The Lunar Wolf

:Chapter 22:

"Lovely night this is," I said, as Eska and I went for a night walk, the air was chilly as newly fresh snow fell from the sky gently. It covered the ground like a white blanket that stretched throughout the terrain.

That's what you'd expect from a December night. I could hardly believe it was December already. It had been four months since we arrived here.

"What are you thinking about?" Eska asked me.

I smiled and closed my eyes, raising my hand to the midnight sky. The snow fell on my face and I sighed happily at the feel of it, "A lot has happened in these four months Eska. I met you, I got horribly sick, but I got over it, my hair turned white, I became friends with Nick and most of all I've gotten to spend so much time with you."

She rested her head on my shoulder and hugged my arm, "I know. We get to spend our first Christmas together too. I'm very excited about that."

"I am too, although I'll miss not having it with my family this year."

She looked up at me, "What was Christmas like at your house?"

"Well a week before Christmas day, My Dad would bring Mavvie and I out into the forest to find a perfect Christmas tree, Mom, Anju and Winter would decorate the house and bake Christmas cookies while we were gone. It always took us all day cause Mavvie and I got tired of walking easily. When we finally did get home, We'd decorate the tree while listening to Christmas music and eating gingerbread. Because I was the youngest I got to put the star on the top of the tree."

I paused remembering the great memories, "On Christmas Eve we'd have a Fondue with different meats. Although I always cooked little cut up hotdogs. We watched a movie until Midnight then went to bed. Christmas Day Mavvie was always the first one awake. He'd wake us all up and we'd sit on our parent's bed while we opened our stockings. When that was done Mom would make us an amazing breakfast while we sat at the base of the tree counting the presents we all got and when we ate we'd open them. Our relatives would come over for dinner and we'd spend the rest of the night being with our family."

When I finished I turned to her, she had a large grin on her face, "That sounds beautiful."

I nodded, "Tell me what is Christmas like with your Pack?" I asked.

She answered, "When I joined the Pack, Christmas was always dull to me. It was a time meant for family and I didn't have any. So I shouldn't be apart of it. Then one year Nick invited me to spend it with his family. So I did, and they welcomed me with love and joy, they even bought me presents so I wouldn't feel left out. They brought life back to me."

I was scared to ask, scared of how she would react. I didn't want to make her upset or angry, but I wanted to know. What was her life before she joined Nick's Pack?

Tread carefully, Hadden warned.

But before I could speak a loud whoop! Caught our attention.

I turned to see the Cold Mountain's Third Zakhar and Arseni walking towards us. I could suddenly feel his power, he was forcing it to radiate from his body onto us. Eska stiffened next to me, she could feel it too.

He smiled, but it did not seem friendly at all. It set off all my red alarms that he was here to cause trouble.

"Well, the Prince and the Rouge. An, unlike pair, wouldn't you say Ar?" Zakhar turned to his partner, I had never seen the two separated.

Arseni nodded, "We did a little digging into you hun, rare that Packs take in Rouges. We all know how dangerous they can be" he sneered.

Eska's muscles tightened with anger, Although I was more curious my asking would have to wait. These wolves were here to upset her. And I wasn't going to let that happen.

"If you two have nothing nice to say here then go away" I ordered, "We're trying to have a nice walk."

They turned to me and Zakhar's power grew stronger. I gulped, starting to feel afraid.

"Wow! That's the most anyone has heard from the little Prince Harvey. You've been hiding away while your sibling watch our Games. What's wrong? You an introvert that hates to go outside?"

"I'm surprised if you even know what the word introvert means" I grinned as his face started to turn red from anger.

"You better watch it, your Majesty, I was only nice to you the day we met cause because my reputation would be lowered if anyone found out I was picking on the Princes. But no one is around now and no one cares your here" He got dangerously close.

"Your sisters and brother are the spotlights now. Your just the shadow in the corner."

"I bet the Prince is hanging out with this little Rouge cause he takes pity on her" Arseni got close to her as well, "Or maybe he wants to do some things with her. She is a beauty after all" he grabbed her arm and she squealed.

"Hey get your filthy hands off her!" I snarled and ran towards him. Another hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, Zakhar's grip tightened and red marks were starting to appear. Eska screamed as Arseni pulled her closer and breathed in her scent. 

Hadden and I roared and I turned around to face Zakhar, I punched him right in the face. He let go and stumbled backward holding his face. I ran to Eska and punched Arseni. Eska fell into my arms and I held her tightly, "Are you alright?" I asked.

She nodded but I saw her eyes moistened. She buried my face in my chest and began to shiver, "He touched me. He put his hands on me" she whispered.

The touch of any other wolf that was not the wolf's mate was not pleasant and felt like acid to the wolf. This only made me angrier. I turned around to confront the two only to see Zakhar ran towards me at full speed. His face was bruised where I punched him and with full force, his hand balled into a fist and punched me straight in the groin.

I gasped at the sickening pain and collapsed bringing my hands to hold my crotch.

"Harvey!" Eska collapsed next to me, I coughed and gasped for breath.

Zakhar kneeled beside me, "Don't think for one second that you can go cry to your sister or my Alpha about this, you threw the first punch, and I self-defend myself." He harshly patted my back, "See you around, your majesty."

He laughed as he and Arseni walked away.

My breathing became hard and ragged, my body started to burn and my bones began to ache. I felt my eyes change color and gasped. 

I was shifting.

No, no, no, no, no please no, not now! Not in front of her!

"Harvey, what's wrong?" She got closer.

I whipped my head up and snarled, "Get away..."

"What? Harvey why-" Her eyes widened when she saw my eyes.

"Get away... NOW!"

I screamed as I began shifting. 

Fur sprouted from my body. My roar turned into a howl and I fell to the ground on my side and completed the shift. I gasped in rugged pants and slowly looked up at my mate.

The shock and disbelief on her face was unbearable to look at. 

"Y-your a..." she couldn't even finish the sentence.

The fear overwhelmed me. She knew. She knew now! I fought so hard to hide it, everyone did and now she knew! 

For the second time in my life, I ran from my mate.

**********

The secret is out now! What will happen next?