Chains of the Crescent Moon

Ch. 14: Shadows of the Past, Burdens of the Future

It's been three years since Orion left. My birthday is around the corner, just a few weeks away. Training has been going well. I even get to spar with the others. Some of the guards make great sparing partners. I still get whipped if I don't do it well enough. Am I still disappointing Alpha? I am at least learning. The new Beta Tye Soren treats me as if I don't exist. At least his son Timothy is pleasant to me. We spar frequently, and being close to the same height makes training more accessible. His blond hair matches mine, and while my eyes are cerulean blue, his are honey gold. We both sat around at 198 cm, showcasing lean, defined muscles.

I am looking forward to my 17th birthday and can't wait to meet the growing presence in my head. I can't believe I must wait until I turn 18 to shift and find my mate. I hope it confirms what Justin told me a few months ago on Halloween. He did seem distant after that for a while, though.

While we live in a modern age, training with weapons is supposed to build character and tone the body. Over the last few years, I have been training with single—and double-edged swords—everything from a broadsword and long sword to a flamberg, a saber, and even a billhook. We don't get trained with guns until we get our wolves.

"Ed, you think we can start practicing with daggers next? I feel confident with the martial arts and with any of the swords."

"I don't see why not. But have to ask Alpha or Beta about getting some. You think your dad has any or is willing to get us some?"

"I can ask. You still not asking Alpha for anything, right? Isn't Alpha more approachable now, Since your brother did come back with his chosen mate, since your brother did come back with his chosen mate?"

"No. I can't ask him. I'm not good enough to ask him. Orion my be back now but he is just as unapproachable as Alpha. They spend all day training on how to run the pack. I'm not to interfere with their work." Orion came back a few months ago. Dad pardoned him for going against him, something about it being for the betterment of the pack.

Timothy's eyes start to tear up as he frowns and looks away, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm going to go ask my dad. Still on for training again tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I have nothing else I can do. Meet here at nine. I must ensure I have time to study for our finals next week. I hope to skip another grade." I turn, wave over my shoulder, and head inside the pack house to my room. I walk to my desk to review the pack's school exam schedule. I Skipped sophomore year already, and I am now trying to graduate with Justin and April at the end of this year so I can take some classes at the college next year. Maybe that will make him proud.

Thanks to Tye, we got some new daggers to use during training. He even said they were ours to keep. We did have to start learning from one of the human martial artists what steps and techniques to use. It helps that his mate is a wolfkin. If not, he would be afraid of two teens asking to use daggers against each other.

Justin called me last night, but we didn't talk for long. He gave me his new email address so I could start emailing back and forth. He must be getting too busy to keep talking on the phone all the time. I know we have both been busy since Halloween. I miss our secret rendezvous. 

The finals passed just fine, so I graduated early. However, I will have to pick up a part-time job at the college, or I won't be able to pay for it. Loans only get you so far when you can't get help from family. I start classes at the college tomorrow.

I heard there is a bar in town that sells Opos. It's a locally brewed whisky that works on Wolfkin. The omega who told me about it says he met his mate there and plans to run away together. Supposedly, his mate is the brewer who came up with it. I wish them luck. Running is tough; typically, they are caught and thrown down into the basement with me, and I have to watch them as they are punished.

I'll see if Timothy wants to sneak into town and get some Opos Whiskey. We must ensure our dads don't notice us heading into town, or we will never get away with it.

That's also a new change: The omegas now talk to me. Omegas here are taught to never talk to anyone unless spoken to. They are the serving staff and are treated as servants. Forced omegas are treated as slaves. They are those who either broke a pack law or were caught when trying to run. They are forced to do the worst tasks around the pack house and are always treated as if they are less than others. Sometimes, they even just leave them chained up in rooms for days.

Orion's chosen mate, Catherine, keeps going to help them. Isn't she lovely? I hope Orion marks her soon.

The weeks passed, and Catherine was caught using the forced omegas. I guess she got caught when her scent changed because she got pregnant. She got kicked out of the pack for cheating on her mate and also for tainting her body by someone who was not a fated or chosen mate. I heard that it's not the same in every pack, though, but it's still another reason why Alpha keeps calling me "The Tainted One" behind my back. I stopped being called runt when I outgrew Orion. I hope Orion will find his destined mate.

My birthday came and passed. No one acknowledged it, but Orion brought me a sword that night, and April had already given me a sketch pad and pencils the other day. Maybe she thought she missed it but somehow ended up giving it early.