me, him, and the moon ☾ l.s.

twenty - when we're apart

"Good. You're finally awake."

Harry squinted against the warm light. The sun was in the process of setting, sending rays of sunlight through the leaves and creating shadows that scurried across the forest floor in kaleidoscope patterns. He groaned; his head was pounding, and he couldn't quite place the familiar voice. All he knew was that the tone tied his stomach in knots.

A different voice snapped him back to reality. "Don't say a word, Haz. Don't tell him anything."

"Niall?" He tried to sit up, but his movements were slow and taxing. His heartbeat quickened, and his breathing grew ragged. "What happened? What's going on?"

"Breathe, H." Niall's voice seemed distant, and his words echoed in Harry's mind. "Breathe. Everything's gonna be okay. Do you hear me?"

"W-Where . . . where's Louis? I need . . ." Harry gasped, finally managing to sit up fully. He quickly realized that they were in the woods, but he didn't recognize the clearing. His hands were bound together in front of him, which contributed to his inability to control his own body.

And, for the first time in weeks, he couldn't sense the familiar comfort of his alpha's energy warming his body. It terrified him.

"I need Louis. I need . . ."

"Harry, shh. Look at me."

Harry blinked a few times, finally allowing his vision to settle on Niall's face. He frowned. The Irish boy was bound, like Harry, sitting just a few feet away. His blue eyes glistened with worry, and guilt washed over Harry as he realized that he wasn't the only one stuck in this situation.

"Are you okay?" he asked quickly, his eyes skimming over the dark bruise that spanned part of Niall's cheek and forehead.

The Irish boy nodded. "Fine. You've been out for so long." More quietly, he added, "Thought you weren't ever going to wake up."

"How long has it been?"

Niall shook his head, silently signalling that he wasn't sure.

With a groan, Harry brought his bound hands up to rub his forehead. "My head hurts," he said. He wondered how long he had been out cold; the deep aching in his stiff joints made him wonder if he had actually been asleep for years.

"You're a whiny one," Nick commented nonchalantly, speaking up for the first time, and Harry snapped his head to the side to glare at the alpha. The dark-haired boy sat casually beside the fire, staring intently into the flames.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he seethed, tugging helplessly at the ropes that tied his hands together. "What do you have to gain from this?"

"I needed information, and you didn't seem too keen on giving it to me." He pulled an iron rod from the fire, standing from his seat. He swung the iron slowly by his side as he advanced toward Harry, his eyes flicking hungrily over the omega's body. "Now that we're away from your stupid little town, how about a bit of persuasion?"

Harry set his jaw, pushing away the terror that twisted his stomach into knots. Niall instantly began to protest, calling out, "Leave him alone! If you want answers, I'll talk! Don't touch him!"

Nick ignored him, his eyes locked on Harry. He towered over the boy, the iron just inches away from Harry's leg. "Tell me about Louis Tomlinson."

Harry looked away, dropping his gaze to the side. He bit his trembling lower lip, refusing to say a word and refusing to show the alpha his fear.

Crouching down in front of the omega, Nick growled, "I'll ask one more time. What do you know about Louis Tomlinson?"

"I'll tell you anything you want to know! Just don't --"