A LUNA'S SHADOWS (RE-WRITE IN PROGRESS)
Chapter Nine: Life

(Adira)

Yanking my hands free from being bound to the squeaky, familiar mattress. I pushed myself to stand, fighting the effects of a drug. I knew I had survived. I had a rough idea on how and it wasn’t the pack I signed up with. Using a trick Viv had taught me, I picked the lock and pulled the door open. Bright yellow lights glared down at me, squinting as I stumbled down the hall. Just as I reached a stairway, I was yanked backwards by my hair, into a cold hard chest and heavy breath on my neck.

“Where do you think you’re off to my little Luna?” A terrifying voice breathed.

“Out of here.” I growled.

“I thought you might try this.” He pushed me to the ground.

“As soon as I get the chance, you won’t live long!” I hissed.

“Ha-ha, oh I think you will fight me less in due time.” He snarled.

I chuckled, drunkenly.

“Adam, get the white wolf.” Vlad ordered.

“Yes, Alpha.” A voice said from behind him.

Vlad yanked me by arms up, the drug caused all sorts of dizziness to wave over me. I struggled to pull my arm from his grip, but his claws dug in deeper. Leaving only droplets of blood to seep into the dirty concrete below.

I watched as two wolves walked toward me, and gaped when I recognised the second one.

“Xavier?” I asked in shock.

“Adira!” He answered.

“Tell her, kid.” Vlad growled.

“He’s got dad.” Xavier sighed.

“That’s my omega.” Vlad cooed.

“Where’s dad?” I gowled.

“Touch him and he won’t get his daily dose of the antidote.” Vlad said cheerfully.

“Anti-dote? Don’t touch my family!” I shoved Vlad against the wall.

“Oh, I like it rough.” He teased me.

“Don’t you think about my sister!” Xavier swung at Vlad.

Brother was tackled to the ground by Vlads guards. Vlad’s hands wrapped around my neck, squeezing them so tight it hurt to breathe.

“Get...Your...Hands...Off her!” Xavier wheezed.

“Not until my Luna learns her place.” Vlad smiled.

“Want me to lock him in the cells?” Adam asked.

“Let the pup watch.” Vlad growled.

“Say the word, Alpha.” Adam said and ripped Xavier up.

They pulled him to his knees and held him still, even as he struggled with tears welling.

“You see, my little Luna. While your dads in my care, I have this toxic stuff...And well, he gets a dose and if you do as you’re told, then he gets his treatment...If you fail, then he dies!” Vlad chuckled.

“I want to see him.” I choked.

“As you wish, I suppose...It would be beneficial to see for yourself.” Vlad said and dropped his hand.

Vlad wrapped his clawed hands around my shoulders and pushed me down the stairs. The very stairs I had almost just walked down. I heard bones crunch and felt pain rip through my ribs. Chuckles echoed from the top, I heard my brother yell in frustration. Blood dripped from my head, a large gash felt painful and gross to touch. Hearing a weak whisper from the corner, barely light by candlelight. I stumble over and rest my face against the bar, letting my eyesight attempt to adjust to the darkness.

“W-who is t-there?” A weak voice whispered from the darkest corner of the cell.

“Dad?” I whimpered.

“Adira?” I heard him rush to the bars.

Weeping when I saw how badly bruised and beaten his body looked. He put his hand to my cheek with a weak smile.

“I will get you out!” I whimpered.

“No, Adira. You won’t, I won’t put this burden on you.” He rasped.

“I lost you once.” I whispered.

“No, if you had stayed, we all would have been there anyway.” He cried.

“I won’t let them kill you.” I whispered.

“Adira, just keep...Your...Brother safe.” He said breathlessly.

“Rest dad, I will get us all out.” I said.

“A touching moment.” Vlad sniffed.

“Don’t you touch my daughter.” Dad breathed.

“Oh, tsk. I think your daughter is old enough to make her own choices?” Vlad said.

“Adira, don’t.” My dad said weakly.

“Don’t hurt my family!”I growled.

“Then, my little Luna...You do as I say.” He hissed into my ear.

He wrapped a thick arm around my waist. His white teeth glowing in the dim light, causing me to shiver in fear. This was the first night of many, many, nights of hell. Every morning he pulls me from a minute of slumber and forces me to train. Vlad’s methods had been, close to torture. He pushed me just enough and exhausted me time and time again until the stamina of keeping my shadows earthbound grew. I stopped keeping track of the days eventually. Because each time I did, I felt like this would never end and I guess to Vlad, it wouldn’t. He pushed me into killing packs along his side, any pack that wouldn’t sign his treaty would burn. When I fought back he hurt my brother or father. I had no choice, every night I heard their cries...Innocent wolves I had killed for the sake of keeping my family alive. Probably the most selfish thing I had ever done in my life. When he pushed me about Jayce’s pack, I told him no one survived the explosion and for their sake, I hoped they kept their noses down.

Walking to the lunchroom, I wiped away a few rouge tears. The only moment I looked forward to anymore was seeing Xavier. In our brief time, we plot plans that we never seem to attempt as if we had both given up internally. Yet to each other we plot them, just to give each other a little hope. Xavier smiled faintly at me as I sat next to him. He put an arm around my shoulders and squeezed them tightly. I rested my head on him.

“Here.” He said.

He pushed a small plate toward me, and I picked the plate, not very energetically.

“You okay Xav?” I asked.

“I can’t watch the torture of you or dad anymore, I feel useless.” He sighed.

“You’re not useless, this was my choice.” I said.

“I don’t even know where mum is.” He sighed.

“Hopefully somewhere safer than here.” I sighed.

“We need to get out.” He said.

“I will get us out. I’m working on it.” I said.

“Luna?” A deep voice growled behind me.

I sighed.

“Yes, Beta?” I said, spinning on the chair to face him.

The entire lunchroom went silent, each bench stopped chattering to listen.

“The Alpha has a new plan and you’re going with him.” He said and ripped me from the chair.

“Hey, she can walk!” Xavier growled.

“Is that a threat little wolf?” He smirked.

“Xavier, chill.” I whispered.

“Whatever.” Xavier growled and stormed away.

I sighed and felt my body be tugged toward Vlad’s office. Wolves that had been in the halls quickly disappeared. The Beta pushed me into the office and I stumbled into the waiting Vlad.

“Nice that you still fall for me, little Luna.” He whispered.

“What do you want, Vlad?” I questioned.

“Whispers of a pack hiding in the junkyard, my dear Luna. We need a treaty or they have to go. I need you to have your little beasts ready to seek them from the wreckage.” He smiled.

“When?” I asked.

“Tonight.” He answered.

“Okay.” I sighed.

“Perfect response.” He grinned.

I walked out, feeling sick. Previous memories of our kind begging mercy were burned into my mind and I had just agreed to take more lives...