Read Waning Moon for Free Online

house.”
    “Just go to sleep,” Tony said blandly and slammed the door. His heart was thudding in his chest like a racehorse. When it had slowed down a bit, he went down the steps and walked a good hour and a half. The cloudless skies painted a beautiful salmon and robin-egg blue. When he reached the forest on the outskirts of town, he waded through thick brush until he found the clearing that all the were-panthers of the region gathered for days like this.
    Tony noticed a plethora of familiar faces but also a separate crowd of people he didn’t recognize at all. He plastered on a fake smile and waved to everyone, and it was only a mother and her daughter who reciprocated the gesture when everyone fell silent as Lukas came into the front.
    The scars on Tony’s back pulsated painfully as Lukas swept his dark scrutinizing gaze over the clan and shoved his hands in his pants pockets as he paced back and forth.
    “You’re all probably wondering why I called for a meeting today,” he said unenthusiastically.
    It was so quiet that the only sounds were that of the were-panthers’ breathing, a slight gust, and the shuffling of Lukas’s feet crunching on the thin layer of snow.
    Tony watched in resentment as the murderer that led the entire clan spoke again. “I’ve gone ahead and talked with the neighboring clan, the Nightstalkers, and they’ve agreed to merge with us since they recently lost their Regis. However, they said that I must have a beta, and so I’m going to hold a tournament to see who’s worthy of the position. Anyone who wants to participate can come up and sign this form I’m setting on the table behind me. Note that the other clan will also be included in the fights so it will be a long process. I’m confident that one of you will win, though, so I’m not really worried. That’s all I wanted to say.”
    He stood to the side as the crowd broke out in curious chatter and one by one, potential betas signed their names on the form. A long line formed and Tony bit his nails nervously as he joined, knowing full well that he’d just let Lukas down in the end. When it was his turn, he begrudgingly scribbled his name and went to join a group of people ready to leave when a hand hooked around his neck and pulled him away.
    “Let go!” he yelled.
    “Whoa, Tony, it’s okay, it’s just me,” the other person uttered.
    “Mia,” Tony grumbled as he noted the woman’s usual outfit consisting of deadly pointed heels and a massive fur coat. Her wavy auburn hair was done in a neat bun atop her head and the deep scarlet of her lipstick gleamed as it caught the light of the moon bouncing off Tony’s watch.
    “You look like you saw a ghost. Are you okay?”
    “Y-yeah, I’m okay. What do you want?”
    “Of course you think right away that I want something, which is true in most cases, especially this one. I want to know why you signed up when I know you hate fighting. You couldn’t even swat a fly, much less fight someone else.”
    He averted his eyes and replied slowly, “I know. I hate fighting but this time I have to do it.”
    “Why?”
    “I just have to.”
    “Can’t you be more specific? Is someone blackmailing you?”
    “N-no, it’s something else…” Tony’s palms began to sweat.
    Mia huffed. “I guess you won’t tell me no matter how many times I ask. That’s all right. I gotta go, anyway. I’ll give you a call sometime.” She wound her fluffy white scarf on her neck and winked at Tony before walking away.
    He was very relieved when she left. He made his way out of the forest and to the city park where he sat on a bench and watched the small fountain spray water onto a family of ducks.
    “Hey, it’s that guy from yesterday.” His ears perked as he heard a voice from the other side of the park.
    Peering up, Tony came face to face with a young blond man clad in leather. Then he realized that there were two other people with him, and one of them happened to be the woman who beat the