Laughter. Laughter. LAUGH-TER. I'm officially going crazy. It's two in the morning and they still haven't stopped laugh-ing ! After the first wave of general shock the different camps and the training groups went back to their training and ignored as much as they could the horrendous-dreadful-excruciating-heinous sounds of the rainbow-ish ponies. They all settled themselves on the edge of the forest, away from everyone else and started talking again, loudly, really loudly.

I grab my pillow and try to smother myself under it. But the sound is still as clear as day. I'm afraid if I close my eyes I'll have nightmares about flying horses piercing my eyeballs with their pointy toothpicks and always LAUGHING.

I just want them to shut up.

I threw a lamp at them an hour ago but that only made them shout more.

"And then the horse says : 'I'm a donkey'."

"HA HA HA HA HA HA." They all laugh.

They are not even funny.

I want to cry.

'Make them leave. Please. I'm begging you !' My wolf implores and I can almost see it rolling around in my head, its paws over its ears.

As if I could, I don't even know who brought them here.

'You should have said something.'

Trust me. If I had known they were coming I wouldn't be here right now. I'd be on another continent.

If I remember correctly their corns sell quite high underground...

"Will you shut up !" A voice shouts from nowhere.

Apparently I'm not the only one being bothered at the moment.

I thought I was weird.

'You are.'

You know, with them here, we might not even need to fight. They could scare the enemy away.

"Do you know the one about the pony who painted his tail ?" A new unicorn starts.

"No one cares !" Another voice soars through the night.

Amen.

"Whos up for a steak ?" Someone offers.

'How didn't you think of that ?'

How didn't I think of that ?! Dammit, I'm really growing old !

'You lost your last remaining quality : your ingenuity, you don't have any redeeming features anymore...'

It's the end of the world.

The crowd grows silent as people agree with the idea. I close my eyes ready to fall into the depth of Netherlands. Quiet. Bliss. Paradise. Heaven.

"And the one about the zebra ?" They start again.

That's it ! Someone is getting barbecued !

I throw back my sheets and get up, not even bothering to change into something other than my shorts. It's too hot to wear anything else. I make a beeline for the door and open it harshly. There are already a few people gathered in the corridor, obviously tired from this relentless noise.

Don't worry little ones, I'll take care of it.

I smirk and walk forward, ready to go to war.

"I can't sleep." Someone whines.

No kidding. Who could ever sleep in this kind of situation ?

"And where are Jared and alpha Nate ?" A young girl asks.

That's right !

'They are probably already thinking up a strategy to get rid of this monsters.'

I almost run to Jared's room to see what they intend to do. I frown when it's closed and there is no sign of light inside. I listen closely and hear soft snores on the other side of the wooden door.

Un-believable.

How is that even possible ?! I have difficulty hearing him over the screeching sounds which resembles that of dying pigs out there so how on earth is he able to sleep so soundly ?

'Let's break down the door and shake him awake. Better yet, throw him at them. Two birds with one stone.'

That's a strong argument. Alright then.

I reach for the doorknob, ready to kick the entire door down. It'll be easy. One, open the window. Two, grab his ankle. Three, throw. Four, Home-run.

"Alpha Nate, what should we do sir ?" Leo's voice surprises me from behind. "The pups can't fall asleep and everyone is getting tired.

"I don't know." Nate sighs. "I tried reasoning with them but they just ignored me. I don't even know how or why they came here."

To make my life a living hell, that's why.

"Can we ask them to leave ?" Leo still tries.

"I doubt it'll work."

"Then what do we do ?" The fighter insists.

We run for the hills and hope they won't follow us.

'I really don't see any other solution.' My wolf agrees.

"Actually." Nate starts to say but when he doesn't continue I turn around curious.

He's on the other end of the corridor and looking directly at me. Or more accurately at my attire I think because his eyes are definitely not meeting mine. His stare roams over my figure flashing a crystalline white for a millisecond. I take my time taking it all in, his dishevelled hair, his unshaven stubble and the dark circles under his eyes, his ruffled shirt and his sweat-pants. A hot mess. Still perfect though.

"Actually," He clears his throat and tries again, "I came to ask for some advice, I thought maybe Hope would have an idea."

Great, now I really have to come up with something.

"I was leaning toward a barbecue." I smile. "I heard, horse steak is a delicacy."

Someone gasps and I see from the corner of my eyes some others are smirking at the idea.

I'm convinced they would gladly help if it could allow us to get rid of the nuisance outside.

"I'm afraid we can't eat our allies." Nate shakes his head amused.

"Just this once ?" I offer but he shakes his head again.

I sigh disappointed.

"Alright then. I have an idea but I'll need some help." I announce and explain my plan.

They all listen intently. Once everyone knows their part I go back to Jared's room and force my way inside. It so happens it's directly facing the direction of their camp.

What a coincidence !

'You would have barged inside anyway.'

When Nate refuses for the third time that I throw his beta at them, whom is still sleeping might I add, I chose a random spear decorating the room. Alright, so it may not be so random since there were at least a dozen less deadly other objects in this place but at least they'll get my point. 'Shut up or else.' Simple but quite clear. I am ready so I open the window.

"You know what." I step back into the room and put the spear on the floor.

I take the first vase I find, take out the flowers inside and walk to the bed. Nate doesn't have the time to tell me to stop before I pour the contents over Jared's face.

"There is no reason for us being the only ones awake." I declare as I watch the dirty cold liquid rushing to hit his face.

"What the hell !" He shouts sitting up wiping at his face as much as he can.

He looks around furiously to find me with the vase still in my hands. He's about to say some more profanities when he notices the five other people in the room and his face morphs to doubt. On cue an other sound resounds around us.

"What's that ?" He questions.

"That, my friend is the reason why you'll be on cleaning duty for the next week." I tell him with a straight face when I really want to fall on the ground and laugh at his state.

He's completely drenched.

"What ?" He asks confused.

"There is no excuse for you to be the only person sleeping in the entire pack house. You have to pay." I shrug.

"It's not my fault if I can sleep well." He mumbles.

"Well as we all know life is unfair. That's why I'm trying to bring back some justice in this world."

"And that's by me becoming a maid." He frowns.

"Exactly. Now if you'll excuse me I came here for a reason." I grab the spear again and go to face the window.

I watch in the distance, the beasts are all gathered around a fire camp and as they laugh their darkened black teeth are showing.

Eww

I aim at the closest one turning his back on us and after calculating the amount of force I need I throw it in the air. The weapon soars through the night sky and lands in the dirt after scratching the flank of one of them and the beast starts to shouts.

I can't kill them now, it doesn't mean I can't try.

'Too bad he didn't move a little more to the left.'

"I'll see you in five minutes." I announce and jump out two storeys down on the grass.

I reach them quickly as they all look tensely around them.

"Wolf, that's already the second time you aim at us tonight." One of the unicorns with a bandage covering his eye declares.

Yeah, that's the one I hit earlier.

"Oh, I'm sorry, since I couldn't sleep I decided to train a little." I reply innocently.

"And you decided to work on your aim." Berta says more than asks from the other side of the fire.

Figures.

She's so small I didn't notice her here.

"Berta." I acknowledge her

"Ugly." She answers unwavering.

It'll be a pony steak and a soup of goblin tonight, thank you very much !

"I guess I know who invited our dear guests." I try to ignore her rude comment, nothing good usually comes out of our arguments.

"I met them on my way here and I figured we could use all the help we could find."

There's a limit to who you ask to help though.

'If it were for me she wouldn't be here either.'

"Sure." I answer with a shrug.

"But I see you still have no manners." She continues.

"Honest mistake." I defend myself, crossing over my heart.

"Perhaps I should talk to Nate, you can't really help and maybe it would be best if you went home."

Oh, she's going down.

"I have a feeling he would run for the hills as soon as he saw your face." I tell her through gritted teeth.

"Then why did he invite me to his chambers tonight ?" She questions.

HE WHAT ?!

'HE WHAT ?!'

Let's calm down a second.

'Right, calm down.'

There's no way he would.

'Absolutely no way.'

"I see you're as delusional as ever." I whistle.

"Don't worry dear. Once I become your Luna I'll make sure you get the help you need."

"AH AH AH AH AH !" I burst out laughing.

My ribs hurt and I bend down gasping for air, tears rushing down my cheeks.

"You, the Luna." I finally manage to say between laughter as I wipe my tears away. "Man, it's been a while since I laughed so much."

In front of me Berta is not smiling, she's just watching me as if I've gone crazy.

'She's the crazy one if she thinks our mate would choose her.'

"Hope !" Nate shouts behind us, walking straight in our direction with two of his men, Tom and Steven, both holding trays full of bowls. "What are you doing to our guests ?" He growls menacingly.

"What ?" I ask.

"Why won't you behave !" He chastises me. "I deeply apologize for this wolf's behaviour, this won't happen again." He tells them and I look at the ground.

"That's good to hear." A female unicorn says. "We don't appreciate being made fun of or being injured especially when we came to help."

"Of course. And we are eternally grateful. Here. To apologize for what you all went trough tonight I had my cooks prepare some beverages for you." He informs them handing down a cup tp everyone, giving Berta hers last.

"That's very kind of you alpha." She smiles batting her lashes at him.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening." He greets them. "Hope you're coming with us." He glares at me.

I follow a little behind them watching all the beasts drinking, particularly Berta who is smirking my way over her cup.

We all stop once we are safely inside.

"I hope this works." Tom whispers exhausted.

"Give it five minutes." I say.

"Just the time for me to go back under my covers !" Steven yawns.

I nod frantically already walking up the first flight of stairs which will bring me back to my own bed.

"Still that was some devious plan you got there." He says impressed.

"Brilliant." Tom comment nodding.

"Distracting them, pretending to be the one being blamed and sneakily giving them sleeping pills." Steven enumerates.

"You were right, that shaman had a bag full of different herbs. Everything we needed and more. And he jumped at the first occasion to help." Tom continues

"I can't believe it worked." Nate laughs.

"I had my doubts regarding Berta, but she was more than happy to drink something her future mate gave her." I nod.

"What ?" He stops, frowning.

"She intends to be your Luna." I inform him and both Steven and Tom find themselves laughing.

"What ?" Nate repeats.

"I'm just telling you what she said." I shrug and start to yawn so I take another step.

"I'm too tired to even understand this." He sighs. "Let's just all go to bed."

The corridors are empty and everything has quietened down. Finally. The two fighters turn left to reach their rooms and I continue further right. Nate is still following me.

"I can get to my room on my own you know ?" I smile looking over my shoulder at him.

He keeps quiet but still follows me. I open my door as soon as I reach it, so tired I can't wait to jump in my bed. There is a good chance they won't see me this morning, I'll be too busy sleeping !

I turn to wish him a good night and find him hesitating at the door.

"Can I sleep in here tonight ?" He asks.

"Hum... Huh ?"

Even my wolf is too tired to comprehend what's happening.

...

Wait, my bad, it already went to sleep.

Not fair.

Maybe I should shout to wake it up. Or I could just let it sleep, which I'm going to be doing right now too.

Why isn't anyone answering me ?! I feel so alone right now !

"Just to sleep." Nate swears. "You slept in my bed too." He reminds me.

"Right."

He walks past me without waiting for me to let him in and starts to study the room.

It's not as if he doesn't know the place already.

And I didn't really decorate it or anything. I look at my bed, calling my name, begging for me to bury myself under the sheets. And I spot one of Nate's pillows I stole at the beginning of the week.

Crap !

That's exactly why I need a crazy voice in my head ! To remind me that I'm too stupid for my own good !

It's been a week so the scent is fainter than it used to be but it's still his scent.

What do I do ? What do I do ? WHAT DO I DO ?!

And why won't you wake up when I actually need your help ?!

I discretely close the distance to the bed and reach for it throwing it under the bed.

Now I'll need to steal another one tomorrow. Wait. If he sleeps in my bed his scent will be everywhere ! I'm taking it back, I love you my little ponies ! Berta you're my new BFF !

Nate is looking at the books I took out of the Library.

Marcus said I could so I'm good right ?

He doesn't comment on it so I guess it's fine.

"I'm going to bed." I say timidly, drawing back the covers when his eyes land on the knife I stole, well, took back.

"Right." He clears his throat and walks to the other side of the bed.

Awkward.

I lay on my right side, turning my back to him but I don't last five seconds before turning to face him. We don't say anything, looking at each other. The room is dark and the place is quiet. It almost feels weird after all that noise. I'm not complaining though !

Nate lifts his fingers to graze my cheek and I close my eyes to savour the moment.

"Just go back to sleep" He whispers.

"Easier said than done." I grumble.

"At least try." He chuckles softly.

I open one eye to see him. He's smiling gently while his hand caresses my cheek, going up to my temple and down to the line of my jaw. That simple movement is doing wonders, soothing my nerves, almost hypnotizing me.

"Did you actually eat unicorn steak before ?" He inquires.

I smirk but don't open my eyes again.

"No. But I have a feeling I'll try it out sooner rather than later."

We fall silent for a while but his movement doesn't stop.

"Thank you for helping me so much." He murmurs, his breath fanning over my face.

I slide closer to him in desperate need of being surrounded by his scent even more.

"I know you can't do anything without me." I joke. "I wonder what future Luna Berta would think about this." I nag and hear him grumble.

"Why am I so handsome ?" He whines.

I can't help but chuckle and finally open my eyes again to find him looking at me amused.

"A handsome heartbreaker."

"Always better than a beautiful little devil." He smirks.

"Can't argue with that." I nod under his fingers. "Though I'm more of a beautiful and hot goddess." I correct him.

"Just shut up and sleep." He rolls his eyes still smiling.

I close my eyes again and just before falling asleep I feel his lips graze over my forehead.