Broken Moon: Part 4

By Claudia King

In the bloody aftermath of his attempt to leave the Highland Pack, Cyan faces punishment, exile, and perhaps worse. With no allies left amongst the people whose hands his fate rests in, and with Hazel yet again eager to turn the situation to his advantage, all seems lost for the wounded alpha. But despite his apparent betrayal, April still has the power to intervene. Secrets are revealed, truths come to light, and bonds of kinship are broken as the inner conflicts within the Highland Pack finally come to a head. The world is about to change for April and Cyan, and neither of them will emerge from the conflict unscathed.

*UPDATE*
As of May 2014 I have condensed the serial down into five parts rather than nine, with each instalment now being roughly double the previous length. Happy reading!

Part 4 of a 5 part serial.
29350 words in length. Contains explicit descriptions of sex.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Claudia King
• Release date: Jun 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311493095

Claudia King

Claudia King is a writer based in the United Kingdom. She studied Creative Arts at university and continues to maintain a passionate interest in storytelling (both naughty and nice) across many forms of media. She owns a banana plant.

Book preview

BROKEN MOON, PART 4

Claudia King

Published by Claudia King at Smashwords

Copyright © 2014 Claudia King

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Proceeds from sales directly help this author to continue doing what she loves, and to share it with you the reader!

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Broken Moon, Part 4

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April awoke to the sound of heavy boots crunching down the path outside. She was stiff from falling asleep in her chair, her cheek warm and tender from where it had rested against the table while she slept. She rubbed her eyes and picked herself up, then remembered everything that had happened the previous night. Immediately she wished she could go back to sleep again.

She judged from the dim light filtering through the shutters that it was barely past dawn, but the tramping boots and raised voices from outside made it seem like half the pack was already up and about. Whatever was going on, she wished it would stop. She needed a calm, slow day, now more than ever.

But the noises didn't stop. More voices joined the hubbub, and she heard the creak of doors opening and more footsteps hurrying by her cabin headed in the direction of the meeting area. At last she rose from her chair, stretched, and filled a bowl with water to splash into her face. She was uncomfortable and warm from sleeping in her clothes, but she draped a scarf around her neck all the same before opening the door to brave the cold outside. If something was happening, she needed to find out what it was. At the very least it might distract her from the heavy ache in her heart.

As soon as she stepped outside she knew something was wrong. The gathering of people outside Ingrid's cabin was messy and informal, and they conversed in hushed, suspicious tones. They had become the same unsettled mob from yesterday all over again.

Because I kept my ears open. Hazel's voice reached her, louder and clearer than the others. Someone had to, and it's a good thing I did, isn't it? As soon as they left I went out to find Blackthorn and the others.

April edged to the back of the crowd, trying to see what was going on through the press of bodies. Her short stature didn't help, and she was forced to step up on one of the benches to get a proper look. Ingrid stood there in the doorway of her cabin, arms folded as she listened to Hazel speak. Blackthorn was there, too, and at his side—

She put a hand to her mouth when she saw Cyan. His back was turned to her, but she could see the belt binding his hands, the drying blood on his fingers, the tears in his jacket, and the dark crimson stains seeping through his clothing. His whole body slumped, like a scarecrow just barely clinging on to its post. It looked as though he was about to collapse at any moment.

He did, Blackthorn said. I thought he was wasting our time, but he ran off before I could stop him. I didn't want him starting any more trouble by himself.

And this is all true, Cyan? Ingrid said softly. Cyan nodded, barely lifting his head. April had never seen him looking so broken. Is there anything you want to say for yourself?

Cyan stared at her feet for a long moment, then finally dragged his head up again. His bloodied fingers curled into fists behind his back. I know you need to punish me, so do it.

April barely heard him, his voice was so strained and quiet. It sent a shiver through her.

But make sure you punish him for what he did as well. Cyan jerked his head in Hazel's direction.

I gave them a chance to turn back, Hazel said. What else could I have done? I didn't want a fight, so I caught the girl and bit her.

You killed her! Cyan growled, his wrists straining against the belt. A shocked murmur went through the crowd. April felt her legs trembling.

I know it must be hard for you, Ingrid said. But accidents do happen. Hazel had no reason to want to kill her, and he was only trying to follow our rules. Some tragedies are nobody's fault. Something fearful came into her expression as Cyan looked at her.

You'd know, wouldn't you, he muttered.

Hazel didn't break the rules, one of the other pack members said, and a chorus of agreement followed.

Ingrid held Cyan's gaze for a moment longer, and April saw a strangely tense look pass between them before the older woman composed herself and spoke again.

Blackthorn?

Blackthorn shrugged. He looked frustrated, and his words sounded forced. It happened before we got there. The girl had a deep bite in her, but... I don't know. It could have been an accident. He glared at Hazel. One that should have been avoided.

I know, Hazel said. I was trying to do the best I could in a bad situation.

If we'd made her one of us as soon as she arrived this never would have happened, another voice chimed in. Don't blame Hazel, blame the person who tried to sneak her away from us.

Her people would have come looking if she stayed much longer, Cyan said. If any of you had bothered trying to talk to her you'd have realised that. The world doesn't just revolve around your little camp. He said it bitterly, but there was more regret than malice in his words.

Why didn't you come to speak to me about this? Ingrid said.

Cyan looked at her wearily. Because we both know what you would have done. I didn't want you to make her like us.

But if you had, Ingrid said, she'd still be alive.

April wondered, though, even as her mother said it; would Ingrid really have done that? Or would she have let Cyan and Lisa go? She'd been persuaded against making the girl a werewolf once already. There had to have been a reason why. April felt like she should speak up, but she was still horribly uncomfortable and agitated by everything that was happening. Her anger at Cyan hadn't gone away, but she couldn't help but feel for him after seeing the state he was in. She didn't trust herself to find the right words.

What did she even want, anyway? Whose side was she on now? The tension in the air was painful, and more than anything she wanted to put an end to it. She hated seeing her pack like this, pointing fingers, assigning blame.

What are you waiting for, Ingrid? one of the younger females called, the agitation in her voice plain to hear. Don't defend that outsider, not again!

I will not defend him, Ingrid replied, silencing the speaker with a cold glare. I understand our rules, even if some of you think I don't. Cyan, if no one else will speak for you, then I can't let this go unpunished.

Do whatever you have to, Cyan murmured.

Ingrid nodded and motioned to Blackthorn. The crowd began to part for them. April glanced in the direction of the post on the other side of the meeting area. When she looked back, her eyes met Cyan's. The amber fire in them was dead. He was bruised and bloody, his feet finding each step in front of him as though he was stumbling through a desert, with nothing but bleak, belligerent determination to keep him going. Even if the man hobbling towards her had been her worst enemy, she still would have felt pity for him in that moment.

He doesn't deserve this, she said. Her words were soft, but they carried through the silence to the ears of every person nearby. All eyes turned towards her, and she suddenly wished she hadn't decided to climb up on the bench where she was in plain view.

He's earned it, a voice growled.

April swallowed and clutched the insides of her sleeves. Do you think a few lashes will hurt him more than what he's already been through? Just look at him. She hoped that sympathy would cool some of the hot heads around her, but it was Ingrid to whom she looked. Hers was the voice that mattered now.

Ingrid's eyes warned April to stop, almost pleaded