Chapter 2 Bad news!

~ KELANI ~

"W...what?" I choked.

Suddenly, my head was banging and the tranquility I was enjoying just seconds ago felt like it was centuries away. Tears began to flow without warning, stinging my eyes.

Bostin grabbed my hand and ran to the nearest shrubbery where he crouched low. I joined him. He was out of breath, his hands rubbing his chest as struggled to regulate his breathing.

"I'm sorry but it's true. The celebration was going on peacefully when suddenly we were ambushed by attackers - the people of Shanakoi. I think they want to kill us all and take over our fertile lands."

Shanas of Shanakoi. They weren't ordinary humans. They weren't werewolves either. They were masters of magic from faraway lands who the history books said could control the four elements; fire, water, earth and air.

They had tried before to invade our pack and failed horribly. Infact, their king lost a hand in the fight. How could it be that they were so successful this time? How did they know we would be celebrating tonight and have our guards down? Why didn't we get a warning from our neighboring pack?

As if reading my mind, Bostin voiced out. "They had help," A pause. A long pause before he rasped the last part of his sentence out, "From Right Stone."

I felt the air knocked out of my lungs. Right Stone was supposed to be our trusted ally - our ancestors had peacefully coexisted for centuries. My father took the Alpha of Right Stone as a brother and I knew this betrayal would have killed him even faster than a silver blade.

My stomach churned violently. If I had gotten my wolf, her deafening growls would have been reverberating through the forest. But all I could do right now was cry.

I remembered my best - and only - friend, Nikolas. He was one of the few wolves in our pack who didn't ridicule me and we had been friends since I could remember. He was super intelligent and wanted to become a pack doctor.

My parents often worried that we were more than friends because he was male. Sickly as I may be, I was still an Alpha blood, the future Luna. And he was just an Omega, the lowest ranking in our pack. It would be a sacrilege for us to choose ourselves as mates.

So I assured them that we were just friends even though I secretly fantasized about him being my mate. Not because I was attracted to him, but I couldn't imagine anyone else accepting a liability like me as their mate. And definitely not an Alpha as my parents hoped.

"Did you manage to see my friend Nikolas? Did he survive the attack?"

"Probably not. The Shanas have wiped the entire pack. The people who managed to escape were the lucky few who were able to shift into their wolf form. The Shanas used wolfbane to weaken our pack so most could not shift quickly."

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. Like me, Nikolas had not gotten his wolf yet. He was probably at worst, dead or at best, dying. Guilt gripped me at the thought that he would also have escaped the attack if I hadn't sent him away earlier. Dear Goddess, I have killed my best friend.

"But I know for certain that your parent's heads are no longer connected to their bodies. King Aries made sure they were the first victims of the sword he carried in his only hand." Bostin concluded, his eyes avoiding mine.

A loud cry tore through my lips. The Alpha and Luna of Left Stone pack dying in such a gruesome and dishonorable manner.

What was even worse? They were survived by me, a sickly child who was only a wolf in breed but not in deed. I could barely run a meter, let alone lead an army into battle. And with the rest of our pack slaughtered, who was even left to be led? Alpha Trojan and Luna Misella would never get revenge. Left Stone would never get justice.

My cry became even louder before Bostin placed a strong hand over my mouth.

"This is not the time to cry as we are still in danger. You, especially."

My eyes widened.

"It is a tradition for Shanas to take captives after a successful attack. Especially the ones in high positions like yours. I know they must be searching for you. Your likes are the spoils of war."

It took a few minutes for my wails to become quiet sobs.

"What do I do now? I don't want to be taken away from Left Stone." I sniffled.

"You will not, if you do as I say," he assured solemnly, "I know I said your sickness can only be managed but not cured. But I believe the Moon Goddess has seen the betrayal meted to us tonight by our trusted ally. Tonight is coincidentally a full moon. You could summon her. Now that your parents are dead, you are the Luna of Left Stone pack. Appear in that capacity and cry to her for revenge."

Summon the Moon Goddess? Is Bostin asking me to do what I think he is asking me to do?

I caught a tear in the old wolf's eyes but it was wiped as quickly as it appeared. He reached into his leather sling bag, adorned with cowries, shells and skulls of small rodents, and produced a potion.

"Drink it and say the Saturni El-Ron chant while looking up to the moon." he instructed.

"The Saturni El-Ron chant? Are you sure, Bostin?"

In these climes, every werewolf got the opportunity to summon the Moon Goddess just once in their lifetime when they recited this sacred chant. When you appeared in her presence, you could make any request and it was very likely to be granted.

Wolves used this chant to pray for their biggest heart desire - just one request. But the Goddess would only appear if you had gotten your wolf and I hadn't gotten mine.

Again, as if my thoughts were being transcribed on my forehead, Bostin muttered, "That is what the potion is for. It would heighten your wolf spirit so the Moon Goddess can sense you."

Too befuddled to articulate any more questions, I collected the small bottle from him and emptied its content into my mouth. The sharp bitter taste made me nauseous but I pinched my nose to hold it in until the feeling subsided.

Then I started the chant, lips quivering, my hands hugging my frail body.

"Wait. She's going to appear with a lot of wind. You know you are prone to cold. Wear this."

Bostin was right. All my memories of winter consisted of being swaddled in heavy garments and sitting close to a fire, eating a medicinal soup because 'prevention is better than cure'.

He handed me a dark grey tunic from his bag. "It's a bit dirty and... masculine. But I suppose you don't mind for now."

"No, I don't. You are far too kind." I thanked him as I received the tunic and struggled into it, hiding the scrunch of my nose at its mouldy smell.

I was already wearing two layers of clothes - as I always did whenever I was spending time outdoors - and the tunic made it three. Feeling a lot warmer, I resumed the chant.

"No, start over."

I took a deep breath and allowed myself feel all the raw emotions surging through my body. Shock. Fear. Betrayal. Confusion. Anger. Anger. ANGER!

With that, I began. Saturni El-Ron, a sacred chant in our native language - werewolf Latin. My voice raged, the highest decibel I had ever heard it. I chanted until I lost track of time, fully consumed by the words tumbling out of my mouth.

A mighty wind enveloped me, bringing goosebumps to my skin. Dead leaves began to twirl and trees swayed left and right. The lake in front of us started to rage vigorously. I shut my eyes tight to prevent the sand that pricked my skin from getting into them as I continued my chant.

Then like a dream, my feet began to lift off the ground until I was floating. If the circumstances were any different, I would have been intrigued but I was too angry to feel anything else.

Suddenly, my environment became peaceful and quiet. An unfamiliar voice called my name.

"Kelani Hulker."

I slowly forced my eyes open and the image before me sent me to my knees. I was in the presence of the Moon Goddess, the supreme Goddess of all werewolves.