AURORA

The banishment of the cursed wolf In the deep part of California, known as the Woods, which stands as the boundary between humans and mystical beings, the **cries of a purple-eyed woman** could be heard. She was publicly banished from the Riverbend Pack, forced to stand before the gathered members, her face pale, yet neither protesting nor pleading. The pack members jeered at her, their voices echoing through the marketplace. "Finally, the witch is gone," one member sneered. "She is a chaos bringer; we need to cleanse the pack of her kind," another agreed, nodding their head in grim unison. The woman’s head spun as she absorbed the cruel words. She looked around, her gaze lingering on the Alpha, who watched her with cold vigilance. Tearing her eyes away from the scene, she directed her focus to the heavens and murmured a few words, a small, defiant smile touching her lips. The Alpha’s eyes widened in sudden disbelief, and a flicker of deep panic flashed through them as he heard her final vow. "Every purple-eyed child should be killed!" he thundered, his voice echoing over the silent pack. The members nodded in unison, their faces etched with fear and dark satisfaction. The Alpha folded his fist in impotent rage, remembering her parting words: "I am coming back for revenge." --- Thousands of years passed, and her story was passed down as a dark myth, labeling her the evil purple-eyed witch. Any child born with purple eyes was instantly killed, enforcing a terrible peace in the Riverbend Wolf Pack. The incident was long forgotten, but the peace shattered on a rainy night. Lightning flared in the dark clouds, and thunder clapped, filling the pack with despair. As they ran for shelter, they noticed their rooftops suddenly flew open as the rain poured in. A massive whirlwind started, grazing the ground and carrying away everything in its path, making their eyes widen in horror. Their hearts hammered against their chests as the cries of their infants resonated through the air. They clutched their children, the relentless rain adding to their predicament. They all had one thought: "They have been cursed." --- Inside a secluded cottage in the middle of the Alpha's mansion, Luna Elena’s screams resonated through the walls. She lay in anguish, her wrists tightly tied to the bed to hold her down. She clutched the sheets, beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. "You need to push, Your Majesty!" the matron shouted. The screaming continued until the cries of a baby could be heard, breaking the tense night. Elena slumped back, feeling her energy drained. Her lips curved into a smile—her baby. The ropes were untied. "Ahhh!" the matron shrieked loudly, holding the child. Elena sprang up in a panic. "W-what happened to my child?" she whispered. "She... she..." the matron stuttered, her hands trembling. "She has purple eyes," an attendant whispered, and Elena's eyes widened in horror. A wave of dread surged through her as she limped to them. She reached for the baby, covered in blood, and limped back to the bed. Tears shimmered in her eyes. Purple eyes meant doom and chaos in the pack. Alpha Kael stormed in, his hazel eyes full of concern. "Where is my baby?" he asked. "Here," Elena replied hoarsely. She dreaded his reaction. Alpha Kael strode toward her. Lo and behold, the child had purple eyes. His eyes flickered in panic. The chaos outside had already filled the pack with fear. He shivered, dreading their reaction when they found out about his purple-eyed heir. He cradled the baby; she stopped crying instantly. He inhaled sharply. "Dress up. You are leaving the pack tonight." "I... am... leaving?" she asked, her lips quivering. "Dress her up; she is leaving right now," he thundered at the matron. Elena stood up. "Why should I leave?" "The pack is simmering in resentment, oblivious to the child. The chaos out there has left half of them injured," Alpha Kael said in a raised voice. "But... my daughter is not a monster... she is not!" her tears turned into sobs. Alpha Kael rubbed his forehead. "Our daughter is not a monster, but safety comes first. My family before obligation," he whispered. Elena nodded, sighing in relief. "But... What about you?" "I will be fine. Get out of the pack and go to Whispering Moon Pack. My cousin will welcome you," he said. Alpha Kael brought out a small pendant with an artistic carving of a wolf's head. Elena collected it and wore it around the baby's neck. The matron wrapped the baby with clothes and handed her back to Elena, who straddled her around her bosom. Alpha Kael took one last glance at her before pulling Elena with him as they left the room.