Moon of Claiming

Chapter One: Accalia

   

        The town hall hadn’t changed much; the balconies were still intact, the seats filled with werewolves down below us, and a low stage that just barely rose above the wooden floor. Nor had my pack mates changed much in the three years that I’d been gone; they still talked without cease about moons and mates and other nonsense that I could have cared less about. I sat next to my roommate Gwyn for this meeting, ignoring the icy glares and the contemptuous sneers that the pack sent my way. I glanced over at Gwyn, took in her nearly stoic face, but I could still see the little cracks in her mask, little chips that had been broken off. I blinked at her composure; the last I’d seen her, she’d been nearly drowning in insults and tears. Then, I’d talked to her a little over a year ago, and I’d heard the pure steel that had edged her voice when she’d informed me that our Alpha wanted me back in Weylyn. I’d wanted to laugh, but somehow I knew that she wasn’t kidding around.

          I sighed and ran a weary hand over my face, wishing that they’d waited a little longer to start the meeting. Gwyn put a comforting hand on my knee as the leader of the Inner Council, our Alpha, called the meeting to order with a sharp howl. Almost immediately, the talking ceased. It was an unspoken rule among any werewolf pack that when the Alpha was talking, you weren’t. I stayed silent, not even bothering to say or nod a “hello” to the rest of the Omegas who’d just walked in. We sat up in a balcony far away from the rest of the pack as the meeting began. As usual, the first thing to come out of Niall Adolphus’s mouth was an insult.

          “So nice of you all to join us,” the Alpha said icily, directing a glare up into our balcony. I narrowed my eyes; he was still an absolute prick.

          “So nice of you to notice,” Abellona Janus replied sweetly from behind, but I could hear the venom simmering behind her words.

          I blinked, not at all surprised that Bella would be the one to strike back. She’d always been the wild one, despite being a lowly Omega in the eyes of the pack. Her own mother had personally solidified that spot for her. Since we were Omegas, we’d all been beyond prepared for the fact that no man would ever want us as a mate. After seeing the men around him, none of us really gave a damn.

          I ran a hand through my hair, only partially listening to the heated exchange between Bella and one of Niall’s Betas. I nearly jumped out of my chair when Niall banged a large marble ball against a brass discus, creating a resounding crack that echoed throughout the hall.

          “That is enough, Abellona,” Niall snapped, silencing her with a snarl. She sat down without another word, her head bowed at the timbre of her Alpha’s voice. He turned to his Beta with whom Bella had been arguing with. “You may punish her as you see fit, Sirius.”

          The Beta nodded and sent the Omega a chilling smile. I could hear Abellona swallow behind me, but I never heard her protest. I never took my eyes off of Niall as he spoke.

          “I’ve called everyone here today to say welcome home,” he spoke kindly, but with purpose. “I know that some of you haven’t been home in a long while, but you’re home now and that’s all that matters. You’re all invited to The Wolf’s Den later tonight for a celebration. I also expect all of you to show up.” He stopped and let his eyes sweep the room. They stopped on my eyes and held me there.

          “All of you,” he repeated, much quieter this time. My breath caught in my throat; damn but his eyes still hadn’t lost their beautiful gray color. To my shame, I was the first to look away, looking down at my hands in my lap demurely.

          My mind blanked out as he kept on talking. I let memories flood my mind, taking me to a faraway time…a happier time. Niall and I swinging on the swing set, me eight, him nineteen; him coming back in his werewolf form and holding me as I mourned the loss of my brother; him taking me to my junior prom when I was fourteen and he was at the immortal age of twenty-five. Suddenly, darker memories took the place of my shining ones; Niall ignoring me and killing the former Alpha, Rhys, when he turned twenty-six; Niall striking me across the face when I disobeyed him; then, him apologizing to me and begging me not to go when I packed up my things and left immediately after high school graduation.