The Luna of My Lover's Brother

MADELINE -- “No.” I grit out, jaw tight with tension. “Madeline, as the eldest daughter, this is your duty.” As the eldest daughter, not the heir to the pack— something they’ve trained me for since I was a kid. “I won’t,” My hand slams down on the long dinner table, the cutlery rattling as it bounces with the aftershock. “The decision is final.” Dad growls, the sound echoing off the stone walls, through the table and mom’s favorite dining set. I notice how she grabs the edges of the round plate in front of her, seeming concerned for it’s well being, but she ignores me, not bothering with mine. “Mom,” My voice shakes as I silently plea with her to say something, to defend me. Her blazing blue eyes lift, filled with fear and shame. “You agreed to this?” My voice shakes. “Get over it, Maddie.” My younger brother, Aaron, sighs like I’m being dramatic. But he's getting what he always wanted. My eyes flicker towards him for a beat before I glance back at my father. The shakiness and the heartache replaced with anger— white hot rage that could burn down this entire pack. “You can’t make me marry him!” I yell, feeling the heat spread to my cheeks. Dad stands abruptly, glaring at me with the precision of an Alpha’s authority, “You will do what is expected of you, Madeline! Now sit down.” His hand shakes as it slams down on the table with force. I’m leaned forward over the table, nails scraping along the old oak surface. I force a tight smile, “I lost my appetite.” I grit out, pushing the chair away with the back of my knees and leave. It’s clear that they made their choice of who’s going to be the heir— and it’s not me. I slam the large door shut behind me, taking a few more steps until I’m away from the door before my back connects with the stone cold walls. I have to find Jaxon. I have to tell him. Glancing at the time on my solid nine carat gold watch, my heart pounding so fast that the little numbers is a blur. I need to go see Jaxon, I just hope he's there already. I run through the large manor, the stone walls taunting me as I pass, the art hanging on the wall of old relatives, previous Alpha’s and Luna’s watching me as I leave the manor. As I step foot outside, the full moon glows beautifully, but the moment is disrupted as a guard steps foot behind me. “Madeline, where are you going?” Maverick, my personal guard, asks. His cold voice sends a shiver ripping through my bones like an earthquake shaking the earth. He has this annoying way of moving through shadows, which is his job, but also so inconvenient for me. “Go away, Maverick.” I grit out, my fisted hands trembling with anger that can’t be dismissed by a breeze. Thunder claps along the tree lines, the strike of lightning that follows has the night sky turning into day for a split second. In the distant, dark clouds are rolling in slowly, but I can make it home before it rains. I always make it home before it rains. “Madeline, your father will not approve of this.” He warns, knowing exactly where I’m going. He’s the only one who knows where I go, or that I even left. I can’t even say it’s because he cares, because it’s just his job to know where I am at all times. “My father is ruining my life.” I say through gritted teeth, staring out into the night. “You’re going to regret this, Madeline.” I turn to face Maverick. He’s about fifteen years older than me, but doesn’t look like it. “Lucky for me, you’re my guard, not my advisor.” I smile sweetly at him before I step off the front porch. Continuing down the path in between the trees, one I’ve walked almost every day since I was a kid, I make my way down to the lagoon that separates our pack from the Vihar's pack. My hands shake as I undo the rope that’s tied from the little rowing boat to the small dock. I kick against the wooden pillar with my foot, rowing toward the opposite land where darkness awaits while scanning the empty bank across, trying to spot him. I’m completely wrapped in darkness, the moon slowly creeping in behind the thick, dark clouds. My heart beats against my ribs violently, the anger stuck in my throat, feeling like if I spoke, I would breathe fire like a dragon. Tears form in my eyes, those of crushing heartbreak, and frustration. The front of the boat hits the sand with a thud, and as I step onto the enemy territory, goosebumps erupt all over my skin. The familiar taste of defiance dances on my tongue, the excitement short lived tonight under the weight of my sorrow. I thought that if I got here, it wouldn’t be this heavy, that perhaps I could have thrown some of the frustration off the little boat and let it flow with the lagoon’s current, but no— standing here, on the enemy’s territory, it only intensifies as I wait for Jaxon. “Jaxon.” I hiss in hopes that he’d already be here— or at least close by. A twig snaps somewhere near the trees, and I turn, looking in the direction. My eyes adjust in the darkness, “Jaxon?” I murmur, my spine twisting as reality slaps me through the face. I have to tell him, but how? A shadow forms as Jaxon steps out behind a tree, my shoulders slumping. “Jaxon,” My voice cracks, the emotions I’ve been bottling up in a jar breaks through, tears streaming down my face as I walk toward him. The wind suddenly turns with vicious force, and instead of smelling mint, I smell the ocean and cinnamon. My heart drops into my stomach, the tears rolling down my face suddenly feeling cold against my flushed cheeks, “Why is my Luna crying?” Atlas’ deep voice cuts through the air like a sword slice. I step back, my ankle almost twisting as my foot slips on the wet grass. “Actually, what is my Luna doing here?” Atlas changes his question, yet I’m frozen in place, rooted to the ground as invisible veins grow and grab hold of me. Inhaling a short, deep breath, my mind thaws. “I’m not your anything.” I grit out, slowly taking one step back, and then another, and another. Atlas’ raven hair glows with a sliver of blue as the moon cascades down from above. He crosses his large arms, “What are you doing here, little wolf?” He asks, this time a lot more serious. “I’m here to see Jaxon.” There’s no point in trying to hide why I’m here, because he knows. He knows that his brother and I are in love, that we’re dating even though it’s been a secret for forever, yet— he still agreed. He’s as heartless as my father. No. He’s worse than my father— because he knows his brother loves me. He knows that, and he’s doing this to me, and his own brother. Atlas rolls his eyes, the whites standing out in the dark. He turns slightly, pacing without taking his eyes off me, “Now, it isn’t very smart of you to want to see my dear little brother.” He tuts, sounding all fake disappointed. “He’s my boyfriend.” I stand like a statue, my eyes the only part that’s moving left to right, following his every movement. “Not anymore, sweetheart.” My eyes bulge, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I grit out, crossing my arms, not to try and look intimidating, but to hold myself together before I rip into this…this…man in front of me. A feline smile curves at his lips, “It means…” he takes a step toward me, “You’re mine,” A statement so loud, so bold that it has me struggling to breathe. I step back, staring up at him, eyes forming into slits. “I will never be yours, Atlas.” I’m not trying to piss him off, just stating facts that he has to get through his thick, stubborn skull. He laughs, “You think you have a choice, little wolf? Do you think that our parents will let you run away with Jaxon?” The amusement dances in his eyes like cold calculation. “They can’t stop me if they don’t know about it,” I shrug. He closes the distance between us in a blink of an eye, grabbing my arms firmly. His stare is burning into my eyes, right through my skull. “I can see that you want the world, but let me tell you something,” He leans in, his voice dropping into a mere whisper, “He can’t give it to you, because between you and me, he’s expendable, and my father would kill him only to spite you. Do you understand that?” His tone turns threatening, my heart hammering against my ribs with force that is fueled by rage and fear. “He won’t kill his own son.” I murmur, my voice coming out shaky and uncertain. Jaxon told me about all the good times he and his father had. “To unite our pack and save everyone, he would.” I blink, processing what he just said. “Everyone? They can just call off the damn war!” I rip out of his grasp, stumbling back when he lets me go easily, “It isn’t their war to call off,” My mind blanks. “What do you mean?” An ache forms in my chest. “The rogues have formed an army bigger than our pack, and yours— but together, we’re bigger, we’re better,” His tone is so professional, like we’re in a meeting of some sort. “Then they can stand together without this damn…” My face contorts as bile rises. Pursing my lips, I stare at him, “Arrangement.” I grit out. “You seriously don’t get it, do you?” He scoffs. “Get what? That they just want us to be together because they can’t trust one another? I get that, but maybe they should just put their bullshit aside and talk about it like grown men!” I yell, my voice echoing all around us. Atlas scoffs, slowly shaking his head. “It’s for a permanent solution, not temporary.” All I hear is, it’s to make amends instead of actually apologizing. Atlas throws his arm around my neck, “See the vision, Madeline. We can build a new world if we work together.” He speaks like a dreamer. I try to shrug away from him, “I don’t want to do anything with you.” I hiss, grabbing his wrist of the hand holding onto me. “Maddie?” Jaxon’s voice breaks through the tension, his eyes darkening at the sight of Atlas holding onto me. I tense, “Jaxon,” The anger vanishes at the sight of him, my icy heart thawing. I step forward, but Atlas holds me tighter, stopping me from getting to him. “Let her go,” Jaxon grits out, anger dripping from his tone. “Let my Luna go?” Atlas scoffs, and terror flashes across Jaxon’s face, his gaze snapping to mine. “You agreed?” He asks, eyes now hallow with betrayal burning into his expression. “No!” I rip out of Atlas’ grasp, but Jaxon steps back as I inch forward. His gaze travels to Atlas’, “Don’t do this. Say no.” He begs. “Unless you want father to find out about this…I think it’s best you don’t ask that again.” Atlas shrugs with amusement dancing in his eyes. I turn to Jaxon’s older brother, “I will not be your Luna!” I grit out. “Remember what I said,” Atlas warns before walking into the shadows, but I know he'll be watching. “Let’s run.” I beg in a whisper. “And do what?” Jaxon’s shoulders drop, hopelessness creeping into his eyes. “And be together. We can leave right now,” I reach for his hand as I watch his eyes start to gleam with consideration. “We don’t need anything. We can survive together, we can hunt and live freely, Jaxon. Together.” I don’t care what it does to the packs. All I want is him. His shoulders pull back, eyes sharp with calculation. “f**k it, let’s go.” His fingers tighten, squeezing my hand. He glances past me at the rowing boat, “Let’s take the boat, go upward towards the mountains. There should be caves where we can hide for the night,” My heart is pounding in my chest viciously, not from fear, but excitement. Hand in hand, we run toward the boat, and I get in while Jaxon pushes it off the sand, hopping in. The boat rocks left to right before he settles into the wooden bench that’s a seat. “Here,” He hands me a paddle, and he takes the other one. As we start rowing, thunder roars through the sky, lightning following suite. The entire world around us lights up, the lagoon’s small ripples showing that the tide is going down. “Faster, we have to get away before the rain starts and pushes us downward.” Jaxon’s movements are fast, but I fight every aching muscle to keep up with him. We are going to be together, forever. A wet drop falls on my forehead, the other on my cheek, another against my arm and continues until the clouds break loose, letting the rain fall hard. My vision starts to become less clear, the sky turning gray while mist starts to roll in. “We have to stop!” I scream over the splattering rain that smacks against every inch of my skin with force. “Just a few more minutes!” Jaxon encourages. The shore is close enough to see it’s shadow through the fog, but if we continue, this boat might sink with how much rain is pouring in. “We’re going to sink soon!” I hiss, wiping my face against my arm, “Give me that, you take the bucket and scoop water out!” He demands, already snatching the paddle from me and starts rowing. The water is up to our ankles as I dip the bucket and pour it over the edge of the boat, but it’s raining faster and I can’t keep up. “Go to the shore!” I demand. Jaxon’s gaze locks on mine, “They’ll find us.” Right now, that isn’t the priority. “If we don’t get off this lagoon, they’ll find our bodies instead.” I hold his stare, willing him to understand. “We’ll make it, Maddie. Just trust me,” I glance past him, but there’s nothing but fog, rain and darkness blurring my vision. “A few more minutes, that’s it.” I trust him, and he has a lot more experience with rowing these damn boats. My heart races as the water rises, my leather pants soaked and sticking to me like a second skin. “Jaxon,” My voice shakes with concern as the water violently starts to thrash, the water I’ve been throwing out with a bucket falling back it. “Jaxon!” I yell, hoping that he’ll just go toward the shore. “Hold on!” He yells as the little boat is rocked. My body jolts forward as the boat goes in the opposite direction, and all I feel is icy cold water, and the last thing I hear is Jaxon’s voice screaming my name, horror laced in his voice, and all I see is darkness.