Erika's POV
Derek took out a silver cylinder with a complicated pattern on it and a silver plate. He put the silver plate on a table and the other pack members stood around the table and formed a circle. I stepped back because I wasn’t supposed to join it.
Derek held the cylinder in his hands, closed his eyes, and murmured something that I couldn’t hear clearly. The other pack leaders all had their eyes closed, so I also closed my eyes.
After about three minutes, the murmur stopped and I opened my eyes.
Derek shook the cylinder in the air and then put it upside down on the plate. After a minute, he unscrewed the cylinder and removed it. I also approached the table to see what was inside.
There was nothing but several coins inside. They looked like coins but they were glittering like diamonds.
I looked at Derek in confusion.
“It's done. The Blood Day is next Wednesday.” He explained.
That’s it? A coin flip? That’s how you decide the time? I asked through mind-link.
“They are not ordinary coins. It had been used to decide the exact time of Blood Day ever since the forming of my pack. We can be linked with the Moon Goddess through these beautiful coins. Look how beautiful they are.” Derek held me in their arms and pointed at the coins.
Yes, they are beautiful. I looked at the coins carefully. There were seven coins on the plate and three had moons on their side, while there was a woman's back on the other four coins. I guessed that was why it was decided on Wednesday.
“Next year, you’ll be the one to do it.” He said while placing his chin on my head.
I raised my head and kissed him on his face. I had learned how to respond to him by kissing or hugging him when I didn’t know what to say. The fact was that I was tortured by guilt every time he talked about the future. I didn’t know what to do except kiss him as compensation.
We came back to the house. But he received a call and left soon. It seemed to be about the interrogation of that fat man who caused trouble during the meeting about the fight. Maybe they had found something in his house. I was not sure.
Derek kissed me goodbye. Now I was in the bedroom alone.
I took out my phone and texted Orsen, “Orsen, I know that you will come to the Blood Moon Pack this Wednesday. Can you get me some wolfsbane?” I didn’t want to involve him, but Derek would know immediately if I got it by myself.
Orsen replied immediately, “OK. But why do you need wolfsbane? You’re not gonna poison Alpha Derek with it, right?”
“Of course not. I won’t hurt anyone. I just need it.” I just needed it to hurt myself so that I could escape.
“OK. How much do you need?”
“I want half a pound of wolfsbane powder.”
“Are you sure? That’s enough to kill three adult wolves.”
“Yes. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill anyone. I can’t tell you what I’m going to do but I promise that it’ll be very safe.” I couldn’t reveal more to him.
“I won’t give it to you until you promise me that you are not going to hurt yourself with it.”
How should I persuade him to give me the wolfsbane without promising him?
At that moment, a message from Derek popped out.
“Hi, mate. I’ll work until late tonight. Sleep first. Don’t wait for me.” I threw the phone on the bed. Honestly, I didn't dare to look at it. It could remind me how cruel I would be if I betrayed him by escaping.
I took several deep breaths and picked up the phone.
“OK,” I replied.
“Will you miss me?” Another message popped out immediately.
“Of course.” I replied.
I put down the phone and looked at the empty room. Yes, I did miss him. The thought that I might never see him after next Wednesday plunged me into great sadness.
I made a decision that I might regret soon.
“Thank you, I think it over and I might not need it anymore.” I replied to Orsen and deleted our conversation.
I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. But for now, I didn’t regret it.
Wednesday.
Derek woke me up early for makeup. Today, Charles would come to visit Derek with his pack leaders to discuss the alliance because the last time the visit was ruined. I needed to welcome them as the Luna. After this, I was supposed to go back to the house while they would come to the meeting room to have a meeting. Yes, my duty was to be beautiful.
In the morning, Sylvia came here to help me with the makeup.
“Erika, haven’t you ever thought about learning how to use makeup?” Derek asked while he sat on the sofa waiting for me.
No.
“You can try it. Maybe you’ll find yourself like it,” he said in a light tone.
OK. I’ll try it. I mind-linked him with a faint smile.
Hell no. I knew I didn’t like it without trying it. Girls weren’t born to wear makeup. I was an orphan and no one taught me how to use cosmetics. But I played with daggers since I had a memory.
I came out with Derek to welcome them. Weeks ago, I welcomed Derek to my pack as the Gamma. Now, I stood with Derek and his pack leaders as their Luna to welcome my former pack. A lot was going on in my heart. I felt both nervous and embarrassed.
Soon, I saw two cars driving toward us. The cars stopped and people inside came out.
However, to my surprise, the man walking ahead was not Charles. It was a much younger and taller man.