It all started
1912 Words
Luana:
At the waterfall, I stared at the moon, lost in my thoughts. What would my destiny be? Have I not found my mate because he is already dead, or did he fall in love with someone else and doesn’t want to find me? So many questions and no answers.
Then, the wind blew so strongly that I realized it was already late, so I decided to return home. My wolf was excited, so she took a huge leap from the waterfall toward the forest.
I started running, feeling a sense of freedom with the wind against my face. Suddenly, I heard a noise. I stopped immediately and looked back. I saw a shadow moving very fast. I ran toward it, but found nothing. I circled the area, but nothing appeared, and I couldn’t catch any scent.
I went home. When I arrived, I jumped straight through my bedroom window. My house has two floors, with doors and windows larger than normal, allowing us to enter as wolves without any problems. My home is very spacious, with white walls and black furniture, just the way my mother likes it.
The first floor has two living rooms, my father's office, the kitchen, a game room, and three bathrooms. The second floor consists only of suites—six in total. The largest one, at the end of the hallway, belongs to my parents. Next to it is mine, and across from mine is my brother’s. Each suite has its own private bathroom.
I shifted back and went to take a hot shower, but my thoughts remained in the forest. Something was there.
After my shower, I went downstairs to the kitchen, where I found my mother drinking tea.
Luana: Mom, have you all had dinner already? Where is everyone?
Zara: Daughter, you lost track of time again. Were you at the waterfall?
Luana: Sorry, Mom. Yes, I was.
Zara: Sweetheart, it’s already 9:00 PM. We ate at 7:00 PM. But I saved you a plate of food—it's in the fridge. I’ll heat it up for you. Your father and brother are at the central building, deciding where to set up new accommodations.
Luana: Thanks, Mom! I’m starving. But, Mom, what new accommodations?
Zara: For new members…
Luana: What members, Mom? Everyone here already has houses and is well settled.
Zara: We never know if someone new might arrive, my daughter. This is just a precaution. As Alpha, your father always has to be prepared.
Luana: Okay, Mom. When Dad gets home, tell him I need to talk to him, please.
Zara: Of course, but are you okay? Did something happen?
Luana: Everything is fine, Mom. It’s just… something strange happened in the forest today.
Zara: What? What do you mean?
Luana:
"I was on my way home when I heard a noise and stopped. I checked, but there was nothing there—no scent, nothing—but I swear I saw a shadow running."
Zara:
"I understand. I’ll ask him to speak with you, but for now, don’t go out at night alone."
Luana:
"Why, Mom? There was nothing there... And you know I can't stay locked up at home. I get frustrated just thinking about not going out."
Zara:
"Daughter, you are smart and the strongest warrior in our pack. We need you here, and if something happened to you, I don't know what I would do..."
Luana:
"Relax, Mom. No one would be crazy enough to try to attack me. And if they did, I’d take them all down."
Zara:
"My daughter, you are not invincible on your own. You haven’t found your mate yet. So, take it easy and come help me tomorrow at the central building with the children."
Luana:
"Mom, I’m not going to find my mate. I’ve already lost hope. And tomorrow, I can help you after training."
Zara:
"Don’t say nonsense, daughter. Trust in the Moon. She has already written your destiny and will never abandon her children. Your brother hasn’t found his mate either, and he’s not upset about it."
Luana:
"Of course not, Mom! My brother sleeps with all the she-wolves here. They throw themselves at him like he’s the last wolf on earth."
Zara:
"Don’t talk about your brother like that. He is a good person and an incredible warrior. He will find a mate worthy of him."
Luana:
"Come on, Mom. He’s a brute. He breaks girls' hearts..."
Zara:
"That’s enough, Luana. Finish eating. I’m going to rest. I’ll see you at the central building tomorrow. And stop worrying about your mate—he will appear when you least expect it.
Mother Moon knows what’s best for all of us."
Luana:
"Okay, Mom. No need to get mad."
Zara:
"I’m not. Good night."
Luana:
"Good night. And don’t forget to tell Dad..."
Zara:
"Okay."
My mother went upstairs, and when I mentioned my father, I noticed a look of concern on her face. Could what I saw be important?
Well, I finished eating and washed the dishes. My father still hadn’t returned, so I went to bed since I had training at 7:00 AM.
As soon as I fell asleep, I dreamed of someone chasing me through the forest. But I couldn’t see who it was—I could only feel their anger and fury directed at me. When I reached the field, I saw a warrior from our pack lying dead—it was Gabriel, one of my friends. My heart shattered and tightened in pain.
Then, I woke up suddenly, crying, just as I heard loud knocks at the door and someone shouting, "Alpha!"
Everyone got up and ran to the door. My father was the first to open it and saw Leandro, one of the betas from his main guard.
Marcos:
"What’s going on, Leandro?"
Leandro:
"Alpha, we were patrolling the field when we found…"
Leandro hesitated, his face filled with deep terror. My eyes continued to well up with tears, and my heart clenched.
Marcos:
"Speak, Leandro!"
Leandro:
"Alpha, we found the warrior Gabriel dead… his neck and stomach ripped open by claws."
Marcos:
"What? Who? That can't be…"
The moment I heard those words, my heart raced—my dream was real. But how? I let out a scream and collapsed to my knees. Everyone stopped and stared at me. My mother rushed over and helped me up, while my father ran off with Leandro and my brother, instructing my mother to take care of me.
Zara:
"Daughter, are you okay?"
Luana:
"No, Mom, this can't be happening… Gabriel had a family. His daughter was just born..."
Zara:
"Calm down, my child. We will find the one responsible, and they will pay for what they’ve done."
My mother sat me down on the couch, and I lay in her lap like a child, unable to process what had happened… my dream… why?
An hour later, my father and brother returned, their faces stricken with horror from what they had seen. Who could have done such a thing? Our pack was safe—there hadn’t been a death in years.
My father saw me on the couch with my mother. I was paler than usual, still crying uncontrollably. My brother looked at me in shock.
Orfeu:
"Mom, why is she like this?"
Zara:
"I don’t know. She doesn’t want to say anything..."
Orfeu:
"She didn’t even see Gabriel to be this terrified. She’s too weak. She’s not fit to be a warrior if she can’t handle death."
His words felt like a dagger to my chest. My wolf awakened, and before I realized it, I was lunging at Orfeu’s throat.
My father grabbed me, holding me back as I screamed that I was going to kill Orfeu.
Marcos:
"Stop this now, Luana! Orfeu, apologize to your sister. Gabriel was your friend—something you don’t even have here."
Orfeu’s eyes burned with rage as he ran to his room. My father had struck a deep wound. Orfeu had never been able to make true friends in the pack. Everyone who got close to him did so for the benefits of being the Alpha’s son. He also had a difficult temperament. His only true friend was our father, and I think that’s why he resented me. Unlike him, I had many friends and got along well with everyone.
Once, he almost killed Beto, someone we all thought was his friend—until Orfeu tried to murder him. To this day, we never discovered the reason for their fight. If not for my father, Beto would have died.
Marcos:
"Luana, what was that?"
Luana:
"He has no right to speak about me or my friends!"
Marcos:
"Yes, daughter, he was wrong. But please, calm down."
Luana:
"Yes, Dad."
I sat down beside my mother and rested my head in her lap, tears streaming down my face again. My father knelt to my level…
Marcos:
"Daughter, why are you so scared?"
My father was the Alpha—he could feel what I was feeling. I swallowed hard and began to speak.
Luana:
"Dad, something strange happened in the forest yesterday, and now this with Gabriel… it can’t be a coincidence!"
Marcos looked at Luna Zara, who communicated with him through their bond. She explained the conversation she had with me. His expression changed as he stood up and looked at me in my mother’s lap.
Marcos:
"Daughter, did anything else happen?"
Luana:
"Yes, Dad."
Marcos:
"Tell me everything in detail."
Luana:
"I went to sleep after talking to Mom and eating. As soon as I drifted off, my mind shut down, and when I woke up in the dream, I was in the forest, being chased by something. Its rage and fury were indescribable. That’s when I reached the field and saw Gabriel dead, exactly as Leandro described. Then I woke up crying, haunted by the image of Gabriel’s body… and at that moment, I heard Leandro pounding on the door."
My parents’ faces froze. My mother pulled me into a tight embrace.
Zara:
"I’m so sorry, my daughter, that you had to see that…"
My father came closer and spoke to me.
Marcos:
"Daughter, what happened in your dream was real because you are marked by the Moon. You will be the next Alpha of our pack, and it will happen soon. That’s why you had the vision instead of me. The Moon is warning you to prepare—difficult times are coming."
Luana:
"But Dad… what about my brother? He is first in line to be Alpha, not me… I just want to find my mate and start my family. I have no ambition to be Alpha."
Marcos:
"Luana, listen to me. This was a sign. From today onward, you will be trained to become Alpha. We must also hunt down whatever killed Gabriel, and it won’t be easy."
Zara:
"Daughter, listen to your father and do as he says. We know what’s best for you."
Luana:
"Mom, what do you think Orfeu will do when he finds out? He already doesn’t like me."
Marcos:
"He will not go against the Moon’s will."
Luana:
"But Dad, I don’t want to hurt him. Becoming Alpha has always been his dream. Skipping ahead of him in the line… this won’t end well!"
Marcos:
"Let’s have breakfast first, and then I will talk to both of you."
Zara looked at her husband with sadness—today, the truth would be revealed…
- Writer
