Darker

SEASON 2

^Produced by: Will Buckingham^

^Written by: Jared Wells & Ellis Stump^

^Sound by: Sam Bartlett^

Quinn

~Aunt Jodie… Alive?!~

Jaxon, my mate, stood beside me. Theodore and Isabelle, the first werewolves, were in front of us, their eyes filled with expectation. But in that moment of shock, I felt like I was the only person in the universe.

The dusk seemed to be closing in on me, wrapping me in a blanket of darkness—like a moonless night.

Except there was a moon. Inside me: the Moon Goddess.

I was her descendant, just like my aunt. My aunt who, I had just found out, was alive. Somewhere out there, walking the Earth.

Had she been guiding my journey—my winding, confusing path with all its obstacles and dead ends—all this time? Was she safe and in good company?

Or was she hiding?

Or on the run?

“Are you all right, Luna?” Isabelle asked, her voice soft and comforting. “Would you like to sit down, dear?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m okay,” I found myself saying as I shook my head, standing my ground. “Just a lot to take in at once.”

A wave of dizziness washed over me.

Jax moved closer to me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. “Actually, maybe we should sit,” he said.

I leaned into his chest, grateful for his support.

We followed the siblings through the woods, to a circle of logs by a stream. We all took seats around what used to be a fire pit.

Theodore snapped his fingers at the pile of coal and kindling, and suddenly, flames were crackling where there had been nothing before.

I jumped back in surprise.

“Theodore,” his sister scolded. “At least let the poor girl process one shock before hitting her with another.”

“Sorry,” Theodore said, looking a bit embarrassed.

But I sat up straighter, wanting to show them I was a confident leader, not some fragile human. Because I was more than that.

I was a werewolf.

A Luna.

~A Moon Goddess. Lupus Paulo.~

My heart pounded with fear at these new, heavier titles. So much power, which I wasn’t sure I deserved.

~But hey, better start getting used to it now.~

Half-joking, I said, “I’m alright. I just didn’t know werewolves could be wizards or warlocks or whatever. This is like all the fantasy books I used to check out at the library combined into one.”

“No, werewolves are not wizards. We are not born with magical powers running in our veins,” Theodore explained, “we simply have a better capacity to learn them compared to humans. We are better equipped to harness magic with practice and patience.”

I looked at Jax, my eyes wide.

Did he know this?

Judging by his calm face, he did. I tried to mimic his expression.

~Why hadn’t any of the palace books mentioned this? Magic?!~

Theodore continued, “Typical kingdoms and governments, like yours, don’t practice magic. Right, Jax?”

Jax nodded in agreement.

~Okay, then I guess I can let his silence on the subject slide.~

The fire warmed us, its heat kissing my bare skin. Its light danced over the ripples of the stream.

“It’s a more common practice, obviously, among wolves like us,” said Theodore. “Or ~Vulpes~.” He spit out the word like it was poison, then composed himself. “Groups that have existed in tight communities for generations. After all, we’ve had lots of time, many, many years, to learn and master our skills.”

Isabelle chimed in, “We, of course, choose to study only safe, helpful, contained chants and incantations. Vulpes, on the other hand, dabble in…darker material.” Changing the subject, she clasped her hands together. “But anyway.”

In a way, the two siblings reminded me of a wiser, more mature version of Sky and Alex. I wondered how they were doing back at the castle.

Theodore opened his mouth to speak, but Isabelle continued.

“We have been sent here due to the recent events regarding your kingdom and the Vulpes,” Isabelle said, “and specifically, where your aunt fits into everything, Quinn.”

~Sent? By whom?~

~Where my aunt fits in?~

I had so many questions.

My mind was still spinning from what they had just said about magic.

~Chants and incantations?~

~Darker magic?~

Isabelle took a deep breath and shared a glance with her brother, preparing herself.

I prepared myself, too. Whatever the strange woman was about to reveal, I would accept, gracefully, with the soul and spirit of a leader. I could handle it. I could meet any challenge.

For my Aunt Jodie.

~Trust the twins.~

Finally, Isabelle said, “Quinn, your aunt is running with the rogues. With Matheius and the Vulpes.”

~Thud.~

Another weight just dropped on my heart, which was already carrying so much.

A sharp intake of breath from Jax meant that even he was surprised by this news.

Instinctively, he reached over and took my hand. His fingers intertwined with mine, and he massaged my thumb, trying to soothe my rising panic.

Theodore sighed. “We are not quite certain to what extent, whether she is being forcibly held hostage or…”

“Or what?” I demanded, refusing to remain passive. It was time to act.

“Or, on the contrary, there by choice. Perhaps she volunteered.”

He stood, and Isabelle followed suit. With a wave of his wrist, Theodore put out the fire.

“We should get going,” Isabelle said.

~What?! After telling me all that?~

“Wait, stop, I still have so many questions,” I pleaded.

But before I could ask, a cloud of smoke appeared out of nowhere, enveloping Theodore and Isabelle.

And then they were gone.

Sky

I was with Alex in the main parlor, guiding him through some basic physical therapy exercises. Technically, it was a sun salutation. Yoga.

He was always the athletic type, ready to drop everything for a grueling workout. But after the recent rogue attack left him with some muscle damage, I thought a softer approach might be better.

“Now, reach back up. Stretch your back, feel your spine lengthen…” I guided him, sitting cross-legged nearby.

Harper was at the mahogany table, busy crafting a new weapon. She had a knack for making things with her hands. Particularly things that were dangerous and intimidating.

~She should start a Pinterest.~

“This is the tree pose, right?” Alex grunted. He was quickly discovering that yoga was harder than it looked.

Raphael walked in, his eyes heavy with fatigue. He’d just finished a shift watching for rogues.

Before he could utter a word, I was on my feet, alert.

“Anything new? Did you spot more of them?”

“Yeah. Another pair, just skulking around the edges. They’re more like sharks than wolves. Always circling… Always waiting.”

“Where the hell is Jax?” Alex asked, now also on high alert. “I need to text him. But where the hell is my phone?”

He started looking around, muttering, “If he's out there screwing Quinn… I mean, I'm happy for them. I love them. But—”

“Chill, Alex, I’ve got it,” I offered. “Keep going with your sun salutation. Yoga is supposed to be relaxing.”

Harper snorted from the table. I shot a glare at her back.

Alex didn’t seem convinced, “Yeah, sure.” He muttered a curse as he reluctantly moved into a crescent lunge.

I reached for my phone.

Sky

hi cutie

Sky

miss you

Sky

more rogues spotted 😬

Sky

are u & jax coming back anytime soon???

Quinn

Hey Sky. Yeah, on our way back now

Quinn

I just got some really crazy overwhelming news

Sky

??!??

Quinn

Tell you later

Sky

can’t wait 2 hear all about it. hurry back!

Harper

As I focused on my work, I heard the heavy parlor door swing open again. I looked up to see Anthony standing there.

~Great.~

While the others merely tolerated him, I was the only one who found him downright creepy. His friendly demeanor and diplomatic ways were as transparent as a politician’s.

Alex stood up to confront him.

“What do you want, Anthony?”

“Hello, everyone. Sorry to interrupt,” the Alpha responded. “But since everyone is here, can we have a quick chat?”

“Sure,” Sky agreed.

“I’ll make some chai,” Raphael offered, heading towards the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes at both of them. I loved Sky, but she could be so naive sometimes.

When Raphael came back—with a tray of tea and an ice pack for his still healing wounds—Anthony laid out his proposal.

“We’re all worried about the rogue situation, right?”

Raphael, Alex, and Sky nodded, murmuring their agreement.

“I’m particularly concerned about taking my pack home under these circumstances. Oak Marsh members are quick and agile, strategic and fit—but these rogues are merciless. You can’t outrun or outsmart someone who doesn’t care about their own life.”

~Okay… Where is he going with this?~

“What are you suggesting?” Alex asked, clearly wondering the same thing.

“Nothing specific,” Anthony replied. “Not yet. I’m just voicing a concern.”

Sky chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully. Then, in her usual cheerful tone, she said: “I’m sure we can figure something out. Everyone’s safety is our main concern.”

I had to resist the urge to shake her.

~Why—how—is she always so damn optimistic?~

Yes, I knew I tended to be more on the pessimistic side. Not pessimistic, really, more like realistic, even if that also meant I was a bit cynical.

What can I say? Life taught me to expect the worst.

Life was a battlefield, and no one just handed you a weapon to fight back.

I gripped the handle of my new dagger a little tighter.

Life was dark. But I had a feeling that things were about to get even darker.