Moonlit Shadows

Live To Fight And Fight To Live

Jaci, still in wolf form next to Jungkook, jumped to the floor and stood growling towards Zephyr. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before a raspy, lower version of Jaci's speaking voice came from the wolf's muzzle.

"You will not disrespect my Alpha. You will not disrespect me, or our friends. You will either stand with us, or with our enemy. Either way, you are the most pathetic of all."

Everyone had become silent, intensely listening to the slow and labored speech of the new wolf. Zephyr threw his hands up in front of him and then dropped them to his sides.

"Well, now I simply must fight because the she-wolf said I have to," he said sarcastically. "Listen here, pup, you will kindly submit to me. I have a much higher status than even your little Alpha there."

Aydan appeared in front of Zephyr and with one solid punch to the face, sent Zephyr reeling back into the wall. "Shut up, Zephyr! You have made plenty of jokes and belittled us enough. We will make a stand with or without you. You may be very intelligent, and older than any of us can imagine, but I'm so tired of your arrogance, pride, and cowardice getting in the way of good things."

"Good things such as you dying? I'm trying to prevent it!" exclaimed Zephyr. "You are all idiots! You cannot defeat the Society! There are so many more of them than there are of us! What good will you all be when you're bleeding out on some concrete floor somewhere?"

"At least we will have died standing up to them," said Jungkook, staggering to his feet.

Sunny rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I won't let you fall," she whispered.

Jungkook smiled gratefully and threw his arm over her shoulders. "I will never run away from the Hunters. They've taken enough from me and I will not go down without a fight."

"Fine. Go. Die and let me be rid of your nonsense. Don't expect me to come collect your bodies for burial when this entire plan goes to hell." Zephyr jerked his bag up into his arms and stormed from the room.

Jungkook sagged against Sunny and she stumbled under his weight. However, Taehyung was immediately on his other side, bearing part of the load.

"Sorry," wheezed Jungkook, his head sagging forward.

Jaci came around the bed, her large blue eyes clouded with worry. "Don't force yourself," she said.

Jungkook's smile sent waves of happiness bounding through her chest. "I'm okay. Just tired is all. I haven't got my strength back yet."

"And you won't if you keep pushing yourself," chided Sunny.

Taehyung helped lower Jungkook to the bed and let Sunny tend to Jungkook's immediate needs. He looked over to Aydan, whose head was lowered. "Are you sure you can disobey your Master like that?"

Aydan kept his head lowered and his gaze glued to the floor. "I didn't think he would ever act so frightened. I've seen him rip through entire crowds. He's stood up to king pins and butchers. I've never seen him as scared as he was just now. I never thought I worked for such a coward."

Taehyung pursed his lips and nodded. "He had us all fooled. But when faced with his greatest fear, he finally caved. Can't say I blame him. I've seen how cold, calculated, and ruthless the Society can be. Zephyr has every right to be scared."

"But to abandon us? Just to save his own skin?" Aydan's head lifted, and his eyes begged Taehyung to help him make sense of the confusion.

But Taehyung just shrugged. "Seems like it. You need to be tough here, Aydan. We need you to help us navigate this fight. First things first, however, where do we go?"