Luna Cursed

Nine

Trace sat on the porch, her bare feet in the overgrown grass surrounding the little cottage- no longer the hard packed dirt from three pairs of feet she remembered. So much had changed in the last few hours and she felt her world being turned upside-down. She had lived a simple life these last few years with the acceptation of being unable to shift and never truly being a part of the pack or leaving their lands.

Now Trace had not just one- but two mates which was something unheard of. She had magic she was meant to inherit- magic that would make her a target when she had been under the radar for years. It seemed like she would need to choose which side to be with. Ironic considering she always wanted a choice in who she was going marry let alone be intimate with.

Wind shifted into her face letting her know the wolves where closer-she couldn't smell the pack before but now she could- though by the chill starting to crawl back up her feet she assumed that the ability to shift was quickly leaving her. The key seemed to be the magic she was lacking, which made her wonder what else would come with it.Trace's main concern was that her mother wouldn't continue on if Trace took what was essentially her legacy. She looked so thin and fragile, it was a wonder she was living even now looking like a skeleton. It was almost certain that the magic it's self was probably the main reason she was alive still.

As the pack approached Trace didn't look up, she didn't have to in order to feel the glares mixed with concern from either Alpha male-let alone the suspicious glances of the other pack members even in wolf form. Quinn shifted first- Patrick right behind him as the pack spread out to investigate the area.

"Are you hurt?" Patrick grunted and Quinn stood there staring at Trace.

Trace shook her head playing with a thread in her pants. "I'm ok."she said in a small voice.

Patrick made a sound of approval and walked past her inside. Quinn sighed sitting down next to Trace- making her flush and glance away.Nudity had never bothered her before, but being near him like this made her swallow hard and her body feel a little flushed. "What happened?" He asked softly- his voice full of remorse. "I couldn't keep up with you, it's like you had the speed of a vampire."

"I don't know I shifted and felt a call. It...I." her voice caught in her throat as emotion ran over her. She's alive. Her heart sang but saying the words seemed like a dream. "My mother. She's alive."

Quinn let out a huff of breath. "Wow. That's... amazing. Right?"

Trace tipped her head and looked at him, the wind practically knocked out of her at the sight of him again- of the two mates he was certainly the preferred since he hadn't essentially fang raped her. The truth of the matter was that she didn't really know Quinn though- and on some level she did know Alek though the memories where scattered and fuzzy. Tentatively Trace reached out and grabbed his hand, needing comfort and also wondering how it would feel. Tingles shot up her arm in a pleasant sensation leaving butterflies in their wake. Quinn smiled and brushed his fingers over her knuckles. "I'm not sure how to feel about it." She admitted.

"Why's that?"

"She works for vampires. A vampire family specifically. She's trying to help them control their thirst."

Quinn scoffed a rumble building in his chest possibly involuntarily at the mention of vampires. "They will never control their thirst,it's vital for whatever evil inhabits those creatures. Why would your mother work for them and them allow her to mate with a wolf? Is she a-"

"She's a witch or was that not clear?" Trace said harshly but then shook her head. "I'm sorry it's been-"

"A hectic night?" Quinn offered when Trace was at a loss of words. She nodded mutely looking off into the woods again.

"I have to call her soon and meet with her again."

"We will be here every step of the way." Quinn said honestly lifting her hand to kiss her knuckles.

Trace blushed and gently slid her hand away. "I don't know if it's a good idea to involve the pack. I don't want this to get messier than it already is."

Quinn grabbed her chin leaning in to look into Trace's eyes. "I'm your mate, that means you're my Luna and this pack will do everything to protect their Luna, I will do anything and everything to protect my Luna. Good or bad I am right here and I will not abandon you."

Trace felt as if all the moisture from her mouth had suddenly disintegrated into thin air, as much as the statement meant- she half wondered if he said that because she was his only chance at having children. "Do you think if we weren't mates you would feel differently?"

Quinn rolled his eyes his wolf grunting deep in his chest. "You've clearly never looked in a mirror. I would certainly be attracted to you, and I already cared about your well being before we even met.I'm sure if mate bonds didn't exist I would end up feeling for you eventually. It just happens to be a nice guidance, like a compass in the woods when you can't read the stars or sun."

"What if... you had more than one mate? Would you be able to choose?"

Quinn tilted his head puzzled as he looked at her. "I've never heard of that occurring before but... I don't know if I could to be honest. Anytime your intimate with someone else other than your mate once you meet- it's physically unbearable. The bond grows day by day regardless of if you want it to or not. Having to mates would be...well difficult for the other two I would imagine."

Trace blew out a shaky breath as Patrick's footsteps came up behind them. "No trace of anyone, but distinctly a vampire smell. A familiar smell that we came across when we found the cabin Tracie had described as a kid." Quinn let go of Trace's chin as she looked at Patrick a frown on her face.

"You didn't smell my mother?"

"I could smell magic- but that's about it kid. You going to tell us what happened?"

Trace shivered and Quinn wrapped an arm around her shoulders looking up at Patrick. "Let's get her home, something isn't right she shouldn't be cold after shifting."

"I can't shift again." Trace admitted. "The magic is pretty much faded."

Patrick grunted an acknowledgment. "Call your witch, we all need to meet. I'll contact contact someone to pick up the pack with cloths."