2. Lyra

We all dealt with our situation differently. Mara was naturally curvier, all hips, thighs and breasts despite our meagre food rations. She enjoyed attending the Black Hall despite everything. She allowed herself to forget, for a few hours, lost in the heat, muscle and power of any man's touch. Her rounded thighs bore the mark of different hand prints every time . 

Elvie wanted love.  Above ground, during spring she refused to associate with any man. She was the only one of us three who still looked at the horizon and imagined living over there, away from the cold and the fear. Underground, she dived enthusiastically into the anonymous antics every full moon. 

I have never ventured inside the Black Hall. My wolf pushes me to feel something, anything but I can’t cross that line. I have enough fear in my life without risking someone I despise taking the last of my dignity from me. I doubted I would enjoy the dark, unrecognisable touches even if I allowed my heat to overwhelm me. 

“You’ll be alone forever, you know. There’s nothing else for us here. This spring, we’ve got to go for it this spring,” Elvie frequently reminded me. Lost in these self-pitying thoughts I load fur after fur into my arms. Then I realise I am not alone.

“Don’t fucking move.”

A strangers hiss and the familiar sensation of cold steel against my throat. He has my attention. Standing in the middle of Luna Corina’s red silk and gold bedchamber I await the searing pain of my flesh tearing.

Through the fog of terror I assumed it was Beta Ronan. Powerful and tall like Valdis, he too wore coiled black plaits down to the waist. Blue and black twisting tattoos across his cheeks and forehead that made me quake with fear. Yet this scent was different, a burnt caramel. Singed sweetness, almost delicious but not quite.

“Who…who are you?” I whispered, as a gloved hand clamped tightly around my waist. 

“I’m just here for the jewellery then I’ll be gone. Don’t raise the alarm and I won’t have to slit your throat.”

A thief! Someone was trying to rob Alpha Valdis? “You can’t steal from here!” I squeaked, “They’ll find out, how are you even going to get away before the Freeze? It’s due anyday!” as thick snow already blinded every view out of the tower windows.

“I’ve got a skidoo hidden, fully fueled, ready to go, don’t you worry about me. Now tell me where the gold is!”  

“I’ve already taken it all down to the bunker. The above ground safes are empty I swear!”

He huffed and roughly shoved me to the side where I hit the floor. I got a quick look at my captor. Blonde tufts of hair escaped from his furry hat onto his forehead. A tall, broad body wrapped in dark brown leather layers. His eyes were a golden hazel, frequently casting angry scowls my way as he frantically rummaged through the empty shelves. 

Slapping his hand against the empty safe he gave in to his frustration, kicking the pile of furs across the room.

“What else is there then?” he barked.

“This is it, the room is being locked up after I take those furs down.” A bare, king size bed, huge wardrobes half-emptied of their gowns. Even the deep, furred rugs were missing, used to furnish Corina’s suite down in the concrete gloom.

“Don’t fucking lie to me,” he hissed striding towards me with purpose. The knife glinted in his gloved hand. 

“Why would I lie!”

I watched his gaze size me up as I got myself back on two feet. He openly stared at my face, the curve of my body in the tight purple gown and I found myself blushing. Heat, tingling and even excitement raced up and down my spine. I didn’t feel safe, but I didn’t care either.

“Get on your knees then pretty thing,” he smirked, the knife heading back against my slender throat. His hazel eyes had an extra flash of gold in the iris, his wolf lurking beneath the surface.

“What?” taking a step back, wondering if I could get to the door before he grabbed me. No such luck as his free wrist landed on mine and yanked me back to him. 

Hissing with a smirk “I’m not leaving without something to remember. If it’s not gold your mouth will have to do.”

The knife was so close to my throat I could feel my pulse bouncing against the blade. The faint glimmer of excitement instantly extinguished. “I…no…no. I’ve done nothing to you! When Alpha Valdis finds out-”

He leaned forward, his forehead almost pressed against mine, drinking in the fear from my green eyes. Then he relaxed and moved the blade away.

“What would I want with a soiled whore of a servant anyway? Look at you,” he spat, pushing me towards the door. My head spun as I looked at him in confusion. 

Sputtering gunfire stopped everything. We both jumped in fright as the clattering racket of bullets against concrete boomed.

The battle cry of Alpha Valdis rang out from below ground. “ROGUE ATTACK! BETAS!”

Metal bunker doors clanged open with deafening thuds, only to be met with more gunfire. He hid by her bed, I went behind her door, listening to the screams and cries of fallen men. Their pain echoed across the barren, white landscape. What lasted for probably seconds felt like hours. 

Eventually the gunfire quietened down, the winner unclear. Whilst the golden-eyed thief stood in shock I took my chance. I bolted down the stone steps, my dark hair flying behind me in waves.  

Except I ran straight into more trouble. A whole other kind of man. The sort I'd never seen before in my life as my stomach flipped with fear and attraction.