Page 72 of The Red Moon

“Make me understand. Worse how?”

“Werewolves are only monsters when the moon is full,” I say through gritted teeth and draw in a breath. “Don’t you get that? The rest of the time they are human. If I’m right, those things out don’t stop being monsters.”

He says nothing and waits for me to continue.

“Soulless, some call them. There are myths of entire villages disappearing overnight, but there was never proof those things existed. Clément insisted on uniting to fight a common enemy when he brought his claims to a meeting of the packs. Vlad Vostik dismissed their existence, and Nikolai—desperate for father’s approval—did the same. That didn’t stop him from telling me about it, though. We thought it was a joke. Why would we believe the alpha that something out there was stronger than werewolves and even harder to kill? No one believed him.”

“Stronger than werewolves?” he scoffs with laughter. “You’re joking, right?”

I shake my head. “We laughed the same way you are now. You asked me if I know what they are. Yes, I think I do. Yes, the wolves are in danger. And yes, you should be fucking terrified.”

I close my eyes and pray to god I’m wrong. That the things I saw tearing through Clément’s pack were nothing more than wolves waiting to transform. But I know deep down the rumors are true, and somehow, there’s a small army of them inside that fucking fence line.

“Others know them by a different name,” I say when his face draws serious. “Vampires.”

FORTY-SIX

NIK

“Breathe, Natalia,” I say, my palms to both sides of her contorting face, every muscle wrought with agony. I don’t know if she can even hear me anymore, but I’m not letting her go through this alone. “Stay. With. Me.”

She responds with a shriek so violent it distorts and cracks. The skin on her arms and neck falls away, leaving thick, blood matted fur in its place. Not one color. Multiple. Her back arches and twists, leaving her protruding spine on proud display.

Gods. I’d give anything to take this pain away from her. For the transformation to finish and the wolf to take hold, only if it means she won’t have to endure this pain any longer.

“It’s almost over,” I say, knowing that couldn’t be further from the truth. Not when her eyes won’t stop flickering, and the bones in her legs haven’t started cracking out of place yet. These are the early stages, and every strangled cry that leaves her mouth takes a piece of my heart with it.

She’s not the only one turning either.

Behind us, what’s left of the Duval pack shifts to their true forms, howling at the blood moon in different octaves. Some of them don’t even get the chance, though. Not with the soulless making short work of the wolves mid-transformation. My father knowingly kept their kind from all of the packs and even tried to silence the one alpha who had seen them with his own eyes. Clément. He tried to warn us about them. Told us how the survival of our species was at risk for years. And now, his ranks are being slaughtered by the very thing my father insisted was nothing more than a myth.

He lied. He lied to us all. I should’ve known better than to trust my father, especially if it meant his leadership over the packs would be called into question. If any of the other dens knew he was working with these abominations, I somehow doubt Clément would’ve been the only alpha to turn his back on our house. There’s one question gnawing away at me, though. How long? How long has he been working with them?

Another wave of torture brings Natalia to her knees, and I drop to the dirt with her, brushing the disheveled hair from her face. Eyes welling, she looks at me with both fear and exhaustion taking over her features. She’s fighting the transformation as any new wolf would. Refusing to let the animal break free from the mental blocks she’s put in place. I did the same my first time, and the only thing I managed to do was prolong the pain. Even now, I’m struggling to stay in my current form. Cracks split up both of my arms, only to heal and reappear within seconds. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold off, but I’ll do it, and I’ll do it for her.

More savage cries erupt from beyond the tree line, the distinct sound of a once rapid heartbeat suddenly going silent. Another wolf gone. I’ve lost count of how many in this pack have fallen, but it won’t be long before Clément and Jade are all that’s left.

If we keep sitting here, no one is going to make it out alive, my wolf snarls, adding another set of fresh cracks to my hands. No amount of mental blocks will shut him out. Not tonight. Not when the blood moon has reached its peak.

“I won’t leave her,” I say and wince at the wildfire spreading throughout my body. The fractures extend across every inch of my flesh now, burning with enough heat to melt my skin clean off. I need to stay calm. I have to⁠—

You need to fight! My wolf’s voice grows louder and more menacing. She is already changing, nothing will stop that now. If your mate is going to survive her first transformation, these things need to be stopped. And if you won’t do it, he pauses and tremendous pressure balloons in my chest. I will.

No.

My body begins to twist uncontrollably, claws breaking through each cuticle. Gods. He’s taking control. Pushing past my mental barriers to force us to shift. “Stop. Not yet!”

You leave me no choice, young Vostik. I will do what I must.

Another wolf falls with a single, ear-piercing yelp.

“I need more time. I won’t let her⁠—”

The bones in my legs crack in what feels like three different places. My scream turns into a howl as we continue to change despite my many attempts to retain my human form. And when I stare down at the skin peeling off my forearms, a hand reaches for mine, trembling.

“Nik …” she manages weakly. Natalia’s eyes may glow in full effect now, but the voice is unmistakably hers. “Go. I’ll—” she whimpers and buries her claws into the dirt for purchase. “I’ll be fine. Save them.”

“Natalia,” I say, bringing my palm to her cheek.