Rising Moon: The Dark Wolf Chronicles, page 36
My heart sunk.
“What?”
He shrugged.
“I didn't start this thinking that my Luna would one day announce to the pack without my permission that I was ending it. There are no files.”
“Then how will you ever know who to contact to return the children?”
He clicked his fingers.
“And therein lies the problem,” Leo said.
As my face fell, my eyes flickered over his in disbelief.
“Now you see how much trouble you caused me? It's not as easy as you think it will be. So I will think about it when everything else is sorted.”
I shook my head, trying to hold back tears.
“That’s not good enough, Leo. This needs to be sorted now.”
He shrugged, “So do a thousand other things.”
For the rest of the way home, I walked ten metres ahead of him, staring at the ground with my arms folded.
I didn't entirely trust he'd ever get round to doing anything. I was going to have to do something myself.
Chapter 54
November 11th
The next day, I was back at the Thorns’ house with Nola, Milo, Carlo and Elora. We all piled on the sofa watching an episode of keeping up with the Kardashian's on my request.
Milo hated it and kept throwing popcorn at the screen whilst the rest of us shouted at him for wasting precious popcorn.
After Milo had ceremonially switched off the TV, the front door opened and Mateo strolled in, shortly followed by Alea.
“Is Dad here?” he asked Rosa, who was standing in the kitchen, stirring soup for lunch.
“No,” Rosa said sharply, “Elora has already asked me the same question. You’ve got until this afternoon before he gets back.”
“Good,” he grumbled.
“Where the hell have you been, Mateo?” Rosa scolded, “We haven’t seen you in days.”
“I’ve been staying at Alea’s because Dad kicked me out, remember?”
Mateo dipped his finger in the soup pan and Rosa slapped his hand.
“I'm hungry!” he protested, “I haven’t had my mama to feed me.”
“And whose fault is that?” she asked, “You shouldn’t have fallen out with your father. Again.”
Mateo rolled his eyes and put his finger back in the pan, only to be slapped once more.
“Ow, Mom!”
“If you’re hungry have some cereal. I only have enough soup for my kids who actually live here.’
“You're also nearly twenty years old, Mateo,” Milo grumbled from the table, “Feed yourself.”
“He'll always be my baby boy,” Rosa said pinching his cheek, “But at some point, if he could permanently leave and be my baby boy in a home of his own, that'd be great. One less fully grown man to feed would help me out a lot.”
“I am moving out for good,” Mateo said, glancing at Alea, “Leo condemned Alea to a shit house and together we’re going to find some place better. Besides, I can’t stand living under the same roof as Xavier any longer.”
“That is your father you are talking about, Mateo. The man who raised you.”
Mateo shrugged, “But I didn’t turn out like he wanted me to, did I? I didn’t turn out like Leo.”
Rosa sighed and handed her son the plate of pancakes.
“Why are you here anyway?” she asked.
“To see my beautiful family whom I hold so dear,” he said, holding up his hands, “But I know when I’m not welcome?”
“Mateo?” Nola asked as he turned to the door.
“Sì,” Mateo replied.
“Can we go and see Raven today?”
“Raven?”
Nola nodded.
“Are you sure?” Carlo said.
“I want to just talk to him. Clear some of the air. Leo said I can see him as long as its supervised.”
Mateo bit his lip.
“I don't know, Nola,” he said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea yet.”
“Please,” Nola begged. “I’m still unbelievably angry with him but you don’t know what it’s like to have a mate. However much I hate him, I miss him and I want to start working things through.”
Mateo nodded, “Fine. I'll come with you.”
“I need to go to the base too,” I said, “I want to go to the library.”
Mateo looked a little confused.
“Reading Mateo,” Milo said in a bored tone, “Have you heard of it? Books and stuff.”
“Whatever. Come on then, losers. Alea, you coming?”
She nodded and Nola, Mateo, Alea and I took a walk towards the base.
The prison was a grey concrete building on the edge of the base. It was guarded by high walls, barbed wire and iron gates.
“Ready Nola?” Alea asked as we approached.
Nerves had overcome her and her face had paled.
“We’re all here,” I said, squeezing her hand, “Come on.”
Mateo approached the guard at the gate.
“We’re here to visit Alpha Raven or whatever just Raven as he is now.”
“I trust you have the Alpha's permission Beta Mateo?” The man asked.
“Of course,” Mateo said.
The guard glanced at me.
“I am under explicit orders not to allow the Luna through these gates.”
“Are you questioning my authority guard?” Mateo asked, “If I tell you I have the Alpha’s permission, I have his permission.”
The guard bowed his head and stepped aside, allowing us to walk through the bleak courtyard before entering the building.
It was dark in there with no natural light. Lining the corridors were rows of miniscule cells filled with gaunt men and women, slumped against the hard concrete, withering and rotting as their hair matted and their faces drained of life.
A pit grew in my stomach as we passed one cell where a woman reached a decaying, grey hand out. Her bony fingers brushed my ankle as she let out a hoarse croak.
Mateo kept his eyes straight ahead as he walked fast down the hall.
He hated it. I could tell.
“Raven received his hourly dosage of wolfsbane just ten minutes ago so he will be very weak,” the guard said.
“Good to hear,” Alea said as we followed him down some steps and through another bolted door.
In the next corridors, the doors to the cells were made of thick sheets of iron and a guard was stationed outside each one. What sort of people needed that sort of security?
“Who is behind these doors?” I asked.
“Alphas mostly,” the guard said, “They pose a particular escape risk and require extra precautions.”
“Why is Leo keeping Alphas here?”
“They’re useful to him,” Mateo said through gritted teeth, “Most of them are from packs he has invaded. He keeps them alive in case he needs information about their land and people.”
I swallowed.
“They were leaders of packs and now this is all they know? A dark cell in an even darker prison.”
Mateo nodded, “Yes.”
“And they did nothing to deserve it?”
“Very few people on this planet deserve this, Nelda.”
The guard stopped outside one of the cells.
“Here we are,” The man said, opening a cell door, “Be careful.”
“Thank you, Bruno,” Nola said before he exited.
The room was empty and plain with a dim lightbulb hanging from the ceiling and grey walls and floors. Raven sat in the corner slumped against the wall, his wrists and ankles in handcuffs.
He slowly lifted his head and his eyes landed immediately on Nola. She walked forward until she was in front of him where she crouched to his level and stared dead in his eye, her face straight and strong.
“Let me get one thing clear, Raven,” she began, “I hate you to the end of the world. You tried to kill my brother, his Luna and take down the pack I grew up in. But…”
His paled lips twitched into a weak grin.
“Of course, there’s a but,” he said, his voice hoarse and quiet, “I’m your mate no matter what I do.”
She stood up and glared down at him.
“When he believes you have suffered thoroughly, Alpha Thorn will banish you from here and I will go with you,” she said, “I will make the arrangements.”
He lifted his drooped head and Mateo strode forward, his shoulders tight. But he couldn’t keep his head up for more than a few words.
“I don't understand why you didn't want to come with me to start with?”
Nola folded her arms.
“What makes you think I want to go with you now?” Nola said, “I know what you'll do Raven. I know what you'll make me do.”
Mateo took a heavy breath as every muscle in his body tensed.
“Then why? Why don't you just leave me here rotting away forever?” Raven asked.
Nola crouched again and ran her index finger down his cheek. He went to nuzzle his head into her hand but she moved away. He craved her, but she was teasing him, punishing him maybe.
“Don't give me any ideas,” She said.
She finally let him rest his cheek in her hand. He let out a low moan as they came in contact.
“Urgh gross,” Mateo muttered. “Try not to cum, dude.”
“I can take it from here,” Nola said, turning to us all. “He's weak. I’m in control.”
Alea and I stepped out of the cell whilst Mateo remained completely reluctant.
“I'm not leaving you with him, Nola,” Mateo said, crossing his arms.
Nola stood up and walked over to Mateo.
“I can do this, Matty,” She said, taking his hands in hers. “I’m not weak.”
Mateo hesitated for a moment before looking at Raven and then to Nola.
“I'll be right outside the door,” Mateo said eventually before following the rest of us out the door.
“Nelda, you can go to the library now,” Mateo said, “I know you want to get out of this place.”
I nodded, “Alea, come with me?”
She furrowed her eyebrows. I flashed my eyes and she followed me, her eyes narrowed in confusion.
“What a harrowing place,” I said, my stomach still sick as I squinted at the bright sunlight outdoors.
Alea nodded, “One of many on this territory it would appear…”
We walked into the base, wandering down the street freely.
“It’s nice that Mateo doesn’t treat me like a 6-year-old,” I said, “He didn't even say 'meet back here in an hour' as if we're on a field trip'.”
Alea smiled.
“Well, Mateo has never stuck to all of the Alpha's rules.”
“But remember the last time he let us go,” I said, “The day we both nearly got murdered by Leonidas.”
She smiled, “Don't think I'll ever forget. I got kicked out of my lovely house for that, remember?”
I scrunched my nose.
“Yes, I can't help but feel responsible.”
“If it hadn't been for that day, you wouldn't have known to make your announcement at the ball and the Alpha wouldn't be forced to change things,” she said, “It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.”
“Talking of,” I began, “I let Milo believe I want to go the library for the books but I actually just need to use the printer there.”
Alea narrowed her eyebrows.
“Why?” she asked.
“There are no files on those little boys. We can’t contact their parents personally, but any living parents with their sons in that place will know, right? All we need to do is make leaflets to get the word out and ask that they contact us.”
“Oh, I see...” she said, “Does the Alpha know?”
I shook my head.
“But don't worry. You won’t get punished for affiliating with me this time because the reason he gave for not doing this is he's too busy. So he can't have a problem if we take the task off his hands.”
“Doesn't mean he won't...” she said before shrugging, “But... whatever. I don't really like my current village anyway. The one below might be nicer.”
I laughed, “Come on, little miss optimist. Let's make some flyers.”
After finding a computer in the library, we created a nice design. We received some looks from pack members also in there, probably wondering why their Luna was using the communal computers, but nobody questioned us and within half an hour we'd created five hundred leaflets.
First we handed them around the library before heading for the exit.
“You start handing them out on the street,” I said to Alea, “I won’t be a second.”
She nodded and left as I strode back into the library.
“Hey,” I said, approaching the librarian, “I don’t suppose you have any books on… magic?”
Her eyes widened, “Luna? It’s an honour to have you here… what sort of magic?”
“Like… um earthquakes? Earth tremors. But caused by people… or something inside a person.”
She stared at me blankly for a second before blinking a couple of times.
“No. I’m afraid I’ve never heard of anything like that and I’ve read every book here.”
I nodded, “Thanks anyway.”
Before she could question anymore, I darted out of the library after Alea.
We dispersed the rest of the leaflets, ensuring a member of each village had a stack to take home and hand out.
Everybody greeted us with a smile, which only grew when they realised what we were shoving into their hands. We were spreading joy after what had been a terrible war and I absolutely loved it.
And now Leo truly had no reason to put an end to this regime...
Chapter 55
November 11th
“What the fuck is this?” Leo asked, placing one of the flyers Alea and I had made down in front of me on the table.
I was sitting peacefully sipping a cup of coffee, content and satisfied with the day. Ten seconds ago, Leo had stormed into the house, not bothering to take his shoes or jacket off.
I glanced down from my book to the table where one of Alea and I’s flyers lay beneath his fingers.
“It’s a flyer,” I said.
“No shit,” he remarked before picking it up again.
He stared at me in disbelief as I smiled innocently.
He looked down at it again.
“As the war ends and peace returns to the Stella pack, many of us celebrate,” He read, “But as we hug our loved ones, we remember not everyone has that privilege. But as Alpha Thorn promised on the night of the ball, your children wrongly snatched by the junior training regime will be returned and you will hug them again. If your family is missing your sons, grandsons, nephews and brothers, gather outside the junior institute tomorrow morning where the reunions will begin.”
“Mhm,” I said, sipping my coffee.
“This looks a lot like you have once again made a promise on my behalf,” he said.
I nodded, “Bingo.”
“Did you not hear me when I told you this was the bottom of my priority list? Right under leaning ancient Greek?”
“Why would you learn Ancient Greek-” I began before stopping myself. “Oh... you wouldn't.”
“Precisely.”
“Well, you better order an Ancient Greek textbook with same day delivery and get learning because unless you want to break two promises to your pack, those children are being returned first thing tomorrow.”
He shook his head.
I am not letting you mess me around like this. I’ve got a list as long as my arm of things to do tomorrow and this isn’t on it.”
He snatched the flyer and turned on his heel to the door.
“Leo, come here,” I ordered.
He didn’t stop.
“Leo, come,” I repeated, “I have something to show you.”
He ran his hand through his hair before marching back.
“Crouch and give me your hand,” I said, holding my hand out.
He reluctantly obeyed and I guided his hand to my stomach.
“Do you feel that?”
“A heartbeat,” Leo said quietly.
His face had softened dramatically as he stared down at his hand.
“And do you feel the bump?” I asked.
He nodded.
“It's small, but yes.”
“That's your child. Soon to be a real-life living, breathing, crying baby. It’s amazing, isn’t it.”
“It is,” he said.
“Now imagine if somebody took them away from you. It's small, but it means a lot, right?”
He closed his eyes and nodded again.
“Those children all mean a lot to someone out there too. They have been apart long enough.”
“A lot of them don’t have anyone,” he said.
“But some of them do. Some of them have a chance grow up loved and appreciated. Tomorrow morning is that chance. Please, Leo. I am begging you.”
He clenched his jaw, “As if I have a choice anyway. Well played, Nels.”
I smiled.
“Two-nil,” I said, booping his nose.
For the next fifteen minutes, I watched over intently Leo's shoulder as he sent various emails to his men who worked at the junior institute.
“Done,” he said after pressing send on the final email that detailed how on earth this operation was to be carried out, “Can we stop arguing about this now?”
I kissed on the cheek and embraced him in a hug from behind his chair.
“Doesn't doing something good make you all warm and fluffy inside? Do you feel lighter?” I asked.
“The only time I feel lighter is after taking a shit,” he deadpanned. “I am destroying my plans for a stronger army. Those kids had potential.”
“You just defeated the only pack in the world even close in strength to yours. What the do you need a stronger army for?” I asked. “You’re not still planning to take over the world, are you?”
He shrugged and spun his office chair round to face me, “It's nice to have the option. And until all my enemies are crushed, I will not be satisfied.”
“Well you already know what my alternative and very simple solution is,” I said, perching myself on his lap.
He tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling.
“Don’t bring this up again. The battlefield is not for women. It's too dangerous.”
