Moon Shine

A Novel By,

ZENITHRA BLACK

©2023 Published by After Hours Publications, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage without express permission by the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Contains explicit language & adult themes suitable for ages 17+

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Chapter One

Ryder:

19 years ago:

I fell onto my hands and knees, coughing and gagging. Blood escaped my nose and my busted-up lip, dropping onto the ground covered in dirt, broken twigs, and leaves. Evan stood over me, cracking his knuckles. Hot tears streamed from my eyes as I waited for somebody to stop that brutal fight. The Alpha at the time, Elijah Hayes, stood beside my father, Nathan Gatlin, who was the Gamma of the pack.

Get up, Ryder! Elijah instructed.

Wiping my face, I got off the ground, only to get a hard kick to the face. The impact forced me to flip over onto my back, gasping for air. My mother, Olivia Gatlin, rushed to my side. She wiped angry tears and almost-dried blood from my face before she turned to my father, her husband.

Nathan, he’s had enough. She told him.

Olivia, move. Father insisted. This is good for him. Let him finish.

Mother helped me off the ground and held me close. She turned her attention back to my father.

Your son is being beaten to death, and you’re telling me that you’re okay with it?

Olivia, the boy, must fight to become a Beta, Elijah told her. You, of all people, should know that.

I’m sorry, but I’m not talking to you. This is between my husband and me.

My mother was a feisty werewolf, and she wasn’t afraid of anybody. Elijah and my mother exchanged glares. Father just shook his head and sighed.

Olivia, move. He’s not the only one who had to go through this.

I looked over at my friend, Caleb, who had already gained his rank as a Beta earlier. He looked at me but didn’t smile. Defeated, I turned back to my mother.

Olivia, I’m not going to tell you again, Father warned. Move! Fuck you, Nathan! Mother growled as she stood her ground.

Finding short-term relief in my mother’s touch, I nervously watched Elijah agitatedly directing his next words at Evan.

Continue and end this now! Elijah ordered.

Evan walked over to where I was, and of course, I was petrified. Cowering, I gripped my mother’s hand tighter while moving closer to her backside. My mother kept me behind her as she stood tall like a redwood tree, keeping me from Evan’s reach. Evan tried to sidestep her, and when he lunged at me, my mother shoved him back. Angrily, Evan charged at her, only for him to get smacked in his face and kicked hard in the chest, which sent him flying back onto the ground.

You’ve lost your mind, Olivia! Evan’s mother, Gloria, snarled as she rushed to her son’s side. You’re not going to put your hands on my son anymore!

Keep your son away from mine. Mother warned her. Or he’ll get it worse than what he did to my son.

Gloria got up and glared at my mother. Two male Betas walked over and tried to snatch me from my mother’s hand until my father stepped in.

Don’t touch them! He growled.

The two males backed up, and my father stepped forward. As soon as he got close, my mother’s hand moved fast across his face. Father turned his face to the side, wiping the blood from his cheek that my mother’s nail had caused.

He’s not fighting! She shouted.

Not your decision, Olivia.

And not just yours alone, either. She gritted. He’s done fighting.

Father turned his eyes to mother and exhaled deeply. He caressed the side of her face before he turned to Elijah.

He’s not fighting. He told Elijah.

Elijah walked over to us.

I see why you married her. Elijah chuckled. She’s very feisty.

Mother didn’t say anything to Elijah when he got close. It was clear she didn’t trust him. The way her gaze stayed on him was proof. Elijah turned his eyes to father.

You know how it goes, Nathan, Elijah stated. "He won’t become a Beta until he beats

Evan."

I know, Father told him. It’s not his time this year. He will fight again in the upcoming years, though. I will guarantee that.

Elijah and my father shook hands.

I won’t have him fight, but he will still fall in the category with the other Omegas, Elijah told him.

I understand, Father mumbled.

Father turned to mother, and he pressed his nose against hers before the two shared a long kiss. When father pulled away, he looked in my direction and shook his head. I already knew he wasn’t happy with me.

Let’s go, Father instructed.

He grabbed mother’s hand, and mother kept hold of mine. The three of us walked back to the house.

*** Present:

I lit up a cigarette and puffed it as I waited for the gathering to begin. I’ve trained hard for years, and I was finally ready to remove myself from the Omega status. I puffed the last bit of the cigarette before I dropped it on the ground and smashed it with my boot. All the wolves in the Moon Pack were heading over to the fire pits. That’s where the fights, bonfires, and even where wolves choose their mates at. I pushed myself off the side of my black truck and followed behind the others.

It’s been a minute since I joined the gatherings, so I could feel the eyes of other wolves as I walked beside them. There was some whispering, saying that I had left the pack. That was to be ignored. I never left the pack. I left the forest. I didn’t want to stay there anymore. I was still a member of The Moon Pack.

Once I got to the firepits, I took my seat on the closest log.

I see you’ve come back. Someone spoke behind me.

I turned around and saw two Beta brothers, Miles and Julian Gorrerez. They took a seat beside me, and I sighed.

Does that mean you’ll be fighting tonight? Julian asked me.

I don’t want to be an Omega anymore, I told them.

You know you’re going to have to fight Evan again, right? Miles stated.

I know, and I’m ready for him.

Miles and Julian stopped talking. More wolves came and took their seats. I even saw Evan and Gio, the future Alpha, take their seats in the front. Gio was a replica of his father, Elijah. Brown hair, almond-shaped brown eyes, olive skin, slim build, and tall height. He was what everybody would call a ‘pretty boy’. Evan, on the other hand, was bigger than Gio and fair-skinned. His black hair was cut short, almost to a bald style. His brown eyes were always low. He was the same height as Gio.

Evan glanced my way, and I swear, my blood boiled at the sight of him. I wanted nothing more than to pound his scarred-up face in. Miles must have seen me ball my fist up because he leaned towards me with a chuckle from his thin lips.

You’ll get the chance, Ry. He whispered.

He was right. I needed to calm down. I watched as Evan leaned over to Gio and whispered something to him. Gio’s eyes met mine, and a smirk appeared on his face. Elijah walked into the center of the firepit and cleared his throat. The chattering ceased, and we all turned our eyes to the old Alpha.

Tonight, we are celebrating another gathering. He told us. As you may know, my son is replacing me this evening as the new Alpha for this pack. Tonight, the love that you have shown me, I want you to show him. He will lead you like I have. He is strong-willed and a true hunter like I was....

While Elijah spoke, I turned my attention to the other side of the firepit. My eyes landed on Mia Summers. She was the most beautiful wolf in the pack and... She belonged to Evan. Mia turned her crystal blue eyes in my direction, and I gave her a small smile. She didn’t even bother to return it. Mia just raised an eyebrow at me before she turned her attention back to the front. When I glanced back at Evan, he had a frown on his face. He must’ve seen me eyeing his girl a moment ago.

Evan: You’re not getting her, runt.

I smiled at him. Evan glared at me for the longest time. Once Elijah finished talking, Evan got up and walked to me.

You think you’re fucking funny, don’t you? Evan asked, getting in my face.

There’s nothing funny, Evan, I told him calmly. I’m not laughing at all.

Evan growled at me, and Mia stepped between the two of us. She turned to me and pressed her back against Evan.

Leave, Mia told me.

I’ll leave once I get my fight, I told her.

What fight? Evan laughed. You want another ass-whooping from me? Are you sure about that? You’ve been losing to me for years, Omega. You better be lucky Elijah allowed you to stay in the pack.

Gio stood in between us and glanced in my direction.

You haven’t been around for the other gatherings, Gio told me. I hope you trained harder than before.

I’ve trained hard enough for this night.

Gio smirked and turned to Evan.

You’ll fight him later on tonight, Gio told Evan. For now, let’s enjoy ourselves.

Gio patted Evan on the shoulder and walked off. Evan grabbed Mia’s hand and pulled her with him. Julian and Miles joined me.

Dude, you pissed Evan off, Julian told me.

I looked back at them before I walked off to join the other wolves. The gathering was different for me. I was able to do what I wasn’t allowed to do years ago, which was drink with others and hang out past a certain curfew. Talking to women was not even an option as Omegas weren’t allowed to even blink in their direction. It was a part of their rules.  It’s been a lot that I missed, and being around others that were close to my age made me feel alive. As I was sitting down, enjoying a cool beer, Mia walked past me.

Mia! I called her name, jumping up from my seat.

Mia stopped and turned to me.

What, Ryder? She asked me. You know Evan doesn’t want me to even speak to you.

I know, but I had to talk to you. It’s been a while since we saw each other.

Isn’t that a good thing? I mean, why would I talk to anybody after losing to the same person repeatedly?

As Mia rolled her eyes and walked off. I shook my head and went in another direction.

Still hunting her down, huh? A familiar voice asked.

That’s funny. I smiled. I thought Betas wasn’t supposed to talk to Omegas?

I stopped and turned to my old friend, Caleb, who walked over to me. We shook hands and walked off together.

Dude, it’s been long. He told me.