Page 38 of Wolf Rebellion

"So, while Del is out rescuing Joaquin, what should the rest of us be doing?" Kao asked after Javier begrudgingly agreed to let Del go. He wasn't the only one who hated the idea of Del going on this rescue mission, and I wasn't talking about any of her other mates. I could feel Rosie's desire to go in her place. I understood why she felt the need to go, but it was too dangerous. Now that we knew what would happen if one of us were killed, we had to tread with caution from now on.

"There's someplace that may be of interest to Rosie," Roxanne said. "It's farther up the road, hidden in the trees. There's a lake with an old Moon Dial located in the center. Many believe it to be sacred grounds for Mother Moon herself. Only a select few can enter and see the Moon Dial."

"A Moon Dial?" Rosie asked curiously.

"Yes. According to one of the books I picked up from my coven's library, it shows all thirteen full moons within it, and the ones who have chosen their vessel will glow. The witches believe it can be used to locate everyone who is moon chosen, but none have been able to enter the lake to confirm it. There are rumors stating that it's also heavily guarded by something."

"Do you think it could help me learn more about the Wolf Moon?" Rosie asked.

I was wondering the same thing for the Blood Moon. Maybe it could show me a way to reverse the curse inside me. Roxanne's earlier theory that maybe having full immunity once the Wolf Moon's gift inside me reaches its full power gave me some hope. That maybe, just maybe, I could tame the monster that my wolf became before I ended up hurting someone else. It was a long shot, but there was nothing else I could do besides hope. I had my suspicions that Roxanne, the Pink Moon's witch, knew about me and the secret I'd been harboring. I was grateful she had yet to call me out on it, but her intensity gazes didn't help settle the nerves in my stomach.

"It's possible," Roxanne said. "I've never been there myself yet, but I do know the location. Maybe if we go together, we can both learn about our purpose with these gifts of ours."

Rosie's face brightened at that. It was nice that she finally had someone to talk to; someone who understood what she was going through, and the burden she had to carry. A part of me wondered about the others that were chosen. The ones chosen by the Blood Moon and the Blue Moon. Would there be a time where we'd get to meet them too? And why had Mother Moon selected these people to possess pieces of her very essence? I hoped the Moon Dial would be able to provide it with more information.

"Then it's settled," Del said. "I go take care of apprehending Joaquin while you guys follow Roxanne to this Moon Dial thing."

"But how will you know where to find us?" Rosie asked.

"I'll be able to tell her," Roxanne answered.

"Great!" The white-haired man, Caleb, rubbed his hands together in front of him. "Let's do this. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get back to our pack, Javier. They've been without us for a couple of days now."

"Javier, he's right," Rosie interjected. "You guys should get back to the Blue Moon Pack. You shouldn't be neglecting your pack because of me."

"I'm not leaving you here to deal with this alone," Javier protested like the protective big brother he was.

“Maybe we should split up," Del suggested. "I'll go to Kingsrose, Javier, Caleb and Raph go with Rosie and the twins to the Moon Dial, and Malcolm and Nash head back to New York. At least that way the pack will have two of its co-alphas back."

"Sounds good to me." Nash shrugged, and Malcolm seemed to agree as well. Javier relaxed at the idea since it meant he still got to accompany us, but he was still shooting worried glances at his mate.

Maybe I should go with her. I knew Rosie told me I wasn’t responsible for Joaquin getting captured, but it still weighed heavily on me. He risked his life for me, as did Rosie. Now it was my turn to do the same for them. Before I let the group know what I decided, there was something I needed to talk about first. Once we had a plan set, Roxanne took down the spell she used. Del paid for everybody's meal with a huge wad of cash, then we all vacated the diner. Malcolm and Nash would be taking their truck back to New York, while Javier, Caleb, and Raph would be riding with Rosie and Kao.

I took the opportunity to tap Roxanne on her shoulder. She spun to look at me, giving me a slight nod without me having to say anything, then said loud enough for the crowd to hear. "Give me a second, everyone."

Rosie regarded me skeptically, but I tried my best to give her reassurance that I was fine before following Roxanne away from earshot.

"I was wondering when you were going to talk to me," Roxanne said right when it was just the two of us.

Well, no sense in beating around the bush. "You know, don't you?"

"Of course, I do, and it wasn't just from reading your mind. I can feel how corrupted your wolf is. You have no idea what you've done, do you?"

"No," I said truthfully. "What is it exactly? Do you know?"

"I do," Roxanne replied. "You're a Berserker Wolf. A wolf who's fueled by the uncontrollable bloodlust of violence and chaos. It's what happens when you pray to the Blood Moon for strength out of rage or hatred."

Icy-cold dread flooded my veins at her words. A Berserker Wolf, that's what it was called. I cursed myself into becoming a wolf who wanted endless violence and bloodshed. "I've never heard of it before."

"I imagine not. It's a rare anomaly, even for wolf shifters. The only reason I know about it was because it was mentioned in the book I read, particularly in the passage pertaining to the Blood Moon. A lot of people prefer to call it the Vampire Moon. Much like how the Wolf Moon is the strongest full moon for wolf shifters to respond to, vampires can't ignore the pull of the Blood Moon. Their need for blood becomes an addiction to the point they'll do anything, and kill anybody, to get it. Uncontrollable just like a Berserker Wolf."

"Please tell me there's a way to reverse it," I begged, hoping that there was a cure to reverse the affects. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life as a Berserker Wolf, not if it meant risking the lives of everybody I loved. Having a name for it didn't erase the fact that I was a danger to Rosie and the others. Roxanne didn't need to tell me that my wolf wouldn't know the difference between friend or foe when it goes berserk, I already knew. Which was why I needed to get rid of it.

Roxanne gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm afraid not, little wolf. The affects are permanent, you're a Berserker Wolf shifter for life."

I wanted to cry. I wanted to drop to my knees and yank out my hair. I wanted to scream at the world for the terrible hand it dealt me. I still wanted to curse my younger self for praying to the Blood Moon in the first place. I did none of those things. Instead, I stood there feeling numb, not knowing what to say or what to do now that there was no hope for a cure.

"There might be something that can be done, though." Roxanne's voice broke through the veil of self-misery. "You asked about whether or not the Wolf Moon's gift granted complete immunity from all influences, and I know what you were referring to."