CHAPTER TWO: The Blood Moon’s Call

The forest was unnaturally quiet beneath the crimson light of the Blood Moon. The towering pines seemed to claw at the sky, their jagged silhouettes casting menacing shadows across the forest floor. A sharp chill hung in the air, pricking at Gaia's skin as she shifted restlessly in her small cabin. The oppressive silence of the night and the haunting glow of the moon gnawed at her nerves. It was as though the forest itself was holding its breath.

Gaia sat bolt upright, jolted awake by the same vivid dream that had plagued her for weeks. In the dream, she stood beneath the ominous light of the Blood Moon, her heart pounding in her chest as an ancient voice whispered through the air.

"The hour approaches, little wolf. The curse must be undone, or all will perish."

She pressed a hand to her chest, her heartbeat racing like a drum. The voice had felt so real, as though it had crawled into her very soul. Her gaze darted to the window. Outside, the Blood Moon loomed larger than ever, its eerie glow spilling across the forest like blood seeping into the earth.

A sharp knock on the door shattered the silence.

"Gaia! Get moving!" Atticus, the patrol leader, called impatiently.

Startled, Gaia stumbled out of bed, her limbs heavy with exhaustion. She grabbed her patrol gear and threw it on hastily. The graveyard patrol—a duty most wolves avoided during the Blood Moon—was hers tonight. She couldn't refuse. Omegas didn't get that luxury.

As she opened the door, the crisp night air hit her face. Atticus was already striding away, his tall frame silhouetted against the blood-red sky.

"Keep your wits about you," he called over his shoulder. "It's too quiet tonight."

Gaia didn't need the warning. Her instincts were already on edge. She adjusted her gear and made her way toward the patrol route, her mind still clouded by the remnants of her dream. The forest stretched endlessly around her, its usual chorus of nocturnal sounds eerily absent. The stillness was unnerving.

 Far from Crescent Hollow's borders, a lone wolf staggered through the dense woods. Kael Rivers' dark fur was matted with blood, his breaths shallow and uneven. The pain in his side burned with every step, a cruel reminder of the wounds he had sustained in his desperate escape. The Bloodfangs were relentless, their howls echoing in the distance like a death knell.

Kael pushed forward, his legs trembling beneath him. He had no choice. Stopping meant death, and he wasn't ready to give up yet. As he crossed into unfamiliar territory, the scent of wolves filled his nostrils. Crescent Hollow. He recognized it instantly, but the realization brought no relief. Pack wolves were rarely kind to rogues, especially ones bleeding on their land.

The Blood Moon's light painted the path ahead, casting everything in an unearthly glow. Kael clenched his teeth and kept moving. He had to survive. He had to find safety—even if it killed him.

 Gaia prowled the edge of the pack's border, her senses sharp. She'd been walking for an hour now, but something about the night felt wrong. The forest seemed too still, the air too heavy. Her footsteps were soft against the leaf-strewn ground, her ears straining for the faintest sound.

Then she smelled it. Blood.

Her heart skipped a beat. The scent was faint but unmistakable, carried on the cold breeze. She crouched low, her fingers instinctively brushing the blade at her side. The scent grew stronger as she crept forward, her eyes scanning the shadows. A figure emerged from the darkness, barely able to stand. His fur gleamed under the moonlight, dark and matted with blood. His golden eyes locked onto hers, burning with a mix of desperation and defiance. Gaia froze, her breath catching in her throat. Rogues were to be killed on sight. That was the law. Yet something about this wolf made her hesitate.

The rogue took a shaky step forward, his voice rough and hoarse. "Help me… or kill me. Just don't waste my time."

Gaia's fingers tightened around her blade. Her instincts screamed at her to act, to call for her pack. But the Blood Moon's glow seemed to intensify, casting its eerie light over them both. The rogue's golden eyes burned brighter, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice low but firm. "And why are you bleeding all over my territory?"

He huffed a bitter laugh, then winced, his body trembling. "That's a long story. One I don't have time to tell." His gaze flicked toward the forest behind him. "I am Ethan and they're coming. Bloodfangs. If you've got any sense, you'll kill me now and run." Ethan now shifted to his human form.

Gaia's blood ran cold. Bloodfangs. The name alone sent a chill through her. Ruthless and bloodthirsty, they were known for tearing through packs without mercy.

"Why are they after you?" she asked, her tone sharper now.

"Because I exist," he replied, his lips curling into a grim smile.

Before she could respond, distant howls pierced the air, closer now and too many to count. Her pulse quickened. She should have sounded the alarm, should have called for her pack. But something inside her whispered that this wolf was not the true enemy.

"Can you run?" she asked suddenly.

His eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

"I said, can you run?" she repeated, stepping closer. "Because I'm not letting Bloodfangs tear through my pack to get to you. So move, or you'll have more than them to worry about."

Kael hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "You're insane," he muttered, but there was a faint spark of hope in his voice.

"This way," Gaia ordered, turning sharply. "Keep up."

 The forest came alive as they ran, the Bloodfangs' howls growing louder, closer. Gaia led the way, her senses razor-sharp, every muscle in her body coiled with tension. She could hear Kael's laboured breathing behind her, his steps uneven but determined.

"Try not to die," she muttered under her breath.

"You've got jokes?" he panted. "Great. Dying with a comedian."

"Less talking, more running," she snapped, but there was a flicker of amusement in her tone.

As they neared the pack's border, Gaia's stomach sank. A massive wolf stepped out of the shadows, its eyes glowing red with malice. The Bloodfang scout snarled, its teeth bared as it lunged.

Gaia reacted instinctively, shifting into her wolf form mid-stride. Her sleek brown fur shimmered under the Blood Moon as she collided with the enemy. Snarls and growls filled the air as they fought, teeth snapping and claws slashing. The Bloodfang was larger, stronger, but Gaia was faster. She dodged his strikes with precision, landing a hard bite to his flank that made him howl in pain.

 Kael, still trembling, shifted into his wolf form. Despite his injuries, he charged at the Bloodfang, sinking his teeth into its shoulder. Together, they overpowered the scout, sending it limping back into the shadows.

Gaia shifted back, her chest heaving. "What part of 'run' did you not understand?" she snapped.

Kael shrugged, his human form reappearing as he leaned against a tree. "I'm bad at following orders."

Before she could retort, another howl cut through the night. Closer now.

"We don't have much time," she said, her voice grim. "Let's go."

This time, Kael didn't argue.

The forest opened into a small, overgrown thicket near the eastern edge of Crescent Hollow. It was a secluded spot, rarely visited by the pack, and Gaia knew it would serve as a temporary hiding place. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Kael was still following. He was lagging, his bare upper body damp with sweat and blood, his steps heavy and uneven.

"This way," she said quietly, brushing aside low-hanging branches to clear the path. The rogue grunted in response, too tired to argue.

Reaching the clearing, Gaia scanned the area. A hollowed-out tree stood at the base of a steep hill, its opening hidden by dense brush. It was small but deep enough to conceal Kael. "Get in there," she instructed, motioning toward the tree. He hesitated, his golden eyes narrowing.

"You're hiding me in a tree?" he asked, his voice rasping from exhaustion.

"Unless you'd rather bleed out in the open," she snapped, her patience wearing thin. Without another word, he staggered toward the hollow and crawled inside. Gaia crouched beside him, her hands shaking as she ripped a strip of cloth from her tunic to use as a bandage. His side was a mess of torn raw flesh, the blood sticky against her fingers as she worked to clean and wrap the wound.

"This is going to hurt," she muttered.

"Like it hasn't already?" Kael replied with a weak chuckle, wincing as she tied the makeshift bandage snugly around him.

When she was done, she stood and wiped her hands on the grass. "Stay here. I'll get you food and water."

Kael's head lolled against the hollow of the tree, his breath coming in short bursts. "Don't take too long," he murmured before his eyes fluttered shut.

 Gaia moved swiftly, retracing her steps back to the village. The weight of what she had done pressed on her chest like a stone. She couldn't believe she had just hidden a rogue—a wounded one at that—on Crescent Hollow territory. Her father would be furious if he found out.

After fetching a small bundle of food and a flask of water from the kitchen, she returned to the clearing. Kael was still inside the hollow, his breathing steady but shallow. She crouched beside him, placing the food and water within reach.

"Eat," she said. "You need your strength."

Kael's eyes opened slightly, and he gave a faint nod. "You're not half as cold as you pretend to be," he muttered, taking the flask with trembling hands. Gaia didn't respond. She was already standing, her mind racing.

"On no account" Gaia dishes out sternly "I repeat,on no account should you come out of here unless you want to risk your head…..and mine as well"

"Aye captain,even if I want to risk mine,I am definitely not risking yours" Kael said with a mouthful of food.

"Drink some water before you choke and goodnight" Gaia turned and took some step away from him,she turned swiftly

"I won't come out of here" Kael said as though reading her mind

"You said you are bad at following orders,I want to tell you now that if you are caught,I would deny you" She said and turned around and left. Kael watched her disappear. When he could not see her again,he looked down to the plate of food before him and started digging in.

 Back in her cabin, Gaia paced the floor, chewing on her lip. Should she tell her father about the rogue? Her instincts screamed at her to keep quiet, but the risks weighed heavily on her. If anyone found out she was harboring a rogue, it wouldn't just be Kael's life on the line—it would be hers too.

"Gaia?" Ethan's voice broke through her thoughts. She turned to see her younger stepbrother standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm fine," she said quickly. "Go back to bed."

Ethan frowned, but after a moment, he nodded. "Okay. Goodnight, sis." He shuffled back to his room, leaving Gaia alone with her thoughts.

Unable to settle her nerves, she decided to check on her father. Darius would still be awake, likely in his study. She crept through the hallways, her steps light, and found the door to his study ajar. Peeking inside, she saw him bent over his desk, studying a map of the territory. His shoulders were tense, his face shadowed by the dim candlelight.

She hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorframe. She wanted to tell him—wanted to confess everything—but the words stuck in her throat. What would he do to Kael if he found out?

As she turned to leave, her foot slipped on the wooden floor, the sound echoing in the quiet hall. Darius's head shot up. "Who's there?"

Gaia froze, her heart pounding. "It's me, Dad," she said quickly, stepping in the light.

His gaze softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "What are you doing up so late?"

"I… I couldn't sleep," she lied. "I thought I'd check on you."

Darius studied her for a moment, then nodded. "I'm fine. Get some rest, Gaia. You've had a long day."

She forced a smile. "Goodnight, Dad."

As soon as she was out of sight, she broke into a run, heading back to the hollow. She found Kael fast asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. She knelt beside him, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she looked around to ensure no one had followed her. Satisfied the area was clear, she leaned against the hollow and exhaled.

 The forest was quiet, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Her eyes darted to the shadows, searching for any sign of the Bloodfangs. Nothing. For now, the territory seemed safe.

Back in her cabin, Gaia lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts swirled with doubts and fears, but she resolved to see her plan through. Kael would stay hidden until he could walk again. Once he regained his strength, he would leave, and this whole ordeal would be over.

She told herself the hollow was the safest place to hide him. No one ventures that far into the woods regularly, and she would make sure to visit only when the pack was busy. First thing tomorrow morning, she would bring him more food and medicine.

As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder if she was making the biggest mistake of her life.