I v o r y F u r v u s - C a e r u l e u s

227 MOONS & 2 WEEKS

I woke to the sun filtering through the curtains, and for a second, I expected to hear Elliot shriek as he bounced up and down on my bed. But there was no Elliot. I closed my eyes and sighed. So much for reality.

I turned onto my side, cuddling up to the body pillow, reluctant to leave the warm and cosy place under the covers.

"I never knew girls slept without their bras on," someone said smoothly, their voice startling me into jumping up and wrapping my arms around my upper torso. "Pierre!" I fumed, blushing furiously. "How long have you been watching me?"

"Well I came in here fifteen minutes ago...." He said thoughtfully.

"Not important," I scowled, reaching for my lacy bralette and putting it on without flashing Pierre my lady bits. "What are you here for?"

"Well, I know you're simply dying of curiosity, so I decided to help you sneak into the dungeons. Don't you want to know what the Omega has to say?" He grinned, not even caring to look away.

"Well...yes, but just wake me up next time," I shook my head, pulling my jeans on and lacing up my shoes.

"We've got to be quick. Guards change shift every hour. We've only got twenty minutes." Pierre said, helping me out of the window. I was blinded by the sunlight, as I climbed out, finding a hold in the crevices of the brick wall.

Both of us opened the trapdoor that led to the dungeons, my heart pounding. Females weren't allowed in the dungeons, which, personally, was rather sexist. Then again, it was the order of rank in the animal kingdom.

We climbed down the rusty iron ladder, greeting the guards with nods. We walked past cells that were mostly empty, before reaching the Omegas. The were was curled up in a corner, a ratty blanket barely covering his body. He was too pale, too skinny, black and blue with bruises from the beating, and he looked so pitiful, that I nearly felt a twinge of sympathy. Nearly.

"What has he said so far?" I asked one of the guards.

"He hasn't said anything of value, except that he was wandering alone in the woods. That is all."

"What was he doing when you found him? Eating our share?" I turned to Pierre.

"He was comforting one of the fawns we spared," Ruby answered, shrugging. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. To sympathise with prey was rather strange.

"He's an Omega, and we suspect that he's a spy......but he isn't fast like one. A bit strange in the head, if you ask me." A guard said.

"He hasn't spoken in hours," added another. "When are we meeting with Saxum?"

I bit my lip, glancing at Pierre.

"Quarter past 10:00. Prep him up, give him some food," Pierre nodded at the guards.

We left the dungeons well before Luc woke to visit the prisoner.

That afternoon, we travelled to the Celestial Fang's territory via foot. Their territory looked similiar to ours, except for the glamour of their houses, modern, with obvious human intervention. None of our pack approved of their ways, their shared activities with human organizations and deals with Hunters.

"Greetings, brothers of the Moon," Eragon Saxum said, with a charming smile spreading across his face. He had high, defined cheekbones, dimples, a smile that could make any girl swoon, and a jaw for days. A black suit framed his chiselled, strong frame, and his dark hair was slicked back in a grunge sort of fashion.

He was a wicked sin, dressed in beauty and sex, and he was the last person I'd ever put my trust in. Pierre was silent with fear, and regard for the enemy. His posture was stiff as he tensed by my twin's side.

"Serpent," I hissed through the pack's mind link. The men by my side growled in agreement, and Eragon held both of his hands up with a smug grin. My twin, however, was calm as always. He matched Eragon's smirk with a cold smile, his gaze made from the same freezing steel as my Father's.

"Pleased to meet you, Eragon Saxum of Celestial Fang." Lucifer said, stepping forward and holding a hand out to shake Saxum's.

Eragon shook it firmly before gesturing to one of the leather armchairs in the room, leering at my brother. If there was anything at all, I could have sworn that his eyes betrayed him with glints of malice.

His gaze shifted over our guards, and landed on me, lingering for too long. His lips twitched when I barred my teeth at him. Lucifer took a seat, and immediately, the guard shifted with him, standing by the side of the armchair and behind it.

"I'm sure you know why we paid a visit, Mr. Saxum," Lucifer began, his voice smooth as velvet, with a deep, rich timbre that he only used in meetings like this. He swirled a glass of wine that one of the girls offered, even though he didn't drink it at all. "We caught your omega at our creek, stealing our catch, and spying on us while we were organising our activities."

There was a whimper as one of the guards pushed a boy forward. In the light, I got a better look at him.

He was slightly younger than us, maybe by a few moons. His hair was a shock of pure creme-white, messy and rugged. His bottom lip was split, possibly by interrogation, and it was pierced with a single black stud and a black hoop. His ears were slightly pointed, the lobes pierced with two black, circular earrings. His eyes were blue-blacked, and swollen, but I could see the darkest brown in them, and dark blue flecks that sparked with the firelight. He was beautiful, wholly fragile, and currently, on the edge of a massive breakdown.

I could see Saxum's jaw clench slightly, and his sister - who was a known bedhopper- seemed to smile with satisfaction. It intrigued me, and I glanced back at the boy curiously. The guard shoved the boy forward, and Saxum gripped the arms of his chair as the boy dropped to his knees, his head hanging down.

It was obvious that the boy was an omega. Omegas were the rarest kind, pure white to show their weakness and lack of strength. They were slender wolves, and they were beautiful without security or strength. Omegas were often disregarded and used as slaves, the lowest rank in a pack, and to remain in their pack, they had to sacrifice their mates, give them up to the Alpha.

It was a cruel life for such wolves, but they were cursed by Lupa for their disloyalty and sins in their previous lives. It was only right.

Lucifer noticed Saxum's reaction to the injured boy as well, and he seemed to take satisfaction and particular interest in it, like I did. My twin always caught on the slightest observations.

"He wandered off and got lost due to my guards' inattention. We have punished the respective guards for their mistake," Saxum plastered a smile to his face as he spoke, although it was rather obvious that he didn't seem very happy about the condition of his Omega.

Could it be possible that he cared for the tortured boy?

I eyed him suspiciously for a moment before my gaze returned to Luc. He seemed to consider this, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he rubbed his chin. I nearly rolled my eyes at his theatricals.

Saxum was taken in, and he immediately proposed something incredulous, yet utterly winning. "We will organise the next Wait Moon in our territory, next week, and your pack will be allowed to join us for the ceremony, as is every other pack you request to attend."

There was a silence in the room as Lucifer considered it. It was a good offer, since our pack had always been rather closed off. If not to find mates, it was a good opportunity to explore enemy grounds and form alliances with other packs.

"Silver Lake."

"Done."

"Pine Crater."

"Done."

"Fire Sphere."

"We'll add them in right away."

"Onyx Fall."

Lucifer seemed to push the boundary as he added another pack's name, one that he knew would tick Saxum off. It wasn't a very smart move, one that I wouldn't make. I could see the men and women of Celestial Fang shifting uncomfortably, beginning to stir from their Alpha's bargain.

"....We will see that they are welcomed on friendly terms," Saxum replied. I might have heard the hard edge to his voice, but he covered it by clearing his throat. His sister placed a hand on his shoulder and glowered at Lucifer.

"Our business here is finished. We are happy to oblige to your generous proposal," Luc smiled and stood up, shaking Saxum's hand. A guard of ours unchained the Omega, and he scrambled forward, curling up by Saxum's side. The Alpha whispered something into the boy's ear before he let one of the women take him away gently.

We were seen out, but Saxum caught my wrist and held me back as my men left the room. It was a subtle action and no one but Hayes saw us. "Please control your brother with a leash. You seem to have more will and self-control compared to him," He murmured, his breath tickling my ear. "We wouldn't want him knowing what happened two moons ago now, would we?"

I wrenched my hand from his grasp and whirled around, feeling my face flush with anger. "You swore on Lupa's wrath," I spat. "And my brother has a mind of his own. I am not his keeper, unlike the freak of a sister you have there."

Hayes got to her feet and was about to launch herself across the room when Saxum held up a hand. Pierre growled, shifting in front of me when he realised what was happening. To this, Saxum did a mock bow and dismissed us, one of his pack members "accidentally" shoving us out of the door.

I was about to hiss and spit, but Pierre kept a firm hand on my shoulder and whispered assuring words in my ear. "A refined lady never fights back physically," Pierre mumbled. Wrong words. I shook his hand off and turned on him.

"Why, of course I should know, having lived with you pretty darlings my entire life." I answered with acid sweetness. It wasn't a very nice thing to say, and I felt rather guilty afterwards, but my anger had gotten the best of me and I walked alone towards Luc.

I'd lost my mother since I was 24 moons old. I could hardly remember her face, but they said that she was exquisitely beautiful. Being brought up among the midst of my family of men, and staying only with my brother's friends, I began to stray from female company. It became apparent that I didn't like female friends as much as I liked my brethren. The girls shunned me, but the boys were more than welcoming.

I was brought up to be strong-willed, fearsome, adventurous, curious, not gentle, kind, or pretty-faced. I was a warrior, and a faithful follower of Lupa. Yet somehow, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the Wait Moon was going to undo all of it.

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D r e i C a n d o r

After the group of terrifying people left, my wounds and bruises were tended to by one of the female wolves. I was shuddering, and my muscles were all tensed up, my body curled into a ball. I didn't dare to close my eyes, lest the thoughts flood my mind. It wasn't until Eragon came and began to coax me gently, that I reached for his open arms and clung to his shoulders.

"There now, I'm sorry," Eragon whispered, holding me against his chest and kissing my forehead.

I know he hadn't meant to leave me alone in the woods while he went off to sneak into the enemy's territory. I know I shouldn't have wandered off either, I shouldn't have followed the sound of the bubbling stream. I shouldn't have hidden in the bushes. I should have ran. I'd caused him trouble, and being an inconvenience as a worthless asset to the pack meant immediate death.

"They h-held me down and they...they beat me a-and drowned-" I tried to speak, but it seemed as if my throat was closing up and choking me in tears of fear.

Eragon shushed me and carried me in his arms. I pressed my face against his chest and sobbed shakily. His eyes said it all. He wasn't going to kill me.

"I shouldn't have left you there alone," I heard him say.

"You said there was no one like us out there.." I whispered.

"I also said that you were safe as long as you didn't leave the territory."

I kept silent afterwards and let him hold me. There was a creak as he opened a door and placed me gently on a bed.

"Sleep. I'll be in my chambers if you need me." He seemed to be vexed about me knowing that there were outsiders. I could see the worry in his eyes as he pulled the covers up to my chin and kissed my forehead. I felt warmth spreading through my chest as he sang me that song that I loved so, his Alpha timbre woven into the words.

Sleep now, my love.

The darkness has left our home.

Sleep now, my love,

Even though the demons, on Earth, they roam.

Sleep now, my love,

I will protect you with my heart.

Sleep now, my love,

They can ne'er tear us apart.

By the last word, my eyelids felt heavy, and my breaths slowed, as my head lolled to the side, against the Alpha. The last thing I remember, was him whispering the three words I loved so much into my ear;

I love you.