Ten—Lucien the brave(5)

Chapter Ten—Lucien the brave(5)

I knew he was part of the three alphas, the leader of the red moon pack. The people of the oasis didn’t even know what he looked like, I myself had only known him for a few days and he was so hard to read—so smooth, a slippery male with a way with words who made my naive heart race.

The maid looked at me with pity, “You poor child. He’s using you.”

“What?”

“Lucien is a rake.”

My brow arched. She called him a rake.

“He’s used to gather grass?”

“You really are as naive as they say.” She snorted, “He’s a rake—promiscuous. The Alpha is a flirt who wants to sleep with you. The invitation to your room? Yeah he wants to get in your bed.”

Color drained from my face the moment I heard those words from her mouth, “I beg your pardon?!”

“Do with that what you will. I know the Alpha. I’ve been with him for years.” She muttered as she walked over to the table to start packing up, I quickly stopped her from taking away the plate of eggs from me, “Here’s something you should know about the red moon Alpha. He’s a male with needs, insatiable ones.”

My cheeks flushed now, “Oh.”

“If you’re not willing to satisfy those needs then I suggest you stay away. Focus on your trial and move towards, it’ll do you no good getting entangled with Lucien.”

I gasped, shaking my head, “I’m not….I’m really not—

“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes, “I saw the way you looked at him. It’s been less than three days and I can already hear your heart racing. He knows it too, be smart Luna. We’re actually counting on you to pass this, then maybe peace can finally be restored to this godforsaken land.

i gulped hard. She was right. The Alpha was smart with his words and I fell right into his trap, “Thank you.”

She shrugged, “I’m Merida. I’ve been a member of the red moon pack since i was born. I’m an omega.”

“I’m Ivy.” I muttered, “I’m a Luna from the oasis.”

“Have you awoken your bond yet?” She asked.

I blinked again.

She saw the bemusement in my eyes and pursed her lips tightly, “I guess you haven’t yet.”

“What bond??” I couldn’t help but ask.

I knew nothing of it. The oasis was a very sacred place where we could barely speak about things like this. I knew of mating bonds, how betas fall in love with a Luna or omega of their choosing. There’s always a ceremony to celebrate the occasion. An awakening like Merida spoke of just seemed absurd.

“You don’t know what a bond is?” She threw my question back at me.

I answered , “It’s when a male and female decide to get married.”

Merida stared at me for a moment. I couldn’t read the expression on her face that well, what i saw was pity and somewhat disgust which confused me;

“Oh goddess. The poeple of the oasis are for sure really as the rumors say huh?”

“What?”

She chuckled softly, “Eat your breakfast child.”

She made to leave but then i grabbed onto her arm, “Please. Tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“About the bond.” I pleaded, a twinkle appearing in my eyes, “I know nothing. I’m confused. I never wanted to be the chosen one; to my people it’s a death sentence and I think they might be right. Please tell me all that there is to know, maybe I can’t overcome this trial.”

She didn’t look too convinced by my words, I made a quiet prayer to the goddess herself to change her mind. Then she crossed her arms, “What’s in it for me??”

“I—-

“I heard you’re a healer.” She muttered, “Do you have some wolfsbane?”

I gasped. Wolfsbane was a poisonous drug when ingested in large amounts, a hallucinogen which could make a creature of the night go mental. Other than that it was a great form of smoking, I only kept a few stashes as it was illegal to grow in the oasis.

“I do.” I finally replied, unsure of I actually still had it. After all I ran away from the temple.

She smiled, “Fine then. You just got yourself an ally, chosen one.”

***********

Merida showed me around the Alpha’s lair, also explaining the dynamic of the red moon pack. They were a large number with only the strongest of the lot actually being part of Lucien’s main cabal. She also told me a little bit of history, what prompted the divide in the first place which was a tad different from the stories told back home.

“According to a legend. Every one of this started because of a doomed affair. A luna betrothed to one brother and falling in love with another, there’s a lot of at stake when it comes to the three pack. Luckily, our Alpha has been able to fend off enemy forces for so long.”

“From Nik and—

“No.” She shook her head, “Atlas and his band of savages. The moon haven pack. They’ve disturbed our territory for years, causing multiple bloodshed.”

I saw the rage in his eyes first time I met him. He was a maniac. A blood lusting Alpha who wanted me dead immediately he saw me. The thought of him alone sent shivers down my spine.

“There’s no way I can restore peace.” I finally blurted my fears, “I’m just a healer with no prowess to her name.”

Merida smiled warmly at me whilst blowing air into the hot coals in the kitchen, “You have to pass your trial, but more importantly you have to awaken your bond. It’s the only way you can get through this without dying.”

“The bond.” I muttered, “How do I awaken a bond? What does it mean?”

“You’ll find out in due time. There’s only so much I can say. Right now, you have to beat Lucien at this own game.”

It felt like she was speaking to me in riddles, I still couldn’t understand a word of what she was saying. Bond….awakening. It all felt like gibberish to my own ears. I was tired and all I wanted was to return to the comfort of my home and garden.

*********

I waited. Unsure as to what I was waiting for but I stood right in front of my window, pacing back and forth whilst nipping on my fingers. I could hear the resounding cheers from the pack members the room below, their happy chants and play almost made me yearn to join but even I knew I was an outsider in these parts.

Merida had brought dinner shortly , a piece of bread and tomato soup which I found very delicious. She reminded me again—beating the Alpha at his own game, a feat which I didn’t even know was possible.

Then I felt it, the cold hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned around and it was him—Lucien.

He was even more regal at night, handsome, smug, with that beautiful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. I gulped hard.

“You waited.”

“I—

“It’s ready.” He said, “Your trial.”

Merida’s words played in my head like loop. I had to beat him at his own game.

“I’m ready.” I breathed heavily.

His brow perked, then the smile followed, a deadly combination that made my knees weak. I had only known this man for a few hours and he knew my tender sports.

“I know you’re in a hurry but first—