𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒓 | ✓

𝑶 𝑵 𝑬

Esmeray Blackfang bit her lip and looked down at her feet, her cheeks tinged a telltale red. Listening to her brother tell her she was the only one in the pack who was able to bare cubs was just about as embarrassing as him explaining to her what puberty was. She new Connor was right though, no matter how much it made her uncomfortable. She was, in fact, the one in which the Blackfang pack had hope of maintaining the bloodline.

"So you've got to find your mate, Esme. Trust me, I hate it as much as you do but there's nothing else we can do," Connor said with a sigh. He rubbed his face for a moment and took a deep breath. "Look at me please."

Esmeray brought her gaze up to meet her brother's soft blue eyes. She always thought he was handsome, with his light skin and blond hair. In looks, she was the exact opposite with her dark brown hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. She was told she was the mirror image of her father and Connor just like their mother. She could never verify the statement thanks to the Bloodborne pack. Her blood boiled at the very thought of them. It was because of that bloodthirsty pack that her mother and father were dead and their pack numbers had dropped drastically.

Conner gently gripped her chin and lifted it, one of his thick eyebrows arched. "You understand, don't you?"

"Yes, yes I do." She nodded and looked deep into his eyes, giving a soft smile. "I'm eighteen now after all, it's about time I do something more for the pack than just train for battle."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "That's my girl. Now, has the full pack recount been finished?"

She walked around him and to the old oak desk and picked up a slip of paper. She handed it over with a slight frown. "Yup. It doesn't look good."

His blond brows slammed together and a crease formed on his forehead. He bit his lip, his canines peeking through slightly. "Fifteen. Fifteen wolves are all we got?"

"The youngest three being 18, 27, and 49," she confirmed as she laid her hand on his shoulder. She chewed the inside of her cheek and looked over his frown-wrinkled face. "Which is us and Seth."

"Damn it." Connor inhaled deeply, shaking his head slightly. His eyes scanned the paper once more before he sat it down on the desk. "We're no more than a bunch of sitting ducks."

"Primed and ready for slaughter. I wish I could do more, but I'm no true Luna," Esmeray admitted.

"And I'll never have my Luna," he said bitterly, his heart and wolf flinching as his mind went back three years ago. That beautiful rogue female who was his mate sure did fool him. They'd both known they were destined soulmates, yet she'd ran away with the last young male of the pack. He grit his teeth with a low growl as his anger rose. "I hope I never see Sloan's face again."

Esmeray gave a snort. "Even then would be too soon."

A soft knock sounded on the door and interrupted the siblings' conversation. They shared a look before Conner answered the knock. "Come in."

The heavy door slowly slide open and in walked a graying and grizzled warrior with bold yellow eyes and a grim set of his mouth. "Alpha, Esmeray. I hope I haven't interrupted?"

"You can drop the formalities, Seth, and of course you haven't," Connor assured, taking in Seth's presence and sensing his unease. He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing with a slight glint. "What's wrong?"

Seth gazed straight into Connor's eyes, showing respect for his leader. "It's Serena. Her condition has worsened and I fear we may lose her in the very near future."

"Lose her?" Esmeray gasped, her emerald eyes flickered between the two males and her lips parted in shock. The elderly wolf was the only other family member she had and grief gripped her chest at the thought of losing her. She took a breath as Connor took her hand and gripped it. "Any others showing symptoms of this illness?"

Seth nodded curtly, clasping his hands in front of himself. "Yes m'lady. At least six others are at various progressions."

"Has Willow found anything to cure, or even figured out what this disease is?" Connor asked with a drawn out sigh.

"No sir. A few herbs have been found to lessen the severity of the symptoms but nothing has been found to cure," Seth answered and rubbed the back of his neck. "And no where has such a disease been recorded in our archives."

Connor cursed under his breath and raked his fingers through his hair. He took in a breath to steady himself before jerking his chin up at Esmeray. "Come on. We'll go see her, but be careful. We don't need you catching this."

"As you wish," Esmeray relented even though it went against everything in her.

Seth led the way out of Connor's tiny office and through the spacious Blackfang house to the humid outdoors.

Esmeray took in a deep lungful of the thick muggy air and sighed. There was nothing like nature to get your blood pumping and your inner wolf excited. Her silently swept the expanse of the pack's living area. Log and brick cabins were spread out in the small meadow and the forest shielded them on all sides. Beyond the trees lay their territory, a vast amount of lame that was now virtually impossible to defend from intruders and rogue packs. Her gaze trailed to the smaller cabin that now stood before them. Willow was standing at the door and waved them in.

"Serena is expecting you," she said softly as she stepped from the doorway to let the siblings in.

Seth hung back and let them go in alone to have time with their grandmother. He shared a worried look with Willow as she shut the door behind the Blackfangs.

"Nathaniel? Is that you Laura?" Serena called out in a weak voice to who she thought was her son and daughter-in-law. A rattling cough gripped her feeble body and she shook violently from it and gasped for air. After a moment the fit released her and she breathed raggedly, reaching and grabbing Connor's hand. "Connor, is that you my boy?"

Connor remained calm on the outside while inside he was hurting. Once again they would lose a member from this wretched disease. "Yes grandmother. It's me, and Esmeray."

At the mention of her name, Esmeray stepped closer and wrapped one of her arms around Connor. She did her best to stay as distant but as close as she could. She bit her lip as a lone tear made its way down her cheek. "I love you, grandmother."

"I love you too, darling. I believe in you. Both of you," Serena wheezed out as she slowly faded.

The three of them remained silent, letting the disease have it's way. They soaked up each other's presence and prepared for the inevitable. Connor cradled Esmeray's head against his chest as she silently wept while Serena drew her last breath with a final word leaving her lips.

"Nyght."