The Midnight Pard

Chapter 1

Freshman Year

Anton

The first day at the Pards high-school had Anton leaping out of bed, barely stopping downstairs long enough to scarf down his breakfast before he was racing down the street at top speed. Stopping at the larger Pard house that all of his friends lived at, "Guys!" the young future Alpha called as the flood of Pard kids went past him, none of them bumping into him. Everyone was always careful to give the future Alpha space. Well, almost everyone. An arm hooked around his shoulders as his friends caught up to him, Devin and Jonah, his future Betas, the only two Panthers crazy enough to hang around a future Alpha. The schools had always been big enough that each year every grade had two classrooms for them, at about 8 kids a room. High-school was different, 1 classroom for 16 teenagers, and everyone was on high alert for the best way to get into the higher social circle. Of course, Anton and his Betas were the highest circle and making friends with them was a guaranteed way into the popular crowd, though not easily achievable, the group had a bit of a mean streak and only the current Alpha, Richard, Anton's father, could truly keep them in line. Anton greeted everyone who would be warriors or members of the future council. Stopping in front of a boy he didn't recognize amongst the usual group of future leaders. The boy had to be the son of a councilman, but Anton couldn't recall seeing him before.

"Who are you?" He gave the boy another look over. He looked small, almost petite and looked more like a pampered girl than like the trained boy of a councilman.

Anton heard a slight snickering from Devin, "Anton, that's Bellamy. Remember his dad took him on that peace trip to the northern wolf pack. He's one of the kids of the negotiation councilors." Theoretically, that made this kid one of the most popular, and a big shot. However, Anton didn't like the idea of someone who was so outside of his group's visuals potentially dragging their image down. People might think they were weak, a future Alpha was not meant to be weak.

Bellamy

Having been away from his Pard since he was 6 years old had been hard on Bellamy, he barely remembered the other kids, but he was back now and they would all have school together, he hoped everything would fall into place, he desperately missed his friends. He was standing at his desk in his classroom, surrounded by a few of the other kids when a familiar face walked in. He immediately remembered his once best friend, the future Alpha Anton.

His face fell when he realized Anton didn't even remember him, and he had to fight back tears at the mocking tone in Devin's voice. "We used to hang out at the Pard house, when all of our parents had obligations."

He tried to keep his words calm and normal as Anton snickered softly, "Well Bells, looks like you've got some catching up to do." Bellamy watched, confused and hurt by the exchange as the group flaunted over to a cluster of desks in the back and sprawled out among them. What had happened to his friends?

Sophomore year

Bellamy

Learning to stay in the shadows and as far away as possible from his friends had been hell for Bellamy. He hated how his once best friends had somehow become his worst nightmares. They had made every single day since he had returned miserable. Taunting him at school, shoving him around at the Pard house any time they saw him. He could care less about his social standing. What hurt was that they had once been friends.

He was rushing out of the kitchen. He had heard from another panther that they were headed towards that direction. Unfortunately, in his hurry, he rounded a corner, running face first into Anton, who angrily shoved him away, causing him to fall. He whimpered as he hit the ground, Jax his panther whined in his head, not understanding how their future Alpha could treat anyone in his Pard so badly. "I know, but he's young, he will be a better leader when the time comes." Bellamy silently shot back.

He felt a hand close around the collar of his shirt dragging him to his feet, Devin's face coming into view, "Aren't you going to apologize for disrespecting your future Alpha?" he growled the words inches from Bellamy's face.

Bellamy looked immediately at Anton's shoes, having already learned never to look the other boy in the face. "I'm sorry for bumping into you." He winced at the tightening of the hold on him. "Sir."

Anton

He looked at the boy in Devin's grip, his eyes narrowing as he saw the small bit of moisture in the boy's eyes, tears the other boy was too smart to shed. He hid a smile as he saw the boy's slight defiance, the refusal to call him Sir without Devin's slight threat. Of course, the boy could claim lack of oxygen and a need to breathe, and would if questioned, but it made Lev happy that the boy fought so hard for any little defiance, and if Lev was happy, so was he. "Put him down Dev, he's not worth out time today." He saw the astounded looks from Devin and Jonah his betas and just shrugged, watching as Devin dropped the boy, Jonah sneering at the boy as they walked past, he glared down at the crumpled figure on the ground. "Once I'm Alpha I'll banish the weaklings like you." The threat wasn't necessary, and he wouldn't follow through with it, but he was letting Bells go without to much roughing up today, it felt like something else had been needed.

He saw the slight shake of the boy's shoulders as he passed, hearing Lev in his mind, "You shouldn't be so cruel, he is a member of our Pard, ours to protect, not to torture." He knew his panther spoke honestly, but that was animal logic. "People work differently," he reminded the panther.

Junior year

Anton

Staring at the other kids one after the other was getting boring to Anton, but if you were not a part of the talent show, then you were required to be in the audience. A schoolwide event, he watched as Devin and Jonah tossed snack wrappers on the stage of a few acts, wondering if they were just as bored as he was. He debated faking a need to go to the restroom as an excuse to have a few minutes away from the boredom.

Stopping as he heard the show's announcer "Next up we have Bellamy Greene." He had assumed Bells would be in the audience somewhere, a sense of curiosity came over him and he decided he would wait. The worst thing that could happen was the act was as boring as the rest, in which case he would get up and go with his original plan.

He saw Bells slowly walk across the stage. Oh, this was going to be a good one. He imagined they'd tease him over this for months, "don't judge him yet." Lev's voice held a curiosity to it as well, confusing Anton. On the stage, Bellamy lifted the microphone, a melody softly starting in the background. It wasn't a surprise that the chosen song was a Christmas song, it was getting closer to December. What was surprising was how wonderfully he sang. He looked confident and in control. His voice seemed to captivate a good number of the audience, including Anton and, from his quick glance over, also his Betas.

Bellamy

Bellamy stood behind the curtain, he was still shaking from his performance, he felt so embarrassed, but his dad had asked him to participate. He heard the shuffling of feet as those in the audience started heading out towards the cafeteria. He thought he would be fine if he waited back here until most of the students had cleared, and then he would be safe to make his way out without running into anyone.

Unfortunately for Bellamy, his plan backfired as three people came around the corner, Anton and his two future Beta's. Jonah grinned at him, "I'm really sorry, we all are, we just didn't know." He paused, but continued before Bellamy could ask, "We thought your first name was Bells, we didn't know your actual name was Jingle Bells." This earned a snort of laughter from Devin, the three started to close in, as he started trying to look for a way to get further away from them.

Senior year

Bellamy

At some point over the year, Anton and his friends had slowly started laying off their usual antics. Bellamy assumed this was because they were starting to be trained in their actual future roles for the Pard, In all honesty, he didn't much care about why they changed. He was just grateful that they had. It made his own studying both for school and for his first diplomatic mission which he was set to start the week after he had graduated, unfortunately that was 2 days before his 18th birthday, so if his fated mate was a member of the Pard he would not have the opportunity to meet them.

"We may get lucky, we could be meant to be with one of the wolves." Jax reminded him quietly, such unions were rare but had been known to happen. Bellamy smiled softly, if only fate would be so kind to him, he might never have to see Anton or his group ever again.

Anton

Learning the smaller jobs that came with being an Alpha of a Pard was difficult for Anton. All of the micro-management made the whole Pard feel more like a business than a family, but he knew it was necessary and was honestly giving all of his effort to becoming a good leader. It didn't help that part of the process was being forced to remember and analyze the things in your own life. He remembered Bells, and how close they had been before he left, feeling sick at the way he had treated Bells upon his return. Every panther and member of the Pard was his to protect. Not only had he not done that, he had alienated and harmed his friend, and now he had no idea how to fix it, except to leave Bells alone, and potentially, in the future, try to rekindle their friendship.

Anton

Graduation had been a relief for Anton, Lev had been excited, all of the panthers over 18 gathered in one place, they could potentially find their fated mate. It hadn't happened, they had both felt a bit sad about it, but it happened sometimes, their mate could be a year younger, or even from another Pard, "Or another species." Lev had reminded Anton quietly. Over the next 3 years, they learned more and more about running the Pard successfully. He learned not only his duties and how to fulfill them, but also the duties of his future Kekal. The time came when he would be taking over the Pard. A week after his 21st birthday, his father would step down as the Alpha. This had become a point of contention for the two of them. Anton refused to pick a chosen mate, only wanting his night goddess given mate.

Bellamy

Living with the wolves had felt like home, the Alpha of the pack greeting him at the gate, spinning him around in a hug. The last time he had been there, Alpha Nathan had been like a second father to him, and he had made fast friends with the Alpha's son, Seth. He looked around as soon as he was put down, his face falling a little, "Is Seth still in his studies?" He asked quietly, managing to smile up at Nathan.

Nathan tilted his head, seeming a bit confused, "Oh I thought you had been told, I'm sorry but he had to leave, wolf tradition, he has to go meet the other packs and reaffirm alliances for when he takes over here. Unfortunately, he will be gone for a few years, until he is needed to come back and take over."

Bellamy hid his disappointment and smiled up at Nathan, "It's really no worry. I had just hoped to give him his gift in person. I took ceramics last year of my schooling. I brought a gift for you, your Luna, and for Seth." he held up his smaller bag, quickly digging through it to hand off the gifts. Nathan smiled at him, tears coming to his eyes at the small wolf family sculpture.

He turned it around and then frowned, "I believe you missed a member of my family, I don't see your Jax in here." He turned, smiling again at Bellamy's astonished face, "I love it, but do not think for one second that we see you as an outsider here, you were raised on our pack lands, you are just as much a member of my pack as any of my wolves, even if it isn't officially."

The following years were wonderful for Bellamy. All of the wolves treated him as one of their own, and he was able to help with official peace meetings with his Pard, feeling a bit surprised by how often Nathan unquestioningly took his advice. He spent over 3 years with them, and was looking forward to Seth's return when he received the official letter recalling him to his Pard, the Alpha was stepping down and Anton would be taking over. He passed out from the sudden rush of fear, and in pure privacy and confidentiality, told Alpha Nathan what his years at his Pard had been like. Nathan was furious, but couldn't do anything to interfere, eventually creating the plan of requesting Bellamy to officially join his pack, after the new Alpha ceremony, as a peace offering. Bellamy immediately agreed with the proposed plan, he would bring it up once Anton was Alpha. He could think of no reason why Anton would even argue about it. He had, after all, threatened to kick Bellamy out of the Pard before.

Anton

The coronation was more like a party. Anton walked around, slowly mingling with the other panthers, and the embassy's of other species. He saw a few panthers that had been away at other peace meetings, and Lev purred within his mind, all of his home, all of his safe where he could protect them.

Bellamy

Bellamy walked into the Pard house, it felt so foreign and he itched with the desire to go home, back to the packs. "This is home." Jax had whined softly in his mind. He had been about to argue when he caught a scent, and immediately Jax snarled in his mind "Mate!" He had jumped slightly, trying to follow his nose. He turned a corner and immediately reeled backwards, Anton? He felt dizzy, couldn't focus on what Anton was saying. Please night goddess no, he didn't know if he could handle being rejected in front of all of these people, something or someone got Anton's attention and Bellamy practically ran away, tears barely contained until he was sure he was alone.