SCAR: THE ALPHA'S LUNA

Episode3

Archibald POV

"After the antelope left the valley to escape the tormenting animals, he became the king of his own kingdom." (This is a great ending to your story, princess!)

Eira's tremendous cheers echoed with loud praises. "Dad, I loved the story!" she exclaimed, scratching her cheeks. "But, I think the antelope is a weak animal. He should have fought for his rights or continued to feed on prey. I mean, blood tastes really good, doesn't it?" she said, wiggling her legs on the table.

"What?!" I exclaimed, my words tumbling out in a rush of disbelief. "Where in the world did you hear that from, Eira?" I asked, firmly gazing at her, my jaw dropping in shock. Just then, Maren's curious tone cut through the already tense room, "Archie, is anything the problem?" she asked, her voice blazing with concern.

She hesitated, her eyes darting to me. "I...I overheard some of the older wolves talking," she stammered. "They were whispering about quenching their thirst for blood, something about a great hunt." Her voice quivered lowly, laced with fear and hinting at unspoken worries. "Yes, Dad," she added, her tone barely above a whisper.

"The sweet aroma of Gyro (Γύρος), a meal that pairs perfectly with the celebration of the lunar moon, has my mouth watering in anticipation, eager to devour a large quantity of the juicy meat dish.”

The enchanting aura of Maren's smiles lightens up my mood, as she holds the lace curtain that separates the corridor from the living room. Sorry, hubby, you'll have to wait for a while. I gaze at how frazzled she looks at the end.

"With a spectacular moment of resilience and fascinating thought, I rose from the couch, walking with determined and focused steps, engrossing my mindset in taking a bold step, traveling with Eira to a more exposed and educated place, since her teenage age is fraught with dangers in the woods. I squatted in front of a three-step bookshelf containing scanty, dusty books."

"I shuffled out a big book full of literal meanings and origins of words, as well as information about the woods and the existence of werewolves.”

I steadied my feet on the floor to regain my balance while squatting, and I felt a tight cuddle on my back accompanied by a kiss. 'I love you, Daddy,' Eira said, as her hand clutched my neck.

"Despite being attentively listening to her tender and captivating words, I agitatedly flipped through the pages, and dust blew into the air, entering our nostrils, causing us both to sneeze.”

“Meanwhile, she struggled to cover her nose behind me. 'Dad, what's the old rusty locker doing on the wall?' she asked, and I quickly navigated my gaze to hers, gazing in surprise, my eyes wide with wonder."

"I withdrew from the shelf cabinet, my heart aching with pain as memories of her birth and the mysterious script resonated. I stared in astonishment, rubbing my eyes as if trying to clear my vision.

'Princess,' I held her firmly, using my toe to drag a wooden chair closer, and sat down, cradling her in my arms and letting her head find comfort on my chest."

"That's a treasure box," I whispered, "it's meant to be a secret until you're mature enough to know." I felt a strain of nervousness when she stood up quickly, her stance steadfast. "I'm 16, Father," she said sadly, her voice firm but trembling. I have the right to know what's inside the book.

"I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions, concern for my daughter's safety, and a hint of nostalgia for the past. As thoughts flooded my mind, Maren's question from the kitchen snapped me out of it,' Archie, am I still preparing sweet potato sauce and veggies for her dinner?' 'No, Mom, I only need the sauce,' Eira's voice interrupted, as she approached the kitchen entrance, her hand grasping the door frame for support."

"I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing larger as I watched the tender moment between Eira and her mother. Eira's laughter echoed through the room, filling the atmosphere with joy, but suddenly her loud shout for help pierced the peace, signaling a gradual transformation in her spirituality.

“Maren, let that child be!' I yelled out, slamming my hands on the table to halt the situation, struggling to contain the sudden anger that surged through me."

"She dashed out of the kitchen, halted by my voice, holding a plate of sauce that seemed to be Eira's food. I could see the tension and curiosity trembling in her body. 'Is everything all right, Archie?' she asked, her voice tinged with fear."

"We finished having dinner, and Eira was already dozing off.” I watched her keenly until she finally fell asleep on the couch, sprawling her legs on the worn couch.

“I guess her careless way of sleeping is from you, Maren,' I teased, and she scoffed.” Her shoulders rubbed against mine as she sluggishly walked towards Eira, taking her to her room. A few minutes later, Maren herself fell asleep, her soft breathing the only sound coming from her direction.

A sudden unidentified figure emerged from the darker shadows of the building, Its loud footsteps echoing into the room and drawing my attention. Meanwhile, Maren had dozed off on the couch, oblivious couldn't hear the intrusion.

"I couldn't help but see the figure's claws extending, razor-sharp and approximately 5 cm long, capable of piercing through someone's body with deadly precision.” As the full moon reached its peak, the figure transformed fully into a massive wolf, its body contorting and growing before my eyes.

My feet clenched together, and hot sweat streamed down as my fingers vibrated in the air. Please feed on other prey, not my family, I pleaded with a quivering voice, while I stood still, frozen in place. With the knowledge of the lunar moon transformation, I tried to calm the wolf down.

"Despite my best efforts, the werewolf's fury proved uncontainable, and within moments, I felt his claws tear through my ribs with a sickening crunch.”

"The intense pain escaped a loud scream from my mouth, waking Maren up from her sleep.” My vision gradually turned blurry, and tears welled up in my eyes, as Maren's face turned pale at the sight of the huge werewolf. 'Archie!' she screamed out, her voice laced with concern and fear, as I staggered towards the door and collapsed against it, unable to support my weight any longer.

"The werewolf swiftly turned to Maren, its eyes blazing with an eerie green glow.” In an instant, it lunged at her, its claws outstretched, and dug them into her throat. Maren's scream pierced the air, echoing through the room like a siren's wail. I was consumed by grief, feeling like I was drowning in a sea of despair, watching Maren fall lifeless to the ground.

I gently turned my gaze to Eira's entrance, seeing my little girl crouching beside a worn, four-legged chair opposite her room, tears streamed down my cheeks, and I felt a surge of adrenaline flowing through my veins.

With a blazing gaze like a fiery furnace, Eira peeked out, and seeing her made me smile, and still clinging to a glimmer of hope.”

A cold breeze swept through the room, making my injuries ache with a cold sensation, causing me to groan in pain. Pressing the affected area, blood gushed out uncontrollably.

She overcame a rage, undergoing a brutal transformation, my hands sweeping the floor as I tried to calm her. Her claws burst forth from her fingertips, and with a fierce cry, she sprang out of her hiding place, With her supernatural speed and strength.

"Her claws struck the unknown wolf at the back of his neck, causing him to arch in agony. And in an instant, he vanished into thin air, leaving behind a trail of blood that spread like a red stain on the floor."

"As her anger subsided, the claws began to retract, slowly sliding back into their sheaths, the sharp edges disappearing from view. With a heavy heart, I tried leaning forward but couldn't. My eyelids slowly

fell, like a gentle curtain falling until they fully closed."