☽ Howl ☾ [ SOLBY AU ] ✔

☽ 14 ☾

Colby walked through the cottage, taking careful glances and notes at what lay before his path as Axelle shuffled behind him, but kept her own pace. The Alpha noticed herbs hanging in corners and candles lit everywhere, giving the rooms a slight glow. There were sigils marked or burned above doorways, which made him slightly worried about their exact purpose, and there were books everywhere. The whole cottage from the front room forward was just filled with hundreds of books. They, obviously, couldn't fit on the bookshelves anymore, so they were stacked in corners and on top of wooden chests or anything else that could be used. Colby even noted a few plants that were scattered amongst the books, but he couldn't tell what kinds of plants they were. He could just see the bit of green leaves sticking out from the piles of books like the plants were pleading for someone to save them before they were lost to the books.

Axelle cleared her throat and motioned toward a room with a closed door. A sigil was burned and chalked over it and, from the research Colby had done for YouTube videos and his own personal curiosity, he recognized it as the sigil of protection, "Here, Alpha."

Colby nodded his thanks to her and watched her leave before he decided to raise his hand to the door knob. This would be it, he thought, the exact moment I decide. Would he be willing to make that decision?

Somehow, he had already made a decision for he twisted the door knob and opened the door. The action makes him very confused with himself. How did he already know his answer?

The first thing he sees when he enters is that he is in a large study and that it is a lot more organized than the rest of the house. Bookshelves lined the one wall and were filled with little curio's and thick tomes. Splitting the bookshelves in half was a large fireplace built with grey stones and a mantel above it that held two large candelabras, lit and flickering against the river stone mantel. The other two walls were almost entirely windows with a low bookshelf and/or work table beneath it. Those were neatly cluttered as well, but with cauldrons and bowls and hundreds of bottles labeled and stored. In the middle of the room was a large round table with a gorgeous crystal sphere in the middle.

Colby's eyes landed on the figure sitting at the said table. Luna wore a long black dress, which had neckline so low that it was obvious she was not wearing a bra. Colby was a male after all. He was going to notice those sorts of things, but he kept eye contact with Luna, not wanting to offend or disrespect her. Colby wasn't that type of person.

"Hello, Alpha Colby," Luna smiled and motioned with her long fingernails, painted a luminance white like the moon, toward the empty chair beside her at the table.

He walked sluggishly toward her, still uncertain of exactly everything around him. Luna watched him with a steady gaze as he sat down. Those emerald eyes watching him carefully.

"I want you to know that I have interviewed each of your pack members, but I will not reveal what they have told me. Some of their words are only their own and I am simply an ear. In do course will their words, truths, and secrets be revealed to you, so do not tire over it."

Colby nodded, though his curiosity was now sparked further by what the rest of his roommates and friends had said to this woman. Especially Sam. What made him start to cry?

Luna folded her hands into her lap, "Now, I will begin with the interview. But, first, I have some conditions before we continue. I want you to be as honest as you would like with me. We can simply sit here in silence for the next hour if you so chose, though amnesty is greatly appreciated. Every question I ask of you, I want you to respond with only one word. So, be careful with what you choose, Alpha Colby. Do you understand?"

Colby nodded again, "Yes."

"I will give you the same questions I've given each of your pack members."