C2 Chapter one

Luna Sheryl could hear every little moan, groan and curse that was thrown from Tatiana and Alpha Arch as she stood by the hallway. She wanted to hit something, anything at the moment. It felt like her heart was being torn from her soul.

Her fingers fisted her satin gown, her fingers turning into claws as it pierced her flesh. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t stand here and pretend she wasn’t bleeding from the inside-out. It just wasn’t possible.

She closed her blue eyes, waiting in vain for the intense feelings to go off, but it intensified as the moans hit her eardrums. They were so filled with carnality, and she knew what had caused it. She knew exactly what Alpha Arch must have done, and damn the moon goddess, she didn’t love to see it.

Luna Sheryl straightened up her spine, and opened her blue eyes. Staying here was one hell of a nightmare. She needed to inform the priest that the mating was going on. She had to, for her own sanity. She could easily have informed the Beta, Jones to relay the message, but she needed something to do.

She cleaned the dried blood on her satin gown, and walked deeper into the hall towards the general hall. This was where the major players in her game were waiting. They wanted her accent to put the plan into work.

She pulled the door open, and stepped into the humid room. It wasn’t cold in here thanks to the heater from the artistically crafted stove. The members rose to their feet quickly, lowing their heads to the floor in obeisance. They loved her madly, and it hurt them that it had come to this, but it had to be done.

“Rise,” She said.

They did as she said, their eyes taking up a sombre glow. There was so much gloom that perused the room, and something akin to pity. They pitied her. She stood straight as the thought came to her. No matter what, there was no place for pity for her. She was a Luna! She was not just any Luna, but, the Luna of the Blood-Moon pack! There was no place for pity for her.

“Priest, I want you to come with me. It’s almost time,” She said firmly.

Priest Antoine bowed low. “Yes, my lady,” He said respectfully.

Together, they both walked out of the room, into the cold hall. Luna Sheryl clasped her hand tightly in front of her chest. She stopped in her tracks, as she turned to face him.

The smallish man was holding a blue substance in his hands. He was shaking profusely, either from fear or cold, it was hard to tell. His white coloured eyes looked at the Luna with a reckless abandon.

“How much time do we have before the moon goddess gets here?” Sheryl queried.

He clicked his tongue, then said in an abstract voice. “I believe we have less than an hour. But, no-one knows what the moon goddess does. She may call us at any time.” He said softly. “I don’t mean to go over myself, but did our Alpha agree to it?”

Luna Sheryl looked forward, her heart wrenching in sadness. “Yes,” She whispered.

“Don’t you worry, Luna. Your sacrifice would not be in vain. This thing you’ve done would be written in all of the history books.” Priest Antoine said with such authority.

She turned to look at him. “That’s all right. But, we must go to the Alpha’s den now. Come with me,” She encouraged.

There was total silence, each in the succour of their own thoughts as they drew nigh to Alpha Arch’s room. The moans increased in tempo as they moved. Luna Sheryl gritted her teeth hard to block it out.

“The Alpha will surely have a male child this very night. I can feel it deep in my loins.” Priest Antoine said suddenly.

Luna Sheryl blocked his words out, and without much thought, knocked on the door. The moans died immediately. Though, there was a muffled sound of weeping. Tatiana was crying. What must have happened? ‘No, I will not think it!’ She whispered to herself.

Without waiting for a response, she opened the door. Alpha Arch was completely naked, as he stood gazing out the window. Tatiana was also naked, except for a clean sheet protecting her from prying eyes. Her mascara was wet as she cried softly. Luna Sheryl could see the marks that lined up the exposed part. It was healing quickly, but not quick enough like a royal blood or a Luna. They were claw marks. She had been tortured.

“Do what you have to do,” Alpha Arch ordered.

With her head bowed to his naked bark, she said respectfully, “As you wish, my Lord.”

She stepped closer to Tatiana, watching as the girl pulled into herself. She felt her heart break at this, but there was no time to pity her. One look at the moon showed that it was almost time for the moon goddess to make her appearance.

“Tatiana! Do not squeeze your legs too tight, the sperm may escape and we may lose the only chance of having a male child,” She admonished.

The girl spread her legs more, a soft whimper escaping from her lips. She was hurt. A soft growl escaped Alpha Arch’s lips in response to her plight. This whole thing was just unbelievably painful, but there was not much else that could be done.

“Please come, priest,” Luna Sheryl said to the Priest standing by the door.

The priest came in quickly, and Sheryl stepped back, giving them space. Her eyes looked at her husband once more, and she almost screamed at the pain that blinded her. He stood, staring at the moon, his shoulders hunched tight. Tearfully, she drew her eyes away from him, to Tatiana.

The girl was visibly shaking as Priest Antione chanted some words while spraying the blue substance over her. Suddenly, she growled, and changed to her wolf. It stood tall on fours, a deep red colour with blue eyes. And, she was growling.

Alpha Arch moved so quickly, cradling the animal in his hands. Tatiana barked at him, wanting to hurt him as much as he must have hurt her, but that was like an ant scratching a leopard. It did not work.

“Enough!” He thundered.

Tatiana laid low in submission, her tail between her legs. Alpha Arch looked at his Luna for a fraction of a second, his eyes showing the pain he was going through in spades. Sheryl bit her lip so hard, she tasted blood. This was what she had not wanted.

“Tell me, priest,” He said, looking away from Luna Sheryl and stroking Tatiana’s fur.

With his head bowed, Priest Antione said jubilantly, “She is with child. Congratulations! The blue markings are all over her.”

“That…”

The room went dark, the moon bleed red. It was time! The goddess has arrived. Alpha Arch let his iridescent eyes shine through the room. It was of no use, he could barely make out anything. He stood tall, waiting still. His hands held Tatiana close, but she was too big. And, somehow, he stood second guessing how true the tale had been that she was an Omega.

“I can scent the ivory scent of a new-made foetus. I would love to think that you’ve finally gone through with your end of the deal,” A voice that sounded like still waters sounded through the room.

The Luna swallowed in fear. The moon goddess was right here with them, but she couldn’t be found. She didn’t even have an idea of how she looked like. She only hoped, it would spare her, spare them all.

At the other side of the room, Alpha Arch thought of how best he could handle this situation. A lot was at stake, but his pride wouldn’t let him to cower like he was a coward.

“I have fulfilled my promise,” He said boldly.

A soft cackle sounded, shaking the whole room. “I needed a baby and not a foetus. This is not what I’d hoped for.” The goddess said with disappointment lacing her words.

“In nine months, he would be here. Just a bit more patience! We’ve been trying for 500 years, now he is here, my promise,” He said quietly.

There was a silence for a while, then the same voice rose high. “I will be here on the seventh month. And, you would definitely be punished for making a mockery of your covenant.” She said, and the lights came back on.

They had seven months for the baby to grown in its mother’s womb. Alpha Arch gritted his teeth as he watched the fat tear that rolled down Tatiana’s eyes as she whimpered. The tears felt so useless, because it was just useless. Only seven months for everything to change.

He took one look at his Luna who was in the process of changing into her white wolf, and smiled a sad smile. Everything was changing right before his eyes, but there was nothing he could do about it.