The Unwanted

The Law

Peony's POV

The room felt like an oven, the paper thin walls seemed to trap in any heat the outside world offered but I guess thats what happens when there's twenty people in a room with no windows and no fans in Summer. We could hear the enforcers riffling through drawers and closets most likely throwing anything and everything on the ground in a pile we would be forced to clean later. The children sat rigid in fear waiting for them to return while the older residents had looks of clear annoyance and anger written in snarls and burning gazes. I say older residents but the oldest one here was Tydus Ronan and he was only twenty two and the main protector of our community. Unfortunately its hard to protect people when you're considered disgusting and worthless to hundreds of people and a hero to only nineteen. 

Tydus and I had always gotten along well, some would say a little to well but I guess that's a fair judgement considering our past. We had started our semi monogamous relationship when I was fourteen and he was eighteen and I know that is a big no no in the rest of the world but it worked for us. He was never the type to force himself on me, in fact I was the one who made the first move. I just remember talking to him about the punishment I had just been handed by the enforcers when it dawned on me how beautiful and strong this man was and kissed him. Since then we've been together but known that one day we would have to split because even if neither of us ever met our mates he would have to leave. He had been drafted into the BloodLake pack warriors meaning when he turns twenty five he'll be sent off to fight until he dies for a pack that isn't his own. Not that the Jager pack is much of a pack to us but it's still our home.

The banging and heavy footsteps ceased suddenly in the other rooms causing everyone to perk up as the wave of tension seemed to flood the air almost suffocating everyone in the room. My eyes immediately turn to Tydus who was sitting on the bench holding one of our youngest residents in an attempt to keep the child calm. His gaze fell to me stoney and closed off, he always seemed so guarded and composed but even I could tell the tension was creeping into him. He seemed ready to fight if he had any inclination that one of us was in trouble, muscles tense and veins visible in his neck but still, the sight of seeing such a big stoney man with a three year old cradled in his arms melted my heart. Reminding me of how lucky I was to even get to spend a second of my life with that man beside me, loving me. 

The sound of a heavy door scrapping along the ground ripped me from my pride filled haze and my focus was immediately brought to a young enforcer standing in the door frame. Thick red hair plastered to his forehead unkempt and uncertainty written in his dark eyes, he clearly was uncomfortable as he swallowed and seemed to shift his hunched frame back. "All clear" was all he said in a shaky voice before he stomped off following the others like a frightened puppy. We sat waiting until they had all left before we started to move, the two chefs heading straight into the kitchen only to curse at the state of it. Pots, pans and ingredients were thrown about the room carelessly clearly upsetting the two fifteen year olds who prided themselves on their space. 

As everyone began the slow and unfortunately regular routine of fixing the mess that had been made in our home Tydus placed his hand on my shoulder and started directing me to the porch. I obeyed his silent command and headed towards the porch with him following closely behind me. Once outside he slammed the door and moved to lean against the moulding railing, staring hard into my eyes knowing I was about to crave. "I don't know where she is" was all I said averting my gaze from him. We stood there for a few seconds, silence enveloping us like a heavy blanket only getting more and more tense as he continued to stare into me while I refused to even look up from my entwined hands. "Don't lie to me Peony" a deep grumble resonated in his voice almost as if it was trying to escape his chest, I looked up at him and saw the disappointment that hid in the layers of his fiery amber eyes. That look in his eyes chipped at my heart, although we were lovers Tydus was also the man who raised me, taught me right from wrong and how to stand up for those in need.

We stood for a few more minutes before I had the courage to speak "She left for the North border a few hours ago, she's long gone" I mumbled stepping closer to him. He welcomed me into his embrace wrapping a thick arm around me and pulling me into his chest. "I know she did, I'm just disappointed that you tried to lie to me. You know that if we can't trust each other then we can't trust anyone" His firm gaze cracked a little as he stared down at me "Do you trust me Peony?" he asked pulling me a little closer to him. I looked up him feeling like a small child getting reprimanded. "Do you?" he asked again still staring down at me, waiting for me to respond already knowing the answer. "Of course I do, I always have" my voice soft as I continued to look at him locking away the memory of every inch of his face and every scar as if it was the last time I'd see him. "Good. Now go to bed, I'll be home in a few hours. I just need to make sure she wasn't caught at the border, I'll tell you everything when I'm home" he placed a quick kiss on my lips before unwrapping himself from me and waiting for me to walk back into the home. 

I nodded at him before I started walking to the door, once there I turned to look at him before saying "I love you Tydus". His eyes seemed to melt at my words and a small smile formed and his tight lips "I'll always love you Peony, as long as the sky holds stars my heart will always beat for you" I smiled to myself before heading inside. Turning off all the lights that everyone always seemed to leave on as I made my way down the hallway to the room I shared with Tydus, occasionally poking my head into rooms to ensure that all the kids were safe in their beds. 

I sat on our bed ignoring our possessions that had been thrown onto the floor, praying to the moon goddess that Florence was safe and that she hadn't been caught at the border. By law she could be killed on sight for abandoning her pack and while the pack may look down on us as scum beneath their feet they were never willing to let any of us go unless we were bought. If they couldn't have us and no one wanted to buy us death was often the outcome.