Prologue 1
LOILA
THIRTEEN YEARS AGO
“Angel, I lost Beta Charles to the battle.” I halted on my steps—hearing the Alpha's voice—as I neared the Alpha's chamber. I was going to ask him about my father. He is the beta of the pack and as far as I know, the two left for battle this morning and this is already past nine in the evening.
A painful cry tore through my chest, my lungs tightening as though it would explode any second. I leaned on the wall to steady myself, my breathing breaking into uneven pants.
I could hear murmuring in the room followed by a loud clunk. Lifting my small right hand up my chest, I tried not to break down. This wasn't right. Why was my father not alive and the Alpha is? What happens to that close friendship that the two share?
Although I'm aware that it wasn't the fault of Alpha Felix that my father died, he was supposed to be there, protecting each other, like my father told me they normally do. So what happened today?
I could remember feeling strange when I woke to find my father preparing to go out. I had tried to warn him—to prevent him from leaving the house because my instincts were always sure, but he refused to listen. Rather, he tried convincing me that he would return to me.
Tears pooled up in my eyes, falling down my face as if it had the power to wash off the sorrow that was stained on me. I placed my two hands on the wall to steady myself but the little act did nothing, rather I found myself falling to the ground.
What's going to become of me right now? I am only six and my father told me that my mom passed away after giving birth to me. Now I have lost the only family I had. I can't take this. This is so overwhelming that I can already feel the dam closing in on me. Pain washed over me like needles and I didn't know who to run to, who would embrace me and tell me that this was all some silly joke.
I couldn't lose my father. He is all I have and I am all he has. This better be some prank because I couldn't take it anymore.
The door to the Alpha's chamber flew open, and I counted the seconds before he emerged with his Luna by his side. He felt startled for a moment, seeing me there, before a smile appeared at the corners of his lips, which did not make it to his eyes.
Luna Angelina gasped seeing me on the floor and she rushed towards me, before enveloping me in her motherly hugs. I sniffed in her homely scent, the remaining pieces of my heart which I had, shattering to pieces.
Her tight hug confirmed my thoughts and I shook my head, trying to wriggle myself out of her hold but her arms around me were firm, stopping me from moving.
She patted my back and rocked me like a baby, and that was what I was. A baby. I was only six years old yet fate had been throwing me life blows ever since I was born and I didn't know how to take it anymore.
I wanted to drown myself in sorrows and give in to the pain stabbing me to the point of death. “Why me? I have no one. Father was the only one I had, now I have lost him. Argh!“ I cried out, burying myself more into her warm embrace.
Luna Angelina continued to pat my back before breaking the hug and stared at my tear stained face, which I knew my eyes were fiery red, just like the color of my hair.
“Shhh, stop crying child.” Her hands palmed my face, wiping off my tears. I looked above her to catch the Alpha nodding his head a little too much, as though doing what they both wanted me to do would soothe the ache in my heart. “It's going to be fine. Trust me, okay?” she sniffed back her own tears and I offered her a wry smile before shaking my head.
I was no longer a fool, a fool who used to believe people's promises and I wasn't going to be blinded by trust again. My own father promised to be by my side at every step of the way. He was so eager and I had seen the earnestness in his eyes so I trusted him. I trusted him so much that I believed nothing was ever gonna come between him and I. Now my trust has cost me dearly. I wouldn't be deceived again.
“Nothing's ever going to be fine, Luna.” I moved backwards, before standing on my feet. I looked at her straight in the face, my body trembling so much that I thought I was going to fall any moment, lips chattering as I asked her the question that had been tearing through my soul. “When were you going to let me know that my father is dead? When?” I looked at the Alpha who was pleading with me through his eyes to remain calm but that was a far cry to how I truly felt.
A whirlwind of emotions—hurt, betrayal, and anger—boiled within me. It was too much, and I felt like I was on the edge of losing control.
Alpha Felix started towards us and I took a step back, then two, pointing my hands at the two of them, not wanting them near me. All I wanted to do was be alone and cry my heart out but they are here, standing before me and looking at me with pity and that was what irked me so much. I hate that look. My friends in school used to give me that look whenever their parents came for a PA meeting. In their own case, it was their mothers who would honor the meeting while my father did.
“I was going to tell you after a while, that's after I had calmed down myself. Because I didn't want to break down before you while I told you of your father's demise.” He choked on his words, and I felt pain stab me in the heart. I was so selfish that I forgot he was also grieving. Not just grieving for the Beta of the Blood Canine Pack but for his friend. They were best friends and I had always admired the shared bond between the two. But where he was his best friend, he was my father. He was the only member of my family while the Alpha had his mate by his side with their children.
He started walking towards me and this time around, I didn't stop him. From the corner of my eye, I saw Luna Angelina getting up and she too came to me like a mother who wanted to console her child. “We will take care of you, like our own daughter. You will be that daughter we never had.” She started, her eyes twinkling with pure happiness, at the thought of making me theirs.
“Just know that you are not alone anymore.” Alpha Felix 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 with a smile, and he spread out his arms to me and I looked at his Luna who 𝚗𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍, tears pooling up in her eyes.
I rushed toward the Alpha and wrapped my small arms around his legs—it was the only part of him I could reach. He reached down and scooped me up into his arms, and I buried my face in his neck. I felt Luna Angelina's warm hands gently rubbing my back, and for a moment, I allowed myself to find solace in their presence. But the pain still lingered, and the questions remained unanswered.
"Why did he have to die?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. The Alpha tightened his grip on me, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and grief.
"He died protecting us, protecting our pack," he replied, his voice trembling slightly. "Your father was a brave and honorable wolf, and he fought until his last breath. We will honor his memory and ensure that his sacrifice was not in vain."
I looked up at him, my tear-filled eyes meeting his gaze. In that moment, I saw the sincerity in his eyes, the weight of the loss he felt as well. It was not just my father that he had lost, but a loyal friend and trusted ally.
Luna Angelina kissed my forehead, her voice filled with compassion. "We will be here for you, my dear. We understand your pain, and we will do everything we can to support you. You are not alone."
I clung to them, finding some comfort in their words, but the ache in my heart persisted. The loss of my father was a wound that would take time to heal, if it ever truly could. But in that moment, I realized that I had not lost everything. I had gained a new family, one that vowed to protect and care for me.
As I nestled closer to the Alpha and Luna, I knew that my journey of healing would not be easy. The pain would continue to haunt me, but with their support, I would find the strength to face the days ahead. Together, we would honor my father's memory and forge a new path forward.
My aching heart dissipated a little. I was glad to the Moon goddess for giving me a second chance and I'd do anything to keep this new family I have been blessed with forever. I thought at that moment that I had found my peace, that it was all going to be alright, never knowing it was the beginning of hell for me.
