The Full Moon Effect

Chapter 9: The Howl

Cry, my dear

but do not bleed.

mirellamarie

**********

Unfortunately, the first person I met upon exiting the car was Kanaya. Jones, who mustered himself from sleep as soon as we hit the familiar curves of his territory, greeted her. I only managed a nod of acknowledgement. She knew I was on edge; her eyes, hard and disproving as they were, were still reserved. Kanaya was scared—worried I might snap if provoked. Good. If she thinks my father's death left me unhinged then I would show her just how wrong she was.

Our packs had gathered around, awaiting our arrival. The crowds were somber, all furrowed brows and set jaws, wet eyelashes and quivering lips. Even the trees had stilled upon our arrival.

Advocate Cervantes approached from the porch. "I'll let you have the rest of the night with them, Alpha Jones. Then, tomorrow morning, bright and early, we're back to paperwork."

Jones thanked her and took my hand, drawing me into the large crowd. The path the people formed for us was intentionally narrow. As we passed by, hands reached out, laid out on any parts of our bodies they could find. The hands comforted us, strengthened us, mourned with us. Tears fell from my eyes as I looked upon Aunt Clara and Bryton, whose faces were streaked already. AJ's parents were weeping in the back of the crowd.

When we had made it through the crowd and the last of the hands fell from our shoulders, Jones' hand tightened on my own. I thought it would be harder, more nerve-wrecking, but either Jones' coaching in the car or my own anger fueled me to speak without hesitation.

"Loss has come upon our pack. Like a coward, Leyton murdered defenseless members of our family. We have lost AJ, Taylor, and our beloved Alpha Andrew."

Groans and sobs broke out from the crowd and it took all my strength to keep my tears at bay.

"We'll reconvene before the rest of the packs leave to discuss what this means for us as a pack and our next steps. But for right now, know that I will do everything in my power to make sure that when I next hold Leyton's heart in my hand, I will not show mercy."

Yells of agreement broke out and when those died down, all that was heard was the rustling of clothes.

Our family stepped back, making space to shift, even the ones newest to the pain. We waited until every single one of our members were on all fours. Then we ran.

Jones and I led our packs in a run that lasted an hour. As we circled back to the clearing we'd started in, we sat on our haunches waiting for the wolves to pile in. When it was clear the last wolf had settled in the dirt, Jones looked to me.

I started howling, a long mournful howl that channeled all my sorrow and pain. A howl that depicted my father's lifeless body, bloodied and heartless. Aunt Clara and Bryton joined in, then AJ's parents. Then everyone joined in, howls harmonizing as we expressed our hurt.

At some point, the tone of the howls shifted. Intermixed with the howls were growls and spittle. No longer were these just howls of mourning, no, they were a warning. Altogether, the cacophony of our howls translated: Leyton, we're coming for you.

*****

Jones had to drag me out of bed the next morning. We'd gotten few hours of sleep after the run and then communicating to the relatives of the deceased what had occurred. Sworn to secrecy until we could inform the rest of the pack after assimilation, AJ's parents had gone off to their tent, cursing the new moon for ever following Leyton. I'd spent hours holding my aunt and cousin, sharing memories of Taylor and my dad, laughter through tightened throats and snot. And Jones had spent hours holding me.