Rayne Auster - Moonlights Silver,
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Moonlight’s Silver |
Rayne Auster
2
D
ARKNESS
enveloped him as he ran, weaving through the
city’s dark alleys, graffiti mocking him at every turn. The
scent of fear tickled his senses, both cloyingly sweet and
repulsive, taunting him with the fact that it was his own. The
predator within him fought his mind, desperately struggling
to be free, wishing to glory in the chase, yearning to turn and
hunt instead of flee. His wolf longed for violence and power,
urging him to stand his ground and attack, but Ankerite
fought him, knowing it was futile. Despite the fact that a full
moon illuminated the city before him, the wolf within him
could never be free, and so Ankerite continued to run,
ignoring the beast, the hunger, and the yearning for blood.
Dejection coursed through him with the realization that
he was being hunted yet again. He’d thought he was finally
safe, working in a small bookshop in an area that could
marginally be qualified as the wrong side of town. He’d
remained unnoticed for three years, and those three years
had made him complacent. Now disbelief and denial waged
war with the reality he suddenly faced once again. He was a
half-breed, to be hunted and killed simply because he
belonged to neither the world of humans nor that of
werewolves.
His breath rasped through a ragged throat, the pain a
mere inconvenience when faced with the very real possibility
of death, and the pounding of his blood beat a primal
rhythm in his temples.
Run, run, faster, flee, survive, live,
Moonlight’s Silver |
Rayne Auster
3
hunt, turn, attack, kill.
He shook his head, trying to rid
himself of the beast raging within him, but the battle was
lost before it had even begun. The sharp, tangy smell of his
own fear washed over him, tearing a misshapen howl from
his throat, the sound weak as it passed through human
vocal cords.
Realizing that the sound betrayed him to his pursuer,
Ankerite took another turn, desperately hoping to lose the
wolf hunting him, only to despair when confronted with the
ruins of an old factory. He no longer had anywhere to hide.
The large open space covered in rubble served only to hinder
his efforts to escape. But the sound of pursuit urged him on,
driving Ankerite into the ruins, only one thought remaining
in his mind:
run.
Dark shadows danced across the concrete, emphasizing
the desolation. Shapes blurred, merging into a kaleidoscope
of information and misinformation, his panicked mind no
longer able to distinguish safety from danger. A moment of
distraction drove him into a sharp, jagged pipe sticking all
too innocently from the wreckage surrounding him. He
yelped, pain coursing through him, greedily invading his
senses and causing him to tumble to the ground. The
metallic scent of fresh blood rose up into the night air,
drawing a howl of victory as his predator rounded the corner
and spotted him wounded and helpless.
A sliver of moonlight peering from behind the clouds
reflected off amber eyes glowing with power as wild and
ancient as the earth itself. The russet wolf hunting him
paused but a moment, the expression in his eyes seeming to
taunt Ankerite with the knowledge that he was helpless
Moonlight’s Silver |
Rayne Auster
4
against the predator before him.
Ankerite tensed, meeting his hunter’s gaze. He watched
in horrified fascination as the wolf prepared to leap. Despite
the danger, he couldn’t help but admire the wolf’s muscles
gracefully shifting beneath his skin; every shift was silent art
in motion. Bile rose in his throat, filling his mouth with the
bitter taste of defeat, drowning the wolf still fighting to break
free of the boundaries of his human mind. Unable to flee, the
urge to fight drained away, leaving a hollow sense of bitter
acceptance of what he was powerless to change. Ankerite
clenched his eyes closed just as the wolf leapt into motion,
waiting for the pain that would accompany sharp teeth
mercilessly tearing him apart.
He registered his hunter’s loud, vicious snarl moments
before it was interrupted by the sound of teeth tearing
through flesh. Tension danced along Ankerite’s skin, the
sharp pain in his hip ebbing and flowing, seeming to
synchronize with the sound of heavy panting. He felt no new
source of pain, no hot breath upon his skin, and no sharp
teeth tearing into him. He pried open deep blue eyes that
contained the same wild glow as those of the wolf hunting
him and swallowed a gasp of surprise. Before him a battle
raged, a lethal clash of wills fighting for power and dominion.
A second wolf had joined the first, moonlight dancing
gracefully over his silver coat as he clashed with the amber-
eyed wolf in a wild dance of flesh, teeth, and blood.
The sight held Ankerite captive, all thoughts of flight
gone as he watched the silver wolf slowly but surely gain
ground on the russet one, nipping at his flank before
gracefully moving away, only to repeat the process. The
Moonlight’s Silver |
Rayne Auster
5
moonlight faded for a moment, slipping behind a cloud,
forming dark silhouettes. The two wolves before him
continued to fight, intent only upon each other. When the
moon once again showed her face, the fight was over. The
silver wolf stood over the russet one, teeth at his throat.
Ankerite blinked when the russet wolf began to
shimmer, the lines that defined the wolf blurring and losing
distinction. For a moment he was convinced his sight was
fooling his senses. Shaking his head, Ankerite stared,
surprised by the man lying defeated on the ground. Although
he knew all about werewolves, this was the first time he’d
witnessed a transformation, seeing as he was usually
running before given the chance to actually witness the
sight. Even though the silver wolf’s teeth remained at the
man’s throat, Ankerite could see that the russet werewolf
was still trying to challenge the wolf who held him captive,
eyes filled with defiance almost as if he were daring the other
to kill him.
The silver wolf released a growl, a warning clear in his
tone, before also shifting into human form, hand at the
defeated werewolf’s throat, knee strategically shoved into his
gut.
“Cole. I warned you I’d kill you the next time you
entered my territory unannounced.” The warm, rich voice
sent pleasant shivers down Ankerite’s spine even though it
was filled with deadly intent and determination. Surprised by
his own reaction, Ankerite took in that werewolf’s form,
noticing his broad shoulders, lean, toned muscles, and the
fact that he was decidedly naked. The werewolf had pale
blond hair that reflected the moonlight, revealing the same
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