Under the Moonlight

Chapter One. Eclipse

Elixa

Eclipse. They said that an eclipse only happens once in a hundred years, it’s the story of the moon meeting her lover, the sun, in their secret garden, where stars start to cry. It inspires poets to write their tragic love stories that transcend through centuries. They said, the moon goddess itself was moved into tears when she heard one of the poems written, that’s why in every eclipse a miracle shall happen, only one, for the most hopeful of hearts. That’s why the streets of our lowly village are filled with visitors from lands unknown just to witness the serenity of the moon and the sun becoming one, and a hope of finding one’s miracle.

Carriages and horses pile up our narrow roads as they take their time to settle at the hilly side of our town to get a glimpse of this mystical event, I on the other hand do not have that privilege, I have work to do, tons actually.

As I move to the crowd of lofty visitors, clutching the small packages I need to get to my master’s shop, I glanced up at the small bakery with warm freshly baked bread, and I felt my stomach rumble with hunger, but I shrugged it off and continued walking with my worn-out faded black boots. I managed to enter a small Tailoring shop, with a rather old dusty sign saying “Tom’s tailoring shop”. The shop was old and shabby but nothing feels more comfortable than taking in such a familiar place.

I placed down the packages at the front desk when the young owner of the shop emerges from the back door. His jet-black hair was all over the place, he had his untucked shirt missing about two buttons, and his old glasses fell down into his nose as he leans towards me.

“You’re late” Alex said sternly as he examined the packages I brought.

“I’m sorry Alex there was a huge traffic on the main road with all the fuss with the eclipse and such, but I got your laces” I said smiling ruefully at him, he smiled at me and nodded as if saying “very well” before taking the packages on a nearby shelf.

He set them down on a neat pile before turning back to look at me.

“Have you eaten? You look thinner, people may think I don’t pay you enough.” He said jokingly, but his eyes bore such an intense gaze.

“I forgot…” I said looking down at my worn-out shoes.

“You don’t forget to eat, what else shall the people say, that I’m starving my bride?” Alex said looking more serious by the time.

“I’m sorry…-

“Next time you eat, okay?” Alex said softly as he cut me off, I looked into his eyes and I could see how concerned he was, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Alex is a wolf, the lowest of ranks, he is an omega. He owns a small tailoring shop passed down to him by his old Dad. Even though he may look as the lowest of his kind he still has more privileges than a lowly human like me. The world is not really fond of my kind, we are treated as slaves, our lives could only go as far as a quarter of a century, unlike wolves who live thousands of years, maybe that’s why we live in small villages that are prone to die out of hunger and poverty. The village I came from can no longer be found on the map. It was wiped out by a pack war between the two regions near us. I was the only survivor. That is when I met Alex, I was an orphan famished on the streets, I was at lost when he found me one rainy day. I looked up to see him when he offered me an umbrella, his eyes reflect mine, it reflects the same pain, longing, and loneliness, he too was at lost. I lost my family, and he lost his mate, we were the same.

I snapped out of my trance when I saw Alex already by the door wearing his coat. I looked at him for a while before moving by his side and fixing his old faded coat.

“You going somewhere?” I asked quietly.

“On the contrary we both are.” Alex said taking my coat and handing it to me.