Page 139 of Untamed

"The Dark of the Moon is when we are at our weakest, Little Luna," Old Alpha says carefully.

I sigh dismissively before reaching out and snagging a piece of bacon from the plate Purple sets down in front of us with a twinkle in her eyes. "Pup shifted during the Blood Moon. That is the worst time," I inform him. "The blanket of the Dark is freedom."

"I see it," Pup whispers, his breath exhaling from his body as if his chest is being squeezed too tightly. The light filters in through the windows. Another Blood Moon is over, but his face is still cast in shadow. "My wolf... he seeks the Dark, kitty-cat. What am I supposed to do with that? How can you say that it's right when it feels so wrong? So empty?"

I feel my heart break for him. I break off a piece of my bacon and offer it to Pup. He takes it with trembling fingers. Mactiir allows it, even though I know his Ogre is watching us closely.

"The Light," I chew and swallow my piece, "is always trying to be more than her sister. She has more say, I guess, over some things."

"Like what?" Young Alpha shoots out.

"Mate Bonds," Mactiir mutters. His fingers flex on my skin. "You're mine,Qitsuk."

I pat his cheek with greasy fingers absentmindedly, giving him the last piece of my bacon. "Nature gave you to me, Mactiir." I look at Pup sadly, "The Light Moon has punished Pup because she cannot hurt you or me."

"That's an interesting perception," Old Alpha murmurs.

I nod at him. "The Light Moon can't rule over wolves completely. Nature would never allow that." Old Alpha may understand. Those icy fingers of hollow light have touched him.

"Nature?" Young Alpha says, pacing now, shoulders flexed, fingers twitching. Mactiir rumbles a warning at him that makes my body vibrate.

"The mother to Light and Dark, Nature," I explain. I take three more pieces of bacon from the plate, giving Pup and Mactiir one each and leaving me with my own.

"You ever heard of this?" Mactiir asks the wolves in the room. I wait, wondering if any of them know the truth.

Young Alpha answers first, shaking his head. "Dad says... being MateLess is like being swallowed by Darkness until the Dark is all that comforts you. I'm with Sarj on this one. How can that be good?"

I pout. "Balance; stability, equilibrium, equality. There needs to be Balance. You are our Balance, Pup." I smile at him.

"He is not," Mactiirdemands, killing the brief flare of hope in Pup's eyes. "We don't need the Dark or any of that shit. Fuck that. You and I are mates as the goddess intended. I don't care if that's Light or Dark or Nature or the fucking tooth fairy. You're mine, and nothing else matters."

"Mactiir!" I scold him. "What is the tooth fairy?"

"She's cute," Young Alpha mumbles to Old Alpha. "Just fucking adorable."

"Mama will wash out your mouths with soap," I tell them both. I give Old Alpha a look. He should ask Mama to wash out their mouths.

"Sure, Luna Willa," Young Alpha says dismissively. "What, exactly, are you trying to say? That we should shirk the Moon for some witch's goddess?"

"The Light has imbalanced the pack. The Moon-luna has pulled you together for a time, but even now,sheplots with her hollow creatures," I say. I amexasperated; infuriated, annoyed, provoked. Their precious moon is dangerous.

"The Light is not more important to Nature. How does a mother choose a favorite child?" I point out.

"You're an only child," Old Alpha says, laughing. "Except for Conner here, we all are."We all turn to look at him. He shrugs. "Just a thought."

"He's right," Pup says. "You aren't really my brother, In. I'm alone and fucking hopeless. The shower? That felt better than anything else has in a long time for me. If Willa claims that it is Nature or the Dark goddess, then I'm all for it."

"You are my brother. You're not alone," Mactiir tells him hoarsely, rubbing his chest over his heart. I kiss the spot. My Ogre is hurting for his brother. The brother that Nature gave him.

Pup shakes his head, looking down at his hands. "I'm not, In. You may hate your father right now, but at least you know who he is. I have nothing except you and Willa and not even you two. Not really."

"The brothers and Lyri-" Old Alpha begins to protest.

Pup's tear-filled eyes stop him. "They have each other. They don't need me."

"Balance," I say softly.

"No, my luna. No."

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