Page 10 of Dark Moon Secrets

Daylight fading fast was a struggle, and the beams were not up in five minutes. But Rafe sweetened the hard work by bringing out a case of draft beer.

Something was up. Dad never did anything like this, not unless he wanted something.

I sat on an upturned plastic crate, beer in hand, my T-shirt sticking to my back with sweat. Raine sat nearby on the dusty ground, still a bit dark with me, sipping his beer as if it would change his life.

“I reckon I’ll take the boat out on Saturday,” said Tyr, excited about the chance to go fishing.

“That’s if we get Saturday off,” I grumbled.

The beer cooled me down, the bitter, hoppy taste refueling me after a long day of hard labor. I finished the can and reached for another.

Maybe that’s why we were given beers. It was only Monday, and we were ahead of schedule, but it was never enough for Rafe. With more money, the pack was stronger. We all got it, and that was why we worked so hard for him.

I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever get the respect from the pack to lead them. But it wasn’t like I’d get a chance anytime soon, and more than that, how was I to learn when I was always in his shadows?

“He’ll give it to us. It’s too much otherwise, and he’d have a rebellion,” said Raine.

I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t so sure.

“I’ve heard whispers he’s been having more meetings with the pack’s elders,” said Tyr.

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow, interested to know more.

How had I not known that? Maybe Dad was right, and I’d been spending way too much time looking for women at night and the other pleasures that came with that.

“Yeah, but my old man won’t say much… says he’s taken an oath as an elder,” said Tyr.

“But he’s said something?”

“Something about the witches. It’s big, and it’s got him nervous and excited all at once,” he leaned forward, whispering so only I heard him.

“What do you think it could be?”

“I don’t know, but I reckon we’ll find out.”

I glanced around, noticing everyone on the worksite had gathered, drinking, chatting, and wiping sweat and dust from their faces. It had been a hell of a start to the workweek. Most of the pack was here on this site, the others coming in from other construction sites that were ongoing around Katoomba.

Rafe cracked open a beer, the sound silencing the chatter in the group.

“Good work today.” He looked around the group as they shuffled closer.

The elders moved to stand behind him. This was top-shelf serious.

“There’s been some rumors circulating,” he started. “Now, I don’t know what had exactly been said or made up, so I will tell it to you straight.”

Fuck, I’d been an idiot not to get on top of this. What can I say? Would it matter if I had? It wasn’t like Dad trusted me.

“Too long the witches have constrained us and what we could do.”

A few mumbles of agreement echoed around the group.

“Our numbers are low. Inbreeding means we risk losing our pack, who we are… wolf shifters.”

Several members howled.

“We have the right to turn humans if we want.”

The energy of the pack intensified.

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