*Truth be told, I have never understood why witches and werewolves are not on good terms, even when they see the upcoming danger of lycans coming their way. But when we were climbing out to the mountains of Lunar Valley at one of our camps, I finally asked Sansa the sensitive question.
"The story isn't something you're familiar with, are you?" She took one look at my bewildered face.
"What story?"
"My great-aunt was well-known in our tribe for a potent form of evolutionary magic, and three centuries ago she fell in love with the Alpha of one of the wolf clans."
"An eternally doomed couple," I said playfully.
"That wasn't how it used to be, though; my dad assured me of that."
"So her father was ready for the union?" I asked, and in answer, she nodded.
"So what went wrong?"
"After they got married, their powers really started to blossom."
"Their powers?" I asked. I didn't know werewolves also had powers. "Werewolves have magical powers?"
"Yes, it was their secret for generations, but it was revealed to us only then. They call it soul magic. It is unstable and forbidden in our realm; even the Vampire King has forbidden it in his, but the wolves didn't listen when confronted; they said the Alpha was from the ancient bloodline of a god."
Every silver wolf born into the Crescent Moon Clan is considered a god in their own right and given the honorific "Moon God."
I remember Sansa explaining, "What happened to your great-aunt?"
"Because of the expermental magic, she died."*
****
"I assure you, when I said there would be commonality, I did not take your father into account, and I hoped it would be less dramatic." He clasped his hand behind his back and looked a little uncomfortable as I looked at him at a loss for words. Crescent Alpha, they were calling him; why didn’t I make the connection?
"What does he mean by a god?" I asked, looking at him.
"They are relatively loose terms, and Alpha King is really sensitive about our culture." He cleared his throat, and I bit my lips; I did not know what they meant by god. But I realized I was enjoying him being in an awkward spot. He didn't like being a cold moon god, or at least he found himself uncomfortable with honor.
"You will explain to me later." I gave him an out.
"Sure, thank you." He closed his eyes, and I looked away, trying to hide the smile that would not stop coming to my face.
"Crescent Alpha!" Every pair of eyes looked up at us, and my body went stiff, including my father's, whose eyes glared at me as I stepped ahead with my jaw set. Xendroite's hand came around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I have never in my life given in to my father; I have never bent to his will. No matter how hard he tried, I always found myself alone and unhinged. With one wrong move, I might find my head against the axe, but his hand pressed around me in protection and support. I lean into him.
"You girl, we are leaving."
"Why? So you can sell me to someone else?" I asked.
"Don’t you dare..."
"I suggest you be careful, King Henry." The threat was clear; Xen's voice was like thin ice ready to break. "How you talk to my Luna might make me furious."
I looked up at him; his glare could freeze fire in his blazing track. It went through me like a shockwave, but it was an assurance that he was on my side. I looked around the room and saw every alpha come to stand around my father, blocking his way.
"She is not your daughter or Mortal Landing princess here; she is Crescent Luna, and she won’t leave this valley until she wants to." The Alpha King declared, and he looked up in question first at me and then at Xen. Xen met my eyes, and his meaningful gaze dug deep into my gut. Everyone was looking at us, every eye set on this moment, and my heart thumped in my chest as I moved closer to Xen to give my answer and looked down at everyone, sealing my fate.
A day ago in this court, every man was against me, and now as I stand above everyone, they are on my side, and I look at Xen, realizing I am not alone anymore.
My father can’t challenge the 63 Alphas of the Lunar Valley, so he steps back and turns to the Alpha King.
"The terms of this alliance are the same," King Henry said.
"I am glad you saw things a different way," Alpha King said.
Then everyone turned to us and kneeled on one knee. Xendroite turned to me and smiled.
"Now you are free."
I have nothing left to say but see everything in awe, as if the days were turning and fate changed its wave as he walked beside me.
I was still a little lost in my thoughts as to what just happened; it was nothing sort of surreal; I can’t believe in a matter of overnight everyone’s gaze changed. Everyone looks at me differently now.
"Ow!" As I walked down the stairs, I realized the binds that covered my hands' threads had become entangled in a tree branch and undid them.
"I told you, be careful," Xen scolded, and his bare hand slipped under my long sleeves, holding my wrist. My breath hitched at the same time as I felt the sour feeling overwhelm me again. My heart raced when he was the only one to ever touch me lightly, tracing the wound in my hand. I realized his hands were gentle, but his skin was rough. The skin had bumps and rough edges, and the dry-healed wound from the sword in the tournament. He has the same wounds as I do.
"I have to get something more potent than healing herbs; I forgot you don’t heal as fast as a wolf." He was talking to himself. He carefully wrapped the bandage again, freeing it from the tree. I stood there, waiting for him to release me. When he was done, his eyes finally fell on his hand, which was on my wrist without a barrier.
"Does it hurt?" He asked, meeting my eyes.
"The wounds? No," I said, and he took a step up, coming to eye level with me.
"Does it hurt when I touch you?"
How should I answer him? It is different, but it hurts nonetheless; it is too overwhelming, and I am scared—so scared that when this all ends, I will be more broken.
"Does it truly hurt, Rosette?" My breath hitched as he rubbed his thumb against my throbbing pulse.
"I... no, I don't know how to explain it; I am... it is different," I admitted helplessly. Looking down at our hands, his beautiful rusted skin against my pale one, and his thumb tracing the grey veins that could be seen through my thin skin. The warmth spread from under his thumb, invading my skin, to my veins pumping in my blood, but my heart still seized in alert, unable to handle the overwhelming warmth. I didn’t want to feel this way anymore; this person has helped me, saved me, and taken care of me since the moment our eyes met. I want to know this person, get close to him, and let his words from yesterday come to me.
"You said you would teach me."
"I will, therefore I am not letting this go today," he said, lacing his fingers with mine. The odd sensation raised shockwaves in me, like my hand never knew how to hold anything but a shadow of memory tugged at my brain.
"Will you let me?" he asked