Bad Intentions

Bad Intentions
ARIA

"It started with smiles and all the politeness in the world," Luca begins. "When we first arrived, Alpha Dorson was still here. He's the one who showed us around and made us comfortable. Mom always said that there was something off about him. She didn't like him one bit."

I interrupt to ask, "How is she?"

I remember how badly things got when word spread that I was a Nocturn, but I don't blame her one bit. Nobody wanted to get in trouble. Hell, my own uncle died because of it. 

"Not so good," he claims. After saying this, he lowers his eyes for a few beats and I watch him. I can't help but feel guilty, even though nobody could have guessed that things would get as bad as he's describing. "All the work is getting to her. It started with them passing comments about how Moon Rose members were sacrificing a lot to make us comfortable, and of course, a lot of us decided to volunteer and do whatever we could to help out. They were supporting us with everything, after all. 

"But slowly, things started changing, especially after Alpha Dorson left. We were given a much heavier workload and with no warning at all, their behavior toward us started changing, too. What started as voluntary work quickly became mandatory, and now, if we don't meet quotas, we get punished."

My heart sinks at this. "Punished how?"

"They mostly take away our meals for the day," he answers. "That's why Mom isn't doing too well. She can never meet the quota. We're in the sun all day, and it gets exhausting after a few hours. I tried asking for a healer to help her, but they keep giving me excuses. I really don't know what to do. We even suggested heading back to Ironclaw, but then they brought up transport costs that are way too high. We don't have that kind of money anymore. We spent all our savings when we came here."

I shake my head. I'm furious at this point and I can't ignore how my body feels like it's on fire. I want to storm into the packhouse and yell at Yarina. We didn't send our people here for them to be treated as slaves. 

They're here for protection. Helping out is one thing. 

What they're doing...

"I won't even mention the things they're spreading around about Ironclaw. About our Alpha."

I frown. "What's being said?"

"We were told that our Alpha's incompetence caused many deaths some weeks back. That he was stubborn and that cost the lives of many people." He licks his lips, looks around, then inches closer to me. "A man who was staying in the same room as us claimed that he heard two Gammas talking about how our packs would be merged in the future, and that Ironclaw would become an extension of Moon Rose. When he confronted them about it, he disappeared."

"Where did he go?" I ask, realizing seconds later that this is a stupid question. 

"I don't know. We didn't see him again. We're just assuming the worst."

I suck in a breath. A wave of panic washes over me. I don't know what to make of this, mostly because there's no way of dealing with this matter calmly. 

All these little plots…what do they think they’ll gain from this? What do they want?

Luca interrupts my train of thought when he says, “There’s something weird about all of them! I can’t explain it. When they talk or give orders, you kind of feel like you have to do the work, so it makes it possible to stop, even if you’re tired…” He glances at my face. “I know it sounds like I’m crazy.”

“No. You’re not crazy.”

I don’t have the heart to tell him that they’re using their Nocturn powers on them. I don’t think Luca understands much about it, and why would he? Goddess, they’re doing all the wrong things.

But Yarina isn’t a Nocturn, so who’s pulling all the strings here?

“I’ll do what I can to help you out of this, Luca,” I vow. “I’m sorry that it came to this. If we knew…”

He puts a hand on my shoulder. “I’m worried about you. Their plans to merge Moon Rose with Ironclaw…did you know about it?”

“No, of course not. And we’d never let that happen. Never.”

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “When we left Wind River to move to Ironclaw, we thought it would be a fresh start for all of us. We didn’t think that there’d be a war and that things would lead to this.”

“I promise you that I’ll help you. All of you. I just need—”

I’m cut off by two men along with Yarina entering the barn. We make eye contact over Luca’s shoulder, and she flashes me a thin smile. Again, it doesn’t reach her eyes. 

Nothing about this woman is genuine. 

“Luna Aria, what a pleasant surprise.”

I press my lips together and ignore how Luca is staring at me with panic deep in his gaze. Yarina says to him, “I think it’s about time you get to work.”

Her condescending tone gets on my nerves and it’s impossible for me to conceal my anger when I say, “Don’t speak to him that way! He’s not your slave, or your employee!”

“Of course,” she chuckles. “They’re volunteer workers and they’re doing us a lot of good. You two, please escort this young man here back to the field.”

The men behind her step forward and grab Luca. I start to protest, but he shakes his head at me and is dragged out. 

Yarina and I are face-to-face, and I have to admit that it’s hard for me to keep my cool. I want to strangle her with my bare hands, but not before demanding answers. 

What the hell is the matter with these people?

Who are they and what do they want from us?

“Is there anywhere else you’d like to go or can I escort you back, Luna?”

I want to mention everything Luca told me, but I don’t have a solution yet, and I don’t want to put him in harm’s way. So, I shake my head, keep my lips sealed, and storm out of the barn. 

Something needs to be done. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll think of something. 

This can’t go on much longer. 

If they think they’ll have power over Ironclaw, they’re mistaken. I’ll never let that happen. 

Never.