𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒓 | ✓

𝑻 𝑾 𝑶

The room was dark, the only light was given by the moon as it shown through the gap in the silk curtains. The light was hazy and dim and gave the room a much welcomed ethereal glow.

Esmeray sat on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs with a smile on her face. Mere steps in front of her stood a tall male in partial shadows, his back muscles rippling as he tossed his shirt to the floor. Her eyes traced every indention and curve of his shoulders and back and trailed the black swirled symbol emblazed between his shoulder blades.

She studied it more as he continued to strip. It was a symbol she recognized from a drawing she'd found in her brother's office. The Nyght Triskelion. Her lover, was a Nyght male. And not just any male, but one whose veins ran thick with the bloodline of his pack.

He turned to face her, completely naked with eyes glinting a tint of red. The half smirk on his face told his thoughts as he licked his canines with the tip of his tongue. He took the three steps to Esmeray with a soft rumbling sounding deep in his chest. He gently gripped her by the chin and lifted it, softly forcing her to stare into his eyes. "I need you, my Luna."

He leaned in and her lashes fluttered closed in expectation of his lips and her pulse quickened with a longing she didn't know she had.

The soft touch Esmeray was expecting never came as her eyes flew open and she sucked in a soft breath, her heart pulsing quickly. It was him again, that unknown male in her dreams. She didn't know who he was but almost each time he called her his Luna. This dream was unlike the rest however. It was raw, and awakening in ways Esmeray had never known. She bit her lip while her breathing calmed. She knew nothing of this male except for one thing. He was of the Nyght pack.

She stared up at the ceiling, forcing her thoughts away from the male. Her mind roved over the day, starting with the death of Serena to the last book on illnesses she'd searched through before going to bed. Their pack was barely hanging on despite everything. Yes, they hadn't seen hide nor hair of the Bloodborne and the Clach-fala was safely hidden away in a place known only by her and Connor, but what good would that do if they all died of some unknown disease?

The muffled sound of coughing coming from Connor's bedroom pulled Esmeray from her thoughts. It was a dry cough and nothing like that of Serena's, but she couldn't help but worry if her brother had contracted the sickness that quickly. If he ended up with fever during the night he wouldn't be able to deny being ill with it. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and sighing. What would she do if Connor caught the disease? They had already lost five to it already, what would stop it from taking him as well? She would be left alone with the remains of their once mighty pack until the disease took them all away.

When the morning sunlight seeped into her room from the window, Esmeray blinked and sat up. She rubbed her eyes for a moment and yawned. She never realized she'd fell back asleep, but apparently she had. In moments she was dressed and heading into the kitchen while braiding her hair. She tied the end off with the ponytail from around her wrist, expecting the usual "Good morning, Esme" from Conner. She was utterly disappointed. Not only was Connor nowhere to be seen, but also the usual coffee he'd fix for him and her.

A surge of momentary panic raced through Esmeray and she took a deep breath to calm down. She slipped back down the hall and stopped at his door. Without so much as a knock, she opened the door of Connor's bedroom and took a step in. "Connor?"

"Don't come any farther, Esme," Connor commanded in a raspy tone. He lay propped up in bed by his elbow, his blankets covering his bare feverish body. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were bright. "I have fever. I. . .I must have the sickness."

Esmeray froze, quelling her desire to run to her brother and bathe his brow to relief him of his fever. Instead of following her heart, she followed her mind and remain the embodiment of cool collectiveness. "What do you want me to do?"

"Inform Seth and send Willow to me," he answered with a few coughs. He cleared his throat and rubbed his face.

She nodded, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "Consider it done. I will return shortly."

"No," he stopped her, clearing his throat once again. "No. You're going to the Nyght pack. Speak with Tobias and tell him what's going on. Tell him I sent you. We need help, Esmeray. We have no where else to turn and I'd rather ask for assistance from a friend than watch us die."

She sucked in a breath. The Nyght pack lived a small piece away and she hadn't seen Tobias since she was very young. It was a full day's journey to the Nyght encampment with thick terrain along the way. She sighed softly. This was the one time she wished they lived with modern devices. But they did not, and she would make the journey. "As you wish, Connor."

"You can do this, Esme. I have faith in you. Just keep your eyes out and take Midnight with you. He will be your eyes." He shifted in his bed, his chest rising and falling quicker than Esmeray knew it should be. He felt out his hand, holding his pointer and index finger up while he curled the others "I love you. Safe travels."

"I love you too," she replied softly and returned the gesture before closing the door and leaving her brother behind. Now the fate of the Blackfang pack rested on her shoulders in more than one way. She adjusted the silver hoop piercing at the top of her ear and squared her shoulders before heading off to talk with Seth and Willow. This was her chance to prove to her brother that she was not a little girl anymore. She was a warrior who could hold her own and do whatever it took to ensure the safety of the pack, and it was time everyone else saw her for what she was. After informing Seth and Willow, she trotted off toward the edge of the meadow, calling to her inner wolf. Tobias Nyght, here I come.