The Waning Hour

Chapter 2. Son Of The Moon

Niklous watched the small framed woman from afar, making sure he was well hidden in the shadows. His brothers' howls in the distance gave way, breaking the silence of night. Niklous was one of the original children of the moon making him as old as the fairy tale the children of the light spoke about. Except it was no fairy tail. He could remember the day perfectly. The day the curse was bestowed upon him and his brothers and the weight of being the nights guard placed upon him.

He had lived many lifetimes and yet never had he ever come across such a daring soul. He saw the thrill in her eyes as she searched the night. Terror should be there, yet no matter how many times he looked into those soft blues he never found any. Foolish. She was dancing a fine line and he made it his mission to keep a close watch on her to make sure the treaty held. However the longer he watched her the more he seemed to fall for the beautiful woman. She seemed kind and gentle in nature, opposite to his rough one. Love between the two kingdoms was forbidden thus he kept his privy feelings to himself, only letting the small time he shared in secret be only for him.

Niklous watched on till dawn began to ascend into the sky leaving him no choice but to flee back into the safty of the woods. The change came second nature as he stood back on two legs taking large strides towards his brother's in arms. The laughter and mindless banter causing a small smile to grow on his lips.

"Ah, Niklous! Brother did you find yourself a good hunt tonight?" Roderick spoke with a smile as his large hand slapped Niklous on the back in a friendly greeting.

"Ah not as good as you I'm afraid." Niklous joked as he looked down to the large buck at Roderick's feet.

"Well we all can't be as good as Roderick over here!" Clive chuckled as he slapped Roderick upside the head playfully.

"I smelled that sent again tonight. Seems one of the Sun Kings children was out past their bedtime." Derek spoke up as he slammed down his kill of the night.

"Ah yes I smelt it too. Like fresh sunlight. If they are not careful they could bring down a war upon their foolish heads." Roderick added as he and the other two men begun piling the nights kills onto the wooden cart to bring back to the pack.

"I have been keeping a close eye on her, don't you worry." Derek laughed as he hauled his ontop, finishing the pile.

Derek ' s words made Niklous's blood run cold for Derek was a ruthless killer who gave no warning and spared no mercy. It was because of this he was second to himself in command to the nights guard. Niklous earning the title of Alpha only after his victorious defeat over Derek long ago.

However Derek had always held a grudge against him for it so if he were ever to learn his secret, Derek would waste no time in ending the only thing that brought Niklous pleasure in this cursed life of his.

"Come brother, the nights watch is done let us go home and feast!" Clive called out snapping Niklous from his thoughts. With a half hearted chuckle Niklous took off following the rest, all the while his mind filled with the possablilites of the young woman's demise by Derek's hands.

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E

lizabeth stirred in her straw bed upon the floor as the day's light shone threw the small window of her and Denise ' s room. She tossed and turned wishing for just a few more hours of sleep. Elizabeth had spent too much time on the roof top last night and was regretting it so now.

"Come now Liza, father waits. Today is market day. There is much to be done." Denise scoulded her sister as she tried her best to shake her awake.

"Mmm. Leave me Nisa for I am too tired to wake. Let the fates decide my punishment." Elizabeth grumbled as she pulled the covers over her head.

"Lest you always be so dramatic Liza? Now get up. Come on up, up, up!" Denise shouted as she yanked the covers from her sister.