Chapter 1 of Hunter Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel
Tearing through the bitter cold in the dead of night should have been scary. The frigid air made streaming clouds of my breath as I ran through the woods. An enormous black Wolf to the left of me pulled his mouth back, revealing long sharp canines. He howled and plunged ahead. A few inches to his right and he could have easily taken me down. Of that I have no doubt. I wasn't afraid though. I was exhilarated.
The full moon shone down through the trees. It threw shadows off the tall pines, birches and oaks. We ran for about fifteen or twenty miles. It was difficult for me to tell as I hurried to keep up with the rest of the pack. The scenery sped wildly by, but I was much too aware of everything not to notice. I flew past towering walnut trees and bare forsythias. My large forepaws pounded the earth as I launched myself over fallen branches and dried out shrubs.
The smell of the woods mixed with that of my companions filled my sensitive nostrils. I could make out each distinct member of our party by scent alone. I listened and was deafened by the beating of our hearts, our breathing, the scurrying of small forest animals avoiding us, and the hoot of an owl as it clung to a tall tree overhead. Overwhelming? Maybe at another time I would have felt that way. But this was different.
It wasn't exactly as if time had slowed down. It was more like I was in every moment. Something I had never experienced before. I had no idea where we were going. I blindly followed the pack. Too focused on everything and everyone around me to be worried about something as ordinary as our destination.
My gaze landed on Ronan. He was ahead of me by a body length. I could make out every single strand of his red and gold fur. It made his coat glow like fire when the moonlight hit it. He moved on four legs with the same beautiful grace that he did on two. I often found myself watching him at school or when we jogged together. He was fast and agile. But more than that. He was elegant for someone so tall and muscular.
I wondered if I moved like that too. Was I graceful and competent? I didn't used to be. But everything was different now. He turned his long lupine head toward me. His green eyes burning in the darkness. I snorted at him and he yipped. He was checking on me as he had done several times. I didn't resent it as much as I pretended too.
It was the first time I'd run as a Wolf in the company of others. In fact I'd never seen a pack before. Even a small pack as this one was. I had googled Wolves in my spare time and knew I was much larger than a wild grey Wolf. Seeing the others before me made me realize I was, if anything, average sized for my kind. My fur was a dark brownish color and I had a platinum streak running down my muzzle. It matched the one in my hair that I got after my first change. I'm almost used to it. Well, at least I don't jump every time I see my reflection anymore.
I already knew what my Wolf looked like. I've seen her in my mind's eye, when she spoke to me. I knew the form I took now from my pointed ears right down to the tip of my furry tail. I was stronger, faster, and a lot more lethal like this. I think I might even weigh more as a Wolf than I do as a girl. My appetite certainly has increased. I'm thinking it must have more to do with my Wolf side since I haven't gained all that much weight. The pounds I've put on seem to be mostly muscle anyway. I am totally good with that since I looked a little like a string bean before.
The full moon hung low in the sky. Huge and golden it touched me with its light. I felt whole and strong with power. The air was thick with it. I used to always think of darkness when I thought of the night. But not now. The true light of the moon and the stars is always present, but we can only see it in the darkest night. That's something my Uncle Sean told me. He was right. It was incredible. Especially through these eyes.
Uncle Sean's huge shaggy blonde Wolf ran directly behind his father, Rolf. He was larger than the all of the rest of us except for my grandfather. He was a massive white Wolf with steel gray eyes and an unmistakable air of dominance. He led the hunt. Uncle Sean had advised me before we changed that this is the way it was done. Werewolves are pretty serious about their pecking order. Alpha's tended to get snooty if anyone ran in front of them. It was in their nature to be first, to guard the pack from whatever may lie ahead.
I ran somewhere near the back of our party. I wondered what that meant for me in the greater scheme of things. Guess I'm pretty low on the dominance list. That's just fine with me. The other Werewolves spent a few minutes snapping and growling before order was established and Rolf commanded we move. Ronan stayed near me and kept tabs throughout our run. There were four large Werewolves that flanked us on all sides. One was the black Wolf who liked to show off his fangs, two more were gray and another was a honey color. Guards, all of them. I didn't know their names. They hadn't been introduced to me when we met at my grandfather's new home base, which incidentally happened to be next door to my house.
Maybe I should back up a step. My name is Maria Graziana Kelly, most people call me Grazi (grah-tzee). A few months ago, I found out that I'm a real live Werewolf. Yup, that's right, I tend to get furry around the full moon. I'm also bound by an ancient pact my ancestors made to serve with the Hounds of God. They're like this mega Wolf pack who technically work for the Catholic Church. The Hounds have been fighting an age old battle against covens of Witches who want to claim dominion over the Earth for the Devil. You heard me correctly, I seriously mean the actual Devil.
My father before me was a Hound. He and my mother died fighting this battle when I was about three years old. I keep a picture of them next to my bed. I was raised by my maternal grandmother, Nonna Rosa. Hard to believe? You betcha. I didn't really buy it either until last night when I got all furry and fangy and ripped the throat out of my high school librarian.
Of course, I only did that after she turned out to be possessed by a Wendigo. A ravenous Demon who was responsible for several local deaths including a student at my high school, Sacred Heart Prep. Wendigos eat their victims. They crave human flesh. The more they consume, the deeper the craving. Scary, right? But they aren't the only things out there. This world is new to me, but I have to survive it. I just have to. To find out what really happened to my parents. And to avenge them.
The eight of us came to a clearing in the woods. Ronan stayed by my side and I waited as Rolf continued in the lead. I had no problem keeping to the rear. It was his right to lead. He was, after all, the Alpha. He stealthily crouched down. Everyone stopped and mimicked him. I did too. I could smell the small creatures we were stalking and my mouth filled with saliva. Ew.
Ronan had told me before we changed that we were going hunting. Rabbits. Six of them were tucked into a hole beneath the cold, dried up grass. I could hear their tiny hearts racing and it made me salivate more. Yuck. I'd never eaten rabbit, but the beast in me could have devoured the lot whole. I shuddered. I am so not normal. I shook my head which earned me a stern look from Mr. I-like-to-show-off-my fangs.
Rolf signaled with a swish of his tail for the guards to come in closer. Another swish, the lowering of his ears, and the hunt began. Rabbits darted in all directions, sensing our presence, and we chased them. I watched Uncle Sean shake his prize in his jaws until the tiny creature's neck snapped. He was busy digging in when I felt something strange. I let the small brown bunny I was stalking go and picked my head up. It was like something was watching me. Stalking me, the hunter. I didn't like it.
While the other Wolves took advantage of the power bestowed on us by the full moon, I watched the woods.
Our four guards were no longer guarding us. They were caught up in the thrill and satisfaction of the hunt. Ronan, Uncle Sean, and Rolf seemed intent on the game also. Not Me. No, I felt exposed. Threatened. Something was definitely not right.
I scanned the tree line for something, anything that could explain what I was feeling. Rolf yipped at me. I made a move to join him, but stopped mid-step. WereWolves can communicate, but it wasn't like the way I had talked to Ronan before. It was more like images and impressions. I could tell he was not pleased by my beh
avior.
I felt Rolf trying to pressure me. To bend me to his will. Hunt. Eat. Obey. I wanted too, I really did, but I forced myself to step back. Away from him and his commands. Not without struggle, mind you. But I managed it.
He bared his fangs, flattened his ears, and loosed a short growl. No. I would not challenge him. I dropped my eyes and took another backwards step. He turned his back on me then. His attention back on his prey. A large brown rabbit. Yum. My Wolf wanted some of the succulent, juicy meat, but I was in control.
I sniffed the air. I smelled Wolf, rabbit blood, the cold forest, and something else. Something a little off. Waves of color surrounded the Wolves. Mostly the same reds, oranges. They were stronger around Rolf and Sean. My Wolf eyes watched the colors for a moment.
I didn't know what they meant. I looked at the trees and they too had their own colors, greens and golds. It was strange and beautiful. Another advantage of my Wolf's eyes perhaps? I could only assume so.
I walked slowly in a circle surrounding the others. The feeling was back. Someone or something was out there. I continued to look among the bare branches and frost covered bark of the surrounding trees. My body stopped moving the second I saw them. A pair of glowing eyes. The same set I thought I had imagined just last night from my bedroom window.
They held mine for a moment before disappearing. I took off at full speed heading for what, I did not know. Only Ronan seemed to notice. He yipped and followed me. I could feel his disapproval. He wanted to stay and enjoy his prize. His Wolf belly grumbled loudly. Hungry again, for sure. I loosed a short howl and charged ahead confident he'd follow. I was glad to have him. I mean even after everything I had seen, who knew what waited for me in the darkness?
I stopped short in a small clearing. Ronan skidded to a stop directly behind me.
Someone's here, Ronan.
What? Where?
Wait, is that you? Can you hear me like this too? It was like an open line of communication between my mind and Ronan's had opened up. His thoughts voiced clearly in my mind and his impressions too. The foremost one was his desire to protect me. Always.
Yeah, Maria, I think I can. This is crazy. We should get back to the others.
Why? They won't listen. Rolf won't listen.
Where are we going then?
I sniffed the air. I smelled forest, the cold, a faint whiff of a bear that must have passed within the last day or so, and Ronan, his Wolf musk pleasant to my sensitive nose. There was something else. It was mineral like. Iron or copper. Nope. I knew what it was.
Do you smell that, Ronan? It's blood.
Yes, I smell it. Let's get back. Rolf is angry and he's calling us, can you not feel him?
I can, but it's faint. I can shake it off.
What do you mean shake it off? It's deafening.
No, it's more like a whisper now that we aren't near him.
What are you, Maria Graziana?
I don't understand.
I know you don't. Let's go. We will report what we have found?
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