Light of The Moon

Chapter 7

The next morning, I woke up sore, but I was smiling.  What a dream I had the night before…  I froze when I looked down and saw that Alpha Darius was asleep next to me, bare as a newborn pup.  I looked down and suddenly felt ashamed of my own nakedness as memories from the night before poured through my head.  Careful not to wake him, I got up, wrapped myself in a blanket and went to the mirror, afraid of what I would find.  Sure enough, on the right side of my neck, there was a bite mark, clear as day.  I whimpered as I stated in shock at the mark on my neck.  Behind me, there was a soft sound, and I turned to find Alpha Darius staring at me, still sprawled out on the bed, his body outlined by the rising sun.

"Good morning, my Luna," he said, stifling a yawn.  "Sleep well?"  I forced a smile and nodded.

"Yes, thank you, Alpha," I said as cheerfully as I could.  Alpha Darius rose to his feet, smelling the air through flared nostrils as he stretched.  He got a sudden smirk on his face as he approached me.

"You sure you want to do this, Hanna?" he asked.  "I mean leaving the village and going to the human village.  I'm still worried about something happening to you."  That satisfied smirk never left his face, which weirded me out, as he brushed some hair back from my neck and nuzzled it.  "Why not just stay here with me?"  His voice was soft like the coo of a dove.  "I can make it work your while…"  He gently pulled the blanket from my clutched hands and let the blanket drop from my still naked body.

With a soft growl, his hands started to make their way up and down my sides, heat radiating from them.  I gasped when he suddenly grabbed me by the hips and, in one swift movement, lifted me up and laid me on the bed.  Without even realizing it, I bucked up, shoving my own body out towards him, and he smirked as he stood before me, rubbing his hands on my stomach before laying above me.  A growl escaped his throat as he lowered his head and licked the bite mark on my neck, and I whimpered in response, my body inching up higher to meet his.  His hands made their way up and down my body again, leaving my skin tingling and me wanting more.  My breath was thick and heavy as I waited for him.  We both growled in annoyance when there was a knock on the door.

"Alpha?" called Robert from the other side of the door.  "Are you awake?"  Alpha Darius got up and strolled over to the door as I scrambled to cover myself.  In a swift movement, he flung open the door.

"What do you want?" he growled, and Robert lowered his gaze.

"The men are ready to escort the human and the female to his village," he said.  "I just came to get the female."  Alpha Darius glared at him in anger.

"That female has a name," he growled, "and her name is Luna Hanna."  Robert's eyes widened as he looked over at me.  "I'm going to announce it on her return."  I lowered my gaze, suddenly nauseous.  Robert just nodded and looked over at Alpha Darius.

"My apologies, Alpha," he breathed, and, with that he left.  As soon as the door shut, Alpha Darius looked at me.

"Damn Beta," he cursed.  "Don't worry, he'll learn his place soon enough."  I didn't say anything as I got up and went for my clothing.  He stared at me.  "Are you sure about this?"  I nodded and looked at him.

"My father is going to die without that herb, and only I and the human can get into the village to get it without being noticed," I explained.  He sighed and shook his head.

"Alright," he said.  "Just promise me something."  I nodded, and he continued.  "Promise me you'll come back."  My surprise must have shown more than I wanted it to, for he simply shook his head.  "I know our deal, but…"  He sighed and sat down on the bed.  "It's complicated, okay?  Please just promise me you'll come back."  He couldn't have done more damage than if he had reached into my chest and pulled out my own beating heart.  I sighed and nodded.

"Forget the deal," I breathed.  "I promise to come back no matter what happens."  With a smile, he got up and pulled me to his chest, heat radiating off of him.

"Thank you," he said.

Within the hour, Robert and his males were ready with the younger human, and we all set out into the woods.  The memory of my time with Darius was fresh in my mind, and I already felt a sense of longing for him, despite my better judgement.  I still couldn't place what had caused my change of heart or why I had given in so easily, and it perplexed me more than anything.  As we walked, I found myself looking back every once in a while.  Robert finally fell back to match my stride and spoke.

"Having a change of heart, Hanna?" he asked.  It was the first time he had called me by name, and it shocked me all the more.  He chuckled when he saw my expression.  "What's on your mind?"  I sighed and looked over at the human.

"Just worried, I guess," I said.  "Why would Alpha Darius agree so quickly to my idea?  We all know it's risky, but he still agreed."  Robert nodded.

"It's because of the prophecy," he said.  I frowned and looked at him.

"The prophecy?" I asked, and he nodded again.

"In our pack, when a new Alpha is born, our priestesses call upon the Moon Goddess, and she grants a single prophecy that tells if the newborn will be a good Alpha or not," he explained.  "I don't remember the entire prophecy, but, from what I remember of the interpretation, Alpha Darius would meet a wolf with the heart of the Moon Goddess and end all feuds between humans and wolves."  He looked at me, his eyes darker than before.  "When he saw you the day of Mating Season, it looked as though he had seen a ghost.  When I asked him what was the matter, he snapped out of it as if he had just been woken from a dream.  Said he thought he had seen you before."  I sighed and nodded, which made him continue.  "So, what exactly is your story, anyways?  Have you been an Omega all your life?"  I shook my head.

"My father was named the Alpha of our pack before I was born," I said.  "A few years ago, Alpha Gabriel challenged him for the title after my mother gave birth to a stillborn male, claiming that he would never be able to produce the next Alpha of our pack.  When my father lost, we were all demoted, as is our tradition, and we have been living as Omegas since."  Robert's jaw dropped in response, and I shook my head.  "We would have been allowed to live as Deltas, but, when he said that I had to be his Luna, Father declared he'd rather die an Omega than force me to be with his competitor.  Shortly after that, he grew really sick, and I've had to help Mother with all the chores around the farm."  Robert snorted and shook his head.

"What was your stance on the matter?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.  I sighed and shook my head.

"I almost agreed," I admitted.  "I was worried about them, especially when Father grew ill, but neither of them would let me.  Mother said that Father knew that, if it were up to me, I would have accepted, but only because I wanted them to be okay.  She said that I should be allowed to mate for love rather than power."  I lowered my head.  "That's why Alpha Gabriel refused to allow us to participate in the Mating Season until this year.  He hasn't allowed any pack members to get married, either."  I shook my head, and Robert nodded.

"Why was he so set on you being his Luna?" he asked.  "As Alpha, he could have any female he wants."  I shrugged.

"Maybe to rub it in my father's face," I guessed.  "Who really knows what goes on in his head…"  Robert nodded.

"Well, he sucks at his job," he said.  "Honestly, if he truly wanted to, he could have forced you either way.  Or he could have killed your father."  My head hung even lower, and he continued.  "Either way, you're better off being as far away from him as possible."  I nodded and smiled.

"Thanks," I said, and he frowned.

"For what?" he asked.

"For cheering me up," I admitted.  "Everyone in my pack knows the story, so they tend to stay as far away as they can for fear of angering Alpha Gabriel.  You're the first person to have sided with my father on the matter and helped me see his reasoning."  Robert gave a gentle, almost brotherly smile and took a bow.

"Anything for you, Luna," he said, and my smile faded.

"Luna," I muttered.  "Never truly cares for that term.  Course, I was raised under the term and all expectations."  The next few minutes were spent in silence, but he finally broke the silence.

"For the record, life on the top sucks anyways," he admitted.  "Too much responsibilities.  I remember growing up as a Delta, and I never had much to worry about.  Once I hit 16, I, like all males my age, had a free for all brawl for the rank of Beta.  I thought about throwing the match so I could live as a Delta the rest of my life, but I changed my mind when Alpha Darius asked me personally to do whatever it took to win.  Said that I was the only one he truly trusted, but he couldn't just choose Beta, as the Beta has to be the second strongest in the pack…"  He gave a half chuckle and shook his head.  "Wish I had thrown the match sometimes, but I couldn't abandon my friend."  I gave a soft smile.

"That's what makes you perfect," I said.  "You think of the well being of others rather than yourself.  That's what my father forgot to look for in his Beta, and look where he's at now…"  The rest of the trip was quiet as the sun set low in the sky.

Once it was fully dark, we started a fire and all sat down around it.  No one said a word as we all stared at the fire, drifting to sleep.  The only problem was this: I couldn't sleep.

I stared at the fire for a long time, waiting for sleep to come, but my mind continued to wander, keeping me up for hours.  After my resolve to never get involved with Alphas after what happened with Alpha Gabriel, I still had fallen for Alpha Darius, which struck me as even more odd.  I knew Gregory better than I knew Alpha Darius, and yet I chose Alpha Darius.  What was it that attracted me to him?  Was it his status as Alpha?  Nope, I had already decided never to be with an Alpha beforehand, so that reason was out.  Was it his stunning features that made him so handsome?  It couldn't be.  Gregory was just as good looking.  Was it the way he seemed to consider all angles of the situation and listen to all opinions?  I sat up, thinking about how he had listened to me, a lowly Omega who's father was a disgraced fallen Alpha.  That had to be it.  Maybe he just pitied me because of my position in the pack.

"Can't sleep?" came a voice from nearby.  Startled, I looked around at every sleeping male until my eyes landed on the human.  Like me, he was sitting up in his pelts, staring back at me as the fire gleamed in his eyes.  I gave a look of disgust and looked away.

"What is it to you, human?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"You just seem to have a lot on your mind," he started, "for a girl, that is."  Anger flared in me as I looked at him.

"And you are awfully nosy for a human," I retorted.  "Don't you know what happens when a mouse gets too close to the cat?"  He smiled a little.

"You seem like a cute enough mouse," he smirked, and my ears felt warm in indignation.  "Maybe the cats you run with will spare you."  I glowered at him, anger flaring inside me.

"Even as a human," I growled in annoyance, "I could still break you like a twig."  He laughed softly, making the anger rise even more.

"Then why didn't you fight back that night when my friends tried to take you prisoner?" he asked, and the hairs on the back of my neck bristled.

"Why did the five of you gang up on a single female?" I snapped back.  "Considering how much stronger I am than any one of you, it still didn't seem like a fair fight.  You humans treat your females with the same caution, or was that special treatment?"  He fell silent, and pride began to replace the anger in me.  That would teach him to underestimate me.  Finally, as I closed my eyes, he spoke again.

"Why did you spare me?" he asked.  My eyes snapped open, and I looked back towards him.  He was watching me, all self-assured cockiness gone.  "I deserved the same date as the others, and you had them spare me.  Why?"  I wanted to say my true reasons, but, after our previous exchange, I wasn't going to show any weakness to this ignorant human.  So, I came up with a quick lie.

"Because it was more tactful to keep at least one of you alive," I sneered.  "It would have looked bad to have several strangers show up in your village after the disappearance of the five of you."  I narrowed my eyes at him.  "And, if you betray us or do anything we tell you not to do…"  I drew a finger across my throat, and his face paled.  "Your friends' fate will seem kinder than your own by the time we're finished with you."  He fell silent again and looked up at the night sky above us.

"It's what I get for trusting my brother and his friends," he muttered under his breath.  "When you kill me, please make it quick."  With that, he rolled over and stayed silent.

Taken back by his sudden change, I laid on my back and stared up at the stars.  Deep down, this human was nothing more than a pup lead down the wrong road.  Thankfully, Alpha Darius had agreed to turn him upon our successful return.  Maybe he would be allowed to travel the proper road after he was turned...