CHAPTER TWO - Marked by moonfire
1067 Words
Lyra did not wake gently
Pain dragged her back to consciousness, searing and merciless, curling through her veins like liquid flame. She gasped, jerking as though pulled from a nightmare, but discovered it wasn't.
The forest was calm, with birds chirping around. She tried moving, but felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder. She immediately remembered what transpired that night. While sitting and trying to rephrase what the creature was and why it didn't kill her, she thought about its elongated fangs, sharpened claws, a ridged brow, and pointed ears. She gasped as she remembered the story her brother usually told her about. How certain creatures started haunting humans, biting them, or turning them to be one of their own kind against their will, and the word “ALPHA" slipped out of her mouth. Suddenly she checked her right shoulder, but the wound was gone. She thought to herself, what sort of mystery is this, tho looking surprised.
The wound was gone, leaving scar tissue.
She touched the mark, screamed- and then froze.
The pain didn't stop. It changed.
Heat spread outward, flowing through her chest and down her arms. Her vision blurred as an unfamiliar sensation stirred deep within her blood.
A low hum vibrated beneath her skin, subtle yet powerful - as if the moon itself had branded her
" What did you do to me?” She whispered, her voice breaking.
She heard a howl coming from somewhere in the woods.
This one was different.
Not violent.
Not hurting.
And for one terrifying moment, she felt his pain, rage, and horror. Lyra tried standing to find her way back to the village, a clan that never accepted her, but was only loved by her brother and best friend Eira Solenne. A clan named " The Legion Pack”. She sighed as she said gently, as if talking to someone, ‘How I wish I had listened to my brother.’ I was just inquisitive about what was out here.
Somewhere deep in the woods, an Alpha was losing control-because the human girl he had bitten was now bound to him by blood, moon, and fate.
Here in the Legion Park, Chris is seen so restless about the whereabouts of Lyra. He asked himself, ‘Where could she have gone?’.
‘What if she crossed the boundary, a place I told her countless times never to attempt to reach’
Numerous thoughts flooded Chris's mind, and he couldn't help but rush over to her best friend's house.
He met her by the door.
Eira froze near the doorway, saying, ‘To what do I owe this visit?’
Chris gave a faint smile and said ‘All is not well’
Eira asked, What's the problem?. ‘Hope it isn't about the lack of discipline in the clan?’. I hope you aren't letting the negligence of others distract you from going about your business.
Chris narrowed his eyes and said, ‘Watch your tone Eira’.....Well, that's not why I am here. Have you seen or heard from Lyra?.
Eira laughed and asked, ‘Is this some kind of Joke, isn't she supposed to be at home listening to your boring stories?. She said sarcastically.
When she saw the serious look on Chris's face, she knew that there was truly a problem.
She left my house three hours ago, after spending time together.
Chris went further to ask, “Did she talk about passing or going somewhere else?.
Eira thought for a while and said, she wouldn't try crossing the boundary, because before she left me, she had laid emphasis on entering the woods and…….
Chris didn't let her finish; he shouted, “Not again!" Why didn't you let me know or walk her to the house?.
Eira said, Lyra wouldn't dare, after all the warnings you gave to her?... And besides, she's not that little girl of yours that needs an escort all the time.
Chris asked, ‘What if she did?’ You're a werewolf, you know it isn't easy for humans to survive in the woods. What if the Night Bound clan gets to her and tries doing something negative to her?
Eira suggested reporting the issue to the clan leader.
Chris smiled sadly and said, he won't be concerned by the news. Don't you see how she's being bullied, just because she's not like us?. They see her like a plague, a nuisance, because she's human….
Chris further went on to thank her for the information
Eira asked, So what are you going to do now?.
I'm going in search of her in the woods, said Chris….
I'm coming with you, but Chris didn't buy the idea of her tagging along.
“No, it's too dangerous." If you're caught crossing the boundary, you might get punished.
So what do you want me to do?. Sit here while my best friend is in danger?.
Since Chris couldn't convince Eira, he had to let her go with him.
************************************
Somewhere in the woods, Lyra is seen trying to find her way out of the forest, and she is almost certain she has found the route back to the clan, when the forest betrays her. Footsteps emerged from the silence - slow and hunting.
Before she could react, or even draw a breath, the figures stepped from the shadows.
She was surrounded.
Vampires watched her with patient, predatory calm. Lyra was scared, and she muttered, Not again….
Someone in their midst, like their lead said, Wow…wow…wow, who do we have here?. A mere human?......
Lyra begged faintly, Please don't harm me…….
Another from the midst of the Vampires said, Her blood smells nice, but paused and asked, “What's that mark on your shoulder?”.
Isn't that the markings of an Alpha?.
The lady in their midst laughed and said, That's just an injury.
“What sensible Alpha will mark a human girl as his Luna?”
They all laughed and overlooked it.
She walked towards her and reached out her fingers to Lyra's hair…. Startled, Lyra flinched.
The Vampires laughed-until a deep, bone-chilling howl cut through the night.
From the shadows, a massive Alpha appeared, eyes blazing. He stared at the girl who had dared to touch Lyra.
‘Touch her again,’ he growled, voice low and deadly, ‘and you'll lose that hand. ’
Silence fell.
Fear had never felt so real.
To be continued
- Writer
