*“It’s the unknown that draws people.” ― E.A. Bucchianeri*
***Kiya***
Neron hadn’t opened up about the vision he had last night. He just clammed up when I tried to broach the subject. Whatever he had seen locked him in a vice grip of fear, and I wasn’t sure how to release him.
Waking up with him holding onto me for dear life was a clear sign.
I want to help him, but we’re at an impasse. Was Neron afraid to tell me what he truly saw, or was staying silent his way of ensuring the vision didn’t come true? It involved him losing me, that is what I know for sure. Plus, the mysterious ‘he’ Neron mentioned as the person responsible. With little to go on, I can only assume he saw the mad god. There wasn’t any other figure that I know of that could pose a threat to us.
Once again, I’m left with more questions than answers.
However, there was another thing that weighed heavy on my mind, or rather, my body. I didn’t just wake up with Neron’s arms around me. I woke up feeling incredibly sluggish, yet overly sensitive. Aches pulsated in under my muscles and my limbs felt as heavy as lead. At the same time, my senses were turned up to a hundred. Neron and I were the only ones in our hotel room, yet I could pick up the energies from the *other* rooms, even on the floors above and below us.
As one can imagine, it was incredibly overwhelming. Lightheadedness became my companion for the morning.
I wasn’t totally immobile, however. Somehow, I found the energy to drag my heavy body into the shower after Neron was done with his.
I wanted to stay in bed, but my body was aware of everything right down to the mild breeze from the window licking my flesh.
None of this was from waking up in the middle of the night to help Neron. This was *something* else.
It’s day two of the Alpha Gathering. I’m worried about what other surprises were in store for the rest of the trip.
I snatched one of the soft white bathrobes hanging off a rack and folded it around myself when I stepped out from the hot shower. I tugged off my shower cap, my hair descending over my shoulders down to the middle of my back. Huffing out a sigh, I approached my foggy mirror and wiped the condensation off it, revealing my reflection.
“Huh…” I muttered, running a finger over my under eye. “This… is not good.”
My eyes. They weren’t their normal cocoa brown, but a vibrant hazel. Speckles of blue gleamed around my pupils, spreading toward the rim as it steadily colonized over the brown.
This has *never* happened before.
“**Are we going through another shift**?” Artemis asked.
My heart dropped like an anvil. “*I… I don’t know*. *I was kind of hoping you might have a clue to what’s going on*.” I responded, blinking rapidly. With every blink, the blue grew.
“**Sadly, I have no clue**.”
“*I don’t think I could slide by without anyone noticing that I suddenly have brighter eyes*.”
“**Have you thought about sunglasses**?”
“*My family and Neron would get suspicious if I wear them to an indoor breakfast*. *I need to think of something else*.” Suddenly, a strong force knocked the wind out of me. Pain trembled in my stomach, diffusing outward to my chest and the rest of my body. Another jolt of power knocked out of my knees, forcing gravity to take control. I tumbled forward, collapsing to the ground. The bathroom carpet deadened the sound of my fall. “*Oh, fuck*! *What is going on*?!”
I gritted my teeth, hissing and curling forward as if it would help diminish the pain. It didn’t. The horror progressively got worse to the point a small whimper left my lips.
Then, as quick as it came, it disappeared. Vanished. The rush of power was gone. I was back to normal. Panting, I uncurved myself and sat flat on my rear, confused at what just taken place.
“That crossed a possibility of my list,” Artemis grumbled.
“*What possibility*?”
“**That you were going into heat again**.”
Shit, I hadn’t thought about that. The first time was three years ago, and it was absolutely horrible, despite Neron bending over backward to make sure I was okay. I haven’t gone into heat since. And that was the scariest part of it all. The symptoms I just experienced nearly resembled what I’ve been through before the first heat, yet it didn’t feel like one.
I didn’t feel the untamed fires of passion and desperation. What I felt was sharp as a knife and cold as snow, a radical difference. This was power related, and by association, avatar related.
But the mention of the heat brought about fears I haven’t considered before. With the recovered mate bond, it was a matter of **when** I’ll go into heat again. Just like before, it can happen at any time and any place. There was an element of danger if, and only if, I went into heat during the trip. I wouldn’t be dealing with unmated wolves of a singular pack.
I’d be dealing with fucking *alphas*; the most possessive and aggressive wolves known to wolfkind. And that was the bigger nightmare.
Groaning, I propped my elbows on my knees and covered my face with my hands.
Was it a mistake to come here with Neron?
*Buzz*!
I looked up from my hands, darting my eyes to the bathroom shelf. That was my phone. I drew myself to my feet with the support of the sink and took the device. Unlocking it, a text notification from Phoebe came in the notification bar. When I opened it, a mixture of confusion and worry settled over me like a storm cloud.
*Hey*. *There is a supermoon tonight*. *Please, be careful*.
A supermoon?
I texted her back.
*What is a supermoon, and why do I need to be careful*?
The phone screen switched to a call notice from Phoebe. I pressed the green button and held the receiver to my ear. “Phoebe, I—”
“A supermoon is when the moon is on its closest point of approach to earth during its orbit. It makes it look so much bigger and brighter than normal. In layman’s terms, it’s—*Nuria, stop pinching my hips*—a rare but immensely powerful full moon. The moon in the last two nights were full, but tonight is when it will be completely full. You should—*haaa, Nuria, stop*!—be careful since it will affect your powers.”
“Nuria is still with you?” I asked with a grin.
“Y-Yes. You should’ve warned me that her love language was physical touch.”
“*Can you offer me a spare titty, my sweet star*?”
“Nuria, I’m on the phone!”
“*Hi, Kiki*! *Can I have some titty now*?”
“Back, Nuria! Back, I say!”
I fell into a gaggle of laughter as I left the bathroom, waving at Neron typing on his laptop on a settee. I stood by the window, avoiding the sun’s rays on my skin. “Sounds like you’re both having fun.”
“W-we are, but not in the way you’re thinking!” Phoebe shrieked. I could envision the blush on her cheeks. “Anyway, you never experienced a supermoon since you’ve awakened. Because we don’t know a lot about the workings of Selene’s avatar, I’m just warning you to be careful.”
“Phoebe, based on what you know, what *could* happen to me if I wasn’t careful?”
Neron raised his head in my peripherals.
“Anything could happen, Kiya. As I said before, a supermoon is an incredibly powerful full moon, exceeding the power of a lunar eclipse.” Phoebe explained. “Your powers will respond to the energy shift. How? I do not know. To put it into perspective, think about how you normally feel on a full moon and amplify that times fifty. If anything, it could make you powerful. Too powerful if we want to be dramatic.”
*Oh, Goddess*.
“Am I going to go crazy?”
“I can’t be for certain, but it is a possibility. However, I have confidence you’ll be okay because you have Neron, and he can protect you.”
*Yeah, because that went sooo well the last time I lost control*.
I lowered my voice as low as I could, ignoring the flaring heat in my cheeks. “What if I’m a danger to him, Phoebe? Could I hurt him?”
“Like I said, I don’t know. That’s why I said anything could happen.”
“I don’t feel too good about this.”
Phoebe sighed over the receiver. “I know you’re worried and I wish I could give you more advice, but I don’t have all the answers.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Phoebe. I’m learning about myself and my powers in real time, and I don’t expect you to be my instructional book.”
Phoebe giggled, inhaling a deep breath. “Be as careful as you can, okay? The moon guides werewolves, so I can imagine they could be a little erratic tonight, but you’re a unique case. You have the power of a goddess and almost one yourself. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself?”
“Yes. Yes, I will.” I cleared my throat, raising my voice back to normal volume. “Thank you for the heads-up, Phoebe. Don’t let Nuria rope you into too much trouble, okay? Goddess knows that woman can be a little crazy.”
“*I heard that*!”
I rolled my eyes.
“I’ll be fine, Kiya. Nuria has been keeping me company. I’ll do my best to keep her out of trouble. Have a great rest of your trip and text me if anything happens, okay?”
“I will. Thanks.”
When we ended the call, I puffed out a weighty sigh, rubbing my temples. I already felt a headache coming about. Stuffing the phone in my robe pocket, I turned to the alpha on the couch. “Hey Neron, can you look up the spiritual significance about supermoons for me?”
“Supermoons?” He asked, arching an eyebrow. “Sure.” His fingers clacked away on the keyboard; his concentration heavy on the computer screen. “Oh? Looks like there is one tonight. It looks like a big one and it’ll be the closest the moon has ever been to earth. Are you worried about something?”
“Phoebe called and told me to be careful tonight.” Rubbing my face, I plopped into one of the chairs, folding a leg over the other. “I’m not sure how the supermoon might affect me or my powers.”
“Well, in spiritual contexts, a supermoon has amplified frequencies. They’re energetically more powerful, intense, and many can feel its full effects in the days leading up to it and after it.”
My ears perked up; my curiosity flipped on. “Have you felt anything different in the past few days?”
Neron shook his head. “Nope. I feel fine.”
It probably is just me then. The weird jolts of power I’ve been feeling are because of the supermoon’s energies. However, the unknown still awaits. And that is the **scariest** part of all.
The robe suddenly felt too constricting. Too warm and overwhelming. I hopped on my feet again, tugging at the collar while walking toward the closet. “Thanks for the info. It gives me some idea on what to expect.”
“I think you should stay here for lunch and dinner and not come to the ballroom.”
I yanked a pink tee from a hanger. “Why not? I don’t think I’ll attack anyone or become a mindless zombie or—”
“Kiya, your scent is much stronger than normal.”
I paused and bit my lip, feeling chills run down my spine. “It is?”
“Yes. I noticed it this morning before you went into the shower. Are you…?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not going into heat if that’s what you’re thinking.” Spotting the black skirt I was looking for, I pulled it from the top shelf. “I wanted to eat with my family tonight, but I don’t think having a bunch of alphas sniffing me out was part of the itinerary.”
“You know the latter wouldn’t happen, even if fate willed it.”
“Is that so?” I peered over my shoulder. “You sound pretty confident about that. Can you take on multiple alphas at once?”
“In a heartbeat if it meant protecting you.”
Before I could respond, my hand flew to the closet doorknob, gripping it to the point of bending the metal. I breathed, gritting my teeth as yet another powerful jolt rocketed through my body like a detonated bomb, pursued by a flash of pain. Supermoon energy was whooping my ass! Neron was on his feet and by my side in seconds, but I waved him off. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine, Kiya.” He replied in a pained tone. “Um, your eyes are—”
“Turning blue, I know. It’s a side effect.”
Neron opened his mouth to say more but shook his head, deciding against it. “You look a little pale. I think you should stay here for the day to relax.”
“I get super restless if I have nothing to do.”
“You have something to do, and that is to relax.”
I let out an exasperated groan. “Neron—”
“No, you’re not arguing with me on this.” He took my clothes from my hands and set them back in the closet, replacing them with a pair of my favorite red silk pajamas. “Get into these and hop in bed.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” I grumbled.
“I just did.” He snickered, nudging me to the bathroom. “Get changed. I’ll call for our breakfast to be brought up.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“…Yeah, something is definitely wrong with you. At least try to eat a piece of sausage when the food comes up?”
“If that’ll make you happy.” I replied sarcastically.
“It will. Now, off you go.”
With a defeated sigh, I trudged into the bathroom and slid into my pajamas. After I hobbled back into the room and hopped into my bed, Neron pulled the covers up to my neck, handed me the television remote and kissed my forehead. He turned to call for room service while I flipped through the channels for something good to watch.
I thought rest would help.
I was *wrong*.
My condition, whatever the fuck it was, got worse as the day progressed to the night. Neron stayed by me the entire time, worrying himself sick as my health dropped and rose like a damn rollercoaster ride. One minute I was confined to the bed and the other I was fidgety and moody, pacing around the room like a madwoman. The jolts in my body wouldn’t stop, growing in power every time it punched through me. My body became exceedingly sensitive to the smallest of sensations, and it heightened my senses to the extreme. I could hear the baby cicadas burrowing in the nearby forest, smell onions being chopped in the kitchen, see tiny specs of dust dance in the air, and so much more.
How was I acting like a bitch in heat when I wasn’t in heat? I wanted to rip my hair right out of my scalp.
It wasn’t stopping. It *couldn’t* stop. And when the supermoon rose to its height in the dark sky, things took a drastic turn.
I was sitting on the bed when I watched the light of the moon spill into the hotel room, stretching over the bedsheets. It had a sound and a touch. Touching the moonlight was like touching a piece of heaven and the sound hummed a low melody that only I could hear.
Was I going crazy? Have I sunk into the depths of lunacy?
Selene’s presence was interwoven with the light of the celestial body, and I could feel her like she was beside me. I felt her hands on my shoulders and her loving gaze warming me from head to toe. My focus was on her rather than on the multiple conflicts raging inside my body.
I couldn’t stay in this room.
I wanted to get out. I *needed* to get out.
Neron was in the bathroom. This was my chance to slip out. I could go through the main door, but the alphas would pick up my alluring scent and I’d become the latest prize for the hunt. The other option was through the window. Pushing the curtains aside, I caught a glimpse of my reflection to see a pair of vibrant blue eyes staring back at me.
It wasn’t Artemis. This was **me**.
“**We need to go**.” Artemis said, and I couldn’t agree more.
I opened the window as wide as I could, poking my head out to see the drop I was about to make. It won’t kill me, but it would hurt my joints a bit. Or I could just scale down the side of the building like a spider; either way works. My eyes glanced back up at the supermoon, the bright diamond in the sky.
Then, I heard her.
*Her* *voice*.
“*Come, my child*.”
I was coming.
-----
***Neron***
I hate surprises.
Imagine my surprise when I strode out of the bathroom to see that Kiya had disappeared.
*Where the fuck did she go*?!
I thought she’d went out the front door until I spotted the wide-open window. Wide enough for a smaller body to slip through. I ran over and poked my head out to spot any anomalies in the area until I spotted a flash of red disappearing into the nearby bunch of trees behind the distant ocean. Kiya’s scent followed her trail from my bed, straight out the window.
“Fucking hell, Kiya.” I growled under my breath, slamming the window close, and slipping on my shoes. Kiya wandering alone in an unknown forest with possible dangers lurking was enough to instill the fear of god in my heart. I had to get her back before something terrible happens to her.
But *why* did she leave in the first place?
I looked over my shoulder to the same window to see the supermoon set perfectly within frame, moonlight pouring through the glass. Kiya’s concern this morning came rushing back.
Shit!
I made my way out of my room and out of the hotel, slipping by the inquisitive glances of the hotel employees. The night was slightly humid, but there was a cool breeze zipping through the darkness. Everyone, including Anthony and company, were in the banquet hall for dinner. If he found out that I lost his baby sister, Anthony would kill me, bring me back to life, deliver me to his parents, and they’d kill me all over again.
I followed Kiya’s trail into the forest. The farther I traversed between the trees, the more goosebumps pimpled my skin. Not from the chill of the night, but from something else. I bristled. The hairs on the back of my neck stood in full salute, and Onyx’s growls rumbled loud enough to spill over into the air.
I wasn’t alone.
To think that Kiya walked through here alone without protection…
Adding insult to injury, there was another scent in the air. Soured. Familiar. A formula for both my fear and anger. Chills seized my spine and fire scorched in my stomach.
*It couldn’t be*…
I picked up the pace, escorted by both her fleeting scent and the moonlight spilling through the trees.
I had to find her and get her the fuck **out** of here.
The sound of rippling water broke through the silence with salt perfuming the atmosphere. Sand dusted the leaves and tree roots until it stretched beyond the woodlands. The forest broke way to reveal a vast beach. Lonesome and peaceful, the water gently lapped against the shore as the tide rippled through. The sand sparkled like miniature diamonds when the moonlight reflected off them, giving the area an enchanted glow.
It was empty for the most part.
Except for the woman standing at the shore, raising her hand up to the moon.