ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 4: MOON CHILD'S WAR

Alli’s head snapped up in the middle of the night when she was startled by the pained scream that wrecked through the house. She rubbed her eyes with the balls of her hands and looked at the time. It was a little past midnight and it was the first full moon that she was spending at home. Full moon nights had the best parties because all the supernatural races were rejoicing at the luna energies. Alli never mentioned it to Corleen but at times, she and Donny stumbled upon the Nightwalkers’ parties. She didn’t like the parties so much because they were almost like orgies with a lot of blood sucking and they had terrible taste in music. Alli was positive the Black Shard, Poison, Red Silk and Black Velvet Lounge were so happening that night but she wasn’t supposed to think along those thoughts.

Another guttural cry echoed in the corridor, and Alli jumped up from her bed. Levina had managed to set up a guest room for her though most of the times that she had sleepovers she always slept in Donny’s room. Levina made sure it had a lock to keep her safe from the male wolves that were around, but Alli felt she was in more danger from Alyse than anyone else.

Alli slipped her feet into her sleeping shoes and still in her sleeping pants and vest, she made her way out of the room towards Donny’s room.

Several men were outside watching and waiting quietly, and Donny was whimpering inside. She heard Louise’s soothing voice together with Levina’s but Donny was hearing none of that as a howl escaped her lips.

“Has she made the change?” Alli asked the men outside.

One of them turned to her and shook his head then turned to the ceiling. “But the moon is at its peak, it is only a matter of time--”

His sentence was cut short with the pained howls that sounded inhumane!

“Calm down, Donny, calm down.” She heard Louise instruct tightly.

More of the pained howls escaped from the room together with rustling of sheets, screeching of nails on the plastered wall and shredding of cloth. Loud thudding sounds could be heard that had Alli take a step back from the door.

“Connect with her now!” Louise instructed Levina, and soon the rustling and thudding stopped with only soft wolf whimpering.

“There, there, my sweet baby. You are alright.” Alli heard Levina coo Donny, and she didn’t wait for anyone to tell her anything else. She budged into the room before anyone could stop her, startling everyone inside.

Right in the middle of the shredded sheets and bed lied the most beautiful rue-colored wolf Alli had ever seen. She gasped, her hands jumping to her throat. “Oh my God, Donny, you are so beautiful!” She blurted.

Levina chuckled but Alli didn’t miss the tears gleaming in her eyes. “She is alright now, aren’t you, Donny?”

Donny’s wolf tried to get up from the bed but her legs were still weak. She was large but she was nothing compared to the Ghost Runners. Louise helped her down the bed and the wolf padded towards Alli. She nuzzled Alli’s hand. She must have recognised her because suddenly rubbed her soft coat against Alli’s hand and thigh.

Alli giggled as she kneeled down in front of her, and hugged her. “It’s good to know you are alright.”

“Her mind is still connected to ours because she can not yet merge her wolf mind with her human mind but in time she will be able to recognise you better.” Louise explained. “But for now, we need to take her running so she could get used to her wolf body.”

Alli nodded scratching Donny behind her ears. “I am so proud of you.” She pressed her nose against her muzzle then moved away.

Louise and Levina walked out and Donny and Alli followed behind. All the male wolves in the house watched Donny with an intensity that even scared Alli. Now that she was newly transformed it meant she was ready for claiming after the debut party if the Clan Leader does not claim her himself. Donny was allowed to refuse any claiming until she met the wolf she wanted. Alli knew if Titus decided to claim her, Donny would never refuse.

The males escorted her all the way to the back yard that was bordering with the woodlands. Alli watched in amazement as they began embracing the change. Larger wolves populated the yard, dwarfing Donny and Levina in the middle.

The snarling behind her made Alli jump to the side. The sinister look in the new wolf’s face told her it was Alyse. She was a great brown wolf but her eyes were cold and calculating. Quickly enough, Louise’s black wolf stood between them. He nudged her towards the house while snarling at his aunt.

Alli braced herself against the terrible feeling she had every time Louise touched her and moved back to the house. She watched as Louise took lead, taking the wolves into the woodlands. Levina, Alyse and Donny were in the middle and three more wolves flanked behind them.

Just as Alli stepped back onto the back patio, she saw something in the woods that had her body go cold. Right in front of her were eyes watching her and the wolves that just vanished into the woods. She knew those brilliant blue eyes behind that black bear of a wolf. It was the same wolf that startled her the time she went to the park.

“No. No. No!” Alli screamed as she jumped off the patio and bolted towards the woods. The wolves were in great danger. Though she didn’t get any hostility from the monstrous wolf, she wasn’t sure she could trust him.

As fast as he came, he disappeared but Alli was right behind him, running through the woods. “Leave them alone!” She screamed at him. She felt twigs and branches cut through her skin but it didn’t matter. She had to warn the wolves before something terrible happened to them, especially now that they had a weaklink amongst them.

Ruvin was groggy that evening because he had been drinking himself into a stupor ever since he discovered his mate was the troublesome and multicolor haired Tyson’s ex. That evening, he found himself in Sheyster’s shop having a strong cup of coffee. Sheyster was alone because Lotta was long gone. Ruvin didn’t tell her about the plan because when Lotta’s fake burnt body showed up, Sheyster needed to look genuinely disturbed to throw Tonny off Lotta’s path.

“Another cup, Ruvin?” Sheyster came to him with a steaming pot of coffee.

Ruvin made a pained grunt and nodded. Usually alcohol didn’t take such a terrible toll on enchanted beings but Ruvin was practically swimming in it.

Sheyster refilled his cup and sighed then sat opposite him. “Why are you doing this to yourself, Ruvin? What did you do?”

Ruvin sat back on his chair and rubbed his hands over his face. He didn’t even know where to start explaining it to Sheyster. Perhaps this was the ultimate punishment for him here on earth before he died. The Heavens were taunting him. “My past sins are already coming out to bite me in the ass, Sheyster.” He slurred.

“So, you think drowning in alcohol will help you solve your problems?” Sheyster asked him.

“No. This particular problem is not going away anytime soon. Sheyster, do you know of any powerful sorcerers in Ashwick?”

Sheyster frowned pensively. “I have heard of several sorcerers to be around but in my time here I have never come across one. Why?”

“The other night several weakbloods were attacked in the woods by what we first thought was a Varga until we killed it and discovered it was not. We believe it was enchanted by a sorcerer.” Ruvin explained and left the part where he thought the daughter of the said sorcerer might have enchanted him into believing she was his mate!

“If there’s a sorcerer powerful enough to use so much power here, wouldn’t have your High Mage sensed it?” Sheyster asked.

Sheyster knew almost everything about Ruvin and his team. Most of the time she advised them and gave them information about individuals within the town.

“Willow and Tron have exhausted their energies. We are waiting for the full moon to pass before they can head back to the enchanted world to rejuvenate.” Ruvin said then rubbed his hand over his face. “I’m fucked.”

“Does this have something to do with a certain female?” Sheyster studied him closely.

Ruvin’s hand froze in place. He peered at Sheyster between his fingers just to see how much she knew. “What makes you say that?”

“Though I might have lost my Dragon, it does not mean I am not a pureblood beast. I can smell her all over you. What did you do, rub yourself all over her?”

Ruvin grinned like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “I was planning to scare her.”

“It’s not like you to scare away female company. What is it about this particular one that makes you want to stay away from her?”

“She is nothing but trouble.” Ruvin muttered.

“Worse trouble than you?” Sheyster raised her eyebrows. “I have to meet her.”

“No, you don’t.” Ruvin turned his eyes to the pregnant female he had met more than once at Sheyster’s shop and frowned. “Isn’t it too late for her to move around at the state she is in?” He looked down at his watch and it was almost an hour past midnight.

Sheyster turned to the door and saw the pale and shaken woman clutching her bag and umbrella with so much pressure that her knuckles turned white. “Something’s wrong.” She jumped up and rushed to the young frantic woman.

Ruvin’s nostrils twitched at the familiar scent that was wafting from her due to her fear; cinder....

His eyes narrowed as Sheyster took the female to the back of the shop.

He might be wrong because of the alcohol coursing through his body but if it was not because of Sheyster being close to her, Ruvin was very sure that female was another pureblood Dragon. Even Shadow had his ears twitching up.

Ruvin’s phone trilled in his pockets. He sighed and answered it.

“Trouble in paradise. Blackie is out on the hunt tonight. I heard two fanatic hunters readying their weapons and traps to capture him.” Jake’s voice came through. “I tried to contact the others but they are following several weakbloods and humans to an after party in the woods. Faelen’s son is their party host.”

Ruvin wondered if Alli was one of those weakbloods following Tyson to the after party. He doubted it very much. The last time he checked, she was sleeping over at her friend’s. Shadow had imprinted her scent in his mind and at that moment he could find her anywhere.

“I’m on my way.” Ruvin got up and took his jacket then made his way towards the door. He was suddenly sober with all the alcohol leaving his system.

“Are you leaving already?” Sheyster came out from the back rooms.

Ruvin nodded. “Yes and we need to talk--” he got a glimpse of the female who looked much calmer than when she first entered.

“What about?”

“About the pregnant female Dragon you have in there.” He pointed to her.

Sheyster’s eyes softened and she nodded. “Fine....but not tonight.”

“Tonight, I have a beast to hunt down. I will come by tomorrow morning.” Ruvin pulled on his jacket and said goodbye to Sheyster before making his way out to his Range.

Ruvin wasn’t in the mood for fanatic hunters. It was obvious where there were rumours about the supernatural that such people were found. Some deranged humans believed that all supernatural beings were evil and they needed to be put down. Others believed that no one was allowed to have godly powers and that anyone who did was an abomination and had to be terminated. There were others who believed the supernatural beings made a pact with the devil and were nothing more than Satan’s spawns.

All these groups went around killing anything that showed inhumane characteristics whether it was a child or an old man.

Ruvin wasn’t about to let them get to blackie before he did. They were a bad seed that needed to be removed before it grew roots.

Ruvin pulled out his car into the road and started for the edge of Faelen’s woodlands after Jake sent him the coordinates. There was something deep in his gut that made him recognize Blackie as an enchanted beast. Never mind the size and intelligence. Ruvin’s gut was always right. And if the beast had gone rogue, only he and Shadow were strong enough to destroy him.

Alli was lost. She knew it because, as she stood surrounded by the trees and bushes, she didn’t know where she was or how best to get back to the house. When she saw those blue eyes, the first instinct that came to her was for her to protect the wolves, especially Donny.

Now, she was in the middle of the woodlands thicket and for all she knew the wolf might be hunting her. Her heart felt as if it was just about done dealing with all her demands. She felt it in her throat, hammering like crazy. Her breath came out in short gasps and several parts of her body burned because she was careless enough not to go around a bush and rather went through it.

She moved in a slow circular motion feeling eyes on her. She was a sitting duck whether to Blue Eyes or to the mountain wolves. She was in danger and she baffled herself that she was worried about a family that was able to turn into wolves and fight off the enemy instead of herself.

She was practically a weakling with only her courage going for her. She couldn’t even fight off a bug, what made her certain she would be able to fight off a Varga?

The bushes behind her shifted and Alli jumped up in alert. Then she remembered she had nothing to defend herself with. She was in her PJs! She took a step back as the bushes gave way and the massive black fur rippling wolf came out. She was very positive he was smirking at her, his blue eyes shining like gems in the moonlight.

The fear wafting from Alli was like an entity threatening to overwhelm her. She could tell that the wolf could smell it too because he stuck his nose up and his nostrils twitched. Alli took a step back and the wolf continued moving forward, slowly towards her.

Alli quickened her footsteps but only came to a dead end when she felt the cold and rough tree bark biting into her back.

Blue Eyes stopped right in front of her while breathing and bathing in her fear. Even she could smell the acrid scent that clung to the back of her throat. She was only inviting danger. As he stood there eyeing her with his brilliant bright eyes, his eye level was the same as hers, just to emphasize on his massiveness Alli tried to summon the little courage that remained in her.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Alli could tell that she was not in immediate danger but she couldn’t tell if this wolf was friendly either. Sometimes, when she was too scared, she couldn’t differentiate between the two.

The wolf’s ears twitched and his muzzle tilted, eyeing her at an angle. He understood her but communication with her could only be done if he changed back to his human form....or maybe he was strong enough to push thoughts into her mind like the Ghost Runners’ leader.

Being that powerful was scary and just thinking about him had her trembling.

“You will not harm those wolves, you will not harm Donny.” Alli managed to utter as she lifted her eyes to stare right at him, making him see just how serious she was.

Suddenly the fur began rippling against his skin, showing off the creamy human skin underneath. His body compacted as bones dislocated and rearranged.

He was changing back into his human form right in front of her!

Alli watched in daze as a lean, pale skinned and dark hair man appeared in front of her. He was tall, towering over her and his body was built like the predator that he was.

“I can never harm my own mate.” He rasped as his eyes flashed at her.

“What? Who? Me?” Alli qwaked.

“Donny. I can smell her on you.” He moved away from her, raking his hands through her hair. “You should not have followed me here. The hunters are coming. You are in danger.”

“What are you talking about? What hunters? Who the hell are you?” She asked him.

“It doesn’t matter who I am. I have to keep my mate safe.” He moved deeper into the shadows but Alli had already seen the mystic beauty of his face. The moonlight had caught his chiseled yet serene features of him.

“And I am supposed to just believe that?” Alli crossed her arms on her chest suddenly getting courage to confront the Varga in front of her now that he was in a less threatening form. “Fuck you!”

His dark eyebrows snapped up on his face. ”Fuck me?”

“Oh, you heard me!” She gritted her teeth. “You almost killed me the last time at the park you overgown Varga. You scared the hell out of me, and you expect me to believe that you want to protect my best friend and your mate?” Alli didn’t believe in mates.

“One; If I were a Varga, you would have been dead that same night Ryle met you in the park and two; you are wasting my time with your meaningless ranting. Get yourself home and stay home.” The wolf said.

That was the second stranger telling her what to do. What made them think they could get away with it? Alli was getting tired of constantly being told what to do. And who the heck was Ryle?

“I am on a hunt and you are in the way. Now, get out of here.” He said his eyes flashing again as if he were about to embrace the change once more.

“Wait! Are you from the other side? Did you pass through the gateway at Devil’s Peak?” She asked him, curious at whether she was standing in front of an enchanted beast. From the way he acted with her, it seemed so. But he wasn’t as untidy and shaggy as she thought they would be. He spoke well for an uncivilized being....

A small and bitter chuckle escaped his lips. “Look here, little girl, I don’t have time for a million questions. There are five honed fanatic hunters heading our way as we speak. They know beasts and weakbloods exist and they believe they are doing God’s work by destroying them. It’s a full moon and many of the weakbloods are roaming these woodlands. If I don’t do something about that, many of them would not see the light of day tomorrow.”

Alli’s eyes widened as she scanned the woodlands. “Are you part of the Ghost Runners?”

“I am not in any team and I am done talking. Get back home now!” He snarled at her stepping in front of her with his lips peeled back showing off his sharp teeth.

Alli took a step back and turned around before she started running the other direction.

“You are going the wrong way!” He called out.

But Alli was too scared to even turn around and look at him.

As she was moving fast through the woods, she heard the light padding of paws behind her. Blue Eyes was following her! She picked up her pace. Even though she didn’t read any evil in him, he was not to be trusted. She didn’t believe he could be Donny’s mate. Donny was in love with Titus and she knew if Titus wasn’t going to claim her, then Donny might as well take matters into her own hands and claim him!

Blue Eyes was a complete stranger, a wolf from the other side. He looked dark and dangerous and Donny needed someone soft, considerate and romantic.

Alli caught the quick movement beside her. Blue Eyes caught up with her and was trotting beside her. Alli swallowed back a scream and turned to her left but came to a screeching halt when the pale Ghost Runner leader suddenly appeared in front of her. Her legs gave way under her and stumbled to the ground.

When she looked up, the pale wolf was snarling at Blue Eyes, warning him off.

Get behind me! He pushed the words viciously into her mind. Alli didn’t wait to be told twice as she scrambled on her hands and feet making her way behind him. The pale wolf snarled down at Blue Eyes until the black wolf backed away. Alli was aware the two of them were communicating because they were able to link with each other’s wolf.

Finally the black wolf disappeared into the darkness of the trees and the pale wolf turned to her.

What the hell are you doing here? He asked her as he paced towards her slowly.

“I--” Alli didn’t know how to defend herself. Somehow he was able to trigger the guilt in her and it almost overwhelmed her. What did she think she was doing? She was in the middle of the woodlands, lost with the Ghost Runners′ leader and wolves surrounding her.

Get on my back. You are in terrible danger--Before he could finish what he wanted to say, Alli heard the bike engines. They are coming, jump on!

Alli got onto her feet and dug her hands into his fur. It was silky smooth as usual and underneath it all, muscles bunched and coiled as he lowered his large body down so that Alli could climb better.

Alli didn’t waste time as she jumped on him and he started moving away from the bikes in baffling speed. Alli leaned her body onto his, feeling his powerful pumps as he ate up the distance trying to keep her safe.

Are--are those the hunters? She stammered in her mind.

You should not have been out here. You are always putting yourself in danger. The pale wolf ignored her question as he stealthily moved through the woods as if he knew exactly where to step and how to move. It was as if the entire place was engrained in his mind, it was as if he had a blueprint of the woodlands in his mind.

My friend, Donny, is in danger. She just underwent her first transformation today, and Blue eyes over there thinks that she is his mate. Alli explained.

That caught his attention but it didn’t deter his pace. He told you this?

Yes, he changed back to his human form and told me about it. He said he wants to keep her safe but I don’t think I want to trust him. Alli assured him. We have to go and find Donny and her family. What if Blue Eyes leads the hunters to them?

The pale wolf didn’t look like he was listening to her because he didn’t show any signs that he was turning in order to help them.

Are you listening to me? Alli tightened her hold in his fur and a raspy purr escaped his lips.

Your safety comes first. He said quietly and increased his speed.

Finally Alli saw the lights of the neighborhood right up ahead. The pale wolf stopped just at the front line of the trees.

Get off and go home. He told her.

But Alli didn’t want to get off. She didn’t want to lose the warmth engulfing her, assuring her that she was safe from any harm. Not until you promise me you will go after my friend.

A growl escaped his mouth. This is not a game and I am not a watchdog. I am a pureblood Lycan. I have no handler besides my Keeper. Now, get off before I throw you off!

Alli sighed as she slipped off his back. So, it’s true what they say about your kind, you are uncivilized and savages. You only think of yourselves. If you are not willing to help me then don’t ever appear in front of me again.

Alli....she heard the hesitance in his thick and velvety voice but Alli just dashed towards Donny’s house.

Shadow.....

Shadow watched to make sure that Alli was safely inside the house before he turned back towards the woodlands. He did not plan on looking after a careless weakblood family but somewhere deep inside him, he felt that if he didn’t do this for Alli then he wouldn’t be able to appear in front of her again. The idea was to stay away from her until the mating bond got weak but how the fuck was he supposed to stay away from the female who constantly was in danger?

Shadow raised his nose up in the air and sniffed it, letting the events happening around him register into his head. Fanatic hunters were going after wolves that night. He was very sure they were not from Ashwick or the weakbloods would have already taken care of them. Then there was Blue Eyes, just like Alli had called him.

When Shadow came charging in, his entire body quaked with an unknown fear when it registered to him that Alli was being pursued by Blue Eyes. The first thing that came into his mind was to rip his throat off and he would have, if his Keeper’s voice didn’t keep him at bay.

Shadow believed the other beast to be a Varga but when the beast took a step back, Shadow felt his suddenly reluctance to get into a confrontation with him. Shadow had never known fear like the one he felt at the thought that Alli could have been killed. Such a feeling made him realise that the mating bond was nowhere close to breaking. The Heavens never created anything with a reset button, so once you fucked up, there was no way you could go back and undo anything.

Blue Eyes had every reason to be scared of him. He must have sensed the power radiating from him. Shadow was all business that night and like what he told Alli, he had no handler. He ran free and did what he wanted....

Unfortunately, Alli’s words kept on ringing in his head. If he didn’t help her friend and her family, he should never show his face in front of her again.

Was that even possible? The more they came into close proximity, the further away that idea of staying away from her floated. Shadow could still feel her fingers in his fur grabbing on for dear life as he raced her to safety.

Find the weakblood family and protect them. Ruvin’s voice filtered into Shadow’s mind.

Shadow snarled angrily knowing there was no escaping it and jumped through the bushes, following the familiar scent the family left behind when they entered the woodlands. For all Shadow knew, Blue Eyes was also racing towards them.

If Donny was his mate, as Alli had said, it meant that he had already been close to her once enough to establish the bond. Was he someone they knew? He wondered.

Now that Donny had undergone her first transformation, it would be almost impossible for her and Blue Eyes to stay away from each other. The first full moon of the transformation proved disastrous. It was either having the urge to kill or to jump into bed with almost anyone. If Blue Eyes appeared in front of Donny and Donny’s wolf recognised him, he could save her from turning into a Varga but the family and relatives would not be happy about it.

Shadow smirked. Beings from the Enchanted World were always considered a little mad because they always embraced their true nature. No one had to hide who they were in the enchanted world because everyone knew of the different races that lived together. It was highly encouraged to take the human form in public but that didn’t mean you had to hide your abilities as well.

It was different in the human world. Supernatural Beings had to constantly hide their nature because humans could not even begin to fathom the fact there were other races apart from them. Though they were by far the weakest race of beings, they were most aggressive and egotistical. Knowing that there might be someone more powerful than them brought them a certain maniacal rage that turned deadly.

The humans are closing in, Keeper. Shadow told Ruvin as they raced towards the direction of the weakbloods.

Soon their scent was mingled with the scent of Blue Eyes. Keep a watchful eye around you. Don’t kill them.

Shadow didn’t understand why his keeper wanted to keep the human hunters alive. They never kept any of the beings they caught alive. They captured them, tortured them then finally killed them. The same fate should befall upon them, he thought.

If we kill them then we are no different from them. His keeper assured him.

Who said I wanted to be different? Shadow growled angrily as he slowed down, sniffing in the pungent smell of pure evil. The fresh air was suddenly polluted by the smell of petrol, alcohol, drugs and adrenalin laced fear.

As quiet as possible, Shadow inched closer to where the human hunters had stopped.

“I say we torch this whole place up, kill every single one of those disgusting abominations once and for all.” A fat human hunter removed a box of cigarettes from the back of his jeans and placed one between his teeth. He flipped his silver lighter and a yellow and red flame sprang into life.

“We are not torching anything, Peter--and put that fucking cigarette out!” A tall and lean man jumped off his bike with a bag in his hands. “We need them alive.”

Peter spat in disgust and snorted. “But I think we can kill several of them right? I mean it’s a full moon. This whole place is crawling with them! What’s the point of leaving this place without even a good kill?”

“We are sitting ducks.” Another one came into the moonlight and when Shadow looked at him, he knew he was the most dangerous one of them all. The look in his eyes told him that this man had nothing to lose and that he was ready to die for whatever purpose he served.

Looks like these are contract hunters. They were sent. Shadow told his keeper while watching the cruel human in front of him closely.

“I think we are already surrounded.” He added as he leaned on his bike and fished out a silver gleaming gun from the small of his back. “If you are attacked, make sure you aim right in between their eyes.” he told the others and Shadow took a step back.

This guy meant business and knew about them more than Shadow was comfortable to admit. Shadow was very sure the bullets in their guns were made of silver.

These hunters need to die, Keeper, especially that one with the gun. They are a bad seed.

Ruvin was quiet, watching carefully as the five hunters moved about putting their traps.

They have been coming here every full moon for the past four months to hunt down weakbloods. Even if you kill them, more will return with even better equipment. The words filtered into Shadow’s mind and he was suddenly aware of Blue Eyes behind him.

Give me one good reason why I should not rip your throat out right now. Shadow turned to Blue Eyes.

Because you need me. Because only I know where they come from and only I can help you find out why weakbloods are showing up dead suddenly. Blue Eyes stated with his brilliant blue eyes shining at Shadow with knowledge. I am a half-blood Lycan from the Enchanted World. My name is Ryle and my Keeper is Blake.

You know who is killing the weakbloods? Shadow ignored the rest of his words because they were not important.

I don’t know but I can help you find out. Ryle explained.

Then you are no use to us. Get out of my way. Shadow nudged Ryle out of his way with his bigger body. He had no time to socialize.

I have seen the pattern and I know who could be next on the list. Ryle explained.

Shadow stopped and turned to him. Are you wasting my time again?

I followed you to your residence, I showed myself to you. I let your human friend, Jake, find me. I did all those things so that you would find me, why would I waste your time now? Ryle asked.

So, who’s next on the list?

Ryle approached Shadow, his eyes darkening with every passing moment. My mate. Donny.