Beneath The Moon's Embrace

Chapter 3: Kidnapped: A Desperate Cry For Freedom

It was another morning, and probably going to be the most stressful day for Emilia as she journeyed to reconnect with her past. She woke up anxious about what the outcome of her journey would be, and she probably didn't get enough sleep all night. "I wish I didn't get the letter from Alan; maybe I never would have had to go home", she thought in her mind.

She woke up the children and hastened for them to get ready while she packed their luggage into the van. When they were ready to go, she informed Sam, her neighbor, of her intention to travel, sat her children in the van, secured them with their seatbelts, and drove off.

"Mommy, how far is home? Is Grandma expecting us today?" Diane asked. "It's a long journey home, baby, and Grandma and Grandpa can't wait to see you. Emilia replied, smiling as she looked at her from the rear mirror. "Try to get some sleep now, guys; it’s a long drive home", she said to them.

The triplets have spent all their lives in Krix; they were initially saddened by having to leave their friends behind to fit into a new life, but the reconnection with their grandparents, who they never knew existed, cheers them up. They sang and chanted in excitement and hope as they journeyed, while their mother was ravaged in her thoughts.

Emilia was deep in thought as she drove. The main reason she honored the letter from Alan was to give her children an identity. They are growing fast; sooner or later, they might start experiencing their werewolves' abilities. This is a good opportunity, as the children need to be in an environment that protects them at this stage of life.

It was a long journey back to the pack; it was a day's journey, and Emilia was fully prepared for it, but little did she know the danger that lay in wait along the lonely path across the border between humans and werewolves.

It was sunset, and Emilia was finally at the border. She turned on the full headlights because the night was before them. As she drove into the lonely terrain of the werewolves, her children could tell they were in a different land. "Mom, it feels weird out here. How soon do we get home?" Asked Darren. "We'll be home soon, Darren,", Emilia replied.

Even when Emilia was sure of her safety, her instinct told her she was being watched. She couldn't understand this weird feeling since she crossed the border. The feeling grew worse by the minute, and she started to get frantic and fidgety, so much so that her children noticed and grew impatient. The whimpering of Diane drew her attention, and she took her eyes slightly off the road, focusing on her children to assure them everything was fine. She failed to see the men that stood far off in the middle of the road.

"Mom, look out!" Duane shouted. She hit the brake immediately, and the van came to a screeching stop. The men who stood now close were giants, tall and muscular, and all were naked like they just finished shifting and didn't bother putting on clothes.

She knew they were werewolves, but could Alan have sent them? She wondered, sitting there in fear. While she was still wondering about who they were, one of them came knocking on her window, gesturing to her to roll down the glass. She would have protested, but she knew a werewolf could break the glass if it wanted to harm her. She rolled down the glass, smiling nervously.

"Hello! "How may I help you?" Emilia asked, mustering all the courage she could ever find from within.

"Oh, you will find out soon enough", he said creepily. Emilia sat there, and her children sat there in fear, as she prayed silently for her children's safety in her heart. Suddenly, she heard "Come down" in a voice that meant he was serious and could kill her without being bothered.

Emilia feared for her children. Looking back at them, she could see them trying so hard to contain a whimper. She had to cooperate with them so they wouldn't hurt her and her children. She came out of the car immediately, raising her hands in the air. Little did she know she was being kidnapped.

"Please, don't hurt my children. I will do whatever you want." Emilia begged in tears. The werewolves looked at each other and busted out in laughter. "Tell that to the Alpha," another said while dragging her to their van. The others got her kids and put them in another van as they cried, calling out to their mother for help. Emilia screamed uncontrollably, seeing that she had been separated from her children. "Woman shut your mouth, or we will shut it for you," one of the men said. Emilia kept on screaming and struggling with them despite being stuck between two male werewolves. When she was becoming too tough for them to handle, one of them hit her in the back of the head to knock her out.

The next time Emilia would open her eyes, she would be in chains in a cage with a tube of wolfsbane infused into her. "What are you doing to me?" she asked. She was so weak and unable to move her limbs. She couldn't feel her werewolf's abilities anymore. She closed her eyes, trying to muster every ounce of strength from within, but she couldn't; she felt like her soul had been displaced from her body. How would she get help? She wondered how she would be able to contact Alan since she had already lost her abilities.

Alan is the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack, Emilia's first love, and the father of her children, who are unknown to him. He has been destabilized lately because of his father's illness and even more grieved by the betrayal of his fated mate after years of marriage. News of Emilia's medical exploits has gotten to his ears. Despite the traumatic nature of their relationship that led to her leaving the pack, she is the only one he can count on right now.

It's past midnight, and Alan is worried. It's been days since he sent a letter requesting her return. He had been impatiently waiting for Emilia to honor his request and return to pack. "She should be here by now, or did she disrespect her Apha and not honor his request? No, she can't do that; what could be wrong?" These were his thoughts as he pondered them in his bedroom. He mind-linked one of his men, whom he instructed to be on the lookout for her arrival if he saw any trace of her. No was his reply, and this made him more worried. He reached out to her parents, and there was no news of her either. Alan perceived she might be in danger, so he sent out a scout in search of her.

Emilia has been taken captive for two days and is still being brutally abused by her captors.

"What are you to the Alpha? Are you here to spy on us?" These and many more questions were asked as they tortured her. Emilia, stammering as she responded, said, "I am nothing to the apha; "I am just a doctor and a mother of three". She was being injected with wolfsbane when she was being flogged with whips laced with sharp objects; every stroke ripped her skin apart. Her screams echoed throughout the cells, and even other prisoners pitied her.

Emilia lay helplessly in the tight cage, crying. She is stuck in one position, and every attempt to turn brings gut-wrenching pain. Days and weeks went by, and she was deprived of food and baths. She received a s***h of the blade laced with wolf's bane anytime she asked about her children.

Night and day, Emilia prayed to the moon goddess to keep her children safe and grant her the opportunity to see them again.

The moon goddess finally favored her one day, and she got a little lucky. Her adapter forgot to refill the plastic bottle used for infusing wolfsbane into her system. She could feel some of her werewolf's abilities. She immediately remembered her mother telling her she was in danger. In her most vulnerable position, Emilia cried out, "Save me, Mom, I'm in danger."