His Blue Moon Princess

Settling Debts

“GET OFF HER! LET HER GO, I SAID!”

I hear screams and a loud growling.

Suddenly, the pressure around my neck disappears, and someone’s finger gently touches my throat. I think someone is talking to me.

A fight is going on. I can hear my brother shrieking, and the terrifying growls of a massive beast.

My throat hurts so badly… All of my body is in unutterable pain.

I lose myself to unconsciousness to escape it all.  

***2 days earlier***

Something’s wrong with my brother.

Since the dinner with the Blood Moon Clan, and me not obeying to him, he has been acting weird. I found it odd for him not to come and punish me afterward, but he never did. For some reason, he just keeps watching me from afar.

Even today, as I am working, he is standing at the bar, watching my every move and drinking without saying a word. Robert frowns, unsure about what is going on. At some point, he grabs my arm, almost making me spill the beers.

“Hey, what’s with Alec? You did something? Looks like he’s pissed at ya or somethin’.”

“I don’t know. Now let me go, customers on table six are waiting for those,” I just answer and shake his arm off.

He may not be pleased with my answer, but I really don’t know. It’s his fourth beer already, and he hasn’t said a word for hours! It’s almost scary how silent he is.

Knowing he is watching, I keep working. It’s not like I’m bored, anyway. Rob’s bar is crowded tonight, and the orders keep coming in non-stop. Liz and I have been running around since it opened. Elisabeth is older than me, and Robert’s daughter, but she might be the only member of the pack who is almost nice to me. At least, she has never hit me…

I’m cleaning a table for the next group when someone loudly orders more beer from across the room. Two Harpoons and three Newcastle. I go behind the counter to pour the drinks, and Liz joins me, grabbing a towel.

“Those drunkards spilled some of their damn beer on me! How am I supposed to go party after this if I smell like a barrel of beer?!”  

“It should come off with just water and soap from the ladies’ room,” I say.

“Really? You better be sure, cause I’m not going like that!”

I nod, and she runs off to the bathroom. Liz isn’t bad. She’s just a bit self-centered and still acts like she’s sixteen instead of twenty-six sometimes. But I like her. Sometimes she gives me some of her clothes she won’t wear anymore, even if it’s just because she is too lazy to throw it out. Thanks to her, I can actually wear something new sometimes, as Alec won’t ever leave me any money to buy anything.

I keep working, and the bar is so full, even Robert seems in a good mood. Liz and I run around without stopping to keep up, until about 11 pm.

Now the groups are paying and exiting the bar one after another, going to find some more fun somewhere else. I can clean the tables without stopping every time to take a new order, and even Robert went outside for a quick smoke. I realize Alec is still there; only he isn’t alone anymore. Why is he talking with Marcus?

I don’t like this. This p*****t is leering me while whispering with my brother. Alec doesn’t seem too happy about it, either. He’s fidgeting for some reason, looking pissed, while Marcus has this annoying smirk on his face. I wish I knew what they’re talking about…

“Nora! If you’re done, come clean the glasses, girl!”

Liz has decided she’s done for tonight. She takes her apron off and waves me good-bye before heading to the back exit. She probably was waiting for a chance to go while her dad is not watching.

I take over behind the sink, and I’m actually almost in front of my brother and Marcus now. They immediately stop talking, and both stare at me. One is looking at me with disgust, the other with l**t.

“Hi, Nora,” says Marcus

I ignore him and keep washing one glass after another. Even if I concentrate on my hands, I can feel his gaze piercing me. It’s so unsettling.

“Playing hard to get? That’s not what this pretty skirt says, you know.”

Won’t he stop? My own brother is sitting in front of him, and neither of them minds his trashy talk! This man is so disgusting. My wolf is growling inside, annoyed, too. Can’t he just get drunk and go away like everyone else? Why do I have to hear this?

“Isn’t your sister good at this, Alec? She’s a freak, all right, but a hot one. She sure knows how to get some attention...”

The freak doesn’t want any attention, you p*****t. There are so many hot girls in the pack, why is he always after me? I’m not pretty, I wear ragged and oversized clothes, and I even have a scar across my face! Is he blind or what?

All of a sudden, his hands go over the counter, and he grabs my wrist. Let me go!

“Hey, don’t run away, sweetheart. Come on; I just wanna chat a bit.”

I struggle to break free, but he won’t let go. He is grinning and holding as hard as he can until it hurts.

“Let me go!”

“Oh, here’s you pretty voice, sweetheart. Do you have any idea how enticing it sounds? You could…”

“Enough!”

Robert is back, and his yell actually surprises Marcus enough that he loses his grip and I can free myself. I massage my painful wrist and step back. Marcus looks pissed, but he won’t win against Robert’s angry face.

“Marcus, why the hell are you annoying Nora when she’s working! I need my staff working, so keep your little games for later and get out!”

Marcus grunts, but he knows who is the stronger wolf in the room. He pays and leaves, to my relief. That was close… He’s gotten physical a few times before, but these days, he really is pushier than usual.

Alec, still silent, gives me an annoyed look and leaves behind him. I see him catching up with Marcus outside, a pissed-off expression on his face, actually talking to him. Robert starts counting today’s tips while looking at them across the window. The smell of his cigarette is effectively chasing off all of the last customers.

“Tsk, this guy is such a pain… And you, hurry up with the cleaning. I’m tired.”

No need to tell me twice.

The bar is located downtown, actually thirty minutes away from our Jade Moon territory. I don’t mind the walk. Most people don’t even notice me, and I can actually enjoy the quietness of the night. And it’s mid-October, so It’s not too cold either. And I’m in one of the safest parts of the city, also, so the chances of encountering some rogues or anyone threatening are rather low.

Silver City can be dangerous at times. Having so many different werewolf packs in the same area is bound to raise tensions. The young ones are always looking for a fight to expand their power, while the older packs fiercely defend what’s theirs. Two months ago, a newly created pack tried to raid our territory, and we couldn’t let that happen — a b****y but quick fight broke out. The Jade Moon pack might be known as a peaceful one, but that doesn’t mean we are pushovers. The Alpha and the other fighters made it pretty clear that day.

I finally make it back to the main house, but surprisingly, someone’s still up. Rory and Bill are talking in the kitchen over some drinks. I just head right away for the basement, but they actually call me when they see me.

“Hey, freak! Come here for a second.”

I’m in no mood to entertain them now… I want to flee to the basement and get some sleep! But they insist with a hand gesture, and I guardedly enter the dining hall.

“Oh come on; we are not gonna eat you or somethin’.” Says Rory, seeing me so defiant.

I don’t trust any of them. They are my brother’s friends, and they can be quite vile and cruel when they’re bored. They’ve locked me out a few times, wouldn’t let me eat in peace without calling me names, and would flip over my skirt if I came across them.

But this time, they just looked annoyed somehow. I stop a few steps after the door, while I am still within a safe distance from them.

“Hey, where’s your brother? We’ve been looking for him all day!”

I frown. What, so they were just waiting for Alec? I shake my head. “I don’t know… He came to Robert’s Pub with Marcus, but they left together before I did. I really don’t know where he went…”

“Tsk. This dumbass is evading us!” Growls Bill.

“He can’t keep it up for long, anyway. Even Peter’s looking for him. Bet that i***t was actually stupid enough to borrow some money from the Beta, too.”

“Alec borrowed money from you and Peter?” I ask, nervous.

Bill slams his glass on the table, making me jump.

“Hell yeah, he did! And we’ve had enough of it! That i***t brother of yours owes half of the pack and won’t return a single cent!”  

Not good… Alec doesn’t win any money on his own! All he has is my salary and the inheritance from our parents. Why is my brother going around borrowing money? There is no way he can pay them back! Rory keeps complaining, but he’s obviously drunk and gabbling. I can leave the room without either of them noticing.

Back to my familiar basement, I’m exhausted. Why is Alec so… irresponsible? He is older than me, so why is he still acting so recklessly? He won’t get a decent job; he just pushes all of his chores on me and beats me up when he’s upset.

What was that talk with Marcus for, anyway? Is he trying to borrow some money again?  

That night I lay on my old couch with an uneasy feeling…

The next day, my brother isn’t in the dining hall for breakfast. And I am not the only one concerned about his absence: Peter comes to me to ask about his whereabouts, but I’m just as clueless as he is.

Borrowing money from the Beta and his friends, what was he thinking?! Peter could have Vincent banish him from the pack for this kind of thing; our clan is really not easy on troublemakers…

I try not to think about it too much and just focus on my chores for the day. But after cleaning the breakfast dishes, doing the laundries, cleaning the first and second floors, and sewing a few things, I keep wondering where he could be. It seems like no one has seen him all day, and I heard Vincent complain about Alec not showing up for the patrol.  

The whole day goes by, and even Rory came by again to interrogate me. I still had no satisfying answer to give him, and as a result, he hit me a couple of times, annoyed.

I wish I knew where Alec was, too! A lot of people stared at me suspiciously as they came for the dinner time, and I realize he might have borrowed money from too many people, as his friends said. Wait, he wouldn’t have run away, right? My hand freeze on my sponge. Could he? No, it’s just been a day, maybe he’s…

“Nora, come here.”

“Alec!”

My brother is here! He’s in the kitchen, fidgeting and looking at me with a weird look. I approach him cautiously. He doesn’t look drunk, that’s a relief. I was thinking he might have been drinking, but he seems pretty neat and sober. All of a sudden, he hands me what he’s been holding in his hands. Isn’t that… one of our mother’s dresses! I recognize the beautiful embroidery and the lace on the back. I didn’t even know he had it!

“I found this. Just put it on.”

Is this supposed to be a... present? He’s frowning and won’t look at it. I am not sure about what to do. Isn’t this dress too thin for the season? Why would I put on such a pretty and daring dress here and now? But all of a sudden, my hesitation angers him.

“Just put this damn thing on, I said!”

He violently slaps me, making me step back. I don’t answer and flee down to the basement to obey. I don’t want to get hit a second time.

I get dressed in front of the mirror, but my reflection is… unsettling. This dress is pretty, long and sleeveless, with lace at the back to find a corset-like style. The pure white doesn’t look too good on my pallid and bruised skin. And it’s mother’s...

“How long do you need to put on a damn dress?!”

Alec comes down without warning and looks at me, visibly pissed. Seeing that I’m done, he runs up to me and grabs me by the arm without a word. I try resisting, but he’s way stronger. He takes me out of the house and starts walking toward the city.

“Wait, Alec, stop! I can’t go out looking like this! What are you doing?! Stop!”

He stops, and I get a new slap, a second, and a third, one after another.

“Will you shut the hell up?! I don’t f*****g care! Just shut up and walk!”

I don’t dare to say a word anymore. I don’t want any more hits, but where are we going?! I’m barefooted, and he makes me walk looking like this in the open! I am starting to get really scared of what’s coming now. He makes sure we avoid the rest of the pack, making us take the long way around the houses. Everyone is having dinner, is that why he only came now? To avoid others? I don't like this...

Twenty minutes later, we finally enter one of the buildings in the outskirts of the city. I know this one: It belongs to our Jade Moon Clan, so a few pack members live here. Who are we meeting, then? Without a word, he pushes me into the elevator, and finally lets my arm go. I’m freezing, and my arm aches…

“Alec, what’s going on? Why are we here?”

“Settling my debts.”

“What, how?”

He doesn’t answer and pushes me to the sixth floor. He grabs me again as he sees me hesitating, and pushes me before him. I trip and almost fall on my knees as we enter one of the apartments, and when I raise my head, I see Marcus.

Marcus, staring at me with a grin, half-n***d.

“There you go,” says Alec.

“Wait, what? Alec, what is this?” I ask, panicked.

Oh Moon Goddess, no, no, no.

Marcus won’t keep his hungry eyes off me, and my brother looks so… detached.

“I told you, we are settling my debts. Marcus will do that.”

“Exactly, sweetheart. Now you are going to be a good girl and let me have my fun, and your brother walks out with all that money he needs. How great is that?!” Exclaims Marcus, with a broad smile.

Have they gone crazy?! I don’t want to spend even a minute with this lecherous dog! And now he wants to sell me to this old p*****t for money? What the Hell?!

“No, no, I’m going,” I say, turning back to the door.

But Alec is in my way and grabs my arm forcefully.

“Stop it, Nora! All you have to do is let him f**k you and our money problems are over! What, are you going to say you don’t want to? You think I give a damn about you?! But look, we need that money, so you’re gonna be a good girl and...”

“And screw you, Alec!” I explode. “What money problems? You’re the one who got in trouble in the first place! Why do I have to do this?! I don’t get a single cent for myself! Now you want to make me pay for the money I earned and you stupidly wasted? No way I’m doing this!”

He hits me violently — a full punch, throwing me on the floor. I land painfully on my arms, letting out a cry.

“Shut the hell up! Whose fault is it I’m broke in the first place! Who made me an orphan, huh? You freak! You w***e! Who gives a damn about what you think?!”

He grabs me by the hair, forcefully making me stand on my knees, and looks at me with those crazy eyes.

“You’re going to do it, Nora. You’re going to be the s**t you are and have s*x with Marcus. And after that, you better not complain, not a word, because if you do, I will kill you for good this time, you hear me?”

He lets me go, and storms out, slamming the door behind him.

He has gone mad. I’m shaking all over, from the panic and the shock combined. What nightmare is this?

“Well, well, well…. It seems like you have your orders, now. So let’s be a good girl, Nora. I’m paying your brother a good sum to have my way with you, so don’t you play hard to get now.”

Hell no.

I don’t want this pork anywhere near me, and there is no way I’m going to let him touch me in any way. My wolf is growling like crazy inside, ready to defend herself.

No way.