Blood Moon Rising:A Twin Werewolf Saga)

“When the Blood Moon swallows the sun, two daughters of shadow shall rise as one. One bound in chains, her spirit undone, The other in shadows, her fate left to run. Claws of silver, hearts of flame, Together they end the Rogue King’s reign. Born to wield the night’s own might— Claws of shadow, teeth of light. Together, they shall break the throne, Stand together, blood and bone.” "Your Highness, I need you to push!" Elena’s anguished cries filled the chamber, echoing off the stone walls like the beginning of an ancient lament. Natania knelt beside the queen, checking between her legs—but there was no sign of crowning. No progress. Just blood, sweat, and fear. "Please, tell me there’s hope," King Jon begged, gripping Elena’s hand. Seeing his beloved in such agony tormented him. If he could take her pain, he would without hesitation. Elena was the only one who could bring the mighty King of Aeryndor to his knees. Natania sighed deeply, eyes filled with both worry and resolve. "We need to move her. Now." "To where?" Elena asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "A water birth. I believe it can work. I can perform healing rituals—" "Do what you must," Jon cut in firmly, already waving for help. Moments later, a small inflatable birthing pool was brought into the King’s chamber and filled with warm water. The queen was carefully moved from the infirmary and placed into the water, her breath shallow but steady. Natania began at once, chanting in ancient tongue: “Ἱερὴ Σελήνη, αἷμα ζωῆς, δῶς τὴν θεραπεία, σῶσον τὰς ψυχάς. Ὡς ὁ λύκος τρέχει, ὡς τὸ φῶς ἀνατέλλει, ἄφετε τὸ πόνον, ἕνα τ’ ἀστέρα χορεύει. Ω Σελήνη, Μητέρα Αργυφεγγιάς, Σκέπασέ μας μ' αγνά σου φιλιά. Με δικό σου αίμα, ζωή ρολά, Κι ένα παιδί ασφαλές γεννά! Φύλαξέ το απ' τη σκιά του τρόμου, Στ' άστρα γνέφ' το μ' αγάπη χρώμα. Σαν το φεγγάρι που περνά τη νύχτα, Να φέρεις ευτυχία, όχι πίκρα!" Strange potions were poured into the water, casting swirls of smoke and light. Color returned to Elena’s cheeks. Her breathing steadied. Jon exhaled in relief. But then the light shifted. A crimson glow filtered through the skylight above. The moon, once silver and serene, had turned blood red. “The Blood Moon,” Natania gasped, her voice trembling. Her eyes went wide with realization. “What’s happening?” Elena whispered weakly, staring at the red light above. Her body tensed. “Arrgh!” "Her contractions have started!" Natania snapped back to focus. “My Queen, please—push!” With Jon gripping her hand and whispering encouragement, Elena pushed with all her remaining strength. A cry echoed through the room. A baby girl, her hair golden like sunlight, her wail strong and determined. Natania held the child gently, her face awash with awe. “Oh, my beautiful baby,” Elena wept as Natania handed the child to her. “Look at what we made, my love.” “She’s just like you,” Jon whispered, tears falling freely. He kissed his wife’s forehead with reverence. Natania smiled softly, cutting the umbilical cord and wrapping the child in a warm blanket. “Congratulations, Your Majesties.” But she couldn’t stop glancing at the moon. “Thank you, Natan—Oww!” Elena suddenly cried out, doubling over in the water again. “What now?” Jon asked, alarmed. “I think I’m having another contraction—Aarghh!” “Twins of the Blood Moon…” Natania whispered, going pale. “The prophecy—it’s coming true.” “My Queen, push!” “What prophecy?!” Jon barked. “What do you mean, our children?” “I will explain later, Your Highness,” Natania replied urgently. “For now, we must focus!” Elena screamed again, and soon another cry filled the air. A second girl—her skin a rich tan, her hair black as a raven’s wing. Jon stared, stunned. “She looks just like me…” Before they could revel in their joy, a distant explosion rocked the palace. Shouts. Screams. Steel on stone. “What was that?!” Elena asked, heart pounding. Jon closed his eyes, reaching through the mind link to his Beta. The response hit him like ice. He turned to them. “My brother. He’s come for war. He’s already burning the kingdom to the ground.” Natania’s hands trembled as she wrapped the second baby. She didn’t speak, didn’t need to. The air was thick with dread. “Elena,” Jon said, his voice breaking. “You must go. Now. Natania, take the queen. Get her and the girls to safety.” He kissed Elena’s forehead once more and stared into her eyes with a pain he couldn’t voice. “Protect them.” Elena held both her daughters tightly to her chest, her strength rising from somewhere deeper than blood. “I will.” Natania stepped forward, fire in her voice despite the fear in her limbs. “I’ll guard them with my life.” As the chamber door burst open and the enemy breached the halls of Aeryndor, two daughters of shadow were carried into the night. And the blood moon watched in silence. The forest howled around them—wind lashing like claws, branches tearing at their clothes. Natania’s legs burned with each step, but she didn’t stop. Elena stumbled beside her, still cradling both babies against her chest, her face pale but determined. Behind them, the trees lit up—flashes of fire between the trunks. Raymond’s soldiers were setting the woods ablaze. “We have to move faster,” Natania urged. But it was already too late. They broke through the clearing—and stopped. A wall of black-cloaked soldiers stood ahead. In the center, mounted on a midnight steed, sat the man they had all once called brother. King Raymond. His eyes, once warm with loyalty, now burned with cruel triumph. “Ah,” he said softly, dismounting. “What a shame. I was hoping you’d make it farther. The chase was almost fun.” “Stay back!” Jon’s voice rang out behind them. He stepped between the soldiers and his family, sword in hand, bloodied but still burning with rage. “Brother,” Raymond said mockingly. “Still playing hero?” “Your quarrel is with me, not them.” “Oh no,” Raymond sneered. “It’s with all of you. Especially the children. You know what they are. You know what they will become.” Jon lunged—but Raymond was faster. A flash of steel. A cry of pain. The king of Aeryndor fell to his knees, clutching his side. Elena screamed, cradling her daughters tighter. Raymond advanced. “Elena, run!” Jon roared. “Run now!” But she wouldn’t leave him. And so, Raymond struck. One fatal blow. Elena collapsed beside her husband, her hand outstretched toward her children even in death. Natania froze in horror. For a heartbeat, the world stopped. Then instinct took over. She grabbed both babies, shielding them with her body. A soldier lunged forward and slashed downward—Natania spun, the blade catching her across the face. Blinding pain exploded behind her eye. She didn’t scream. She couldn’t. Blood poured from her wound, but she held on. In the chaos, the blanket holding the blonde-haired child slipped—tumbled from her arms and into the grasp of a waiting soldier. “No!” she shrieked, reaching for her—but another blow knocked her back, forcing her to retreat. She had no choice. Clutching the dark-haired twin to her chest, Natania turned and ran into the burning forest, blood streaming down her face, her vision fading to one eye. She didn’t look back. Couldn’t look back. Because if she had, she’d have seen the last of the royal family fall… and the Rogue King claim one of the twin daughters for himself. Somewhere in the ash and shadows, fate was split in two. One daughter, taken by the enemy. The other, carried into the night—her protector half-blind, but unbroken. And far above them, the Blood Moon kept its silent vigil.