Pull of the Moon - Chapter 3
#3 of Eben Black Series - Pull of the Moon
© All characters and storylines surrounding these characters belong to me, Eben Black..
Maximillian stood at six foot six. He oozed presence and power and looked like a true alpha. He was broad-shouldered, muscular, he must have done weights half the day to produce biceps like those. His fur was a blend of cream and beige, his head fur was the longest I'd ever seen on a wereanimal before. It was long, and thick, a deep colour of brown that rivalled that of Kane's chocolate eyes. He'd had to bind the hair back in a braid that cascaded down his spine and brushed the small of his back where his tail swished and cracked like a whip behind him, a deep brown coloured tassel of fur at the tip, each strand of brown hair looked smoothed and nourished. He could've been a poster boy for shampoo if his occupation as alpha werelion fell through. All that thick, muscular form crammed and strapped inside the pinstripe suit he now wore. It strained against him as he walked across the lounge and shook hands with Donovan. Donovan had been right. He and Maximillian were alike. They may not have looked like, but the hand shake and the look in those golden lion eyes screamed passion and composure. This was a wereanimal in modern times, a beast who knew and remembered he had once been human and could still pull off the dignified standing that no lion should've managed to hold.
Donovan introduced me and Kane. Bishop was nowhere to be seen, so I had a feeling he was headed up security somewhere while Maximillian and his lions were around. He'd come with three others, a lioness and two lions. The male lions all had the same brown hair, all long and almost wild-like. They all were handsome, and at the same time looked like walking advertisements for Tarzan. His lioness and alpha mate was called Nirvana. Odd name, but she was beautiful and Russian according to Maximillian. Her slender form squeezed into a crimson gown that spilled down her like a second skin. It did all you'd want a dress like that to do. It slimmed in your waist, and showed off the curves and cleavage at its best possible angle. Her hair was a deep maroon, almost dark red colour that spilled around her shoulders in thick curls. The lions had a thing for long hair it seemed. All golden-eyed too. Thick lashes flicked as she blinked innocent wide eyes across the coffee table at us.
Was it bad manners that we had sat at one end of the couches, and left the lions with the other end? For a human, perhaps. Not for beasts like us. Maximillian and Nirvana seemed to be the only ones relaxed it seemed. The other two were standing behind the couches and behind their alphas. Both were young, mid-twenties like me no doubt. The first who'd been introduced as Zeke looked more annoyed than anything else. He stood at around six foot two and was a true-blue athlete like his alpha lion. His golden eyes held composure, with a hint of anger burning deep inside. He was dressed in a simple dark red dress shirt, no suit jacket, black trousers and dress shoes. He had a left ear pierced with a silver loop. He stood, gazing out the glacial windows over LA, but his attention glanced over at Kane once or twice. It seemed Kane had found someone to pick on almost. Kane focused on Zeke, listening to the important conversation, but still keeping his attentions on Zeke the entire time. The second werelion was a man named Phillip. He was more relaxed than Zeke was. Perhaps his faith in Maximillian was so strong, that he'd stroll in to a penthouse owned by wolves for his alpha. He was taller than Zeke by an inch and held his hands buried in his pockets. He smiled across at us, across at me more than anything. His hair was the shortest, reaching his shoulders but still it was the longest hair I'd seen on a male besides Kane in a while. His golden eyes were heavy-lidded. I'd first thought he was possibly stoned, but some people hid behind boredom like they hid behind anger. Any form of emotion can be used as a shield against anyone's unwanted conversation if its practised hard enough. Phillip had donned a plain white T-shirt underneath a black waistcoat, a pair of black jeans and black boots, polished with a tiny silver buckle. He wore a silver ring around his left engagement finger and had a silver clasp that lined one of his ear's curve.
His whole attire screamed student. Zeke's screamed not-pleased-to-be-here.
I had not been listening while I looked over our guests. I snapped back and caught the last snippet of Maximillian's sentence.
"...the report on national television? You mean the massacres, Reed." He had lost his smile now, there was a sad look in those eyes that Reed had had earlier.
"You understand what this could mean for us all, as a whole, not just as individual species?" Reed asked.
"Wereanimals would be hunted like game on the Savannah. Blood would spill and hatred would fill people's minds when they considered us," Maximillian growled the last bit.
"Actions need to be taken, Max. If not for LA, then for our packs, our prides. The people we care for could be targeted and called monsters if we do not do something."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
"It needs to be looked into, that much is certain, but steps must be taken to ensure we do not fall to a pre-emptive strike. I propose a truce between our two houses. The wolves and the lions allied together. In all my time as alpha werewolf, no one has ever suggested such a thing, but it must be done, Max. When they knock on our doors and attack, would you rather not have the option of calling upon us, and vice versa? Our kin are of equal strength and getting stronger with each full moon that passes. That is the law. The longer you live, the more power is absorbed from the moon's pull." This was new to me. I looked a question at Kane, but Donovan caught it and explained, "There is a legend, a rumour, about the council that governs over us in mainland Europe. The council is made up of seven unknown wereanimals, said to be the most powerful, and their power has been derived out of the moon's influence. Each full moon that passes is like a drop being added to a glass. It does not look like much at the time, but with each passing moon a drop is added. There are legends that some of the council are over the age of one hundred at least. There is no immortality there, their deaths are possible, but the fact their survival has empowered them should be a testament to us all. Survival equals power, and power equals protection."
"I have heard how you run your pack though, Reed. Much like me, you are a man of compassion," Maximillian replied looking concerned.
Reed smiled and accepted the compliment, but added, "I foresee a but coming along."
"Indeed. You are compassionate, but compassion can only lead a kingdom so far. In time there are those that will doubt you."
"You speak as if you have experienced this?" I piped up. I had no recollection of wanting to ask the question, and I went still and wide-eyed when I asked. But Maximillian smiled and nodded.
"What happened?" Kane asked this time.
Maximillian considered us both and then said, "Your kin are well spoken and curious."
Reed smirked like a proud father and tousled my head fur. "Pups can be like that from time to time."
Maximillian nodded and turned to Kane. "You want to know what happened to me? What happened to my compassion?" he asked.
Kane nodded without a word.
"I was impaled on a blade and bled before my mate. In our bed I was pierced, while a young alpha attempted to take my crown by force." Maximillian unbuttoned his jacket and flashed his abdomen.
"Silver was used, or a weapon with high silver concentrate in the blade."
"You know your weapons," Maximillian congratulated, and nodded, "The spike was, from what my doctor tells me, forty-nine percent silver."
Kane whistled. He sounded impressed.
I said, "Is that dangerous?"
He leaned back so he could speak to me behind Reed, who had leaned forward during the conversation. "Put it this way, if a blade is stabbed inside your arm with a percentage of ten, then you'll scar as if you were human."
I gazed back at the exposed stomach line, a mesh of scars criss-crossed his stomach as if the person had skewered him and then slashed him.
Maximillian saw the curious glimmer in my eye and admitted, "If stabbed with a high concentrate of silver, it can sear and bubble like acid. The scars criss-crossed when I turned and the essence spilled off me."
I winced and Maximillian lowered his jacket, fastening it back in place. He touched a hand to Nirvana's knee and she held his hand in hers.
"Your healing though?" Reed asked. He'd been silent the entire presentation and startled me with his question.
Maximillian considered Reed for a moment and then said, "How do you know? The healing is slow but its happening week by week."
Reed smiled, a sad smile that looked haunted almost. "Lets just say I too have experienced high silver concentrate. You'll heal. It'll take months, perhaps years but you'll heal."
"That does not change the fact that it was a friend, a surbordinate that assaulted me. And like me, you live with your wolves. Do you trust them that much?" Maximillian asked.
"If that times comes, then I'll punish the one responsible and continue."
"But a severely wounded general cannot lead his armada into battle, Reed."
"But a cruel general will not have the respect of his followers if he punishes like a beast." Reed smiled as he said his quote.
"No one will be harming Donovan Reed anyhow," Kane announced. He'd eased back into the seat, arms crossed and legs crossed at the knee.
Maximillian looked at Kane, but it was Zeke who demanded, "What makes you so certain?"
"Because, in front of the wolves and the lions alike, I name myself Guardian of the alpha."
"Guardian?" Zeke repeated.
Maximillian explained, "He is the wolves version of our Renka. The man whose blood shall be spilled before the Kings'."
Zeke nodded and then replied, "I am Renka for our pride."
"Zeke is among the most powerful of us. He wanted position as second-in-command, or Garuda; the man who leads the second flight. But he is young and I proposed Renka instead," Maximillian said.
"Renka is better." Zeke sounded like he was persuading himself more than us.
"So Kane would stand against those who would challenge you, Reed? And until the last bone in his body is broken, no one can harm you. Not a wereanimal at least," Maximillian said.
"I had not expected such a binding from Kane," Donovan replied, "But it sounds right up Kane's alley, so I believe he will do the job justice." He smiled at Kane as he spoke and squeezed the man's knee.
Kane nodded and smirked as he turned and lazily gazed out the window. His moment done and finished.
Maximillian nodded too and then said, "You have the lions at your command if needed. Our combined strength alone will be impressive. But I believe we are not the last resort, Reed."
"You have always been a sharp-minded one, Maximillian. I have decided that forming alliances with all the other wereanimal groups in LA would be the best chance we have," Donovan explained.
"All of them?" Zeke demanded, looking astounded.
Maximillian raised a hand and Zeke stepped back. He was not alpha here. "You believe you can do it?" Maximillian asked.
"Alone. No. But if our combined strengths prove powerful and benefitial enough, then I believe others will coincide with us."
"In an ideal world, this sounds like the best possible idea. But you are asking for a lot, Reed."
Donovan nodded and steepled his fingers, leaning over them as he spoke his mind, those eyes lost in their haunted seas again. "Those who lead like traditional animals do will be the problem. The Tigers alone are worrisome. Their leader believes that the tigers should defend the tigers and dwell where the tigers dwell. The man leads like his beast and punishes by death. How he has avoided the justice system and authorities is beyond me. I have heard rumours, the man is a mafia leader as well as alpha weretiger. But he is violent and correct in one thing."
"Correct? How so?" I asked.
Donovan looked at me with those sad eyes and said, "Tigers do not run with wolves or lions in the wild. Tigers run alone, and alone the tigers shall run."
"Sounds poetic, but damn inconvenient for your plan and ideals then."
"Strength should be a big enough demonstration for the weretiger alpha. But like you said, Reed, the man is violent and believes he is the one and only alpha. He would not follow without reason."
"But how much strength is another issue for another night."
"Leave the tigers til last then." I had spoken again without thinking. I smiled apologetically.
"It does sound like a good tactic," this came from Nirvana. I smiled at her as my ears piqued when she congratulated me. "Befriend the others and then demonstrate the strength you have attained." She eased into the couch and crossed a leg over her other, the gown slid aside and her whole leg was revealed. For the first time I noticed how long her shoe's heel were. Six inches, easily. "Sound like a plan?" Nirvana asked when she knew everyone was watching her recline. Maximillian grinned proudly and then looked at Donovan.
"What do you say, Reed? Leave the troublesome beasts til we are stronger and befriend the more humane wereanimals for a time," he said with an inflated chest of pride.
"Sounds like a plan," Donovan said. He and Maximillian stood and shook hands across the coffee table. Nirvana and I exchanged smiles. Kane grinned across at Zeke, who in turn frowned back.
Maximillian noticed that frown and growled, "You should be thankful, we have been invited into a beautiful home and welcomed with open arms into a ploy that could save all our hides."
Zeke looked at Maximillian, defiance there in those golden eyes. He opened his maw to speak, and was stopped when Maximillian's hand shot out. He back-handed the lion, and made him stagger backwards.
"Be aware of your place, Zeke! You are Renka, not alpha, not King! Your opinion I welcome, but do not ever presume you are the final dictation here!"
I exchanged glances with Donovan and Kane, and I think we all shared the same thought: there was some inner conflictions still within the lions, but Maximillian was still trying for the king lion King persona.
Our meeting was interrupted suddenly when the door leading to the lounge was slid open and a werewolf poked his head inside. I recognised him as Daniel, he was about a year older than me in both age and Lycanthropy. He let his apologies show on his face, he was dressed in the same no-nonsense black suit, he'd undone the tie and loosened a button on his pale grey shirt underneath. His fur was a pale grey colour, those blue eyes darkened like black storms. A storm that would reign over the tides of the ocean at night. Those powerful eyes, and he was one of Donovan's most submissive werewolves. There was power there, but no desire to be alpha, so he wasn't. Donovan bid his excuses to Maximillian and disappeared through the door for a moment. There were muffled sounds and then Donovan reappeared. He asked that I and Kane go speak with Daniel outside. He would entertain our guests whilst a small problem was dealt with.
Small problem, he had said. Small problem? Small problem!
"Explain this to me one more time, Daniel. I'm having trouble processing this." I leaned back against the wall. I'd done what he'd done and loosened the tie and unbuttoned the shirt underneath.
Kane had disrobed from the jacket and had rolled up the sleeves on that sich brown silk shirt.
"A weretiger is rampaging in the industrial district of LA. Near the warehouses, on the shore. And the weretigers are denying involvement."
"Sounds like something that coward would do." Kane sneered as he spoke about the weretiger alpha.
"His name Nico, right?" I asked.
"Who? The alpha tiger?" Kane replied. He nodded in answer to his own question.
"Evidently Donovan will handle Nico when its needed, but right now we need to get down there and bring him in."
"Just like that?" Kane demanded, "A rogue wereanimals runs amok and we're on clean up duties because of the wereanimal protection Law?"
"Walker's Law was a God-send not long ago, Kane. Besides, Donovan's plan falls through if that Law stops working. At the moment we can fight, but probably not win," I explained.
"Speak for yourself."
I frowned at the other wolf and said, "Just please, help me out here. I don't wanna spill blood, whether it be human or feline. I'd rather knock him out and find out what's wrong with him."
"Do you think it could have anything to do with those massacres on TV?" Daniel piped up. I looked at Daniel like I'd never seen him before. "What?" he murmured.
"You could have a point there, pup! Kane, please help me out!" I demanded now, almost growling.
Kane looked at me, his defiance there, but he took a deep breath and replied, "Can we change first? I don't fancy fighting in this." He gestured to the clothes he wore.
I thought about it and then agreed. Quick change of clothes and we'd go see Bishop for some help.