Tap.
My eyes fluttered open and I stared at the wall for a couple of seconds before closing my eyes again. It was probably the wind or something.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I sat up, my heart rate climbing. That couldn’t be just the wind, it sounded like someone tapping on the window.
Could it be. . .?
I shot up from my bed and ran to the windowsill. I opened the blinds and struggled to lift the window. My excitement peaked as I came face to face with the mystery person.
“Hey, Luna,” Jason grinned, showing off his big white teeth. My excitement fell, splat on the ground, disappointed.
Okay, maybe I did want it to be a certain arrogant, conceited Alpha. Not that I would ever admit it to myself.
I cocked my head. What the heck was he standing on?
Without saying anything else, he threw me over his shoulder and jumped down from my window. I yelped and squeezed my eyes shut. He was definitely going to break something.
He just jumped five stories without breaking any bones; his or mine.
“Be quiet if you want to see Brandon again.” Jason hissed. He started sprinting towards the woods, towards the border.
“Wait just a second!” I yelled and he slowed down to a run. “How do you know about Brandon? And what are you going to do with me?” I was bewildered. The last thing I expected was to be abducted by Brandon’s brother.
“Return you to the pack.”
“But the letter- I thought-” I cut myself off and waited for him to make sense of this. Brandon said that if Albert didn’t deliver me, he’d start a war. But. . .
“Brandon was going to abduct you either way, Luna,” Jason said and I tried to twist around to meet his eyes.
“Y-You know?” He’s called me the Luna twice now.
“That you’re our Luna? Everyone in the pack knows now.”
I demanded, “How?”
“That’s a stupid question. Brandon told us, of course. You know, after you guys kissed.” Jason muttered and I turned my head back.
I blushed, even though I really shouldn’t be embarrassed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I winced at how lame my lie was. Is that the best you can do, Amy? My wolf sighed, You should take lying classes.
Shut up! I yelled at her.
“Don’t lie, Amy. Luna’s don’t lie.” Jason said seriously.
“Hey, over there!” I turned to see the faint outlines of my wolves. They were trailing us by a few meters, dark blurs weaving through the trees.
“Shit,” Jason swore and began to sprint even faster. The cold air whipped my face and I hung on to his shirt so I wouldn’t fall.
“Let go of her!” Three wolves came into view. It was Gino, and two others. They were the strongest of my pack.
Jason chuckled to himself and finally stopped running. He threw me down by the base of a tree.
“Guys, if you wanted to fight, you could’ve just said so.” Jason sighed.
Not a good idea.
Gino and the others circled Jason like prey, ready to strike. My heart rate went through the roof, I couldn’t watch.
“Go!” I cried to my wolves but they didn’t move. Damn their loyalty to me. Jason was going to kill them. I saw him fight before, and he was good.
In an insanely fast flash, Jason made the first move.
It took less than one minute to take out two of the wolves. Jason did a simple block and kick as he took them out. Both wolves collapsed onto the ground, blacking out. He rubbed his hands together, like it was just too easy.
Jason saved Gino for last. He took more time fighting him. Gino attacked first, going for his throat but Jason was too experienced to lose.
He slammed Gino against a tree and punched him straight in the nose. Blood ran down his face but Jason didn’t stop punching him. He hit him again on the nose and I heard an audible crack.
“Stop!” I commanded but Jason didn’t listen. “As your Luna, I command you to stop!” I repeated and Jason slowly stopped punching him. Gino was unconscious, utterly out of it.
“Let him go.” I said calmly and Jason growled but obeyed. Gino fell to the ground.
I ran to him, checking his wounds but Jason dragged me away.
“Leave him.” Jason tugged me back and threw me back over his shoulder.
*****
I was so dizzy with changing homes. From my hideout home to Albert’ castle back to my hideout back again to Albert and now to Brandon. There was so much back and forth that I just wanted to stay in one place.
“Good. You brought her. Without any trouble, I hope?” Brandon asked, leaning against a wall. We locked gazes and I swallowed, hoping that my wolves were okay.
Jason smirked, “Oh, there was trouble. But not from her.”
I resisted the urge to stick my tongue at him. But I wasn’t a child so I shouldn’t act like one. I wanted to be seen as more responsible and reliable.
“From who?” Brandon asked curiously.
“Her dumbasses of wolves.” Jason muttered. Actually, they were doing their jobs by protecting me. But I didn’t say anything.
“Where are they now?” Brandon demanded urgently.
“Back in her territory.”
“Take care of it, Jason. No one can know she’s here, especially that bastard Albert.” Brandon commanded.
“Hey, that’s my brother!” I interjected.
“Jason,” Brandon said in a firm voice and he nodded in return.
“I’ll take care of it.”
Jason shut the door, leaving us alone.
“Are you insane? My brother will go crazy,” I spoke up, “He’s going to blame you anyway,”
“Don’t worry. I’m going to order my pack to attack tomorrow. I want this feud to end.” Brandon yawned, like he didn’t care. My blood boiled.
“Do you even realize what you’re saying? You’re going to attack my pack!” But he didn’t reply, just staring at the opposite wall. He looked lost.
“If Albert or any of my friends die, I’m blaming you.” I muttered, needing to find a way out of here and tell them.
I looked back at Brandon to argue some more but it was then that I realized that he looked exhausted. His hair was all over the place, somehow he made it look cute, and his skin no longer glowed gold. His eyes were a little red and he was losing color in his cheeks.
“How late do you stay up?” I changed the subject. He answered right away.
“I never sleep.”
“Never?”
“Never.” He was cursed with insomnia. But the only people who had insomnia were the ones who were stressed or the ones who had PTSD.
I finally got it. “You have PTSD.” He’s seen so much death and now it was piling up and up.
“What?”
“Come on, you must know what PTSD is.” I crossed my arms.
Brandon scoffed. “I know what it is. I’m saying that I don’t have it. Wolves don’t get PTSD.”
“Then how come you have it?” I challenged but he shook his head.
“I told you I don’t.” He sounded agitated, like he would snap any second. Temper, temper.
“Then why don’t you sleep?” He let my words hang in the air. “What’s bothering you?” I asked softly.
Brandon didn’t answer. I wasn’t surprised, he would never tell me anything about his personal life.
But at least I knew the invincible, merciless Alpha had a weakness.
*****
“What’s this?” I asked, staring as a bunch of people entered my room with trays of food. It was eleven in the afternoon and I refused to get out of bed.
“Breakfast.” Brandon said in an obvious voice. The people placed the trays of food on my bed and nightstand. Hash browns, omelettes, toast, bacon, fresh fruit, orange juice, oh, the list went on and on.1
“In bed?”
Brandon let out a deep breath and waited until everyone cleared out.
“I’m trying to welcome you. I’m not really good at this.” Brandon scratched his neck, almost nervous.
That’s so sweet! My wolf cooed.
Remember he’s going to launch an attack on our pack today! He’s not sweet! I argued with her but my wolf was biased.
Still sweet.
I didn’t touch any of the food.
“I don’t want anything from you. Except a truce between our packs.”
He narrowed his eyes, “I already told you, Amy. A truce is never going to happen.”
“Did you ever try talking to Albert?” I challenged, glaring at him. All they ever did was fight.
“Your brother’s a fucking bastard.”
“Is that any way to speak to a young lady, Brandon?” A stern voice asked sharply and Brandon spun around, clearly shocked. Two people, a man and a woman, were standing side by side. Their faces were neutral.
“Mom? Dad?”