CHAPTER 3 : The Prophecy

Staring at the moon from a distance made me think how unfair this world is for an ugly and weak one. Things would be so much different if I was born without these scars on my face and was able to shift.

Tears continuously cascaded down my cheeks. I was rejected and declined. I will never gain the love and respect I’ve been longing for from the pack, and now that Alpha Magnus, my father, is dead, it’s completely impossible. One more wrenching truth is that Calypso, the only friend I had, betrayed me. For what? Because of power? I thought that only applied to humans and the people in what they call the government, but it seems like it also occurs in us. Because of the power, she’ll obtain, she has forgotten the friendship we had.

“From now on, you’ll be one of my slaves and will serve me for your whole life.”

Hearing Alpha Baron’s voice again inside my head brings me back to the pain of rejection again and again. From being the daughter of Alpha Magnus and the future Luna of the Silver Moon pack to being one of the slaves. I smiled bitterly as I glanced at the moon hiding beneath the dark clouds. Is this my fate?

If I'm a slave, then it’s over for me. I've thought of running away, but I couldn’t leave the pack. My father molded our pack to reach the highest level of respect from the other pack. I witness how he work hard, persevere, and love this pack. This is our home, my home. Even though they don’t want my existence, even though they see me as a curse.

A couple of weeks became hard for me, not just accepting what was destined for me, but also physically becoming weaker, adapting to the sudden changes in lifestyle I had. The bullying they had towards me tripled to its maximum. Worst of the worst treatment I could ever experience from them. They were throwing crumpled paper as I cleaned their classrooms while they were studying, they were giving me their dirty clothes and letting me wash them manually when we have a machine for that. I became their cook for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, yet they haven’t even asked me once if I had already eaten.

Calypso never avoids me. She changed. The way she looked at me was full of pity, her eyes that were once soft and cheerful were full of hatred. I wanted to talk to her and ask where it had been wrong. Why did we end up here? But whenever we are meeting in the hallway, or whenever I’m cleaning, she’ll order a lot of things to make me busier and occupied that I couldn’t get the right opportunity to do so. Until I gave up and didn’t hope that we would be able to bring back the friendship we had before. Because probably, that friendship was just a play and pure pretention for her, that I failed to notice since the beginning.

Alpha Baron showed his true color that we never imagined. He possesses some powers that the normal werewolves don’t have, he could summon a black magic and kill someone just by staring at them, with his crimson eyes. The tattoo he has on his back, was a face of a werewolf that the pack believes that he is the son of the moon. Only him holds this kind of tattoo, making him got the iron fist and hails him as the strongest Alpha. Not just in our pack but in the entire race after he defeated the Alphas of the other pack.

It was a horrendous news that scattered in the whole pack a week ago. And until now, I can’t believe that our Alpha was responsible for those killings, he doesn’t even look remorseful for what he did.

Most members of the other packs, especially females, became slaves, and some were sexually harassed and became his toys. I could still remember for three consecutive nights their terrifying screams while I was inside of the jail, after my tiring work the whole day. Those screams of being abused and tormented by pain caused by the evil Alpha, such screams begging for their life.

Killing became his pastime, especially for anyone who would raise their voice and go against him. They would end up dead, will be executed at night, and will be found death as the sun gave us light. He became ruthless, and no one could stop him, hopefully there is one day. But it’s too late now, too many innocent werewolves has been killed. And if it didn’t stop, our race might get extinct, and we will be forever enduring the fear for our life if we’re living with the evil Alpha with us. Most of the pack members regrets secretly that he became the Alpha, while some were proud that our pack got the highest ranking again. So much different from how my father led the pack without violence.

Cleaning the white and gigantic ceiling was a part of my job, I used ladder because it is impossible for me to accomplish this task without it. I used my feet fingers strength to take a grip on the horizontal stick of the ladder, while my left hands support my weight, as my right hand do the job. It was hard at the first and second try, but I got used to it. Nothing should I fear when the devil is just around. When I felt someone’s presence inside the room I paused for a moment. Shifting my gaze down, I saw two members of the pack. I don’t know their names, but they were the ones serving Calypso.

“How may I help you?” I asked coldly.

“The Luna and the Alpha want to see you.”

Aren’t they done with me? I’m living my peaceful and best life here. Please insert some sarcasm into that.

“Now.”

Heaving a deep sigh, I went down the ladder I was stepping as I put the dirty towel into the dress uniquely made for the slaves that I was wearing. I put some strands of my hair covering my face behind my ears and wipe the sweat on my forehead using the back of my hand as I follow them.

The silence was filling the hallway, only the sound of our shoes could be heard. My heart thumped in brittleness as we reached the door of their room. And when it opened, I just wanted to run away, as I could feel a different kind of pressure just by having a short glance at the expensive interior of their room. My heart wanted to get out of its cage as they began dragging me inside in front of the Luna and Alpha Baron.

“Leave us alone.” The cold voice of Alpha Baron echoed in the whole room. Calypso was sitting beside him grinning widely at me.

When only the three of us are in the room, I look them straight in the eyes.

“Stop what you’re doing.” I bravely said as I held tightly at the thin white cloth covering my face.

“Stop what Cassiopeia?” Calypso asked innocently like she’s been blind and deaf for all the terrible killings of his Alpha.

“Killing innocent male werewolves from other pack, and slaving women.” I shot back at the firm. I had no plan for triggering them, but this is the only thing I could do for the pack that was once loved and taken care of by my father. Though I don’t have a voice for them to listen to, at least I tried, hoping that there’s kindness left in Calypso’s heart.

“And who are you to order us again?” Alpha Baron asked, a domineering tone of voice. I stop myself from trembling, it was my fault for provoking them but I can’t hold it back anymore.

“A slave. Completely nobody.” He continued before he stood up and slowly walked towards me.

At that moment, I just wanted to disappear.

“You know what, I shouldn’t have let you live, but I should have buried you beside your stupid father.” Alpha Baron stated, making me glare at him in disbelief.

“How could you disrespect my father and the previous Alpha who led us?” I asked. Anyone who would say something unpleasant about my father will never gain my respect either, even if he is the Alpha of this pack.

“He’s gone Cassiopeia. And you’ll follow him sooner if you cross the line again.” Calypso responded this time.

“Like how we eliminated your father, should we just poison you as well?” She added, making my jaw fall off.

“W-What?” I asked unbelievably. Did I hear it right? Did they poison my father?

“Yes, Cassiopeia, everything was planned. I thought you witnessed how your father died slowly. It’s so satisfying to watch, right? Unfortunately, everyone thinks that he died because of a heart attack, since you can’t shift, it became more in favor and easier for us.” Calypso briefly explained like it was just a piece of crap she was talking about. I can’t imagine leaning my head on her shoulder for years without knowing that she’ll be the future murderer of my father.

In the blink of an eye, I ran towards her, clenching my fist, furiously full of rage. Ready to kill her when Alpha Baron took a tight grip on my arms.

“And you know why we are telling you all these things? Because you’ll meet your father in just a couple of hours, or maybe minutes.” Alpha Baron meaningfully grinned at me, before he seized my neck, and raised me effortlessly, making me stuck in the air and having a hard time breathing.

“Y-you’ll p-pay f-for this!” I managed to say despite choking, my eyes were blinking, and my vision was blurring as I tried to gasp for air but none was entering in my lungs.  

“Oh really huh? Who would know that we would kill you? You’ll completely vanish, without no one noticing.” Calypso’s voice echoed. I can’t see their faces anymore as I am slowly running out of breath with the strong hand strangling my neck. But one thing for sure, they were smiling viciously, slowly tasting the victory of their evilness.

Alpha Baron threw me to the floor; a tear escapes my eyes as I cough blood. I could sense my death was waving at me, but the thought that me and my father will see each other somehow soothes me at the idea of death.

“I can still hear her pitiful breathing, Alpha,” Calypso commented.

“Oh really huh?”

A strong aura of dominance come closer to me before the tormenting pain suddenly dug into my chest, where my heart was located. I tried to open my eyes but only succeeded an inch. Alpha Baron’s claws were full of blood, his eyes were fuming in crimson red, and Calypso was standing right next to him, her shocked face was replaced by a smirk of satisfaction.

I didn’t know that this would be my meandering fate. At the hands of the traitors and ruthless leader of the silver moon pack.

‘God of the moon don’t let evilness take over this world. The current and future races of the werewolves are in danger. We need your help.’

Sanity slowly dispersed my system. I was running out of breath until everything went black.

***

The visible aerosol consisting of tiny ice crystals damping my face made me open my eyes, gasping for air. I roamed my eyes. Where am I?

It was dark, and I could only see the fog and the shadow of the mountains surrounding me. I embrace myself when the cold wind strikes. My gaze shifted to the bright moon above me and looked big. An idea popped into my head; only one place can have a view of this colossal moon. If I am not mistaken, I am on top of the forbidden mountain. I ran down the mountain as fast as I could. No one should see me there or I would be doomed.

My forehead creased, this scenario is kind of familiar to me, until I didn’t notice the stone obstructing the way made me stampede and fell off the ground next to the river. I slowly stood up, but the next thing I knew, I was staring at the most beautiful female reflecting on the river my eyes ever laid on. My jaw dropped and was stunned at the same time. I’ve never seen her before. Was she the goddess of this river?

I bowed my head to give respect but when I lifted my head, I noticed that the woman duplicated what I was doing. I stuck my tongue out and the woman on the river did the same.

“N-No way.”

Gently touching my face, the woman before my eyes mirrored it. What happened to my scarred face? Am I just dreaming? I tried to close my eyes and focus. I should be awakened from this beautiful nightmare of mine. But instead of waking up, a series of events flashes back to my mind. My 21st birthday turned out to be tragic, as my father had a heart attack, followed by the proclamation of the new Alpha, Baron. The betrayal of my friend Calypso, my rejection, and Calypso’s proclamation as the new Luna of the pack, to the multiple killings and slavery of the Alpha, until the day Alpha Baron and Calypso, the new Luna, confessed how they planned to kill my father, and later, ruthlessly killed me.

I opened my eyes as tears quickly followed and glided down my cheeks. I’m confused. Is this just a dream?

“You’re not dreaming, Cassiopeia.” I was taken aback when a familiar baritone voice broke havoc in my system.

When I turned my back to face him, he looked familiar. Right, he’s the werewolf with the golden eyes on the forbidden mountain that night.

“W-What’s happening?”

“You are given a chance by the God of the moon, Cassiopeia. To stop the horrendous fate destined for your pack, the whole werewolf race, and your death.”

“You are rebirth.” He added, which made me laugh loudly.

“I didn’t know that someone possessed as good humor as you do.” I shot back.

“If I were you, I would run now before it was too late again because you'd never have the same chance again. Tonight, is the proclamation of the new Alpha and you must stop things from happening because you already know the tragic events that will follow. Your time is running out, Cassiopeia.”

My smile slowly fades when he disappears, cries, agony, and the begging of slaves from the other pack come back into my system. No, if that werewolf's saying was true, then Baron should not be hailed as the next Alpha of the pack.

I ran as fast as I could, and when I reached the proclamation hall, it was the same scenario I had overtaken that night. Everything makes sense now, no matter how hard it is to explain, I must prioritize the proclamation first.

Tightly holding the white cloth to hide my face, but this time not because of my scars. The feeling was different, despite how I wanted to show my face, there’s something inside that’s holding me back. This seemed to be not the right time, and I had to trust my instinct.

“Now that the daughter of Alpha Magnus is here. We may start the ceremony.” Matthias announced as soon as his eyes landed on me.

Yes, the exact words he said that night. My heartbeats tripled, I had to do something to stop this proclamation.

“Wait!” I bravely exclaimed.

“Yes, Cassiopeia? You’re not allowed to interrupt the ceremony unless you are told to do so,” Matthias warned.

“Is this some sort of disrespecting the previous Alpha Magnus, my father? Can we at least show some grieving about our sudden loss?” I asked, the same pain striking my chest again at the mention of my father, however before I wasn’t able to voice these words in front of the pack.

“But we have to keep going and announce a new Alpha that will lead the pack for us to remain strong, and not get taken advantage of by the other pack when they get the news about Alpha Magnus’ death.”

That doesn’t sound good. The whole pack agrees with him, which happened. I saw Baron in the corner, who looked confident. And Calypso was at his side, their hands were secretly intertwined at the back. Why haven't I noticed this before?

“But please…” I tried to intervene once again.

“One more word from you, Cassiopeia, and you will be kicked out of this ceremony.” Matthias menaced, leaving me in awe and shutting myself down.

You don’t know what you’re doing, Matthias. You’re deciding on the tragic fate of us, the rest of the other packs, and for our race.

“With the previous Alpha, Magnus’ power was given to me. I’ll proclaim that the new Alpha of this pack will be someone who can lead us, and strong enough to protect us. We believe that his tattoo on his back proves that he is a son of the moon and the strongest alpha that will be ever born. I now announce that the new Alpha of the Silver Moon pack is none other than Baron Romanov!”

Tears now continuously fall off my cheeks. I couldn’t stop the proclamation. I failed. And the next series of events followed as expected. I am now kneeling in front of him.

I can’t be rejected either and be the slave of the pack. If that happens, I will fully lose the chance to change my fate and the future of the pack.

“P-Please Alpha Baron don’t d-decline me. I-I should be the n-next Luna in this pack.” The same words came out of my lips of how I begged and cried that night. When I saw how he shook his head and Calypso’s grinning face beside him. My hope slowly vanishes. What’s the point of being reborn if I couldn’t change my destiny and couldn’t save the pack from this merciless and callous Alpha?

“As the new Alpha of Silver Moon pack, I now announce, in front of the pack, that I am rejecting…”

“Wait, Alpha Baron…Apologies for my interruption but this is important.” Matthias suddenly emerged standing right next to me.

“The prophecy…”

This is not what happened that night, because I was rejected, and Calypso has been hailed as the new Luna.

“What about the prophecy, Matthias?” Alpha Baron asked. Matthias has the ability to foresee the future, that’s the reason why he became my father’s right hand.

“I’ve seen blood, the werewolf who bears the tattoo on his back...”

“you...”

“will die."

That’s Baron, he’s the only alpha who has a tattoo on his back, believing that he is the son of the moon when the truth is…

It was a curse that unfolded tonight.

“And how will that happen?” Baron asked furiously, his eyes burning in anger as it turned crimson.

“At the hands of the most beautiful and strongest she-wolf Luna born today.”