SCOTT POV
"Did you just imprinted on her??", I asked, not hiding a kind of fury furrowing my brows, refusing to accept what I just witnessed. It felt as if I swallowed a hard unripe fruit whole. The pack just laughed having no idea what happened.
Roman, who just woke from a daze, breathe heavily as he come back to reality. "Wha..", he couldn't even break his gaze at my Luna. He looked at her like how I did, and it's painstakingly obnoxious to witness firsthand that someone wants her as much as I do. That disbelief cracked me open, as the anger pour through.
How could this possibly be??
Then, a thought of what Alva once said hit me. Diana is unique. That quiet revelation came exploding right into my face, that truly, she is not like the others. There and then, whatever Alva did to Diana... I officially loathe her. I despise how she ruined the natural order of the moon goddess' precept of the imprint. And now, I wonder how I would enjoy the full moon as how she regarded it to me. I rushed to Diana before Roman could get to her. The farther away, the less he'll be able to find her scent. Thinking of the possibilities of what he'll do to Diana once he touches her after the imprint, I strongly forbid his presence near my Luna. At the sound of the horn, everyone scattered as they go for the wilderness, making me and my Luna disappear easily from Roman's keen sight and sharp senses.
I wonder if Diana imprinted back. Looking at her eyes smiling for me, it felt like she didn't. Holding her hand firmly, I dragged her deep into the woods without looking back - away from the crowd, away from the wolves, away from Roman Brooke. There's this sudden heat that I feel under my skin. Despite the strong winds hushing in the midair, my blood running through my veins seem to simmer. I snorted, feeling my head starting to split in half. Not realizing I'm squeezing Diana's hand too much on my chest.
"Is something wrong?", she said, as she clasp my hand with both of hers. "You're very warm than usual", she added, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Nothing, Luna", kissing her temple to assure her nothing's wrong. But admittedly, I'm anxious. Too anxious that I feel my entire body being pricked by pins and needles.
"Shouldn't we head to where everybody else is going?", pointing to the direction where most wolves go. The winds whirled making the tall trees sway, and the leaves swish heavily. Looks like the rain is coming.
"It's better where we're going", I replied, as I drag us farther hand in hand to the darker part of the woods. And with much difficulty, I groaned and breathe shakily. Is this still anxiety?
"The moon will be completely full in a few minutes.. I wish I could shape shift too", looking at her moon phase watch as we reach the largest banyan tree in the wilderness. I held her close, not wanting her to stray in the dark.
"We'll find out... how we can bring out the wolf in you, Luna", I replied tensely. Then, we stood under the banyan tree as we waited for the full moon to own the sky.
I noticed her look around, peering her eyes at her every turn. "What is this place?".
"This is where my dad was found burned to death, I always go here when I moonbath", I said with a trembling and raspy voice.
She closed her eyes, put her hands together and mumbled something. Then, she looked at me with a beaming smile. "Thank you for taking me to this place. I know how important this place is for you. However, no matter how much I wanted you to honor the site where your father died.. maybe next time, we can go some place where we can make new happy memories.", she said without blinking. "I wouldn't want to see my boyfriend get haunted by his pasts", she implied that the tiny sweat coming out from my warm skin were nothing but distress brought about by the unhappy memory I keep within.
Facing my Luna, I knelt down and hugged her waist tightly as she wrap her arms around my neck. I can feel the tension coming from my core, making my fingers and toes curl. Taking in deep breaths from my open mouth, I savored her sweet scent hoping it would leash my swirling emotions.
"What's the matter?", she lifted my chin up, then she lowered her body kissing my lips passionately. "Even your breath is warm. Do you have a fever?", she places her palm on my forehead.
"I thought, I'm lucky enough to have finally receive the gift of imprint. But then, I've never been scared on the thought of losing you, or with you being taken away from me.", I deeply sighed biting my lower lip. "I'm crazily, madly, falling deeply in love with you Diana. And I will do whatever it takes, for you to be mine until the end of time", burying my face in her abdomen.
"I'm not going anywhere. With you, I'm all in Scott", I felt Diana kiss my head as she caress my nape. I felt relieved hearing those words, but still, my heart remained keyed up. The imprint is supposed to give the wolf clan no uncertainty when it comes to getting a mate. But here I am, struggling with my fears that my Luna can be easily taken away from me. An Alpha like Roman who is strong in all capabilities, and similarly devoted to a Luna will never be any less of a wolf than I am.
AUTHOR'S POV
Even when the night skies were a bit cloudy, the moon didn't cease to impress on the most awaited night for the wolves. Scattered around the woods, the wolves howl for the moon as it shine its way out of the clouds. Diana watched Scott walk away, as he wait to catch the moonlight kisses his bare skin.
Astounded with the king of the stellar sky, Diana looked up to see the moon at its fullest. Gaping up at the heavenly body gracing them with such a wonderful sight, her feet moved as if it has a mind on its own to a good spot where she can admire it better. Lost in admiration, she smiled at such pale beauty as the howls cease. When she looked around, she saw the wolves glow like an orb receiving the blessing of the full moon. They glistened so well as they catch the moon beams seeping through the trees.
She stared at her hands, wondering if she gets the same feeling when the moonlight hits her skin. Her gaze shifted up, smiling with the hope that she gets that majestic feeling like everyone does. Then, her smile slowly faded at the sight of the moon changing. She squinted her eyes seeing the moon gradually Illuminate a reddish tinge color as if tainted with blood.
At that moment, she turned around to see Scott but he was nowhere to be found. The other wolves who were moon bathing nearby were also gone. Diana shouted for Scott's name but he never answered. "Where could he be?", she uttered, now standing alone in the forest bathe in moonlight. She walked ahead with her arms folded, trying to find where Scott might be as she continuously shout for his name.
Eyes open. Breaths steady.
She sauntered beyond the banyan tree in search for Scott. The darkness didn't bothered her, for the thought of having Scott somewhere nearby comforted her. Her face gets kissed by the soft winds as she bravely walk through the dark woods. Farther she went, the terrain gets harder to trudge on that she had to held onto the the skinny trunks of the tall trees. As she went on, she felt a raindrop peck on her cheek. "Just my luck", Diana covered her head with her hands and rushed under the canopy of another large tree. "Scott!!", she called, as her voice get swallowed by the drops of rain. Even the whines of the crickets and hoots of the owls vanished at the outpour.
Scott would never dare to leave her, she thought. Getting worried and soaked as her clothes cling on her skin, Diana called for his name over and over, topping the deliberate sounds of rain coming down in sheets. She started to move again, following the best strips of moonlight that she can follow. Sliding on the soft mud as she go uphill, she strengthened her legs to look for her man now with growing desperation. She spread her arms as if they were her extra eyes. "Scott!!", she shouted again. The forest suddenly became crowded. With the shadows overlapping as the wind blows and the packed silhouettes making figures watching her, the moonlight became her fragile guide. There were moments she thought it was Scott, but then they were just illusions tricking her.
Eyes squinted. Breaths ragged.
Diana began to imagine the worst. The brave walks shifted to hesitating steps as her footprints get filled with rainwater. Suddenly, two tall figures came approaching which have taken her aback. Diana paused, with her eyes pinned on the figures who seemed burning in the rain.
"Diana? What are you doing here??", her eyes glistened in relief to see Sebastian in the time of need. Sebastian was distraught to see Diana alone at a moment where the townspeople are shapeshifting to their true wolf form.
"I'm actually looking for Scott. He was with me a moment ago, then he disappeared. Would you... help me find him?", Diana asked, her voiced tainted with much worry as it tremble.
"Of course. So, it's true he imprinted on you?", Sebastian tried to clarify, knowing that his brother wouldn't ever bring any random girl in the town. "By the way, this is Damon. Our younger brother", he added.
"Hi", she greeted Damon, forcing a smile for her uneasiness was already consuming her.. "Ye-yes, that's what he said... Where are you going, anyway?", she replied, trying not to show her jittering teeth.
"Tonight is the Blood Moon. We do not bask under the full moon too long when it's tainted with blood", Damon said, explaining why they didn't shape shift.
"What do you mean?", Diana asked, hugging herself for warmth.
"The blood moon brings bad omen. And it rained too, so we can barely get anything from the moon", Sebastian told her. "So.. where did you say you last saw Scott?".
Diana led the way under the cold rain back to the banyan tree. Sebastian and Damon kept their eyes open as they look for the Alpha. When they reached a junction, a pair of men jumped right in front of them startling the Luna. "Found you", Roman said, as he walk closer.