Chapter 3 Into the Moonveil

Here, the trees were higher, with claw-like branches. Moonveil country. The name alone conveyed murmurs of peril, but I didn’t have a choice. Bloodfang has lost its safety. There was nowhere. As I stepped over the invisible boundary into unfamiliar territory, the air seemed thicker. Hearing the rustling of activity around me made my heart race. I halted, looking about in the dark. "Well, what have we got here?" The quiet was broken by a gravelly, low voice. With my hands automatically up and shadows twisting around my fingers, I whirled around. Four individuals with purposeful and graceful motions came out of the woods. Wolves. Moonveil protectors. With eyes like molten gold, the tallest among them took a step forward. "You are intruding." I hurriedly responded, "I didn't mean to," even though I knew it was a lie. "I'm just stopping by." He gave a snort. Nobody just goes through Moonveil. Not someone who smells like Bloodfang, in particular. I clenched my jaw. "They're not with me." Another guard, a wiry guy with a jagged scar along his face, surrounded me like a predator. It doesn't matter. We don't like invaders, and you're now in our area. I tried to seem cool as I said, "I don't want trouble." "If that's what you want, I'll go." The boss had a savage, rapt smile. "Oh, you're going, okay? but not on your terms. They lunged before I could respond. I was knocked off balance by the leader's speed as shadows flashed about me. I was forced to my knees by strong hands gripping my arms. I struggled, but to no avail. The commander snarled and tightened his grip, saying, "Enough." "We're going to Kieran with her. Let him make the final decision on her. Kieran?. The Moonveil Alpha?. As they pulled me further into the trees, my stomach turned with my thought. Mercy would not be what was ahead of me. The Moonveil pack had a beautiful but forbidding camp. The moonlight flickered slightly on the surfaces of massive stone constructions that towered above the woods. Wolves walked through the camp, watching me being dragged in with suspicious eyes. They led me to the biggest building, a hall hewn into the rock face. The air within was heavy with authority and force. Kieran sat in the middle of it all. His black hair fell in free waves about his keen features as he relaxed on a polished obsidian seat. As soon as I was forced to my knees in front of him, his eyes, which were the color of a stormy sky, met mine. "Who is this?" His voice was quiet, yet it had a force that made the whole auditorium fall silent. The guardsman bowed his head and said, "We caught her crossing the border." "She smells like Bloodfang, even though she says she's not with them." Kieran's eyes remained fixed. "Is that accurate?" I raised my chin to meet his gaze. "I'm not with them. No more. His mouth quivered, nearly into a grin. "No more. Interesting word choice. Despite the tension in the room, I spoke steadily as I added, "They rejected me." "You and your pack are not in danger from me." He put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. "And why should I think so?" I said, "Because I wouldn't have come alone if I wanted to harm you." "And I most definitely wouldn't have allowed myself to be discovered." The room echoed with a whisper. Although Kieran's eyes furrowed, there was a glimmer of curiosity. "Brave. I will grant you that. The guard's commander moved ahead. "She's dangerous, Alpha. She used something, I noticed. Darkness Kieran's eyes became intense. "You say shadows?" I didn't say anything since I didn't want to give away too much. However, as if in response to his attention, the force awoke inside me. He said, "What are you?" in a calmer, almost inquisitive tone. I answered, "Someone trying to survive." He just gazed at me for a minute, his face inscrutable. Then, slowly and deliberately, he reclined back in his chair. "Survival is a weak justification for entering my pack." To my own surprise, I answered, "Then exile me." Or murder me. However, don't spend my time acting as if you are concerned about the facts. Deathly silence fell on the room. The guards stiffened, anticipating his response. However, Kieran's lips curled into a little grin rather than wrath. He said, "You're either very brave or very foolish." "Possibly both." Kieran was on his feet, taking up the space. "You claim that you pose no danger. that your only goal is to live. However, I've come to be cautious about strays. The term made me sour. "I am not a stray." "No?" He came down the daish's stairs and paused a few feet away from me. "Then demonstrate it." I scowled. "Prove what?" "You're valuable," he remarked plainly. "Prove to me that you're not just a fugitive who wants to die." I paused, my thoughts whirling. "What if I say no?" With a menacing sparkle in his eyes, he cocked his head. "Then you'll exit this area on your knees, just as you came in." My chest erupted in anger, and the surrounding shadows reacted by whirling like a real-life hurricane. Gasps rang down the hall, but Kieran didn’t flinch. "Do you want evidence?" I remarked, getting up in spite of the guards' objections. "All right. I'll prove it to you. Kieran's smile expanded, but it was not one of derision. Just a challenge. "All right. We'll check to see whether you're as powerful as you believe. He looked over at the guards. Bring her to the practice area. I'd like to see what she can do. Hesitantly, one of them said, "Alpha, is that wise?" "Probably not," Kieran said in a humorous tone. "However, wisdom is overvalued." My eyes remained fixed on Kieran's as the guards dragged me to the door. His intensity made my skin tingle as he observed me. One notion raged in my head as they led me out. This was not the end of it. By no means.