Chapter 12
In front of the door before Rafael were the Alphas of three of the four major packs in the moon region.
"Rafael?" Elijah asked. "Are you ready?"
"To deal with scheming, egoistic, power-hungry pricks…" Rafael replied dryly. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Elijah let out a small laugh.
"I trust you, Alpha," he said. "You'll show them who's boss."
Rafael didn't answer. He was mentally preparing himself.
In the moon region of werewolves, after the great war with vampires, the four major packs had kept the balance. But it was a fragile balance. The slightest mistake and there would be war. The only reason there hadn't been too much conflict was that everyone was wary of their night neighbors, the vampires.
Rafael pushed open the doors and walked in, Elijah behind him. For these meetings only Alphas and Betas were allowed in.
Standing in front of the table, Rafael recognized every Alpha present. He walked to the first Alpha, Moran of the Black Moon pack. A short, stocky man, the oldest Alpha present. Rafael stretched out an arm to shake him, as was polite etiquette.
"You have travelled far," Rafael began.
Alpha Moran's eyes twinkled. He reached out to shake Rafael's hand.
"It is an honor to be hosted by the Red Moon pack."
Rafael moved on to the next Alpha. Lydia, the ruthless Alpha queen of the Silver Moon clan. She looked small and fragile, but she had led her pack to greatness at the tender age of nineteen.
"You have travelled far, Alpha queen of Silver Moon." He stretched out his hand to shake hers.
"It is an honor to be hosted by the great Red Moon pack."
There was a sly smile on her face as she shook his hand.
He moved on to the last Alpha. Siluren of the Blood Moon pack.
Rafael stood before him and stretched his arm forward.
"You have travelled far, Alpha Siluren."
Siluren looked at Rafael's hand, lips widening into a mocking smirk. The Blood Moon pack was the most ambitious pack, always hungry for more territory. Always hungry for war. Recently, they had grown more and more antagonistic towards the Red Moon pack. Rafael had been wary they'd cause trouble during the treaty. Looks like his premonition was right.
Siluren stared at Rafael like he was trying to apply pressure with open provocation. No. Rafael would not take the bait. Not now anyway. Siluren would learn that the Red Moon pack was not to be messed with. But not now.
Rafael withdrew his hand and walked back. He gestured to the grand table behind them.
"Let the meeting begin."
They walked to take their positions at the table. Rafael sat at the head, Siluren opposite him, his eyes fixed on Rafael. An effort to intimidate him? Rafael almost snorted. Siluren was welcome to stare all he liked.
There was a moment of silence, like predators sizing each other up.
"We all know why we are here today," Rafael began. "To foster a treaty between us and the night creatures. We must present a united front to make sure everything goes as planned."
Alpha Moran nodded.
"Yes. The treaty must be renewed."
Rafael had expected Moran's easy agreement. He was an old wolf, more inclined to peace. It was the other two he had to worry about.
"No!" Siluren announced loudly.
Rafael glared at him.
"Five hundred years ago, those bloodsuckers marched into our lands. Killing wolves. Desecrating our land. We lost because we were unprepared. I say we pay them back. Those bloodsuckers are an abomination against the moon. I say we eradicate them."
Rafael stared into Siluren's black eyes with contempt.
"Did you learn nothing from the last war?" Rafael asked. "You want death and destruction, for it to happen all over again? Just for some petty idea of payback? Even a pup would know the folly of such."
Siluren burst into derisive laughter.
"I have always doubted your reputation," Siluren sneered. "But you are just a coward who inherited his father's legacy. Oh, I'm sorry. Your father was weak. No, I mean your grandfather's legacy."
Instead of anger, Rafael felt confusion. He knew the Blood Moon pack was usually war hungry, but there was something urgent about the way Siluren tried to provoke him. It put him on guard. What was Siluren playing at?
"Do I need to disprove my supposed cowardice by engaging in your brand of folly?" Rafael asked dismissively.
"Siluren, war is to be avoided, not sought out," Moran replied.
"There is balance. Why disrupt it?" Lydia added.
Rafael was satisfied. No one wanted war. Siluren was fighting a lost cause. And yet he didn't look put out at all by everyone dismissing his claims.
"You will see reason soon," Siluren said. "Because the war will happen whether you're here to see it or not."
---
Julian heard a knock on his door.
"Rafael?" he wondered.
"It's Maxine," a soft voice came through. "I'm Rafe's younger sister."
Julian was surprised. Even though he had been introduced to the pack, he'd only really met Rafael's mother. He scurried across the room to open the door, nervous. What if she didn't like him? Had Rafael told her what he was?
He opened the door shyly. She was a bit taller than Julian, her bright hair probably dyed catching the light. Her irises were the same striking shade as Rafael's, if not a touch lighter.
She smiled warmly, then let out a squeal after glancing at him.
"Rafael is so lucky! Such a pretty mate!"
Julian didn't know what to do with her obvious excitement. His cheeks heated.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Oh, sorry, come in," Julian said quickly, moving aside.
She entered, holding clothes in her hand.
"What's your name, sweetie?" she asked.
"Julian," he replied.
There was something warm and open about her that made him relax.
"I'm so happy my brother met you!" she said. "He's been waiting for you for a long time."
"I've been waiting for him too," Julian replied.
She looked at him for a moment, as though she could see straight into him.
"We're going to be good friends, Julian," she said. "But first, business. It's almost time for the vampires to come, and you need to appear with Rafael as his future Luna."
"Vampires?" Julian asked in surprise.
"Yes." She nodded immediately, as if it was completely normal and vampires weren't the stuff of nightmares. "You don't know about the treaty?"
Julian shook his head.
"Ever since the great war," she explained, "the vampires and the four main packs meet every fifty years to maintain the treaty. Our pack is hosting this year. And since you are his Luna-to-be, you must appear with him."
Her words sent Julian's anxiety spiraling.
---
Minutes later, Julian was walking almost too close to Rafael, so close he could feel the slight ache in his chest. He wore the most expensive clothes he'd ever touched. Around them stood people who looked very dangerous.
They stood beneath the full moon, facing the barrier of darkness.
Julian remembered Maxine's words of advice. Just focus on Rafael. He will protect you.
Suddenly the tug in his chest grew. It felt strange.
A chariot made of darkness, pulled by dark horses, came through the barrier. There were two carriages, racing forward until they stopped right in front of them.
Julian's eyes were drawn to the first carriage. Someone stepped down from the coach and opened its door.
Curiosity filled Julian. He had never seen a vampire before.
Someone stepped out.
Julian saw him and it felt like time had stopped.
The vampire was tall and pale, ethereal in the night. His long platinum hair was tied in a single French plait, his red irises glowing against lips as red as blood. Dressed all in black, there was something beautiful yet tragic about him.
Something inside Julian clutched into place.
A single word was wrenched from him.
"Mate."