THE LUNA REDEEMED WERELORDS

“Kaelen Vargar” stood at the cliff of Northern Keep, staring at the full moon. The light of the moon stripped him from every hope of getting his wolf essence. He felt empty, no second breath, no second eye, no warmth feeling that wind through his skin, everything felt new and condemning all over again. It's been six years since a war broke through across the seven Werelords packs, stripping them naked of their wolf essence, leaving a void that they could not understand, they kept on walking, feeling the weight of their breath, wandering like lost soldiers. He called it the “Hollows curse”, being an alpha, Kaelen consecrated that day to the hate he held, it was the day the gods punished them, stripping them of their wolf essence. Kaelen, an alpha of the Varga packs at twenty-five, was the bravest among his pack, his wolf essence, white flur, red eyes, sharp teeth that pierces through flesh. Kaelen, a man of great essence feared by the omega, the other Werelords bowed before him. Now he is a man of emptiness with no wolf essence. “Lord Kaelen”, a voice from behind where he stood came shaking, it was Garrick, his beta. “The scouts are back from Southern Gate.” Kaelen was unbothered about what Garrick said, he turned back facing Garrick. “Why do you panic, Garrick, as if you lost something?” Garrick looked at him in awe. The wind blew like it was going to hail down brimstone. Kaelen digested a lot, he gave out a smile, came closer to where Garrick stood. Garrick felt cold, he feared Kaelen so much. “They found someone”, Garrick was shaking. “A Luna.” Kaelen was glad, after all hope is reigning on them, Kaelen said to him, “A Luna? A Luna, a breed mate of the pack, without a Luna they wouldn't get their wolf essence.” Kaelen turned over to look at Garrick, who looked older than his thirty years. “Where is the Luna?” Kaelen asked. “She's been held in the Obsidian cage by the Rotfang pack, Alpha Dervik has her, she's an high breed omega, she looks twenty-two, he found her hovering around the border.” Garrick’s voice cuts through. “The Rotfang are scavengers.” Kaelen kept pacing, his hands on his chin, he said to Garrick. “If the Rotfang has her, they'll use her to their advantage, the Hollow is what they use to their advantage, they kill, take anything ever since the war, and if this Luna happens to be an unawakened and vigorous one, they'll use her as their bait and weapon.” Kaelen said, his eyes tinted. “Why are you telling me this, Garrick? I'm no longer a wolf, I'm empty, we're all empty without a wolf essence, I'm nothing.” “Kaelen, I trust you and I know you can redeem us and get our wolf essence back.” Garrick went closer to him. “The other Werelords are marching already.” “Dervik sent words that whosoever brings the Luna to the summit at Blood Moon gets first claim, he's starting the redemption ritual.” Garrick's face turned pale at the sound of the redemption ritual. “What’s her name? The Luna,” Kaelen asked, looking at Garrick. “Asha.” Garrick hesitated. “Prepare the riders and horses. Twenty men!!” Kaelen snapped, looking at the moon. He knew that no pack has accepted, and protected her. “You're going, my lord?” Garrick's voice cracked. “My lord, you haven't left the keep three years now.” “I'm not going for the ritual, Garrick,” Kaelen lied. “I'm going to make sure Dervik doesn't gets and claim her.” “If no one can have her, then no one should start a war.” Garrick nodded, but didn't believe. They travelled four days to Southern Wastes, riding through the lands made Kaelen remembered he was an empty leader, without his wolf essence he was nothing. They got to the Obsidian Gate at dusk, they saw a black stone, built into a canyon. Rotfang banner hunged at the top, no wolves at the top protecting the building, Kaelen looked at the top, he saw men with crossbows and spears, he ordered his riders to circle the canyon. While waiting, a thick voice ran through from the highest tower above. “Kaelen! Even from far, I can sense your emptiness, you look more like an hopeless fish and I can smell fear all over you.” The voice led out a loud laugh. Kaelen straightened his face upward, he caught a sight of the figure standing, it was Dervik. Kaelen scoffed and said, “Oo, Dervik, you haven't changed either, look at you, filling up your destroyed self with wine and food, looking so pitiful. Let the girl go, Dervik, she's not yours.” Dervik laughed hearing Kaelen’s words. “She's not anyone's yet, but she could be mine, unless… Kaelen, you want to try and take her?” Dervik said back. The gate opened, a small figure, having a blond hair, walking with bare feet, putting on a dress that has once been white, stained, hair dark and tangled, wrist bounded in chains. It was Asha. Kaelen stared at her and smiled, her eyes were gold, even bound with chains she walked with her spine straight towards Kaelen, she never cared about looking at Dervik. While walking towards Kaelen, Dervik rushed quickly and got her, pulling her strongly to himself, facing Kaelen he lamented, “This is the price, Varga!!, the last Luna of the North, the only hope to your wolf essence, bond with her and you rule us all!” Asha kept looking at Kaelen, she never bothered how hurt her arms were as Dervik kept pulling her strongly, neither did she cry out to Kaelen for help. Kaelen felt something deep in his chest, he wished his wolf essence would just return, but what he felt was anger, he said loudly. “Don't touch her!” His voice came rumbling. Dervik grinned. “Or what? You'll fight me? With what? You're as hollow as me, Kaelen!” He spread his arm, showing the disgust he had, he brought a knife, raised it to Asha’s throat, Kaelen knew he had to do something, he didn't think, he quickly moved to where Dervik was standing, he saddled his horse, Dervik gave a signal to his archer and an arrow was shot at Kaelen, hitting him, he fell to the ground, he didn't bother about the pain he was going through, he got to where Dervik was, gave him a strong hit at his throat, Dervik gurgled and fell, he stood for a moment, his eyes fixed on Asha, she stood still with her gold eyes, unafraid, still bound in silver chain, Kaelen knew silver was a threat, he still didn't care, he needed to save her, he reached for the chain, his hands touched it and got burned, he didn't care, he finally loosed the chain, Asha was weak, she staggered, she couldn't maintain her stamina, Kaelen caught her before she could land on the ground, she was light, like someone who hadn't eaten for weeks, she needs to go out of sight from Dervik and his men, Kaelen placed his both hands on her shoulders and asked faintly, “Can you run?” She nodded once, he smiled, “Then run.” He slung her over his shoulder and turn. The sound of the horn blow, he heard came clashing right into his ears and it sounded older, and deeper, he noticed it wasn't the sound of the Rotfang’s horn. From the ridge, banners rose, black, red, green, grey, gold, the other five Werelords had come, Alpha Corin of Frostfang, Alpha Merek of Ironwood, Alpha Selim of Duskvale, Alpha Orin of Stormclaw, Alpha Rhen of Blood Moon. They all stood armed, staring at Asha on his shoulder, Dervik was on the ground choking, the Rotfang men was confused on whom to fight. Kaelen stood confused, he wondered what to do next with Asha on his arms. Corin walked forward to Kaelen, he muttered, “Submit is in three days time, your early, Varga.” “I'm not here for the submit,” Kaelen said, he felt Asha's heart beating against his back, “I'm here to take her somewhere safe.” Alpha Rhen laughed loud, he threw a word at Kaelen, “Safe? Kaelen, there's no going anywhere, we need the girl for the ritual, so hand her over to us.” Kaelen felt something dripping down to his clothe, he shifted his gaze to where Asha placed her hands, he saw blood dripping down from her hands, Asha gazed at the other five Werelords, then she stared back at Kaelen, she whispered to his ears, “Please save me, don't let them have me.” The look in her eyes made Kaelen pitied her, he turned to the five alphas, “No,” he said. Another of the alpha, Merek, drew his sword, “Then you die, Varga.” Kaelen had no choice than to drop Asha, he drew his sword by his side and fought, an arrow hit him by his side, it was the Rotfang’s arrow, he fought trying to protect her from the other alphas, he heard Garrick calling his name, Asha held him by his cloat and pulled him. “Lord,” her voice was hoarse, “the cave behind you.” He didn't question her opinion, he quickly grabbed her hand and ran, they ducked into the canyon wall, darkness written all over the place, the stone, Asha was so tired she fell on her knees, still on chains, Kaelen drew out his sword and striked on the silver chain, his hands were shaking, the chains fell off, Asha felt a warning release around her wrist, she rubbed it gently, she fixed her eyes on Kaelen. “You're bleeding,” she said, “so are you,” Kaelen replied. They sat for a while, listening to the war that was still going on. Finally, breaking the silence, Asha spoke, “Why did you save me? The others… wants me for the rituals to get their wolf essence back, you don't want that?” She asked. Kaelen leaned back against a stone trying to rest, stretching his pains away. “Who said I don't?” Asha looked at him and said firmly, “You didn't look like someone who wants, you look like someone who's scared.” The words she spoke ran deep into his flesh, no one had ever said such to him in six years. He cast a view at her, she looked so brave but yet scared, he asked, “What's your pack?” “I don't have one, the war took them all away, so I ran to save myself, I've been running since then, then I stormed into the Rotfang's hand, they lied that they would protect me.” Kaelen looked away looking pitiful, “The other alphas would find a way to get to you for the ritual.” “I know,” she said looking at the cave, feeling sorry for herself, “that's why I have to choose.” “Choose what?” Kaelen asked. “Choose who I bound to.” She met his eyes. “If any of you bounds to me… the wolf essence and everything will return back.” Kaelen laughed, she wondered if there was something funny she said. “I'm not a good choice, Asha, I'm as empty.” She stared at him, “You're not empty, Kae… you have potentials you're not seeing.” Before he answered, the ground came rattling with noise, footsteps, many, coming towards the cave, torchlights flickered from the entrance. A voice called out, “Varga! I know you're in there! Give us the girl and I'll let you live!” It was Orin Stormclaw. Kaelen stood still bleeding, he went forward putting Asha behind, going towards the entrance, Asha stood along with him, she overtook him and went forward. He pulled her to himself. “Asha, no!” he exclaimed. “I have to,” she whispered, pushing him, “if I don't choose, they'll kill their selves, kill you and kill me too.” Her breath kept wandering like vapour, she walked to the mouth of the cave, six hollow Werelords waiting outside, she had no string of fear in her, she pointed at herself and cried, “I'm the last Luna!” Her voice echoed through the cave, “that why I have to choose…” Before she could raise her voice to complete what she wanted to say, a roar came from the mountain beneath them and its sound wind into the cave where they where, bursting out of the caves mouth, leaving a trembling chill on their skin. The roar wasn't similar to that of a human, it was a wolf. Kaelen, for the first time in six years, haven't felt a heat under his skin, he groaned as his bones began aching, his vision doubled, he sensed something unusual, he felt his wolf essence has been awaken, looking at Asha he got confused. Asha noticed him looking at her, she looked back, she was afraid. “Do you hear that?” she breathed. Kaelen did, the five other alphas did also, Kaelen laughs intrude in the silence. “It's not over yet, the war just began!!” The terror in his voice sounded like an assurance made with hells crimson.