The Moon Princess Is Born
1374 Words
On the wide-spread woven mat beside Dean's chair, the little boy, who had been sleeping peacefully in Ryker's arms, lazily opened his ocean-blue eyes. He sat up and stretched his arms, his curly hair messy from sleep.
"Good morning, Kiel," Dean said with a smile.
The little boy returned the smile. He climbed off the mat and dragged his small frame toward Dean. Dean picked him up and sat him on his lap.
"Dad, I'm hungry," he said, pouting childishly.
Dean chuckled, his face brightening.
"You woke up at the right time." He playfully pinched Kiel's nose.
At that moment, Beta Ryker walked into the tent.
"Alpha," he called, swallowing hard.
Dean looked up at him.
"All the women have given birth except two," Ryker reported.
Dean gently placed Kiel on the ground and rose to his feet.
"Only two? Then there's still hope."
Ryker took a deep breath before meeting Dean's gaze.
"I'm afraid one of the remaining women is Luna Zelda."
Dean’s mouth suddenly went dry.
Just a few hours ago, he had promised the queen that all he wanted was the Moon Princess. Because he wished to be in control of all the werewolf packs. He had promised not to harm her or her pack. And he had also promised not to abuse the power bestowed on his clan through the Moon Princess.
But what if…
"What if Luna gives birth to the Moon Princess?" Ryker asked, as though he had read the Alpha's mind.
Dean's eyes fell to the ground as his fists tightened.
Little Kiel simply stood there, looking at the two adults in confusion.
Dean turned to Ryker.
"Ryker... let's not assume," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Just then, a warrior rushed into the tent.
He bowed respectfully before the Alpha before turning to the Beta.
"Beta Ryker, the other woman, is about to give birth."
Dean felt his heart tighten. He inhaled deeply before swallowing the lump in his throat.
The two men exchanged glances before walking out of the tent.
Little Kiel quietly followed behind them.
The sky was clear, and the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air.
Kiel looked around curiously, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed a group of women sitting on animal furs, eating together.
Several women noticed him as well. For reasons they couldn't explain, they instinctively felt a sense of authority radiating from the little boy. Even without trying, he commanded attention.
As guards walked past him, each one offered him a respectful bow and a warm smile.
The camp was heavily guarded.
Just then, Kiel spotted Orion approaching from a distance.
His face lit up.
Forgetting both his hunger and his father, he happily ran toward him.
Meanwhile, Dean stood outside the birthing tent, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The atmosphere was unbearably tense. He paced back and forth with one hand resting on his waist.
Ryker remained standing nearby, silently trying to steady his own racing heartbeat.
Moments later, the cry of a newborn echoed from inside the tent.
Dean stopped pacing and stared at the entrance, his hands clasped tightly together.
He slowly inhaled… Then exhaled.
Ryker fixed his gaze on the entrance as well, blinking rapidly.
At last, one of the nurses stepped out.
She bowed respectfully before the Alpha.
"I'm sorry, Alpha," she said softly.
Dean slowly closed his eyes, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He bit his lower lip until he tasted blood, the veins in his neck bulging beneath his skin.
"Fuck..." he muttered under his breath.
After taking several slow, measured breaths, he turned toward the tent where Zelda was resting.
"What about her?" he asked.
Ryker followed his gaze and sighed.
"There's still no sign of labor."
Dean stood there looking like a man who had just lost part of his soul.
"I think... I need to go for a run."
"I'll go with you," Ryker replied.
Dean nodded silently before the two men walked away.
*****
Deep within the dark forest, a massive black wolf sprinted through the trees with restless determination.
A large grey wolf followed closely behind.
The two wolves ran until they reached the edge of a cliff.
There, they shifted back into their human forms.
The two naked men stood quietly, staring at the small village far below.
"Should we keep our promise?" Duke, Dean's wolf, asked between heavy breaths.
Dean inhaled sharply.
"I'm confused."
"But we heard the prophecy first. We can't let this opportunity slip away after everything we've sacrificed," Duke argued.
Dean rubbed his face.
"I just need to breathe, Duke."
Duke sighed before shutting off.
"What should we do now?" Ryker asked.
"We don't even know if Luna's child is the Moon Princess. Perhaps there are still a few pregnant women left in the Crescent Moon Pack."
Ryker remained silent.
He was certain every pregnant woman had been captured.
But perhaps… Just perhaps...
Dean was right.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through their mind link.
The captives have escaped!
"What?!" Dean and Ryker exclaimed in unison.
Both men looked toward the camp.
A thin trail of smoke was rising into the sky. Within seconds, it grew into thick black smoke.
Dean and Ryker locked eyes.
Without another word, they shifted back into their wolf forms and sprinted down the cliff, toward the camp.
By the time they arrived, much of the camp had already been consumed by flames.
Warriors rushed back and forth, desperately trying to save whatever they could.
Dean and Ryker shifted back into their human forms. One of the warriors hurried over with clothes, which they quickly put on.
"What happened?" Dean demanded, his eyes scanning the burning camp.
The warrior bowed, his words caught in his throat.
"I said, what happened?" Dean roared.
"It's Kiel"
Orion's voice cut through the chaos.
"He burned down the tents."
Dean's head snapped toward him.
He hurried over and immediately checked Orion for injuries.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine," Orion replied. "But I told you... Kiel burned down the tents and helped the women escape."
Orion frowned.
Dean slowly stood, his heart pounding wildly.
His eyes searched the camp. There was no sign of Kiel.
"Alpha," one of the warriors reported, "Luna Zelda escaped while in intense labor after an encounter with Prince Kiel."
Dean froze.
Intense labor?
Is it a sign that I should stop pursuing the Moon Princess?
He thought.
"But where is Kiel?" he asked urgently.
"He held that witch's hand and helped her escape through the fire he intentionally started," Orion answered with a smirk.
"Everyone!" Ryker shouted.
"Find Kiel! His safety is our top priority!"
The moment those words left his mouth, darkness suddenly swallowed the clear sky.
Lightning flashed.
Thunder roared.
The heavens trembled as though the world itself had been shaken.
Everyone froze.
Orion hurried to his father and tightly held his hand, trembling like a frightened puppy.
"D... Dad..."
A violent wind swept through the forest, snapping weaker trees like twigs.
Then, the moon appeared.
It shone brighter than ever before.
One final deafening clap of thunder split the heavens.
A brilliant star appeared beside the moon.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun.. Everything became still.
The storm vanished.
Only the crackling fire remained.
Dean stared at the sky, his mouth hanging open.
"Alpha..." Ryker whispered.
"That's the sign, Ryker."
Dean slowly turned toward him, tears glistening in his eyes.
"The Moon Princess......the Moon Princess has just been born."
"Da... Father..."
A weak little voice called from within the smoke.
Everyone turned.
A small figure slowly staggered toward them.
Then his legs gave out beneath him.
He collapsed onto the ground like a sack of grain.
"Kiel!" Dean shouted.
He rushed over and carefully lifted the little boy into his arms.
Kiel's eyes were tightly shut.
Clutched firmly in his tiny hand was a red bracelet.
He held onto it as though his life depended on it.
"Alpha," Ryker called, glancing toward the spreading flames. "The fire is getting worse. The owner of this pack could return at any moment. We have to leave."
Dean tightened his hold on Kiel.
"Retreat!" he commanded.
- Writer
