The First Wolf's Moon by Savannah Turberville (latest books to read TXT) 📖

Nicoli was holding her hand as he watched. She was giving birth. A maiden, that I assumed was Clara's ancestor, was telling her to push.

"Come on, Princess Amanda. You must push."

"I can't! I can't!" Amanda cried. 

"You have to. The baby is almost here. I can see the head." Gathering all her strength. Amanda took in a deep breath and pushed. Soon her screams were replaced with a cries of a baby. "It's a baby boy." Clara's ancestor said gathering the baby in swaddling cloth and handing him to Nicoli. 

"Thank you Clarice." Amanda said taking Clarice's hand in hers. 

"What shall you name him?" She asked. Taking her baby in her arms Amanda simply said.

"He shall be called Gabriel." The peace and silence was short lived when Amanda began feeling pain again. 

"There's another one coming?" Clarice said in surprised. She then banged on the door. A man who looked like Seth walked in wearing a knight's armor. 

"Samuel, take Gabriel." Nicoli said in a rushed taking the baby from Amanda. Samuel did as he was told and took the baby outside. 

"You have to push again Princess." Clarice said. Amanda repeated the process and soon another baby was born and this one was a girl. 

"Gabriella." Amanda said without hesitation. She was out of breath and tired when Samuel came in.

"The Black Knights are coming." He said in a rush handing Gabriel to Clarice. 

"Go." Amanda said before Nicoli could say anything. "Take the children and go." 

"I'm not going to leave you."

"You have to. For the children."

"No I won't."

"Nicoli please. This is my last request of you. You have protected me for so long. Now, it's time for you to protect another." Amanda said caressing his cheek. I knew he wanted to say more but he didn't. Taking Gabriella in his arms him, Clarice and Samuel left. When they were gone Amanda took off the necklace she was wearing. It was the amulet. She put it under her pillow when Eli and his men burst in. With a tired smile she turned to him.

"Your too late. I have already given birth to my children." Sadness and anger flashed in his eyes. Going to her side he took her hand in his. After a moment of silence Eli spoke.

"Why?" He asked, his voice cracking. "Why did you choose him over me?" 

"I love him."

"So much that your willing to die in his stead?"

"Yes." Amanda paused wiping a tear that had fallen for Eli's eyes." I am sorry that I couldn't love you." Meeting her gaze determination and desire replaced his sadness and anger.

"Make no mistake I will have you in this life or the next." Eli said through gritted teeth. He then raised his sword and pierced Amanda's heart. Like the Gray Wolf, Amanda met Eli's gaze as she took her last breath. 

I was then rushed back into the present. The amulet fell from my hand and I colasped. Nathan caught me in his arms.

"April, are you okay?" He asked. The images were still fresh in my mind. Amanda and Nicoli holding each other, kissing, laughing, and just being together. The way he looked at her with such desire. It was beautiful and it reflected in Nathan's eyes. 

"I'm fine." I said not looking away from Nathan. He reached his hand up and brushed away a tear.

"Yeah I see that." He said barely above a whisper. I could feel it. The same feelings Amanda had for Nicoli I had for Nathan. It overwhelmed me and made me feel at peace. 

"That's why you got angry when I went off with Ethan? You thought he had hurt me?"

"Yes. When we were kids everyone thought that Ethan wouldn't follow in the same footsteps as his ancestor, but we were wrong. Once you lost your memory your father took you and your mother away from us. He didn't want you to be apart of the pack anymore. Ethan's father Jason got mad and hunted your father and you down and-"

"He found us last year." The glowing red eyes I saw that night. The shooter's eyes. "But I don't understand why would he be mad that I left? Why would he care?" 

"Because of the prophecy."

"What prophecy?"

"The one about you." Richard said. "It states that the last remaining carrier of the Great Gray Wolf's blood will have great power and whoever can marry and have a child with the carrier will determine the future for all to come. If the child is born from one who is good then all will be well, but if the child is born of evil all will be lost."

"Great Power? Children? How the hell do you expect me to take all this in all at once? I mean, I just found out that I am a werewolf, that I'm the last of the first werewolf's bloodline and now your saying if I screw a good guy everything will be ok but if I make a mistake and screw a bad guy everyone will be doomed?"

"April!" Mom snapped.

"What, Mom, I mean come on is what I'm saying wrong? I don't think so." I sighed and stood with my back to everyone. " I know because my senses aren't heighten that I haven't had the pleasure of shifting. So, when will that happen?"

"Tomorrow, on your seventeenth birthday." Mom answered. After everything I thought nothing could surprise me but I was wrong. So soon. Since Dad died I stopped celebrating my birthday and now not only do I have to remember what happened I also have to go through a probably an excruciating experience. Yay. 

"Is tomorrow the day of the First Wolf's Moon?" Mom nodded slightly. "Good." And with that I went back to Nathan's room and rested for the rest of the day. I knew the pain would come over me tomorrow. The snapping and moving of my bones and muscles. It would be like I was tortured until it ended. Every now and then Clara and Nathan would come to see if I was okay. I would answer with a simple "Of course, I'm just resting" or "I'm preparing myself. I need my strength for the shift." But the truth was I couldn't sleep. The thought of changing into a beast and not being normal anymore made me feel as if I was a monster. Going through Nathan's nightstand I found a notepad and a pen. 

Dad, 

    It's almost been a year since you left me and as the days go on I still feel the pain of your lose. You was my rock and my best friend. Now that your gone I've stumbled upon stuff that I don't yet understand. The fear I feel is a choking hazard and the fact that you won't be beside me to help me through this change makes the fear grow. Daddy, if you get this. I beg you, please be with me when I shift. Only you can help me through a time such as this. I love you Daddy. Please be with me tomorrow. 

Standing I went to the living room and burned the letter. As I did tears rolled down my face. Feeling numb I went back to the room and fell asleep. Dreaming of a new life and of the Gray Wolf howling at the First Wolf's Moon calling me to join her. 

Chapter Four: The Shift

Waking to the sound of chirping birds. I slowly got up and went to the living room. Really taking in my surroundings  I saw two plush black leather couches facing each other with a polished brown coffee table in between them.  There was a love seat at the end of the coffee table and a stone fireplace at the other end. The walls were decorated with pictures of Nathan's family and Indian art. The kitchen was just around the corner. It had polished marble counter tops and a island with a pan rack above it.The stove was a flat top and the cabinets were made of polished oak. The stainless steel sink was to the left wall and had a window where you could see out into the woods. Going back into the living room I saw glass sliding doors and a patio. Making my way out onto the patio and saw a very comfortable looking picnic table to my right near the steps. Taking a seat I took in a deep breath. It felt good to breath in something that would never change. Seeing the sunlight shine through the trees, hitting them just right, made me smile and be filled with a sense of peace and happiness. The sun warmed my skin as I admired it's beauty. I loved this time of day. Dawn. The time where no one was up yet and you was alone. The sincerity was something I've been missing for along time. Closing my eyes and basking in the sunlight a warm hand rubbed my shoulders. 

"Good Morning." Nathan whispered in my ear making my heart skip a beat. To feel his hands moving over my shoulders and gently brush against my neck with his thumbs was something that made my heart beat so fast it felt like it was about to explode. I didn't want to pull away but I knew I had to. Guys like Nathan were sweet and nice but I barely knew him. It scared me how quickly I could fall for him. 

"Nathan, are you like your ancestor? Are you my protector?" I asked turning to face him. Looking into his eyes all I saw was relief and a desire. The same desire I saw last night. He nodded. I began to feel nothing but disbelief and anxiety rise. Keeping calm I asked the question that plagued me ever since I saw the past. "So staying with me, being nice to me, being my friend, is all apart of your job?"  A sharp pain shot through my chest and the longer he stayed silent the more it spread throughout my body. Nathan seem as if he was having a internal war with himself. He took a step back. 

"I'm sorry, April." That's all he said and that's all he had to say. Adverting my eyes and turning to face the woods again I simple nodded. 

"That's what I thought. It's okay, at least you didn't take it too far. Besides if the roles where reversed I would of done the same thing." I said keeping my composure. The sunlight held no more warmth and the morning wind was colder than when I first came out here. "I'm going to go for a walk." 

"Would you like me to come with you?" 

"No, that's okay. I'll be back before anything special happens." I said forcing a smile. I then made my way pass him and back inside. As soon as I closed the glass door mom came in with my duffel bag in her hand. 

"Hey hon-." She stopped seeing my expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. What's in the duffel bag?"

"Your clothes."

"Is my cell phone in there?"

"Good." I said taking the duffel bag and shuffling through it until I found my phone and earphones. When I did I made my way out the door and down the stairs and into the woods I went. I felt Nathan's eyes following my every move until I was out of sight. As I walked I began