Moonlight Queen

"I hope you're ready Yvonne" Kayne asked clenching my hand into his.

I looked up at him and shook my head in silence.

He chortled, I took a quick glance at his fair face wondering if that was necessary.

Kayne smiled at me as if he read my thoughts "you should be ready my beloved, you have waited for this moment for eighteen years."

I looked away, twisting my legs on each other as we sat under an oak tree in my large compound.

I hated it when Kayne addressed me as his beloved, I was tired of getting reminded over and over again that I'm betrothed to someone I don't love.

"Are you okay?" He asked me pulling my hand.

I nodded "sure."

I stood to my feet feeling very nervous "Kayne what did it feel like the night you first turned into your wolf form?" I took a glance at him with my ears wide open.

I heard his smooth giggling "It was the most wonderful moment of my life, It was like being reborn and invisible."

I turned around to stare at him, the sparkle in his eyes while he spoke was a huge relief for me.

"What if I turn into a wolf and never turn back into a human?" I asked him.

My mother once told me a story of a queen from another clan who turned into her wolf form and never turned back into human, I can't deny how scared I have been after listening to that story.

His eyes widened at my question but then he shrugged "it simply means you were actually meant to be a wolf and not human."

"What???" I screamed with my heart almost jumping out of it's place.

"Is that supposed to be a joke Kayne?"

"You know I never joke" he answered.

I looked away, that was one thing I didn't like about Kayne, he was always serious with everything he does, for him everything is business and a duty, which includes eating.

It was getting really cold and I needed to get back into the mansion but Kayne has already began with his long tales that had no end, I wasn't sure I was listening, I only sat there cause I wasn't ready to hear him nag about how I disrespected him to my father.

I clenched my fists biting softly at the end of my lips while waiting for him to stop talking, I shut my eyes for a moment, I couldn't bear it anymore "Kayne..Kayne..." I called out cutting him off from whatever he was saying.

"What is it?" He asked coldly looking straight into my eyes.

I was so sure he didn't like what I did.

"I'm cold."

"Don't worry, tonight you would get stronger after you must have tasted the blood of an animal" he winked.

I gasped wondering how stiff he could be, I expected him to help me with his jacket or ask me to go back into the mansion. I started wondering why my father would ever get me betrothed to a man like him. He was cold hearted and wasn't romantic at all.

"I'm going inside Kayne, I'm cold" I walked away without looking back.

I didn't care if he would report me to my father, "he should do his worse" I said to myself.

"I met a crowded living room, it was large enough to contain up to fifty people. The living room was a lively mixture of the Moonlight park and Boldclaw pack which are the only surviving parks in Latan city after the great war.

There was always a party which takes place every full moon, this celebration brings the two packs together which I was told that they once turned enemies after the great war though I am yet to know why but that was the least of my worries, I loved parties but certainly not a wolf party.

Everyone looked cheerful as they anticipated the full moon.

I was the only wolf who was up to eighteen in my pack so I was the only one who was about to get turned, I walked passed them forcing a pleasant smile trying my best to be nice.

At home I was never myself, so many rules about every single thing, I hated rules and this makes me so uncomfortable at home. I only get to be my real self at school when I'm with my human friends.

Yeah, I just gained admission into the university and I was already having fun exploring life before my family turned it all to sadness with the news of being betrothed.

"Yvonne...." I heard my mother call me from behind.

I was about climbing the staircase to my bedroom to lock myself up like always.

I took a deep breath before I finally turned around exposing my white set of teeth which I feared might turn red soonest once they have made me devour an animal.

"Mother...." I turned around grinning.

"You're going upstairs, where is your mate?" She started looking left and right.

"Mother, he is okay, we were just talking before I decided to come back into the mansion."

"I'm so happy for you Yvonne after you are turned tonight, your wedding with your mate would be on the next full moon."

My mouth dropped open "what wedding are you talking about mother?" I was almost yelling.

She was startled by the loudness of my voice and quickly dragged me to a corner.

"Mother what are you talking about?" I was getting very nervous.

"What's wrong about getting married to your betrothed mate?"

"How can you and father fix a date without telling me? Am I so much of a burden that you both want to get rid of me so soon?" Tears were almost crawling out of my eyes.

I hated the idea of being married to Kayne, "I don't care if he is my betrothed mate but you and father have no right to fix a date without letting me know first."

She simply smiled "you are our only child and we want the best for you, Kayne is the strongest of his pack and an Alpha as such....."

I cutted my mother off at once, I was tired of listening to that line of story over and over again "mother I need time to myself, I'm not ready to get married" I was bold and fearless while I spoke.

Well, no one dared speak to my mother that way else, you will be sure to get punished with a hex, she was a wolf witch.

She smiled "you know young lady, if you weren't my daughter, I would have separated your tongue from your mouth."

I remained mute, the smile on her face got me confused, "is she indirectly threatening me or is she joking?" I thought glaring at her.

She tapped my shoulder squeezing it tenderly, "go and get ready for tonight, it would be midnight soon" she took a glance at the wall clock.

Kayne entered the mansion, I watched him from behind my mother as he walked to my father.

I hissed in my thoughts "like always he has gone to nag, fool!" I cursed mumbling to myself without hearing the last things my mother said to me before she walked away.

I looked down at myself, I was still wearing my ball gown and heels, it was the worse dress for me.

"I climbed the staircase with difficulty, I noticed Kayne looking at me "just get lost" I muttered.

"I can't believe that my parents expect me to spend my entire life with this cold hearted guy."

On the eve of my eighteenth birthday party which was last week my parents had broken the awful news to me about how I was betrothed to Kayne from birth.

Kayne was six years older than I am and all along he was aware about it, from the look in his eyes when he is around me or my family, I'm so sure he likes it, after all, who ever marries me automatically becomes the leader of our park and gets to rule the park along side with me but I couldn't understand why he was so interested in marrying me since he was already a leader in his park.

I walked into my bedroom and pulled off the shoes flinging it to God knows where.

My feet were hurting badly, I sat for a while massaging it.

I quickly stood up afterwards and changed into something simple.

I heard my mother calling my name, I dashed out of the bedroom hurriedly climbing down the stairs.

We drove off in our cars, I had my own red benz CLA, it was a gift from my father on my birthday.

Kayne had insisted I joined him in his car but I bluntly refused, I just wanted to be alone.

We parked beside a bush path as we all alighted from our various cars and started walking into the forest.

I gasped on remembering I did not bring spare clothes incase my present clothes gets torn apart "am I really going to go naked in front of all of them?" I bowed my head.

"Don't worry, I brought some spare clothes for you" my mother whispered into my ears nudging me softly.

I smiled at her, she was just the sweetest mother ever.

Being a wolf witch made it possible for her to read through the mind of wolves but she casted a mind cloaking spell on me which made it impossible for vampires to compel me.

I didn't think that was necessary because I haven't met or seen a vampire before though my parents always warned that their were so many of them, they kept telling me how evil they were and how they almost destroyed the entire wolf parks.

My mother was the only wolf witch in our park and the only one I have ever known.

I have seen lots of witches especially in my school but in this city, magic was totally prohibited, it was considered evil and a sacrilege especially because the city was highly religious.

Witches were hanged when caught therefore all witches tried not to get caught while using their magic but Father Bosco always found a way.

Father Bosco was the reverend at the church located in the middle of our small city.

He hated witches and this was a huge threat to all witch covens in Latan city.

We continued walking deeper into the forest, the moon was up in the sky shinning down on us.

Everyone began to transform into their wolf forms and I was not left behind, it was an awkward feeling for me to change into animal in a twinkle of an eye.

I grew fangs, I felt I looked funny and ugly in that, my eyes grew wide with fear, flashing with grey rays.

I was trying to get used to walking on four legs. It was my first time in my wolf form so no one dared mock me.

I felt a little weird and scared at the same time, it wasn't something I'm used to neither am I sure that I'm proud of it.

A lot of times my parents had sat me close to the chimney lecturing me about it, well what they said was totally different from what I'm feeling at the moment.

They kept talking about how fulfilling it felt, I fascinated about it for a while but today, my feets are cold with fear.

I shivered as they all howled "what the hell?"

I kept mumbling to myself, I noticed my mother was watching me, I quickly had to join the rest of the pack howling, trust me I knew I was only barking cause I caught alot of them peering at me.

I shut my eyes to whatever they might think of me and refused to feel embarrassed.

I took a glance at my father who had his brown wolf colour glowing through it's furs, I have never seen brown glow so much. I have always wished I took after his form but I rather too after my mum, I was white as the moon.

We sprinted into a race, running into the forest like it had no ends "is this really it?" I thought looking nervous.

I just wanted everything to end at once, I needed to sleep and rest but then I was very hungry, I could hear that soft grumble of my wolf belly.

I took a deep breath, my heart grew cold on remembering that I had a test to write tomorrow "I didn't even get to study" I thought looking away.

Everyone seemed to be watching me and that wasn't something I enjoyed.

I heard my stomach grumble again and I forgot completely about the test, I squeezed my face in an awkward frown.

I have always watched my pack kill and feed on dead animals, I would run into my bedroom at the sight of it vomiting, I wondered if I would finally be made to eat a dead animal today.

My father once told me that I needed to feed to activate my wolf form else I won't be strong like the rest neither will I heal quick which makes me unfit for the position ahead of me.

But that was one thing I loved about being a wolf, we were very strong and healed quickly from our wounds.

At least, we weren't the vampires that fed on human blood to get stronger, they call us beasts but that's not who we are, we love peace, unity, togetherness, we understand what family is all about and we have traditions.

We arrived at a lea and formed a large circle.

A fresh meat lay in the middle, I had seen my father kill it earlier, he was the strongest in our pack but not in the Boldclaw pack, Kayne was regarded as the strongest there.

He came forward to eat from it first and so did Kayne, it was the tradition for the male Alphas of both packs to feed first on the full moon.

I shrugged at the sight of the animal which had it's intestine ripped out of it's belly "I'm never going to eat that" I thought.

I raised my claw staring at it, everything was beginning to dawn on me " Did I actually turn into a wolf?"

I noticed the drool finding it's way out of their mouths, the wolves looked hungry and I could tell that they couldn't wait to fill their belly with the flesh of the dead animal.

My mother and Kayne's mother Emelda stepped forward, she had a dark wolf form just like her son but my mother was so bright, my father would always say that she was the most charming woman he has ever met.

I stared at her, even in her wolf form she still looked very beautiful.

It was my turn, my eyes deemed with fear with my four legs shaking from the heavy stares from both packs, I kept my chin up at the knowledge of that making sure I didn't let my guard down, it was time to prove that I was truly an alpha and a wolf.

My parents stared at me.

I swallowed hard leaning forward like a lost cat, I couldn't say no to my parents else my father might not take it likely with me and my pack will consider me weak and unfit to be their next leader.

I deeped my mouth into the dead animal, I shut my eyes feeling so much pity for the poor thing that had fallen a prey to my pack.

I took a huge bite, my eyes got brighter, it tasted different from the way I had imagined it to be "delicious" I mumbled.

My wolf form was doing wonders already, while I fed, I felt stronger.

It was more like they knew all along what was going through my mind all along.

I could feel them laughing at me beneath their growl.

I ignored them and took more bites.

And there came my bethroted mate, the one whom my father found worthy of me, if only he knew how much I despised the fact that I was not given a chance to choose my mate.

In his dark wolf nature he leaned forward and joined me in eating from it, I felt he was being greedy but the look on everyone's face proved it was also another tradition, they howled loudly.

In no time, the whole pack was feeding from it while I and Kayne stepped back.

Well my pack wasn't much, not up to twenty and the same corresponds to Kayne's pack.

We were the only werewolves still alive on earth after the great war.

"It was never like this" my mother had said to me one evening in the garden when I stroke her with a question.

We used to be so many until a fire burnt down our village all thanks to the vampires who started it all, we killed so many of them but then we lost many of our kind and our home.

I shook my head sadly at the thought of that story wondering what would have become of me if I was born then.

The full moon was gradually disappearing into the dark clouds, we howled as we sprinted into a race this time we were faster, running back to where we came from.

We were back in our human form, I smiled at my self looking down at my body "I have missed you."

"You mean me?" Kayne asked standing behind me.

I sighed, at least I was putting on some clothes now else I wouldn't have taken it likely with him.

We had all come out naked from the forest but we all found a safe place to put our clothes on.

"How did you find me here?" I asked turning to him.

"Have you forgotten that wolves can pick sents?" He asked.

I shrugged "I guess that's how you found me then?"

He nodded "by the way, you did so well back there."

"Tell me you're just mocking me Kayne cause I know so well that I was terrible."

He smiled "I thought you would but you proved me wrong, at least you didn't let your guard down."

I stared blankly at him wondering what he was driving at.

"As an alpha and my mate to be, you ought to be strong and brave for the task ahead" he walked closer to me and held my hand.

I looked up at his face, his brown eyes gave him this gentleman look, I would say that Kayne was truly handsome but not his attitude.

"Soon, both packs would be joined togther and our union would make that possible Yvonne, our union would make us one."

"Is that really why I have to marry you? So that our packs would get united?" This wasn't sounding interesting to me at all and I doubted that he knew that.

He left hold of my hand looking straight into my eyes "I'm suprised that your father haven't told you."

"Told me what?" I asked with so much curiosity implicating my fears.

"Our union is an apology and a reconciliation, you see your dear father murdered my father who was the leader of my pack many years ago though it was a mistake but in other to save us from fighting each other, we resorted to our tradition" he smiled.

"Which is?" I asked looking impatient.

"Your mother was pregnant of you when it all happened and she knew she was going to have a girl child, I was a boy when it was declared that you would be my mate after the first full moon when you turn and together we would lead our packs to greatness" he said proudly.

I looked away, at least now I knew that I was in for something I knew nothing about and my parents were about to use me to pay for their sins, I shut my eyes taking a deep breath.

"Our wedding have been fixed Yvonne, yet I don't understand why you're always so cold towards me" he cupped my face in his hands and kissed my forehead.

I couldn't say anything, I just watched like a lamb who was being lured to be slaughtered for breakfast.

"You're happy that you're getting married to me or because our marriage would bring unity between the two packs?" I asked hoping he gave me a response that could make me change my mind and at least grant my parents wish.

"The both makes me happy Yvonne my beautiful bride" he answered sneering.

"Beautiful bride indeed" I mumbled.

I scoffed but remained silent for a while with my thoughts enveloped with how horrible it would feel to finally be called his mate "I would be in my car now while I wait for the rest."

I walked past him.

Kayne walked ahead of me and blocked me "you don't look happy, don't you want to be my mate?"

I didn't say a word, I only watched him in silence.

"Yvonne we used to like each other so much when we were younger, what happened along the way?"

"Nothing happened Kayne and I didn't say that I wouldn't like to be your mate, so can I go now?" I asked, I couldn't stand spending another minute in his presence.

He stepped aside and I walked pass him with my heart pounding very hard in my chest.

Yvonne's father Arthur had been hiding behind a tree listening to their conversation he walked into the scene standing behind Kayne.

Kayne had noticed his presence earlier but acted like he wasn't aware "your daughter doesn't seem to be so interested in this union."

Arthur chuckled "you don't know Yvonne so well, do you? She is more than delighted to be with you but as a woman that she is, she would always like to play hard to get."

He laughed "women and their troubles" he said walking away.

Kayne nodded with his gaze still fixed on the direction Yvonne had gone through "but she would be mine and the two packs would be mine to lead forever, I can't wait to marry your daughter and get rid of you Arthur."

His mother came behind him, Kaune smelt her presence, he took a deep breath.

"I'm glad that the wedding have been fixed, making their daughter marry you is the worse mistake of their miserable lives, Arthur must pay for what he and the witches did to my husband and our people" she said looking extremely furious, her eyes had flashes of red.

Kayne chortled turning to face her "surely they would mother, I will make sure of that."

She smiled "I'm proud of you son."

The Boldclaw pack retired to their fort and so did we.

I heard my mother's footsteps behind me as I approached my bedroom, I ignored it walking into my bedroom.

"Your father told me that you were showing Kayne that you had no interest in marrying him, is that true Yvonne?" She asked me angrily.

"I would have preferred being slaughtered like a chicken other than being used to seal some sort of peace contract that has nothing to do with me" I fired back.

She paused staring at me....

I already read her thoughts through her reaction "yes he told me and when were you thinking of telling me about this mother? When I'm finally married to him?" I was furious.

She walked quickly to where I stood and grabbed my hand "it isn't the way you think it is my child, we had no choice and you were the only hope for peace, what your father did was sacrilege, he would have been killed if he didn't agree to the tradition."

I pulled my hands off hers at once moving backwards "that's all I keep hearing, tradition this, tradition that, don't you think I also have my life to live?"

"You are a wolf Yvonne and your life is here" I heard my father's thunderous voice echoe into my bedroom.

I turned around and saw him standing at the door dressed in his mantle, every wolf pack leader wears that.

My father was one person I was so scared of, yes I was scared of my mother but it wasn't compared to how I feared my father.

I have watched him kill people at ease at the slightest of provocation and I knew so well that he could do the same to be if I dared disobey him.

"All we seek is peace and your marriage to Kayne will bring us that peace we seek" he said looking straight at my face.

I trembled slightly standing behind my mother, I grabbed her hand slowly.

She took a glance at me, she could see my fears.

"Yvonne you would do nothing to jeopardize what has been decreed many years ago, you must marry Kayne" he turned around to leave.

"Father..." I called out and he stopped.

"Yvonne..." My mother whispered in fear trying to stop me.

I ignored her and stepped forward "I just gained admission into the university father, at least allow me to finish my education and enjoy what's left of my youthful age" I said wondering if I used the right words.

"I have spoken Yvonne and my words are final" he stormed out of my room without turning back to look at me.

I sagged my shoulders looking totally depressed "mother what would my friends say when I tell them that I'm getting married?" I asled angrily hoping my mother could understand my fears.

She rubbed my cheeks "if your friends were in your shoes Yvonne, they would do the right thing, you should sleep now."

She walked out of my bedroom.

I slumped into my bed, my mother has always been behind my father's shadow, supporting everything he does and says without questioning his orders, I wondered if that's what I would be subjected to once I agree to be mated to Kayne.

"I feel no connection to that guy, it's high time I buy myself sometime, I still have my life to live" I thought sitting up on the bed.

Something crossed my mind, as devilsh as it might sound, it was my only way out but my only prayer was that my mother doesn't get to find out, she was going to be my only obstacle.

The next day....

I was in class drained in thoughts of the previous night...

We wrote the test very early in the morning and swinged into lots of lectures afterwards, I was happy to see my two gorgeous friends after the long weekend, I wondered what they would ever do if they found out that I was a wolf.

I couldn't concentrate on a single lecture and finally there was no teacher in the class, I bent over the desk hitting my pen softly on it then the thought of the raw animal I had fed on flashed into my head.

I could feel my stomach growl, I suddenly had the feeling to puke "did I really eat that?" I thought running off into the the restroom.

I kept vomiting wondering if my intestine would follow aswell.

I wiped my mouth quickly gasping for breath "maybe I was never meant to be a wolf" I thought.

"What do we have here? Wolf girl.." Susan said walking close to me.

She was a witch and I wasn't surprised that she knew what I was.

She switched on the tap washing her hand.

"I'm not surprised that you know, you witches are something else" I said hissing.

A girl pushed the door open rushing into the restroom "we have got a problem and we need to hide, Father Bosco is here" the girl yelled.

"What? I don't understand" Susan said in fear.

"A new girl was supposed to be enrolled today, father Bosco was invited and when he put the crucifix forward the girl manifested, she is a witch, just like us" she cried out.

"Great!" Susan exclaimed throwing her arms up.

"Which coven is she from?" She asked.

"I don't know but I perceive she's a white witch" the girl answered looking extremely scared, her name was Helen.

I didn't know what to say to them, I was speechless and scared as well.

"Where is she now?" Susan asked in panic.

"Dragged away to be hanged like the rest" she answered.

Susan took a deep sigh "Latan is totally becoming unsafe for all witches and the elders are doing nothing about it."

Helen turned around and noticed my presence "what the hell is she doing here?" She grabbed me by the neck.

I putted my hand on her chest at once and pushed her to the wall.

She fell to the floor groaning in pain, her nostrils were bleeding of black blood.

"I'm sorry...." I said staring at my hands, I was surprised at how strong I have become.

"What the hell are you?" Helen asked struggling to stand.

"She is a wolf and she's not our enemy so let her be" Susan said to her.

She turned to me and smiled "you have really got so strong, I'm impressed."

Well... I was impressed with my self too, what I did was quite amazing though I didn't mean to hurt her.

"Helen we would remain in here until Father Bosco leaves, afterwards we would meet the elders, it's high time we do something about this before all the witches are killed" Susan said leaning sadly on the wall.

"You might need my help" I said looking straight into Susan's eyes.

She turned to me "how? this isn't a fight of muscles and fists."

I smiled "if your elders knew how to stop Father Bosco, they would have done that a long time ago but unfortunately, they don't but I'm so sure with my influence my mother can help you, she is a wolf witch."

Helen's eyes widened and so did Susan's.

Helen walked closer to me and held my hand tenderly "you are Catherine's daughter?"

I nodded with a bold smile.

Helen gasped "I have heard so much about her, the great war, she's incredible."

Susan nodded "yes she is, we have tried to reach out to her so many times for her help but she never grants us audience, she is the oldest of all witches, how are you sure that she would grant us audience this time around and help us?"

I arched my brow, "she is my mother and would always grant my humble request."