Under The FullMoon

"Zoe! Is everything alright?" Katherine called upon her wolf as a sudden wave of heat blew her on entering the full moon party.

She wasn't the best dressed and she'd probably consider herself the worst dressed in a V-neck cotton T-shirt and denim jeans which she had actually worn for two days straight. Her long copper shimmer hair which was packed into a neat ponytail has now turned into a messy one and her tired True Sapphire eyes read stress.

Unlike most people who were at the party, she wasn't here to find a mate. She came for work!

"Uhmm...I don't know, I think..." She was still stuttering when Kat interrupted angrily.

"You know that's the dumbest thing I have heard you say. If you don't know then who will? Are you that..."

"You're not letting me think! You're scolding me!" Zoe yelled back, interrupting her.

She heaved a sigh of relief as she fixed her hand into the tiny back pocket of her denim jeans, trying to calm herself down.

"Okay, I'm sorry Zoe. Just tell me why I'm feeling so restless."

"I told you I don't know. And you're not the only one feeling restless. I am too."

"You acted like you know something just to get an apology? You're so ridiculous!"

The banter between Zoe and Kat got rid of her restlessness for a while until she heard a loud cheer among the crowd.

"I think the Lycan is here, but why are you so restless?" Jason asked curiously.

Jason on the other hand wasn't looking as haggard as Katherine was. His Chinos trouser and casual round neck T-shirt was clean, his brown short hair was tidy and he didn't look tired or stressed out at all.

Rather his Jade green eyes moved restlessly across the hall as he was quite nervous over the trouble they were going to cause.

"Is it written all over me?" She asked curiously, wondering how he knew how she was feeling.

"You're rubbing your necklace so rigorously, isn't it more than enough sign?" He asked.

Katherine always rubbed her half-heart-shaped locket pendant necklace whenever she was scared, nervous, or restless just like now.

Jason is Katherine's only friend and direct assistant. He is just like Kat's mom and elder brother. These three people know her far too well and she can never lie or pretend before them.

"Whatever! At least we can finally make our arrest." She sighed.

Katherine and Jason had invaded the full moon party just to arrest the Lycan King.

That's some guts.

"You know..." She was still talking when she noticed the spotlight fall on a tall, cool ivory-skinned, handsome hunk with a medium crushed garnet hair packed in a neat high bun who was coming towards them.

He wasn't dressed like royalty at all as he wore denim jeans and a black T-shirt which seemed to be missing a few buttons at the top.

Zoe became restless again and so did Kat. Her heart started racing even more abnormally than the first time.

A strong, warm, masculine, and confident cologne scent hit her nose and she was reminded of Penhaligon's Castile cologne. The scent consisted of neroli, petitgrain, bergamot, orange blossom, rose, precious woods, and musk.

It wears so agreeably on her that it reminded her of warm Southeastern nights at this stage. The dry-down was warm, musky, and woodsy.

Before she could stop her daydreaming about this pleasant scent, her right palm was already grazing the handsome hunk's left cheek gently.

"We found him!" Zoe exclaimed excitedly.

"Who?" Kat asked curiously.

"Mate! He's our mate. The Lycan King is our mate." She exclaimed and Kat quickly withdrew her palm from his cheek.

A loud cheer exuded the whole room as Kat and the Lycan King both exclaimed "Mate!" Simultaneously and unintentionally. That was definitely their wolves taking over. Kat would never say that to him and she would never agree to it.

"The Lycan King just found his mate!" The MC of the event announced and jubilation continued.

Light moans and lip-smacking were heard all around the room as others found their mate and they were already bounding while some were still looking around in search of their mates. Rejection was not allowed in the pack so there's definitely no one being rejected tonight.

"The moon goddess is surely wonderful! I never thought I would be meeting you again so soon. Do you miss me that much to come over here?" He asked, smiling sheepishly at her.

A second look at him and she realized who it was.

"I must confess, last night was awesome." He whispered in her ear sending a chill down her spine. His hands caressed her cheeks and the heat in her body was suddenly replaced with cold. She shivered a bit and goosebumps were all over her body with her body hairs standing erect.

"You don't look so happy to see me, by chance, is it because of the hotel bill?" He asked again, provoking her this time around, her gaze not leaving his all the while.

'I thought no werewolf should be so unlucky to be mated to a monster but I became the unlucky one. No wonder I was attracted to him last night. I knew something was strange to just allow a stranger to have sex with me but we were both too drunk to figure it out last night. What have I done to deserve this bastard?' She mumbled to herself.

Being mateless would have been a hundred percent better than being mated to him.

After what happened to her as a teenager, she believed she'd never be mated to anyone until today.

What about Gavin? Kat always thought the love she shared with Gavin was so unique that they could be together forever without having to be mates.

The moon goddess was very cruel to her.

But this doesn't change anything. It doesn't change the fact that he is a serial killer nor does it change the fact that she had come here to arrest him.

"Recite the Miranda." She instructed Jason who had been staring at them in horror.

She couldn't stop staring into the King's bright red eyes because it was beyond her control.

It has always been rumored that the Lycan King had bright red eyes both in his human and animal form but most times he wore ocean blue contact lenses so as not to scare people away but for the first time, she is noticing it today because the King didn't use any contact lens at the full moon party.

It was as if her eyes were glued to his but she still has her mouth under her control so even if her eyes and facial expressions don't correspond with what her mouth says, she wouldn't give a fuck.

"Jason! Recite the Miranda!" She scolded, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

The Lycan's dominating aura took a strong hold on Jason and everyone else in the room but her scolding was stronger, though not so effective.

She had to scold Jason again before he finally brought out the handcuff from the back pocket of his jeans and opened his lips to speak.

"You are...un-under...arrest for a serial murder case. Y-You have the right to remain silent, Anything you say can and will be used...against you in a...court of law, You have...the right to an attorney. If you cannot...afford an attorney...one will be appointed for you." He managed to say in between stutters while Kat collected the handcuff from him, reached out for the King's hands, and cuffed them with it before finally being able to take her eyes off him.

"Hey boy, can you afford my attorney?" He joked, patting Jason lightly on the shoulder and making him quiver.

Just as they turned to leave, palace guards surrounded them, and guns were pointed at their heads.

Single shots of the silver-coated bullets and they will both be dead but as a cop, she knew her rights and she's not about to be intimidated by those guns.

Jason was still trembling for going against the Lycan king and Kat had to get him out of the mess since she dragged him into this in the first place.

"If you don't order them to excuse us, you will also be charged with resisting arrest!" She notified even though deep down, she was scared of this handsome-looking monster.

Kat's statement caused the King to chuckle hard and this provoked her even more, forcing her to raise her hands in a bid to slap him but a young, beautiful, and royal-looking lady held her hand.

"How dare you try to hit the Lycan King?" She asked, her amethyst eyes burning with fury.

Her grip on Kat's hand became tighter by the passing seconds, causing her some slight pain which was soon evident in her eyes.

"Let go of her, Riley!" The King scolded and after much hesitation, she did as ordered, swinging Kat's hand away.

One look from him and the guards quickly let down their guns and paved the way for them to pass.

"Guess we'd be together tonight as well. Lead the way, mate!" He exclaimed while Kat just stomped off, the veins in her neck bulging out.

A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE ARREST

BLUE MOON PACK STATION

Katherina arrived at the pack's station right after she had received a call from Jason about a recent murder case and as she arrived, she met Jason and a few other teammates roaming about the office while working in haste.

She hurried to where Jason was and asked about the call they made earlier.

"Where's the corpse?" She asked as she got closer to Jason who was busy talking to another detective.

"You're here! It's in the Pack's Morgue but our men are still at the site of the murder. Wanna check it out?" He asked, gesturing the detective to excuse him.

"Yes. Let's go to the morgue first then we'll check the murder site afterward." She suggested and Jason gave the file he was working on to the detective he was talking to.

They hopped into her Red Sedan and together they drove towards the morgue.

"Don't you think this is odd? I mean it's been 10 good years since this kind of murder occurred and even if it's the same person, then the exact day of the murder should have been later tonight since it will be the full moon, do you think it is a copycat?" Katherine asked curiously.

"Well, you have a point, I've also been thinking about that, but you will have to investigate the scene and also check the corpse to be sure of an answer because I definitely can't do that." He replied, his voice portraying the disgust he felt just thinking about the corpse.

"God! When will you become a real detective?" She wondered but Jason didn't seem like he will be ready anytime soon.

"By the way, Kat, you were very late to work today, Is Gavin here?" He asked, staring awkwardly at her.

Katherine sighed heavily, "He is a pack ruler, Jason! You don't expect him to be coming all the way here every single day. And by the way, I don't come late to work even when he is here." She replied. "It's not like I'm a habitual latecomer." She mumbled, rolling her eyes at him.

"Those that mean you cheated?" He asked, staring at her in awe.

"W-what? What has come over?" She lashed out, getting angry, and only ended up getting herself caught since she is such a bad liar.

"That means I'm right. God! Ladies are no different. Long-distance relationships are always not so trustworthy. I thought you'd be different. No wonder you're still wearing the same clothes and mother didn't also know your way about when I called her." He complained, annoying her.

"Look Jason, it was just a one-night stand, nothing more." She explained.

"Oh, Really?" He asked again and Kat nodded in affirmation. "Well...I don't believe you!" He exclaimed.

"I mean you of all people wouldn't just agree to a one night with a stranger if you have not been seeing him before then." He added.

"God! Jason, I was drunk. By the way, that hunk was just a gigolo. I even paid for the room. Look!" She explained showing him the receipt she had received from the receptionist and the hotel where she spent the night.

Katherine couldn't help but think about last night. If she was being honest, it was the best night in her sexual life and even though she ended up paying the bill for the hotel room, she'd agree that it was nothing compared to the pleasure she received from him.

"Oh, a hunk! He must have really attracted you so much. And I can see he satisfied you far too well." Jason joked and just then, Kat's phone which she had fixed on a windshield mount started ringing and it was Gavin on a video call.

She heaved a sigh of distress as she thought of what lie to tell him for not answering his calls throughout last night.

Just as she stretched her arm to answer the call, Jason held it firmly, preventing her from reaching her phone. "What now?" She wondered.

"I care so much about you." He mumbled as he opened the glove compartment in front of him and brought out a scarf.

He wrapped it around her neck while gesturing her to concentrate on her driving.

"This is summer, Jason. Why should I wear a scarf in this heat period?" She asked curiously, thinking it was one of his funny moments again until he pointed out a small pinkish bruise on my arm, then she realized he really cares about her.

"Tsk...that hunk might be just a gigolo but he really did a good one on you. From the love bites on your body, I can tell he passionately made love to you and not just some sex as you say it is." He said, sounding serious this time.

"Others might not notice it clearly but Gavin will and then you both might start having problems which I wouldn't want." He added, smiling brightly at her.

She sighed distressfully before finally answering the call.

"Hey, Gavin!" She waved at him.

"Hey, you're driving?" Gavin asked as he noticed Katherine's attention was not with him.

"Yes, I'm in the middle of an important investigation." She replied, trying her possible best to put on a perfect fake smile.

"You didn't answer any of my calls last night and neither did you return them so I thought I should call you again today." He complained and the reaction on Kat's face changed making her also forget whatever lie she had thought of.

"Hey, Gavin! There was a murder case last night and her phone was with me all through. I was just about to tell her you called." Jason lied effortlessly.

"Oh, no problem. Just take care and call me once you're less busy." He concluded and ended the call.

They were already in front of the Pack's morgue before the call with Gavin ended.

They stepped out of the car and for a while Kat stared at Jason in awe.

"Thank you so much, Jason." She thanked him while Jason just blushed away.

"I think you really deserve an award." She added.

"For the best friend ever?" He asked.

"No. For the best liar ever." She joked and they both chuckled as they went into the morgue.

Katherine asked the morgue Dieners where the corpse was and one of them showed them to where the victim's body which was a young lady was kept.

Her arm was chopped off, her tongue ripped out and her private part bruised as she laid lifelessly on the surgical table, her body dissected during the examination.

"Who is the pathologist in charge?" Kat asked the Diener who had shown them the corpse.

"Dr. Mia Campbell. I will show you to her office." He said and together they walked through the office area until they got to Mrs. Campbell's office.

The Diener left them alone with the pathologist while she offered them a seat in her office.

"Are you here for Court Lady Ella James?" Dr. Campbell asked as she brewed some coffee for them.

"Yes. We are the detectives in charge. Brief us on the result of her autopsy." Jason replied to Kat's unpleasant surprise.

"What? She's a court lady?" Kat asked, both curiously and furiously.

"Yes! Let's hear the results first before you flare." Jason whispered and she couldn't help but agree with him.

Dr. Campbell offered them coffee before she turned her laptop towards them, showing them every detail of the result that she is about to explain.

"From the test conducted, It was deduced that her arms were chopped off first, then her tongue was also chopped off. While watching her inability to wail out in pain because of her chopped tongue, the murderer raped and afterward, choked her to death." She explained her every word giving Kat the creeps.

'How can someone be so heartless and inhumane?' She thought to herself then she noticed some white substance on the image of the corpse's throat through the pictures displayed and she decided to ask Dr. Campbell about it.

"What are those white substances on her through?" Kat asked curiously.

"Those are sperm. Literally, she was choked to death with a dick." She announced and Jason almost threw up at the thought of that dirty and inhumane treatment while Katherine just gasped and inhaled sharply.

"She's also from the Royal Packhouse. There is nothing that will stop me from arresting the Lycan King today!" Kat mumbled to herself, fuming with rage.

Jason was still feeling nauseous when Katherine stood up and left the office after thanking the pathologist but he rushed over to her just before she entered the car.

"I know you're angry...but we still need to go...to the Murder Scene," Jason said, pausing from time to time to puke.

"You have a point but, you gotta stop this rubbish or you get the fuck out of my sight." She lashed at him before he was finally able to control himself a bit.

"I wonder how you became my assistant." She mumbled as she drove off to the crime scene.

It took them over an hour to get to the scene and just as Jason had rightfully said, some of their men were still surveying the place.

Katherine expected the crime scene to be probably an abandoned house or room since a rape case was included but to her surprise, it was on a lonely, bushy pathway.

"You mean she was raped here?" She wondered as she went through the pictures of the scene that were taken before her body was moved away from there and Jason nodded in response.

Her stomach grumbled reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything all day so she sent Jason who was still puking to get her anything edible around the area.

"What are these marks?" She asked the detective who had given her the pictures.

"It is assumed to be the weapon marks. It was probably made when the murderer was trying to cut off her arm." He explained.

This same bastard committed a mass murder 10 years ago and afterward went on hiatus only to return 10 years later with still being caught.

"I found something," Jason yelled from a near distance and Katherine hurried over to meet him with two other detectives.

"What is it you found?" She asked curiously and he pointed out an unclear leather material on the ground.

She ordered the detectives to dig it out and once they did, they dug out a quality leather wallet and she wore her gloves before collecting it from them for inspection.

The heavy rain (summer monsoon) that fell last night must have forced it to the ground and would have probably washed away any possible fingerprints but since it was a leather wallet, the contents will still be intact.

She emptied its contents on the ground while the others checked to see what was inside.

"Some cash, a small empty notepad, and a freaking black credit card!" Jason announced, holding the credit card on his left and small nylon on his right which Katherine presumed was her food.

"A black credit card?" She asked collecting the card from him.

Black credit cards are personalized credit cards for the Pack's royal family. Anyone with that card is definitely from the Royal family and just as Katherine had thought, the evidence is pointing to the Palace again just like 10 years ago.

"I know what you're thinking, Katherine, but we can't just accuse the King like that. This could be owned by other members and remember, the victim was a court lady from the palace which means this can easily be in her possession." Jason explained, trying to calm her nerves and probably prevent her from doing something she'd regret.

Just as she was about to throw the wallet away, something caught her attention. An initial engraved on the wallet.

"I told you it was him all this while, now I have caught him red-handed." She exclaimed while Jason stared at her in awe and confusion.

"What have you found this time?" He asked curiously and she could see curiosity in the other detective's eyes too.

She pointed at the initials engraved on the wallet. "Take a look at this. This is a personalized wallet for the King. It is boldly written there. L-KING-H-W meaning Lycan King Harris Wolf. This initial is also engraved on his car and other belongings." She explained, not sure whether to be happy or sad.

Of course, she was very happy to have finally gotten a piece of tangible evidence against him but then, the murders he had committed were numerous and too heinous that even death is too easy of a punishment to give him.

This murder started 10 years when she was still a teenager and not even in the police force and about five people have been murdered but only two were male of which one was her father, yet the murder wasn't caught and then he resurfaced again

Just think about how horrifying her Dad's corpse looked that day with his hands and eyeballs ripped off, all that has been on her mind is to put a fucking end to this inhumane and gruesome murderer.

"I could only get some snacks, Kat," Jason said handing out the nylon bag to her but she refused to collect it because the anger filled her stomach briefly.

"Eat it." She yelled before hurrying over to her car. Jason also hurried after her and prevented her from entering the car by rushing to stand in front of the driver's seat door.

"What the hell are you thinking, Kat?" He asked, knowing fully well what was going on in her mind.

"I know you're scared of the superior so I won't force you to come with me. Just don't try to stop me because you can't." She confirmed and he realized immediately that there was no stopping her now.

It was already 5 pm and it would take a three hours journey to get to the palace.

"Today is a full moon party, Kat! Which means the Lycan King would be very busy and the palace would be filled with so many people from other packs as well. Arresting the Lycan would not only be an embarrassment but will ruin the lives of those young people who had only come in search of their mates. And you know the King would also be searching for his mate. We have no superior backing on this issue and there's also no warrant for his arrest. So I'm suggesting we go some other time after showing this evidence to the captain at least!" He explained.

Katherine chuckled devilishly, "You have a point, Jason. I personally think no werewolf on Earth, no matter how inferior they are, should be mated to that blood-sucking monster. And about the party, we won't ruin any lives! The party can go on without him. It's not like he is the one that will find their mates for them and it's not as if they will reject their mates because of the King. And as for the superiors..." She stopped abruptly as she began to feel dizzy.

Not eating anything all day after losing so much energy last night was gutsy of her.

"Look, you're not even doing well yourself," Jason said, removing the snack from a plastic nylon and handing it to me.

"A Burger?" She asked in disgust as Burger was never her thing.

"I'm sorry. That was all I could find. I got you some fruit juice too." He apologized as he also opened the cap of the bottled juice and held it out to her.

Even though she didn't like the burger, she was not in a position to reject it, and in a matter of minutes, she was done munching two pieces of burger and a bottle of fruit juice.

She pushed Jason aside, entered the car, and reeled its engines.

"Let me drive!" Jason sighed, knowing she won't give up on her plans.

"I'm not forcing you, Jason. And I promise I won't be mad at you if you don't come with me." She comforted, staring at his sad face.

"Don't you think he will run away at this rate? We're wasting too much time." He joked, putting a smile on her face.

She moved to the next seat, allowing Jason to drive them down to The Royal Pack House.