MARKED BY THE MOON

Her lips shivered, her body trembling as she clung tightly to her coat the moment she heard the heavy clunk of the gate unlocking. Her fingers curled deeper into the rough fabric while cold water dripped from her soaked hair onto her shoulders. The warder’s hard footsteps echoed through the dark hallway, growing louder until they finally stopped in front of their cage. The girls quivered in groups, clutching one another in fear, but she remained at the corner with her knees pulled to her chest. Her breathing came unevenly. Her friend had been the last person taken from their cage to God knows where, and now no one knew who would be next. The cage door rattled loudly as it opened. She slowly lifted her head when the warder stepped aside and a woman in a wool coat walked in. The woman’s eyes swept over each of them carefully. She looked rich, smelled clean, and her hair was tied into a graceful bun. The sharp scent of perfume filled the cage, strangely warm against the damp smell of rust and fear. When her eyes landed on her, Nia froze slightly, her lips parting. The woman was beautiful. Literally the most beautiful person she’d set her eyes on then she raised her hand. “I want her,” the woman said, pointing directly at her. Nia quickly looked behind herself, her brows pulling together in confusion. She was sitting alone at the corner, but somehow she still hoped the woman meant someone else. But it was her. “I like her eyes,” the woman added before turning gracefully and walking out. “Your Majesty, just her?” Nia heard the warder ask quickly. Your Majesty? Nia’s eyes widened slightly, her heart beating against her chest in fear or surprise ,she couldn't tell. “Yes,” the woman replied without looking back. “Just her.” VELMORA EMPIRE -YEARS LATER- The inner chamber was silent except for Lucinda’s stifled sobs and the soft crackling of the fire burning nearby. “Promise me you will stay with your brother forever,” the Queen weakly managed to say. Lucinda nodded frantically, tears gathering heavily in her eyes as she tightened both hands around the Queen’s frail fingers. “Yeah… I will. I am here, I will,” she whispered breathlessly, her chest rising and falling unevenly as panic slowly settled into her bones. Queen Molly smiled for the longest time, her eyes looking deep into Lucinda's before slowly closing her eyes. There was a minute of silence. Lucinda waited a minute, expecting her to open her eyes again before she leaned closer slowly. “Your Majesty…” she called “Do you want to rest?” she asked quickly, her trembling voice barely steady as she squeezed the Queen’s hand tighter. It was still warm. There was no reply. Lucinda stayed still for a moment, blinking rapidly while fear slowly crawled into her chest. “Mother…” she gulped hard, her lips shaking. “You love it when I call you Mother…” A weak smile appeared on her face, but her heartbeat pounded painfully against her ribs. “I’ll stay here, watching you sleep,” Lucinda whispered, forcing calmness into her voice as her thumb gently rubbed against the Queen’s hand. “Everything is fine…” But her mind refused to believe what her eyes were seeing. The Queen’s smile was still there. Only now… it felt empty. Lucinda’s breathing suddenly grew shaky. “Mother, you were…we were just talking,” she said quickly, her voice cracking apart. “You know you can’t do this to me, right? I already told you I won’t forgive you if you die before me…” Her lips trembled violently. “And don’t think I was joking…” Then suddenly her voice broke into a scream as she grabbed onto the Queen’s shoulders. “Your Majestyyyyyy!” Tears burst from her eyes as she shook Queen Molly’s body desperately. “No, no… " You can’t leave me… no, you cannot,” she cried uncontrollably. “What will I do without you? No… just open your eyes… please open your eyes!” Her whole body trembled violently. She didn’t notice when the maids rushed into the chamber. Even as they tried to pull her away, she clung tightly to the Queen’s body, her fingers clutching the Queen’s clothes. “Leave me!” she screamed “No!” She struggled wildly against them, kicking and crying as they forced her away from the late Queen’s body. Her nails scraped against the bedsheets while she reached for her desperately. “No… Mother…!” But they were stronger, they dragged her out as she kicked while watching them cover the Queen’s body slowly with white cloth. It felt like her entire life was being ripped away in front of her. She screamed, kicked, cried, and fought against the maids until her strength finally gave out. The moment they released her outside the chamber doors, she scrambled toward the door then fell on her knees sobbing uncontrollably. The palace was filled with cries. Maids knelt with bowed heads, silently paying their last respects yet the whole world was silent to her. “The Alpha is here.” the announcement came about an hour later. Her head was down and her eyes were swollen but no tears came anymore. She didn’t move even when the chamber doors opened with a shadow befalling her. All she noticed was his foot stopping briefly in front of her before walking past. The alpha, her adopted brother, the Queen's son, and her worst hater. Once he entered the chamber, Lucinda slowly pushed herself to her feet. Her movements were stiff and lifeless as she turned away and began walking toward her quarters. Her maid followed quietly behind her. But Lucinda’s mind was far away as she knew she never truly belonged in the pack. She didn’t belong anywhere, and now the only person who ever made her feel loved was gone. Her chest tightened painfully. The moment she entered her quarters, she walked straight into her inner chamber. Without turning back, she weakly lifted her hand, stopping her maid from following her inside. She needed to be alone. As soon as the doors closed behind her, her legs gave out beneath her. She slid onto the floor slowly and suddenly laughed. A loud, broken laugh. The sound echoed painfully through the room before it dissolved into uncontrollable crying. Her emotions scattered wildly inside her chest. The Queen’s death felt like her own, she wanted to die too. Everything she ever loved was gone after all. “Nooo…” she cried brokenly, burying her face into her palms as memories flooded her mind. The Queen’s smile. The warmth in her eyes. The first day she saw her in that cage. The day she claimed her as her little daughter and gave her a new name. The memories only brought more tears and she cried until sleep finally claimed her. $ DREADMOON PACK $ “Come in,” he said, sitting up slightly as the door opened. Before he properly saw her, her scent reached him first. Soft and warm, carrying a faint mix of vanilla and baby powder. Something inside him immediately stirred, making his wolf restless. Then she stepped into the room. Declan looked up, and his eyes stayed on her as she walked toward the table. Her hair was tied neatly behind her, and the simple maid uniform rested against her body in a way that made it difficult to look away. She kept her gaze lowered as she placed the tray beside him. Her lips moved softly, but he barely heard what she said. His attention was fixed on her. She looked up briefly at him, and the moment their eyes met, his wolf went still. It was like time had paused, but that only lasted for a second before she lowered her gaze almost immediately. “Your Highness, may I?” she repeated quietly. “Yes,” he answered, clearing his throat as she poured the tea. “What is your name?” he asked before he could stop himself, while trying to sound normal. He wanted to know her so badly, and yet he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. She carefully placed the teacup down before folding her hands in front of her. “Brielle, Your Highness.” Brielle. The name sounded so smooth that his wolf hummed. “My name is Declan,” he said after a moment. “I returned last night… you probably don’t know me.” He had smelt her from the very minute she passed him by in Cordelia's chamber. She looked up at him briefly, her lips pursed. Yeah, it was unusual for a prince to introduce himself to a maid, and yet he wanted to. “Welcome back, Your Highn…” “Declan,” he interrupted gently. “You can call me Declan.” She hesitated for a minute before giving a bow. “I should take my leave now, Your Highness,” she said politely before turning toward the door. “Brielle…” She stopped halfway, turned, and looked at him. “…thank you for the tea.” “You’re welcome, Your Highness,” she said. She gave a slight nod before quietly leaving the room. The second the door closed, Declan let out a slow breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Oh, Selena…” he muttered. “What have you done?” He stood and began pacing slowly. He couldn't even reject her because she was drop-dead beautiful. She was his specific kind of woman, except she was a maid, and not just anyone's maid… She was his sister’s maid. And in the Dreadmoon Pack, the maids served until their masters chose to release them. Selena never released her maids. Which meant Brielle might never be free. His chest tightened at the thought. Even if he pleaded with her and she let Brielle go, what would become of her? He was Prince Declan, heir to the Dreadmoon Pack. And she? … She was human. No one would accept her as Luna. They would mock her, judge her, tear her apart with their words alone. He couldn’t let that happen to her.