Ezra’s P.O.V
I placed the moon crystals in a circle around myself, keeping to my position right at the centre of the circle. The crystals all looked like tiny full moons, all in perfect rounds in a beautiful milky white colour and bearing some kind of black marbling on them.
Even though the moon was no longer full or at its brightest, it still held power. As the Shrine Maiden, I could harness that power and bestow it upon my Alpha and my packmates, making them stronger, more resilient to the rogues and powerful in their own right.
Shrine Maidens were created because the Moon Goddess needed a medium to bestow her powers on her beloved creations, her werewolves. And since the Shrine Maiden’s body alone wasn’t enough to hold all the power, the Lunar Maidens were created.
I like the peace and quiet it provided, this meditation a while drawing on the power of the Moon. It was a feeling of being in heaven itself, of being bathed in the pureness of the moonlight and the purity of the soul.
A knock sounded on my door, breaking me out of my meditation.
Usually, I wouldn’t be this easily startled, but it was past midnight and the knocks sounded frantic.
Cutting my prayers short, I got up from the hardwood floor and set the tiny moon crystals aside into the basket that stayed on top of the fireplace mantel where it normally stayed. Then I went to open the door.
“Daphne? Emma?”
The two women stood outside the door, looking panicked and watching over their shoulders. I ushered them inside right away and shut the door behind them, locking it secure.
“What happened?” I asked the women. “You are worrying me.”
“It’s Flora.” Daphne took a deep breath before she continued. “She went to see the Alpha this evening and I haven’t seen her since.”
“Calm down, my child.” I placed my hands on her shoulder to calm her worries. “Did you speak to her before she went into Alpha Malachi’s room? Have you searched her room?”
“Yes.” Daphne nodded. “I spoke to her last night…and she confirmed her memories are back.”
My eyes widened in surprise, a sudden sensation spreading through my chest that I had no name for. “All of it?”
“Yes.” Daphne nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Both her and the rogue Alpha. They have their memories now.”
My legs almost gave away from under me but both the Maidens caught hold of my arms before I could collapse.
“Shrine Maiden,” they both yelped and helped me sit on one of the seats as they took a seat on the floor next to me.
“I’m alright, my Maidens.” I reassured them. “I’m alright.”
“But nothing has changed, Shrine Maiden.” Emma was the one who spoke. “The curses are still in place. None of us remember.”
“I do not know, my child. But this is far from over. The Moon Goddess hasn’t ever broken a vow, but the trials are far from over. This seemed too easy.”
Emma and Daphne both nodded in agreement. “If Flora has left with the rogue Alpha, then let her be. All we can do now is wait for what could possibly come next.”
“Yes, My Lady.” My most trusted maidens stood up from the floor and bowed low.
“Go, my children.” I commanded them. “And look out for any signs of danger. Alert me at once. I need eyes and ears all around at this uncertain times and I need you to be that for me. I’m trusting you both. I have faith in you.”
After my maidens had left, I dressed in an overcoat and headed straight for the Alpha’s quarters. Malachi was already waiting for me when I reached the door, as the guards let me in immediately.
“Has Flora left?” I asked the man who was beautiful beyond words.
People often saw his beauty as a weakness, thought him incapable of defending himself and others. But Malachi has held this fort for almost four centuries, when Lindersay was nothing as it was now. And he continued to hold fort with an iron control that everyone respected.
“Yes,” that man said now, his endless blue eyes troubled. “But Andre has gotten new of her leaving. One of his men had been on guard while she was leaving. He went after them.”
“What now?”My heart thrashed into my ribcage. “Can we send help?”
“Not without making more enemies.” Malachi shook his head. “I do not trust Andre. He is here for some purpose that I’m not aware of and I cannot contact his previous pack. I sent a letter two days ago, but I haven’t heard back from them yet.”
“Did you contact your messenger through the mental link?” I asked, not liking the idea of one of our people going missing.
“Yes, but I could not reach him.” He frowned. “Something isn’t right.”
“I’m worried about Flora and the rogue Alpha.” I told him my concern. “The Goddess is too quiet; everything seems too quiet.”
“I agree.”
Malachi looked out at the forest through the open windows in his office, the vast green of the woods stretching for miles in front of us until it disappeared into the horizon. Today was one of those days where the sky was clear and there were no signs of the fog and thunder clouds that were often spotted around Lindersay. I joined Malachi to look outside the window. There was quiet all around us but I knew it was the quiet before the storm.
And that was when I remembered something.
“Andre mentioned the Blood Moon ritual to Flora.” I told him, a sudden sense of panic in my chest. “Do you think it’s related?”
“There is a Blood Moon in two months.” Malachi frowned. “And the fact that the Goddess hasn’t reacted to Flora and Clay finding their way back to each other…I think my mother had played a clever ploy and we have all run into it head-first.”
“But the Blood Moon rituals were banned.” I told him firmly. “If we stand firm, then no one can do anything to harm them.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.” Malachi said finally. “If Mother had planned this far ahead…then she has always had a plan. We can only hope that the blood of our blood will succeed in this final test. The test that we failed centuries ago.”