Chapter 66 Chapter Sixty-six

Chapter 66 Chapter Sixty-six
"You're wasting your fucking time.”

Arya stilled for a moment then relaxed. She would recognize that deep gravelly voice anywhere. The voice of her mate, the love of her life. She didn't turn to look at him from where she knelt at the moon goddess’s altar.

“She'll answer.”

“No, she won't.” Bradley said. His footsteps were heavy as he approached her. He stood in front of her, glaring. “How many times have we prayed? Huh? How many sacrifices have we done in her name? She's ignored us our whole lives. She couldn't be bothered if we lost the moonstone or if we were attacked. She did nothing to help us. Don't waste your breath. She's dead.”

Bradley had been badly injured during the last full moon. He cradled his left arm where a silver bullet had been lodged in. It had taken three hours to pull it out. He also walked with a limb. His exceptional healing abilities had saved him but the others had not been so lucky. Most were either dead or badly injured. Still didn't give Bradley the right to spout bullshit.

Arya glowered. “Don't speak about the mother in such a manner. Have you no respect?”

He sneered. “Respect died along with the rest of my pack. If the mother was going to help, she would've, a long time ago.”

Arya said nothing. This loss bore heavily on her and he was only making it worse.

“We're leaving.” He said.

“What?”

“You heard me. We're leaving this place. It's not safe for us anymore. The humans are actively hunting us down. It's be suicide to remain.”

She opened her mouth to argue but no sound came out. He was right. It would only be a matter of time before the humans would attack again. Arya didn't want to leave though. Stone Haven was home. Her parents and grandparents had lived here. There was a lot of ancestry. It was like being cut off from her roots.

“Where will we go then?”

“We'll meet the other werewolves in Sogal. I already contacted Caleb. He says we're welcome.” He looked away before she could catch the look in his eyes. She saw it though. That look of shame. Accepting help from another werewolf pack no matter how friendly wasn't Bradley's way.

“It's best for us that way.” He said, like he was trying to convince himself as well as her. “ It's a safe environment for you…and the baby.”

Her heart clenched. So that was the real reason. Her hand unconsciously went to her stomach, feeling the life there. The Elders had said this baby would be a powerful one. She could feel it, a different power pulsing through her veins, unlike anything she had ever felt before. She shuddered to think of what it would become.

Arya stood. “Fine. But we're not giving up in our search for the moonstone. We're getting it back from the witch.”

“Arya…”

“Bradley, no. Is this how you want us to survive? In fear all our lives? We'll join with other packs. In that, we're all united at least.”

“You're pregnant,” he gritted out. “Your only focus now should be on the baby. Let me worry about the moonstone.”

“You know me better than that.”

“Unfortunately, I do.” Bradley said dryly.



Sogal was a bustling city.

High rise buildings stretched into the night sky, their edges sharp. Even at night, the city was still wide awake, people moving about, purpose in their steps. It was one of the smaller cities, but heavily congested due to a lot of opportunities. There was a market for everything in Sogal. Werewolf packs were spread across all cities of the world and Caleb Sinclair's pack happened to reside in this one. One of the few packs they were actually on good terms with.

He lived in a mansion in one of the upper class areas of the city. Bradley drove in through the gates, his hand tight on the steering, his jaw set. He was probably mentally preparing himself to grovel some more. The remaining members of their pack drove behind them.

Caleb was waiting for them at the top of the stairs. He leaned against the door, a boyish smile on his face, his blond hair tousled. As much as she didn't like leaving Stone Haven, she had to admit she was happy to see an old friend.

Bradley clasped Caleb on the back when they reached the top of the stairs.
“Good to see you old friend.”

“Likewise.”
He led them inside the sprawling mansion to the living room on that ground floor.

“Lucy,” Caleb said to a young woman who had been watching television when they walked in. “Show our guests to their quarters. Bradley and Arya, you wait here. We have some catching up to do.”

“You've certainly fancied up the place,” Bradley said, looking around.

Caleb smiled, pouring them each a glass of wine. “What can I say? I like pretty things.”

Truer words were never spoken. Caleb was the most notorious womanizer Arya knew. He always joked that he wasn't destined to have a mate and she chided him everytime. Everyone wanted a mate even if they tried to hide it. It was a bond given by the moon goddess herself. A privilege. Some wolves never found their mate during their lifetime. Some got rejected. Others like her had a happy mated life. Any same person would wish for that.

“I'm not drinking,” she said, “But thank you for your hospitality.”

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I'm pregnant.”

“Ohhh.”he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
She shook her head. “Careful,” Bradley muttered.

“Okay, no more joking.” Caleb said, his face suddenly going serious. “There's been talk. About you. Your pack and how you let the moonstone slip from your fingers.”

“We were ambushed. A good number of us died.” Bradley snarled.

“I know that,” Caleb said calmly. “I'm very sorry for your loss Bradley, I truly am. But, you should know that other packs are now competing for who will get the moonstone first. I suggested we get it together but no one listens to me.”

Bradley scoffed. “Hope they're prepared to die.”

“Not quite. The wolves in Diamond Ridge say they have already felt the moonstone's power. That's where the witch resides.”

Not Wisteria? Alaric had lied then. Bastard.

“As long as the moonstone is in the hands of the werewolves, it doesn't matter which pack has it. All this competition is unnecessary.” she said.

Caleb shrugged lazily. “I'm not even interested. I'll help anyway I can but I can't be bothered with pack hierarchies like Bradley over there.”

“That's because you're a sod with no sense of ambition.”

Caleb laughed.

It bothered Arya. This rat race for the moonstone. The fact that they had to hear it from Caleb even made it worse. They weren't even considered worthy enough to be told. Fuck them.

“Suit yourself, Caleb. If it's a competition then we'll win. Bradley and I will be the ones to get it back.”

Caleb grinned. “This is going to be good.”

Bradley gave her a look but she ignored it. Arya wasn't going to sit and wait around just because she w
as pregnant. She was a Luna, touched specially by the mother.

That had to count for something right?