Adea
Half Moon had been my home during my teens. I didn’t know the day I left with Gabe would be the last time. The sun had fully risen and lit up the sky. As I look out the windshield, my eyes lock on the territory in the distance.
The layout for Half Moon was the opposite of Desert Moon. In Desert Moon, to get to the packhouse, you needed to drive through the territory and pass the city before you got on the road that would lead you to it.
Whereas in Half Moon, you didn’t have to do any of that. The packhouse in the distance was the sign you were getting close to the territory entrance. My heartbeat quickened as I thought of returning. There was a mixture of dread and excitement at the thought of walking through the territory. Was everything still the same? Had Alpha Joshua made any changes after I left? Before his passing?
Thinking back to the last time I was here, I couldn’t help but shake my head. It felt like it had been so long ago. In actuality, it hadn’t even been a year yet. So much has changed in a short time. I never thought things would turn out the way they did but life had a funny way of doing that.
The girl I had been when I left the weekend of the Crescent Ball was not the same woman who was returning. As the Jeep inched closer, my eyes drank up the sights on the horizon. The borderline was quickly approaching and I took deep breaths to calm myself.
Everything looked the same but at the same time, it did not. Half Moon was everything to the young girl I had been, it had been my world, so I can see why I saw it as such a big place. Now that I was returning, compared to Desert Moon, the home I grew up in was no longer that big.
As the Jeep pulled closer to the line that marked the start of the Half Moon territory, my mouth dried up, my back straightened and my shoulders stiffened up. Unlike in Alpha Rich’s territory, Half Moon did not have gates surrounding the land. It looked open and easily accessible.
Don’t let that fool you though. Half Moon was protected, very well so. Where they didn’t have gates, they had a cluster of warriors standing guard. As the Jeep inched closer, I realized they weren’t warriors guarding the entrance.
They may be guards now, but from their depleted physical form, I could tell they had been rogues before Shane’s takeover. My heart rate picked up as I realized it may be a little more difficult than I thought to get to Shane.
Things have drastically changed since I’d last been here. Half Moon was heavily protected by rogues. I could only hope I wouldn’t have any trouble entering Half Moon. With the rogues standing between me and meeting Shane, I worried it may take longer to get to him.
The warriors blocked the road into Half Moon. I slowed to a stop before I could run anyone over. Three large wolves prowled close to the Jeep. I did my best to keep my head held high and not show any fear. I was alone with rogues that hadn’t been a part of a pack for that long.
The largest of the group of warriors stepped forward. A bulk guard walked over to the jeep and yanked open the door. He didn’t have any gray hair but he had to be in his early thirties.
Long dirt brown hair stuck in different directions and high cheekbones gave an appealing look about him. His lips were thin and he had a thick dark brown beard. There was a large scar starting at the corner of his forehead that ran across his face to the opposite side of his jaw.
Despite the scar, he was absolutely beautiful. Even with the deep scowl that pulled at his lips, the threatening demeanor, and the hatred in his eyes. I swallowed as he gripped my wrist. There would be no point in expecting kindness here. He attempted to pull me from the Jeep and I flew forward.
I grunted out as the seat belt restrained me. It tightened against my chest and didn’t budge when my weight pushed against it. Quickly, I reached back in search of the buckle. When my fingers made contact, I fumbled to unlock it as the man yanked hard on my wrist for the second time. I pressed the button just right and with an audible click, the seat belt gave way just in time for another yank.
His grip was firm and unyielding. I was dragged from the car and my feet crashed to the ground. I struggled to stay upright but failed as I was thrown to the floor. I used my hands to catch myself before I face-planted.
The man crouched beside me and as I lifted my chin I was brought face to face with him. I didn’t shy away from his gaze and he looked at me as if I was his entertainment for the day.
He was so close, his breath was hot on my face, and I fought the urge to wrinkle my nose in distaste. His breath was putrid and my stomach rolled at the smell. I hadn’t had any breakfast and with the lack of sleep on top of that, I was feeling light-headed.
Now that he was close, I got a good look at him. His hand was fast as it darted towards me. I stopped myself from dodging and a second later his hand gripped my jaw and his palm hovered over my mouth. His eyes were cold and uncaring as they stared down at me.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t crush that pretty little jaw of yours,” the guard hissed.