Under a Paper Moon

I never took my eyes off her as she walked down the stairs on the alpha’s arm. She was smiling, most likely faking it to please her guests. I knew all too well that this was all a trap. I had a strong hunch. I remained close to the council alongside Rian and a couple other hunters assigned the task of protecting the council.

“Please enjoy some drinks while we wait for our food,” the alpha proclaimed as everyone sat down. Miranda sat in the seat adjacent to her fiancé, sitting across from Henry.

“So, my dear,” Henry asked of Miranda’s attention as he grabbed his bourbon glass, “We would love an introduction of who you are.”

“I am Miranda Fell,” she replied, “My father was a recent victim to hunters. He was the one that arranged my engagement before his passing.”

“Well he must have given us good reason to have him eliminated,” he replied to her, “What do you do for the pack?”

“I work at a bar,” she replied, “I am either a bartender or a server. And I’m at the bar most nights.”

“Most wolves advertise what their fur color is,” he continued to question her, “What color is yours?”

“Let’s not speak about that anymore, Henry,” the alpha stopped Miranda from answering, “I do believe that our opening course is ready.”

As the doors from the kitchen to the dining room opened, chaos insued. I watched as Miranda ran off as wolves stormed the dining room. I rushed to get the council out, killing a couple wolves swiftly. Once they were clear of the dining room, they ran to the cars while I chased after Miranda.
---
I ran out of the dining room as soon as I heard the wolves begin their attack. I managed to get outside, where I removed my dress and turned. It was extremely painful; every bone in my body broke and realigned itself as I felt my fur squeeze through my skin. I slammed my eyes shut and reopened them to my werewolf sight. Once my turning was finished, I was my white wolf, glorious and deadly. I was my inner monster, and I was siding against my pack. Tonight’s ambush was wrong.

“Hold it,” I looked up to see a cloaked hunter in front of me. It was one of the guards to the council. He had followed me.

I merely growled at him in response, lowering my head to the ground. I was trying to tell him to leave me be so I could help.

“Miranda,” he asked as he removed his hood and scarf. It was that hunter from before I moved in with Jack.

I bowed to him again before darting around him. I saw a brown wolf had back a hunter into a corner. I snarled at him and ran to pounce him, but a larger black wolf got me first. I looked and saw it was Jack.

Don’t you dare attempt to stop this attack. You are one of mine, you will follow orders. Attack the hunter.

And I did. I latched onto his arm and dragged him down to the ground. I tore into his shoulder, ripping him open, getting the dark crimson all over my fur. I turned around once the hunter was dead to find the one from my house standing there in awe. I locked eyes with him again, only this time it made something click in my head.
---
Miranda stopped moving for a time. The blood from one of my fellow hunters was all over her. But I saw in her eyes she was following an order she couldn’t refuse. As my eyes locked with hers, I began to understand things. But I was lost in my mind. I only thought about her.

She walked over to me and stayed at my side. She growled at the wolves surrounding us. She was protecting me. She looked up to me and gave me a signal to run. I took that chance and left the mansion. I could hear the whimpers escaping Miranda as I fled.
---
I woke the next morning in a cell. Straw was all around me and I looked down to find dirt caked onto my skin with dried blood all over me. I could feel all the pain from being attacked by the wolves I saved the hunter from. I shifted around and I looked up to see Jack towering over me.

“How dare you,” he slapped me across my face and spat at me.

“How dare I what,” I replied as I rubbed my cheek, feeling the sting of his slap.

“You let that hunter go,” he screamed, “You should have killed him.”
But I couldn’t. I felt like I needed to keep him safe. To be anything he needed me to be. Oh shit. I imprinted on him. That’s why I didn’t hurt him. Fuck.

“You and I will still be joined,” Jack yelled, “But if you ever see that hunter again, kill him.”

And that was another order. Only it was one I couldn’t follow. He was my imprint. Any order I receive to harm him, I can’t fulfill. Jack wasn’t going to win. I was going to protect that hunter.
And I was going to run away with him

Notes