The Gravity Between Moons

Chapter Two

Lexie and Rory

The couple sat reclined on the chaise lounge in the Vanderbuilt sun room. The room had open windows letting in a light breeze on the unusually warm fall day. The curtains billowed ethereally around them, creating their own little heaven on the sun warmed chair. Rory swept Lexie's hair from her forehead, leaning in to kiss gently. It was so comforting and blissful to know that this truly was her future sitting beside her.

“I loved my birthday present. Getting to play in front of everyone was so fun. I love you so much, thank you!”

Lexie wrapped her arms around Rory and pulled her into her lap. “You're very welcome. I couldn't afford much, but I did pull a few strings. How does it feel to be 18? Are you ready to show me your wolf?!”

Rory booped her nose. “It feels like I've finally become a part of the world. Nope, I want to wait until your 18th so our wolves can meet at the same time.”

“That is ridiculously sentimental. Fine though. I bet your wolf is gorgeous. A terrifyingly sweet hunter. A little scrappy.”

Rory looked around the room that was a perk of being a wealthy higher up family with a place in the Council. Her family tended to use other parts of the house when they were home at all, and this had become a haven for her and Lexie. Her parents were cool and aloof, barely noticing and not really caring that she was dating.

The only thing that really seemed to interest them in Rory's life at all was that she continue training to be in the Royal Guard. She had been groomed from a young age to live up to her family's blood. Which meant being able to make them proud in battle. Not much else mattered to them, though their noses did upturn a little when they saw she had gotten so close to Lexie.

Not because she was a female, but because she was adopted by a lower class family after her old pack had been defeated in battle and absorbed into the Hazel pack.

The Vanderbuilt's had a large part to do with that particular war, and it was frequently theorized that her father had been whispering in the council member's ears with bloodthirsty plans. They had no tolerance for the weak.

Pushing those thoughts from her head, she returned her gaze to Lexie. “Shall we finish off the cake and rum from last night?”

Lexie grinned devilishly. “Only if we do so in the hot tub.” She winked, and in a flash she was out to the patio.

Arlo panted and whined frantically in her head. Rory laughed, and made her way to the kitchen to get their leftovers. So far 18 was going great.

Rory was just giving her last little snuggles and planting short kisses on Lexie when her phone rang. Rolling her eyes, she picked up the device. Her father was calling. Sobering up quickly, she cleared her throat to answer.

“Yes, sir?”

“Come to Hazel House immediately. Something has happened.” A click disconnected the curt voice from her ear.

“Lexie, get dressed. We have to go to Hazel House. I think we'd better change into something more refined. You can borrow an outfit.”

Arriving at Hazel House with their hair tamed, black slacks, collared white cotton blouses, their leather jackets and boots. As training members of the Royal Guard, it was expected they maintain a professional aura when at Hazel House.

Hearing an uproar, they followed the voices echoing down the halls to the council meeting room. Rory's father met them at the door. “ Go to your places with the other recruits. The Royal Guard has been activated. A Council member was found dead.”

Mind reeling, Rory dropped Lexie's hand, straightened her back, and lined up with her peers. As the council doors opened, the air flow from the door brought a new scent.

Somehow Lexie's scent was magnified, the delicious vanilla gaining a complexity she couldn't pinpoint, and the just like the night of her birthday, it made her stomach roll. Arlo's ears perked up, as she inhaled the scent. She howled.

“Rory, I'm confused. That smell is...mate?”

Of course we smell mate, Lexie is right here. Rory replied.

“No, there is something else. I smell something besides Lexie. I-”

Arlo was interrupted by the Hazel family calling the meeting to a start. Rory pushed the unsettling feelings aside and tried to pay attention, even as her stomach did somersaults.

Alpha David straightened his black suit, and adjusted his cuff link before fixing his black eyes on the crowd. He was a large and powerful man, but with the demeanor of a teddy bear. He cleared his throat and began addressing the crowd in his soothing but authoritative voice.

“There has been a most unfortunate and devastating event. Our fellow pack mate and retiring Council member William Brook was found deceased this morning.

The details will be released only to those who will be directly involved in the investigation. At this time, we believe this is an isolated event, and everything points to an accident.

However, we will investigate accordingly, and initiate a temporary lockdown with extra protection from the guard. Everyone will need to stay in the safe house tonight.

Brook had no remaining family, but many friends throughout our pack. He was the backbone to our community, and it extremely sad his life ended in this way. A service will be arranged by the Vanderbuilt's, as they have offered so graciously to memorialize him.”

The Alpha gestured towards his short, beautiful wife. Dressed in a black mourning gown, her hair tied into a long brown braid, she gave a small smile to the crowd, her brown eyes glimmering.

“Luna Naomi and I will be standing by after the meeting to address any concerns you might have, and offer counsel.”

The Alpha and his wife moved to the side of the room to address their pack one on one.

Glancing quickly at Lexie, and giving her hand a quick squeeze, Rory pulled her to the Royal Guard leader to see what their orders would be.

Garrett

Standing above Brook, he felt a certain level of disassociation. Here was a man that had vaguely been established as a pillar of their community, and yet Garrett felt no connection at all.

How had he gotten to this point? Looking at another being and standing in their home, he felt no respect, no remorse, no guilt. Where had his life went wrong?

He had always felt a little off, even as a pup. Long before he had found out the dirty secrets of his family, he found it difficult to understand his peers. He was laughingly called the 'Lone Wolf” in school. Though in their society, this was a massive insult as only the ostracized, mad, or drug addicted were pushed out to become rogues.

Luckily his parents had agreed to allow him self study. His brothers had joined him of course, and the home study quickly turned into the adventures of the Hazel Brothers.

Now as adults his three brothers were strong, gentle, ambitious and smart.

The oldest and one destined for Alpha was Damen. Standing almost a fraction of a centimeter shorter than Garrett, he had the same kind and authorative manner as Alpha David. With wise brown eyes, thin lips, high cheekbones, and a broad build- he was chased by all the girls. He was respectful, though.

Unlike his other two siblings, he had decided to wait until his 18th birthday to date. This took some of the pressure and strange looks off of Garrett at least for not dipping his toes in the dating pool.

Simon and Gregory Hazel were rascals, both tall,lanky and mischievious. They had their mother's warm eyes and features. They were always full of laughter and jokes, ready to prank someone at a moments notice. Though their goal was mostly to spread joy with their jokes.

Though they were just as well mannered as Damen, they both had sweet girlfriends they spent most of their time with. They lived relaxed and carefree lives as members of the Alpha family. They didn't have nearly as much responsibility on their shoulders as Damen. Garrett didn't judge them for this. He should feel a similar ease-but instead he had been waited down for six years.

Sometimes he felt like Damen's antithesis.

He tried to think of his connection with them and use it as a way to find his place in society, to find more empathy for his fellow pups, but was mostly unsuccessful. navigating the world outside of himself seemed impossibly hard. He continued to stick to himself.

Sometimes he was so quiet and reserved people forgot he was there. Which is how he learned the horrors that had been buried in his earliest memories. No one had intended for any of this to happen. It was an accident.

Drunken whispers between close friends at a Council celebration had changed his life's trajectory in an instant.