THE BLACK LUNA

CHAPTER 2

I could not talk.

I couldn't form words in my thoughts or make sounds with my mouth.

My heart was breaking, but the crushing fear and bile stopped my throat. My senses were going crazy: my ears felt like they were going in and out of sync, my fingers felt like they were burning and tingling, and my feet felt like they were sprouting roots into the ground. My legs were plainly shaking; even someone a mile away could see I was afraid

Well?" He let out a growl. I felt as if his cold blue gaze were freezing my insides. It was becoming more difficult to breathe; my heart was thumping against my ribs and felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.

"My name," I wheezed, unable to breathe.

"Yes, what is it?" His eyes were beginning to have a silver sheen, as if his wolf was attempting to break through his human brain. His long brown hair hung partially across his face, giving him a more predatory appearance.

"Aurora."I whimpered and grasped my chest, attempting to release the wrenching and twisting sensation.

"Then," he cleared his throat, he acted like I wasn't in any pain, like I was just fine, "I, Alpha Alexandra black of the snow red Pack reject Omega Aurora caleb of the blue moon Pack." He stared down at me with a pitiful look, just for a while, as if he was trying to drink in my sad and worn appearance. Soon enough he walked around me and left me in the janitor's closet.

I took deep breaths, but each were shaky and almost sounded like I was gargling.

I slumped to the floor, sorrowful tears fill my eyes. My heart felt like it had been stabbed over and over again.

"Then," he cleared his throat, acting as if I was not in pain, "I, Alpha Alexandra black of the snow red Pack reject Omega Aurora caleb of the blue moon Pack." He looked down at me with a mournful expression for a moment, as if he was trying to drink in my sad and worn looks. Soon, he walked around me and left me in the janitor's closet.

I took deep breaths, but they were wobbly and sounded like I was gargling.

I collapsed to the floor, tears in my eyes. My heart felt like it was stabbed repeatedly.

I didn't even notice when my snickering pack mates entered, not hearing them until the door locked.

Oh, god.

No more.

It's the last period; I've missed every period but the last one. I was able to open the caretaker door using the items I'd gathered over the last two years, having learned how to open doors from both inside and outside. My body ached slightly from the fresh new bruises, but my pack mates are constantly careful not to touch my face; they don't want the council to return to the pack to see if everyone is being properly cared for.

They are incredibly generous.

I looked out into the empty corridor, sighing with relief.I was hoping to go home and skip the rest of the school day, but as soon as I reached one of the side exits leading to the open courtyard. These courtyards are usually reserved for furious alphas or other high-ranking wolves that can't help but change during the day, and they conveniently lead to a forest. And they are usually empty at the end of the school day.

But with my luck, and because the Moon Goddess despises me.

The beta of the snow red pack was sitting in the centre of the courtyard.

He wasn't wearing his shirt.

But to my luck, he was facing away from me, so I began trying to sneak around, ignoring the yellingpain my joints were in as I slowed their movement

make as little noise as possible. He wasn't reacting so I was p-

"You know I can smell you, right?" He turned slightly, but I was too frozen in my spot to even meet his eyes. I just slightly begged that he would leave me alone but the sound of him getting up and walking over to me crushed my dreams. "Hey, I'm talking to you."

I started shaking again.

I heard that the beta was the nice one out of the two leaders but who knows how much nicer.

I felt pain in my joints when I slowed their movement.

Create as little noise as possible. I was upset because he didn't react.

"You know I can smell you, right?" He turned slightly, but I was too transfixed in my place to meet his gaze. I just begged him to leave me alone, but the sound of him standing up and walking up to me broke my dreams. "Hey, I'm talking to you."

I began shaking again.

I heard the beta was the nicer of the two leaders, but I'm not sure how much nicer

I close my eyes again, thinking that this will end soon.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you." He felt incredibly close.

I pulled one of my eyes open, only to glimpse his now-shirt-covered figure and realise he was approximately a yard away. Too close. Besides, too many people have told me that. There are too many

Even though I was outside, I felt as if walls were closing in on me. However, there is air.

I carefully opened my eyes and tilted my head, still keeping my head low to observe the beta rise slightly.

"I was getting to close, wasn't I?" He chuckled softly, stroking the back of his head awkwardly, "Sorry about that." He seemed to grasp my personal space issue and maintained a polite distance. "Wanna sit down?" He indicated to a bench in the shade, giving off a homely feeling.

I nodded, worried that this was an act and that the moment I moved, he would perform a complete 180 and attack me.

"I'm Lewis Brandon," he sat down, giving me a warm grin as I trudged towards the bench. I still wasn't staring at him through his candy-green eyes, but I could tell those orbs had no malicious purpose. "We have physics"

I snorted slightly at his pun, as we were seated in alphabetical order in physics and ended up next to each other.

"Aurora right?" He bent down and laid his arms on his legs, looked up, and we met eyes.

I nod slightly, feeling my chest tighten with fear from this eye contact. He appeared innocuous, perhaps he was simply a great actor.

"Cool," he said with a real smile, "you're probably wondering why I'm missing class," which I wasn't, but alright. "I simply can't manage my pack sometimes. I adore them, yet there are moments when I need my own space. "You know?"

I know. I always have too much breathing space, yet sometimes I don't have enough.

I nodded again before finally sitting down, interlocking my fingers and marvelling at their small size because I could see Brennon's just out of the corner of my eye.

"Why are you skipping?" He inquired, as if he were simply attempting to strike up a discussion.

Should I respond?

"Not one of much words, huh?" He grinned again, "Don't worry, I'll speak enough for both of us." He fell back and slumped onto the chair, tossing his hazel-blonde hair around. "Can I tell you something random?" He bent his head just enough to catch me in the corner of his eye.

I nod.

"I don't think I'm cut out to be a beta." He groaned, "I'm only going to be a beta since my father was, but I don't think I'm made out for leadership. "I just can't handle all the pressures." He sighed more emphatically, "But hey, I don't have much of a choice."

I wanted to ask him why he was telling me all this, but I was too terrified to speak up, no matter how friendly he appeared to be.

"I have not told Alex, the alpha. He was born to be an alpha, and he aspires to rule alongside his luna. However, he has told me that he cannot be a leader without me, and He's my best friend. "I do not want to disappoint him." He closed his eyes, enjoying in the cool shade, despite the fact that it was November and I was already feeling cold. Of course, I have significantly less muscle than the mountain. The cold was enough of a distraction from Luna's statement.

There was a pleasant silence between us, only the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.

"Are you cold?" "Want to go back inside?" I wasn't even aware I was shivering until he asked. But I couldn't go back in, not with them or with him. I was shaking more at the thought of it all. "Then let's go on an adventure!" He jumped up and extended hishand gentleman-like to help me up.

For some reason I felt like I could trust him.

So I took his hand.