Page 9 of Luna Ascending

As I slow to a halt beside her I catch her scent – it's fresh, pine and lilac mingled together. It's gorgeous, and it's most definitely human. She is a plain old, normally ageing, normally ailing and entirely non-shifter-like human.

I take a deep breath expecting to feel disappointed and realise I don't really give a fuck. It's a bit weird, my wolf doesn't normally have much time for she-wolves, beyond a quick fuck, never mind humans. He still definitely wants to know this girl, intimately.

The friend quickly takes the hint and scoots off giving me some time to turn on the charm. I'm grateful - I'm oddly impatient, and not really in the mood for small talk with a third wheel.

Chapter Five

Aaron's POV

Fucking FUCK – called away to a family emergency just as I was getting to know the most interesting girl I've met in a decade.

It sounds serious - I've no choice, I have to leave immediately. My wolf protested so loudly and the girl's eyes were so gut-wrenchingly hurt that I swung away quickly to avoid their reproach. I didn't even get her bloody number. Smooth, Aaron, very smooth. I run a hand through my hair and try to clear my head from her intoxicating smell.

I shake my head to clear my brain of its fuzz as I career towards my parents' private estate, first on the motorway then on tiny single-track roads. Tavey's motorbike is on my back tyre as we reach the turn-off.

My father said very little on the phone but he had a panicked tone I've not heard from the alpha before, but then, whatever the hell it is, it involves Aurora. The thought of something wrong with my baby sister makes me gun faster up the last 200 meters of drive and I come to a halt in a spray of gravel at the front entrance.

The wave of relief that hits me when I see my little sister sitting on the chaise longue in the study is short lived. She tearfully retells her story between hiccuped sobs.

My sister has always been a wild child, and my parents were increasingly alarmed as she reached her mid-teens. They restricted her access to family funds to curb her extravagant behaviour.

Not to be deterred, and ever resourceful, Aurora explains how she set about trying to find alternative sources of income while in her first year at university.

My parents, I assume, were hoping Aurora would find a nice grounding job, calm down, and stop her spending sprees. Instead, she found an advert for student shifters to make money by signing up to 'drug trials'. She and her friends had greedily enlisted after learning just how much money they could make if they were selected for all three trial stages.

“I realised quickly the Coven were running the trials” Aurora says hesitantly, taking fervent glances at my father, gauging his reaction. He takes a hissing breath in and nods curtly, forcing her to continue.

“I... I thought I was being clever daddy,” she sounds like a little girl suddenly “I made up a surname, so the pack wouldn't be involved.” My father's low warning growl halts Aurora's story mid-track, and she looks falteringly at me for support.

“It's okay Aurora,” I pat her arm gently “but we need to hear this... keep going...”

She takes a deep breath and steadies herself. “I was super-excited to make it as far as the third set of trials – I felt fine through the first two trials, and the third was where the big money was!”

I can't see where this is going and my thoughts are whirring. I try very hard to keep my temper in check and not rush Aurora. She's obviously hurting, but the story is getting more and more perturbing. I hate any of the pack being involved with the Coven, especially my little sister.

There's an excruciatingly long pause before Aurora starts sobbing. “ I can't … I can't shift. Not since the trial started... and... and” her voice dips to a strained whisper “I can't even feel her any more. I can't feel my wolf!”

The room is in uproar, most of the council are, like me, hearing this for the first time. The angry questions, the shouting and upset dull to a background hum as I take in Aurora's huddled sobbing frame. She's right - I can't feel her wolf. I can't mind-link her.

I bundle my baby sister up like she's seven and not seventeen, and carry her away from the turmoil, trying to suppress my rage until I can settle her in her bedroom.

When I get back to the council rooms it hits me what a massive blow this is, not just to Aurora, but to the pack. The only daughter of the pack's alpha, stripped of her wolf by the fucking Coven and no way of knowing if it's temporary or permanent.

My mother, the Luna, is clinging desperately to the hope that it's a spell which will wear off. I've a deep foreboding inside, and an empty space where my sister's wolf should be.

The Coven, the absolute bastards! Everyone knew they were growing in power but I don't think even the council members were aware of how far they were dabbling in forbidden majiks until tonight. Something needs to be done, and quickly. I just hope my father is still enough of an alpha to do it.

Chapter Six

Freya's POV

The morning is a fucking disaster. Who the hell decided to run an event that goes on after midnight on a bloody school night? Liz can just fuck off the next time she suggests something like that, the event hosts can fuck off too.

I grumble to myself, hunting frantically for my woolly skirt and woe-begotten tights in the overflowing laundry basket. Everyone who went along for a laugh and doesn't need to work today, they can go to hell too!

I skitter out the flat pulling unironed clothes on and cursing everyone I can think of. I slide up to the bus stop just as the doors shut. Bloody typical! I make a prayer gesture to the driver to open up again and let me on.

“Running late this morning Miss Faye?” he grins, watching me fall up the steps. He gets the brightest smile I can muster through the brewing hangover and a panted thanks.

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