The dark side of the moon
~
Accalia
~

Bedtime stories? Accalia thought, stirring her tea and mixing the sugar through the hot liquid. She was thankful she didn't wake up next to him in the morning.

A thump wallowed on the dining table and Accalia scowled, moving her cup of tea out of the way.

"Cadence, get your bag off the table. What are you even doing with it in the first place?" Accalia asked sternly.

Cadence zipped it up. "I told you, after the full moon, I'm going to see Erisa. I'll be back tomorrow."

She took it off the table and dropped it by her feet, sending Accalia a pointed look.

"Did you hear anything that Gabriel told us this morning? Many werewolves and lycans died last night and no one knows how. Do you think it's a good idea to be leaving at such a time?"

"Keyword, Accalia: werewolves and lycans. That sounds like a 'them' problem, not a 'me' problem." Cadence countered, not a streak of guilt tracing her tongue. She showed not a flicker of care.

Accalia shook her head, but she wasn't surprised by her cousin's response. After they were told about the massacre, Accalia knew what would stir, what it cause Lycus.

Accalia hadn't seen Lycus all morning and doubted she would see much of him today. He would be barking orders, getting rid of the bodies and trying to grab a handle on all this.

It stood clear as day that the lycans guarding the dungeons were taken out first, snapped necks and torn hearts. Then most of the werewolves who were on the brink of madness had been killed too.

This would wage through packs and reach the ears of hunters. Hardly ever was Lycus in the centre of news surrounding the full moon. Alphas and pack could doubt his capabilities as an Alpha for this and it was bad enough it was recently discovered he was mated to a hunter.

"Anyway," Cadence cooed, saddling her bag over her shoulder and waved Accalia off. "I'll catch you later."

Accalia's eyes widened. "You're just leaving? I don't think it's the best time to go anywhere, Cadence. You were just kidnapped, pack members are dead and you'd be stupid enough—"

Cadence tilted her head at Accalia, regarding her. "Stupid enough to do what? Yeah, I was kidnapped but the person did nothing to me. They would have if they wanted to. And the wolves ... that's not my problem. I promise you, Accalia, I'll be fine and I know you will be too. Lycus is too lovey-dovey to do anything bad to you."

Accalia cringed inwardly. She wouldn't call it that. And with how persistent Cadence was, it made it seem she didn't want to be around Accalia if she had to be near Lycus.

A front door slammed and Accalia jerked slightly, heart skipping a beat.

It was just Gabriel and Lycus, conversing in whispers before they stopped in their tracks and stared at the two hunters.

Lycus sighed, rounding past Gabriel and took a seat beside Accalia, avoiding her presence as though she wasn't there.

Lycus drummed his fingers along the table, looking more on edge than usual. His hair was messier paired with heavy-lidded eyes and a pale face.

"Where are you off to, Cadence?" Lycus asked the huntress with watchful eyes.

Cadence's eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. "I'm seeing a friend. A hunter."

"I don't think you should go, with everything that has occurred over the past few days," Lycus commented.

Accalia never thought she would be thankful for Lycus in her lifetime, but she was. Regrettably grateful.

Cadence frowned, looking to Accalia and then to Lycus. "You know, you two might make a cute couple ... from how annoying the both of you are."

"It's called being cautious, kid," Lycus murmured curtly. "Or I can assign a guard to follow you everywhere you go."

Cadence's lip curled. "A guard? Seriously? Don't even think about it."

Lycus gave a shrug, the conversation done and dusted in his eyes. "Trust me, I'm not doing this for you, but Accalia. I ordered my wolves not to harm either of you. By all means, be on your way."

"I'll be back tomorrow," Cadence wandered over and patted Accalia on the cheek and that, in very few ways, was Cadence being affectionate. "Catch you later."

Accalia knew better than to stop her. After all, Cadence had no ties to this place, not like Accalia did. She watched as she slipped out the door and made her way through the woodland before disappearing.

"Lycus?" Accalia murmured, tracing her voice with a coat of niceness.

Lycus ignored her, getting to his feet and had his back turned as he strolled over to his brother.

"Lycus," Accalia called.

Fuming, Accalia grabbed the spoon she was previously using for her tea and flung it at the back of his head.

Lycus cupped the back of it before turning around, a glower plastering his face as he glared at her.

"What?" He spat like her presence was venom to his lips.

Taken aback, but not discouraged, Accalia straightened in her seat and gave him an equally dark look.

"What-is-going-on?" Accalia muttered slowly, making sure Lycus could comprehend every word she said.

"Nothing at the moment, Accalia," Gabriel answered for him, his eyes catching a hint of the sunlight and becoming electric. "We're just speculating. Right now, we don't if this killing was Zenith or someone else. Are you alright?"

Are you alright?

That was the first time someone had asked her that in a long time and it didn't come from Lycus's mouth.

Accalia fumbled with her words. "I'm — I'm fine. Is there anything I can do?"

Lycus finally addressed his mate and gave her a distinct and definite response. "No."

"Why not?" Accalia challenged.

Lycus exhaled, patience threatening to snap as he jammed his hands into his jeans, trying to hinder his erratic breathing.

"Because," Lycus dragged out, "my people have started to question my loyalties, my capabilities and it's best that what has happened doesn't involve any hunters. They'll think you're involved somehow."

"Do you think I am?" Accalia held her breath, not knowing how she would react if he answered with a response she wouldn't like. It would make no sense for her to be involved, but if Lycus's people had suspicions, maybe he would feel the same.

"No, I don't. When it comes to Larren hunters, I know your father wouldn't cross me. It's clear something with supernatural strength did this. But my wolves will look at someone to blame and I don't want it to be you. Zenith has motive to do this, I did kill his Beta." Lycus confessed to her.

Loss for words, Accalia only gave a nod in understanding and didn't ask anything else.

"Accalia," Gabriel said softly, "if you want to, you can hang out with Nina for the day, I think she would like to be around you."

Accalia nibbled at her lip awkwardly and rose from her seat, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread leak into her insides. A hunter and lycan play date? She supposed she could take the chance. The person she would rather hang out with wasn't here and Nina couldn't be so bad. She had been sweet whenever they interacted.

Hunter to she-lycan.

Luna to Luna.

"Alright," Accalia said stiffly and left the dining room without so much as a glance at Lycus. She wouldn't bear a fragment of her soul to a being that wouldn't savour it.