Since a guard was watching over the two rooms day and night, Aliana slept in Luz's room that night. At four o'clock in the morning, they got up, trying to make as little noise as possible. Remember, shape-shifters have excellent hearing and sense of smell. Aliana began to undress, urging Luz to do the same while she changed into her wolf form. Luz didn't understand why she should undress, especially since she was shy. The wolf turned her head and ears from side to side and jumped up and down. Clearly, she wanted to talk, but without a mental link to Luz, communication was impossible. Defeated, the wolf changed back into her human form and said, "Luz, you have to change into your wolf form. You're taking too long."
"But I'm human, not a shapeshifter. Remember? It's impossible for me to change. How can you expect me to do something like that?" Aliana slapped her forehead when she realized her great plan was falling apart.
"I'm a human, not a shapeshifter. It's impossible for me to change. How can you expect me to do something like that?"
Aliana slapped her forehead when she realized her grand plan had hit its first snag. Embarrassed by how silly she had been, her cheeks and ears turned red. She picked up her clothes and got dressed again.
"Change of plans. I'll have to ask for help getting into the forest with you. I wouldn't want to run into Antrax or the witches. With all the preparations for the celebration, it can't be until after."
Luz's eyes filled with tears. She felt her hope of leaving crumble.
Aliana felt her pain and decided to leave anyway. She would only go to the safe zone. She knew she couldn't get past that area in her female form, and she knew they wouldn't be able to get past the trap. However, she decided to omit this information in case Luz thought she didn't want to help her. It would be a white lie.
After making the decision, they climbed out the window. It wasn't easy because the drop was high, but they managed thanks to a rope and Luz's ability to rest her feet on Aliana's shoulders periodically. Unlike Aliana, who was a shapeshifter and had greater strength, Luz didn't have enough strength to support her entire weight as she climbed down the knotted rope. The sentries were watching to make sure no one came in, but they weren't watching to see who was leaving. That's why they didn't notice the escape. The guard at the door didn't notice them leaving either. He would only be there until someone brought breakfast. The previous day, Aliana had ordered that no one arrive early and that breakfast be served around 10 a.m.
It was not yet dawn, and both girls' hearts were beating fast from the adrenaline. After crossing the plain, they reached the forest entrance. Now it was dawn, and the yellow and blue colors above amazed Luz.
"Hurry up," Aliana urged, urging Luz to follow. "Don't just stand there like a fool. We have to keep going. If they see us, we won't get anywhere."
They both entered the dense forest. The trees were majestic, and Luz could no longer identify their species.
"This way," Aliana shouted. "Here's the mud puddle you fell into."
Aliana knew Luz wouldn't make it home today, but at least this would help her recognize the terrain for the next opportunity.
"Let's keep walking north. That's where you came from," Aliana continued.
They kept walking until the quinceañera realized she was standing where the trap had been. The silver object was gone. The warriors had taken it, and she knew she couldn't go more than a few meters without them. The risk of encountering monsters was high, and it would be impossible for her to escape those horrible creatures in her female form, especially if Luz was with her. She decided to veer off the path slightly and walk alongside the Pack.
After four hours of walking, Luz was exhausted and thirsty.
"Are you sure this is the way?" Luz asked breathlessly.
"Are you tired?" Aliana asked, trying to change the subject.
"Yes, I'm very tired and thirsty. We left with only the clothes on our backs and didn't bring any water or food."
Aliana hadn't considered that detail because, as a shapeshifter, she had a high tolerance for hunger and thirst. Today, however, she learned that humans didn't have the same endurance. She took advantage of this to distract Luz and suggested they go to a small lake.
"Luz, I know of a small lake nearby. We'll stop there so we can drink and cool off a bit."
After a few minutes, they found it.
In the middle of a clearing sat a small lake with crystal-clear water, surrounded by beautiful wildflowers that gave off a delicate scent. The water attracted life, and the songs of small birds could be heard in the surrounding treetops. In the middle of the day, the completely clear sky allowed the sun's rays to create sparkles of light on the surface of the moving water.
Luz knelt at the edge of the lake, cupped her hands, and drank the water. It tasted so good. She dipped her head and looked around. She tried to commit the beautiful clearing with the lake at its center to memory.
"Are there any poisonous animals or monsters in the lake that could hurt me?" Luz was curious because the lake invited her to dive in and swim.
"There are no dangers in it. We have visited it for years and have never found anything harmful in it."
The water was crystal clear, and you could see the bottom and the underwater creatures from the shore.
Luz was fascinated. She really wanted to dive in, but she had to keep walking to get home. After a few turns to disorient Luz, Aliana told her they couldn't continue because of the risk of straying too far from the safe zone. They would have to coordinate with the warriors if anything bad happened on their way. Aliana hated lying, but it was the only thing she could think of.
"I will ask Gamma for help. We'll have to try again after the full moon celebration because he's busy coordinating everything right now and can't help us."
"I suppose I will have to spend my birthday locked away from my loved ones," Luz confessed, sighing and wiping away tears.
"When is your birthday?"
"In three days. I'll be 18," she said dejectedly.
"Well, well, that will be just in time for the celebration. That's a good omen. I don't know anyone else whose birthday falls on a blue moon. The Goddess must adore you."
Luz grimaced, her face brimming with disbelief.
Aliana noticed and said to her,
"Our people have a deep-rooted belief in the importance of family. For that, you need to find a mate. Without one, your soul is incomplete, and you won't reach your full potential because your spiritual half is missing."
Aliana continued, "Once members of a pack reach adulthood, they are ready to find a mate. When they do, an indelible bond forms between them—a connection that lasts a lifetime. Their love ensures that they will never hurt each other. Couples take care of each other and start families. We all eagerly await that moment of finding our partner, who is designated by the goddess Selene. You may be lucky enough to find your mate every moon, but some shape-shifters, despite reaching adulthood, have not received the goddess's blessing, such as my brother, the Alpha of our pack. He has been waiting to find her for a long time. He is twenty-four years old, and his Moon has yet to appear. He needs her to strengthen his position and produce offspring. Despite his apparent loss of hope, we urge him to attend every festival, where he may meet her among the many single females from different packs.
"Descendants? So, is the moon just an incubator for children?" Luz asked in surprise.
"No, of course not. Don't get me wrong. The mate, or 'Moon,' of an Alpha is very important to the pack. She supports him in his leadership. She complements the leader, and her presence is necessary for him to effectively protect and guide the pack. When an Alpha bonds with his Moon, they complement each other and become stronger. Once an Alpha marks his Moon, they form a strong bond and share their feelings, sensations, and thoughts. This bond also applies to all mates.
The Moon is like the mother of the entire pack. She is an extremely important being, which is why finding her is so urgent; she complements her mate's soul. Without her, the Alpha will not have enough strength to protect the pack in the years to come. The Moon cares about the well-being of each member and coordinates their work. It's not easy being the Moon; just ask Gamma. He has had to do most of this work and always complains that it's exhausting. I think he's the one most interested in the Moon appearing. He said this last part while laughing.
A werewolf is incomplete without his mate, which is why he longs for her. The celebration takes place in a different pack each year, and this year it's our turn to host. If you are chosen, the goddess Selene will introduce you to your other half.
"Will you look for your other half at the party?" Luz asks Aliana.
"It's not my turn yet. I'm only fifteen, but I'll be eighteen soon, and I can't wait for the Goddess to bless me with love."
"In my world," Luz interrupts, "parents don't want to pair up their eighteen-year-old daughters and sons. They wait until they're at least twenty-five. I even know some who didn't pair up until they were forty. Sometimes their union doesn't work out, and they separate."
"By the Goddess! How can they wait so long to find their partner? I think the Goddess must not love them! And they separate! But how? Why? If it's so hard to find a partner, how can you break up?" Aliana was horrified.
Luz found the situation amusing, but then a sad thought crossed her mind. Her parents met in their first year of college. They were both 18 when they fell in love, and four years later, they got married. Luz thinks that if they were still alive, their love would have kept them together forever.
"What are you thinking about, Luz?" the quinceañera asked, noticing her lost gaze and glassy eyes.
"Nothing," she replied.
Aliana continued talking. "Since we can't go back to the forest until after the full moon, we'll take advantage of going out together during the celebration so you can see how beautiful and joyful this party is. I hope Cristian is proud of his creation."
Luz was hesitant, especially because she was afraid they would hurt her again. Aliana reassured her, promising that she would be far from her attacker and that no one would dare hurt her while she was with Aliana.
The return to the pack's lodge took less time than the walk there, as much of that time had been spent with Aliana making detours to distract Luz.
They approached cautiously so as not to be discovered by the sentries. It was amusing to watch them climb up the rope. One of the sentries spotted them and started laughing. He already knew that Aliana had left the Pack. He couldn't make out the other woman clearly, but he didn't bother sounding the alarm. After all, it was just one of the many times she had escaped, as far as he was concerned.
Nothing was new. In fact, when the maid entered the room, she found a note from Aliana that read:
"I'll be back soon. Please don't tell anyone." This was already a habit. The maid only mentioned her absence when many hours passed without hearing from Aliana. Today, the guard at the door didn't even notice she had left.
The girls arrived first, frightened by their adventure. Once inside the room, they began to laugh. At least she had made the human happy for a while, Aliana thought.