His Rejected Luna Queen

The sun disappeared behind the clouds, the moon stood high, shining against the darkness of the night. A shadow fell over the figure lying face up on the bed, grey, silky hair scattered all over the pillow with hands clasped over his stomach like a cadaver awaiting its final destination. His breath came out in shallow rasps, face ashen with pain as his insides quivered in fear of impending doom.

Hadiza stroked his face with care only a sibling could possess, ignoring the sting of his claws as they dug into her palm as another bout of pain wracked his lithe frame. He let out a strangled hiss, she winced at her inability to help, caressed his cheek with the back of her hand until his expression turned normal and a sigh left her.

The bed sunk with her weight as she discarded the stool to take a seat beside him. Wiping the sweat coating his forehead with her sleeve, her eyes darted to the tray she left on the floor, the tall glass of water which reflected the glowing moon.

“Zee,” she called out to her brother, brows creased. “Take it, it will end the pain.” Bending to retrieve the cup, her hand found his back as she helped him into a sitting position. She held it against his lips, eyes conveying her request. “Please.”

Zebulun's refusal was weak, a small shake of his head but Hadiza understood. No point living without his beloved. It hurt her too, as much as it did him, that he would leave her here. Alone in this world without her brother’s love and presence.

Weakened by old age and the foreign ailment he refused medications, his hand trembled as he pushed the cup away. His smile would have lit up the room but she could barely see past the sorrow he covered behind a smile turned grimace.

“Remember my first shift?” she asked. His silence encouraged her to continue and she did. “You said it won't hurt so much, it would feel like a broken rib and I would be fine.” Hadiza chuckled, a hoarse sound that had lost its warmth. “Brand new.”

As a warrior, she was used to the pain associated with fighting, victory never came easy. Her injuries always healed but her first shift, her head shook as waves of painful memories rolled over her. It was a crawl through the valley of misery. The ache never fully went away, it stayed for days until it became a dull throb.

“You lied.” Zebulun managed a laugh, her eyes squeezed shut and she nodded. “It hurt like hell but you were there, you promised to always be there.” Her eyelids fluttered open, she smiled at him and held his hand to her lips. “It made everything better. I need you. I don't know what I'll do without you here. Stay, take it.”

But he didn't, Zebulun might as well have been dead with the stifling silence that followed her plea. His shoulders trembled as another bout of cough took over him, Hadiza leaned over her brother, jet black hair forming a curtain over his face as she peered at his scrunched eyebrows, seeing perfectly well in the darkness. 

She didn't get it. She didn't understand what was happening to him, the king. Yes, they aged faster after losing their mates but they never got this sick. Only humans did and it was because they were weak, spineless creatures. Humane and weak.

When his coughing subsided, she took his bony hand in hers, drawing circles and whatever random shapes her poor mind could conjure. His breathing evened out, he smiled but she could feel his life slipping and her wolf whimpered inside her head. Not yet. They were not ready to let go. If only he wasn't so stubborn, too tired.

A few sips and he would be fine. Another decade for them to reign together.

“What's funny?” she asked the sick Alpha by her side. The mild creasing of his forehead betrayed the laughter spilling from his lips with reckless abandon, she folded her arms under her breasts and a carved brow shot up. “Zee, what is it?”

“Nothing,” he replied with a half-hearted shrug. Her hands found his underarms, she tickled him until he wheezed. Jutting her lip, her eyes scanned his face for any sign of discomfort but she only got a wink in response. “Fine. Fine, I'll tell you.”

Folding his hands on his chest, his lips puckered. “Boils. Or was it pimples?” 

Images flashed behind her closed eyelids, heat flooded her cheeks. “Quiet.”

Zebulun chuckled and flicked her nose. “You dare to order your Alpha and King?”

They burst into laughter, Hadiza sniffed and fell to the bed, eyes resting on the ceiling. She let out a wistful sigh, pushing down the images his words elicited, he never failed to remind her. “No one told me anything. And they were too small.”