The unexpected

"I have told you several times not to go to the woods on your own!!!" With a harsh and loud voice, Alpha Lee, the Alpha of moonlight pack, my father, scolded me. 

"Anna, I know you love being adventurous but you are still small. You can't just leave the palace without letting me know about your whereabouts."

"Where have you been?" He enquired. 

"I… ermm… I" I kept on stammering and did not know what to say to my father. 

I went back to my room crying and weeping as my dad was just too harsh on me. He is always so sensitive anytime I go out. 

I continued sobbing on my bed, my tears staining the soft cotton bedsheet. It felt like the weight of my questions and frustrations was suffocating me, and I couldn't make sense of why my father was always so strict with me. "Why can't I go out like other kids?!" I muttered to myself, my voice muffled by the fabric. "Why must I always study and be in the palace all the time?!" The words echoed in my mind, a chorus of discontentment.

As I cried, lost in my thoughts, I heard a faint sound of someone attempting to open the door. I quickly wiped my tears and stood up, my heart pounding with curiosity and hope. The door handle jiggled, but it wouldn't turn. I hurriedly unlocked it and swung the door open, revealing my mother on the other side.

She entered my room with a warm smile, her presence instantly calming my troubled heart. She approached me with tenderness in her eyes, understanding the pain I felt deep within. Without a word, she gently embraced me, and I nestled into her comforting arms, seeking solace in her love.

"Why does Daddy always keep me confined to the palace?" I managed to utter between sobs, my voice filled with confusion and longing. My mother's touch and presence had a way of making me open up, even when my emotions overwhelmed me.

Her soothing voice filled the room, washing away the chaos in my mind. "Anna, your father loves you more than words can express," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "He worries about your safety. The woods can be dangerous, with wild animals and rival packs. He doesn't want anything to happen to you."

"But I want to play like other kids," I said, my voice trembling with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I want to explore, to feel the freedom they have. Why is it so hard to be the child of an Alpha?"

My mother's embrace tightened as she held me close, her voice laced with empathy. "I understand your desire, my dear. And your father does too, deep down. But his duty as an Alpha comes with the responsibility to protect our pack and our family. Sometimes, that means making difficult choices."

Her words began to soothe the ache in my heart, and I listened intently as she continued. "Your father is doing what he believes is best for you, even if it doesn't always seem fair. He loves you more than anything, and he wants to shield you from any harm that may come your way."

Feeling the warmth of her embrace and the love in her words, I gradually calmed down. The storm of emotions subsided, replaced by a sense of understanding. I pleaded with my mother to tell me a story, to distract me from the weight of my concerns. She obliged, spinning tales of enchanting lands and courageous heroes, lulling me into a peaceful slumber.

As I drifted off to sleep, my mother quietly left my room, her love lingering in the air. 

********

I stopped going to the woods after Father scolded me. He said it was dangerous, that I could get hurt or lost. So, I stayed within the palace walls, playing in the grand halls and lavish gardens. But today, I couldn't bear the monotony any longer. I yearned for adventure, for the freedom the woods offered. Despite the risks, I decided to leave the palace once again. I craved the touch of nature, the whispering wind, and the secrets hidden within the trees.

With careful steps, I slipped away, making sure to avoid the watchful eyes of the werewolves on duty. They were tasked with protecting the palace, but I couldn't let their presence deter me. I darted past them, my heart pounding with excitement, and ventured into the depths of the woods.

The early morning greeted me with a gentle breeze, carrying the fragrance of blooming flowers. The sun's rays danced through the leaves, creating a mosaic of light and shadow. I ran freely, my feet carrying me deeper into the forest, as I relished the melodies of birdsong that echoed around me.

Immersed in the enchanting world of nature, I couldn't help but mimic the various sounds. I whistled like a nightingale, chirped like a sparrow, and howled like a lone wolf. Laughter escaped my lips as I reveled in the joy of this secret performance. Time slipped away unnoticed, and as the sun climbed higher, I realized it was time to return to the palace.

Fear crept into my heart as I contemplated the consequences of my absence. Father would be furious if he discovered I had left without permission again. I quickened my pace, navigating the familiar paths that led me back to the safety of the palace walls.

But as I neared my pack, a strange silence hung in the air, shattering the peaceful ambiance. The usual rustling of leaves and the songs of woodland creatures were absent. An unsettling feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. I cautiously stepped forward, my eyes scanning the surroundings.

My heart skipped a beat as I stumbled upon a lifeless body lying motionless on the forest floor. Panic surged through my veins, and I gasped in horror. Dead bodies littered the area, their lifeless eyes staring blankly at the sky. My pack had been attacked, and I was too late to prevent it.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I moved from one fallen comrade to another. My grief was overwhelming, and I cried out in anguish, unable to comprehend the senselessness of this tragedy. The only sounds that filled the air were my sobs and desperate pleas for my loved ones to wake up.

In a daze, I stumbled back towards the palace, driven by the desperate hope that my parents had somehow escaped the massacre. But as I entered the grand halls, my worst fears were realized. The once vibrant and lively atmosphere had transformed into a haunting scene of death and destruction.

There, lying before me, were the lifeless bodies of my dear parents. Their faces, frozen in eternal rest, held no trace of the warmth and love that had defined them. A primal scream tore itself from my throat as I crumpled to the ground, my world crumbling around me.

I wept uncontrollably, my tears mingling with the bloodstains on the marble floor. How could this have happened? Who could have committed such a heinous act? Questions swirled in my mind, but answers eluded me. I was alone, the sole survivor in a once-thriving palace.

As I wept, my heart pounding in my chest, the sound of approaching footsteps broke through the deafening silence. Panic gripped me as I realized that I was no longer alone in the desolate halls of the palace. Fear mingled with grief, intensifying the ache in my chest. Who could these people be? Were they responsible for my parents' massacre, or were they here to harm me further?

As the voices drew nearer, I mustered every ounce of strength to stand up, wiping away my tears with the back of my trembling hand. The once regal surroundings now seemed like a labyrinth, filled with shadows and secrets. I knew I had to hide, to find a place where I could evade their gaze and perhaps gain some insight into their intentions.

With cautious steps, I moved towards a nearby corner, my eyes darting around for any possible escape routes. The sound of my own breathing seemed deafening as I pressed my back against the cold, stone wall. I tried to slow my racing heart, my mind racing even faster. My instincts screamed at me to stay hidden, to stay alive.

Suddenly, before I could fully comprehend the situation, a firm hand clasped over my mouth, muffling any sound I might have made. My eyes widened in terror as I felt the hand. My brain stopped walking and I didn't know what to do. Am I also dying?