Page 99 of Dark Moon Secrets

I have other words for what I experienced. Well, maybe not the words yet, but yeah, I suppose that was one way of saying what I had just gone through. An experience. One I hoped never to face again.

I opened my eyes, and this time, my pupils adjusted and focused. I was in my room. Cute, I thought it was my room after only a few nights.

How did I get here?

Not caring for the answer, the order of events of what had happened were now clear in my mind. I had been injured.

I moved and grimaced against the throbbing pain as I lifted my arms. They were heavily bandaged.

“You did well to fight that wolf,” said Luna.

“Is he… did I…” I couldn’t say the words as I let my arms fall back on the bed, the damaged muscles unable to hold them up.

Will this be the rest of my life? Doing what I had just done, killing other creatures for the sake of the coven for my own life.

More concerning was the idea my wounds could affect my ability to cast spells and use my magic.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I closed them, refusing to let them spill down my cheeks. I would not be so weak.

Not in front of Luna.

“You need to take it easy,” said Luna, resting her hand on my leg, her touch far away from my injured arms. Yet it still sent a flicker of pain through my body.

“I need to go. You’ve rejected me.” I pushed my head back into the pillow and opened my eyes to see the tin-pressed ceiling with raw wooden beams. This was meant to have been my home.

I guess I was getting my initial wish of not staying here.

“Wait… there’s been a lot of talking… especially after you… well, I’ll be blunt… killed a wolf. You proved you were on our side.”

So I had killed it. It was his life or mine, yet the act didn’t sit well with me. It appeared to have won me a much-needed favor with the Blue Wren coven.

“Was that what I needed to do because I slept with a wolf, who was a human when…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it. What happened between Al and me was between us because, well, it was special. Something was exchanged between us on a level I didn’t fully understand yet, and I didn’t want to have to explain it to anyone else.

“You know what, you catch on quickly. You should give yourself more credit.”

“Yeah, right.”

I went to move. I had to leave here. I wasn’t in the coven, and I wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t a witch, and they had made it clear I wasn’t going to be either.

Pain gripped my body, and I froze, gritting my teeth. Stars sparked around the edge of my vision as I tried to remain sitting. I gave in and lay back down on the bed.

“You need to rest and heal.”

“I need stronger meds,” I responded, tears from the pain close to sliding down my cheeks. I blinked them back, just.

“I’ll give you what we have. It’s the equivalent… it’s just worn off.”

“Don’t let it wear off again.” I closed my eyes against a wave of pain. I might’ve rejected her herbal drugs before, but now I wanted the strongest she had. In fact, I doubted they would be strong enough.

“What about my arms…” I couldn’t finish the question. I didn’t want to know the answer if it wasn’t in my favor.

They were shredded by the wolf’s teeth. I would need surgery for sure. That’s where I should be. In the hospital, in the operating room, having my muscles stitched together again.

“Pepper is an excellent healer.”

“What, I don’t need stitches?”

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