Luna

Chapter 8

"Luna, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Zeva inquires as I focus on the chaos awaiting me on the outside.

The number of wolves had grown during the day as I laid in a dark and dreamless sleep. Now, just past sunset, there are at least twenty I can see restlessly stalking around Zeva's waning shield. I'm surprised there aren't more.

"Yes, I'm sure." I finally answer. "To be honest, I'm scared. Scared because I don't know what's going to happen. Because I don't know who or what I will be when this is over. And this plan, if I can even call it that. It's not the safest or the smartest. If Mom and Dad were here," - I blink back tears - "I know they wouldn't agree with what I'm doing. But it's worth it. It's all worth it to get some part of my life back."

Zeva nods. "I understand. Then we'll follow this through to the end. Let's get to work." She says, handing me a slightly worn book bag.

Never say that Auntie Zee isn't prepared for a trip. Everything from first aid kits and clothes to fang off spray and wooden stakes sits neatly inside.

I nod in approval as I take mental notes of my inventory. As I scan things over, something shiny catches my eye. "What is this?" I ask curiously, pulling out a thin, glistening, gold chain. Hanging at its end is a tiny charm in the shape of an eye. The iris is a glittering red gem.

"Be careful with that." Zeva warns, rushing to take the trinket from my hands. "It's a seeing eye spell." She explains, gently putting it back in its place.

"And one that wasn't easy to put together. I made this to keep track of your brothers and sister. So we can see if they are safe. But the spell is fragile and can be extremely dangerous if not used properly. Best to leave it alone for now."

"Thank you for all of this."

"Don't thank me yet, sweetie. Wait till we return home in one piece."

"That might be difficult with all of those brutes standing out there." I voice anxiously as I peek outside again.

"Nothing a little transportation spell can't solve." Zeva responds confidently as we head for the front door. "And if we're lucky, it will be a long while before any of them can track our scent."

Her sweaty palm clutches the door handle. She takes a moment, silently mumbling a prayer to herself before turning back to me.

"Are you ready?"

I nod.

Zeva wastes no time. She throws open the door and sprints outside. Unlike me, who takes a second to motivate myself before bolting after her.

She snatches up a nearby rake and hastily creates symbols in the dirt with its handle. But time is against us, and the pack knows it. The more the shield ebbs away, the more excited they get.

My heart nearly leaps out of my chest as one of them nearly makes it over our broken defense.