Lunar Shadows: Awaken

Kyran

Waking up from my nap, I stretch out in bed and check the time. With a couple hours to spare, I get dressed, pulling on my black work shirt and faded jeans before heading down to the kitchen to make a quick dinner. I hear the clank of dishes as I round the corner, finding my siblings setting plates and silverware on the island. Kyrre smiles at me warmly, admiring her work as her eyes graze over my hair.

“Hey, there was too much going on earlier to say anything, but you look like a whole new man, Kyran,” Treyvar grins, turning over his shoulder at the stove top. “I’m willing to bet a certain someone is—”

I snatch a stray dish towel and throw it at his head. Laughing, Trey pulls it off, giving me a goofy grin. I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips in response, and I just shake my head.

Gasping, Kyrre rushes over and perches on the stool beside me, her eyes wide. “Please tell me he isn’t just being an ass,” she begs, taking hold of my arm.

“He’s always being an ass,” I snort as the towel smacks the side of my face.

“Eek! Oh, Kyran, I am so excited for you!” she squeals and throws her arms around my neck, nearly choking me. “What is her name? How’d you meet? What does she look like? When can I meet her?” her voice is shrill with her sudden excitement.

Prying my sister off me, she bounces in her seat with her hands clasped to her chest. She resembles our mother so much, it’s often disconcerting. Recalling what happened earlier today, I suddenly panic. “Kyrre, please tell me you’ve spoken with Vala today?” I ask her desperately.

“Kyran, don’t you dare tell me that you’ve gotten back together with her,” she chastises me with her face pinching in disappointment.

“No,” I let out a frustrated sigh, “Kyrre, listen to me. I need you to meet with Vala, now, get the bracelet from her and never remove it, do you understand?” I speak gravely and her face goes slack.

“What is this about, Kyran? I just got back to pack lands about an hour ago, what happened?” she asks quietly with concern etching her face.

Vala, meet me in the lodge kitchen with a bracelet, immediately, I mindlink her directly. Actually, make it two, I add, thinking it’s best to be extra cautious.

Yes, Alpha, I’m on my way, Vala replies shortly.

Treyvar explains today’s events for our sister while I pile a plate with spaghetti and meatballs, snagging a couple slices of garlic bread. Just as I’m sitting back down, Vala opens the front door, breathing heavily.

“Give them to Kyrre, one on each wrist,” I say over a mouthful, pointing with my fork.

Kyrre looks stricken but holds her arms out as Vala clasps the bracelets for her. Instantly, my sister’s honey skin darkens into a deep bronze and her hair shifts from golden to chestnut. It’s a stunning glamour, looking completely natural to anyone not aware of the bracelet’s power.

Looking down at her hands, Kyrre gasps, running into the hall bathroom and gasping louder a second time. “Vala, this is incredible! We could improve these into changing an entire appearance, use them as full disguises if necessary. Wow, this looks so beautiful, I’m in awe,” she trills, smiling wide as she comes back into the kitchen.

Turning toward me, Vala explains, “A few women volunteered for us to model the glamours after them, each bracelet slightly differing from the next with skin tone and shades of hair colors, helping to create a natural effect, especially in a group. We are still handing out some bracelets, but the majority of the pack who need it has one. Most women responded similarly to Kyrre here and were joyous at the results, thinking they may continue to use them once the threat to their safety has disappeared, enjoying the change. A few even asked for us to make some to change like outfits,” she mentions offhandedly, glancing at my sister with a small smile.

I nod in understanding, noticing as her indigo gaze lingers over me, no doubt because of my haircut and shave. I stare at her blankly until she averts her eyes and I continue eating my dinner. Before meeting Selene, Vala was the most attractive woman I’d spoken to. Her coppery blonde hair caught my attention and the deep purple tone in her eyes was striking in contrast. Now, though, I only see her as a formidable wolf in my pack, any attraction I’d had was wiped away after her mistreatment toward me.

My sister grabs Vala’s arm, pulling her out of the kitchen. “That would be so amazing! I can see it now, going to the beach and wearing the ‘summertime’ bracelet and putting on an instant, glowing tan with sun-kissed, highlighted hair. Oh, or maybe a ‘nightlife bracelet’ where my skin gets all glittery and strands of hair glow in the dark! How about…” Kyrre’s bright voice fades away as they climb the stairs toward the lounge.

Finishing my plate, I bring it to the dishwasher and reach for Trey’s as well. He gives me a confused look as he looks back from over his shoulder and I just shrug. I couldn’t care less about any of what our sister was going on about, and by the looks of it, Trey feels the same. We both laugh, heading into the garage to leave for our bar.

Selene

We pick up Hazel and Melody at their loft on the outskirts of the city which is not far from where I walk at the city park and also Kyran’s bar, apparently. It was only a five-minute drive once we left their place and we quickly find a parking space in a nearby garage.

We all climb out, excited for the night ahead. Hazel bounds over with her tight black pleather pants squeaking as she pulls me into a hug.

“I’m glad you’re here!” she exclaims, grinning. “Oops, I’m so sorry, here, let me help,” she mumbles as we pull apart with my hair caught in her gaudy necklace.

I laugh, separating some strands. “Well, this is why I wear it up most of the time,” I joke sarcastically. Tugging sharply, I free myself and rub a little sore spot on my head where some hair pulled out and Hazel apologizes again.

“It’s okay, no worries,” I reassure her, grabbing my purse off the floor of the car and the four of us make our way to the street, chatting and heels clacking along the pavement.

Hazel and Melody are twin sisters who Ria met when she graduated high school. They have matching light brown hair with copper highlights, but Hazel wears hers in a sleek bob and Melody keeps hers long and wavy. They have pretty purple-toned gray eyes, sharp facial features and tall, slender bodies, similar to how a supermodel looks.

Peering at our group as we walk, I suddenly feel like a shrub in a forest of redwoods. Cute, but not incredible. It doesn’t do any good to feel self-conscious. I’m unique, comparatively, here. That can be a good thing, I think to myself, smiling. All of us are beautiful, in our own ways. And we definitely put in the effort to show that off tonight.

Ria smiles over at me as we wait for the light, standing across the street from the growing line. At the signal, we scurry over and take our place at the end with a few more people filing in behind us. Hazel digs in her purse, pulling out a compact and checks her reflection. Glancing around, I observe the bright neon of the sign on the side of the building, ‘Howler’s Bar and Nightclub’ illuminating everyone in blue, pink, and yellow as the script gradually shifts colors. We’re less than halfway in line toward the door as I notice the quickly growing number of people behind us.

“Hey, what time did this place open? It’s getting really busy,” I remark, impressed.

“Um, at nine o’clock, I believe,” Ria answers, pulling out her phone. “Yup, at nine. It’s only nine-thirty now, it’ll probably get quite rowdy tonight,” she says with a sly smirk.

Holding out my hand, I raise my eyebrow at her. Fishing in her purse, she rolls her eyes and hands me the keys, being over dramatic, as usual. “Thank you,” I say dryly, knowing very well that would’ve been quite a challenge toward the end of the night.

At the front of the line, I stuff the keys in my purse as Hazel glances over her shoulder, her red lips pursed in a smirk. “Ready? Let’s have some fun,” she snickers, catching my eye then turning back toward the two bouncers.

The men give the four of us a long appraisal, one of them even raising his brows. “Ladies,” he greets, holding one of the doors open for us, “welcome to Howler’s.” His rough voice slides away with the noise emanating from within.

Upon entering, there is a shallow platform which opens out into a wide staircase and descends below street level. The walls here are bare of decoration, painted a deep burgundy color and are illuminated with warm, glowing old-fashioned wall sconces. At the foot of the stairs is a second set of double doors, behind which classic rock music thunders out. Ria pushes the doors open and we spill into Howler’s, seeing the bar filled with a wide variety of people of all ages and styles. As rock music rolls out of the record player, a cacophony of voices mixed with laughter and shouts, glasses clinking in the distance, muffled sportscaster jargon buzzing from the TVs, and the sharp clack of pool balls spinning onto a table fills the air.

Gazing around in awe, I observe the vaulted ceilings with my eyes trailing up to the large skylights and a lofted lounge area with luxurious leather sofas, decorative furnishings, and small tables lining the railing. The staircase handrail is gorgeous with the smooth wood delicately carved with vines and leaves trailing down the iron balustrades. Three pool tables are spread out along the left wall near the base of the staircase with forest green felted tops and intricate filigree ornamenting the flat edges of the tables. I notice a group of men clustered around a dart board in the corner, near the entrance.

To my right, there is a stage area for a live band, and beyond that are two wide, heavily draped entryways in deep burgundy. Watching a few people enter, I glimpse a small tunnel-like passageway leading into the nightclub. A large, retro record player sits on the other side of the entryway and a new song floats out of it. Abstract painted art and prints of all sizes along with various photographs of landscapes hang along the walls. I gaze at pictures of a black and gray misty forest, a stunning golden sunset over a valley, and a gorgeous log cabin lodge in the snow warmly aglow from within catches my eye specifically.

Handmade wooden furniture made of deep walnut and adorned with leather in dark tones of black and forest green fills the back quarter of the room. Small standing tables are dotted around and between booth-style tables which line the corners and side walls. Filigree is carved into the side panels of the booths, matching the pool tables. A spacious, black marble floor leads from the entrance to the large, rectangular horseshoe-style bar situated in the back-center of the main room. The bar top is made of the same shiny, smooth black marble as the floor with the consistent filigree ornamenting the front wood paneling and tying the whole room together. Four large flat screens line the top half of the wall behind the bar with various sports games playing. The entire room is dimly lit with soft, moody overhead lighting. Deep, jewel toned stained glass bells hang over the bar at intervals and each table respectively, with smaller, matching sconces dotting the walls.

This place is absolutely incredible, I wonder in awe and a smile pulls at my lips at the sight.

As we start walking across the open floor, I can’t stop myself from searching for Kyran with the hope that he’d be working tonight. My eyes drift across the full bar, skimming the faces of patrons and flitting over a few men working behind the bar. Quickly backtracking, my breath catches as I am captured by Kyran’s amber eyes from across the room. He is unrecognizable at first with his short hair and stubble in place of the unruly hair and beard I’m used to. But his warm eyes I could never overlook. A slow, wolfish grin spreads across his handsome face, making my heart skip a beat. Okay, scratch that, he looks absolutely incredible, I murmur to myself as my cheeks heat beneath his gaze.