The Alpha's forgotten Luna

Episode3

Even before the screams, the smoke smell was the very first thing I noticed.

I left the water bucket and turned towards the horizon. Behind the hills a fire was growing— blazing with orange and anger, and it was reaching the dark sky. Then the howls followed. They weren’t ordinary wolves. They were rogues.

“Mum!” Lucien bolted out from the house, with eyes open wide, gripping a wooden stick as a savior. “It’s the barn! It's on fire!”

“I see it.” I held his shoulders, speaking with composure even though my heart was pounding. “Where’s your sister?”

“Inside! She’s getting the herbs!”

“Tell her to drop them! Both of you, go inside now—shut the door and stick together!”

“But—”

“Lucien!” My voice went rough like the usage of a whip. “Go!”

He didn’t agree. He spun and pelted towards the house. My son. So bold, sometimes too bold. Just like his father.

I swallowed down the thought of letting the word sting.

The smell of blood was stronger now. Wolves. They were near. My wolf-rider moved beneath my skin. It was alert and it felt the hunger for battle. "It's all clear now," she murmured.

"I know," I replied without reserve. "They found us."

I ripped off my cloak, knelt down and shifted. Bones cracked, fur spread, and the night flowed into me. The world got clearer--the flame's crackle, the shouts, the fear.

I dashed towards the fire.

A pair of rogue wolves had already cut across the cornfield, barking and biting at anything that moved. I struck, killing one with a single blow, so hard that he never even knew I was there. The other one turned, growling deep, but I was quicker. A claw glimpse, a muscle twist, and he dropped too.

Blood in my mouth. Fire in my lungs. But I didn't stop.

More figures emerged through the smoke- three, maybe four. I charged them, my wolf-mate quiet and angry. We warred till my side felt hot and my breath was uneven, till heaps of lifeless bodies lay scattered around.

When the last trespasser sprinted away to the woods, I turned back. It felt like I had some beast’s claws laid out on me; blood was dripping from my legs to the sand. My body was shaking, human once more, bloodied and only half-clothed, but not dead.

“Liora! Lucien!” I shouted, voice rough.

“Mom!” The door was flung open. It was Liora who reached me first, with her injured face and flying ringlets and the torn night-dress. Her pained face made me first feel guilty, then angry.

“I’m okay,” I said, stroking her cheek and go on, talking, “What’s happened to your brother?”

“I’m over here.” Lucien, in fear, held up my kitchen table knife. His hands were trembling, but his eyes were shooting sparks of fire. "I didn't think they would manage to get in here through the doors"

I grinned through the pain. “You both were so brave.”

Liora’s voice had a sour note. “Have they left?”

“For now.”

I stood up, still feeling the effects of the fall, and had a quick look around. One side of the village was in flames. Some were wailing, some were fleeing into the woods. Tension hung over the place like a blanket.

And then I caught the scent of something else—a different smell. Ordered. Regulated. No, it was definitely not renegades.

Outlaw Pack warriors.

“No,” I murmured. “No, not now…”

Lucien furrowed his brows. “Mom?”

“We must depart.”

“But— our house—”

“There is nothing else for us, sweetheart.” I went down on my knees, took his face in my hands. “We can’t stay. Do you understand?”

Even though he nodded, tears were still glistening in his eyes. Liora held onto my arm, shivering.

“Crescent Moon patrols are in the vicinity,” my wolf informed me. “They are nearing.”

“I know.” I choked on my words. “If they catch us, then he’ll know too.”

“He already can, if we proceed over the border.”

“We do not have a choice.”

I took the little bag from the inner part of the dwelling—some herbs, dried meat, a photo of the twins as infants. This was all that I could manage to bring away from what had been our life.

“I want you to grasp my hands,” I told them. “No matter what, stick with me.”

The path sparkled with the light of the fire we were chased by. We were actually going through the fields, through the remains, over the rotten fence. My side hurt, my legs were crying, yet I didn’t stop. The twins’ soft hands were the only thing that conveyed I was still moving.

The next phase of the wolves we had left behind was a howl. It was nothing like the earlier one, this time it was powerful and distinct, something that conveyed orders.

It was a hunting party.

Totally out of control, we entered the woods, and breeze and branches struck our faces. "Hurry up!" I cried, gasping for breath, my voice cracked, "We are almost there!"

"How do you know the way?" Liora's voice was hard to hear as she was panting.

“Because once I swore I’d rather die than go there.”

The bald spot in the forest turned into the border- that of the rogue lands and the Crescent Moon territory.

My heart started to throb.

The last time I stood here was the time I ran away, a wretched and lonely figure. Now I am running back, having sworn to protect it all.

“We will be free to roam past that point,” said my wolf. “But you must know what is beyond.”

“I know.” My voice shook. “Him.”

The noises from the pack chasing us were getting louder. The boys were holding onto us even harder. I took Liora in my arms and held Lucien’s hand as well.

We came to the ridge.

That was the moment of realization.

A sudden tug that felt like it was coming from inside my deepest chest, like the snap of a string returning to life. My breath was taken away, while my legs slowly started to give in.

“It’s the bond,” my inner wolf croaked. “He’s aware of it.”

“No,” I merely mouthed. “That’s impossible. It’s been a long time.”

But the reality was that he was there. I could sense him. Kaelan. The Alpha of Crescent Moon. His power was tickling my senses—gentle, commanding, and, sadly, too familiar. The bond was not dead. It was just dormant. And now it had come alive again.

“Mom?” Lucien queried, panic-stricken. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” I fibbed, making myself get up. “Go on walking. We have to find a place to rest before the new day comes.”

Liora directed her finger toward some distant lights that showed through the trees. “There! Houses!”

My heart was pounding. Pack houses. Crescent Moon territory. His realm.

I covered the twins with the cloak and tightened it. "Don't get lost," I tell them. "Please, for my sake, be quiet and follow me."

"My wolf said that we will be detected" she whispered.

"Who cares, let him do it." I said. "I'm not the same old weak girl."

We left and walked the way through the shadowed path illumined by the moon just like a spell.

I could sense Kaelan Blackthorn is somewhere awake, and his heart beating in reply to mine.

The night was so still.

And so dark.

Kaelan has been standing on the ridge line that divided their territory from the other ones while his eyes wander in the darkness of the forest. It was his patrols who had driven a few rough characters from the rogue pack to this side of the territory—an hour ago. Now all that one could see was smoke, and nothing was heard but silence.

“Alpha,” Beta Ronan said, as he let the air into his nose, “the scent goes away here. They’ve crossed the boundary.”

Kaelan’s fist tightened. “No. It’s not right.”

He took a step ahead, the chill wind passing through his neck. His bloodthirsty wolf sensed it within him; it was restless, it was watchful.

“You feel that?” his wolf softly spoke.

“The air changed.”

Yes. It had. It was as if a lightning had triggered a rainstorm—the smell in the air was sharp, electric, alive.

Kaelan shut his eyes and inhaled deeply.

All of a sudden, he was covered in a wave of scent.

It was soft, wild, and together with the blood and herb smell.

Lyra.

Kaelan’s whole body was hardened. Fire was being unceasingly poured into his veins, and it was coming to his chest.

“Illogical,” he mumbled.

“Alpha?” Ronan was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Kaelan remained silent. He had started moving before. He was fast and quiet among the trees. The branches were hitting his face, but he did not perceive them. He was following the scent, with his heart pounding and breathing short.

It couldn’t be true.

It couldn’t.

He still remembered the pain of his twin sister’s death experienced six years ago when the connection was cut. The anguish almost broke him.

He had buried her scent in the darkest corners of his memory—yet it was still disturbing him each and every night.

And yet now it returned.

Alive.

“Kaelan!” Ronan shouted after him. “Wait!”

He paid no attention and followed the scent until it got stronger and it was mixed with smoke and fright. Then—hearing the footsteps. Three heartbeats. Two small ones, one familiar.

He stopped and cautiously entered a clearing.

And there she was.

Lyra.

Under the moonlight, standing, with her cloak torn and blood on her shoulder. She had grown longer hair which was wild like the night itself. Her eyes—God, those eyes—were powerful, golden, and alive.

And there...two little ones nestled close to her, hanging onto her sides.

Children.

Kaelan’s voice was caught in his throat.

Lyra was shocked by the appearance of Kaelan. She appeared to be very tense with a body set to flee or fight. However, she moved not.

For long moment, both of them did not speak a word.

“Lyra…” The tone of his voice was all over her name.

Her chin lifted. “Alpha Kaelan.”

He flinched upon hearing the title. “You’re… alive.”

“Disappointed?”

He took a slow step toward her. “I thought you were dead. I felt—”

“You made me dead.” Her voice was low, cutting. “That night, remember? When you stood before the whole pack and rejected me.”

Every word cut like a knife. He needed to take it.

“I was wrong,” he said softly.

“Too late.”

Kaelan’s wolf was pushing at his chest, eager to approach her. She belongs to us. She’s here.

Nevertheless, the blood scent and something else—two faint scents, smaller ones—kept him unmoved.

“Who are they?” he pointed towards the children.

Lyra’s body underwent an immediate change, protective, arm pulling them close. “No one you need to know.”

The male child moved a bit closer with the look in his eyes a full-grown man would give. He told the man not to talk to his mother like that but in a very calm manner.

Kaelan blinked. Mother.

Something stirred profoundly inside him.

The girl pulled her brother’s sleeve. “Lucien, stop.”

Lucien.

The name seared through Kaelan’s thoughts. His wolf bawled.

“Their,” the wolf mouthed. “Our scent.”

Kaelan took a step forward, but Lyra’s growl halted him.

“Don’t,” she advised. “Step forward again, and I promise I will—”

“Lyra.” His voice was hoarse. “Please. I’m not here to hurt you.”

She laughed, sharp and bitter. “You already did.”

The words cut off the sound of the forest. Even the night air was as if it was holding still.

Ronan was finally there, taking deep breaths. “Alpha, the rogues—”

He fell silent when he saw her. “Moon above. That’s—”

“Go away,” Kaelan commanded without looking back. “Right now.”

“But—”

“Now.”

Ronan hesitated, then retreated.

Silence again.

Kaelan was so anxious that he could almost hear his heart beating, “Let me help you. You are bleeding.”

“I do not need help.” Lyra turned, dragging the children with her, “We will leave at dawn.”

“That is not possible. The woods are not safe. Spend the night at least at the pack infirmary.”

“I have already declined.”

“Lyra—”

“Stop trying to, Lyra,” she said in a voice that broke and flashed through the trees, “You lost that privilege the night you discarded me.”

Her eyes shone, but she repressed the tears. She wouldn’t let them.

He was looking at her, feeling impotent. He had been through wars, councils, death—but never this kind of pain. The pain of watching the one you loved standing before you like a ghost that you created.

At last, he spoke softly, “You have all the rights to hate me. But you are not going to bring two children into danger under the moon. My border, my rules.”

A complete eruption of wrath exuded from her as she turned towards him. "Your limit," she repeated. "Your game. Is it not the same as last time? You are the one to play the role of the master of the manor—stay or go or bleed—you decree.”

"Lyra—"

"No," she said. "Not this time."

The twins pulled her hands in opposite ways. Liora whispered, "Mama, please, let's just go."

Kaelan's mind and heart felt a grip of pain at the sound of the word Mama. Wanted to ask, wanted to argue—but he had already known the answer. He could see it in their eyes.

His eyes.

He whispered, "They’re mine."

Lyra became a statue.

Eventually, she walked off with slow, heavy steps. It was no longer fear that made her shake, but the strength of her tears and anger that did. She turned away, shoulders heaving.

"They're mine," she said. "And it's all you need to be told."

He wanted to say that he was always there looking, that he regretted doing what he did, seeking for her, that he could not get rid of the guilt—but he was speechless.

She took the twins off to the village lights where they were welcomed, Kaelan watching her do so without doing anything.

But, when she passed by him, the connection between them was sparked once more — this time even stronger, almost visible, a golden thread of power snapping between them.

She tripped for a second. So did he.

Their eyes met.

And the whole world stopped.

The night changed. The forest, the fire, the years — all vanished till there was nothing but the two of them left.

Lyra parted her lips, with her breath shivering. Kaelan’s heart was like a drumbeat that never stopped.

One step he took.

One she took back.

The girl just looked away from the dark and Kaelan was left st

anding there all alone for quite a while, his inner wolf still barking as loud as it could and beating against his heart.

“She’s alive,” the wolf argued. “And so are the children.”

Kaelan raised his eyes to the moon.

For the first time in the course of the years, he murmured her name like a prayer — and a curse.

“Lyra.”