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Chapter 26: Having To Choose
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 27: New Rules
AlecWhat a mess this whole event has turned out to be. Thankfully, most of the members of my pack were alive. Three men did get seriously hurt during the explosion—one lost a leg—but from my side, there weren’t many casualties. Alpha Fredrick, however, has lost quite a number of people, the most tragic one being the death of his daughter. War has been announced. I was there when it happened, and I had to sign the treaty that we would open fire against the rebellion. As one of the three Alphas, I can’t overlook what happened here. The rebellion has never taken things this far. I’m blown away by the severity of their actions. This explosion was brutal and cowardly; there were children present during the wedding reception. Innocents have gotten hurt. This can’t be overlooked. “Alpha Alec,” I hear Alpha Jason say behind me. “Could we speak for a moment?”I tear my eyes away from the rubble, and follow him to a more secluded area so we can have a word in private. We rarely have priv
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 28: The Decision
DelaneyThe rest of the day is really quiet, and I find myself alone for most of the time. I guess everyone else is trying to reach within themselves for answers. This isn't a simple decision to make. It has plenty of consequences, and getting caught means that we could die. Even if Paola and Pollux decide to join the rebel army, that doesn't mean that I have to, and the opposite is also true. This is my life here and shouldn't be tied to anyone else's decision. That was the decision I made after leaving the prison, but I've been sucked into that world now, and honestly, I don't find any of this bad, and maybe that makes me a bad person. I want freedom. Running away to a place where I'll still be kept under the ranks for being Omega won't give me that freedom that I need to feel fulfilled. This is where the change happens, and it'll be the only chance I'll ever get to do something significant with my life. This is it. The ultimate war. If I have any hope of making a difference, i
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 28: Returning Home
DelaneyThe Underworld looks just like I remember it; the only difference is that this time, I feel unwelcome, and I’m not just imagining the looks I’m getting from the people I walk past. The meeting is held in Francesca’s bar. I’ve never seen so many people gathered in one small place all at once. People are standing because there certainly aren’t enough chairs, and I spot Francesca standing at the bar, though I don’t approach her. Matteo is greeted like a celebrity, which makes me wonder how Paola and Pollux didn’t know him prior to our meeting in the tattoo parlor. We’re eyed curiously by a few people, and I wait to see how this will unfold. “Welcome you all,” Matteo says in a loud, booming voice. “Thank you for being here. This is the first meeting we’ve had in…what? Five years?”There are murmurs of agreement, and he continues. “I’ve been upstairs for a long time, but no amount of fresh air will ever beat being down here with all of you. This is a place we’ve built with our s
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 30: The Hunt
AlecThe hunt that I’d been looking forward to was meant to be today, but after this disaster, it’s been forgotten. Pushed aside. Instead, I’ve been hunting nonstop for ghosts. The Omegas that were serving us have been questioned endlessly, and they swear that they have no knowledge of anything, even when beaten and tortured. I think we’re wasting time, but the grief-stricken Alpha Fredrick thinks that we should start killing people. Maybe then, the others will be encouraged to speak up. Being an Alpha is keeping up with appearances more than anything, and showing that you’re intimidating and fearless. Everything I do—every order I give—is to maintain the image that I’m formidable. But this is something I don’t agree with. These people are innocent, and we accomplish nothing by killing them when the real culprits are still on the run. Culprits like Delaney Waters and whoever is working alongside her. I believe that we didn’t catch any of the Omegas in the rebel army, and it would
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 31: Confessions
DelaneySomeone has been following me, but I don’t know if this is just in my head or whether it’s truly happening, and that terrifies me. I first noticed a shadow standing over my shoulder when I left the bar after having dinner with Paola and Pollux. I turned to look over my shoulder and didn’t see anyone, so I brushed it off. However, I had this distinct feeling of being watched by someone. This morning, the same thing happened. There’s a meeting at the Omegatrix, so we left the house at around nine. Sure enough, I had this feeling that someone was lurking in the shadows, but I didn’t see anyone when I looked over my shoulder. I think it’s paranoia, mainly because of the last time I was here. I’m still haunted by those men that came down here looking for me and had to be cut into pieces. I don’t know if I should mention it to someone. What if it’s more Gammas from one of the Alphas? I’m wondering this when the door opens and Matteo strides in. He’ll be staying down here for some
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 32: Seeing Someone Else
AlecI haven’t been able to move from my position. I’ve been sitting behind my desk, my body covered in blood, for the past two hours. The hunt has finally ended, and I’m horrified by the things I’ve seen. I was always aware that many Alpha-borns, Beta-borns, and even Gammas, hated Omegas, but I didn’t know how bad things could get until I saw the carnage first-hand. They’ve ruined the hunt for me, and it was an event that I always looked forward to. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go to one without recalling what happened. It wasn’t just about killing them. No, Alpha Fredrick and his cronies were determined to make the Omegas suffer as much as possible, and they did this by attacking a single Omega in groups and then tearing their limbs apart before killing them. Sometimes, they’d let them bleed out. They’d cut people up and leave them to bleed. It was horrible. I killed as many as I could in the most humane way possible. It was better than letting them suffer in the hands o
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 33: Collision
DelaneyOur mission is meant to be upstairs, and so we leave through one of the many unconventional exits, and make it to Pollux’s Ford. He still hasn’t told us what the mission is about, and it’s honestly so frustrating. If he understood just how anxious this whole thing makes me, maybe he’d be more eager for share the details at a much quicker pace. I get in the backseat, and he starts the car once Paola closes the door. He then turns his body around, and says, “Here’s the thing: there was a survivor from the hunt. A guy. Matteo wants us to fetch him, but he didn’t make it known because he doesn’t want to alert anyone.”“Why not?” Paola asks. “I thought we were all meant to be trustworthy. Does that mean that he trusts us?”“Yes,” Pollux says. “He does. He trusts us way too much for first-timers.” His eyes then land on me when he says, “I guess it’s all your fault, Delaney.”I frown. “What? That he trusts us?”“Of course,” he replies. There’s something off about how he says this.
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 34: Captured
DelaneyMy ears are ringing when the car finally comes to a stop, and I'm all upside down. I look around, only vaguely aware of what's happening. Paola and Pollux are in the front seat. She appears to be passed out, and he's stirring and groaning in pain. I look around for the guy we rescued, and he's sprawled to one side, still passed out. His legs look broken, but I don't know if they were like this before he got in the car.I groan as well as I try to get out of the car. Beside me, right close to my ear, I hear footsteps, and when I turn my head slowly in its direction, I see heavy black boots. Then, the door is opened, and a loud metallic sound follows this. The sound is too much for my poor ears, that are still ringing. Then, without wanting, I'm pulled out of the car. A cry leaves my lips, and from inside the car, I hear Pollux call my name. "Delaney!"The man grabs the back of my coat and hauls me up so my knees aren't touching the ground. He's pretty strong. He's taking me
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Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 112: Empty Lands
DelaneySaying goodbye to Alec is always a bittersweet moment. This time, it’s more bitter than it is sweet. He drops me off near the car, and after saying goodbye to each other for the hundredth time, I start making my way back to the rebel camp. At least now I know that we have Alec’s support. What happens next can’t be predicted by anyone, we’ll just have to wait and see. And keep fighting, of course. I hope I won’t find the group as demoralized as they were last night. I come bearing good news, I hope. I hope it’ll cheer them up. We’ll see.The drive back feels longer than it should. Maybe it’s the silence in the car. The rebels don’t exactly have state-of-the-art vehicles, and the rumbling engine is loud enough to drown out my thoughts if I let it. But my brain insists on working overtime, replaying Alec’s words over and over again.I clench the steering wheel tighter, his words curling like smoke in my mind. I’ve never felt this desperate, not even when I was in the prison.
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 111: Time Together
AlecSpending this time with Delaney is the biggest blessing I’ve had to date. I have no complaints. I can only feel grateful for the opportunity. As I’d mentioned before, we don’t know when we’ll have a chance like this again, what with the instability in the world, so we have to make the most of it. I wake up with her in my arms, her warmth grounding me in a way I haven’t felt in years. The morning light filters through the curtains, streaks of sunlight spilling over the bed. The peace of it all feels surreal, as if it doesn’t belong to us, as if the world outside hasn’t been turned upside down by war.Her body is curled against mine, her head resting on my chest, and I can hear the soft rhythm of her breathing. For a fleeting moment, I allow myself to think that maybe—just maybe—this is how things could be. No rebels. No wars. No betrayals. Just her and me.However, when the sun rises, I realize that it’s time for us to get serious. The world outside doesn’t stop just because I
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 110: Perfection
DelaneyWe’re lying in bed, and we’re both naked. The room is silent except for the sound of our breathing. His hand is tracing slow, lazy circles along the length of my leg, his fingers skimming the skin with a softness that feels surreal. My head is propped on my hand, and I’m staring at his face, studying every line, every freckle, every curve of his lips. It’s like I’m trying to memorize him all over again. My skin is covered in a thin layer of sweat, and so is his. The space between my legs pulses from the orgasm he gave me a few moments ago.I didn’t know how much I’d missed this intimacy until now. There’s a part of me that still feels like I’m dreaming. That maybe I’ve lost my mind, and this isn’t real. How could it be? Alec, here, with me, in the quiet safety of this room—it feels impossible. Like the world hasn’t given me permission to have this, to have him. But his touch earlier, the way he held me, the way he kissed me—it all felt so real. Too real to deny. So I have t
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 109: Safe and Alive
Alec When word spreads that Tobias Renner escaped, all hell breaks loose. I watch it happen without participating at all. I stand on the sidelines while decisions are made, and honestly, words can’t describe how hard my heart drops when the word ‘war’ is mentioned. I try to dispute it only once, asking the Alpha that has taken over Jason’s pack whether he’s sure of what he’s saying, since he was the one who suggested it. Everyone agrees, deciding that there isn’t time to talk and that they have to be taken care of quickly. Delaney. She’s all I can think about at a time like this. I have to warn her that this will happen. Then again, by the time I make it to the house, she’s probably going to know. I keep a close eye on the time. I don’t want her to get there and not find me, in case she decides to come tonight. I have a feeling she will. We haven’t seen each other in what feels like forever, and it’s important for both of us to catch up. There’s so much I want to say to her. Bo
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 108: Last Hope
DelaneyMy eyes spring open, but this time around, the room is silent. I’m so used to waking up amidst chaos that it kind of feels strange to wake up in a silent room. I look at Paola’s bed, and even in the dim lighting, I can tell that the bed is empty. She’s not in the room. I sit up, and stretch my arms high above my head before looking down at my body and realizing that I’m still wearing the prison guard’s uniform. It makes me feel disgusted, and I realize right away that I have to change out of these clothes. I head into the bathroom with a fresh set of clothes, and immediately scrub the prison off my body. I hated being back there, even though it was thanks to our excursion that I found out that Alec was alive. Thoughts of his death were eating at me, but now I know he’s alive, and I’ve been feeling this overwhelming sense of joy. Just pure joy. The sound of water hitting tile fills the small bathroom as I let the shower wash over me, hot and steady. It’s therapeutic, really
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 107: Choosing To Stay
DelaneyAs soon as we get to the parking lot, and I’m specifically talking about my father and me, I open the trunk of the car and then position the trolley so that he can slip inside without anyone noticing.Sweat is trickling down my face, and although I’m relieved that we made it out alive and that Alec is alive, I’m worried about Francesca. I don’t see her anywhere around, and I didn’t come across her once in the prison. “Did you make it?” one of the rogues who were in the car with me ask. “Yes,” I say. “But where’s Francesca?”“I have no idea,” he replies. “I thought she went in with you.”My heart sinks, but I have to trust that she’ll make it out alive. I can’t go back for her, not without compromising myself and everyone else. Besides, even if she’s still in there looking, soon, news of his disappearance will spread and she’ll know where to find us. I push away the dirty sheets and curtains, and find the top do my father’s head. “It’s okay, you can come out. The coast is cl
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 106: Success
AlecMy heart has been stretched to its capacity. There isn’t room for anything else. Not uncertainty. Not fear. Nothing, really. I’d left the hospital determined to find her, and now where I am, holding her hand and guiding her away from the hallway.Of course, when we step into the light, I have to release her hand because there is no way in hell that we can be seen together. Not holding hands, at least. She’s currently rearranging her cap to hide her hair, and when she meets my gaze, my heart skips a beat. So beautiful. So damn beautiful. Even in this lifeless uniform and with tears banging to her eyelashes, she’s still the most gorgeous woman in this entire fucking world. My mate. My everything. I turn away from her, and focus. I have to get her out of this place. Her and her father. They’re only here because of me, because I betrayed her trust. This drives me forward and gives me a strength that I haven’t felt in a long time. I don’t even feel the pain coursing through my band
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 105: Together
Delaney The cold, damp air of the prison clings to my skin, making it impossible to shake the feeling that the walls are closing in on me. Prior to this, I didn’t think I was claustrophobic. But maybe, this doesn’t have anything to do with an undiscovered phobia. Maybe I’m just deathly afraid of being caught. I’d never even get out of here, that’s the part that’s killing me. If I’m caught, I’ll probably be put into my old cell, and then who will help me escape?My heart is slamming against my chest as I press my back against the partially open door, straining to hear the fading footsteps outside. Alec’s voice echoes in my mind like a haunting melody.He’s alive.The relief is fleeting, even though this is the best thing I’ve heard, as it’s drowned out by the sharp bite of fear now dwelling inside of me. Alec being here changes everything. I really wish I could find him, but I don’t know if he’s on the way out and I also have no way of following him without compromising myself. I’ll
Under the Shadow of the Moon Chapter 104: Inside The Prison
DelaneyThe prison. Even looking at it makes my heart skip a beat and nauseates me. I’ve spent so many painful years behind the walls of this facility that looking at it now just makes me remember it. My father is behind those walls, and I try not to imagine what he might be going through. He’ll probably be transferred soon, because this is an all-women prison, and the male one is just outside the city. Nobody in the car says anything. We have a plan, but it’s risky. I’ve volunteered to be at the front line just because I’m the one who brought them here. Plus, it’s my father in there. And if I want to save him, then I should go there myself. “Okay,” I say. “So, we wait for the next shift to begin, and then we grab them, lock them in the car unconscious, and head inside. Right?”“Right,” Francesca says. She’s seated somewhere behind me. I don’t turn to look at her. My eyes are straight ahead, on the prison. Our car is in the parking lot. For some reason, there are many cars here t
