this drabble is based off of this gifset - http://chiararps.tumblr.com/post/135208834852
Luke was exhausted. The last two months had taken too much out of him. His hand was wounded and returning to Julia had been something of an effort. He hated returning home wounded, it only reminded the two of them that they were apart. It always caused Julia pain to see him hurt, large cuts running down his face and chest from fights with other packs. It was obvious to both of them that he was exhausted, his eyes were red, his cheeks sunken, and he refused to leave his estate. Normally when he returned home he would look after the village, as was customary from a lord, but this time, he wondered if he should ever come home again. He and Julia were two different beings now. He was no longer the man that she had married and despite the fact that the Sweeney family had made a promise not to do any harm to Luke’s pack, they were all aware that he was what their family hunted.
Most nights Luke slipped out of bed and went to his library, watching as the moon rose high in the sky fully aware that in a few short weeks it would rise again and be full, calling him away from his family and back to his second family. Calling him away from Julia and their soon-to-be child. The moon held him like an addict. Everything he did was by the moon, taking away his freedom to be the man that he had always wanted to become, to be the man that his family wanted him to be, the man that his wife had married.
As the full moon slipped closer, Bedford had an unexpected guest. It was customary for aristocratic families to host other men of the court if they were passing through and George had been friendly with the Abbots for quite some time, though Luke never considered he and George friends. He had never liked the other man. He found George arrogant and uncaring, and yet he had written two days earlier telling Luke and Julia that he would be passing through and “wouldn’t it be like old times?” and so Luke had agreed. He didn’t get to spend much time in court these days, often avoiding it, afraid people might think that he was ill, and there was no way he was about to let George Pembroke tell any of their acquaintances that Luke had refused him and made him sleep in the inn.
Two days had passed and as usual Luke slipped out of his bedroom and to his library, sitting in the chair below the window with a book on his lap, open, yet he was not reading it, instead he was looking out the window and listening carefully for the howls he knew would start to appear in the woods. His ears pricked up as he heard footsteps outside and George stepped in through the open door.
“Ah, Luke, just the man I was looking for.”
“It’s a little late to be looking for me, don’t you think?” Luke asked slipping the book onto the small table beside his chair and standing up.
“Well, I expect you don’t sleep much these days what with the moon growing every night.”
Luke slipped off his glasses and placed them on the desk, trying to remain as calm as he could. “I’m not sure what you mean, Mr. Pembroke.”
Luke watched as the other man walked to a shelf on the other side of the room and picked up a small bronze cast of a golden retriever.
“Must be so difficult to live amongst a family of hunters when you, yourself, are what they hunt.”
Luke took a deep breath but said nothing. The other man continued, “It didn’t take me long to discover what you were. Your absence in London, the stories of wolves nearby. It’s been the past few days that confirmed what I suspected. You look awful, old chum.” George turned and tossed the cast in the air, catching it as he looked at Luke, “I admit that I am new to this world of yours, but I am quite surprised that your father-in-law allowed you his daughter’s hand knowing what you were. Actually, I’m more surprised that your wife allows you to sleep in her bed, but then again she might get more of a thrill knowing that she’s carrying a wolf’s son.”
Luke took several steps closer to the other man, “I think it might be time for you to leave my estate.”
“The Sweeney’s are losing their touch, it’s clear to me now. If they won’t do what they must then I will.”
Luke stepped closer, “If you want to kill me, do it now.” His voice hard.
George shook his head and pressed his hand to Luke’s chest, “While you’re in this form? I think not. You see, I want the pleasure of shooting you in the wild, like the animal you are.”
Luke stared into the other man’s eyes as Julia walked through the door, “What is going on down here?” She asked seeing the two men. Luke grabbed George’s wrist and held tightly, pulling his hand off of him.
“Mr. Pembroke was just telling me that he has to leave quite unexpectedly. Please get Alice to wake up Roger and let him know that George will be requiring his car.” Luke watched as George walked to Julia, taking her hand and giving it a small kiss that was ended quite quickly as Julia pulled her hand away. “Pack quickly, Mr. Pembroke, there is a train you can catch in an hour.”
Luke watched as George left the room completely and he walked over to Julia, “everything is fine, my love. No need to worry.” He lied. “Now, go find Alice.” Giving her a small kiss on her cheek and walking back to his chair.
