A pained moan escaped Luk's lips as the wagon galloped over a thick tree bark, jolting the rations and sending them tumbling onto his swollen feet.
"Haa.." His faint voice drew the attention of the older woman, who kept watch over him.
She swiftly pushed the rations sac off him and placed her forehead to his, checking his temperature.
She shook her head, "You're not getting any better," her gaze drifted upward to the snow-painted tree branches. "This might be your first and last journey." She told him, though she doubted he heard her.
The wagon came to a halt, as did the rest of the party. Two warriors approached the wagon for the routine inspection of their rations.
"The boy won't make the trip, please, send word to the Alpha to have a healer look at him," the old woman pleaded, but the warriors laughed off her worries.
They carried out their routine check, ignoring the stench emitting from the omega stretched out on the wagon, with nothing but a worn-out cloak to fend off the cold.
One of them sneered, "Serves the bitch right." He reached for Luk's wrist and raised it, revealing the symbol tattooed on his wrist.
He exchanged an amused grin with his cohort, "He should've known his place from the start!" He gritted his teeth and dropped Luk's hand, which was nearly as pale as the snow on their path.
With that, they took a sac of rations and a jug of liquor and retired to the camps being set up nearby. As soon as they left, soft coughs erupted from Luk. The old woman rushed to his side and placed her ear to his cracked, pale lips.
"Is-Is he here, Bertha?" Luk coughed. Bertha closed her eyes and clicked her tongue. Of all the things that could plague Luk's mind, it was the one thing he should never have been thinking of.
She reached for his hands and held them in hers, sharing her warmth. "Can you move? We have to get to the bond fire," she suggested, but the purple-greenish veins splattered across his body hinted otherwise.
Luk's green orbs watered, "Did I miss him?" He asked, forcing his lips into a weak curl.
Bertha's demeanor dampened, "No…" she sighed, defeated, "The Alpha never came."
Luk inhaled slowly, his breath and pulse barely noticeable. "Ah…" Tears fell from the sides of his eyes onto the rotten wood beneath his head.
"It hurts, Bertha," he groaned, raising his hand to rest on his chest, over where his heart should be.
Bertha rested her hand on his and gave it a tight squeeze. "We're almost at Graythorne. Please, Luk, hold on a bit longer," she pleaded, but the omega's eyes were already rolling back in his head.
"Luk! Luk! Luk!!!" Bertha's voice faded into the distance as Luk's consciousness gradually dissipated.
*Graythorne*
"Haa!"
Ngh!"
"Ah fuck! Yes!"
The sounds of moaning and the scent of erotic indulgence plagued the air of the Blood moon camp. Liquor and music set the tone for the lavish feast, in preparation for the upcoming battle.
In the tents, behind the trees, next to the river and even beside the bonfire, the warriors let loose, discharging their pent up frustrations.
"Tomorrow, we murder the sons of bitches!" A warrior raised his cup, letting out a drunken battle cry.
The pissed drunken warriors responded, "Kill Moonblood!"
"Kill Moonblood!" They all chorused, letting their voices reach the throbbing full moon.
A curvaceous she wolf, dressed in dark brown fur pelts, walked past the spirited toasting and towards the largest tent, located farthest from the bonfire.
Her lips curved into a broad grin, the moment her eyes fell on the Alpha, sitting on his throne, loosely dressed, despite the cold.
He smiled at liquor she came in with, but smiled more at the woven clothes she had over her breasts that barely left much to the imagination.
He signalled her over, a seductive grin on his lips
"Alpha." Ember greeted, refilling his empty cup, "The camp is in high spirits, one might think we've already won the war." She said.
Alpha Draven stirred the cup in his hand, his eyes never leaving her body, "We might as well have. Our numbers outweigh theirs."
Ember sat at his foot, resting her chin on his knee, "Can it be that simple? I hear that the Bloodmoon pack has a golden Alpha."
Draven sneered, "Leander? That pain in the arse hasn't even awakened, and even if he did, I would still vanquish him in battle."
She stroked his knee, "I hear Leander has never lost a duel. He is a ruthless Alpha, who killed his father and elder brother to seize his power. A real tyrant."
Draven pictured Leander in his head, and hissed, unimpressed with his rep. Golden Alpha or not, to him, Leander was just a pompous bastard on a power trip.
"He's nothing but a small fry, who has no fucking clue who he's messing with." He pinched her by the chin and looked her in the eye. "Or do you doubt my strength?"
"I've witnessed it firsthand, how could I?" She replied, half smiling.
"You single handedly conquered the North and half of the Eastern district, everyone knows just how strong you are on the battlefield." She traced her fingertips from his leg to his inner thigh, and rested her hand over his crotch area.
Ember licked her bottom lip, "And just how strong you are off the battlefield." She said, standing up.
Draven relaxed into the seat, and watched as Ember doused herself with the liquor from the jar, letting the liquid stick to her skin through the fabric and fur.
"Come over." Draven's voice hardened, his lustful eyes giving away his intentions.
********
Bertha huffed, chugging the small bondfire with the last chunk of wood.
"It's not enough." She noted, searching around her for more wood. She looked over her shoulder at the large bondfire, then turned her gaze to the tiny fire she managed, next to the river.
"Luk, I'll be back soon," she announced, taking off her cloak and draping it over him, "I'll go fetch some more firewood." She said before leaving.
No sooner had she left, did two she wolves appear, identical to each other, down from their blonde hair to their matching kelts.
"Sister! Make haste!" The one on lookout whispered loudly.
Her sister nodded. She made for the wagon, pinching her nose at the awful smell emanating from it. She looked down at an unconscious Luk and searched him for something.
"Sister!"
"It isn't on him!" she hollered.
"She's coming! Hurry!" Her sister frantically called out.
"Damned slave!" She hissed, then kicked the wagon's wheel towards the river!
Hurriedly, she ran back to her sister, and both escaped through another route into the forest, avoiding Bertha, who just returned with some firewoood.
"Luk?!" Bertha screamed, when she could not find the wagon. "Luk!"
Both sisters watched from a distance, as Bertha ran mad with fear, searching for luck.
"Ashlyn will be pleased to hear we carried out the task." The younger twin, Raven said.
"But what about the necklace?" Her older twin, Reed asked.
Raven shook her head, "He didn't have it on him. I guess the slave was smart enough to hide it somewhere."
"That's no good, we have to find that necklace immediately, or else Alpha Leander will make everyone suffer." Reed reminded her, placing emphasis on how important the necklace was to the Alpha of the Bloodmoon pack.
*********
Daven held the cup to his eyes, "This liquor-"
"It's the liquor of my pack, it has been passed down for decades." She filled him in.
"It's intense." He noted, then took another sip, adjusting to the taste.
"Nothing, a strong Alpha cannot handle." she teased, as she watched Draven drink the liquor some more, his initial discomfort completely gone.
"Or, do you plan to go back on your word?"
Draven's hand snaked up her sides and rested on her shoulder, "A warrior never breaks his vow, once this battle is over I'll make you my mate.
."
Ember's lips curled into a smile, "You won't change your mind? Once you defeat Bloodmoon, you will be a step away from becoming the ruler of all continents. Would you still consider a lowborn your mate?"
Draven set the cup down and reached for her hand, he intertwined their fingers and kissed the back of her palm. He parted his lips to say something, but the sound of loud voices and commotion stole his attention.
A messenger arrived at the tent, ending their conversation. Ember gathered the things she brought with her, and bowed to the Alpha, before taking her leave.
"What's wrong?" Draven asked once she was out of hearing sight.
His messenger bowed, then raised his head, revealing his worried face.
"A body just washed up at the riverbed!"