VALENTINA
MERCURY MOON PACK
[FLASHBACK. FIVE YEARS AGO]
I laughed when Sara shrieked, running laps around the throne room, her gown bundled in hand. The other maids looked on disapprovingly but none said a word. The moment I had her cornered, my throat burning with laughter, I flicked the insect at her. But in a stunning twist the mantis opened its wings, flying up and away from our grasps.
“Oouh, I wanted to play more with him.” I complained.
Sara heaved, face red. “Where do you even find those disgusting things—”
“I supposed this is how Miss Sara spends her time, goofing off in the throne room instead of handling her chores.”
On hearing my fathers voice we both dropped our heads to a bow.
“I’m sincerely sorry your highness. This will never repeat itself.”
I eyed Sara from my peripheral, her fear eminent. But I had never considered her as a maid though she was supposed to be my handmaid Sara was more like a sister to me and she rarely did anything rather than goof off with me and keep me out of trouble.
“I’m pleased to see you father. But may I bed that you do not focus punishment on Sara as I was the one who forced her out her chores.”
My father stroked his silver beard, eyes bored where he assessed both girls.
“Taking the concise blame for your actions even if you weren’t in question. Admirable quality young Valentina.”
My father held his hand up, the mantis fluttering noisily through the air from its spot up above and resting on his finger.
He brought it down so we both could see it. Big round eyes with gnarly sets of mandibles. Sara jerked back when the mantis raised it praying arms defensively.
“Harmless this little creature is to us, yet a ferocious beast it is to its own kind.
“Funny how the order of nature can make the beasts who are feared by all, a mere insect before another.”
I was totally clueless on what the lesson he was trying to teach.
“Now, I need you girls on your best behaviours for tonight. I’m having a very important meeting today and I can’t have you two running about with a mantis do you understand?” I had never known an ill tone from my father, even the times he scolded it sounded more like a precautionary warning. His anger was a side of him I’d never truly seen and the mere fact of that made me always strive to be on my best behaviour.
Sara nodded and did the same but with a twirl around and a ballerinas bow at the end which made my father chuck.
Next, I had basically flown up the flight of stairs, bumping into my mother who yelped my name in bewilderment. “VALENTINA!” And I shrieked an apology in reply.
When my fathers guests arrived later that day I made sure to stay hidden up my favourite spot in the air vents tunnels that ran through the ceilings of the throne room, spying through the grates of the removable metal frame. The man who I assumed was the main person was a greyed Alpha cladded in tactical gear consisting of a metal plated jacket, heavy set boots and a dagger holstered by his right side. The kind of gear usually worn by war commanders.
Behind this man was a younger boy, he looked like he was too young to be in the room amongst aged Alphas and Betas. From my spot high up in the large vents it was hard to make out the details of their conversation but a few minutes into the meeting and the Alpha whom was also a war commander slammed his fists into the desk, in the millisecond following he exploded into a massive grey wolf, the sudden and terrifying shift and growls making me shriek into the palm of Sara’s hand.
Between my freight of the sudden Alphas shift and the shock from Sara who has managed to find me in the vents without my knowing I could see the younger boy step in front of his Alpha. My father had surprisingly remained seated, unfazed by the display.
My heart thumped in my chest, so hard with the blood pumping in my ears I could have sworn they could hear it from me up in the vents. Slowly, I had crawled my way out of the vent tunnels, only ever living that memory with Sara who had save me from screaming down at my father and his raging guests.
I wondered why this memory was coming back to me now of all times. Maybe it was because of the way I had stared into the black maw of the Alpha who had shifted mid meeting, same kind of maw I stared into now, dagger clutched in my hands. Or maybe it was because of the younger man who had stepped between the wolf and my father, the way his golden eyes had flicked up at the grates the moment Sara had covered my lips with her hand as if he could feel my presence.
My hands flew up above my head, sailing down upon Jaymes large white head, the hot breath from his wolf’s mouth wafting against my face.
But my dagger never made contact, and his teeth never shredded my shoulder off. In a blur I was blown back by a blunt force, Jaymes wolf knocked to its side and he whimpered slightly as he slammed hard against a tree, snow falling onto his face.
I looked at who it was, tall and angry Teira stared at me, then to Jayme who now sat on his back end.
“Damn, I take my eyes off of you guys for one minute and you try to kill each other?” She had her fingers pressed to her forehead, furry knee high boots trudging through the snow towards me.
‘We were simply catching fun Teira… you and I used to do this a lot back when you weren’t so haughty and stuck up.’
She rolled her eyes, I guessed she could hear Jaymes telepathic link too.
“Come on miss, let’s get you cleaned up. The Alpha wants to see you.”
She took my hand, pulling me to my feet gently. Her eyes lingered on the dagger for a moment before I stowed it into the pockets of my jacket.
“Where’d you get that from?” She asked as we walked through the snow.
“Had it long before…”
Jayme stalked behind us, I glanced him over my shoulder periodically only to find his wolfs yellow orbs staring daggers into my back.
“Is he always like this?” I asked after a few moments of silent walking.
“Like how?” Teira kept her eyes ahead.
“Kidnapping girls and talking them to isolated areas so he could eat them?”
A sly smile appeared on Teira’s lips and she did not answer my question immediately.
“Wait— no I did not mean eat like in that way I meant like attack.”
Teira laughed heartily, something I found she did when she thought something amusing.
‘I could give you both a ride home you know.’
“Yeah and have my pussy on your back? No way.” Teira snapped at Jayme who snorted in reply. She looked at me. “He is fund of kidnapping girls, though they always come back in one peace. As I said before Valentina, Jayne is harmless I mean look at him.” We both looked over our shoulders, “he’s just one big white fluffy fluff ball.”
I did not know why her words made me laugh so hard maybe it was because of the way she said it, or the fact that Sara had used the same words to describe the terrifying Alphas wolf.
When we rounded up on Lucean’s manor I was surprised to the see the Alpha standing at the very front door. I avoided eye contact with him, remembering what had happened between us the last time we were together and hating the warm blush that flushed my neck red.
“Where were you Valentina…”
I tuned to the white wolf that now stared happily at Lucean, tongue dangling out the side of his open mouth.
“Him. Crazy.” I pointed to Jayme and noticed the way Lucean had rolled his eyes. He stepped forward, his hands taking me by the side of my face with the most gentle touch, he turned my face, inspecting both sides of it and I had to hold my breath so he didn’t know I had been hyperventilating.
I avoided his eyes but when his hand dropped from my face I mourned his touch, no, wanted more of it.
“Valentina. I have something I’d like to show you.” Lucean’s voice woke me from the luscious thoughts that had so naturally invaded my mind. “Teira?”
The female sentry nodded, gesturing that I followed her and I did just that. We walked towards the main community and Teira led the way to a large two storey manor that I was sure served as a community home to many refugees.
“We salvage refugees from different packs, packs that have suffered coups and wars, like yours Valentina…”
She stopped at the front door to the community home, turning back to face me. “You may not have the best experience with our Alpha, and you must have heard the worst about this pack, but we are not monsters Valentina.”
Together we entered the building, inside bustled with many people. The ground floor which served as a large mess hall had a starcase at the back that led up.
“Most are given a choice to either live by themselves or in the community home, the ones that decide to live by themselves are provided with a share of land and a cabin. Those that choose this home are assigned with a room.”
As she spoke I quietly listen, processing every word and wondering how the mad-Alpha had become werewolf Santa clause overnight. What motivated him? The death of his Luna maybe.
We walked to the first floor, and stopped by the second door to the right.
“I believe you might want to go in alone.”
Teira said, turning away and walking back down.
I sighed. “Well if she wanted me out of her own house she could have just said so, no need to give me a whole lecture about it.”
I twisted the door knob, stepping into the rather large room. A single cabinet, bed and fire place that crackled with a bright flame. Nothing too special.
But seated on an arm chair by the window stared back dark eyes that grew wider the longer we locked gazes.
“SARA!” I shrieked. My feet moving fast in the heavy boots and crashed into her open arms, both of us of falling onto the bed.
“Where— How— When—” I struggled to find the right words, Sara exploding into laughter and I couldn’t help but laugh along, the corners of our eyes moist with held back tears.
“After Ryker came back seething about your escape I knew I had to follow suit, tracking your scene wasn’t easy but my wolf would never miss even the faintest something I doubt Ryker was used to.
Sara pulled me into a big hug again, her dark hair falling to her face when she pulled back. “A woman, Sentry. She found me along this packs borders, she was agressive at first, warned me to retreat but when I mentioned your name. She told me she knew exactly where you were.”
I held her hands on the bed, my eyes never leaving hers as she spoke. A strong rush of nostalgia filling me, Sara was the only person I had from home. My best friend.
The door cracked open, we both turned and I expected it to be Teira was instead the warm scent of Lucean filled the room as he stepped bent to step through the door. I stood up, my lips parting slightly but was thrown back by Sara almost immediately.
“BEHIND ME VALENTINA!!!” She roared, stepping between I and Lucean, the dagger that had been in my jacket a second ago now held firm in her hand.
“Sara it’s just—”
“THE MAD-ALPHA!” She roared again, drawing a concerned frown from Lucean who did not say anything nor felt threatened in anyway whatsoever by the dagger she held out and I remembered how easily he had disarmed me that night in the forest.
I made to move past Sara but she pushed me back, her hand immensely stronger than it looked.
“He’s name is Lucean Sara.” I said and noticed the proud way the Alpha raised his chin as if knowing that I would speak up for him. “And he’s the one who saved me from Ryker.”
At this point Sara looked back at me, her hand never dropping from the outstretched position between us and Lucean but I could feel the kid of fright and rage that coursed through her begin to die out.
“What the heck?” Sara said, throwing me a look that clearly said ‘You must be out of your mind.”
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREI filled Sara in with every detail, from the time I ran from Rykers sentry to the time he caught me in the forest, to where I thought I was going to be killed by Ryker, to the gory scene where Lucean had ripped out the sentries heart. All the while Sara kept on glancing at Lucean, she clenched her jaws, every muscle in her body tensed, eyes noting and following even the most minuscule of movements the large Alpha made.“He saved me Sara, if it wasn’t for him I…” my voice trialed off, my fathers limp body vividly flashing in my mind and it brought back chills colder than the snowy breeze that wafted in through the open window.“Let’s not think about that okay.” Sara said, her finger wiping away a tear I didn’t even know had rolled down my
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREA light gasp left my lips when his lips met my neck. I had my legs around his waist, my small frame so wrapped around his much larger one and the crave that came with his scent driving me wild.My teeth gnashed against each other when his pinched my nipples and I giggled heartily for a moment before I heard my voice, deep and long, moaning for the pleasure that came with his tongue and lips sucking on my firm breasts. A fog of tears clouded my vision so I could only see perfectly the outline of his face, gold orbs staring down and penetrating into my soul.‘Lucean…’ His name left my lips in a windy breathed when a finger slipped between my legs, positioning itself upon the joyride bead that had been begging to be touched under my panties.He chucked when I closed my eyes, my heart thumping hard in my chest and I bucked against him when rolled me slowly, need building up in me and I was powerless to fight against it.‘Lucean…’ I said his name, barely audible under
VALENTINAPACK OF LORETeira’s long neck was hard to miss even through the army of stampeding junior sentries, she sashayed through the howling crowd, parting them like the Red Sea and some of them even paused midst craze to offer a salutary bow before continuing. The disgust on her face eminent.She stopped before our open door, her hands on her hips.“Teira… so good to see you again.” Sara said, her voice dripping with forced glee that Teira obviously detected.“I’m glad to see you’re finding our accommodation to your taste.” Teira’s voice as usual, cold and monotone. She turned to me with a smile that was more forced than the glee in Sara’s voice when she had spoke.“Ahh, Valentina. You must come help me with the preparations.”I could see some of the boys nervously eye her before sprinting past her in pure fright to the other end of the corridor, she was their commander and trainer I guess— who knew the horrors she put them through.“I-I don’t know what to do I’d never even heard
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREMy vision blurred to red when I moved forward, my hands snatching the dagger at Jaymes side out of its holster as a mix of red anger and hate corrupted the blood in my veins. I cleared the distance between the intruder and myself, holding the dagger in both hands and raising it above my head, one thought of gore solely on my mind. But a sentry swung its tail, the force easily lifting me off my feet and sending me soaring backwards. The wind whistled in my ears until my back hit hard against a tree and felt the pain cascade through my chest from one of my healing ribs.I heaved and gasped as my chest constricted with the body trembling pain, my hands folding across my chest, my vision blurring with tears.x x x x xI distinctly heard Luceans voice as he bellowed and felt his hands on my face. The pain only getting better when his I perceived his sweet scent.The world spun around me and my eyes went in and out of focus for several seconds. I gasped for breath, fig
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREThe celebration had carried on overnight and into the morning. I woke early, too early. Looking out the window and sighing at the slow falling whites of snow that gleamed through the darkness. Sara slept quietly besides me and I made sure not to disturb her in anyway as I crawled off the bed and headed for the closet.Once out I dressed warmly, determined not to change my plans because of the weather or a goodnights sleep.I walked to the cabinet that stood innocently pressed against the wall and though I hesitated, a million and one thoughts of gore, blood and death running through my mind but I subsequently wrapped my fingers against the handle of the cabinets first drawer and opened it of. I sighed in self satisfaction when I saw it. Sara’s dagger laid single in the drawer. The silver blade of the ornate piece gleaming in the soft light from the bulb above.I picked it up, running my finger along the side of the blade and smiling at the touch of the cool me
VALENTINAPACK OF LORE-Breaths heaving-Push, Pull-Scratch-Claw-Grip-Throw down-Grip! x x x x xThe door crumbled under my might and I stumbled inside the Alphas room, recoiling when Lucean’s scent hit me, strong, it activated some part of me, some part of me that wanted to doubt all this and simply walk away.His bed was left in a unruly mess with the sheets thrown down to the ground, in fact, everything was a little out of place as I noticed. The cabinet wasn’t perfectly pushed to the wall, the wardrobes locks were broken like he had opened it by forced as if by some motivation that couldn’t let him unlock it first.The arm chair was missing an arm, the rug on the floor ripped down the middle where I suspected the cabinet was pushed roughly against it and there was an imperfection in the white paint on the walls close to the ceiling as if someone had thrown an object into it.Altogether it was evident that someone had ransacked this room and did a poor job putting it back tog
ALPHA LUCEANPACK OF LOREMy footsteps quaked the manor as I stomped down the stairs. At first I had thought it to be an intruder, another stray or a spy that had gotten lucky but the moment I saw the strand, so thin it was almost unnoticeable on the grey tiles I just knew it was her. My mate. My Queen. Valentina.I had been out on a scouting operation. Valentina’s accusations against the intruder had been on my mind ever since and though there was no actual way to prove if he was working for my brother or not, I still took the earl tikes of the mornings to run scouts along the packs borders.Jayme caught up with me, his nose flared, aura seething with anger.“It must be another intruder Lucean!” He growled to me, wolf threatening to break out into its white fluffy cuteness that would totally wipe away the anger that made the other sentries squirm beside him.“You have to work on your wolfs angry face…” I said under my breath.“Whah?”“Nothing, umm, yes. It’s definitely another intrud
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREMy head weighed light, dizzy and disoriented the only thing I could truly mentally perceive was the thick smell of my own blood as it bled slowly out of me.Teira had pushed Sara away, ripping away the bodice part of her dress and tying it tightly around my waist. The pain had crippled me, my hand around Teira’s shoulder before in a fast popping of bones and a low growl I was being hoisted onto the back of Teira’s wolf by a weeping Sara.Teira did not ask many questions, maybe that was due to the fact that I was actively bleeding onto her fur or she had already deciphered what was going on, and what was going to happen next.When we got close off close to the community home but still well hidden in the tree line I felt Sara’s hand bring me down from Teira’s back and though I wanted to slap her hands away, to curse her out and tell her I never wanted to come across her again the pain from my abdomen made that impossible.“He’ll be here soon… I can feel him. I mus