Moonlit

Prologue

The clock's smaller hand struck five as Mr. Sullivan cleaned off the whiteboard. He had already turned the lights off for the evening. The fluorescent bulbs in the hallway cast his classroom in a measly mist of light. Spritzing cleaning fluid onto the board made him wrinkle his nose at the strong scent it brought. His hand paused against the board as a new, misplaced scent mingled with the artificial sharp scent of lemon.

He had been alone. From the moment the clock struck two and the students filed out of his room, he remained behind to prepare for the following day. Now though, as he set down the rag and turned around to lean against the whiteboard tray, he found someone sitting at the desk in the exact center of the classroom.

"It's been awhile, brother." The man's voice sliced through the classroom, drowning out the ticking of the clock.

"It has been," the teacher said. He crossed his arms over his chest. "What do you want?"

"That's how you greet me after all these years?" The man stood from the desk soundlessly.

"Considering the last time we met, yes." His guest came around to sit on top of a desk desk in the front row of the room. "What are you doing here, really?"

"Sonya's invited me back to the pack," the man said. He scooted himself to the center of the desk so that his feet just barely dangled. His shoes scuffed against the floor as he tried to swing his legs.

"And you took her up on it?"

"Of course!" The man cupped his hands between his knees, leaning forward. "Well, sort of. See, she wanted me to join the pack, but I struck a better deal. Instead, we're forming an alliance."

"Naturally without my consent. You wouldn't ever leave those blood driven monsters, would you?" That must have struck a nerve with his guest, for the man stood up slowly.

"They're my family now, Jrasic," the man said. "I killed for them, I've fought for them. This alliance with Sonya is supposed to protect them from the Hunters. Since, for some reason, the Hunters are blind to the pack you two have created."

"Sonya and I know how to evade them," the teacher said. "We are beneath their radar since we don't cause conflict with the human world as your pack does. Why should we get involved with your Hunter problem?"

The man closed the space between them, pinning Sullivan to the board. Their faces drew too close to one another, making Sullivan scowl.

"I miss fighting beside my brother," the man said, a sort of longing in his eyes. "This pact with Sonya not only protects my pack but it gives me the opportunity to get my brother back. Armand's reputation has Hunters on my tail. I need your help."

"Sonya risked endangering our pack for the sake of a dead Alpha's mistakes?" Sullivan scoffed.

"As an Alpha herself, it's her decision," the man pointed out.

"As Beta, my decision matters too."

"Just give this a chance," the man said through a sigh. He shifted his hands onto the teacher's shoulders, holding them apart at arm's length. "Run with me."

"That's probably not a good idea."

"Are you afraid of things mending themselves between us?" The man tightened his grip on Sullivan's shoulders. "Afraid of what memories it may stir?"

"I'm not going to play your games," Jrasic said, holding his gaze evenly.

A grin played at the man's lips. "You will this time."

Thank you so much for starting Moonlit! We've been working on this since 2012 and we just couldn't wait any longer to let people start reading it.

We always appreciate constructive criticism and really any comments to let us know what you think! It always makes us happy when we know people are reading it and that they like it.

-Samantha and Runaja