Instinct {The Half Moon Chronicles}

Chapter 1.

Chapter 1.

A week later, none of it had yet sunk in. I was staying with my aunt in the pack house as she was the sister of the current Luna. My birthday came and went without the party my parents had spent weeks planning for me and my brother. I sat in silence the whole day and no one bothered me. Not that I thought they knew. The whole day I sat and cried for the brother I should have been celebrating with. The one with the bright blue eyes and hair I liked to brush out of his face. The one who held me when I was distraught. The one that was gone and never coming back.

At the time of the incident the Alpha and his son were away meeting with other packs so it was down to the members of the council to find out what had happened. I was extremely protected but I was still petrified. I didn't speak. I didn't eat. I felt numb. Everything that I had cared about, everything I'd ever known was gone. For days it continued and I stayed in my shell of despair and denial. The fire had damaged part of my home and the council had found the bodies of three people. Two male and one female. I assumed that was my family. And wondered who it was that had attacked us, and why.

I had no tears left and only sorrow inside. No one could help me. My health was slowly deteriorating, I was becoming skin and bones and slept all day. I was turning into an empty shell. Soon there will only be small remnants of me and the girl I once was left.

My aunt thought I would be happy when the Alpha and his son returned. She thought that maybe I would feel better knowing that maybe then the reason why everything happened would be discovered with the Alpha around. But I knew one thing. No matter why it happened, it still wouldn't make anything better. Nothing would. Or at least I thought it wouldn't.

A few days after the Alpha returned I awoke from a nightmare screaming. No one came to my aid as I'd had the same one repeatedly since the incident and there was nothing anyone could do. I was shaking and sweating heavily. Taking a gulp I reached for my glass of water to soothe my aching dry throat. But it was empty so I grasped it in my trembling hands and swung my weak legs onto the floor. I stood unsteadily and cautiously ventured downstairs hoping not to wake anyone. The ground floor was pitch black. My phobia of the dark remained yet my fear had dimmed a lot since I'd lost everything. What was the need to be scared of the dark if it couldn't hurt me anymore than I already was?

I pushed open the kitchen door and placed my feet on the freezing tiles. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I froze. I was not alone. A small figure sat upon one of the stools with their head in their hands. I tried to backup and make my entrance unnoticed but their head snapped up as soon as I took a step.

Gold eyes stared straight into my green ones. A common trait in Alpha males.

"I'm sorry." I muttered trying not to let my voice shake. "I was just- um, getting a glass of water. I'll leave you alone now."

A small growl sounded from the figure and I jumped backwards against the wall when they sprang from their chair. Before I knew what was happening I felt them grasp me tightly in their arms and take a deep breath of my scent. "Mate."

I swallowed slowly and my hands started to shake. The glass I was holding slipped from my grasp and shattered on the tiles. I had no idea who the person was and now I was in their arms. I realised they were male from their build and the sound of his voice. Pushing him away I looked him up and down. He didn't seem much older than myself. Possibly seventeen or eighteen. His gold eyes stared intently at me as he made his way to grab at me again.

"No. Wait." I said to him, hoping I wouldn't have to fight him off. He stopped right in front of me, my bare toes brushing against his sock covered feet. He was so close and he kept staring at me with that same gaze.