Chapter 1
"Papa?"
Morvienne's small voice broke through the silence of the midnight.
She was only eleven but could sense that something was wrong.
"Sleep, little moon," her father murmured, smiling faintly. "It's late."
But something in his tone made her mother glance up.
The night outside had gone strangely still. No crickets, no wind, only a long, heavy quiet that seemed too threatening.
Sounds.
Boots.
Many of them.
Instantly, her father's smile vanished and in a single motion, he was on his feet, crossing the room to where he kept his weapons.
The Alpha of the Seran Pack, Alpha Seran, didn't need to speak for his mate to understand.
"Morvienne," her mother said quickly, voice calm and kind. "Come here, love."
"What's wrong mama?" Morvienne asked, already sensing the danger.
"Nothing you need to worry about," her mother lied. "We will just play a game, yes? You are going to hide for me."
"But..."
"Now."
The sounds of boots grew louder, the scent of smoke threading through the open window.
"They have come," her father said, turning to them, his voice low and fierce. "The Varyn crest on their banners."
Morvienne didn't understand, not really. She only knew that her mother's hands were pulling her into a hiding space which was just big enough for a child.
"Hide," her mother whispered as the door shook, someone had slammed against it.
"Do not make a sound," her mother instructed as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and pushed her toward the wardrobe carved into the wall.
Morvienne quickly nodded and crawled inside, her small fingers gripping the wood.
"Stay here," her mother whispered, cupping her cheeks. "No matter what you hear, you do not move. You do not make a sound. Promise me."
"Mama," Morvienne whispered, her eyes getting watery. "I'm scared Mama."
"I know, little moon. But you are brave aren't you?"
Morvienne nodded.
"That's my girl," her mother said softly and kissed her forehead before closing the door. "Remember, don't breathe too loudly and don't move."
Through the narrow slits, Morvainne could see everything and nodded, doing as her mother had said.
It wasn't long after, the door to their room crashed open and some warriors came in, while her father stood tall with his weapon, her mother equally ready as she drew her blade.
"Alpha Seran!" a voice snarled. "By order of the Varyn Alpha, your bloodline ends tonight."
"Over my dead body," her father growled and immediately, they attacked.
Steel met steel, the air filled with the sound of chaos and weapons clashing. Sounds of pain, grunts, and slashes, hung thick in the room.
Morvienne's small hands immediately clamped over her mouth, every instinct screaming at her to call out, but her mother's voice echoed in her head : Do not make a sound. Hide.
She saw it all. Every swing, every strike her father blocked. How her mother fought beside him, fierce and fast, but there were just too many.
Her father had taken a blade to his side and staggered, falling to his knee, but he rose again, growling as his eyes flashed with the last strength of his pack.
"Run," he shouted, knowing that this was a battle they couldn't fight unprepared. "Get—" but the words never finished as a blade cut through his throat.
For a moment, everything slowed. His body froze, eyes wide and blood sliding between his fingers as he tried to speak while clutching his throat.
Morvienne's breath hitched as he let out a choked sound before collapsing.
"Seran!!!" Her mother's scream tore through the room.
Without hesitation, her mother lunged for him, her blade moving so fast as she struck one down and another, but the third drove a blade deep into her side, causing her body to jerk.
She looked at where Morvienne hid, a faint trembling smile playing on her lips as she fell beside her mate.
Morvienne's trembling hands clamped harder over her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried her best not to make a sound.
Her whole body shook, but not a single sound escaped her lips.
When her mother's blood slowly flowed across the floorboards and touched her toes where she hid, she didn't flinch... she couldn't.
She bit her palm to stop the cry building in her throat, her innocence dying with them as something shattered inside her.
Morvienne didn't move, she couldn't even breathe as she watched the Varyn warriors leave.
She could still hear the screams from outside, the begging, the pleading of her people, and there was no way she could stop herself from listening.
Even when her throat ached from holding back sobs, she didn't make a sound.
Hours passed, time having no meaning, and then finally...
Silence.
She waited until the boots and voices outside had gone, then, slowly, she pushed the door open.
The smell of blood hit her first as she stepped forward, her legs weak and trembling. She had to press her hand against the wall to keep herself from falling.
"Papa?" She whispered, but there was no answer.
Her father lay where he had fallen, her mother right beside him.
Morvienne's breath caught and she quickly clamped her hands over her mouth again, the way she had done while hiding, not wanting to make a sound as she dropped to her knees beside her mother.
"Mama," she whispered, her fingers reaching for her mother's face and rubbing it as if she was trying to keep it warm. "Wake up... please wake up..."
"Mama," she shook her, once. Twice. Harder, but...
Nothing.
Morvienne's throat convulsed and the sobs came soundless, her shoulders jerking as she was still too afraid to be heard.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she pressed her forehead to her mother's arm, shaking and trying to breathe. She cried and cried silently, hugging both her parents' bodies as much as she could.
When she finally lifted her head, she pushed herself up on trembling legs, her night dress soaked with blood as she dried her eyes, the blood on her hand staining her face.
Quickly, she rushed outside, thinking that maybe she could find help or maybe someone was still alive, but when she stepped outside, she was met with bodies on the floor, scattered like broken dolls.
Children, Men, Women, everyone she had known, everything was gone. The Seran Pack was gone.
Seeing all this, something inside her cracked and the tears that flowed, stopped, her face going blank.
She may be little, but she was different. Different enough to know that her whole world has been taken away from her.
Morvienne closed her eyes, standing frozen as the sounds of cries and pleading all came back playing in her head.
She moved her head, tilting it like she was in pain as she tried to get rid of the sounds, but she couldn't get rid of any of it, her mother's dying face, her father...
"Papa..." she whispered, her whole body trembling.
She waited to hear him say, "Yes, my little moon," but no answer came, although in her mind, she heard it.
"I'll make it right, Mama. I promise."
"I promise..."
"I—"
Her eyes snapped open.
