𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒓 | ✓

𝑭 𝑶 𝑼 𝑹 𝑻 𝑬 𝑬 𝑵

Tobias threw open the door and stepped into the dimness of the underground hidden room. He squinted as his eyes took in Esmeray, her skin a bright milky white that glittered when she moved. He sucked in a breath when she looked at him. Her eyes was pale white like twin moons, marred only with a slightly red tinge. "What the hell. . . ."

"I'm okay," Esmeray said softly, her voice holding a distinct power. She looked at her hands and bit her lip. "It only happens when I hold the stone."

Connor gawked at Esmeray with wide eyes and an open mouth. "Well put the damn thing down Esmeray. You look like. . .like something from a different world.

"She does," Gabriel agreed, his face slightly transformed with the shock of the moment.

Esmeray placed the small leather pouch she was holding back down in the chest. Her normal skin tone seeped through the ethereal white and her eyes swirled with the usual green before turning completely back to normal. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "That was. . .an experience."

"How the fuck did this happen?" Connor asked. His head swarmed with thoughts as he tried to remember all he knew about the Clach-fala. All his brain searching turned up nothing and he crossed his arms loosely.

Esmeray shrugged and looked down to the brown pouch. She wondered what the Clach-fala looked like. All this time she'd known where it rested, but never once had she seen it. She bit her lip and brought her gaze to Connor. "I opened the chest, grabbed the pouch, and then there was this flash of light and this warm feeling flowed over me and I felt like I could run all the way around the world and not be tired. And that's when I noticed my skin was. . .yeah you saw it."

"And I came to get you, alpha," Gabriel added as he tilted his head at the Luna. "She looked like the embodiment of the moon herself."

Tobias nodded. Gabriel's words were so very true. He almost didn't recognize Esmeray at first with the soft glow of her white skin. She looked like an unearthly being and beautiful but yet dangerous, like his Luna but so much more. "She sure did."

Esmeray laughed slightly and sighed. "Well, thanks. Glad to know I looked like the moon."

"That's a compliment sis," Connor said with a laugh of his own. He rubbed his face. "Maybe our archives have some explanation to what happened to you."

"We'll have time to check your archives once we reach Nyght territory. If we don't leave right now, we run a risk of being attacked again," Tobias warned, stepping up beside Esmeray. He picked up the Clach-fala carefully and, when nothing happened, he sighed in relief. "Connor, Esmeray, go get whatever you need from here and pack it up on the wagon. We'll leave as soon as y'all are ready."

Connor smiled at Tobias and gave him a look. He dipped his chin in a quick nod. "As you wish, alpha."

Tobias gripped the Clach-fala tightly at Connor's words. Alpha. That's what Connor just called him. The words meant more coming from his best friend and the alpha of the former Blackfang pack. He and Gabriel followed Esmeray and Connor out of the shadows of the room and back up into the light.

The hidden entrance was sealed once again with the Clach-fala now out in the open air. Both Connor and Esmeray knew the urgency of having the stone so vulnerably unhidden. Without another word, the siblings beelined straight for their shared cabin to get everything they needed.

"Tobias," Gabriel spoke up, his tone flat yet held a certain seriousness. His deep blue eyes stared straight into Tobias's hazel ones.

Tobias sensed the solemness in Gabriel's demeanor as well as expressions. He took a soft breath and titled his head. "Beta. What's on your mind?"

"I. . . ." Gabriel inhaled deeply, his eyes closing briefly as he visibly steeled himself. "I want to resign as beta."

That phrase sliced across Tobias's mind like a blade. His mouth gaped slightly before his hid his shock. "Why?"

"To take care of my daughter," Gabriel answered, his voice wavering slightly. "If I die protecting the Luna, who would be left to raise her? Sure there's the pack, but she's mine. It's my responsibility now that Nadia is gone."

Tobias nodded. He completely understood Gabriel and his need to care for Myra. He could only imagine how hard it'd be to raise the little one alone, and he knew of he was Gabriel he'd do the same. He reached his hand out and laid his hand on his beta's shoulder. "I respect your decision, Gabriel. Once we reach our villiage, I will announce a new beta as well as our Luna and the predicament with this stone of blood. I wish you luck."

"Thank you, alpha." Gabriel looked at Tobias gratefully as a sense of relief flooded him. Tobias was one of the best alpha's he'd ever seen, and this understanding made that even more clear. "It's been an honor to serve you."

"And it's been an honor to have you as my beta," Tobias returned, giving Gabriel's shoulder a squeeze.

The two shared a moment of silence before the donkey brayed loudly while Connor and Esmeray loaded the last bit of their stuff into the wagon.

"We're all set," Esmeray called cheerfully with a bright smile to her mate. She closed her eyes when Tobias walked up and laid a quick kiss on her lips. He smacked her backside when she walked past him and she bit at him. "Watch it there, sir."

Tobias smirked and watched Esmeray get into the the wagon. "Trust me, I am."

"Oh, get a room will ya!" Connor exclaimed, rolling his eyes.

Gabriel cracked a smile from where he sat on a chest in the back of the wagon. "They will, Connor. Just give them time."

"Damn straight," Tobias agreed and stepped up onto the wagon, handing Esmeray the pouch containing the Clach-fala since he felt it would be safer with her.

Esmeray bit her lip and took it, slipping the pouch down inside the front of her shirt. This time, she stayed her normal self but she felt a steady warmth. Once again, the Clach-fala was responding to her touch.

Connor took a deep breath and shared a glance with Tobias. "I'll follow the path your messenger took. His scent is stale, but still trackable."

Tobias nodded and Connor coaxed the burly donkey to plod onward. He sighed and wrapped his arms around Esmeray, soaking in her presence. He loved how she could calm him without doing anything. He glanced back at Gabriel with an internal sigh. The village of the Nyght would never be the same again. Not now, not ever.