Read with BonusRead with Bonus

6. Rain

Luna Maria’s room is on the second floor of the Packhouse. I climb the stairs with care, not wanting to trip. The scent of sour lemons lingers around the entire second floor, and for a moment, my hands tremble. Swallowing the knot in my throat and with my heart pounding in my chest, I walk fast.

There are monsters lurking inside the Packhouse.

I reach the room of Luna Maria safely and knock on the door. When I hear ‘Come in,’ I do just that.

Luna Maria and Aunt Karen are sitting at the table on the balcony. It is their favorite place to gossip. I go to them and put the tray in the middle of the table. Aunt Karen looks like she just swallowed a fly. Maybe she did the moment she saw a pair of teenagers fooling around behind some bushes. Imagine the scandal.

Luna Maria waits for me to prepare the tea as she likes. The disease she is suffering from—a curse better said—spreads around the body, slowly killing a werewolf. It had been created by the Black Witches many generations ago when they allied with the demons to conquer not only the werewolves but the fae and the berserkers as well. The disease was supposed to kill the three races, but it only affected the werewolves.

We call it the Blight, and so far, no one can stop it. Not even the Black Witches, at least that’s what they claim. We don’t even know how someone gets it. Not from direct contact with someone infected, at least.

Black spots cover a great part of Luna Maria’s body, causing her not only terrible pain but stopping her from doing her duty as the Luna of the pack, leaving her mate, Alpha Ben, fully responsible for everything. Lately, he has been spending most of his time in his office. Not that I am complaining. He can rot in there for all I care.

I put a cup in front of Luna Maria together with her favorite sweets then I do the same for my aunt.

“Wait here until we are finished,” Luna Maria sneers at me.

Of course, she would ask that of me. While I am not sick, my fingers are as boney as hers, but from a different cause. I am not sure how much I weigh, but I am underweight for my age, short too, compared to other werewolves.

Aunt Karen and Luna Maria talk about the pack, about how I am a curse to everyone, and how Luna Maria probably got sick because of me while eating as slowly as they can. I stand there by the table, looking at the walnut tree, imagining I am perched on a branch, drawing. I ignore the hollow in my stomach that reminds me that I haven’t eaten in… days and wait for them to finish mocking me.

“I hope Ruth finds her mate soon. I’ve heard that the King of the Sun Kingdom in Spain has four sons; two of them have yet to find the ones fated to them. I was thinking of going to Madrid this year, but your condition is getting worse,” Aunt Karen says.

Luna Maria sips from her tea. “I think you deserve a vacation after working hard to raise your daughter all by yourself after your mate left you. I will talk to Ben and see what can be done.”

Aunt Karen smiled like she had won the lottery. She always has a way of obtaining what she wants, although I am not sure if there is going to be money for the vacation. If I had any money, I would give it to Aunt Karen to take Ruth away from the pack, even for a few days. It would be heaven without her here.

“The princess of the Oak Realm from Bulgaria is arriving tomorrow. Maybe she will be Jordan’s mate,” Aunt Karen changes the subject.

He wishes!

“Yes, her dad and Ben went to the same Univesity together. Between you and I, I don’t really like King Dobrin too much.”

“Why is that?” Aunt Karen asks.

Here goes the gossip.

Luna Maria turns her head in my direction, and Safia let’s me know that the Luna is glaring at me before replying to my aunt, “He had a son outside the mating bond. He is one of the leaders of the Feral Rogues. Conrad is his name if I am not mistaken. He usually bands together with Caleb Black and terrorizes packs all over Romania.”

Caleb Black is a name whispered in fear by many. Maybe because where the Cosaci Vampires appear to drink from humans, werewolves, or other races, he is also there.

They keep talking until the sun sets before letting me leave.

Not only will I be late to meet with Jordan, but I am sure there is no more food left in the kitchen.

I rush down the stairs and put the tray in the kitchen sink before heading to my room to change myself, not wanting to smell like sweat, and rush to the waterfall.

Jordan sits on a rock, my backpack next to him.

“You are late,” he tells me.

‘Next time, tell your mother to drink her tea faster, and I will be on time,’ I think to myself.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter