The Luna's Secret

"He will get you soon enough, Princess"

Abby

The burning sensation of my cuts and abrasions under the scalding hot water coarses through my body as I stand under the shower head, the thunder and lightning outside making my head spin. Tonight was supposed to be easy but he slipped right between my fingers. I was chasing him through the Conagher forest when he looked at me and suddenly vanished before my eyes, only to land on top of me when I was caught in the moment of shock by his sudden disappearance. According to my Intel, he wasn't supposed to just vanish into thin air since he was a Doppler. His only ability was supposed to be shapeshifting into another person. Caught off guard by his sudden attack, I fell down to the ground when he started delivering blow after blow, not caring where he was hitting me as long as I stayed down.

In the midst of our fight I felt a sharp pain in my thigh. This bastard stabbed me, only fueling me and my wolf's anger more and making me see red.

I struck a blow to his ribs hearing a bone crack once I got an opening. He staggered back for a few seconds laughing at my attempt to hurt him, giving me an opening to stand to my feet. Flipping myself over, I grabbed the gun that was in my boot laced with my special witch bullets and point it at him, him smiling with a gun pointed directed at his face.

"Any last words, asshole?"

With a smirk on his face, "He will get you soon enough,Princess".

I pulled the trigger, putting an end to this psychopath's murdering spree.

30 girls suffered in the hands of this man, all of them the same age as me, but his lasts words seems to be haunting my thoughts without end. Who was he talking about?

Stepping out of the shower, I wrap myself in my towel. I just had to get that pig's blood off of me. It's one in the morning and my entire body is aching for the softness of my bed and I am answering it. Pulling my long silky chocolate brown hair into a low bun, I walk from the bathroom to my bed and just fall down. Time to get some sleep, tomorrow will be long ass day.

"Abs!! Wake up!! Time for breakfast!". Waking up to Kat's voice so early in the morning is not putting me in the best of moods, but a almost Luna has got to do what she has to do. Putting on a blue and white tank top, my yoga leggings and combat boots, I go down the stairs for breakfast. Seeing everyone's smiling faces put me in a bit of a better mood, but I still need coffee and something to eat before training. Before I could even say good morning or put my butt on a chair , our head chef came rushing into the dining room, heading my way with a cup of freshly brewed coffee in her hand. "Morning Luna, what do you want for breakfast? I just finished baking chocolate croissants and there is fresh pancakes with fruit if you like?" Mrs Samuels said coming from the kitchen. Smiling at our her, I took my seat at the table."Thank you Mrs Samuels. I will take three croissants and a cup of fruit please". With a huge grin on her face, she walked through the packhouse kitchen doors. I looked at my dad and he was staring straight at me with a concerned look on his face. "Abby, is that a black eye?" , he finally said with a worried voice. "Shit, sorry dad. I was busy with one of my missions last night. He attacked me and got a few punches to my face", I said with a timid voice, scared of his overprotective dad reaction. My dad never wanted me to be in this position, but since his first born is a girl and the Alpha and Luna of Frost Pack didn't have any children after me, the responsibility of his pack and company fell onto me by werewolf laws when I turned of age. He didn't give me the pack right away on my 18th birthday since he wanted to see if I find my mate first so that I maybe will be a Luna of another pack and not take over his business of being a bounty hunter and CEO of his special forces business. After waiting almost three years, he decided it would be better to hand over the pack even if my mate was not with me yet.

"Well, since you got attacked and me being tired of seeing you get hurt since you insist to be alone, you will be getting a bodyguard to take with you wherever you go", he said without missing a beat and waiting to see my reaction. I huffed in annoyance. "I don't need a damn bodyguard. I am almost 21 and almost the Luna. I don't need a babysitter. I can take take care of myself", I growled at him, giving an eye roll as well. He knows how it went with my last bodyguard ."Not by the looks of that black eye, my sweet girl. I am still your father and Alpha of this pack, but for me, your safety comes first', he said, with a bit of tears in his eyes. "Fine, as long as he doesn't run his mouth like the other one. I need someone who can fight by my side, not being a whimpering mess just because he saw me slice off a wolf's head for the first time", I gave in and everyone including my Beta and Gamma broke into a laugh because of my choice of words regarding my last bodyguard. With the final bite of my breakfast and scarfing down my coffee, I run towards to training field.

After two hours warm ups. sparring with the warriors of our pack and the pack run, training with my swords felt different. I liked the guns but this sword is just something else. After 2 more hours, I was a sweaty mess and decided I need a shower again. After my shower, getting dressed in a pair of jeans, a tshirt and my sneakers, it was time for being a Luna and business, but while I was busy making my way to the school to see if they need any help, my dad linked me.

Abigail, I need to see you in my office immediately, please.

On my way!

Running to my dad's office, I don't even knock, just bursting through the door, worry evident on my face.

"What happened? Is something wrong?", and with my outburst rushing into his office, my dad just laughs. I stand there confused, not knowing what to do.

"Abigail, meet your new bodyguard, Arkyn"

Abby

I was shocked to see the guy standing in my dad's office. He is a giant. I'm only 5'3 with a petite frame and I had to look up.

Best guess would be around 6'6,but with the muscles he just looked like a guy who could crush a guy's head with his bare hands, and 2 swords stood out strapped behind his back.

He looks brooding and masculine with a symmetrical and strong jawline, protruding chin and hollow caved in cheekbones. His eyes are a piercing baby blue with a devilish glint that is looking at me with that charming bad boy style smile.

But his hair caught my attention, even though he looks young, Long pure white hair that looks like it had been touched by snow, with a streak of dark ocean blue that goes straight into his ponytail. He looks anything but sweet and charming.

"Hello, welcome at Frost Pack, I'm Abigail Hawthorne, future Luna".

It came out of my mouth so fast, I'm not even sure he heard it.

"Arkyn", came out in a deep and husky voice. I need to compose myself, no snarky comments about him being my babysitter, with my dad being present in the room and all.

"So Arkyn, I hear you are my protector, bodyguard, whatever you want to call it, What is your experience?" I asked him while motioning him to take a seat across the desk, he kept standing though.

"Luna, I have studied and mentored self-defense training, weapons training, tracking skills, sword combat, close combat, law enforcement and surveillance and hacking", he told us looking between me and my father the whole time.

My jaw dropped, same training as me. I wondered if he is a bounty hunter as well.

"I must say I'm impressed Arkyn. You look like the type of guy that I would want by my side when things get nasty with the business. When I'm here things are calm mostly but when you travel with me to work, things will get bad. I'm saying when and not if because in my line of work things can go from bad to utterly shit in just a second, but more on that later.

Lets see how you do the week until the ceremony. and your first task with me for the day is....", I looked into my planner on my future desk. "dress shopping".

The next moment I burst into a laugh and tripped face first into the floor because I was laughing so badly, even my dad couldn't help himself. All I heard was a "good luck, you are going to need it." The expression of horror was evident on his face, he clearly didn't like going with a bunch of women to look for dresses, if he has ever gone out with a woman.

Kat

We were driving to Dundrum Town Centre with Abby in the passenger seat and her new bodyguard driving. I was sitting behind Abby and our Gamma, Emily behind him in the first back seat with Abby's mom and my mom in the second back seat. We decided to take the Tahoe since we are six going shopping today and we didn't want to be squeezed into a car. The guy hasn't been very talkative. We have all bombarded him with questions, but he was either silent, gave a scoff or answered with yes and no.

"Do you have a mate?" Abby asked first. "No".

"What pack did you come from? " was Emily's question. Complete silence, and then a Mmmmm.

"Can you explain your white hair? is it natural?" I fired off two questions to see if he would answer both just to get the guy talking. I waited two seconds and then came the answer I was not hoping for. "No". We'll I guess that answers both my questions. I decided to give up on my idea for the guy to talk and focused on Abby instead.

"Any idea on what kind of dress you want, Abs?" I asked, and suddenly all focus was on her, the conversation between the two moms was turned into silence. " Well, I don't know exactly. I know our tradition is using the pack colours, and although I love black and silver, I feel I want to go non-traditional, like maybe a deep purple, no offence mom. I know you would have liked me to wear your Luna dress, but its just so.... outdated". We all snickered and my aunt put her hand over her heart and pretended to be hurt by Abby's statement, but we all know she isn't. Giving over the title in less then a week, the Luna of Frost Pack was always elegant and classy, always in a dress or a skirt and silk blouse with 4 inch heels before we even woke up in the mornings. You wouldn't see that woman in pants or jeans while we were kids, but you can see she will be going into retirement soon. She has lately been wearing comfy mom jeans and even sporting leggings around the house with a comfy sweather. She has even joked with us about not telling her about leggings sooner. She is really a kind and sweet woman. Her and my mom, the Beta female always made sure the kids were fed and the house was spottless with all the pack duties done before they went to sleep. We all thought they had superpowers or something. Turns out to be just hard work and training for the future position. Our dads were the same, Abby and I. They didn't want to give us the titles of ranked members until we found our mates, but since that seems to be taking a while and with the years that are passing by and them not getting any younger, they decided to give us the titles anyway. Even though Abby's dad is over protective, mine wasn't.

He has been secretly training us to become bounty hunters in the supernatural world and teaching us of things that we were one day be taking over from them.

Alpha Aiden did let us train with the warriors, but he didn't know about the secret classes we were taking to become bounty hunters with my dad and he was so busy with Alpha business, he barely noticed. Our moms knew though and they were okay with it since they knew what our future held.

While lost in thought, I didn't realise Abby was talking to me, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"Hey, earth to Kat, are you even listening?" I snapped out of my trance and looked at Abby. "Sorry, I was lost in thought. What did you say?" I asked her. "Have you thought about your dress? Emily already answered me because you were so lost in thought thinking about who you were going to have sex with tonight" She looked at me with an arched eyebrow, a glint of naughtiness in her eyes. "Oh fuck off you" I answered, making everyone laugh, including Arkyn.

We stopped at Dundrum Town Center after an hour's drive. "Alright, are we going to split up into teams of 2 and meet for lunch or go as a group?" Abby asked us.

We all agreed to split into teams so that we can get through the shopping faster. Abby went with her bodyguard, Emily went with Abby's mom and I went with my mom in 3 different directions. that way eveyone had a warrior protecting them.

From the age of 16, the future female ranked members started training to become bounty bounters. While me and my mom walked to Zara, we started talking about daily life and the upcoming week. My mom decided to go look at dresses while I went to the shoe section.

A pair of silver high heels caught my attention. It had 2 straps where my ankle would be and the whole shoe was embellished with crystals. It looked absolutely stunning and would go with any dress.

I called the assistant to help me find a pair in my size and she went to go check at their stock. While I was waiting my mom called me over to where she was standing

"Kat, come here. I think I found the perfect dress for you for the ceremony", she told me.

When I looked at the dress, I gasped. I gave her a quick smile and adverted my attention to the dress I'm now holding in my hands. "Thank you so much mom. I love that you know my style and my size!" I skipped happily to the dressing room to see it on me. It absolutely took my breath away. The black bodice was an off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline with a corset back that accentuated my curves. It flowed directly into a A line style skirt that was like a flowy black waterfall. I came out and showed off my Beta dress with a huge smile.

"You know, I'm glad I know your style and size. It makes everything less complicated when I want to buy you something, unlike that dramatic fourteen year old brother of yours" she told me with a small giggle. She was right though.

Tyler keeps changing his clothes style to wear with whatever fit in at the school with his mates. I linked the rest of the group to ask if they were still busy shopping and all but Abby was done.

My mom quickly found a dress and shoes as well. We went to the front to pay for our clothes, and I started talking with the bright and bubbly young cashier, not human because her scent is different, but I like her and found her energetic bubble to be contagious. I kept staring at her bright purple hair when I found my wolfy senses were tingling.

Something suddenly felt off, and I tried to figure out what it could be.

Looking around the store, nothing seemed weird or out of place. I got the feeling we were being watched, putting me on a sudden high alert. Keeping my mom who was looking at jewellery in my sight, I linked my girls.

Hey, anyone else's wolfy senses tingle like crazy? I asked keeping the link open between the three of us.

Same. Feels like an ice cold hand is running down my back. Emily answered back first.

Me third. I think we are being watched. I think we should circle back to the car. Walk a different path back and we will all meet there. Keep your eyes open, we don't have our weapons right now and we are in public which means no shifting. I'll tell Arkyn to be on high alert as well, Abby's voice came through my head.

I grabbed our shopping bags and my mom, explaining to her that we were being followed, so she needs to stay close to me. I could smell her fear, and honestly even I was scared as well, considering what my job is. Who would have us followed in daylight? Hundred possibilities were running through my head, but I pushed them aside for now focusing on our safety first and worry later.

A few minutes later I saw someone round the corner and my senses went into overdrive. We were almost at the car where everyone was already waiting, only to glimpse back and see he was running towards us with something shiny in his hand.

"Abby!!!!" I shouted as loud as I can. On instinct, I push my mom into her arms, just in time to block his attack with a chinese dagger, I feel the crushing burning sensation against my arm.

My training kicks in and I throw a left hook right into his liver, drawing the breath out his lungs and making him stagger back.

I suddenly feel weak and unable to stand. Just before the darkness surrounds me, I feel Abby's arms catching me as I fall, and Arkyn looking pissed, holding the man up by his throat.

Chapter 3

Abby

We headed off into different directions, with Arkyn following close by my side. He is more tense than usual, probably about spending the whole day with five women shopping for formal dresses.

Yeah I guess that would make a guy more tense. Even more than that, everyone was staring at us. I guess it is strange seeing a big protective scary guy who is walking with a petite girl. We definitely have a huge height difference and his hair is not helping the situation any better.

I walked to my first store and I am definitely not seeing anything I like. To shop for a dress is extremely hard for me, since I would rather be in pants and my boots.

I'm a fighter and wearing a dress feels stupid, but it is my Luna Ceremony and it is this very big celebration for the whole pack. My mom argued that the dress will only be for one night. I will only be wearing it until my big shift in front of the whole pack. I have shifted a few times but not infront of the whole pack and the change will happen as soon as the Luna power is transferred to me. All of the ranked members get the power transfered from their parents on the night of the Alpha ceremony, but since its only me, Kat and Emily, the ceremony will be a little bit different. The silence from Arkyn was suffocating me as he followed me, watching everyone and everything around me, and I knew I had to do something to make him talk.

"So are you usually this quiet or is there just some things you don't want to talk about?" I looked over my shoulder and asked him

"I don't like people in general".

"Okay, fair answer, but why did you join a pack then? There are lone wolves in the world"

"For safety" the short answer came. Not like I was expecting much anyway.

I turn my back on him and continue looking through dresses. An hour and my third store later, no dress was getting my attention. I did buy a few pairs of yoga pants, socks and sneakers for training since I was burning through those quicker than I thought. A piece of paper caught my attention at my fourth store. It was hidden where I was looking through a few tank tops for sparring. A little piece of square black paper, the writing in a deep red colour: Well, if it isn't the future Luna. I hope you will like it when I keep you as my pet.

I dropped the note,gasping for breath. Human blood was the scent coming from it. Arkyn was by my side in seconds, picking up the note from where it layed on the floor,.

Bringing my hands to my neck, I compose myself to stay focused on my surroundings the store empty except for us but I could feel I'm being watched.

The feeling of an ice cold bucket of water being thrown over my body and being lit on fire was covering my body simultaneously. Kat linked me to tell me they are feeling like they are being watched as well.

I can't even go to the fucking mall in peace. Telling them to stay calm and to circle back to the car using a different route from where we entered, I let Arkyn drag me out of the store

"That note was poisoned, either using a powder or a small amount of liquid. I smelled it the moment you touched it. Lets go wash your hands quickly" He said, taking me to the family bathroom. "Open your hands". I opened them and he produced two vials with dark blue liquid. he poured the first one all over my hands. Grabbing the second one, he poured it all over his hands rubbing it on my face and neck. I stated feeling better immediately. When I finally had my composure back, I turn to look at him.

"What did you do? What was that? I asked.

"Antidote to wolfsbane, whoever it was wanted you incapacitated. Hurry. We have to get back to the car."

He grabbed my hand and we ran like bats out of hell. I saw Emily and my mom first. Letting go of his hand, I crushed them both in a bear hug, glad they are both okay. We haven't seen Kat and her mom yet, so I was hoping they are safe.

I tried to mind link her but I was met with a block, hoping she just put a block up to keep her from distractions. A few minutes went by and we were all anxiously standing by the car, hoping to see any sign of them.

My relieve came crashing down on me when I saw them coming from the doors. They were just a few feet away when I saw someone running straight towards them with a dagger.

My first instinct was to get my gun or my sai, but then I remembered they were at home. Fuck. "Abby!!!!" Kat called out to me, pushing her mom straight into my arms, taking the force of the dagger to her right arm by blocking his attack. Grabbing her mom, I took her to the car for safety. We had no idea how many was attacking us and why. They were not human, but not wolf or vampire or rogues for that matter by the smell of them.

"Listen Em. Lock the doors. If this gets any worse, drive the car as fast as you can to the pack and get our moms to safety. I will link you if you need to go".

Looking at Kat, I realized she is starting to sway and stumble slighty. She has lost a lot of blood already with the dagger hitting a main artery. I run toward my best friend, catching her as she falls into my arms, closing her eyes. I look at the wound, and there is a dark purple colour surrounding it. Wolfsbane. Arkyn drops the guy to the floor, his body going completely limp

"Listen, we need to get her to the pack hospital, let me hold her and you can drive. Just help me get her into the car first" I tell him, trying to keep myself calm and collected for the sake of Kat. I can't freak out, especially not now

He gently lifts her up while offering me a hand to get to my feet.

"Thank you Arkyn. We will talk at home".

I open my door and climb inside, getting myself comfortable to hold Kat. He slides her into my arms and closes my door. I got a blanket by my mom that we leave in the back of the cars in case of emergencies and pull the blanket over her covering her whole body.

It's still a while till we make it back home, so I keep cradling my best friend like a baby, hoping my body heat will help keep her warm. I can feel she is running a fever, but her body is cool against my touch. Being a werewolf makes that impossible most of the time.

The car comes to a halt in the road, in the forest, not far from our pack borders. "Why are we stopping? We should get to the pack" I asked Arkyn, trying not to lose my sanity while my best friend is hanging on to her life in my arms.

"Vampires. Stay in the car" he told us.

"Where? I don't smell them"

'"Do you trust me?" He looks at me, pleading with those piercing blue eyes to give him a chance and I felt that I could trust him.

"Yes".

"Thank you. Now if I tell you to go, go. don't stop till you have reached the pack"

"What about you? I can't leave you here"

"I'll be fine. I will be at the packhouse when I'm done. I'll come back to you, I promise. Just get to safety. Promise me you will get to safety, Abigail, please"

Nodding my head, "I promise"

Nodding at me, he rolls up his long sleeves and taps on a tattoo on his wrist. I jump back in shock by the sudden change in his face. His skin turned a milky white, and his eyes were a pool of obsidian black. The change amazed me at the same time. I can't help but to stare. He climbs out of the car, standing directly in front of it. I immediately lock the whole car, clutching Kat's body tighter towards me. I can still hear her breathing, even thought its labored. Emily climbs over from the backseat, starting the car and getting ready for in case we have to get out of here. The first vampire came out, and he went straight for Arkyn. He was prepared, but what happened next shocked even me, and I can't get shocked easily. The vampire ran straight into his hand and

Arkyn pushed his whole arm straight into his body, splattering dark red blood all over him. He pulls back, taking this guy's whole spine with him.

His body drops to the ground. Everyone gasps at the sight in front of us, it taking a few seconds to understand what just unfolded in front of our eyes.

Arkyn is getting ready to attack again when he is surrounded by nine vampires. From behind him, a vampire appears, and I gasp, remembering who he is.

Alaric Volkov, a three thousand year old vampire that operates a huge network of selling organs in the black market and trafficking of humans to sell to his friends as livestock for feeding. I have been tracking this bastard for weeks and I could just never catch him. I have killed many of his useless friends and saved many girls from the clutches of these monsters, stopping a little group of his experiment a few days ago.

"Don't even think about trying anything, pup" He spits as Arkyn. I'm silently praying to the Moon Goddess that he gets out of this alive. I want to help him, but I have to protect my Beta first. "I see you have the young Luna with you. Now we have been looking for her for quite some time. You see, she and her little friends created some problems for me killing a few of my.... workers the other night, especially that Doppler."

Doppler? The guy I was chasing last night worked for him, His last words sends a shiver down my spine. Alaric wants me, causing me a hitch to my breath.

"No. I will not just hand her over to the likes of your kind .You would have to kill me first before you get to her, end even then good luck with that. She can hold her own." Arkyn answered him, producing a low and dangerous chuckle that followed with a growl.

"Awww, does the little pup want to protect his Luna now? Does she even know? No? Oh well then, Better for her as well. I'll make sure my people won't make her suffer to much. After all she is so special, right Arkyn?" He said with a grin on his face and looked directly at me, causing a shiver down my spine. Stay calm, wait for Arkyn's signal and get to the packhouse. I linked my warriors at the packhouse to make sure they are ready for any trouble headed their way

Arkyn looked beyond pissed, drawing his weapons out of nowhere.

"Like I said, pompous dick," He glared at him "over my dead body!!!"

It came out in a loud and thunderous growl I have never heard in my life. The sound echoed off the forest surrounding us.

Arkyn looked at me and Em.

He mouthed a silent "Go".