_Paris_
A lean figure stood out in the gloom of the dirty streets. She walked all dressed in black, the hood of her long cloak hanging over her back. Illuminated only by the light of the torches, her long blond hair falling on her frail shoulders fascinated beggars and peasants in search of a penny to survive until spring. Gentlemen bowed before her while paupers and harlots, recognizing the pure features of the alabaster-skinned woman, fled to find refuge in the depths of the capital. The heels of her high leather boots stopped hitting the icy pavement, and she looked up as she stood before a simple wooden door. She knocked three times with the tips of her phalanges and waited. A peephole revealed itself in the door, hidden by a simple wooden strip. "The password?" croaked a voice from another age. A slight smile played on her red lips, and she leaned forward to whisper: "Ouvre cette putain de porte, orchidoclaste avant que je te fesse les joues. (Open the fucking door, orchidoclast (medieval french insult: ball breaker) before I spank your cheeks.)." "Miss Emmanuelle, you know there's protocol," complained the voice from the other side of the door. She laughed darkly and stood perfectly still. A sigh was heard, and the door slowly opened with the metal hinges creaking. Emmanuelle entered and stopped for a moment to shake her head at the guard. She put her fists on her hips and gave him a mocking smile, "Was it so hard to open?" "I'm just obeying the master's orders," the deformed-featured doorman grumbled as he kept his eyes glued to the floor. His hunched back showed his deformity while the pox marked his skin. Emmanuelle delicately approached her fingers and gently lifted the chin of the hideous creature who served as the building's janitor. "Why are you not yet one of us? By our blood, you could become much prettier." The red rose at once to the cheeks of the porter, unaccustomed to such attentions of his masters' kin. "I do not wish for it, Miss Emmanuelle." "But you're so hideous," the alabaster-skinned young woman cut in at once. Her red-rimmed blue eyes took on a darker hue, and she came to place her face a few inches from his. "You are not stupid, though. You know my people, and I can give you beauty and eternity. "I know that I am ugly in your eyes. But I was born mortal and wish to remain so. I know that I am hideous and do not care. The Lord made me so, and so I shall remain. Emmanuelle curtly withdrew her fingers from under the doorman's chin and clicked her tongue in disgust as she began to walk again. "You worship your god and unashamedly serve monsters that his church despises. May your soul be of value to your maker when you stand before him." She began to walk through a maze of corridors, opening doors and taking several stairs that led her into the depths of the belly of Paris. Finally, she reached a gallery that led her into the catacombs, lit by the lights of candles placed on unknown skulls. The mournful music of a harpsichord was played, mixed with the muffled cries of the servants who had come to give their blood. "Emmanuelle," called a male voice, soft and sophisticated. "Approach, then, child of my clan." She rolled her eyes, annoyed by the pompous atmosphere of the place and the bows the humans made to her as she approached. A servant pulled out a chair dressed in gold leaf, and she unceremoniously sat down. "Why have you called me, Augustin?" she asked, holding out her black cloak to the servant. She lifted her chin and winced, seeing the vampire of legend before her. "Why have your eyes turned so red, Augustin?" The vampire stood before a throne placed on a pile of skulls. This uncrowned king was dressed simply in black pants, leaving the nearly translucent skin of his muscular torso for his guests to see. His long wavy blond hair, proof of his kinship with Emmanuelle, fell gracefully down his back and was held back only by a red scarf. He carelessly wiped his bloody forearms with a silk towel. Then, with feline grace, he went down the few steps separating him from his guest and came to support his hands on the end of the chair's armrests where Emmanuelle had taken place. He laughed softly at the placid and unimpressed look she had before him. Then he leaned into her ear. "Don't talk to the rascals, young Emmanuelle." She puffed out her cheeks and made a loud pff as she released the air between her lips. "You brought me all the way here to tell me that? And, what rascal are you talking about?" "The doorman, my sweet Emmanuelle," the vampire replied graciously. "He's a rascal, and you let him guard your door?" she scoffed. "He guards my door because he's a rascal. There's no better sniffer dog to detect vermin than vermin themselves, my sweetheart." Emmanuelle pretended to gag. Then, with a sweeping movement of her hand, she chased away the young man who had come to present her with his neck. " I already dined, thank you, "she indicated to him, a soft smile on her lips. Augustine's eyes kept going from his offspring to the main course. When he had enough, he tucked one of Emmanuelle's long blonde locks behind her ear. "You've always been fascinated by the food." She glared at him and, in turn, placed a crazy lock behind her clan leader's ear. "They are alive and capable of reason and judgment, Augustin. Besides, I'm waiting to see the day you fully realize that." "And this is the sad reason why you only feed on pigs?" he muttered with a frown. They both fell silent, silently continuing to challenge each other with their eyes. She did not see any interest in answering him. Besides, they had already had this conversation last century. "Why did you send for me, Augustin?"Augustine took Emmanuelle's hand and pulled her to him. Then he placed his hand on her arm, and they began to walk through the catacombs. "We have received a message." "Very good. And, what does this have to do with me?" she interrupted at once. "The Council is asking us to guard a human," he announced casually. Emmanuelle immediately stopped walking and looked up at her clan leader. "A human?" "An unborn human," sighed Augustine as he, in turn, turned his head toward her. Emmanuelle looked around, then laughed. "I heard your request. I've heard your request, but before I do, can you confirm that you haven't drunk the blood of a drug addict?" Augustine laughed and nodded. "The order came from the Council, my sweet. So, against all odds, you are the best choice to serve as the child's guardian when her soul enters the cycle of reincarnations. Your lack of appetite has always worried me deeply, and it now seems
_ Harry, 18 years old._ "Don't worry, Harry. Everything will be fine." "You have Alpha blood in you. No one else is more qualified than you." "Did you see his wolf?" "Praise the Moon Goddess. Your father has left the pack an heir! "Too bad your parents will never get to see your Alpha ceremony, Harry. They would be so proud." "He looks much older than his eighteen years. It will be easier to establish his authority over the pack." "The Red Moon is counting on you, Harry. "He's a little young, though, isn't he? Do you think he'll be okay? "His wolf is a real war machine, and they say he's already mastered it to perfection. "He's chosen a Beta already, you think?" "The rumors are that he chose Connor." "Connor? Yes, that would be a good choice. He'll make a first choice second in command." "Do we know how his parents...?" "A rogue killed his father. A treacherous attack. His mother's heart cou
Harry entered with a determined step. He was reassured to know that the Mad One had not yet arrived. "Hey, Harry, hi! Welcome to the Crossroad Cafe!" the two young Wind Tribe members said in unison. The brother and sister standing in front of him shared some common features. They both had wavy black hair and brown eyes that shone with kindness. They wore a black T-shirts with the Café logo. The young man had dark jeans, while his sister wore a long skirt with ethnic patterns. She had a ring on each finger. "Aiyana! Mat!" greeted Harry in turn. The Red Moon Alpha hurried to the bar, where his friends, with whom he had played so much as a child during his visits to the Café, were standing. "We'll have to be careful what we call you from now on," Mat said, patting Harry on the shoulder. The redhead took a seat in one of the high chairs at the bar and grinned brightly as Aiyana placed a bowl of vanilla ice c
The door slowly opened, creaking through the silence of the night, before the Alpha Black slowly entered the building. He wore only a pair of pants that he had put on after returning to human form and walked past the other two Alphas without glancing at them. Then he sat on a chair at the end of the table and waited. Wayne patted Harry on the shoulder and motioned for him to sit to the right of the Mad One. Finally, he took a seat on his left and waited. However, Wayne's wolf sniffed curiously at Black but remained silent for fear of angering the black wolf. Wayne flinched when he noticed the Mad One staring at him. Then he shook himself and cleared his throat. "Well, Harry. I don't suppose your father ever told you about this because it's a secret of the utmost importance. We need to take... well, I need to take the time to explain to you why you are here tonight. But also why the Red Moon Pack and the Serene Moon Pack exist," Wayne bega
Harry remained silent, completely shocked by the announcement Wayne had just made. How could this be? He was the descendant of a long line of Alphas. And yet, he couldn't deny it. His wolf was submitting to and recognizing the authority of the Mad One. "Out," Alpha Black merely articulated with a deep sigh. He got up from his chair and walked out unceremoniously, keeping his hands in his pants pockets. Harry and Wayne stood up and followed him. "Go to the back. You know where to go, Alpha Black. No trouble at the front of the Crossroad Café," Old Al announced calmly. The Wind Tribe leader had not moved and continued to smoke quietly as he leaned back in his chair. Black merely nodded, then moved with a firm foot toward the backyard of the Café. The other two Alphas followed him but kept a distance of five meters behind him. Wayne put a brotherly hand on Harry's shoulder, then laughed softly.
They didn't have time to continue their exchange when they both cried out in pain. They hadn't had time to see the Mad One running toward them, nor had they been aware of the danger. It took the powerful impact of Alpha Black's fist against their ribs for them to realize what they were in for. Till rolled to the side and hit the trunk of a tree. The impact was so brutal that the wolf's body shattered two more trees in the process. He immediately sat up, shaking his head to regain his composure, when he felt a hand on the back of his neck. A small bark of surprise left his mouth as he felt himself lifted into the air and launched again toward the center of the field. "Gee, I never thought I'd see a wolf fly in my life," commented Old Al, handing Wayne a beer. "I didn't either. Thanks for that, Old Al," Wayne replied, patting the dusty ground beside him. Alo gave him an amused look, then sat on the ground while he lit another cigarette. "Don't mess i
Harry was lying on his back, his lungs were on fire, and he was coughing from the heavy impacts on his ribs. He turned over onto his stomach, propped up on his elbows, and spat blood into the dusty dirt of the vacant lot behind the Crossroad Café. "I think that's enough for tonight. A year that I've been training you, and you're nothing like you were when I said I'd take care of you," Wayne said warmly as he pulled on his red and white plaid shirt. Harry let his forehead fall to the floor. With every exhale he made, dust rose from his nostrils and his eyes burned from the intense perspiration of physical exertion. "I know I can do more, Alpha Wayne," Harry said before grunting under the pain. The healing power of his wolf was in full swing, and the now nineteen-year-old could feel his ribs repairing and repositioning themselves in his rib cage. "Oh, I'm sure you can do more. But there's no need. You gave us a hell of a hand during the harvest. The omeg
Wayne had leaped forward and caught the girl before she fell to the ground. His eyes went wide, not understanding why his body had reacted so quickly to a woman who had no connection to him. Then he was startled when he saw Harry beside him. "Holy crap, it's Jane!" the young wolf declared. He had recognized her from sometimes playing with her when they were kids. "Let's hurry and go into the Café and call for help." When they reached the front of the Café, Old Al was already waiting for them there and beckoned them inside. "I've already called Alpha Black. He's on his way," said the Wind Tribe leader as a golden glint shone in his eyes. Old Al pointed to one of the large couches near the large fireplace, but the girl let out a howl of pain as she clung desperately to Wayne. "I know this is uncomfortable for you, Alpha Wayne, but it doesn't look like she wants to let go," Al said simply, placing a hand on Jane's forehead. The Wind Tribe leader close