THE LUNA'S BURNING FATE

Pain

Amelia's POV

“I lost, mother. I'm sorry.”

For the first time in decades, I transformed but instead of happiness, sorrow clutched my fragile heart.

Today of all days. The last day of the sacred healing, a day I was supposed to win against my monster as Mother called it. But I had lost my control.

My promise shattered into a million pieces. I had allowed my subconscious to take control. But instead of losing to these murderers, I rather lose to my monster.

“Get her!” The voice from earlier commanded and more guards trooped in, some in their wolf form, some with wolfsbane containers, and some with weapons, ranging from spears to arrows. The cave could fit about a hundred people, so there was enough space to deal with each one of them, in cruel ways.

The thought gave me immense satisfaction and I reigned in it.

The cave finally crumbled due to the impact of the fight, crushing every one of them, including me.

Luckily, I survived the impact of the crash but I couldn't find my mother's body amidst the crumbles.

“This is exactly why I need you, Amelia. Surviving such an impact is impeccable.” Edward Ross, Alpha of the Duskfire pack, revealed. His sparkling gold teeth were on full display.

“You??” I stared at him in disbelief.

“It was you all along? Why? Why, you bastard?” I marched towards him, with the thought of ripping his heart out. For a second, confusion marred his stoic face before he masked, but he didn't move.

“I did everything you asked of me. I even left my mother just to satisfy your inferiority complex. I worshipped you, Alpha.” I cried out and my body gave out. I fell on my knees, right in front of him.

“You questioned my rule, Amelia. You connived with traitors.” He chided, his tone cold and gravelly.

“Harbouring thoughts of a better world isn't deserving of such a cruel verdict,” I said, tears cascading.

He crouched down to my level.

“What cruel verdict? Punishing your mother?” He asked bewildered.

I stiffened. “It was the best that I could do for you, Amelia. Calsey connived with our enemy to take you away. Luckily, Kane located you and I saved you.” He wiped my tears away and pecked my forehead.

“Liar. Mother would never do that.” I retorted, struggling against his hold. My body was getting weaker by the second.

He scoffed and ran his hand through his hair.

“Of course, you would never believe that but it's true, Amelia. Calsey would do anything to find her mate.” Concern laced his voice but he was trying to trick me.

“What? That's not possible? Didn't you kill him?” I forced my eyes to stay open. Was I dreaming?

“Oh, the rumors.” He smiled this time, his eyes shining with pride.

“Gideon ran away, leaving his mate behind. Calsey found you after that and you became her replacement.” He said and then pulled me up in anger when I blocked my ears.

“You don't deserve to call her name,” I muttered, trying to shrug him off but he was too strong.

“And your bullshit will not work on me. Let me go, my mother is still down there.” I sobbed and tried to get away from him. He slapped me and then hugged me tightly.

“Get a grip, Amelia. She betrayed you.” His voice was chipped but his hand stroked my hair gently.

Where was my wolf at a time like this?

“You are safe now. I will never let you out of my sight again. I will love you unconditionally, in ways you can't imagine.” He cooed and laid a kiss on my forehead. I tasted blood from the pressure I applied to keep my mouth shut but like always a word happened to stumble out.

“The same way you treated your mate, by locking her up and forcibly replacing her with an omega, right?” I taunted. He was a ruthless Alpha, who killed people with the slightest disrespect.

“You will accord me some respect or else you will find the remains of your mother hung at the entrance of the Rogues territory with a sign ‘s**t’ on it. Understood?” I winced at the promise in his voice. Edward took promises seriously.

“Y-y-yes, A-Alp–pha, I understand.” I bit my lips hard to prevent more words from tumbling out.

He glared at me for a few minutes before walking away.

“Lock her up.” He quietly ordered his guards but I heard it.

“What?” I gasped, unclenching my fist. I will never go back to that hellhole, Never. The same feeling that I got earlier resurfaced and my control began to slip away.

I stood my ground as the guards approached. They shared a look a few feet away from me, obviously expecting me to escape.

As they got nearer. Their scent mixed and filled the air, increasing my desire to crush them.

As soon as they touched me, everything turned black and when I opened my eyes again, they were all dead with each limb torn.

I couldn't move. My body refused to obey my command. I took in the scene in front of me and fear consumed me. What’s happening?

With a shaky breath, I began to dig the hip of debris after a few minutes of paralysis.

I searched for my mother's remains again, until I found something noteworthy, her arm adorned with a ring she always wore. The air changed and I followed my gut feeling to look around.

“Edward,” I mumbled. “He would never go down without a fight,” I mumbled and to confirm my suspicion, his body was nowhere to be found.

Without thinking, I took off with my mother's hand. The Edward I know would turn the world upside down to find me. He has never lost to anyone.

I ran for hours, which turned into days. My body threatening to give out at some point but the thought of going back to that hellhole gave me strength to move on.

I finally slowed down on the third day. The area was deserted and few trees were scattered around.

The sight of a few bundled clothes behind a tree caught my attention.

Unfortunately, I had crossed the territory of another pack in my confused and weak state.

The sight of their marked territory sent me into overdrive. I rushed with the last piece of clothing and picked up my mother's arm which was wrapped in a cloth.

“Mate?” A man with the most beautiful hazel eyes appeared from behind one of the trees. The chirping and all other sounds faded away. His scents filled my senses and I wanted nothing but to feel his skin. The feeling overshadowed my grief and for a moment the thought of the man filled my senses.

What's wrong with me? I snapped out of the haze and swallowed hard after I saw his facial expression.

“Arrest her!” He bellowed. An army of guards emerged from behind some of the trees and a muscular redhead approached me, his dark eyes held contempt.

I fell to my knees,

“My name is Amelia Evans and I’m not a threat.” I didn’t dare look at the man that had evoked such thoughts from me earlier.

The redhead growled and choked me, pulling me up in the process. I gasped for air while hitting his hand.

“You’re not a threat? How do you explain the decipated limb beside you?” He sneered and flung me to the other side, close to the limb.

My breath hitched and I felt something stirred in me.

How do I explain that it belonged to my mother?

I spit out blood and pulled myself up to a kneeling position.

“I-I wanted to bury it in a safe place, but they started chasing me,” I explained with teary eyes. I wanted to disappear but not before avenging my mother.

“And you expect me to believe that?” He sneered and in a flash, he was standing an inch away from my face.

I gasped and lost balance at the same time. My back hit the tree, and something urged me to look in my mate's direction, but I ignored it. I was beginning to feel hot and needy.

What the hell?

‘Get hold of yourself wolf. You don't get to appear and embarrass me this way. You failed to protect my mother, I don't need you.’ I thought, hoping she would get the message but it fell on deaf ears.

“STOP!” My mate ordered his nose flaring.

“Yes, Alpha.” The redhead replied and joined his colleagues.

“Alpha? Oh my God.” I coughed out the words unintentionally.

“I can't afford to have such a weakling as a mate.” My body reacted to his voice and the wetness pooled between my legs.

‘It's not something that I can control, Amelia. The t*****e you went through played with your system and that's why I can only appear whenever you feel the deep emotions. I’m sorry, I couldn't save your mother. We both lost someone today.’ My wolf's broken voice got me and I shut my mouth.

“What the heck!” He mumbled and sniffed the air.

“Leave, NOW!” He didn't have to raise his voice. They obeyed without hesitation. But regardless of the situation, all I wanted to do was give my mother a befitting burial.