Luna (English Version)
PSYFER · 6 chapters · 6,732 words
SYNOPSIS
Step into a world beyond the veil — a world of magic, mystery, and destiny.
Let us witness the story of Eros Sacramento and Rogelio Alarcon.
Eros — a sorcerer whose lineage traces back to the ancient mystics and shamans of old.
And Rogelio — his destined partner, a werewolf and the Alpha of the Guardians.
Will their tale have a happy ending? Two beings born of different worlds, yet bound together by the threads of fate.
Let us all bear witness to what unfolds.
DISCLAIMER
The story you are about to witness is a product of my imaginative creation.
Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, or things is purely coincidental.
This story contains themes, language, and situations that may not be suitable for children. If you are under the appropriate age, you are advised not to proceed in order to avoid exposure to such content.
Thank you for your understanding.
CHAPTER 1
Eros Sacramento
Sigh …
I let out a long, heavy breath as I stared into the shadows beyond the window. The sun had already set; darkness had swallowed the last traces of daylight. I had spent the last sixteen hours cramped inside this vehicle assigned to take me to Punta Verde, a town in Bicol. Every jolt of the road bruised my spine and every lurch of the van twisted my stomach. It was unbearable!
Was I truly in the wrong?
Disbelief clung to me like a second skin. A punishment disguised as duty – that was all it was. The Government of the Paranormal and Uncanny is a branch of the Global Administration located in the Philippines. It is not spoken of in the open, yet it thrives secretly beneath the skin of the world. It governs beings like myself—those gifted with extraordinary abilities. Its purpose: to maintain the delicate balance of power between good and evil, and in so doing, guard the fragile peace of humankind.
Secrecy is its highest law, particularly, the preservation of information surrounding the realm of the supernatural from ordinary citizens. To wield one’s gift without sanction is to defy the covenant that keeps the dark at bay. It was for this reason that I was punished. Overcome by emotion, I became careless.
What is the point of having all these powers if I need someone else’s permission to save lives?
I shake my head as the memories returned, unspooling every detail of how it all began.
-oOo-
_“Please, save my grandson… I beg you!” _ The old woman’s voice cracked. Her eyes, swollen from grief as she pleaded with the doctor.
It was around midnight when they rushed in an unconscious child reportedly struck by a drunk driver. His injuries severe — limp body, blood knotting his hair and a left arm that was visibly broken.
My fellow nurse and I moved quickly to assess him. We cut away the child’s clothes, exposing the shallow rise and fall of his chest. Dr. Lorenzo glanced at us — a glance that told the truth words could not: the boy’s condition was critical. His pulse was faint and signs of internal bleeding showed on the right side of his chest. He was dying!
We attached tubes, monitors and sensors in a desperate attempt to keep him alive, even though we all knew his odds were slim. The doctor exhaled quietly. His eyes dimmed, sorrow evident in his face. He composed himself before stepping toward the grandmother to speak the unspeakable. The worst part of his job .
Other nurses gathered to soothe the woman while I stayed, holding the boy’s small hand. He looked no more than ten — far too young, far too fragile.
_“Doctor—please, he’s all I have left!” _ Her cries rang like a prayer torn from the heart as it echoed throughout the emergency room.
My heart ached with pity — for her, for the boy, for the injustice of it all. I couldn’t stop myself. My mind made its decision before reasons did. I shut the curtain behind me and moved to carry out my plan clandestinely. I laid my hands on the child’s head and chest. I had to act while no is around.
_Powers dwelling deep in me, _
_Flow through my hands and set it free. _
_Wisdom’s light guides my way, _
_To save a life, by night or day! _
Warm energy surged from my navel into my palms. A soft glow enveloped the boy as his wounds began to heal with astonishing speed.
_“What is happening here?” _ Dr. Lorenzo demanded, whipping the curtain aside.
I did not get a chance to speak as the world lurched and time itself seemed to stop. People froze mid-motion across the emergency ward. A portal opened in the centre of the room, spilling three men in military uniform.
_“What do you think you are doing?!” _ the man in the middle snarled, his gaze fixed on my hands.
-oOo-
The memory shattered as the van slowed, halting before a set of heavy iron gates. The driver pressed the intercom. After a brief exchange, the iron doors swung open to let us in. We stopped before a huge mansion — vast and mystical. A tall man stood waiting. Six feet, at least. Broad as a fortress wall, skin bronze and face set like carved stone.
_“Eros? Eros Sacramento?” _ he asked as I stepped down.
I nodded as he eyed me critically – weighing, dissecting.
_“Good that you finally arrived; we’ve been waiting for you.” _ He took my suitcase from the driver as though it weighed nothing.
_“Park in the garage,” _ he instructed the driver. _“Rest in the guest room and return to Manila tomorrow.” _
_“Yes, Beta,” _ the driver replied.
Beta?
The title bit at me, feral and strange.
_“Come, I’ll show you to your room.” _ He turned, expecting me to follow.
I obeyed in silence, taking in my surroundings. The mansion’s interior was a cathedral to wealth and power: polished wood, fine furnishings, servants and security moving with quiet precision. I secretly used my magic to observe and found that many of them possess the aura of wolves.
_“You’re safe here.” _ The man murmured as we stopped at the foot of the staircase.
_“Huh?” _ I blinked, puzzled.
_“You leak of power, like a bucket full of holes. Every wolf in here can sense it.” _ He said flatly.
Heat crept up my cheeks. He had named my flaw without hesitation! I tried to steady my voice as my face burn of embarrassment.
_“Forgive me. I did not mean to question the safety of your Alpha’s territory. I was simply curious — this is my first time meeting Lycans,” _ I explained.
His gaze flicked over me.
_“You’re free to use your powers here. What you consider punishment, we call blessing. Punta Verde’s guardians need a Sacramento — especially now.” _ He began to climb the stairs.
His words left me speechless. I could not deny the sting of conscience his remark provoked. This was my punishment. I had been sent away rather than be stripped of my powers. My bloodline had spared me from a harsher fate.
The Sacramentos are a family famed for magic. My ancestors were ancient sorcerers, hermits, and spiritual healers. Our name carried weight, recognized even by the Global Government of the paranormal. So instead of losing my powers, I had been assigned to Bicol, to assist Punta Verde’s guardians. I was to replace the late healer of the Lycans and to remain here until further notice.
_“This will be your room,” _ the man said, stopping at a door.
-oOo-
A WEEK LATER
Inhale…
Exhale…
I sat cross-legged, eyes closed, in the centre of my room, feeling the flow of energy like rivers under my skin. My mother had taught me this method to refine my control. For one who relies on magic, control is everything. The efficacy of an incantation depended on the energy that sustained it. The ratios had to be exact; otherwise, the result could be catastrophic.
Inhale…
Exhale…
My mind drifted to the stillness of Punta Verde. I had yet to meet their Alpha and there was little to do in this secluded place. It was too calm, almost oppressively so. I spent my days learning faces and familiarising myself with the layout of the small town. Only Diego, the Beta, had been a companion — stern at first, but solid and trustworthy.
_“Help! Help us! Alpha!” _
My eyes snapped open. I turned, scanning the room, but I was alone. A nervous laugh escaped me. Perhaps the stress had finally cracked my nerves. I closed my eyes and resumed my meditation.
_“Alpha! Where are you?” _
I bolted upright. The voice was no illusion: a child, terrified and calling for the Alpha. My heart thudded. The fear in it cut clean through me. I searched the room. I opened the closets and peered under the bed. Nothing. I tried to reach for the voice again; it was gone.
What on earth is going on?
The mystery gnawed at me. I tried to remember the minutes before the voice had come; then it struck me!
Could it be…?
I closed my eyes, focusing my energy. The child’s cry bloomed again in my mind: small, urgent, and painfully close.
_“Alpha!” _
My suspicion was right. The child was a telepath. The message had been sent without conscious awareness. I latched onto that mental thread to keep our connection going.
_“Who are you? And where are you?” _ I asked gently, avoiding to scare the child.
Silence hung briefly, and I felt a twinge of anxiety for his lack of response.
_“Who are you? Why can’t I see you? You’re not Alpha!” _ the child replied, bewildered and frightened.
_“I’m Eros, a friend of Diego, the Beta. I want to help. Where are you?” _ I told him.
_“Kuya Diego?” _
_“Yes. Him!” _ I assured.
The child paused, hesitant, as if weighing whether to trust the words of a stranger.
_“What is your name?” _ I asked after a few breaths.
_“Bullet. I don’t know where we are.” _
_“We? Are you with others? How many?” _ My pulse quickened.
_“T-three of us.” _
_“Describe the place where I can find you,” _ I ordered.
_“In the forest behind Alpha’s mansion but there’s something different.” _
_“Different? How?” _
_“It looks like Alpha’s Forest, but the scent is wrong. It’s like another place.” _
My stomach turned cold. I had heard rumours of artificial worlds — man made dimensions saturated with powerful magic. Creating such a realm was not trivial.
_“Are you safe?” _ I asked, masking the panic in my voice.
_“We were hiding from a monster. We need Alpha! Where is Alpha?!” _ the child cried.
I inhaled and forced myself to think. Every second mattered.
_“Stay where you are. Don’t move. Don’t let the monster see you. Understand?” _ I instructed.
Without waiting for a reply, I hurried from my room to find the nearest Lycan guardian and inform him of the situation. I did not bother waiting for his response. I raced out of the mansion toward the forest, my only thought the safety of the children — and with each passing second, their lives were at risk.
CHAPTER 2
Eros Sacramento
I found myself at the edge of the forest, where only the pale glow of the full moon lit my path. The wind brushed against my skin, almost like a whisper, with a strange, icy touch that sent a shudder deep into my bones.
DUB…
BA-DUB…
DUB…
Something feels off. The air here throbbed with dark and suffocating magic. My heart stammered against my ribs. I should never have come alone. I should not have let my emotions drive me into this place without an ally at my side.
I shook my head and struck my own cheek to steady myself. No more hesitation . There was no time for regret. The safety of the children is my utmost priority. Drawing a deep breath, I raised my hand, calling light to my palm, and let the words fall from my lips—half-spell, half-prayer:
_Unlock the path, _
_Through shadowed light. _
_Bestow my wrath, _
_To end the night! _
The air cracked like a mirror under pressure. A thin fissure of light spread and widened until the barrier collapsed, leaving a doorway into another realm. I had successfully created a path into the enemy’s world. I drew a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever awaited beyond.
_“For the children,” _ I whispered, and stepped into the dark.
The stench of black magic struck me first! It was so thick it nearly made me retch. Only sheer courage and will power kept my stomach from turning.
_“Where are you?” _ I called into the void.
_“In the heart of the forest, behind the stones.” _ __ A small voice whispered, not through my ears but straight into my mind.
I closed my eyes and sharpened my senses, reaching, seeking. I followed the fragile thread of energy radiating from the wolf-child hidden beyond the darkness. I seized it like a compass pointing the way to their location, deeper into the woods. After a long trek, I reached the forest’s centre. Just as I moved toward the rocky outcrop, I froze, pressing myself against a tree. In the clearing stood a creature I had never encountered before: a sigbin .
According to the archives of the paranormal government, this creature is a beast of darkness that drains blood through its shadow. It prowls during the Lenten season, hunting children. Which begs the question, why was it here, in the wolves’ territory, when the season had not yet come?
Its appearance was grotesque—a goat-like body without horns, enormous ears clapping like hands, and a serpent-like tail that could strike like a whip. It walked backwards, head hanging between its legs.
_“I’m here,” _ I whispered to the child.
Peering from behind the tree, I spotted them: three small figures crouched in silence, huddled behind rocks. The eldest looked straight at me, eyes too wide, too knowing.
_“Where is Alpha?” _
_“Coming,” _ I lied.
I pressed a finger to my lips, urging them to stay silent. The sigbin was only meters away. One mistake would cost them their lives. A plan formed in my mind. I needed to draw the monster’s attention—only then could the children escape. I stepped from the shadow, hands raised, gathering power. Energy coiled between my fingers like roots seeking earth.
_Roots of the forest deep and old, _
_Hear my wish, my plea be told. _
_Servant of darkness, I halt your sway, _
_I bind your power, keep at bay! _
I struck the ground. Green energy surged from my palms like water, racing toward the beast. Thick roots erupted from the soil, ancient and furious, coiling around the monster’s limbs. It shrieked—an unholy cry that clawed at the night—thrashing against the bindings
_“Run!” _ I cried, the spell trembling in my grip.
The children obeyed, fleeing hand in hand. They seem to be between eight to twelve years old at most, running as fast as their legs could carry them. I released the magic and sprinted after them. I wanted to scoop the smallest into my arms, but I needed both hands free to cast spells.
_“Are you hurt?” _ I asked.
They shook their heads in unison. We ran on, the monster tearing at the roots behind us. The sigbin was furious and it was not long before I heard it give chase. Its pursuit was relentless.
_“Don’t stop, don’t look back! Run until you find the edge of the forest!” _ I shouted.
_“You’re not coming with us?” _ the eldest cried.
_“I have to hold the monster here until Alpha arrives with reinforcements,” _ I replied.
_“But—” _
The monster’s shadow loomed. There was no time for argument!
_“No buts and just do as I say!” _
They hesitated but nodded, before finally vanishing into the trees. _**** _ I stopped and turned to face the beast. Though I usually play a supporting role, I was no stranger to combat. To fall here without putting up a fight would be a disgrace to my ancestors.
_Water to wind, wind to blade, _
_By icy breath, let force be made. _
_A chilling strike, a blade refined, _
_From edge of ice, death you shall find! _
Blue light gathered. The air grew frigid; shards of ice formed and hovered at my command. With a sweep of my hand, I unleashed them toward the sigbin . The beast slipped between them with unnatural grace. Again, I cast; again, it evaded. We danced a deadly circle, its speed against my magic.
It lunged. I rolled aside—too slow. My focus broke and the ice dissolved back into water. It stalked closer, eyes burning. I gathered energy again, but its tail coiled around my leg, dragging me down. In an instant, it was on top of me. Shadows rose like weeds, binding me to the earth, pinning me in place. The same shadows raked across my chest. Blood welled, hot against the night’s chill.
_“Ahhh!” _ The scream tore from my throat.
The sigbin howled in ecstasy, pressing its shadow deeper into me, drinking greedily of my life. Weakness seeped into my bones and flooded my limbs. My vision blurred. Was this the end?
No!
My pride would not let me die here. Darkness – I thought. Darkness was also an element, was it not? The twin to light, like water to fire. Heaven to earth. Yin and yang. So, why not wield it?
With trembling hands, I summoned my power.
_Shadow vast, and darkness old, _
_Hear my command, my will be told. _
_Let darkness turn upon its own, _
_And reap the seeds that they have sown. _
At first, nothing happened. The sigbin drank on. So, I focused harder. Purple light bled through the shadow. The bonds around me slackened, twisting back upon their master.
Its monstrous face twisted in confusion as its own power betrayed it. It tried to reclaim control, but it was too late.
It staggered back; its own shadow turned against it like claws digging into its hide. The monster’s shriek split the forest. I took this opportunity to crawled away, gasping, feeling the taint of its blood seep into me through our link. I severed the connection. Fury blazed in its eyes. It lunged at me!
_By heat, by flame, by fire’s breath, _
_I call the blaze, I summon death. _
_Sigbin dark, face the pyre, _
_Be turned to ash in cleansing fire! _
Red energy leapt from my fingertip. The spell struck like a bullet; the creature ignited, shrieking as fire clung to its skin. Its voice carved with agony. The stench of burning fur and flesh filled the air. It writhed across the ground, desperate to smother the flames consuming it, but to no avail. Magic has caused the flames and only magic could extinguish it.
I had to end the creature of darkness. I had to make certain it would never escape, never again prey upon the innocent. Drawing the last of my strength, I raised my hands to the heavens. Power crackled in the air; clouds surged across the moon as thunder growled like angry gods. I would pour everything into a single strike — a final incantation that would destroy the sigbin once and for all.
_Power of the endless skies, _
_Judgment falls where shadow lies. _
_Creature born of endless night, _
_Be judged and bound in heavenly light. _
As I uttered the final words, a sudden gust of wind followed. Coldness swept over us, thick and unnatural. The once-quiet clouds above stirred into unrest, cloaking the full moon that had borne silent witness to all that had transpired that night.
For a moment, the creature’s attention was drawn away. It forgot the searing punishment of fire consuming its flesh. Its gaze drifted upward to the heavens — and then locked onto me, eyes blazing with recognition. It sensed the danger approaching. Desperation curled around the monster as it stepped toward me, as though finally comprehending its fate. But it was too late. The stage had already been set for the final act. Before it could close the distance, lightning gathered and descended in a storm of spears. Bolt after bolt struck the sigbin , until at last it collapsed, blackened like a lump of coal. I held the incantation until the last drop of magic drained from my soul. Only when I was certain it drew no breath did I release the spell.
Weakness swept over me. I fell to my knees, spent, my consciousness slipping away. Before the darkness could claim me, a massive shape loomed into view. My head swam; I could not make out its form. All I could catch was its voice — fractured, trembling, and impossible to ignore:
_“L-luna?!” _
CHAPTER 3
EROS SACRAMENTO
**“Run!” **
The word ripped from my throat as I lurched awake, gasping. For a brief moment I was still there, in the forest, in the hunt, night thick with screams. My eyes slowly adjusted as the world righted itself, and found myself in a room I did not recognise. Pain struck immediately—a savage reminder that I was still alive. Every breath ignited the wounds beneath the bandages wrapped around me, spreading heat through my ribs until my breath trembled.
**“Urghhh…” ** I hissed.
I tried to move. The effort sent small shocks through my body, but I forced myself upright. Sunlight slanted through a tall window, turning the air gold. I raised a trembling arm to shield my eyes.
Where am I?
The room was large, austere and undeniably masculine. Everything around me was built on strength—dark wood, straight lines, a grave sort of order. It spoke of discipline and control. No clutter. No softness.
I looked down and froze as the realization hit me: I was completely naked! My body was wrapped only in white linen and rough bandage. Shame struck me before the pain could return. Clutching the sheet around my body, I rose unsteadily, heading for the door. It opened before I reached it.
A man stepped through—and the world seemed to narrow around him. He moved with the quiet certainty of a predator, each step deliberate. His expression was carved from authority, but no amount of sternness could hide the unnatural beauty of his face—something both human and not.
**“What do you think you’re doing?” ** His voice filled the room, deep and resonant.
Before I could move, he was at my side. He was close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from his skin. His scent reached me: smoke, pine, something wilder beneath.
DUB.
BA-DUB.
DUB.
My pulse betrayed me.
**“Get back to bed,” ** he said, softer now but no less commanding. **“Your wounds aren’t healed yet.” **
I should have been afraid. Instead, anger sparked—irrational, defiant. Who was this man to order me about? He reached for my forehead, fingers rough, warm—too warm. I flinched as if burned.
**“I won’t hurt you,” ** he said, voice low and guttural. **“I need to see if your fever’s gone.” **
**“W-who are you? Where am I?” **
The man drew himself up to his full height. His shirt clung to him, dark and simple—a black tank and faded jeans—but on him it looked like an armour. His breath deepened; I felt the air change. He inhaled, almost imperceptibly, as though he were scenting me. Something inside me twisted.
**“I am the Alpha of the guardians here in Punta Verde. Rogelio Alarcon.” **
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. There was something chilling in the way his name sounded. I could feel the authority in him—the same instinctive dominance that made wolves lower their heads. For a heartbeat, I notice the sudden shift in his eyes — they flared blue for an instant before fading back to their original colour, swift as lightning and just as unsettling.
**“Alpha?” ** I echoed.
**“Yes.” ** He replied.
I couldn’t stop myself from stepping back, startled by his declaration.
**“I said I won’t hurt you!” ** he said, his voice firm as he caught my wrist.
Instinctively, I tried to pull away — and in doing so, the blanket slipped. We both froze as cold air brushed my skin. For an instant the world shrank to the space between us—his breath, my heartbeat, the ragged edge of a shared silence. His gaze raked over me—dark, dangerous, burning. Then, with a muttered curse, he pulled the blanket back around me and shoved me gently toward the bed.
**“Rest,” ** he said through clenched teeth.
**“The children,” ** I rasped. **“Are they safe?” **
He drew in a deep breath, steadying himself.
**“They’re safe. Don’t worry about them. Focus on recovering. You can’t heal yourself, remember.” ** His voice softened at the edges.
Relief shuddered through me, followed by exhaustion. I sank back into the bed. Only then did the ache return in full—the deep, cruel reminder of my own fragility.
**“Urghhh…” ** I winced.
**“Easy,” ** he said, sitting beside me. The concern in his voice was disarming.
Frustration burned inside me. I hated this helplessness. Despite the formidable magic the Sacramento is famed for, I couldn’t use it on myself. I could not double my strength, nor could I hasten my movements—and healing my own wounds was utterly impossible. My own energy would cancel the spell. Mother’s words echoed in my mind: Our healing is meant for others, never ourselves.
**“You should not have charged in alone. You should have waited for us. You should have waited for me so I could protect you!” ** he said after a moment.
Me? Protected by the Alpha?
**“The children’s safety mattered more; Besides, I left a message to one of the Guardians — I knew you would come,” ** I explained calmly.
**“But what if we were too late? What if you’d died?” ** His voice trembled with a trace of fear.
**“I’m a Sacramento. This is what I do. There is no difference between this and the missions I have undertaken before. In our line of work, danger is a certainty. You know this,” ** I replied firmly.
**“And that,” ** he growled, **“is exactly why you drive me insane. You rushed in without a plan!” **
**“As I said before, the children’s safety is my priority,” ** His tone irked me. Just because he is the Alpha of the Guardians did not give him the right to dictate my actions.
For a long moment, our eyes locked. I met his gaze without falter, and to my surprise, he slowly raised his right hand. His fingers brushed gently against my cheek.
**“What… are you doing?” ** I asked softly, instinctively turning my face away.
DUB.
BA-DUB.
DUB.
The Alpha of the werewolves stilled—then turned away abruptly. His own touch seemed to startle him.
**“Rest. I’ll send Aron to tend to your wounds.” ** he said, rising and turning toward the door.
What just happened?
-oOo-
Days passed like water in a dream. Aron, healer of the guardians, tended to me daily—always with Rogelio somewhere nearby, silent, watchful. There was something haunted in the way his eyes followed me, as if he were waiting for something to confirm the truth he dreaded.
At the same time, his gaze also lingered longer than necessary. His tone softened only when he spoke to me. And he utterly refused to let me leave his room. Until somehow, it became our room. I found that my things had been moved into his without my notice.
That morning, I tested my magic after what feels like a long time. I sat on the bed and inhaled, slowly, deliberately. The scent of Rogelio lingered in the air: smoke, rain and forest. After making sure that the energy coursing through me is stable, only then that I decided to leave the room.
I stepped into the hall. I had questions—and this time, I wanted answers. Rogelio had avoided my questions long enough. The corridors were built of stone that whispered with age. When I reached his office, voices murmured within.
**“Are you certain?” ** said a familiar voice.
**“Yes, Alpha. We’ve searched every record. Nothing like this has ever occurred. Not in our pack, not in any across the islands. Not even the Global Archives have mention of it. You and Eros would be the first.” **
The first?
Something in their words tightened my gut. My hand pushed the door open.
**“What are you talking about? First in what?” ** I demanded, stepping into the doorway.
**“Eros!” ** Rogelio rose, startled, rising from his desk. **“You shouldn’t be—” **
**“I’m fine,” ** I cut in.
My gaze swept the room — Rogelio, Diego, and another I didn’t know. They all turned to me — wary, uneasy.
**“First in what?” ** I asked again.
They exchanged glances heavy as stone.
**“I have the right to know,” ** I said. **“Whatever this is—it obviously concerns me.” **
Rogelio nodded slightly to Ricardo as if giving him permission to speak.
**“I’m Ricardo, the enforcer,” ** the stranger said.
**“Eros,” ** I replied.
**“Alpha asked me to investigate the bond between wolves and their Lunas.” **
**“L-luna?” ** I mimicked unintentionally.
**“Yes. The one chosen for each Alpha. Bound by fate.” **
I frowned.
**“I know what a Luna is. What does that have to do with me—and your Alpha?” **
Silence.
DUB…
BA-DUB…
DUB…
Ricardo hesitated, then turned to Rogelio. I saw the man drew a deep, steadying breath before meeting my eyes. His own glimmered with something raw and ancient.
**“You are my Luna,” ** he said.
The room seemed to tilt.
**“What?” ** I exclaimed!
My mind spun back to that night— the forest, the sigbin, the blood. The face that had appeared before I lost consciousness. The word it had whispered through the darkness.
Luna.
CHAPTER 4
EROS SACRAMENTO
_“Impossible! That can’t be true. You must be mistaken!” _ My protest rang sharp, my voice trembling despite my effort at firmness as I glared at the man before me.
_“I wish I were mistaken,” _ he said calmly, though there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes. _“But the wolf within me howls only for one truth—you are my Luna.” _
_“Do you even hear yourself?” _ I laughed bitterly. _“How could I possibly be a Luna? I’m a man. You’re a man. And no offense—yes, you’re handsome, built like a warrior, and dripping with charisma—but I’m not gay.” _
What nonsense was I saying?
A pang of self-disgust flared, sharp and burning. I wanted to punch myself for blurting that out. The words did nothing to ease the tension in the room; if anything, they made the air heavier. It wasn’t helping the point I wanted to make. His lips curved, just slightly, and I felt the prickling irritation at the edge of my nerves.
_“You can’t deny it,” _ he said, his voice low, like the growl of something ancient. _“You can’t reject the bond between us. I know you feel it too—the pull, the attraction we both can no longer control.” _
The beta and the enforcer can only observe in silence, spectres at the edge of this confrontation.
_“You’re wrong!” _ My denial came out harsher than I intended, and my cheeks burned with the heat of helplessness.
_“I’m not interested in men either,” _ he continued, ” _but here I am, restraining myself from claiming you within these walls.” _
_“Well, there you go—” _ I started, but he cut me off, patient, relentless.
_“That’s why I had Ricardo dig into the histories of our kind. To seek a solution. To find a way out of this—this destiny that binds us.” _
_“Clearly, he didn’t do a good enough job!” _ My voice was rising, growing more frantic. This conversation was going nowhere.
_“I followed the Alpha’s orders to the letter,” _ Ricardo interjected, his tone sharp, brittle with frustration.
A monstrous growl rolled from the leader of the guardians, a sound like a warning from the depths of some cavernous beast. The enforcer immediately submits.
_“I don’t care about destiny!” _ I said through gritted teeth. _“It won’t dictate my life. You and I will decide what’s right for us!” _
_“And how will you defy what has been set?” _ he challenged.
I’ll show you!
With reckless resolve, I crossed the small distance between us and seized his hand, murmuring an incantation under my breath:
_The power I hold within my hand, _
_Break this fate, by my command. _
_Let destiny’s thread come undone, _
_By power’s will, the deed be done. _
Silence crashed over the room like a shattering plate. The men’s eyes clung to me as they held their breath. A pale white light gathered in my palm and a slow surge of magic slithered into Rogelio’s hand. His eyes flickered —wolf’s eyes, gleaming—and blue aura twisted into mine.
Hot…
Frightening…
Electric…
This was not what I had expected. Our energies weren’t clashing; they were merging, twining as though made for one another. I tried to wrench mine back, but his aura clung to me like iron vines.
_“What are you doing?” _ His brow furrowed, voice trembling between alarm and command.
_“Fighting destiny!” _ I spat.
A strange power welled up inside me, alien and insistent, forcing itself into the union. It was not mine, and yet it was. My heart thudded as I realized that something deeper, older, older than myself, had touched me.
_“Your eyes…” _ Rogelio whispered, a tremor of alarm in his voice.
I turned toward the reflective glass of the cabinet door, catching a blurred reflection of myself. What I saw chilled my blood. My eyes had gone black. Dark as a moonless night. Void of emotion. Filled only with something terrible. Dark veins spread from my eyes down my face, crawling toward my hands as though my very blood had turned to shadow.
_“Eros!” _ Rogelio’s voice broke through.
Panic clenched my chest. I tried to undo it, to stop it—but the magic was no longer mine alone. It had a mind, a will, and it was spreading. Something was taking hold of me, forcing its way deeper.
_“S-something’s wrong!” _ I stammered, trembling as I met his gaze.
_“Withdraw the spell!” _ he commanded, his own aura flaring to battle the darkness in mine.
_“I—I can’t!” _ Desperation cracked my words.
_“Alpha!” _ his beta and the enforcer shouted in unison.
_“Stay back! Don’t come closer!” _ His voice was no longer entirely human.
I forced myself to breathe. Panic would only feed the darkness inside me. I focused on the one energy I knew, nurturing it, letting it curl around the black energy, guiding it, softening it, controlling it. With a deep breath, I tore myself free. The magic ripped between us, hurling us both across the room. My back slammed against the wall as he crashed into his desk.
_“Alpha!” _ his men cried, rushing to him.
_“What have you done?” _ the enforcer growled, eyes blazing with fury.
_“Control yourself!” _ Rogelio’s hand seized the man’s arm, firm, unyielding. His voice carried the weight of command, warning, and threat in a single note.
My knees buckled, and I sank to the floor. Something in me had changed, and I did not yet understand what.
—oOo—
I locked myself in my room after the chaos. Rogelio had tried to speak to me, but I needed solitude. It wasn’t his presence I sought—it was that of my parents.
RING…
RING. ..
RING. ..
The phone rang, and I waited, silent. There was only one explanation for what had happened: the blood of the sigbin coursing through my veins, tainting my magic. Questions gnawed at my mind, questions only a Sacramento could answer.
_“Eros!” _ My mother’s voice came through the line, soft, steady and warm.
A tremor of relief and longing swelled in my chest. I hadn’t heard her voice in a week, ever since I began to recover. I avoided her video calls because I didn’t want her to worry.
_“Ma!” _ My voice shook.
_“Are you alright? We heard what happened! We wanted to come, but we need permission from the Militia Paranormal before we can visit.” _ she said, voice full of love.
_“I’m fine, Ma. Don’t worry. How are Pops and the others? Do they know?” _
_“We’re fine and we’re doing our best to bring you home,” _ she said softly. _“Your dad and your brother are pulling every connection we have.” _
_“Thank you, Ma.” _ Tears blurred my vision. Even from afar, I could feel their love and support.
_“Anyway, why did you call? Did something else happen?” _ she asked.
_“I need your help,” _ I whispered desperately as I told her everything—from the night I first heard the voice of the child-wolf, to my fight with the sigbin and to the revelation that I was the Luna of the werewolf leader.
_“What is happening to me, Ma? This black energy—will it corrupt me? Consume me?” _
For a moment there was only silence, and her faint breathing.
_“Ma?” _ I asked again.
_“I’ll speak to your father. We’ll come to you as soon as we can. We’ll fix this.” _ Her voice held a strange weight I couldn’t name.
_“And what about this Luna thing? How do I escape it?” _
_“That’s not a question I can answer, son,” _ she finally said after a long pause. _“But there is one thing I am certain of…” _ Her voice trailed, as though weighing her next words.
DUB…
BA-DUB…
DUB…
_“What is it, Ma?” _ My heart thundered in my chest.
_“The force that binds you to the leader of the wolves surpasses even the Sacramentos’ power.” _ Her words fell on me like a sky collapsing.
—oOo—
_“Are you alright?” _ Rogelio asked when I finally emerged from my room.
I frowned. How long had he been waiting outside?
_“Do I look alright?” _ I shot back.
Our eyes locked. Guilt gnawed at me—his handsome face was drawn with worry. How could he still look at me like that, think of me like that, when we were both trapped in the same fate?
_“Did you know,” _ he said quietly, stepping closer, _“not all werewolves are lucky enough to find their Luna? Most of us live long, solitary lives.” _
_“What are you trying to say?” _ again, I snapped.
_“That I am fortunate. Because I found you.” _
DUB…
BA-DUB…
DUB…
A strange warmth flared in my chest, but I forced it down.
_“So, you’ll just accept this, just like that?” _
_“Whether we like it or not, we belong to each other.” _
_“How can you say that so easily? You’re the one who said you weren’t gay.” _
_“Gender and preferences are irrelevant. Not when destiny speaks.” _
A bitter laugh escaped me. It seemed so effortless for him.
_“Are you sure about that? Or is that the magic talking?” _
His expression hardened. He leaned closer, and I caught the scent of him—warm, intoxicating, disarming.
_“You were meant for me. That is reason enough. Our lives will be easier if you accept this, Eros Sacramento.” _ His voice was a whisper but it struck like a command.
_“I won’t.” _ I replied firmly.
_“Why? What is it that you fear? Or is there someone else?” _ His voice was tinged with jealousy, with threat.
His eyes shifted again, predatory. Instead of fear, I felt the dangerous pull of fascination. I tried to fight it.
_“That’s none of your business!” _
_“That’s where you’re wrong, Eros,” _ he growled, seizing the back of my neck—and before I could react, his mouth claimed mine.
