The Dead Luna
Chapter 33- Worm

Chapter 33: 33- Worm

Aurora:

I gasped, air finally hitting my lungs. A huge grey wolf stood between my attacker and me, snarling at him.

Jai? I whispered.

He nodded at me and turned away to fight more rogues.

"You, silly. I didn’t call you here to fight but to tend to our pack members who might need medical attention," I muttered.

His beast didn’t answer me and lunged at another rogue.

I sat in disbelief, coughing and grabbing my throat.

My vision was still spinning when I looked to the left.

That was when I spotted Beta Brian and Alpha Blake’s wolves fighting. I didn’t notice them before.

When another wolf tried to rush towards me, I tried to stand up on my shaky legs.

And suddenly, Jai, who was already fighting a rogue, tackled him mid-air.

He slammed the beast to the ground and drove his claws into its chest. I didn’t notice when he took over his human form.

"Now get up, se*xy warrior," he said while panting, "You’re not dying today."

I coughed out a laugh and fell back. He offered me his hand, "You’re welcome."

And naturally, I grabbed it.

***

There was a bandage piece on my neck injury. The fight was finally over. The rogues retreated, dragging their wounded members with them.

Thankfully, none of our warriors died, but yeah, we were beat up.

I moved my head to look around and found cuts, bruises, and broken bones. My clothes were torn, the face above the mask was dusty, and there was a bit of itching on my cheeks.

And my hands?

I raised them to have a good look. They were burning.

Jai was walking back along with me, "There was no need to come and fight. As a doctor, you should have tended to the injured ones."

"Before a doctor, I am a warrior, love," he said, looking ahead, "If my pack needs me, then I can turn into a warrior."

He wasn’t looking at me, but something in me told me that he came here because of me.

"Jai," I lifted my hands, showing him the faint glow around my palms, "I think someone needs healing. See this?"

He stared at my hands with wide eyes and then reached out to touch my palm with his index finger, "That’s... that’s cool to touch."

Before he could say more, a familiar voice cut in, "Hey, you two."

I flinched and dropped my hands fast.

Alpha Blake walked past us, not even slowing down, "Good job. Now I need you both to reach the ground for assembly."

"Assembly?" I mumbled, but he heard. Of course.

"Yeah. Assembly. And I expect ears, not mouths— unless you’re dying for oral performance, and trust me, no one wants that."

I could feel my ears turning red in embarrassment.

We nodded quickly and watched him and Beta Brian make their way across the field.

"Oral performance..." Jai said more to himself, and when he turned to look at me, there was this mischievous glint in his eyes, "Should I tell you a joke?"

"Joke?" Was he crazy?

Before I could say no, he jumped right in before I could stop him.

"Johnny asked his grandpa. Do you still have se*x with granny?" he started with a straight face, "Grandpa says, yes. But only oral... Johnny asks Grandpa, What is oral? Grandpa says, I say, fuc*k you. She replies, fu*ck you too."

He finished it in such a deadpan tone—I lost it.

I laughed so hard that I was sure Alpha Blake and Beta Brian heard me. Holding my stomach, I doubled over.

The injured warriors were passing by, giving us that look with those subtle smiles. I punched Jai on his chest.

"What the fu *ck!"

Jai held my punch and grinned while looking at me, "I just wanted to tell you that oral has a decent meaning."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, yeah. I know."

***

The air still smelled like blood and fire. Warriors were dragging themselves together. Some were limping, and some were holding each other up.

We followed the others and stood in the half circle where the pack usually gathered. Kiara was there too, looking like she had just rolled out of bed.

Her eyes still seemed hazy from the drinks last night. A few other warriors were like that, too.

Alpha Blake stood in the center along with Beta Brian, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"You call yourselves warriors?" he growled, "You were snoring in your beds when our pack was attacked."

Jai silently slipped a chewing gum into my hand. Gosh! Jai must be nuts!

He also popped a piece into his mouth and winked at me when our eyes met.

Everyone was silent. Luna Raya also came out of her quarters. As a Luna, she was also supposed to accompany everyone in the fight.

At first, the excuse used to be her pregnancy, and now it was the excuse that her babies needed her when everyone knew that the babies were bottle fed and had nannies with them twenty-four-seven.

She could at least lead the people who were behind and give them a wake-up call. A Luna was supposed to be an equal leader along with her Alpha.

Kiara was standing there with her eyes cast down, her jaw was visibly tight. Alpha Blake’s eyes darted to her face, "You’re the head warrior," he said loudly, pointing at her, "And you were nowhere when we needed you the most. The rogues could have wiped off our pack, dammit."

Even Luna Raya looked uncomfortable. Her lips were pressed together like she wanted to say something but didn’t dare.

The burning in my hands had improved. I didn’t know what I was doing here when Alpha Blake was only interested in scolding Kiara unless it was done intentionally to insult her.

Suddenly, I felt Jai stepping forward with that casual, easy-going smile on his face. He raised his hand and started speaking without asking for permission, "Last time when Phoenix couldn’t save me, you replaced her with Kiara as head warrior," he said calmly, "But today?" his grin widened, "Today Phoenix saved lives. She fought without armor. She led and she bled... so..."

Oh, Goddess. Now I knew what he wanted to say. I tried holding his hand, but he freed it, staring right at Alpha Blake.

Did he just say that out loud?

He was the only one who could challenge an Alpha.

Alpha Blake’s face had turned into stone. And Kiara?

Ha-ha.

She looked like she wanted to explode.

And I?

I just wanted to turn into a worm and crawl into a corner.