Blood Moon

"Lydia, take a seat." Lydia stood by the door observing her parents who seemed rather nervous to have called her into their chamber. She walked slowly to her favorite seat in the chamber with her eyes still locked on her parents. Being the only child of the family, the weakest member of their pack,and the daughter of the Alpha of their pack,she had always been doted on by everybody for being kind and passionate. "I don't get why you both are nervous, what's the problem papa" Lydia could actually feel the tension in the room,it was the first time since she ran away from home as a child because she was always getting teased by other kids for being the weakest in the pack she had felt that much tension. "Lydia, you know how much your mama and I love you right and how we always want the best for you." Her father took a deep breath,stood up and moved towards Lydia. "Your father and I have arranged a marriage for you." Her mother moved closer to her and held her hands. Lydia, who couldn't understand what exactly was going on, looked with confusion on her face. "Mama,Papa I don't understand. Marriage? Why?" She brushed off her mum's hand and stood up. "The pack is losing its power, and we need to guarantee your future as you don't have any powers. We want to make sure this pack and family doesn't go extinct." her father said. Lydia had always loved her parents so much and would do anything for them but suddenly getting married wasn't something she had ever thought of. "So who is the lucky man?" she said with much sarcasm in her voice. "Jackson Green of the moon pack." Her mom answered with a huge sigh. "what!!!! What do you mean by Jackson Green,the same Jackson Green we all know of?" The room suddenly became smaller and without enough air. Lydia began pacing the room. "Lydia, this marriage arrangement is really important to you and this pack. We beg this of you." her father said pleadingly. It was the first time she was seeing her father that way. He had always been the strong Alpha of their pack and was known for his dexterity and kindness, "Okay papa,but what does Jackson stand to gain from marrying me? I doubt he would be doing this if he doesn't have anything to gain." It was a question worth asking because following Jackson Green's reputation,it made no sense that he would want to be with Lydia. "Baby just calm down okay. With you marrying Jackson,it would do a lot to help you gain power considering you have none now." Her mother moved to the center table, poured a drink into a cup and downed it all. "I guess it has been decided already and I'm just being told about it,cool. When is the wedding going to be?" Lydia asked. "On the next full moon." Her father said to her. "That is in seven five days papa."She was so shocked at how rushed everything was, they weren't even giving her enough time to process the whole marriage thing before marrying her off. "Jackson, why would you want to marry her? Didn't you promise to marry me." A red-haired woman lashed out at Jackson who was seated calmly while facing her. "Britney,l have told you already. It is you I love but I need to marry her so as to get their packs moonstone." He got up and went to meet his beloved, Britney. He took her hands in his and drew her closer to him. "I get that, but why do you need to marry one of them in order to get the moonstone? You are the most powerful around here,can't you use that power to get it without actually getting married."This time her voice was a lot calmer than before,she wrapped her hands around his neck. "My love, you should never forget that it is you l love and want to start a family with,but you know what,why don't we drop this for now." He kissed her passionately,picking her up from the ground and throwing her on the bed in the room. "Now,easy there lover boy." Britney smiled lustfully. Lydia tried on the fifth dress already in preparation for the wedding. She let out a huge sigh as she looked in the mirror with her mum standing behind her. "You look beautiful my baby girl." Her mother turned her towards her. Tears had begun welling in her eyes. It had taken 5 years to have Lydia,and despite trying afterwards they hadn't been able to have another child. Lydia had always been their biggest gift and having to marry her off this way in order to help their pack really saddened her. "Mom,you don't have to cry, okay. And just because I'm getting married doesn't mean I wontI forever be your baby girl." This time it was Lydia's turn to cry. She hugged her mum tightly as she cried uncontrollably. "I honestly wish there was another way so you wouldn't have to be apart from us,l really wish so." Her mum joined her in crying and for some minutes they cried in each other's arms. "Lydia,I hope you know how much your mum and I love you." Her dad said as they walked in the night with the moonlight beaming on them. "Of course papa. I love you both too." She took a deep breath of the night air. "With the wedding ceremony tomorrow,l wanted to give you this." it was the prettiest jewelry Lydia had ever seen. "Papa, it is beautiful,I love it." The moon shaped necklace looked so beautiful and was the best gift she had ever received. "This will protect you as it connects you to the moon goddess,l never want you to be scared as you may think you are powerless but you are not. Your mom and I will always protect you,you also I have the pack to be there for you." She turned back,swiped her hair as her father wore the moonstone necklace on her. "I'm really proud of you baby girl." He placed a kiss on her forehead and they kept walking around. A last night stroll between a father and his precious daughter. "You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen." Her mom helped adjust her head crown that was tradition for brides of their pack to wear. "I take after you mom." Just then one of the maidens who was to assist in the ceremony came running into the room. "What is it?" Her mother asked as she could see the fear on her face. "There is an issue outside." It felt like she didn't want to disclose the full details of what exactly was happening. "What exactly is going on?" Lydia asked. "Baby, I'm sure it is nothing okay. Just wait here and be ready to come out any minute for the ceremony. I will go take a look at things." Her mom hugged her and calmly walked away with the maiden. Soon after her mum left, Lydia could hear chaos outside the chambers. The sound of what was happening outside felt so different,nothing like she had ever heard before. Her village had always been peaceful, so what could be the problem? She took off her headpiece and rushed out. It was the bloodiest sight she had ever seen. She stood in complete shock as her best friend got slain just as she stepped out of the chamber. "Grace!!!!!!" She screamed and ran to go meet her but it was too late. Lydia stood looking around as she couldn't make sense of what was happening. "Mama!!Papa!!" She kept looking around and only just caught a glimpse of her mother when she felt a sharp s***h on her back. She staggered as she fell to the ground with blood dripping from her back. "Lydia!!!!!!" She could hear her mum's scream as she ruthlessly killed everyone in her path. "Baby you'll be fine I promise." You need to get away from here." Her mom helped her up and asked her to run to safety. "What about you and papa?"Lydia asked with tears in her eyes. She looked behind to see many members of their pack getting slaughtered. "Look at me baby, your papa and I will be right behind you okay. Do not look back and keep running okay. You are destined for great things, never forget that." Her mum pushed her into the woods without giving her a last minute to say anything. Lydia took her heels and ran without looking back, it was night already and without the wolf vision she couldn't make her waylin the woods. She stumbled on a rock and rolled down,she laid looking into the sky as she felt lifeless. She picked up the moonstone her dad had gifted to her, held it to her chest and closed her eyes. "Oh Goddess!!! Save me." Those were her last words as she took her last breath. Just then, the full moon above her turned red and shone its light on her lifeless body.