CHAPTER ONE: NIGHTMARES

EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER

"Mama, when would Papa come back from the council?" Inquired little Emilia, a red hair green-eyed vixen, and her parent's heartthrob, being the only kid they had yet. Her little hands kneaded the piece of dough on the flat board, the swishy sound produced from the surface, gave certain satisfaction to her,  as she persistently massaged the unfortunate grub,  even as the dough was ready.

Her mother, the quaint Luna of Blue moon crested pack, smiled and looked up from the bowl of egg she was whisking, "he would soon be back, Emy, I know you miss him"

"Aye, mama, I do" Emilia flipped the dough up and it landed flat on the board, the action eliciting laughter from herself and her mother. "I think it's ready now" she conceded, pointing at the helpless object of her amusement.

"I think it is indeed" her mother confirmed, motioning with her soiled finger at the baking pan hanging at the base of the wall," can you pass me that and also the chopper, I need to hasten with this afore your father returns"

Mrs. Beckley had decided to make today very memory, by making all the house hands go home whilst she attended to the culinary needs of the household by herself. It wasn't news that her husband has been soured for some time now, which she presumes was as a result of her unable to bear him an heir since Emilia.

She wasn't happy with that either, yet she couldn't do else but keep praying to the goddess that just as she has stunned her with the conception of Emilia, she would favor her with another child, if only it would bring back the joy that reigned in the mansion, following the arrival of their green-eyed bundle of joy.

Now, all she does is try all she can to make sure that while they await the response from the goddess, she would do all she can to make her husband continue seeing her in his good light.

"Mama, I reckon he is back," Emilia uttered exuberantly, garnering the attention of her adrift mother.

"Oh, go ahead and welcome him then, while I...I clean up" she motions around the place, trying to subside her racing heart on how he would act towards this deed of hers.

"Mama, are you okay?" the unmistaken voice of the cherub came forth.

Mrs. Beckley's eyes twitch in the humiliation of being caught by her ten years old daughter. That was one enthralling quality about her__the wisdom of discernment. At her age, one would think she was a teenager due to how fast she thought and comprehended things around her. That was one of the reasons her father adores her so much.

"I'm fine, Amóre, go ahead," she shooed her out of the kitchen to resume her task.

"Papa!" Emilia shrieked in such an unladylike expression and jumped on her father "Papa, you took too long to come back....Are you okay?" she quipped, noticing her father's dampened mood.

"I'm fine, rattleduck." He used his fond name for her, due to how much she never tired from talking, pinching her rosy cheek, "Just weary from work" he placed her back on the ground, his hands going to his waist "What is that incredible aroma I perceive?" he sniffed the air dramatically.

She giggled and held his waist "Aye, mama is making porcupine bread...your favorite"

His face muddled at that "Where are the maids?"

"She sent them home..wanted to surprise you" she wiggled her brow mischievously at him.

Normally, Beckley would have been impressed but right now, he was more aggrieved that she would decide to make foolery of herself by cooking for him. For Christ's sake that's is what the cooks are for!

Yet, he didn't say anything, instead, he bobbed his head thoughtfully and pointed up the mansion "I will be in my study, no disruption, I mean it Emily" he warned, knowing she would defy him anyway. He just loves her too much because she was his little hoyden.

"I won't promise anything, Papa, you know mama can be boring.. " she rolled her eyes behind him "I didn't say that though" she added.

"I heard that munchkin!" called the mom from the kitchen while her father slated his hands in an, 'I told you' gesture.

"Dad, can I___"

"Go meet your mama, Emy, I have work to finish" he dismissed her, taking a corner that disappeared to his study.

Having nothing else to do, Emilia, grunted and made her way back to her mama, disgruntled to the least. She loves her father's company, perchance, due to his bottomless knowledge of the history of the world, and their kind.

He was the Alpha of their clan and a very worthy one for that matter. He safeguards their lands from invaders, witches, hunters, vampires, rogues, and other menacing characters. He was the best Alpha and his people adores him but, he was severely conflicted and unhappy with the goddess for not giving him as many children as he wanted.

This evening was one of his down moments.

He knew his mate was miserable and thought he was angry with her, but he wasn't. He just despaired and wished he could have another green-eyed fiery goddess like Emilia, who was everything to him and more.

"I thought you would go with him since I'm boring" her mother whined when she enters the kitchen, sullen-faced.

"I didn't mama that, mam__"

"Emilia!"

"Emil...Thunderbolt! Emilia up here this minute!" Reverberated the voice of Emilia's father from the top of the stair, earning an agitated look from his mate to their little vixen.

"What have you done this time?!"

"I...I entered his study," she wriggled her skimpy hands, knowing how much the father reacted against that. He makes it clear every day when going out, for none to go near it, under any circumstance.

"By God, if I meet you down there, today would be your last!" He surged, sounding unlike him.

"Run along child! I keep telling you one day this impish behavior of yours would get you in deep trouble" her mama complained, looking hysterical herself. Her husband was not a man of short temper and no matter how angry he gets, he never, and has never raised his voice at their only child.

"Mama, I can't. Please come talk to him. I have never seen him irate." She scooted close to her mama's skirt, holding onto it tightly, tears evident in her deep greens. That was the first time she was actually being vulnerable,  and it troubled her mother greatly.

She led her out of the kitchen, the food, totally forgotten.

Emerging in the intersection that led to the stairs, there stood her mate, his body quavering with rage.

"Stop right there, Amelia!" He hedged, pointing at them "I called her and not you..So do me a favor and move away from her" He detailed every word with a hand gesture.

"Lower your voice, Berkley, you are scaring her!" She retorted through tightened lips.

His countenance fell in shock, his fist balling by his side. The act petrified Emelia, who in her entire period of being mated to him, has never seen him like this. This was beyond whatever their wee bane had done.

"Don't. test. me Amelia or I swear by the gods you will regret it" he said it so coldly, that goosebumps rose on his mate's skin.

With the way he was behaving, Amelia couldn't trust him with their child and had to withdraw Emilia to her back "Until you calm down, I'm not letting her come close to you" she challenged her mate.

Berkeley knew his wife can be very obstinate when she wants to, which was one of the reasons he married her, but today, he wasn't in the mood for her tantrum and would give her exactly what she wanted, damning the consequences!

With his half-unbuttoned shirt flying about him, his hair standing at ends, he made his way down to meet them.

Emilia who was a watering pot at the back of her mom couldn't take it anymore and wasn't willing to watch her mom take punishment as a result of her miscreant behavior. She pushed away from the back of her mom and ran halfway up the stairs to meet him, wondering what had come over her loving father.

The first instinct of Berkley was to collide his palm across her rosy cheek, which sent her sprawling down the stairs to her mother's feet in pain, her little body trembling as her mother bent in chagrin at her mate, crowding her bane in her hands, her face equally tainted with tears.

"What is wrong with you?! How could you, Berkley?!" Emelia cried from the ground she was crouched.

Both of them stared aggravatingly at each other and they didn't notice what was happening to Emilia. She was shuddering on the floor, her claws protruding and detracting, hairs on her body becoming prominent and her eyes rimming dark black.

Then, with the speed of light, she was out of her aghast mother's arms, plunging at her father's throat. It happened as fast as anything one can discern but in split second, what was the standing angry Berkley, was all mushed up pieces scattered all over the place, with his heart in Emilia's hand, as she ate it ravenously as if her life depended on it.

Her mother who witnessed the ogre scene was gripped to the spot, unwilling to believe what just happened. Her little bundle of joy just shredded her father, her mate, and she was presently eating his heart coldly like her a gory monster.

"This is unbelievable," an extra voice said in the background, catapulting Emilia and her mom back to reality, to realize they weren't the only ones that witnessed it__Alpha's Beta saw it.

Calamity!

"The elders must hear this" the still voice of the terrified Beta came forth, followed by the slamming of the door as he took off.

Bang!

"Over there!"

Emilia jumped up from the grass she had slept off on, sweats dribbling down her scantily clad body. She sighed and mopped her face in exhaustion,  as she recognized it was her usual nightmare.

Then, she heard it. Loud and clear, thanks to her intense hearing ability.

They were coming.

Without thinking, she darted off the ground and took off, away from the pounding boots coming after her.