THE HAZE [THE ALPHA’S FEISTY LUNA]

Running through the woods, panting and straining to gasp, trees swayed while the leaves wobbled as I ran past them. The breezy wind blew across my ears as my feet barely touch the ground, I race faster; you'd think I'm flying, my heart throbbed.

Glimpsing smokescreen from afar, my heart leaped in panics. I could constantly hear the clamors and howls from my pack. "You've got to hurry Luna! They need your help!" Lilith, my wolf screams out into my head.

I hastily increased my pace but it seemed not fast enough. Fuck! I got to a mountain peak and clearly, through my glassy disheartened eyes. No! This can't be happening. The Darkmoon armies are at it again; they've been raiding villages, predominantly to seize people; coercing them into slaves then killing those who dares to retaliate. Beholding the corpses everywhere my eyes roam too, howl outcries and blood-filled bathed the surface of the earth.

Conflagrations on rooftops, the ringing of swords against each other, arrow zipping and hissing through the air. Women, children sniveling and whimpering, men trying to hold back the enemies. There's an ongoing war; an unexpected one I could tell. Who dares lay these atrocious acts on my pack! An intense harsh pain pierce into my heart and I felt vulnerably weakened as I stagger back with dilating eyes. This is barbarity. "We've got no time Luna! You got to hurry now, Aiden is in danger!" Lilith alerts and my eyes quiver at once at the mention of 'Aiden' My foster brother.

I dashed speedily at once down the mountain peak, Aiden's name kept echoing in my head. Nothing must happen to him; cause if anything should happen to him, I'd as well die. This world would be meaningless to me, I won't have any hope to live on. Abruptly a metal nail stuck my tail and a painful erupt howl escaped from my lips. "Ahh!" I tripped, stumbling down the mountain non-stop, and when I finally stopped tumbling; that was hell! But I care less. What matters to me right now is Aiden's safety, I promised my deceased parent I'd solely protect him.

Shit! I already shapeshifted into my human form while falling from that hellish mountain. I grunted painfully while my eyes squinted as my head pounds heavily. Floundering to stand up from the snow pellets which glued my feet to the ground; I felt a cold hand grip my arm roughly and I gasped frighteningly at the thought of being captured. Not now! I opened my eyes which I never remember closing, at the invader. Oh! Dylan!

A sharp sniff from my nose and I hugged him tightly in relief, at least one person who matters most to me is still alive. He reciprocated back, his right hand circling my waist, the other caressing my hair intensely; I could feel he was also pleased to find me.

"Dylan we've got to hurry and save the people, they are dying! These nincompoop savage Darkmoon armies are destroying our pack!" I said in a hoarse voice, motioning at the battlefield frantically. Wanting to dash off but he held me back hastily. Huh?

I cock an icy glare at him and he heaved. "I won't let you move further than this," he said and I frowned instantly. Is he kidding around or what? Geez! What he emitted just now made me yank my arm off him angrily.

"What do you mean Dylan? I don't get you. Our park is invaded and we can't just stand here and watch them die! This ain't an expensive luxury show or something!" I yelled. Trying to make him see the perception of the atrocities before our very eyes but instead, he gave me this impenetrable expression I seem not to understand. Don't fucking tell me he wants us to abandon these people; Never! I will never allow that, he should know better.

"Please Luna, don't make this hard for the both of us. Let's leave right now, it's not safe here" he said again, and this time I scoffed. We could still hear indistinct yells, battle cries from the dark moon armies; their horses trotting and neighing. Can these gormless bastards just stop already?! Don't they have pitty hearts on these poor children and old ones?!

"Don't tell me that Dylan. Fine then, what about our people? They surely need our assistance in winning this war. We can't just abandon them to their fate" I professed. An abrupt boomed sound erupted so loud it shook beneath the earth, causing us to fall with loud grunts and our palms clasping our ears shut; this is disastrous and outrageous savagery.

"Did you see that? Don't you see what I'm talking about Luna, C'mon listen to me huh. No one wanted this to happen! Neither you nor me! Our people are dead and few are taken as slaves! We have no choice but to flee before we get captured!" he asserted in his broad voice. However, it was obvious I wasn't having it at all. Hold on a second, I can't possibly leave my people most especially when they needed me now more than ever; my voice of incentive encouragement and rapier sword to slay these ferociously black-hearted animals.

"What about Aiden? We can at least try to save him before we leave! Don't fucking expect me to heed when he's not with me" I fulminated. My face crumpled up instantly.

"I'm sorry to say this from my lips but.. Aiden is dead Luna," he dropped the bombshell. Huh? What is the jabbering about? "Wha_ What do you mean he's dead?" I quavered, teetering slowly as he held me but I pushed him off with fury.

"Your lying Dylan! Aiden can't be dead; no he can't! My brother is not dead! Tell me your lying, Dylan!" I yelled. Tears flow freely from my eyes as I made to dart away however, he pulled me back immediately.

"Let me go! you half-wit! Tell me my brother is alive! I will never believe you. Noo! " I cried out so loud and the next thing I felt was a hit on my neck nape which caused my eyes lid to close in darkness and I passed out.

•

Hearing the horses neighing, snorting, and trotting on a snow path; I could tell. A violent tailwind blew across my face and I shivered, fluttering my eyes slowly however, everything still seems blurred to me. Gradually, I was able to sit up through grunts and shivering in coldness. Leaning my head backward, my eyes behold on the rest captivators in the cage and instantly it was then dawned to me we were been captured. I need no soothsayer to tell me it was the Darkmoon armies. My facial expression changed into a rueful one; I have personally failed my pack. I couldn't even stare up at them as I fiddled my fingers in shame and a trail of tears fell from my eyes.

"Luna. Ar... Are you alright?" I heard someone ask in a low soft voice and my brows snapped up at the redhead. She's pretty. Looks seventeen with pale white skin, had a little slight scar on her left face but that didn't hinder her beauty to glow.

I nodded with a small dryly smile as I wandered my eyes across to the rest of the girls and boys; we were twenty in number. Dylan sat close to the metallic cage door of which he rested his back on, eyes closed. I knew he couldn't confront me. Coward! Hard to believe he fucking knocked me out just so he could take me away all in the name of protection but then, what happened at the very end? We were fucking captured and no doubt will all be enforced into pathetic slavery.

"What happened Sharon? I wanna know. Tell me all that happened" I inquired from the redhead and she took in a long sniff.

"The brutal attack looked fated; one which bound to happen, an attack which seemed inevitable. It all started when the Beta requested a gathering of which we all obeyed without hesitation. And then, there came the Darkmoon trooping armies..." she paused. A sudden chock hindered her from continuing and the blonde close by patted her back softly.

"The forces slaughtered everyone they came across, ripping hearts like it was an exciting thing to do. Blood flowed everywhere like a river as every house was set on ablaze, howls and cries from the children, old ones and handicapped who couldn't fight for their lives were all massacred" A young cowboy, who laid on the floor added. Tickling of tears sounds was the only thing that could be heard of in the cage; it was me. I hadn't noticed I was crying while hearing everything!

The carriage stopped and two hefty guards came to check on us, they roamed their dead gazes on us as we all watched them mutely like expired ghosts. Making sure we weren't making any silly move to escape, they left shortly not after one pierced his spear unruly into Dylan's rib, making him jarred up with a scream.

"Curse you" I mouthed in resentment as I moved towards Dylan to help him out while he strained and gasped for breath. I tore the hem of my gown to help him dress his bruise wound.

"You shouldn't be doing this Luna. I have failed you and the people," he said ruefully and I scoffed at his face.

"Shut up, Coward" I mumbled lowly still dressing his wound and he chuckled, I knew he heard me.

"Were you going to save the people if I hadn't knocked you out?" he questioned, which earned him a glare from me.

"You should know better Dylan. I'd rather die in those beast hands, a fight of honor than cowering away like shriveled onions," I replied him, inspecting the injury to make sure it's well dressed.

"I'm sorry I knocked you, I didn't mean to" he apologized. Groaned a bit while I merely stared at him in a blank expression.

"I will never behave like an idiot, you know that very well. However, I did everything just to keep my promise to Aiden before he died. He said you need a voice to guide you, a shoulder to lean on. He made me vow to keep you safe until my last Luna" he added forthwith and I inhaled back tears which threatened to fall again.

Oh, Aiden, dear brother. I'm so sorry for all I caused you, I should have arrived earlier to save you.

The rest watched both of us as we talked in low tones, I veered my head at them; the hunger and thirstiness written on their pale fainted faces, I gulped down dryly at the thought of what awaits us at the dark moon pack.

I have heard a series of stories about their ruthless Alpha king. The one who kills thousands of people with just a snap of his finger! Rumors said him to be the devil's son! Anywhere his power feet lay on brings nothing but fears beneath the hearts. It was also said he's expectational handsome like a Greek God, said to be the finest man on earth with rare silver hair. Whatever, I don't care. All my heart yearns now is to make him crouch on his knees and beg for his life.

I will avenge my people's death! Most especially Aiden. My one and only foster brother, I don't consider him as one but my true biological brother; I promised my parent to protect him however, I failed.

Annihilating the Alpha king seemed impossible, a suicidal mission at that but, I LUNA STONE will make that happen. History which is never been heard of thousands of years ago will occur very soon, sooner than I earlier marked out.

Shifting away from Dylan, I crouched on the floor while they dazed at me as I took out my small hairpin from my hair bun, making them fall freely on my shoulders. I dug the pin into my palm and pulled it out with a low gasp as I watched the blood ooze. My heart is burning in rage and anger; a fire burning like a furnace that can't be quenched by seas of water.

"MAY THIS BLOOD COURSE THROUGH MY VIENS FROM THIS DAY UNTIL MY LAST" I swore. Dug again as I drew a symbolic half moon on my right palm through clenched teeth. Suddenly, thunder and lightning grumbled as the earth shook, chaotic caterwaul from the armies while the rest in the cage shuddered and trembled in fright, wrapping each other in protection from the angered heaven; dark clouds crawl on the surface of the sky as drizzled rains broke out.

"It has begun.”