reply to PF if a reply address is left. Commenting/PF always helps me get my ever distracted mind back to my story and gets me in the mood to write.

With that being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter and the continuation to my tale. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An annoying, echoing drip broke Ally from the darkness. Dazed and bleary eyed, she shifted uncomfortably. Her body was stiff and sore, and she shivered from cold. Underneath her was a cold hard surface, which woke her quickly through its wrongness. Her arms were stiff above her head, and when she moved, she felt thin chains pull against her wrists.

Blinking against the dim lighting Ally saw she was on a slab of stone. Looking up she saw her wrists were indeed bound by thin, shiny silver chains. Shifting her legs she felt a similar chain binding them. The light chinking sound of metal echoed off the walls in the large cement chamber. There were flaming torches driven into the concrete ground at intervals, providing eerie flickering light in a perfect circle around her. Ally could just make out shelves and dusty boxes around the edges of the building she was in.

"Ah," came a quiet voice from the shadows, "Finally she wakes."

Ally spun her head to find the figure who had spoken. The shadow detached itself from the darkness and moved into the light. Hood drawn over, all Ally could see was the basic figure of a person. Draped in a tattered black cloak, the figure stood tall and imposing, its faceless form watching her.

"Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded as confidently as she could. There was no way she was going to cower or show her fear.

"What I want," the hooded figure chuckled dryly, "is revenge."

Ally's mind whirled, trying to think of anyone she knew who could fit that description. Coming up blank, she shook her head, "I don't know you. I haven't done anything to you. You don't want revenge on me. You have the wrong person."

A slow, cold, harsh laugh emitted from beneath the hood, "You are the vehicle for my revenge, not the victim."

Ally struggled against her binds, feeling them cut into her wrists painfully. They didn't budge. "There is no point, my dear. Those binds are designed to hold you at your strongest, though I needn't have bothered. The guards on your true power border the ridiculous; I don't know what he was thinking."

Ally had no idea what the man was talking about. Her wrists throbbed against its binds. Unease growing, she looked around for something to aid her. She needed something to break the chains.

"Ah," the figure said, as though she had spoken aloud, "You can't break them, there's no way. Things have finally worked out perfectly. You are virginal once more and thus useful to me again."

"How did you...? I'm not a virgin," Ally contradicted. She thought maybe if he couldn't use her he would let her go. "I have been deflowered," she continued matter-of-factly, her chin held high, "it can't be undone."

The figure laughed, "Pathetic, stupid girl. The churches all bleat about some stupid scrap of blood? It is not the act of sex that destroys a virgin; it is the bond the act creates. The bond you destroyed hours ago, leaving you alone and vulnerable.

"It took me years to find you after your mother's death and your father's interference. When I did, I tried for delicacy, to make you form a bond with me, which would make the transference easier and more powerful. But you were too stupid and it was pitiful having to exhaust so much energy just to bow and scrape to you. Then that stupid wolfman of yours almost ruined my plans," the anger in his voice disappeared as he shrugged, "But it makes no matter now; I have succeeded through sheer force alone."

Ally's mind, still groggy, fought to comprehend. Her father? She had no father; it was unspoken between her mother and her. If he did exist, and he cared enough to intervene in something, surely he would have revealed himself to her at least once. And what was that about trying to form bonds with her? She had never met this creep in her life!

And yet. There was something about him. Her gut was telling her she missed something. But what? she asked herself.

He watched her closely from underneath the hood. Her eyebrow creased in thought. She was missing something; a vital piece of the puzzle.

"Really, don't strain yourself there. Look at your face, all screwed up trying to think," He chuckled coldly, "pathetic."

With a gasp, it fell into place. Brown shaggy hair, chiselled nose and eyes closed as he leaned in to kiss her, his smile and attempts at seduction... Sneering with derision as they were stopped by road workers, "Pathetic," he had said, "Stupid, useless creatures. How dare they hold us up."

"Paul?" she whispered.

He laughed, "You finally figured it out."

He threw back his hood. Despite the dark lighting from the flaming torches, his face was thrown into stark relief. Ally stared in disbelief.

~~~

The blackened husk of the car sat ominously silent against the tree. Its doors hung loose, swinging softly in the breeze that rattled through it, like a soft mourning howl. Zac stood still, taking in the sight with horror as his people swarmed around. Keith gripped his shoulder, turning his friend away.

"There are no bodies inside, Zac," he said quietly, "She's not here."

"Then we are too late," Zac replied miserably.

"No," hissed Keith, "We are still in the game. She is still alive; you and I both know it."

"We don't know where she is."

"We will find her. We're the good guys, remember? We always get the girl," Keith tried for a smile and managed only a grimace. He was just as worried as his alpha.

One of the other betas came up and saluted, "Sir, there are no bodies in the wreckage. The fire has cleared away all scents in the vicinity. There is a trail in the leaves leading back into the forest that seems like someone was dragged; maybe a rescue from the car. The trail leads just into the tree line and just vanishes. We think mayb-"

A cry of discovery interrupted the man. They raced over to see what the trackers had found. Keith cried out in horror at the scene that lay before him.

The Braanan woman lay on the ground, her skin a mixture of nasty red and ghastly black. Her clothes were in rags around her body, most of it had burnt away. She lay on her side, curled up in a foetal position. Most of her body had been burnt badly. Had she been in the car when it exploded? Zac wondered.

Keith knelt gently next to the woman, almost afraid to touch her. He tried to listen for her heartbeat, but there was too much noise from his people at the cars and in the surrounding scrub. He gently rested his had on her shoulder. A faint groan met his ears. There was a collective sigh of relief.

~~~~~~~~

Caitlin scoured the streets from the shadows, her full focus spent on trying to detect any hint of the vile things that followed the creature around.

Growling in frustration, she slammed her fist into a wall. They had to be somewhere, creatures as foul as those would not be able to stay hidden for long.

~~~

Ally's mind went blank; in front of her stood her ex-boyfriend in the flesh.

He was looking at her, a sneer marring his handsome features. "Paul?" Ally asked, "I don't understand."

"Paul does not exist, he was a means to an end... You. My true name is Alamihr and this is what is left of my true form." He stepped further into the light and closed his eyes. Slowly his face started to ripple and morph. The change happened quickly, but Ally saw everything.

Red eyes with empty black slits bore through her soul as she took in his new features. He was a combination of a cobra snake and human but unlike anything she could have ever imagined. He had a slight snout with nostril slits, and his skin was a dull red with black markings. Fangs dropped from behind his almost invisible lips, his smile making them prominent and terrifying. His ears had morphed into a hood that ran from his temples to his shoulders, with markings like a cobra's. When he spoke, she could see a forked tongue through his fangs and teeth, through his speech was somehow not affected.

"Yes, my true form is now hideous, thanks to my brother and family. Look at what they have reduced me to! I was a god and they destroyed my followers and cast me out. I am barely more than mortal. I can hold other forms, but it takes energy and concentration. But this... This is my true form, nothing is left of my perfection," he looked at Ally, his smile widened and a malicious glint entered his eyes, "You are the final piece to my revenge. It will be swift and complete. Those fools won't know what hit them."

She watched his fangs with apprehension, wondering what he was going to do with her. She opened her mouth but he spoke before she had the chance to ask.

"You will see once my preparations are complete," he said dismissively, "For now I need to concentrate."

He then turned to a dusty book sitting on a lectern. Flipping through the pages, reading carefully, he ignored her completely.

A door opened, the sound echoing off the walls. Hope beamed through like a ray of sunshine as Ally tried to twist and see whoever had come in. She could barely make out a figure moving through the shadows between dark shelves. A smell wafted through the room, coming from the creature that burned in her nose.

The figure stopped outside the flaming torches and kneeled. "Masssster," it hissed softly, "The preparationssssss are going assss planned. The wolvesss are at the car and chasssssing their tailssss."

"Good," Paul replied, not looking up from his book, "We will be ready soon." Ally tugged surreptitiously at her chains. Paul, or whatever that thing called himself, was clearly nuts and she didn't want to hang around any longer!

~~~

Kate moaned quietly as a hand touched her. Slowly she opened her eyes. Everything hurt so badly. Muffled sounds surrounded her.

She opened her eyes to find the Coleman Alpha standing over her, concern etched into his face. Memories came flooding back as she remembered watching Ally being dragged into the woods by a cloaked figure. She moved to sit up but cried out as her entire body screamed in pain.

"Ally," She whispered, her eyes closed.

Zac crouched beside the ailing woman, "She is not here, Braanan. What happened? Where is she?"

Kate let out a gargled whisper that no one could make out. The Alpha leant down and listened as best he could to what happened.

~~~

The chains around Ally's wrists and ankles were chafing, her skin red raw and bleeding a little from rubbing. She tugged and pulled, ignoring the pain as best she could, knowing that it would be nothing to her suffering if she couldn't escape.

Alamihr had left a while ago, and she had been trying her best to escape. The chains, while thin, seemed to be made of something that was strong enough to not break under her best effort. Panting, she collapsed back onto the altar, quietly grateful for its smooth, cold surface to ease the heat coursing through her body from her exertions.

She had no idea how long she had until Alamihr came back and she was determined that she would not be around when he did. Something was niggling at her again. There as something else she was forgetting. Trying desperately to calm herself, Ally began counting her breaths. She promised herself that she would find the way out and live to see the dawn.

Like a flash of lightening it struck her. What had the creature said? Eyes closed, ran through her memory. "The wolvesss are at the car and chasssssing their tailssss," the thing had said. He must have been talking about Zac! He must have realised what was going on and chased after her and Kate!

Hope rose in her heart. If there was some way she could let Zac know where she was, he could free her and all would turn out.

Ally closed her eyes and searched inside herself. Her heart still ached, but it had taken a backseat while her mind was occupied. As she felt around, the ache came back with a vengeance, causing her to gasp aloud. It felt as though there was a hole in her heart and soul, had it been a physical wound it would be ragged and bleeding.

Tears poured down her face as she faced the loss that she had caused. Hatred rose in her throat at the man who had orchestrated and manipulated her so easily. She was so sorry for everyone that had been affected by him.

Alamihr, as he called himself. He had to be absolutely insane, she decided. After all he had identified himself a god so casually and clearly believed it completely.

She looked up at her bloody wrists and sighed. Things were looking bad for her if she couldn't escape. The chains were so thin it was frustrating to not be able to budge them. The harder she pulled the deeper they cut into her wrists and ankles, much deeper than normal chains would have been able to go.

All the movies she had seen of people escaping chains just wriggled their hands and they appeared to simply just slip out. Even with her blood lubricating the way, the chains seemed to tighten around her wrists when ever she tried to pull them out.

Crying out in frustration, Ally fell limp against the altar; her chest heaving.

"I told you they wouldn't break," Alamihr said behind her, his voice light with amusement. Ally didn't even need to see his face to know he was smiling.

Hatred boiled in her stomach. "Let me go," she demanded, putting as much authority into her voice as she could manage, "I don't want anything to do with what ever your crazy ass is planning!"

Quiet laughter echoed around the chamber, as he circled around the altar, "It's a good thing I never asked then. You can try to command me all you want, little Alluna, but I am not a puny mortal to be swayed by the trickle of power you currently wield."

He stepped closer to her and looked down at her prone form. His face was different again, the snake-like features were gone, replaced with a strikingly handsome face. The only thing that ruined his perfection was the emptiness in his eyes, "Your say is not conducive to my plans, so it is no longer a question of you wanting to do anything."

Ally glared at him, trying to figure out if there was anything she could possibly say to convince him to felt her go. Looking up at his smiling face and empty eyes, she realised the answer. Unable to let things lie, she spat at him, hitting him square on the cheek and followed up with a glare.

His smiled widened as he moved back to the book.

~~~

Caitlin finally reached the centre of the city, just as the sun set over the hills in the distance, throwing deep shadows all over the place. Hating her slow pace she cursed loudly. Rounding a corner, a scent hit her sensitive nose making her stop in her tracks.

A team of trackers and warriors from her pack were going through the central park.

Making up her mind, she approached the Weres cautiously.

Bart looked up from his search when he smelt a familiar scent. He growled as he faced the exiled woman who caused all the trouble.

She approached cautiously, her hands in the air, "Bart," she said pleadingly, "Please, I want to help."

"I think you've done enough," he said coldly, "Count yourself lucky you are still breathing. You know my Alpha's orders. You are not one of us anymore. You should not be talking to us."

"We are in no man's land, I am not encroaching on the territory; I just want to help. I am a victim in this too."

Bart snorted, but refused to answer.

"Look, I think I can help- he took me to a place, and I think that is where he has the Alpha's mate."

"Where?"

"Ok, I don't know where exactly, but it was a warehouse type building near the sea. I heard seagulls and smelt the ocean air.

"Thanks for that," Bart said dryly, "We'll take that under advisement." He signalled to the group to move out. Caitlin grabbed his arm before he could walk past her.

"Bart, I'm serious! The kidnapper himself has no scent and leaves no trace. His minions have an unusual scent that is easily discernable. They are the only hope you have of finding her!"

Bart sighed and pulled his arm out, "It wouldn't matter what you have to say, it won't help us because we both know my Alpha won't accept any advice or help from you. I should not even be talking to you, even in no man's land."

With a signal the rest of the group melted into the shadows, heading towards the nearest sea. Bart looked down at Caitlin, who was stoically trying not to let his rejection affect her.

"Look, for what it's worth? I'm sorry you are in the position you're in. I'm also sorry, because I can't help you except for this piece of advice," He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. Her eyes were red and puffy and there were shadows under her eyes that showed her sleep had not been restful for some time. His heart broke for her, realising that her torture had begun long before anyone else's. He looked deep into her eyes and saw a strength that promised she would be ok.

"You need to move on," he said gently, "Get away from here. Go. Travel the world. Get to know yourself again. You will be ok, but you can't stay here. Forgive yourself, for there is nothing else you can do. May Luna guide you always."

He dropped his hold on her and retreated with the rest of his group. Reaching the shadow of trees he turned to glimpse her one last time, standing alone in the middle of the dark parklands, eyes closed as she bared her face and soul to the rising full moon. He silently wished her all the best before he followed his team.

~~~

Zac paced the wreckage site, his wolf growling impatiently. Their mate was in serious danger and they couldn't find her using any of the means at their disposal. He sighed in frustration. His eyes glanced to the spot where the trail ended. From Kate's witness report and the obvious trail signs, someone had dragged Ally from beside the car to that spot. There was a singed trail where fire had burned in a straight line to the car which had led to the explosion that nearly claimed Kate's life.

Stooping down to the spot where the trail ended he inhaled deeply. Ally's scent was layered with fear which soured his nose. Her scent still sent shivers down his spine at the same time his heart ached, the hole that she had left throbbed painfully. Even under her scent, all that he could smell was the forest scents and the smell of smoke.

No accelerants or rope. The fire was all sorts of wrong to him. Fire did not travel in a straight line, ignoring the piles of leaves and debris on the ground that would have been perfect fuel. It was not a natural fire. Zac didn't know any witches personally, but he knew they existed. Was the person who took his mate a witch?

Car headlights appeared on the horizon, speeding towards them. His pack melted into the shadows, hiding themselves from whoever was coming. The car screamed down the road and screeched to a halt before the brunt out wreckage.

A roar echoed through the night as a beast tore from the car and launched itself at Zac.

~~~

Footsteps echoed through the darkness, startling Ally. She twisted and turned to see above her head, trying to find out who had come. The faint glimmer of hope died when she saw two stooped figures moving towards the flaming torches surrounding her and the creep, Alamihr.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 13



Between them they were carrying a thick metal table. They stepped through the circle of torches and placed the table next to Alamihr, still looking through the big dusty tome on the lectern. "Set it up," he commanded distractedly, flapping his hand in the direction of the table. No one was paying any attention to her, but Ally knew that it made no difference; she wasn't escaping by herself. She knew it was only a matter of time before her part in his plans came up, and she was sure she would not live through it.

Hysteria bubbled inside. I don't want to die, she wailed to herself. It struck her that she was being rather weak and pathetic, but she felt justified given her position.

The strong part of her mind took over, telling her to get a grip and stop being so pathetic.

The creatures pulled out a black box and unloaded the contents onto the table. There was a small cauldron about the size of her two fists. They set it up on a stand and started a fire beneath it. Obscurely she thought of how cliché it all was.

The damsel in distress bound on an altar for some demonic sacrifice, a dark figure from her past bent on destroying her, bubbling cauldrons, horrible little minions and mystical creatures. The little bubble of hysteria popped and a giggle escaped her lips. The second one died in her throat as she realised what was missing; the knight in shining armour. The one who would swoop down, slay the beast and rescue the damsel before riding off into the sunset with her for their happily ever after.

He wasn't coming, she realised as a single tear fell from her cheek. He wasn't coming and it was her fault. The fight left her body as her heart ached and broke silently.

~~~



Pure Moonlight Ch. 14



Hi all!

Welcome to the long awaited, pivotal chapter 14 of Pure Moonlight! This chapter has been very difficult for me to write, which is one of the reasons it has taken so much longer than I originally intended. 

This has been my plan all along, and it is not the end, so never fear! I am hoping to have chapter 15 submitted before the end of October. I am one of those leave it to the last minute kind of people, so hopefully with a deadline I can meet it. If not, get on to me and nag!

Please don't forget to comment and send Private feedback or emails. It really helps me to focus and get excited about my stories and write more.

Enjoy!





~~~~~~~~~~~



Keith moved to stand in front of his Alpha as the car came screeching to halt. Zac put a hand on his shoulder and stepped out in front, not wanting his best friend to be involved. A Were leapt out of the car and set upon Zac, howling in rage, its jaw snapping inches away from his face as it snarled furiously. Zac held him at bay while the rest of his pack descended and pulled the wolf off of him. 

The wolf, hauled off of Zac, caught sight of the blackened form that was the Branaan woman and roared. The sound morphed into a man's screams as he shifted back to his human form.

He broke their grip and raced to her, cradling her gently in his arms. "What did you do?" He roared at Zac, hatred in his eyes as he glared.

Zac sat up and held out his hands in an open palm gesture to show he was no threat, "I didn't do this," he said as calmly as he could, "That woman was friends with my mate, and was with her when they were ambushed. My mate was kidnapped, and she was left behind."

The man looked down at his mate and brushed the hair from her face. Soot coated her, but her wounds were slowly healing. He morphed his snout and gently licked a cut on her cheek, watching as it slowly disappeared. 

The onlookers watched silently as he repeated the process, crying softly and murmuring to her gently.



~~~



Caitlin sat on the edge of the fountain and considered what Bart had told her. She seriously considered moving towns. She had been born and raised in another pack, but the Colemans had taken her in from the dark place she had fallen to and brought her back.

It hurt her so badly that she would never be able to return to her home and friends. Finding a new and accepting pack that was as loving as they had been seemed impossible. Caitlin knew that most packs were harsh to newcomers, and the good ones rarely accepted any outsiders.

Without warning her stomach growled, causing her to chuckle quietly; she still had basic needs after all. Getting up, she went in search of food.



~~~



Ally watched as the cauldron bubbled furiously, its contents viscous and a startling shade of blue. Her arms had gone numb, and she could barely feel the cuts and chafing on her wrists.

More and more of the disfigured creatures arrived, each kneeling before Alamihr and presenting him with a bloody heart, which he would ingest with relish each time.

The first time Ally had seen the offering and devouring she had nearly screamed and vomited. She quickly learned to look away and do the best she could to block out the squelch of his eating. She definitely knew better than to wonder where the hearts were coming from.

Once the creature had presented their offering and Alamihr had eaten it, he would make a circle on their forehead using the blood from the heart. They would exchange the same murmured words in a foreign language as he did. To Ally it sounded like an oath, but she had no idea.

The creature would then take up vigil, kneeling just outside the circle of torches while Alamihr would wipe his hands on a rag before returning to the dusty tome.

If Ally hadn't been afraid for her life she would have been bored and sore. She tried to get a look at the book that Alamihr was reading, but she could barely make out the writing form. Judging by the language they had spoken, she doubted she would be able to read it anyway. 

This clearly was some cult that had the wrong person, she thought to herself. They clearly didn't have anything good planned for her, and she was losing all hope of being rescued. Her heart hurt and her body ached. Her hope of a rescue was all she had to hold onto to help her through her predicament.

Her head started spinning and she began feeling light headed. Her arms had been above her head and she didn't know how long it had been since she was able to move around at all. Her feet had pins and needles which stung against the chains cutting into her ankles. She had never been so uncomfortable in her life.

Trying to distract herself from her situation, she set her mind to happier times and attempted to imagine her happy place. It was harder than she thought to find. She tried to remember Zac, his smile and their time together, but the jagged hole in her heart throbbed with a vengeance. Her last words to him echoed through her mind as she saw the hurt and devastation etched into his face.

Shaking her head to rid herself of his face, she thought back to her childhood. It had always been just her and her mother. They had lived such happy days of bliss. Then the screeching of tyres and screaming of metal had torn her mother from her forever. She could still remember waking up in the car to find her mother dead in the seat next to her. It was a sight that had haunted her day and night for years.

She clenched her eyes and fists, trying to change her thoughts. Happy times, happy places, she thought to herself. Next she tried to remember Kate, who had pulled her from the wreck and became the friend that saved her from her dark depression. She tried to remember her smiling face, but all she saw was the sad look in her eyes as she sat trapped in a car about to explode as Ally herself was being pulled away to her own dark fate. Ally's heart hurt again. She hoped with her whole being that her best friend had somehow survived. Maybe she had gotten out before the car had gone up. Maybe she took the impact but survived because she was a Werewolf.

Werewolves. The word struck her suddenly. They hadn't existed to her yesterday. Never had she imagined there were hidden worlds among the human populace. She wondered what else there were out in this new, hidden world of secrets. All the mythical creatures played through her mind. What if they were all real and just hiding? What if they didn't have to hide? How different the world would be.

A sizzling broke her reverie. The small cauldron was hissing and bubbling furiously, its blue had turned very dark. Alamihr turned with a smile, pulling a jagged ceremonial dagger from somewhere in his tattered black robes. Rubies studded the hilt and tiny skulls decorated the cross guard. He advanced on her, his smile never faltering.

Fear and adrenaline rushed through her veins. His shadow fell upon her, and she clenched her eyes shut, suddenly scared for the end. She hoped it wouldn't hurt to die. The knife dug into her fore-arm causing her to gasp in pain and surprise.

Ally opened her eyes to see Alamihr holding the blade, its tip red. Looking at her arm, there was an open wound. He reached down and dipped his finger and thumb into the blood welling on her arm. He drew an intricate symbol on his forehead, his eyes closed and mumbling something.

The onlookers slowly stood and approached one by one. Using the blood pooling on her arm like an ink pot, Alamihr put a thumbprint of her blood into the centre of each circle, murmuring the same thing each time. Each creature retook their position silently after receiving her blood.

The wound on her arm stung, but Ally saw a ray of hope on the horizon. Was this what they had her for? If that was it, she felt like maybe she would survive this. It seemed like a lot of effort just for that, the reasonable part of her mind countered. But still that tiny ray of light refused to dim.



~~~



Kate woke slowly, embraced in warmth. Rick had arrived and had done much to heal her wounds. She was still hurting, but her wounds were definitely improved.

She laid quietly in her mates arms, bathing in his presence. Tears fell as she remembered the look of fear on her friend's face as she was dragged off. 

"Ally," she mouthed silently, her throat was so parched she couldn't force any words out.

Zac rushed forward and grabbed her arm, ignoring the male who growled in warning. "What happened?" He asked desperately, "Where did she go? Did someone take her? Why didn't you stop them? How could you just let her go?"

Kate shook her head as she cried her voice still absent. Useless, she thought to herself bitterly, I couldn't do anything to save her. God knows what happened to her.

"Shut up!" Roared the man holding Kate, "Look at her! Don't you think she would have done anything to stop her best friend from being taken? Use your head and lay off."

He threw Zac's hand off of her and cuddled her close, whispering and crooning to her as she cried silently into his chest.

Zac stood silently, watching the pair as they embraced on the side of the road. Rick's face was calm and loving as he gazed upon his mate, gently stroking her hair.

Hurt and anger coursed through his body as he watched silently. He should have protected Ally. He should have been there for her. He should have never let her out of his sight.

His hand clenched around the object in his pocket, tiny feathers imprinting on his palm. It was left in the prison he had locked her in. The place where she had torn out his heart and left it on the pillow.

A hand clenched his shoulder, "Zac," Keith said gently, "You can't blame yourself. It is not your fault. We were all played. You need to focus. It is not over yet, we have to find her."

Zac turned to his friend and opened his mouth to reply. His speech was cut short in amazement of the sight in the distance before him.

Shouts coursed through the crowd as everyone turned to look.

"What is that?" cried Keith.



~~~



Alamihr, smiling, dipped his knife back into Ally's arm. She gasped as he dug deeper, causing fresh blood to well to the surface.

Scooping as much as he could on the blade, he went to the cauldron; its contents were a bubbling dark blue ooze. He dipped the dagger with her blood in and stirred.

The moment her blood mixed with the substance, it suddenly changed to a vibrant golden colour. Alamihr smiled as he dipped a large vial in.

With the same eerie smile, he went back to Ally. "Time to awaken your true self, Alluna," he whispered. He held his hand in the air over her face and she felt a force open her mouth.

Deftly, he poured the golden liquid into her mouth. Ally choked as heat exploded in her throat. Fire trickled down her throat and spread throughout her body. Gurgled screams forced their way out as she felt her body being torn apart and burnt.

Her back arched as she fought the pain coursing through her body. The liquid turned her flesh into a golden glow wherever it went inside her body. The glow pulsed as it spread and intensified. Her mouth and eyes shone like torches piercing the darkness.

Her entire body became a bright shining gold. With a scream the glow intensified, sending a giant beam of gold through the glass roof of the warehouse and into the sky like a beacon.

The followers all cheered to the skies as the thumbprints on their foreheads lit up like beams of gold. Alamihr laughed as the symbol on his forehead lit up even brighter than the rest.

Leaning down, he grasped her head and turned it to the side, exposing the veins pulsing in her neck. Without hesitation, he plunged his fangs into her neck, feeling them sliding through her flesh like butter. His fangs retracted and he latched on, sucking in her golden glowing essence with relish.



~~~~



Caitlin was finishing her fast food burger when the night exploded. A giant beam of golden light shot up into the heavens, lighting up the night. She realised that it came from the direction of the ocean.

Could it be Ally? She thought to herself. Something told her it had to be related. She didn't need to think twice as she ran from the restaurant.

People milling the streets were all looking at the light, transfixed. Caitlin weaved among them as she ran as fast and inconspicuously as she could.



~~~



"What is that?" cried Keith, pointing to the giant beam of golden light shooting into the sky.

Everyone stood, mesmerized by the golden beam. Like a moth to flame, something inside Zac was drawn towards it. He couldn't explain it, but somehow he knew he had to get to the source no matter the cost.

He ran to a car and jumped in, taking off with squealing tyres.

"Zac!" Shouted Keith, broken from his daze. He had barely taken a step before the car was barely a dot in the distance. Swearing, he threw himself into the other car and took off after him, ignoring the cries of the rest of the pack members.



~~~



Ally felt like a foot in a shoe three sizes too small. Her whole body was screaming for quiet and dark, but all she could find was an impossible light that refused to dim. Her ears rang with a shattering cacophony of sound that drowned out her screams. Her senses were overloaded and her mind was in chaos. Like a struck tuning fork; intense vibrations racked her body as she drowned in light.

There was no end to the brightness and the excruciating pressure. Golden tears poured down her face as she wished for an end. Dying didn't seem so bad to her now. The cold dark embrace would be welcome compared the agony she was suffering at the hands of the intense brightness.

And slowly and the light was fading. It was being pulled like thread through a needle. Someone was pulling the pain away. Relief washed over her as the pressure slowly released.

But the pulling continued and began to feel wrong. The light was disappearing, but she needed some light. No light was bad, pure darkness was awful. Her body grew cold and weak as it continued to lose its light.

Her eyelids were heavy, but she could still see bright light shining through like the sun. But it was different; it wasn't coming from her.

Alamihr stood up, basking in the blinding golden light radiating off his body. It was her light that he had stolen. Through the shining light she could make out his features. He had changed into a great being, pure and wonderful in his beauty and perfection and shining like the sun. He looked down on her and licked his lips, his smile malicious and sardonic. 

Her body was weighed down; it was so heavy she couldn't breathe. She felt like a deflated balloon; after being stretched so far under pressure it was a horrible feeling of almost complete emptiness. Feeling inside, she could barely feel any light at all.

The golden shine around Alamihr slowly faded into his body, retracting through the still shining golden symbol on his head. His followers all had golden beams from her blood on their foreheads. Those prints were the only way she recognised them. They were no longer the grotesque and pitiful creatures they had been. Instead they had been transformed like their master into ethereal images of human perfection. Fangs protruded from behind their upper lips as they smiled and congratulated each other.

"It is done!" screamed Alamihr in obvious delight; his followers raised their hands in the air cheering.

Ally's vision swam as she fought to keep her heavy eyelids from staying closed. Each blink took more effort to open her eyes. Each time her blurry vision could only make out shapes, and her hearing was distorted and blank in spots.

Even through her semiconscious state, she knew that something was changing. The blurry shapes were in chaos and sometimes she wouldn't see any shapes for a few blinks.

A warm hand pressed against her cheek. It startled her how hot it felt. She numbly realised it was her that was cold. The icy darkness was barely held at bay and she knew that she would be swallowed soon.

Another warm hand grabbed her hand and squeezed it, making her want to open her eyes. Her blurry vision showed a shape before her. Slowly it sharpened and focused.

Taking in her vision, she silently thanked the heavens that she had held on long enough to see the one thing she had wanted to see before the darkness took her away. 

Tears fell as she managed a watery smile "Hi," she whispered sadly.

　

~~~



Zac raced toward the golden beam of light that was shooting into the sky. He pushed the car to its limits, somehow knowing that he had to get there as soon he possibly could. He could sense Keith following him with just as much urgency. He felt calmer knowing his best friend was backing him up.

As he neared the coast, he saw the beam of light was coming from a shabby warehouse. He came to a screeching stop in the car park and took a deep breath while waiting for Keith, who pulled up and leapt out the car.

"Don't ever do that again!" He yelled at his Alpha.

Zac smiled an apology as they turned to face the warehouse. The beam of light shrunk and paled until it finally disappeared. A sense of foreboding washed over Zac and he raced into the building with Keith hot on his heels.



~~~



Alamihr sensed the Coleman alpha approach and decided it was time to depart. The power pulsing through his veins was so delicious but still new. It had been almost a thousand years since he felt this sort of power, and he would definitely need to become reacquainted before he took on any of Luna's Children.

With a few words, his followers left through the back doors, pouring out into the night with gleeful whoops as they revelled in their new powers.

Looking down at the semiconscious woman wrapped in chains, he was swamped with happiness; his revenge would be soon complete as he saw her life force dimming. The puncture wounds on her neck still bled sluggishly, and he knew it would be her end soon.

He considered killing her, but decided to let her suffer in her last moments. He put his hands on the silver chains, retrieving the power and magic that he had used to create the bindings, leaving just enough to make sure that Coleman Alpha would be unable to touch them. He would be helpless and she would die in his arms, he thought cruelly. A just ending to torment her lover and hopefully the foolish and sentimental beast would follow her quickly.

With one last smile he sent a ball of fire into some cardboard boxes that lined the shelves of the warehouse. It would sit for a few minutes before it released all its destructive power. With a chuckle, he twisted on the spot and vanished.



~~~



Zac raced into the open building and found his mate chained to a stone slab in the centre of the room. She looked pale and gaunt. He ran up and inspected her, crying in dismay when he found her neck wound. He willed his tongue to change and licked her wound, closing the punctures and preventing any more blood loss.

Ally's eyelids fluttered, and he gently put a hand on her cheek. She felt like ice to his touch as he watched her struggle to open her eyes.

He grabbed her cold hand and squeezed it gently. "Ally," he called gently, tears welling, "Ally, sweetheart. Look at me. Open your eyes, Ally."

She opened her eyes slowly. He saw that she recognised him and she smiled sadly.

"Hi," she whispered her voice hoarse and weak. Tears fell from her cheeks as she drank in his features.

He managed a smile in return, despite the emotional turmoil going on within. She was so cold to the touch and looked so frail. He grabbed the chain that bound her to the table, but as soon as he touched them his flesh was burned. It was like holding acid. With a cry he released them, knowing that he couldn't free her.

She watched him quietly, memorising his features, his movements. His eyes were bright with tears and she found them captivating. He took her hand again.




Pure Moonlight Ch. 14



"You'll be ok," he said, rubbing her arms, "I'm here now. Everything's going to be ok."

Ally smiled sadly again, wiping away the tears falling down his cheeks, "No, Zac," she whispered gently.

"Don't say that," he cried. He climbed onto the table, carefully avoiding the chains and took her in his arms and held her close. Her body temperature was so cold as he held her close.

"It's ok," she said quietly, "I am happy because I got to be held by you one last time."

She relaxed into his arms and her eyes fluttered closed.

"No," protested Zac, shaking her gently, "Ally! Ally, don't leave me please. Wake up. Open your eyes Ally. Don't leave me."

"Never," she whispered, "I will always be with you. Even though I won't be able to hold you, I will always be watching over you."

"Nope," Said Zac, shaking his head, "that's not good enough. You need to stay with me always. Just like this. I want to hold you, to wake up and see you every morning. I want to kiss you good morning, goodbye and goodnight. I want to marry you, mate with you and have kids with you. I want to grow old with only you, Ally. So please. Please. Don't leave me now."

"Zac," Ally whispered, her voice had gotten so quiet, "You can do all of those things with out me. Move on; you have to live for the both of us now. Promise me will live for me and the both of us and love again." Ally stared over Zac's shoulder, seeing Keith, "Look after him," Ally managed.

Keith nodded solemnly, his fist over his heart as he bowed to her.

"I can't. I can't live without you, Ally," Zac cried, his voice breaking in grief. He held her hand in his and squeezed it gently.

She weakly squeezed his hand back, "I love you... Zac," she murmured. Her eyes fluttering closed.

Her hand in his fell limp and he felt her gently slip away. "No!" Zac screamed, "No! Stay with me! Don't leave me! I love you Ally, I'm so sorry!" The tears he had tried to hold back burst forth as he wept.

Keith stood silently behind his alpha and cried as he felt his best friend's heart break. He had promised her that he would look after Zac. The weight of the promise bore down on him as he watched his friend mourning his mate.

He stepped forward to console him when the ball of flame in the box finally burst, spreading destruction and devouring the paper and cardboard, spreading quickly across the shelves. Flames hungrily devoured the boxes surrounding them, the heat and smoke that filled the air was intense. Grabbing a fire extinguisher, Keith fought the fire back.

Oblivious, Zac lay next to his lifeless mate, cradling her head. Tears ran down his face as he gently brushed the hair from her face. Her eyes were closed and she looked almost peaceful; like she as sleeping. "Forgive me," he whispered, kissing her cold forehead.

If only he could have turned her, then she would have been able to survive. 

An idea struck him. Getting up, he gently laid his mate back down and morphed his snout into his wolf form, feeling saliva swell.

Eyes closed, he willed his mate to be turned. He bit her wrist, breaking the skin and pushing saliva in. He then licked her wound, sealing more saliva inside. Laying back her arm, he moved around and picked up her other arm.

He repeated the process over and over, gently handling her as he bit and licked her over and over again. He would bring her back; she would live.

Keith, having put out the fires, watched in sympathy as his friend tried to salvage his mate. Flames grew in the corner of the room, grabbing his attention once more.

Grunting and squelching made Keith turn back to his friend, who was at Ally's side, pumping at her chest. Numbly, he realised Zac was trying to force the turn. He also knew it was futile. Ally was gone and no one but the gods could change it.

Fires dealt with, Keith pricked his ears, hearing sirens blared in the distance, realising that someone must have called them for the black smoke pouring from the windows. He did his best to smother the smouldering boxes and stop the smoke that was choking the air.

"Zac!" Called Keith desperately, "We need to go!"

"I'm not leaving her," Zac replied calmly, still pumping at her chest, "She will make it. I can't break the chains and I won't leave her. Not here. Not like this."

"Zac, don't be stupid; she's-"

"She is not!" He screamed, "I can save her! I just need more time! I will not leave my mate here alone. We enter Luna's Embrace together as mates, not like this!"

"Zac-" Keith yelled, pulling his friend's hands away from the body only to have 

Zac wrap himself around her, "Your pack needs you! You have no successor, and like hell I am picking up after this mess. Stop being selfish!" Keith pushed his Alpha, "We're going, even if I have to drag you!"

Zac clung to Ally as Keith tugged at his arms.

"No!" He screamed hysterically, feeling his grip slip. Tears poured down his face. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the locket he had given her. He placed around her neck, stroking the feathers. "My Angel," he whispered. He cuddled up to her one last time, memorising her peaceful face, rubbing her cold cheek, remembering her smile and her tinkling laugh that lit up his soul. His knees gave way as he wept against the altar.

"Zac!" Keith yelled urgently, tugging on his friend's arm, "You promised her you would live for the both of you! Don't break that promise! Live for her, and for your pack! We need to go, now!"

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed, "Ally I love you. I'm so sorry."

With one last heave, Keith dragged Zac from the circle, pulling him past the smoking shelves, coughing from the smoke that still hung in the air.

Zac allowed himself to be dragged away from the altar as the black smoke enveloped his mate. Fresh air washed over the pair as they exited the building.

Keith breathed a sigh of relief as his protesting lungs took in lungful of fresh air.

Zac collapsed to his knees sobbing; he lifted his head and howled his heart break to the bright moon overhead.



~~~



Caitlin heard the howl piercing the night and knew what had happened. The sound broke her heart as she listened to Zac crying his loss to Luna. She fell to her knees and beat the ground with her fists.

She had lost, she thought, tears falling silently down her face. There was no redemption for her now. A long, lonely and bitter future presented itself in her minds eye. She had caused the Alphas mate to be kidnapped and killed through blind ambition.

Slowly, she rose; her resolve steeled. She set off towards her mourning Alpha, her heart breaking each step of the way.

　

~~~

In the distance, sirens wailed, coming closer. Black smoke still billowed from the windows despite the fire being put out.

Tugging on his friends arm again, Keith said quietly, "We have to go, Zac. They can't find us here."

Arms around each other, they stumbled through the parking lot.

"Zac!" Called a voice from behind them.

Keith groaned internally; this wasn't what they needed right now.

The pair turned to see Caitlin on her knees and her arms stretched out to them. "Please forgive me, my Alpha!" She cried.

Zac pulled from his friends embrace and stared down at the woman, "I am not your Alpha, Murderer," he roared, his voice breaking.

Her eyes widened, "I didn't know this would happen! I am so sorry!"

"Sorry? Sorry doesn't bring her back! Sorry doesn't change the fact that you fed her to him. Sorry doesn't change the fact that you are responsible for her death! I shall never forgive you, now leave!"

"Zac! Alpha, please! I want to make it up to you. I want to make it better. Please, I don't want to be without the pack!"

"You want!" Zac roared as she flinched, "That's what it's all about! YOU WANT! That is what brought us here! My mate was the price for your wanting and you paid her up gladly! She is dead because you wanted! Live with that for the rest of your long, miserable and lonely life!"

Caitlin's heart broke as she saw hatred written across his face. "Kill me!" she screamed, tears wetting her cheeks, "Exact your revenge! I don't want to live anymore!"

A cold chill swept through Zac's body, numbing him. He remembered Ally's lifeless form, left in the smoking ruins to find Luna's embrace by herself.

He grasped her head with both hands and Caitlin looked up, hope shining in her eyes. She hoped to find forgiveness and mercy in her Alphas eyes, but only saw the cold gaze of pain and loathing. With a calm breath, she resigned to her fate. Better to die now than face a long and miserable life alone.

She closed her eyes as a final tear fell.

With a burst of speed Zac forced her head around. A resounding crunch echoed through the night before he dropped her lifeless form to the ground.



~~~~~



Pure Moonlight Ch. 15



Hi everyone,

It has been a long time. I am sorry to keep you hanging for so long after such a chapter as the previous one. I know, I know; how could I?!

Truthfully I intended to complete this chapter much sooner. Since I last wrote we have had a few family deaths (3 within 3 months at one point) and all the fun and games that go along with wills and greedy people.

I am also working full time and struggling to manage my time. 

I haven't neglected you or my tale on purpose, and I have every intention of seeing it completed on paper... eventually.

Thank you for the comments and private feedback. It keeps me going and reminds me that people are wanting to hear more from me. It really does make my day, so thanks guys! You rock!


Shadowsung

~~~~~~~~~~

Alluna woke drowsily, her head foggy and she felt like she was in a stranger's body. It felt light as helium and yet slow to respond to her will. She was lying on the rocky ground under a sparse tree at the base of a cliff and no memory of how she got there. 

Sitting up, slowly; her body was so slow it was like it was on a delay. Looking around, the surroundings were so very bleak. The brown plains stretched into the distance, as far as she could see with nothing to break the monotony. The cliff face extended both directions as far as she could see. There was something not entirely right with it all, but she couldn't fathom what it could be. She felt so dreamy. A small giggle escaped her grinning lips.

"I feel like I'm drugged," she giggled, waving her arms around her, chuckling at how funny and slightly transparent they looked. Her hands touched each other and followed up her arms. They felt the strange material covering her body. It was like a shift, crude and simple, it did its job. Her strange hands lifted to her face, as she giggled at the strange sensation of touching her face and yet somehow not. It felt like she was only half there.

Her hand reached out and touched the face of the cliff and she felt a pull within her. There was something really important at the top that she had to get to. She didn't know anything else, but she studied the cliff face; it was sheer and unforgiving. Her smile dropped and tears welled.

"But I want to get up there," she cried miserably, "I want to get to the top."

A strange golden haze shot up the cliff face from her hand and dispersed, revealing a golden ladder stretching up in the rock face. Her dopey smile returned as she slowly got to her feet and unsteadily approached the ladder. The golden rungs felt warm and inviting in her almost hands. A surge of rightness flowed through her body as she pulled her strange new self up. The gold felt just as good on her bare feet as her body adjusted to her intention.

Upwards and upwards she climbed, feeling lighter and lighter as she approached the top. The smile had returned with a giddy happiness that she could not describe.

Her hand reached the top of the cliff and found grass. She pulled herself up and over, looking back at her golden paved route. She could barely see the base she had started, the tree down below seemed barely a dot on the plain landscape that stretched on forever. It had been so easy, more like swimming through a pool than climbing such a sheer and unforgiving drop.

She turned to find the grass was such a vibrant colour of green that she had never before seen. There were huge rolling hills of the majestic green, littered with wildflowers and tall, proud trees. It was like she had never seen in true colour before.

Lying down on her stomach on the lush lawns, she leisurely sunk into them. She felt warm from climbing and she had adjusted to her body. Holding her hand out, she saw it was less transparent than it had been and less blurry around the edges when she moved it. She felt so light and happy. There was nothing that could hurt her here and there was something so right with this strange place.

Rolling over, she saw the sky and gasped in amazement. It was as if she had never looked at the sky before because just like the grass and the flowers, she had never seen such a hue before. A breeze fluttered by, bringing amazing scents from the flowers nearby, which were vibrant shades of different colours. It was as if she had spent her life with mud in her eyes and her senses clogged.

The same surge or pulling ran through her again. With a whoop of glee she got up and took off, following the feeling and relishing the feel of the lush grass beneath her feet. 

To the East Ally saw a forest, magnificent and looming, stretching into the distance.

Just before the tree line, across the field from her Ally could see a small house, pearlescent smoke rising from the chimney. Inexplicably she was drawn to it like a bee to a flower. There was something important about this house; it was why she was here. 

It was a little cottage, straight from a fairytale; ivory climbing its walls and a gentle and welcoming glow. It was framed by a gorgeous garden full of dainty flowers and vibrant colour. An elegant white picket fence completed the picture.

As Ally approached the house, she saw a woman sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair, knitting and humming to herself. The tune was so familiar; her childhood bedtimes flashed before her eyes as her mother tucked her in, singing that song until she slept. Tears welled in her eyes as she drank in the woman.

Her hair was just as she remembered; long and flowing, much like her own, she could almost feel the texture through her fingers. Her nose was smaller than Ally's; it was a cute button framed by rosy cheeks and plump lips. Her mother had always been the most beautiful woman in Ally's eyes. 

"Mum," she whispered, her eyes welling; hardly daring to move any closer.

The woman looked up from her knitting and saw Ally. Her knitting clattered to the floor as she got up from the chair, staring in disbelief, "Ally?" She cried.

　

~~~

　

After a tiring day, he was nearing the end of his shift. The smell of the dead clung to him like a second skin that he had long since become accustomed to.

"Got another one for you Sir," called a man in scrubs wheeling in a gurney with a black body bag. "DOA, Jane Doe. The Emergency crews found her at a warehouse fire."

The doc sighed and rubbed his balding head. He nodded to the man and together they heaved the bag over onto his table. He signed the paperwork and bid the man goodnight. Alone once again, save for the bag, he sighed again and looked it over.

His bones had been aching, and the cool air in the morgue wasn't helping him in the least. He decided to finish his preliminary autopsy and head home as quickly as possible, before anymore bodies found their way to him.

He stepped up to the bag and pulled the zipper down, exposing its contents. He tusked to her quietly, "Oh my dear, you are far too beautiful and young to be down here. Such a pity." 

The girl on his table was young and pretty. Her head was almost rotated to the back, so that she was looking over her shoulder.

He organised his trolley and removed the bag completely. He cut through her clothes quickly and professionally, his eyes on her body for any sign of tampering. He looked at the toe tag, clicked his recorder on and began his report.

"Victim name: Unknown shall henceforth be referred to as Jane Doe. Female, average height and build, approximately late twenties. Cause of Death: preliminary evidence suggests a catastrophic cervical fracture. Asides from neck injury, there appears to be no external marks of any kind. Thorough examination has yielded no scarring, marks or blemishes. Most unusual. End of external preliminary report. About to begin internal investigation." 

He clicked it off and put it on his trolley. Picking up a scalpel, he pushed down the blood shield over his face and approached the bench.

Time froze in the room; the coroner looking like a statue carved from marble. A black cloud swirled around and fell, revealing Alamihr, his eyes glowing golden-rimmed red. He looked down at the pathetic mortal who had nearly ruined his revenge. Her death had been too easy; soft and almost painless.

He snapped his fingers. Her eyes snapped open and she tried to inhale a deep breath. Her neck was far to twisted to allow it. She sat up quickly, turning red from lack of air; she grabbed her head and jerked it back, pain contorting her face. Finally it clicked into place with a strangled cry and she drew breath in short pants, the pain slowly leaving as her body healed. The shape next to her made her swivel in alarm.

She saw the coroner statue and the pool of useless material that were her clothes.

"You are awake. Good" came a voice behind her. She swung around, recognising the voice and the shiver that travelled along her spine. 

There he stood; his cloak and black gone. No longer looking like a twisted and gnarled creature he had made himself to be, he looked almost normal except for his deep glowing red eyes and faint golden veins that swirled like tattoos across his features. Despite these differences, he looked perfectly handsome, dressed in a regal black and white dinner suit. Caitlin knew his nature and was not fooled.

He leant against the steel desk, playing with a black chess piece in his hands. "Did you know chess was considered the game of gods before the game of kings?" he asked, his voice light and airy, "We used to play it millennia before you pathetic mortals dreamed it up."

He held up the piece he was playing with. It was an unusual design, filled with lines and points, giving it a malevolent feel. "The game I play spans further than you can imagine. You were a mere pawn for me to use as I saw fit."

He paused, contemplating the piece before locking eyes with her once more. Caitlin's head swam as she fell into his red, swirling eyes. "I underestimated you," he said quietly, "Not something I do often, I assure you. For a pawn, your usefulness was compromised by your futile attempts to derail my plans. Did you really think you could fool me, puny mortal? Did you really think I would let such infractions pass unpunished?"

"But I was dead," Caitlin cried, "what worse punishment could there be?"

"Oh, no. Your death was far too easy. There are worse things than dying. You will live out your life cold, miserable and alone."

His voice grew colder and a shiver of pure fear rolled down her back.

"You should fear me, mortal," he said quietly, "Do not think of attempting to end it sooner than you natural fated death, for I will simply bring you back. After all it was a part of the contract that you not die as a result of this transaction." He smiled coldly.

"I am here to officially uphold our contract, aren't you grateful I kept my word" he smiled. "You are no longer of any use to me, so you will not see me again."

He placed the piece he had been playing with on the bench next to Caitlin. "A souvenir; to remember me by," he said sardonically.

"Have a long, lonely and miserable life," He chuckled once and twisted into a black cloud before disappearing from sight, leaving her alone once more.

Caitlin picked up the piece. It was a black queen piece, with a pointy crown and a beautiful yet cruel face. It felt cold and heavy in her hand. She couldn't help the sobs that tore from her chest as she contemplated her cursed fate.

~~~

Ally stared in disbelief as she drank in her mother. It had been so long since she had seen her in the flesh.

"Ally!" her mother cried, "What are you doing here? How did you get here?" hesitantly, they two took steps towards each other, each waiting for the image in front of them to disappear. Her mother reached the edge of the porch as Ally reached the fence line.

"Kara!" Cried a voice. A man leapt out from the house and flung his arms around Ally's mother, stopping her from stepping forward. He was large for a man, and had chiselled features. His eyes were a vibrant green with pale silver veins playing across his features.

"Kara, you mustn't touch her," he said sternly, "Her soul is still not anchored, she can be saved."

"Ally," her mother whispered, tears falling down her face, as she slumped into the mans arms.

Ally felt disorientated. Who was this man and how dare he hold her mother in such a familiar manner while denying her the same. She took a few steps forward, seeing more details in her mother; her deep blue eyes and the silver necklace she had always worn.

"Mum!" Ally cried, stepping closer.

"Alluna, stop," the man ordered, his voice deep and commanding. "You mustn't."

Ally ignored him, feeling her body strengthen. 

"I will not allow you to do this," he growled. He swung a hand and the gate shut in front of her, closing her off from her mother.

Ally tried to grab the gate, but her hand wouldn't obey. Even while pushing, she could only hover it over the top, like there was an invisible force preventing her from touching. Her hand was still transparent, but it was slowly becoming more and more opaque. 

"Alluna, listen to me, child," the man said desperately, "you must not touch us. You are still attached to your realm. Contact with us will anchor you here and you will never be able to return!" He kept his arms around Ally's mother, who was sobbing into his chest.

"Mum," Ally cried, ignoring him, "Mum, I'm over here! Please mum, I've missed you!" Tears poured down her face, "Mum why won't you look at me? Haven't you missed me? It's been so hard without you mum. Why did you leave me? Don't you love me, Mum?"

Her mother sobbed harder, looking up at Ally, "I'm so sorry Treasure," she cried, "I didn't. I never wanted to leave you. I love you." She stepped out from the man's embrace and stepped off the porch. "Alluna," She whispered, "I have missed you so much my darling girl."

"Kara!" the man roared, "She will be stuck here! You mustn't give in! She can still return and live!" He grabbed her arm.

"No Althain!" She said, stopping to look at him, "why shouldn't we? She could live here with us. I would never have to leave her again. Why don't you want her here with us?" She shrugged off his hand and stepped closer to her daughter.

"Mum," Ally smiled, opening her arms, "I love you too"

"Ally!" she cried.

"No!" hollered Althain, grabbing her around the shoulders. "MIGISI!" He yelled to the heavens, "Get your tail feathers here NOW!"

A shriek overhead drew all eyes up as a giant eagle came hurtling down. Though when she first saw it, it was an eagle, in the blur of speed its features changed. With a loud thud and a small puff of dust a man knelt on the ground between Ally and her mother. 

He was a native American man, with a wild mane of black hair, dark eyes and skin. He was shirtless with hide pants and bare feet.

"Althain," said the newcomer cheerily, his smile dropped when he took in the couple "What's the problem? What's wrong, Kara?"

Ally's mother was still looking glassily over his shoulder at Ally. Puzzled, the newcomer looked over his shoulder and saw Ally.

"Oh," he said quietly. He looked between Althain, Kara and Ally. "Not the family reunion you were hoping for, hey brother?" he said with a cheeky little smile.

Althain's face didn't waiver as he kept wary eyes on Ally. "Go fetch the Mother this instant. I don't know what has happened on the mortal plain, but Ally needs to be returned as soon as possible."

"Gotchya, bro" he said. He leapt high into the air, twisted and shifted into a giant eagle and flew away with a shriek.

Althain held his hand out over the ground and made a pulling motion upwards. The ground beneath his hand leapt up and crumbled away revealing a silver chair with green vines curling around it. He deposited Kara into it and put his hand on her shoulder as he looked at Ally, frozen at the gate.

"Forgive your mother, Ally," he said to her quietly, "She never wanted to leave you and certainly wouldn't have if things had been... different."

Ally opened her mouth to speak when a shriek overhead told her the man from before had returned. This time he landed in his human form behind Ally, leaving a small distance.

She turned to look at him curiously. He watched her cautiously, completely on guard. 

"Ally," her mother whispered.

Ally looked back to her mother who had stood up and taken a step closer with her hand outstretched.

Ally tried to hold out her hand, but met the shield protecting the house.

Kara and Althain suddenly looked over her shoulder before bowing deeply.

She spun on the spot, expecting the eagle-man.

He stood to the side, on one knee, his fist over his heart and head bowed.

In front of Ally, standing as regal as any queen was a beautiful woman, clothed in a pure white shift and cloak, with the hood drawn wide over her head; her hair was long and whispery white. Her features were full and pale and her eyes were a pure and vibrant green with silver edges. Her aura was intense and she wore power like a cloak.

The eagle man, from his kneeling position said quietly, "May I present Luna, Goddess of the moon."

"Hello Ally," she said with a gentle smile, "It is lovely to meet you at last. We have much to discuss, you and I."

~~~



Pure Moonlight Ch. 16



Hi everyone!!

Welcome to chapter 16 of Pure Moonlight! It is my first submission for 2015. It has taken me a long time to polish this chapter, but I have been trying to get back into writing in amongst my many other commitments.

A huge thank you to my readers who have been sending encouragement, thoughts and hopes for the series. You have kept me motivated and writing. I really appreciate your encouragement, comments and feedback 

I can't make any promises for delivery of the next chapters, but I hope it shouldn't be too long a wait for you all.


Shadowsung

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ally stared dumbfounded. What were these people on about? Goddess of the moon?

Luna passed her mesmerising eyes across Ally and she felt a shiver course through her body.

"What has happened, child?" she asked gently, "How did you reach this place?"

"I don't know," Ally frowned, trying to recall anything before her awaking at the cliff. Her memory was so foggy. Her head hurt and her heart ached as she tried to remember. A cloudy face hovered at the edges of her memory. It was important, but it just wouldn't come.

"The last thing I remember is waking up at the bottom of the cliff over there and climbing up." She gestured from where she had come.

The birdman stood up, looking over at the cliff before addressing Ally, "How in Luna's name did you climb up from limbo, Alluna?" Asked the birdman curiously.

"A golden ladder appeared," said Ally with a shrug.

Everyone stared in surprise, "She has talent in this world despite never being here; how curious," he muttered.

"This world?" asked Ally.

"This is the god's realms," he explained, "Home to the children of the stars who oversee the mortal plane; where you live."

"Enough," said the man Althain commandingly, "We are running out of time. Our daughter has been here too long already."

Ally stared at the man and her mother in disbelief. He was her father? A question she had asked her entire life had been answered in a casual comment! What did this mean? Her brain still felt fuzzy and was so sluggish in absorbing information.

"You are right, Son," agreed Luna, "but we must understand what has happened." She approached Ally, who backed up against the invisible barrier.

"Be at ease, child, I will not harm you." Luna promised gently. She pulled off her white glove and held it by Ally's face, "You must trust in me and not fight this."

A single fingertip touched the centre of her forehead and Ally felt power surge through the foggy haze, burning it away. Images and scenes flashed past her eyes in a confusing cacophony of sound and colour that left her breathless.

Less than a second later the hand was removed and Luna backed away.

Ally shook her head to clear the images, leaning against the barrier for balance. Her mind was clearer than ever. She looked around again. Her mother, her father; the family she had always wanted were almost within touching distance yet untouchable.

Ally's mother took half a step forward, but Althain gripped her tighter and rubbed her back. "I know you want to, dear. Believe me, I want to touch her too, but we must exercise restraint. It is for her own good."

With a sigh Kara nodded and relaxed into his hold, her eyes never leaving her child.

"It is worse than we feared," said Luna gravely. "It appears that Alamihr has reared his head despite our previous warnings."

The birdman hissed angrily, "We banished him to the mortal realms a thousand years ago. He is powerless."

"Not as powerless as we had hoped, it seems," replied Luna. "He has robbed our Alluna of her golden light that came from the meeting of god and mortal. She has but a seed left. It is a miracle that she could even make it here from limbo."

"Then Alamihr has the power of a demi-god?" asked Althain, "I have never heard of this. Is it even possible?"

"It is," replied Luna gravely, "It is forbidden, but we all know that wouldn't stop him. It seems there are still tomes that carry the dark arts in the mortal world."

"But we destroyed them all" said the birdman.

"Clearly we missed some, Brother," Althain said dryly.

"Clearly we have missed a lot," he replied with a sigh, "I forget how fast time in the mortal realm flows."

Ally felt so lost in the conversation. They were speaking English, but she just couldn't follow them. Instead she drank in her mother, who was doing the same.

"We must retaliate, Mother" said Migisi, "Alamihr has broken the conditions of his punishment. We kept him alive on the mortal plain, but he must now face annihilation in the face of this continued treachery!"

"We cannot," said Luna, "our laws forbid it. He is now of Demi-God status and therefore not of our authority for justice. Now he is no longer mortal he is no longer bound by theirs either. He must be brought to justice by those in between. Only another demi can deliver it rightfully."

"Mother, you know there are no more Demi-gods left in the mortal realms after the havoc they wreaked in the dark ages!"

"That is why we must deliver Alluna back to her mortal form before her soul is anchored here," replied Luna, turning her striking eyes on her granddaughter. 

"It is time we ended this. I am sorry, granddaughter, I had always wished to meet you and spend time together and allow you the same with your parents, but we are bound by our laws." She said wistfully. "Come. I will escort your soul back to your body. Let us hope we are not too late." 

She approached Ally once more, dropping her glove and peeling off the other. Angling Ally away from the fence, Luna moved her around so she was facing her parents. With both hands bared Luna gently touched two fingers to Ally's side and collarbone.

The goddess pressed the two points and a shock surged through Ally's body suddenly, causing her to cry out. She felt a tug that pulled at her at the same time Luna pushed, almost jerking her off her feet.

"Clear!" called a foggy voice in the distance and another shock coursed through her body. A monstrous force pushed her backwards and the tug she felt intensified. Her feet left the ground and she flew backwards, Luna still pushing her along by the fingertips to her body while the tug kept their course. 

Ally watched as her parents and their house grew smaller. She watched as Althain pulled the sobbing Kara into his embrace. Her arm stretched out, wishing she could have stayed even a moment more with her mother.

Together Luna and Ally were pulled across the field she had travelled across. Wildflowers blurred into streams of colour as they sped past. The wind pulled at her hair but she was too terrified to scream. Luna's face was impassive as she used her fingertips to alter their course slightly.

The pair reached the cliff with blinding speed and without a second's hesitation fell over the cliff and plummeted. Ally found her voice and screamed until she had no breath. 

The clouds grew bigger as they got closer at a blinding speed. Ally shut her eyes against the impact that would be the ground she had woken up on, but it never came.

Ally opened her eyes just as they hit the cloud and went through. There was no ground, but more sky. She felt Luna pushing harder, moving her onto her back. Ally watched over her shoulder as the ground became closer and closer. There was a huddle of people, cars and flashing lights directly below them. Ally could see a body laying flat on the ground at the centre of the cluster.

Just as the ground was imminent, Ally heard a voice shout "Clear," through her body. She closed her eyes braced herself for impact as another jolt of energy surged through her. She felt herself slam into the body ground as she sat up, with a huge gasp for breath.

Hands pushed her lying back as voiced shouted around her. Through her hazy vision of faces, Ally could see Luna hovering above them, transparent and smiling.

"Luna," She whispered as her vision darkened and she slipped into unconsciousness.

~~~

Caitlin's tears finally subsided when her shivering reminded her of her chilled surroundings. She spared a look at the old coroner, still frozen, but for how long she didn't know. It would certainly be hard to explain her miraculous resurrection.

Hopping down from the cold metal table, she looked about the room. Her big toe constricted and she saw a tag tied around it. She pulled it off and left it on the table. After searching the room, she found a pair of track pants and jumper. The pants were much too big and fell down. She settled instead on a gown given to patients. She then went about removing herself from the system, collecting up all her clothes, the tag and paperwork she had found on the desk.

Caitlin then moved the old man like a mannequin to his desk chair and folded him gently into it, hoping he would wake up and think it was a dream. About to leave, she spotted his recording device on the trolley and took the tape out.

Sticking her head out of the door, Caitlin found herself in a deserted corridor. She ducked out and walked as calmly as she could towards the exit sign. She surreptitiously dropped her bundle of tattered clothes and paperwork into a bin along the way, keeping only the chess piece. Halfway along the corridor, she spotted an elevator.

Pressing the "up" button repeatedly, she nervously waited for it to arrive, her hand clenched tightly around the black queen. Voices from around a corner alerted her sensitive hearing, giving her time to dive into the stairwell beside the elevator and duck out of sight. It was two security guards that were patrolling the level.

With a sigh she began climbing the stairs. She knew the entrance lobby would be far too busy for her to get out dressed as she was. About to get out at level three, she heard someone approaching the door to her hiding place. She sprinted up another two flights before she reached the next level.

She stepped out cautiously and made her way down the corridor, trying to remain inconspicuous. Walking by a nurse's station she was stopped by a larger woman with a strict hair bun and a stern face. "Who are you?" she asked suspiciously, "What are you doing out of bed?"

Making a split second decision, Caitlin did her best to look confused. 

"I-I got lost. I wanted to go to the bathroom, but it was being used, so I went looking for another. I have been wandering around for ages, and I can't find my bed."

The woman's face softened, "Ok, dear. Wait here, I will get security and I will start making calls for a lost patient, ok? You wait right here, deary." She was deposited into a waiting chair and gently patted on the shoulder before the nurse retreated to the nurses' station, keeping herself in view of Caitlin.

Caitlin panicked; she knew that she would be caught out if the nurse did some calling around. As soon as the nurse turned her back, Caitlin got up from her seat and walked quickly down the other end of the hall and into another ward.

She paced the corridors, completely lost. The calls and music playing over head drowned out and the lights of the passing rooms blurred. She prayed to Luna for guidance, hoping that the goddess had not abandoned her too. Her hearing picked up on footsteps approaching her way.

She felt a quiet voice caress her mind; ~this door; go inside!~ It sounded like wolves baying to the moon and wind pouring through a field of wicker-grass. She ducked through the door that was calling to her. Closing the door, she turned around and was nearly blinded by light.

Squinting through the pure white light, Caitlin made out a figure. A regal woman with white hair and billowing dress and cape with a wide hood stood with her arms wide and her eyes closed. She opened them, her gaze falling on Caitlin. Her eyes were blazing emeralds with silver edging, and there were delicate and complex green and swirling patterns adorning her face.

"I never abandoned you, child," she whispered, her voice soft. It was the same mesmerising voice that had urged her into the room, "I had to step back to let you learn your life's hardest lesson; but never would I abandon you."

"Luna," Caitlin whispered, tears falling freely at the sight of her goddess. She dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead to the ground with her arms out and palms up, "I do not deserve your light. I have betrayed my pack, committed terrible acts and-"

"And you have remorse," the goddess gently interrupted. "I see your heart and it is as pure as the light from the moon. I am here to offer the guidance you need and to offer you redemption."

"Am I worthy?" she asked, her forehead still against the ground. Hands as soft as clouds lifted her from the ground. She kept her eyes on the floor, scared of such brilliance. The cloud touched her chin, forcing her gaze up.

"Are you willing?" asked the Goddess quietly.

"Yes," she whispered, transfixed.

"Then you are most worthy, my child." With a gentle smile, the goddess took her hand and led her over to the bed. Caitlin hadn't noticed the bed or its occupant. She had almost forgotten they were in a hospital.

The pretty human on the bed was battered and bruised and there was a taint in her scent. "Who is she?" asked Caitlin quietly.

"That is not important right now. What she will become is very much so. She has been turned without consent and will need guidance and friendship. She died for a short while and We are not sure how much she will remember or how it will affect her. We want you to be her mentor and her friend. Guide her through the Change; it will be very hard on her. Help her to realise her destiny. Do this for me and your atonement will be complete."

"I will," she promised, looking hard at her new companion.

The goddess took her face in her hands and gently kissed her forehead. Caitlin felt energy pour through her soul, washing away the fear and the sadness that had almost consumed her.

Caitlin blinked and the goddess was gone. Looking down, she found herself in her favourite pair of jeans and top. She smiled and sat down next to the unconscious woman, the beeping in the room lulling her into an exhausted sleep.

~~~

The beeps surrounded the darkness, like gentle bells in the distance. Slowly she stirred, her body slowly rising from the depths of unconsciousness. Her vision cleared to show a woman smiling expectantly down at her.

"Welcome to the world of the living," she said with a smile, "Took you long enough."

She blinked slowly. Her head hurt and she couldn't recognise the face of the woman. Looking into her memory she realised, even more disturbingly, her own identity was a mystery.

She looked up at the woman, her brows knitted, "Who are you?" she asked, "And... Who am I?"