The Full Moon Effect

Chapter 13: Together

the more i live

the more i see

we are a forest full of wolves

howling at the same moon

thinking we are alone

atticus

**********

Advocate Cervantes had papers spread before her like a puzzle. They must've made sense to her because she picked them up in a specific order, but it just looked like chaos to me.

Jones had taken the news calmly. I, on the other hand, was the whirlwind that accidentally knocked the Advocates' suitcase from her hand, scattering the papers about the grass. It had almost been worth nearly seeing her blow like a volcano when I tried to help her gather them.

"Let's meet inside, where the wind can't blow this confidential information away," she looked at me pointedly.

"I already apologized," I muttered, anxiety stirring within me, especially because of Jones's lack of reaction. Had he expected this to happen?

After opening the door for Advocate Cervantes and Kanaya, his eyes met mine and I knew he was anything but calm.

I took his hand and his fingers clenched around mine. The weight of being Luna hit me at full swing. I wasn't solely responsible for myself anymore, but a whole people. It was my job to protect them, to be their voice of comfort and reason, to lead them. Climbing up the stairs, I steeled myself with deep breaths. This wasn't a problem I immediately could solve with teeth and claws. No, now, we needed answers.

We filed into the meeting room already filled with our Betas.

"I'm sure this comes as just as much of a shock to you as it did to me. I was contacted by Advocate Adron," she sneered his name, uncharacteristically, "who has made some interesting claims of the events that transpired on your grounds during the summit."

Jones voice was taut. "Those claims being?"

"That you murdered one of his Betas, Castor."

I blanched. "That's ridiculous!"

"I'm well aware what it is," Advocate Cervantes said, exasperated. "However, Leyton claims he can lead authorities to the exact spot where Castor's blood was spilled on your territory. Even worse, what was confirmed by you on the phone a few days ago, Alpha Jones: his theory is supported by the fact that there is no body to recover."

I didn't dare say a word as the weight of her words sank in. Jones suddenly loosened his grip on my hand as his claws extended. His jaw clenched so tight I knew it had to be painful. I felt his frustration like my own, because it was. Our decision to let Castor go was already coming back to bite us.

"Call him back," I urged, suddenly. "Our wolves are still tailing him, tell him to come back and prove he's not dead!"

"The paperwork for Castor's banishment has already been filed, Luna Tara. If he steps foot on this land again, the Alpha's claims will be indeed true, even if they aren't now. We should meet at a third party's location instead, I suggest—"

"Who's the Alpha?" Jones interrupted.

Advocate Cervantes looked affronted that he'd interrupted her, but then again, they were both acting uncharacteristically because of the news. "Alpha Ulric."

"I've never even heard of him," Jones' eyes narrowed.

"But I have," I said, fear and confusion washing over me until my skin prickled.