Trials Under The Moon

Zoe

The sour tang of filth and garbage snuck into my nose, filling my lungs with rotten air. A few struggled coughs escaped my throat as I opened my eyes. I was laying on damp hay, and from the smell, it was immediately evident that there was mold here. My head was killing me. With my left hand I reached for my temple, pushing myself up from the ground with my right arm. It was dark, but I could tell by the sounds and flowing wind that I was still outside. In a barn perhaps. That would explain the hay, and the smell.

A throat was cleared in front of me, and my eyes flew open too quickly to see who was there. My vision blurred and tried to adjust, I was light headed, blinking frantically.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I tried not to scare you!" squeaked a shy voice. "I've just been waiting for you to wake up."

She was so small. Not just in size, but her shape, her body, even her voice was small. A few lanterns lit the room, and I could faintly make out some of her features. Sitting down next to me, she seemed about my height, 5'0, maybe closer to 5'2. Her frame was so slender and lean like she hadn't eaten in a while. Parted down the middle and split into two braids, her auburn brown hair didn't fall too far past her collar bones. With her pale skin, and sunken blue eyes, I wouldn't have guessed she was even alive, had she not spoken to me.

"Where am I?" I finally asked.

"Oh, you didn't know? Well, I guess you couldn't. You were knocked out when Damien brought you in here. You're in the tier 3 omega resting area. I'm Zoe, what's your name?"

Damien? I didn't recognize that name at all. And then everything came back to me. Where I had been, what had happened and whom I was with. Panic.

I jumped up from the ground while keeping my eyes on Zoe, "Where is Avery? What pack am I in? How long have I been asleep?!"

Zoe's crystal eyes widened and she began to visibly shake. Her hands flew up to protect her face as she cried, "I -I don't know who Avery i-is. You- you're the only one who was brought in today. You've been asleep for about 12 hours. A-and we're in Black Moon territory." Tears started to slide down her cheeks.

"Black Moon?" It can't be true. Please don't let it be true. "Why did they bring me here?" I tried to sound less aggressive. If I scared her, she might not give me any answers. The young girls shoulders relaxed and she wiped her nose with her sleeve before sniffling, "All I know is that Black Moon was planning on invading the NorthSide Pack. And then Damien carried you into the barn saying you had a head injury, and I was to monitor you."

More of reality began to sink in. My pack. My family. My home. It was gone. And Avery... I had to find her.

I knelt back down to where Zoe sat on the ground. "There was another girl with me when I was taken. Do you know where she could be?"

Her head shook slowly, "No. I'm sorry. It was just you this time."

"This time?" I wondered. "What do you mean this time?"

"Black Moon has been -"

"HELLO runts!" A loud heavy voice interrupted Zoe's explanation.

A heavy switch was flipped and several harsh lights illuminated the large barn that we were in. Zoe and I had been sitting in just one of the stalls that no doubt was originally intended for a horse or cow or something. My eyes squinted at the sudden blinding and buzzing light. A short stocky woman in a tattered apron stood at the front of the open barn doors. Her hair was twisted into a braided bun and there was a wooden spoon in her left hand.

"All tier 3 omegas are instructed to bathe, dress and report to the kitchens immediately. Dinner is scheduled for 7pm sharp....so get MOVING!" The woman screamed. Within moments, there was whimpering and scattered shapes hustling out the back of the barn. Zoe grabbed my arm and pulled me in the same direction as everyone else had ran. "What's going on?" I whisper yelled to Zoe.

She waited until we reached the edge of small pond of water before answering me. "We are tier 3 omegas here in Black Moon. We serve the pack and tend to the grounds. We are nothing and no one here. And apparently it's time for us to get ready to cook dinner for the returning warriors." Zoe Handed me a small bar of soap and towel before continuing, "You can use one of my uniforms until we get you your own."

Wait. As I looked around, the other young girls..and boys?! They were all stripping and stepping into the water. It's September! I looked with pleading eyes to Zoe's "It's gunna be freezing!" I whined.

"Shhh! Just close your eyes and get in! The Shrew won't be gone long and we only have a short time to get ready. You have to bathe before working. It'll be quick, I promise." Zoe tried to put me at ease. But it wasn't working. There was too much happening all at once. I needed time to think of plan to escape, but until then, I'd have to survive the night.

I removed my clothes, leaving my training bra and underwear on. Nudity wasn't a big deal in your own pack. But I didn't know these wolves. I was uncomfortable. The bar of soap Zoe gave me was caged in my freezing fingers. I tried to wash as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Jumping out of the water and wrapping myself tightly in the too thin towel.

All the little bodies scurried back into the barn which offered very little warm escape from the chill air on our damp skin. Zoe handed me a uniform when we reached the stall we had been in earlier. "Here, get dressed, and I'll braid your hair." She instructed. Then she slid the stall door shut and began dressing.

It must have been the shock, or the cold that kept me from moving as fast as Zoe was, but I couldn't help but to just stand there clutching the clothing in my rigid fingers.

This wasn't going to be my life. All these other scared, chittering pups might be content to live here. But I'm not.

Snapping out of my indignant thoughts, I slipped on the simple brown dress, pushing my arms through the long sleeves. A cream colored apron was placed over my head and Zoe tied the two loose straps behind my back. The front of my apron had three measly pockets.

Zoe motioned for me to sit on her bed, if that's what you could call it. It looked more like two stacks of hay with a tattered quilt laying over top of it. As I sat down, the crisping crunch of dried grass confirmed my suspicion. I sat still while Zoe's bony fingers grazed my scalp, section my pitch black hair into one single braid going down my back. She explained that females had to have their hair tied up or back, while working in the kitchen. For just a moment, I let myself imagine my mother. That it was her fingers brushing through my hair before bed time. I cut my visualization short as I felt burning hot tears sting my eyes.

No, not here. I won't let anyone see me cry. Even though Zoe had been so kind to me. I hadn't expected it, I hadn't trusted it. I still don't. Black Moon is infamous for it's ruthless practices, cruel Alpha, and blatant disregard for life. I should have guessed they were to blame for the attack on my home. For all I knew, Zoe was just sizing me up.

Still... she had at least shared her name with me. A courtesy, I realized, that I had not yet returned. It was the least I could give her. Just not my real name.

"My name is...Bella." I lied. I couldn't have anyone looking into the new girls name, only to find my records among the Alpha family. I'd be killed for sure. I’d always liked the name Bella.

"Done," she sighed as she completed my braid, "It's nice to meet you Bella, though I wish it were under better circumstances." I wanted to believe her. The tight side smile and the pity in her eyes seemed genuine. Her eyes searched my face for something, but before I could ask, The Shrew, as Zoe called her, arrived again to escort us all to the pack house kitchen.

My throat was tight and a breath got stuck in my chest, preventing me from walking. A soft hand touched my shoulder. "It's okay," Zoe whispered, "just stick with me alright ?"

I couldn't speak, so I just nodded my head and thanked her with my eyes. Get through tonight. I just had to get through the night. I had to keep a level head and stay aware of my surroundings. Pay attention to anything that could help me later.

As tough as I had to be on the outside, my insides were weak and terrified. I was at best considered a slave here. At worst...the daughter of an Alpha, from a pack believed to have been conquered. My life would mean that Black Moon had technically failed in defeating my pack. Those lands rightly belonged to me. Not these cowardly murderers who had to use guns to take us down! Wolves were never to use guns in an attack on another pack. It was dishonorable and shameful. Cowards.

[Author’s Note: Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time to give my story a chance! Please, I encourage you to comment your opinions and any feedbacks, guesses and suggestions. Any constructive criticism will help me throughout my writing journey! Thanks!]