The Greedy Luna and her Thirst for Power

The first night

I laid in my bed with covers pulled up to my chin. I had quickly gotten ready for bed with shaking hands. On my floor laid the bloody towel I'd used to clean Silas' Wound along with my blood stained dress. I laid in the dark staring at my door, terrified my mother would come bursting in. My head was still swimming with what she'd said.

He's my fated mate's pup! I have more right to him than you!

Mary had said my mother was insane.

Eliza said my father had to know why my mother was so desperate to have Silas.

My parents weren't fated mates? How were they together then? Who would go against the moon goddess' decision? In my classes we were learning about the mate bond. How powerful and all consuming it was. You were literally 2 halves of a whole that fit together seamlessly. To deny the bond was to kill your heart.

I heard my door knob turn and I ducked under my covers in fear. My mother's heels clicked as they stopped at my bedside.

'I know you're awake,' she mind linked me. 'Look at me .'

Nervously I pulled my covers down and met her firey eyes.

"I know what you saw and heard tonight was probably very confusing," she said flatly. "People don't always mate for love. Sometimes we are destined for much more. But the damned mate bond is still so ..... suffocating."

I saw a tear run down her cheek. I had never seen my mother cry.

"You still feel it when your fated mate dies, when you don't reject them," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "It brings me comfort to have his son near me. You wouldn't want your mother to be sad would you?"

I shook my head slowly, holding my breath.

She nodded, satisfied, "Good." She walked to my door. "Then keep what you saw and heard tonight to yourself. Don't speak about it to anyone.... including your father." Then she left.

I don't know how long I laid there in the the darkness but it felt like hours. It was quiet beyond my door. I don't know what possessed me but I had to go see if Silas was alright. I crept to my door, peeking out. The hall was empty so I tip toed out. I followed the path my mother had taken when she dragged him away. I listened intently, trying to hear where he could be. I felt a burning in my chest and it was as if my feet moved on their own until I was outside a specific door. I put my ear to it, trying to hear who was inside. I carefully opened the door and peeked in.

'Silas?' I mind linked him, too afraid to speak. The person in the bed sat up in attention.

'Grace,' he replied through the link. He seemed happy to see me.

I entered the room and closed the door quietly behind me. I crept to the side of his bed. He was sitting up, facing me.

'Are you ok?' I asked through the link.

He was silent. I could see his eyes in the dark as they met mine. He wasn't but he wasn't going to tell me that. I suddenly felt very self conscious being there, and silly for thinking he'd want to see me. I started to walk away when he grabbed my hand.

"Will you stay?" he whispered to me. I looked at his hand on mine and felt that warmth in my chest.

"Ok," I whispered back. He scooted over in his bed and gently pulled me up. He kept my hand in his as he looked at me. "I'm sorry," I whispered to him. "About..... everything."

"You haven't done anything to apologize for," he whispered sweetly. "You've been very nice to me. I'm very thankful..... You make me feel.....calm."

My heart raced when I heard that. Was he feeling the same thing in his chest when he touched me?

"You have...... very pretty eyes," I whispered without thinking. I covered my mouth in embarrassment and started to pull my hand out of his but he squeezed it.

"Thank you," he answered. "I have my dad's eyes." We sat staring at each other in the dark, our hands still together, "Will you.... stay with me?" he asked in a small voice, he took a deep breath. "I can't sleep."

I bit my lip. If my mother caught me in his room, let alone his bed, I don't know what she'd do.

"For a little," I answered. "I can't sleep either."

We ended up talking for a very long time. Silas was curious about what it was like being the alpha's daughter. I was curious about life with more freedom. I held onto his every word as he spoke about school and sports, learning to fight. How he wanted to be a warrior just like his dad. I liked listening to him talk. Before we knew it, we had both laid down, sharing the pillow.

I don't know when we dozed off, but we did. I fell into a deep sleep. Probably the deepest sleep I'd had in a long time.

When I started to wake up, I felt so comfortable. I batted my eyes open to see Silas' face beside my own, his hand still clutching mine. I watched him sleep, looking over his face. He had tear stains on his cheeks and his bandage had blood seeping through. His mouth was open just slightly. I heard noise in the hall just outside the door and my heart raced. I scooted slowly toward the edge of the bed, trying to slide my hand out of his but when he felt my hand slipping away he instinctively grasped it better, nuzzling the pillow slightly. I heard the door start to slowly open and silently I planned my own funeral, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Grace!"

It was Eliza, whispering in surprise. I breathed a sigh of relief and opened my eyes.

"Thank god I found you! You have to come out of there. Your parents will lose their minds if they see you in his bed!" she hissed, although a small smile played on her lips. I nodded and pulled my hand away from Silas, throwing my legs over the side and jumping up. When I turned around I saw he was sitting up, blinking sleepily. He gave me a tiny wave. He looked nervous again.

"Eliza, can we both have breakfast?" I asked her. "Neither of us ate last night." Silas looked up at Eliza with hope. I saw the way his eyes affected her as she smiled and motioned for him to join us. He eagerly climbed out of bed and all 3 of us walked to the dining room. I took my usual spot and Silas took the seat beside me.

"Eliza makes the best pancakes," I told him happily. He smiled but he was looking at the kitchen expectantly. When Eliza came back out his face fell. He was expecting someone else.

"Eliza?" he asked with hope. "Is my aunt coming?"

Eliza set our glasses of chocolate milk down, avoiding his gaze, "I don't know Silas. She wasn't in her room when I got up this morning." His brows creased with my worry.

"I'm sure she'll come as soon as she can," I assured him. Eliza glanced at me and nodded then disappeared back into the kitchen.

Eliza brought us chocolate chip pancakes and we ate hungrily. Suddenly we heard a man yelling, his voice echoing off the ornate walls.

"Mary?! Where is my wife?! Mary?!"

Silas' head snapped up, "Uncle?" he called. He jumped out of his seat and ran toward where the man's voice was coming from. Eliza rushed out of the kitchen and grabbed ahold of him quickly. He looked at her with confusion.

"Let me go! That's my uncle! He'll take me home! He'll take me to my aunt!" he cried.

"Silas please, you have to be quiet, trust me," Eliza told him urgently.

Then we heard the heels, along with the boots of some of the Royal guard. My mother waltzed through the dining room, stopping beside Silas and Eliza, "Get him out of here!" she ordered the head guard. He and his men did as requested.

"No!" Silas shouted. "Uncle I'm here!"

"Silas?!" the man called. He tried to reach the room but the guards stopped him. "Silas!"

"Help me!" Silas screamed, straining against Eliza's hold. He managed to free himself and rushed forward only for my mother to slap him in the face so hard he fell.

"That's enough!" she growled at him. "Know your place! You are a guest in this place and you will do what you're told!"

I watched as the eyes of some of the guards glowed as their wolves reacted to the Luna striking Silas. After all, his father had been one of them. But they could do nothing. My mother was untouchable.

"No!" Silas' Uncle yelled. "Give him to me!" he fought against the guards that grabbed him, dragging him out. "Mary!! Mary!"

Then we could hear him no longer. My mother turned on Silas, pulling him roughly to his feet by his arm. He glared at her with narrowed eyes, the side of his face beat red where she'd slapped him.

"How dare you look at your Luna with such disrespect," she spat at him. She went to strike him again but he ducked just in time. I thought my mother was going to explode with rage.

"Oh, I hope you weren't hungry young man, because you are going to go a long time without anything to eat! You will learn some respect when I'm through with you!" she growled at him. "Take him back to his room!" she barked at the men. "No one goes in and he doesn't come out!"

Two guards came up to Silas and gently helped him to his feet. They each took an arm and guided him away. Silas was having none of it. He fought against the hold the men had on him. I was both impressed and terrified by his bravery.

Neither guard wanted to hurt him as they struggled to move him forward. Angrily my mother stepped in front of them and roughly grabbed Silas' chin. Her nails dug into his skin. With her other hand she struck his face three times, until he was limp in the men's arms. They drug his small body down the hall back to his room.

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

"The alpha was called away to an emergency meeting of the pack leaders. The beta went with him. I will be in charge until he returns," my mother announced to all those present. "Oh and Eliza?"

"Yes my Luna?" Eliza said in a shaky voice, bowing.

"You will have more on your plate for the time being. Mary will not be returning to her posting," she said and then walked off toward where Silas had been taken.