the eclipse [sequel] ☾ l.s.

nine - home is where the heart is

"They have a what?!"

"Who has a what?"

"A witch?"

"The Sons have a witch?"

"Well, they had a witch --"

"Oh, don't go there, Zayn."

"-- so what, they just wanted a different one?"

"Would you all shut up for a moment so he can explain?!" Louis's alpha tone boomed through the mouth of the cave. The small group fell silent aside from Harry's soft whine, muffled as he turned his face into his alpha's shoulder.

"Sorry," Liam said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. The apology was directed toward Harry more than Louis. "Niall?"

"I probably could've dropped the bomb with a little more context," Niall acknowledged, looking a bit guilty himself.

Zayn snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. He leaned sideways against the cave wall, the red glow of the setting sun casting half of his face into shadows. "You think?"

"Explain," Liam barked, his impatient eyes flicking a few times between Niall and Louis.

"While you two went to negotiate with the Sons, Louis sent me to check out this other pack. He thought that they might have something to do with his father's request, so I went to the center of their community --"

"Alone?" Zayn interjected. The single word rang with disbelief. His accusing eyes immediately landed on Louis.

Liam shot the dark-haired beta a harsh glare. "Let him talk."

"Thank you, Liam. So Louis gave me directions -- which were super vague, by the way -- but I made it there. They've got a pretty small main town, except there's this giant concrete building in the center. I thought it looked a bit strange," Niall explained. "So, I went into the village --"

It was Louis who cut him off this time. "You went inside?!" he exclaimed, his dark eyes flashing furiously at the beta. "What part of 'don't get caught' did you not understand?"

"You're the one who sent him on a suicide mission without any sort of instructions -- or help, for that matter!" Zayn accused. His voice raised in volume and pitch, rattling through the mouth of the cave. "It's not his fault, it's yours!"

Harry's legs wobbled, and he grasped at Louis's arm for support. Louis steadied him easily, not waiting even a moment before he hooked his arms under the omega's knees and scooped Harry's weak body into his arms. Harry huffed softly in protest, but he wrapped his arms around Louis's neck, dropping his heavy head onto the older boy's shoulder.

"Louis. Put me down."

His mate ignored his complaints. "We can have this conversation sitting down," he stated firmly, striding toward the fire pit with his mate cradled against his chest.

"Why did my heat have to come early?" Harry grumbled, the complaint only audible to his mate. He felt completely and utterly useless, and he muffled a sniffle in his alpha's shirt.

Louis just squeezed his hip gently. His face was unreadable, hard and blank, but Harry could feel the turmoil brewing inside of him. It wouldn't take much to tip the alpha over his breaking point.

"Sorry, Haz," Zayn offered as they circled up around the dying fire. "Forgot about your heat."

"It's okay," he responded softly.

Louis set him down gently, keeping a steadying hand on Harry's waist as he settled onto the floor with his legs spread apart. Harry crawled in between them without question, leaning back against the older boy's chest. When Louis's arms snaked around his middle, both hands splayed out over his stomach, Harry finally felt like he could breathe again.