17

DAWSON'S POV

"ARRRGHHH"!!! I screamed, raw and throaty as I used my right arm to sweep all the furniture that comfortably rested on its top. These objects flew across the room to collide with the wall, some of them breaking into a thousand pieces, the shards of which traversed the room landing in fragments everywhere.

"How could she do this"!? I shouted, rage and disbelief distorting my vision, clouding my senses.

Ever since that day we had both had sex. Carla had become ever more closed off, more reticent and withdrawn than she usually was, I had tried apologizing, numerous times for the fiasco that was our first night together, but she was not having it.

So i was understandably fearful when I was informed that Carla had lost consciousness during her training session with Fred Smith.

I had confronted him;

"What did you do to her"!! I had roared right into his face as I grabbed a fistful of his shirt while pinning his arms so he could not move, effectively immobilizing him.

"I – i did not do anything " he had said as his body went limp where it had previously been tense and coiled up.

"Then what exactly happened to her"! I had shouted still refusing to let go of him, I remembered the way in which I had been hoping to all the gods that he would do or say something stupid or insolent, something, anything that would give me an excuse to sucker punch him in the face. It was not a stretch to say that I loathed him .

"Nothing"! He had said "we had just started training as per usual and she and I had only gone through a drill or two when she complained of feeling woozy" he said. "I was about to suggest we take a break or she go up to the castle, when she just collapsed". He added.

I had looked at him long and hard then before letting him go. I was scared for her, for her health. Afraid that I was, or would be the cause of something happening to her. If she got hurt because of me, because of my arrogance and selfishness I would not forgive myself.

Luckily for me, Dr Grace a skilled practitioner of medicine both supernatural and mundane, as well as a beta werewolf member of the blue moon pack, MY blue moon pack, was in town at a hospital not far from the valley where the castle was situated, so I took Carla there, though not before consulting with the pack shaman who ascertained that something deeper was not at play before giving his blessing to take her to the hospital.

I had to be careful about it as walking into human territory was always risky. A single mistake could reveal our existence as well as the existence of the entire collective supernatural community, which would be hell on earth.

I cloaked her and myself with various illusory magics before commanding that a car be made available for my use. I stayed with her all through her stay in the hospital hoping, praying that those beautiful eyes of hers would open once again, I had never prayed for anything more in my entire life.

And finally those eyes did open, her pupils dilating from the electrically glowing halogen bulb directly above us. I was more than grateful .

Dr Grace assuaged my fears even further by assuring me that Carla did not seem to be in any danger, that her spell of unconsciousness could have just been brought on by stress and fatigue. I chalked it up to maybe an overwhelming anxiety over the feast of moons, a feast she had not wanted, another thing which I had forced upon her.

Though this time around it was not my choice, my hands were tied, there was no conceivable way I could realistically cancel the feast of moons, it was a tradition as old as the pack itself.

I resolved however to inform each one of her tuttors to from hence forth ease up on her lessons and allow her to move at her own pace.

There were no other incidents after that thankfully except the fact that Dr Grace had apparently forgot to send the test results she promised but I was not thinking about that right now as she had already assured me that Carla's case was nothing serious.

Everything seemed okay, or at least as ok ay as it could be considering the circumstances, so nothing could have prepared me for the sheer shock of hearing that she had left, gone, stolen away in the middle of the night just a day away from the feast of moons. Fair play to her she had managed to hurt me the same way she proclaimed I had hurt her.

This was a problematic and thorny issue not just personally but politically as well, it would question the integrity and unity of the pack, it would further put into question my strength and position as Alpha if my Luna and mate could just up and leave. The other Alphas would see me as weak and pathetic.

These were however the least of my worries as it felt like my heart had shattered into a million pieces, she had left, really and truly left , I knew I had made a colossal mistake on that fateful day when I had ill advicedly proclaimed her my mate and in effect named her my Luna in the presence of the Elders and members of the blue moon pack. Oh I knew it everyday, but I was ready to make up for it, to change, to work past it, but the opportunity had been denied me.

Calling to my manservant, a man in his thirties probably, I said "summon all the pack Elders for a council meeting, inform them that it is an issue of grave importance" and I watched as he quickly set himself to the task while I fumed.

In a few minutes, I was told that they were all assembled in the throne room, and I headed there immediately.

"There is no time for formalities gentlemen" I said as I walked in and they attempted to stand up as was right and required by protocol.

Upon taking my seat, I said "tis a serious matter that summons you all here today, and what I am about to say must not leave the confines of this room until we have come up with a solution", I paused to gather my wits and steel my nerves before continuing.

"Carla my mate, your Luna is gone" I said.

There was a beat, followed by an uncomfortable silence.

"Gone how my Lord* said Elder Loras, one of the last elders to be appointed to my council.

"She left, sometime in the night I am informed, through the south west gate I believe, probably on a wagon as well from the looks of it, headed towards the mountains" I said laying all the cards on the table for them to assess.

"A serious matter indeed" said Elder Aloysius, a respected and accomplished werewolf and Elder of the council "have trackers been sent after her my Lord"? He inquired.

"Yes, I once her maidservant informed me of her absence, I dispatched them at once" I said "but they came up empty once they reached the Rocky trails" I added

"Do you have any any idea as to why she would leave"? Asked Elder Bernard.

I have a few I thought but all of them were personal So naturally I could not voice them out. It was not like they needed to know anyway.

"None", I lied "it came as a shock to me too".

"Well this is a right mess" said Elder Xerxes from his seat at the extreme left hand end of the table. "She picked a hell of a time to pull a stunt like this, leaving just as the feast of moons is set to go under way tomorrow" said he. "The way I see it we have just one course of action available to us my Lord" .

"And what would that option be oray tell Xerxes"? Said Aloysius, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

The two of them had been long time rivals ever since their emergence in the Elder council, I was not quite clear on all the details, but I believe it had to do with a woman.

"If you would take but a moment to look beyond your nose Aloysius, you would see what must be done" he said as he stared at Aloysius with his trade mark cold gaze.

"I suggest we plant the story that she had run away with a lover, that she was unfaithful".

The idea was vile and repulsive. "How dare you Xerxes, you overstep. You propose to slander my mate's reputation in public with a lie, a heinous lie at that" I said as my eyes burned with fury at the very thought.

"He does have a point majesty" said Elder Bernard, "her departure is a source of concern even at the best of times talk less of on the eve of one of the most important traditional celebrations that are most dear to the hearts of werewolves old and yiung alike"

"I am also forced to agree my Lord Dawson" said Elder Erasmus, a sturdy man of means and substance. He was the only man here who had enough wealth to rival that of Elder Bernard and Elder Gregory, two of whom were toured to be one of the most richest werewolves of the age.

"Your reason"? I asked. I was more inclined to listen to what Elder Erasmus had to say as he rarely said anything but when he did he was usually right.

"To be quite honest with you sire, she has attempted to make a fool out of you, tomorrow is the feast and she was to be the celebrant, the guest of honor, a feast which we had invited all the werewolf packs within a hundred leagues as well as various influential dignitaries of our supernatural world".

He continued, "her absence makes you seem weak in the eyes of the pack and even worse, in the eyes of yourself your counterpart Alphas". "We need to put out a believable story that can counter that narrative and mitigate our losses". "We are aware that it is a distasteful thought for you most especially,but regrettably it has to be done

"Hmmmm" was all I said as I ruminated on his words.

"There is nothing else to be done my liege" said Elder Xerxes "we implore you to give it a thought at least"

"Who do you have in mind to bear the fall"? I asked.

"It is inconsequential but the boy she ran after on the day of the inauguration could be the best"

"No"I said firmly , not because I had any fondness for him but because of what he represented. Let my mercy towards him be my last act of kindness to her despite her betrayal.

"What about the guards then my Lord"? Said Elder Loras "they abandoned their posts and should be punished accordingly"

"Fine" I said as I waved my arm in dismissal, do with them whatever you will.

I rose and walked out of the venue.

The guards would most likely be killed, their bodies disposed of in order to properly sell the tale, it was a no worse fate than they deserved for having been lax at their posts, though they claimed to have been drugged but they had only themselves to blame if they drank wine in excess such that the alleged drug could have it's effects on them.

As I walked back to my room, I hoped I would be able to let her go, hoped that I would allow her the peace and happiness she so desperately wanted, hoped she found whatever she was looking for.

I hoped I could make my peace with it but I knew in my heart I could not. I would not rest until she was in my arms again.