Moon Child |✔|

|42|

I don't pay attention to the 

world ending

it has ended for me 

many times

and began again in the morning. 

***

~ATLAS~

It's breaking.

My world.

Not even here and she is still able to break him.

And by breaking him.

She managed to shatter me.

"Atlas," Nov-nov's soothing voice enters my ears as I look up.

Her blue eyes that match my own stare into me. I know why she is calling my name.

I stand.

It's time.

Before I leave the house though, she hugs me.

"Be brave my Atlas."

I want to stay there forever in her arms. I want to keep within the folds of it. Taking in her scent. Her warmth.

I push away though.

It's time.

Without another glance, I walk out the house. Walk into the waiting eyes.

They have come for this. Gathered around to witness this moment.

It's time.

And then I see father.

Face haggard. Eyes sunken in. Frame slightly swaying as he smiles down at me.

It's time.

I stand off in front of him.

19, I think. It's still too young.

Father is still smiling.

Still smiling as I say the condemning words.

"I, Atlas of the Alba Rosa Pack, challenge you, Jay, for Alpha leadership."

It's time.

*** 

There are no cheers as I walk towards father.

He is still Alpha.

Even in his sick state, the dominating power overwhelms the others.

Leaving them to look at me with surprise and worry.

But they don't know.

Some question this decision.

Think me power hungry.

But they don't know.

Don't know that father wakes up disoriented in the night, screaming and crying.

Don't know that father can't keep any food down. Won't keep any food down.

Don't know that I find him in odd places, staring at odd things, long forgetting who or what he was as he takes in his surroundings. Long forgetting who I am. His son.