Moon land

I carefully untie my radio device, my only connection to the team. I wish we could talk through our mind link like in those deadbeat movies but in reality, we don't have that kind of power nor do we bulk up like that we have all body types. Only guys who train here are muscular. You can find all kinds of people, men, women, trans. They all exist harmoniously, not like in the human world. We don't unsee anybody here. I tried my device many times to my surprise, it wasn't working anymore. This has never happened before, it was like a series of unfortunate events unfolding slowly. I see her trying to rub herself to get some heat. Unfortunately, we couldn't light the fire because we might have been discovered. I have to consider her safety as well. She seemed a bit disturbed maybe she was afraid but her heartbeats were steady. It gave me a huge relief. "Hey, are you cold if you want I can give your cloak back? She vehemently shook her head which brought a smile to my lips. I gently take her chin between my fingers and at the moon accusatively. Why are you doing this to make her more attractive to me right now? Well, you can't make me feel something that I hadn't already. I was feeling powerfully attracted to her and the moon goddess was just adding to it. My wolf wouldn't shut up about how beautiful she looked. How does a wolf talking to you make you feel exactly as you are chatting with yourself but a less controllable version of you of course?

" Are you done if so take your hand off me ", she muttered. I didn't acknowledge her. Instead, I touched her lips, silencing her. She was looking at me with her soft expression. " Don't trust the nights, especially the one with a full moon, it can draw us close. It's the way of life, the moon goddess tries her best to force mates to consummate their love", I whispered. "So you are saying that the harmless moon is causing you to touch me inappropriately, not yourself", she said in a curt voice. " I sometimes forget you are an unbelievable lot. So tell me do you believe in love or is that also a myth", I asked her. She didn't answer but her silence was answering me. She did believe in love when she met me. If not she wouldn't have been here. Her presence itself was proving that she could have made excuses but she chose to come with me.

"How did you plan to save them if you don't have the means to contact your team", she asked me. " I'm not worried for my safety, only theirs. We have sharp ears. If there is so much as a small truffle we will hear it. The radio was only an added advantage but we don't need it to make you people do. She drew a sharp breath whether she believes everything or not I don't know but one thing was sure. She doesn't hate me or even tries to, like me. I liked that a little too much. I carefully dig a hole to bury my radio not to attract attention and also to remove another dead weight. "I think we should move now that you are rested and from now on I'm not going to shift back to human because it's far too dangerous to shift", I told her. She nodded her head in reply.

We were running then as our life depended on it. But it wasn't ours which was at stake. The trees were becoming a blur due to my speed but I wasn't getting any complaints from my rider. So I go on faster than ever before. When we reach a clearing I slow down because I was getting the familiar smell of my team and also the smell of blood. It was nerve-racking. I couldn't hear anything that resembles a battle or my people talking. When I came nearer I understood there was no sound of hardly anyone breathing there. With a heavy heart, I realise I lost three precious lives. I came to see three dead bodies all in wolf form attacked and brutally mutilated. This wasn't any random attack but a planned one. I couldn't help but let out a howl informing my pack and people I have found them. But the hurt in my voice was enough for them to understand they lost their brothers. I shifted back and my mate looked every bit as shocked as me. I ordered them to move behind me because I didn't know how they would react.

The first one to arrive was my beta Tony, then the rest of them arrived. Everyone was sad and it goes without saying how helpless we all felt. While my brothers and sister lay dead their body is beyond recognition. Our anger was rising but so was our despair. I know my pack will be very heartbroken to see their children in that shape. For the guys to carry their bodies, they ought to get the burial they deserve.

When we reached home our welcome was very solemn. They had little hope but our painful cries alerted them to the sad news. I shifted back and ordered my mate to go to her place and she did. I gave directions for organising the funeral. I decided to check on her to make sure she adhered to my command. I haven't done that before. Being an Alpha automatically gave me unquestioned loyalty and submission. If she were born to my pack I would have that but every time she was born to a different tribe. It's not that she was loyal to them, only being a Luna gave her the power to choose to follow me or not. Luna is as powerful as Alpha but she uses it for protection, not a defence. She could beat any wolf if trained hard but they hardly have time for that. This time she was born human. I thought fate had done playing games but I guess it hasn't. Our relationship was never easy but it was workable but her being human had put another hurdle. The hurdle I could be thankful for. I went to her building. It was a small construction we maintained to entertain the occasional humans, mainly animal enthusiasts or government officials which were very rare. The rest of us lived in small huts. We can brave the weather but not change.

When I reached the door I heard her crying. I didn't bother to knock because I had never done that before, especially with her. She was different from welcoming me with a hot kiss but she could sense me from far away since she was a wolf. But it was all in the past. She was a human now and a very weak one at that. " Why do I always find you crying?", I asked her half-seriously. "What do you expect? It was horrific to watch those bodies believe it or not I have no hand in that", she was begging me. " I believe that you are innocent but I don't want you to leave the room for some time. They know you are my guest and won't harm you but the present circumstances are against you, unfortunately", I said in a warning voice. "You mean barbarians like you are unable to differentiate between a helpless girl and a murderer", she said angrily. That brought out my worst temper," What did you call us barbarians? You better remind yourself that we don't take well to the traitors. If you have any plans to do so. Even I won't save you. I will be the first one to punish you", I growled at her. The punishment was going to be nothing short of death but I don't say that to her. Even after everything I somehow couldn't threaten her like that. I felt small doing what I did already, feeling disgusted I left her in my room. I have to get changed after the shower.

We wear our traditional outfit of loose robes and belts. I was wearing extra headgear made of wood. It was a while since any murder happened here. Not since the truce. I saw the friends and relatives of those who were murdered. I didn't know how to console them.

As the alpha, it was my job to send them goodbye. They laid in the open graves. I bend down and put coins on their eyes so they could pay the boatman to take them across the river to the moon land. It's believed that when we die we go to our Moon world. We are the children of the moon goddess after all. I pray for the first time in years to the moon Goddess they believe exists to take care of them. Then I stand up for my speech. I'm glad to see their relatives have left since I don't want them to witness what I'm about to say.

" We lost our three valuable soldiers tonight in a fight which they won by betrayal. They were mutilated and tortured. We don't know who is behind this right now. But I as the Chief Alpha declare war on anyone who steps inside our soil whether it's a wolf, man or woman. The treaties we have signed will not be held valid anymore, we have fought and won before. I know that we win again". I received thundering applause and I was relieved they have accepted that we are about to enter another war.