His Rogue Luna

"What's the mark of The Gifted?" I asked. Romeo shuffled awkwardly besides me, giving his father a pointed look.

"Dad those are just tattoos, anyone can get them," I glanced down at my forearms where I had a matching marking on each.

"No, it's clearly a mark from the Goddess herself," Diego snapped back.

"A witch I met in the forest did them for me," I explained. Romeo raised a brow at his dad, as if saying he was right but Diego scoffed, turning back to me.

"A witch? And who was this witch?" He asked.

"Her name is Diana and that's all I know," I shrugged. Despite her and I growing close in the last two years I had known her, she was a private woman and didn't reveal anything about herself. "I'm not even sure she's a witch, I just assumed," I frowned, only now realising how a lot things about her didn't add up.

"And her name was Diana you said?" Diego looked like the triumphant one now, his smile smug as he looked at his son.

"Yes, is that supposed to mean anything?" I asked.

"And who named you Artemis?" He asked, ignoring my question.

"Diana did," I remembered the first day I had met her. I had been in a rough state, hardly intelligible and mostly feral as a result of being alone most my childhood. I shook away those dark thoughts.

"Like I said, you bear the mark of The Gifted," Diego repeated.

"The Gifted are a select few rare individuals, handpicked by the Moon Goddess herself. They are given gifts, often extra powers. These powers can range from advanced senses to control over the elements. There's no real limit to what they can be and depend on the individual,"

"Why does the Moon Goddess give people these gifts?"

"Well no ones completely sure, but I have a book you need to read about The Gifted," he got up and reached over for a book at the top of a pile near the door. He carefully handed it to me as I inspected it.

The book itself wasn't anything extraordinary. It was slightly thin with brown leather covers and slightly faded writing.

The words however, weren't in a language I could recognise, but I could still somehow understand what it said.

"What language is this?" I asked, watching as the letters almost swam before my vision yet somehow make perfect sense to me.

"It's Celestian, an ancient but sacred language," he said. I nodded, closing the book and looking back at his expectant face. "Why do think I'm a Gifted?" He gave me a knowing look.

"Well for starters, your name,"

"Which one?" I asked. "Cynthia or Artemis?"

"Both," I furrowed my brows. I felt like my head was spinning with all this information and making me slow.

"They both have the same meaning; they are both names of the Moon Goddess. They are just derivations," He explained.

"Both of your names were given to you by the Moon Goddess herself. Your mother saw her in a dream before you were born and was told to name you that. And this woman named Diana you met can't be a witch, that name is sacred amongst most species," I couldn't believe he was saying that the old woman I knew who healed me and saved me was the goddess herself.

I didn't quite believe him.

"And those tattoos, they would burn a normal werewolf and wouldn't stay on their skin. Those markings are too powerful," I just listened to him, letting it all sink in.

"Dad I think that's enough for now," Romeo spoke up.

"Oh yes yes it's late. I don't want to hold you for too long," he muttered to himself, checking his watch.

"But I have so many questions," I protested, pushing away my exhaustion. I had finally found my family, people I could call my own and come home to. I was not letting them go.

"Don't worry. I'll see you soon, I'll send Romeo again," I nodded, standing up as they did. Diego pulled me into a tight hug, holding me for a while before letting go.

"You're really my uncle then?" He nodded, stroking back some of my hair.

"I'll see you soon Uncle," I smiled. Romeo guided me out the door and we walked back to the pack house.

"So are you my only cousin?" I asked.

"I'm not sure about your dad's side but yeah," he shrugged.

"And my parents, there dead aren't they?" I had this feeling that they were. I never suspected they were alive and as a result, never looked for them or any family I might have had. Not that I would have known where to find them "Yeah. Our pack was attacked by hunters. Thankfully they are mostly eradicated and are no longer a threat," he looked ahead into the distance, his jaw clenched

Although I had never met my parents, I still felt a deep sense of grief wash over me. I wondered what kind of people they were, what kind of parents they would have been to me, and what kind of person I would be. I wished for that sense of belonging and comfort only they could provide.

I shook myself from my thoughts. There was no point dwelling on all the what ifs.

"And this pack accepted you?" I asked.

"Sort of. They don't really like outsiders but since we did nothing wrong, they accepted us because my dad was a doctor and I'm a warrior," he shrugged. We stopped before the pack house, looking up at the tall structure for a moment.

"Well I'll see you soon," I pulled him in for a quick hug and bid my goodbye. He soon disappeared back into the darkness of the forest, the pitch black of the night hiding him.

I snuck back into the house, my heels in one hand and silently made my way upstairs to my bedroom. I quickly slipped inside my room, closing the door before turning around.

I almost jumped in fright at the large figure sitting on my bed.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Aurelius sat on my bed, his face contorted in anger and eyes stormy. My own heart pounded in my chest as I tried to give him a small smile.

"Where were you?" He growled.

"I was out on a walk," I shrugged, looking away and putting my shoes back in the wardrobe. As I turned back around to face him, I was startled by his sudden proximity, his body brushing mine.

"Don't lie to me. Why do you smell like men?" I frowned, deciding against answering. I wasn't sure why I wanted to keep my uncle and cousin a secret but I did. I didn't trust him.

"I was talking to some people. I hugged them. That's it," I snapped, pushing past him. He grabbed my arm, twisting me around and shoving me against the wall. He pressed his body against mine and grabbed my other hand, holding them both above my head in one of his.

"Remember who you're talking to, Mate," he growled. He dipped his head to my neck, trailing his nose from ear to my nose.

I couldn't help the gasp that escaped when I felt his tongue lick the sensitive spot behind my ear. He began trailing sloppy, open-mouth kisses along my throat and neck, and stopped where my neck met my shoulder.

He paused and I fought my hands out of his grasp but he tightened them. He hoisted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist to avoid falling.

As I opened my mouth to protest I felt his sharp teeth pierce the skin. A loud moan escaped my parted lips as pleasure and pain mixed and coursed through my veins in a dizzying mix.

Responding to my moan, he pushed his hips into mine and I felt his hardened bulge at my center. He ground into me, giving me that much needed friction while he licked the blood off my neck and sealed the bite wound.

He pulled his face away from my neck and I whimpered at the loss of contact. His eyes were dark, swirling with his anger and l**t and his canines glinted a bright red, his mouth smeared with my blood. "You're mine and I will never let you leave," He roared.

A blissful feeling erupted from my neck, spreading through my body. Everything around me became hazy and unfocused and soon, I fell into unconsciousness.