^^How I imagine Luna in this chapter^^

"Anger doesn't solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything."

Chapter 61

Frightened Creature

Alastair's POV

"Why do you love River but hate me so?" A single tear ran down his face as he spoke, landing against the porcelain with a silent drop as a choked sob shook him.

My body froze, eyes widening as I watched my love burst into tears.

Not my love. A wolf. A monster.

I felt my heart tighten. I blamed it on anger, a sudden anger that shook me along with the shaking of the monster who had now taken River's body.

"How dare you," I seethed. My fists clenched by my side, my previous frozen form shattered by my sudden anger.

The monster flinched, its blue eyes widening as tears and whimpers shook its body.

Stop.

My heart clenched.

"Stop," I growled, "stop with this...crying." My nails dug into my shirt.

Its eyes fell to the floor and suddenly the potent, metallic smell of blood wafted through the room. My breath pulled as I watched it dig its teeth into its bottom lip. A line of blood dripped from the puncture, slowly falling down his chin to the ground, soaking the white tiles in a searing red.

My teeth clenched as deja vu hit me, a sudden memory of River and I's first meeting, how he'd done the same thing as I carried him from that grotesque carriage he'd been shoved in, away from near-enslavement.

My River.

Watching it copy my love's movements, playing out acts with my love's body, it was disgusting.

My body shook as my throat tightened, "stop!"

The thing flinched, eyes clenched shut as it shook against the cold porcelain tub.

My chest tightened once again. It wasn't River, I knew that. Yet, watching him...it shaking, eyes, River's eyes, so filled with fear, I couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy. A feeling that tightened my chest and made it hard to breathe. It looked so much like River. Too much like River.

It's not River.

My nails dug into the back of my neck, raking through the edges of my hair as I watched it cry.

"Stop," I demanded, voice coming out weak and broken, "please," its head lifted slightly, blue tear-filled eyes meeting mine.

"Please stop."

It swallowed low, its Adam's apple jumping slightly as it nodded slowly. It sniffled quietly, chin rubbing lightly against its knees as it watched me reach for a towel. I grabbed the nearest towel and tossed it into the tub beside the shivering boy. It peered at me quizzically, head tilted as it leaned forward to sniff at it.

"Cover yourself with it."

It seemed momentarily confused before reaching for the towel and slowly lifting from the tub with the cloth in hand. I cleared my throat and turned my head, arms crossed as I peered at the door. It was ridiculous to peer away. I knew that body well enough to know by heart. Yet, I was afraid of what emotions I may feel toward something that was not my lover. The body was his but the essence was not and for that, I would not allow myself to peer at it. River was the only one I'd ever allow myself to look at naked and that was not River, a reminder I desperately needed.

My eyes locked on Michael by the doorway, leaning against the post with a raised brow and folded arms. I let out a breath and made no comment, merely waited for the creature to cover itself.

A few seconds passed in absolute silence before I turned my head to check that it was done. I kept my eyes leveled, careful in case it hadn't covered itself like I hoped. My eyes locked on its form, shaking by the tub with the towel wrapped around its entire body, from head to toe, as trickles of water dripped down its ankle and onto the tiled floor.

There must have been some water still in the tub.

Was that why it was shivering earlier?

I wasn't sure what to do with it now that it was concealed. I was tempted to shove it back into the tub, close the door, and wait it out but with Michael's presence beside me, I knew that wasn't going to be an option.

Michael watched me for a few minutes before dropping his arms to the side and letting out an exasperated breath.

"This is ridiculous. How long do you plan on standing here sighing to yourself?" Michael peered over me at the shivering form by the tub. "It's not in wolf form anymore. So now maybe we can get the answers we need." He shifted to the side, "hey Wolfy."

The creature raised its head and tightened its grip around the towel.

"Now that you can finally speak, mind telling us why you've taken control?" Michael took a step forward to which it took a step back, bumping into the tub behind it.

It was silent, merely watching us as it eyed the door behind us. I took a side step, moving in front of the entryway as I cast it a narrowed gaze. It flinched and dropping its gaze to the floor as its hands began to shake against its tight hold on the towel.

"We won't hurt you," Michael lowered his voice as if that'd calm it. Yet it remained silent.

My eyes narrowed more, growing aggravated with its silence.

It had spoken before. Clearly, it could speak.

"Answer his question."

Its eyes lifted to my face, searching my eyes as if there was anything to find.

If you're looking for empathy, you're looking in the wrong place.

I opened my mouth to repeat my words but I was interrupted with a soft, melodious voice.

"I sensed danger."

My brows pinched. Michael raised his brow.

"What kind of danger?" asked Michael, he turned his head to me, "if you're referring to him, he's really not usually this scary. I promise." He let out a light laugh, "he's just going through a grumpy mood is all."

It shook its head, blond curls falling from the towel as it chewed lightly on its bottom lip.

River's lip.

My fingers dug into my shirt.

"Not him," the melodious voice continued. Its eyes rose momentarily to mine but something in them must have frightened it as it quickly diverted its attention back to Michael.

"Who?" Michael pried.

It peered downwards, "I don't know," it whispered.

"How do you not know?!" My fist slammed into the wall.

It flinched back as a light whimper escaped its mouth.

A sharp pain ripped my arm, pulling my attention down to Michael's fingernail that had dug itself deep into my skin. I gasped as I pulled my arm away from him.

 "What the bloody hell?!" I growled low in my throat as I rubbed at my arm.

"Stop that," Michael hissed, "we won't get any answers from him if you keep frightening him."

"It not him. Stop referring to it as if it's actually a being." 

Michael clicked his tongue, "for fuck's sake, Alastair, it may not be human but it's still a part of River. You can keep trying to delude yourself into thinking that boy shaking on the floor like a fucking leaf is a monster but you aren't fooling anyone, including yourself"

My eyes widened. Michael didn't care for a reply as he turned his back to me and proceeded to approach the creature with a softened voice and an outstretched hand. The small thing eyeballed him quizzically before being pulled into a tight hug. A surprised gasp escaped its mouth as it began to move frantically in his tightened hold.

From my room, a loud chiming could be heard, creating the most obnoxious duet with my cooeing brother-in-law. The boy jumped, falling backward into the bath with a high pitched screech as Michael hurried to help him from drowning in what was probably a centimeter of leftover water.

An exasperated sigh escaped my mouth as my eyes settled on the clock above the mirror.

Damn it.

"Tsk."

Michael turned to me with a quirked brow just as my attention pulled from the clock. The boy's head rested against Michael's shoulder, fingers tightly weaved in Michael's shirt as he watched me over the bigger man's shoulder.

I took a breath, "I know this is a lot to ask, Michael," I began to which Michael took to crossing his arms, "but I have a council meeting right now and..." my eyes fell to the small form resting against his chest. Its round blue eyes watched me curiously.

"And you need someone to babysit Wolfy," Michael's fingers played with its golden locks and it surprisingly allowed it. I had almost expected it to take a bite out of Michael's hand for it yet it seemed to have taken the form of a docile puppy in Michael's arms.

"Yes," my eyes couldn't help but wander back to the clock.

"Fine," Michael breathed out.

My eyes pulled hastily to Michael with widened eyes, "really?"

I had expected to have to fight him on that. He was surprisingly fast to accept my request.

...What's the catch?

My eyes narrowed.

"Hey," Michael scoffed, "but don't get your hopes up. I'm a doctor, not a Wolfy-sitter this is a once only situation," he pointed a finger at me.

I nodded.

"And," he took a breath. Of course. "Tell one of the maids to hang a sign on my door that I won't be in today. Don't want a bunch of idiots banging down my office doors," he grumbled.

That's it?

I couldn't help but be bewildered. This was Michael. He always asked for something in return. Always whining along the lines of being a busy person and not having neither the time or patience for idiots, meaning that somehow earned him gifts in return. Yet as I stood here, no such demands were being voiced.

I was almost afraid to leave lest something was wrong with him but the clock above the mirror was an annoying reminder that I was already a few minutes late to the meeting.

With a nervous breath and a sideways glance at Michael's smiling form, I bid my farewell and rushed to the meeting room.

As expected the meeting hadn't started without me yet with the looks of disapproval I had gained from the councilmen, they were clearly unhappy with my tardiness. No doubt this was going to be reported back to my father.

With a released breath, I took a seat on my throne and waved my hand to start. Immediately a couple councilmen rose to their feet with a scroll worth of complaints. The scribe took to his pen, Isaiah doing the same as the councilmen took to their mouths. Just before I opened my mouth to reply to their complaints, I turned to my side. Expecting a sweet smile and words of encouragement, my eyes widened as they landed on an empty throne beside me. My breath lodged in my throat.

He's not here, remember?

My hands wrapped tightly around the arms of my throne as I turned quickly before anyone could realize my plunder.

"Bring General Hyde to the next meeting and we'll set out the plans."

As I began lifting myself from my throne a councilman raised his hand.

"Yes?"

The man took a shallow breath before pointing to the row beside him. My brows pulled before a raised hand caught my attention. With confusion plaguing my mind, I turned my head. My breath sucked in as my vision caught sight of a familiar face.

"Present," Hyde declared with a raised hand.

My head was just about pounding at this point. 

How completely out of it am I right now?

A hushed murmur filled the circle of councilmen. Derek sent me a quizzical look from beside Isaiah just as Isaiah pulled momentarily from his writing to tilt his head at me with a questionable gaze of his own.

Hyde, unlike the rest of the frenzied councilmen, seemed to find the humor in the situation as a bubbled laughter escaped his mouth and filled the room. He bent forward, cupping his chest just as Isaiah reached over and threw a feathered pen at his back. A clear line of ink ran down the man's back, staining his olive-colored vest. Isaiah seemed less than apologetic as he sat back in his chair with folded arms. Hyde's head pivoted back, mouth agape as Derek's mouth pulled into a smirk, arms moving to bend around Isaiah's peeved form.

Those three. I shook my head.

Just then, Isaiah's attention turned back to me and he rose from his chair.

"Do you need us to cut this meeting short, Your Majesty?" His eyes scanned my face, clearly thinking I was ill for being inattentive.

I left Michael alone with that thing, of course, my attention is diverted from this meeting.

The rest of the councilmen eyed me, awaiting my answer.

I wanted to leave, oh Goddess did I want to leave. Already images of the thing urinating on my bed and attacking Michael were floating through my head. Though, it was my responsibility as king to solve problems brought before me, not cause any. I had recently risen to the throne, did I want to be viewed as irresponsible and inattentive in merely my first month of being king?
It was bad enough as it was that I was already late to this meeting.

"No, thank you, Isaiah. I'm merely feeling a bit under the weather but that's no reason to call our meeting short. Please," my arm rose to the councilmen, "do continue."

They nodded, seeming a bit unsure as they peered at one another but eventually continued on with their plans. Hyde stood to voice his own opinion between councilmen as Isaiah and the scribe wrote quickly between speakers and before long, I came to my decision.

The councilmen seemed a bit peeved but Hyde was an excellent strategist. He was quite the joker but not one to be taken lightly. He was the top general in the royal army and he took his job seriously. Even if he didn't take much else very seriously.

The plan was completed and I slowly descended the stairs from my throne as the councilmen exited the room. Isaiah brushed past the other councilmen with Derek and Hyde by his side. I took a deep breath as he approached me.

"Are you okay? Where's River?" He breathed all at once as he eyed me nervously.

Is it that obvious that I'm on edge?

"River's not feeling very well so he's sleeping in our room and me..." I scratched my neck, "I've apparently caught something as well." I attempted to play off nonchalance.

Isaiah seemed to fall for it as his eyes widened, "River's sick?"

"Yes, and I left Michael to stay with him while I took this meeting," I played the nervous lover as I purposely eyed the door.

"Oh," Isaiah's eyes followed mine to the door behind him, "but before you leave, would it be alright if I visited later? To see how he's doing?"

Derek and Hyde crossed their arms from beside Isaiah as if daring me to say no. My eyes narrowed to which they flinched but refused to break eye contact, though their hands tightened around their biceps.

"Michael's not quite sure what River has yet. I don't think it's very safe for you to visit until we're sure it isn't contagious," I softened my gaze with an apologetic smile to Isaiah as his two pups' eyes widened.

They immediately rushed to voice their concern to Isaiah to my best intuition. Isaiah seemed unhappy at first but eventually nodded when the two looked ready to get on their hands and knees and beg. I had to control myself from laughing for their begging expressions were more comical than Michael's when he'd landed straight on his arse earlier.

I lifted my hand, bidding them farewell and quickly exited the room, not allowing them room to change their minds as I quickened my pace to my room.

I had expected to find havoc when I opened the door to my room. Perhaps fresh piss stains on my carpet and an injured Michael. What I didn't expect was the childish, giggling scene before me. There on my bed sat both Michael and the creature, cross-legged as Michael whispered something in its ear while feeding it cookies off a platter.

I stood, frozen by the doorway for a few moments before annoyance hit me.

"Where did you get that from?" I demanded as I eyed the tray between them.

The blond creature flinched at my voice to which Michael immediately ran a soothing hand down its arms as it began to curl into itself.

"For Goddess's sake," Michael sighed as his head turned to me and eyed my tense form. "What's got your asshole so tight?"

My fists clenched by my side.

"Did you go to the kitchen to get that, Michael?" I demanded, "did you leave it alone in my room?" I closed the door and ventured further into the room.

"No," Michael's eyes narrowed as he watched me, "I asked a maid to bring some to the room."

"A maid was in this room?!" My breath was picking up, "with that!" I pointed at the small form beside him.

The creature's eyes widened as I grew closer and took to pressing itself to Michael's side.

"Calm down, Alastair," Michael seethed through his teeth.

"Calm down? Calm down? Do you know what could've happened if it attacked a maid? What could happen to River!"

A low whimper filled the room as the small thing began to shake violently by Michael's side. Its eyes filled to the brim with tears as soft sobs broke past its throat.

Michael sent me a glare, freezing me in place as he pulled it to his chest and began rocking it back and forth as it cried against his shirt.

"Shh," Michael cooed as he brushed its blond locks from its tear-stained face. "He can be scary but he'd never hurt you."

The creature sent him a disbelieving look. Even I was in disbelief over his statement.

Michael peered over his shoulder at me, "he wouldn't," this time directing it at me. Though it seemed more like a threat than a statement.

Finally, the choked sobs died down to a mere whimper as Michael rubbed its back and whispered softly in its ear. I couldn't hear what he was saying but I could only assume they were words to calm its nerves as the thing slowly stopped shaking and peeked up at Michael with a small smile.

I turned away as my breath lodged in my throat.

"You know," Michael began. I turned my head back as he brushed through its golden locks lightly, "I think we've ought to give you a real name. Wolfy is nice and all but that's more of a nickname really." Michael rubbed his chin and tilted his head.

The blond little thing rubbed at its eyes as it slowly sat up on its knees.

"I have a name," its voice came out hoarse as it sniffed.

"Really now?" Michael sat up, "you named yourself?"

It shook its head, "No," it peered across at me to which I crossed my arms and turned away.

"River named me."

My head turned so fast that my head nearly snapped off.

"What?" I choked.

Michael sent me a look before turning back to the small blond.

"What did he name you?" He asked softly.

It took a deep breath before a bright smile lit its face, "Luna," it declared proudly, "River calls me Luna."

Awww isn't he just a cutie? xD I literally cannot with his cuteness. He is just such a fluffy little puppy, honestly. Love you guys tunzzz!! *blows kisses* <3 Oh! And only one AP left, whoop whoop! :P