Wolfless

The moon was full the night everything burned. I remember because it was supposed to be my night…not my nightmare. “Stop fidgeting,” my mother said, her fingers tightening the clasps of my white gown. “You’re shaking the jewels loose.” “I’m not fidgeting,” I muttered, staring at my reflection. “I’m… breathing dramatically.” She smiled, faintly. “You always do that before a ceremony. You get that from your father.” “Then maybe he should be the one wearing this ridiculous corset.” “Language, Remi,” she warned, but her tone was soft, the kind that meant she was proud even when she pretended not to be. Outside, the Silvermoon Hall glowed with gold light. Laughter, music, the clinking of crystals. My coronation night. The night I’d be declared heir to Silvermoon, and tomorrow, I’d stand beside my betrothed. Alpha Asher of Shadowfang. “Try to smile tonight,” my mother whispered. “You and Asher are to rule together. The packs need to see unity.” “Unity,” I repeated, forcing a smile. “Right. Because nothing says unity like marrying a man who looks like he’d rather bite my head off than kiss me.” “Remi!” she hissed, half laughing. “What? He glares at me every time I talk. I think he hates conversation.” “Or maybe,” she said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, “he’s just nervous. Alphas don’t do well with emotions.” “Then he shouldn’t marry one.” She gave me that motherly look,half warning, half love. “It’s your night. No shadows, remember?” I nodded. “No shadows.” But even as I said it, something inside me stirred. My wolf,Selene, restless, pacing. Something’s wrong. I tried to shake it off, to listen to the orchestra, the laughter, the toasts echoing through the hall. My father’s voice rose above the crowd. “To Silvermoon! To our future Luna!” Everyone cheered. Asher stood beside him, tall, cold, unreadable. He didn’t smile. His eyes caught mine, gray as ash, sharp as steel. I lifted my glass anyway. “To peace,” I whispered under my breath. Then, the torches flickered. Just once. Then again. Then… darkness. “What’s happening?” I asked, glancing at my mother. Before she could answer, the first scream tore through the night. Then another. Guards rushed toward the doors. “Stay inside!” one shouted. My father’s voice boomed across the hall. “Protect the Luna! Protect the heir!” I froze. My heart pounded in my throat. “Mother…” But before she could move, the doors burst open. Shadowfang warriors stormed in,dozens of them, their armor black, their blades catching the faint moonlight. And leading them. “Asher?” I whispered. He stepped through the smoke and chaos like death himself. His eyes glowed… not gold, not the color of loyalty, but crimson. The mark of betrayal. My father roared, shifting into his wolf mid-stride. “Traitor!” Asher didn’t flinch. “The Silvermoon line ends tonight.” “Asher, stop!” I screamed. “What are you doing?” He looked at me, just once, and for a moment, I swore there was regret. Then his sword came down on one of our guards. Blood splattered across the marble floor. “No…!” My mother grabbed my arm. “Remi, run!” “I can fight…” “You can’t fight betrayal!” she shouted. The sound of steel clashing filled the air. My father’s wolf charged, slamming into Asher, teeth sinking into his shoulder. A flare of light — my mother’s healing magic — burst through the hall, shielding the pack members. Then… a whistle. A dagger flew through the air. “Mother!” I screamed, but too late. The blade struck her square in the chest. Her eyes widened. “Run,” she breathed, blood staining her gown. “Mother, no!!” “Run!” My father’s roar turned into a howl as another sword cut through him. I felt his life flicker, that unbreakable bond between Alpha and heir snapping like a string. Something inside me shattered. “Asher!” I screamed, stumbling backward. “Why?!” He said nothing. His blade dripped crimson. The fire started then…the tapestries, the curtains, the wooden beams. Someone had set the hall ablaze. The flames spread fast, feeding on the screams. I ran. Barefoot, breathless, through smoke and blood. Behind me, my home, my pack, burned. My wolf howled inside my chest, wild and panicked. We have to go, Remi! Now! A warrior lunged from the shadows. His blade grazed my ribs, hot pain slicing through me. I shoved him off, stumbled through the door, and into the forest. “Remi!” someone called… Asher’s voice, cold, echoing through the smoke. I didn’t look back. Branches tore my gown, mud splattered my feet, blood soaked my side. I ran until the world blurred. “Selene!” I gasped between breaths. “Please,help me.. ” But she didn’t answer. My wolf, my strength, my other half… gone silent. The pain grew unbearable. My vision dimmed. I collapsed against a tree, clutching my side, feeling the blood seep between my fingers. The moonlight spilled through the branches, cruel and distant. “Moon Goddess,” I whispered. “Don’t let me die here.” A gust of wind tore through the clearing, and for a moment, I swore I heard whispers… old magic, ancient and cold. Then,burning. My pack mark ignited on my skin, silver flame searing through my shoulder. I screamed as it burned away my identity, my lineage, my past erased. When it was done, I could barely breathe. My body trembled. My eyes blurred with tears. The last thing I saw before the darkness swallo wed me was the moon,full, merciless, watching. And somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of howling, not of my pack, but of strangers.