"Father, please," Selene murmured, still lost in unconsciousness.
Vilka cast a helpless glance at the young woman laid out on her bed as Channe gently pressed a soaked towel to her forehead. She had already sent Isolde to the relative safety of the servant's quarters downstairs, and Alma, accompanied by a palace guard, was bringing her daughters.
"A child is dying, you say?" Vilka asked with fear and compassion.
"Yes, Luna," Channe replied soberly. She had already recounted the events that led to the riot: a couple returning home after the full moon gathering to find their young one suddenly ill, mirroring the sickness plaguing other children without parents and even the animals. This particular child, Channe had explained, appeared to be the worst afflicted.
"What is–" Vilka began, but the sound of the door creaking open cut her off.
She hurried across her large room, pushing aside the sheer curtains that separated it from the inner bedroom, effectively blocking the view.
"My babies," the Luna greeted, relief washing over her as she pulled her daughters into a tight embrace.
"M…Mo…Mother," Blaize stuttered, burying her face in her mother's chest.
"She's terrified. She could hear the shouts from her window," Dorianna informed, her gaze fell on the bedroom area where Alma had retreated.
Though the view was partially obscured, Dorianna could discern that something was happening behind the curtains.
"Mother, what's going on?" Dorianna started to ask.
"A lot! For a pack that has known peace for so long, I feel like I might be losing my mind!" Vilka exclaimed, her stress evident.
"It's her, isn't it? She's in there," Dorianna stated, her eyes fixed on the veiled area.
Blaize and their mother followed Dorianna's unwavering gaze.
"Who?" Blaize asked softly.
"The daughter of the darkness!" Dorianna spat, venom lacing her tone.
"Dorianna!" Vilka hissed, her voice sharp. "Who told you that?" she demanded.
Dorianna's eyes widened in shock. "It is true! She's the dark king's daughter!"
Blaize gasped, a chill spreading through her.
"Keep your voice down!" Vilka snapped, then turned a suspicious look towards Dorianna. "Who told you?"
"That's not the point, Mother!" Dorianna retorted angrily. "What is she doing here? In your bed? Are you really going to accept her as Zephyr's mate?"
"M…M…Mate?" Blaize gasped, turning to Dorianna in stunned disbelief.
"That is not for us to decide! The goddess knows the reason why–"
"I can't believe you're saying that!" Dorianna attacked. "She is his daughter. She was sent here to enchant us, and she has already begun! She emerged from Silveren, for bloody moon's sake!"
"The…The…Si…Sil…ve…ren?" Blaize stammered, her eyes wide.
"Don't curse at me!" Vilka warned Dorianna , silencing her. "I don't care that you know and that you're furious. In fact, it makes things easier for me now! But don't you dare raise your voice and add to my stress. Take it up with your brother. I have more important things to consider!"
They all jerked their heads as the growing noise reached them, sounding closer now, as if the unrest had breached the compound walls.
"I need to hide her in my secret room," Vilka thought frantically.
"You're thinking of her? When we are here, helpless?" Dorianna complained, her voice tight with resentment.
"They won't hurt us, Dorianna. They are our people!" Vilka said through gritted teeth.
"We need to hand her over to them. She has brought her darkness upon us, and…"
"Enough, Dorianna!" Vilka snapped, her anger flaring. "I am going to move her to the secret room!"
"Well, don't expect me to help!" Dorianna said petulantly.
"I'll… I'll… H…Help," Blaize offered softly, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Vilka shot Dorianna a sharp look before turning a grateful smile towards Blaize. "Thanks, darling. I think Channe and I can manage; she doesn't seem to weigh much."
Just as Vilka turned to walk back towards her inner bedroom, a loud, screeching, and undeniably familiar howl vibrated through the night air.
Vilka gasped, and Blaize stuttered.
"Ze…Zephy…Zephyr?"
—————————————————————————————
The pack members had breached the main compound and were struggling against the guards, their desperation fueling their push forward.
The smooth, impenetrable material of the buildings made it hard to climb without specialized skill, forcing them to rely on brute strength, some in human form, others as wolves.
Then, the howl ripped through the night. A sudden, heavy silence descended upon the entire pack and an even more profound stillness settling over the Alpha's estate.
Zephyr landed with a silent grace on an archway overlooking the compound. One moment the arch was empty, the next, the Alpha stood there, caught in the moon's stark glare, his form so suddenly and powerfully defined that it stole the breath from every watching throat.
A wave of immediate fear washed through the assembled pack members. They knew the Alpha traditionally spent his full moons deep within the ancient forest, and while the specifics of his activities remained unspoken, most assumed he engaged in sacred rituals. Had they known he was present, their anger, however potent, would have likely not allowed them force their way into the heart of his territory.
"What is going on here?" Zephyr's growl rumbled through the sudden quiet.
In the profound silence that followed, his voice cut through the thick tension like a blade. Ralph and Zeeb had descended to the ground, standing as a silent barrier before the now-receding crowd.
The pack members cowered, lowering themselves to the ground with bowed heads.
"Someone tell me what is happening here, now!" he ordered, his voice sharp with fury, earning gasps and nervous murmurs.
A man stepped forward, his wife trailing closely behind, cradling the limp body of a small child. The woman collapsed to the ground, wailing, clutching her child tightly.
"The sickness, Alpha. My daughter… she has it now. She's dying. I can feel the life leaving her," the man begged, his voice choked with sobs. He fell to his knees. "We were told… that the dark king's daughter is in here, and that the pack needs to be purged," he stammered, his voice trembling. "Please… have mercy on me! My child is dying!"
In a swift, silent movement, Zephyr landed on the ground before them.
The crowd instinctively recoiled.
"Why is your child not with the healer? You brought her here, amidst such… chaos," the Alpha stated, his gaze piercing.
"We need the sorceress, Alpha. The healer… she couldn't help her," the man pleaded, his eyes fixed on the ground, avoiding Zephyr's furious gaze.
"Take the child to Otsanna now," Zephyr commanded Ralph, who moved instantly to obey.
Then, the Alpha turned his glacial glare upon the assembled people. "How deeply disappointing it is to witness this. I believed I could declare my pack to be developed and principled."
His voice, though controlled, vibrated with a raw irritation that sent shivers down every spine. "I believed we had matured, had learned reason through all we have endured together. Yet, you wait for my absence to disrespect my boundaries, to threaten my family, and to defile the very grounds our ancestors walked, all based on a rumor!"
They stood in fear and shame, awaiting his judgment.
"You are grateful that the guards were obviously gentle with you. I am disappointed and disgusted," he hissed, the words like shards of ice. With that, he turned and strode towards the estate.
He moved with purpose, drawn by the insistent pull of a scent. It led him directly to the Luna's chambers, and as he drew closer, he recognized other familiar scents mingled within. The strongest, however, was undeniably Selene's, and he found her lying unconscious on the bed.
"Zephyr, what happened? How are you–?" Vilka began, rushing towards him, her face etched with concern.
"What's wrong with her?" he demanded, his gaze fixed on Selene, not even sparing a glance for anyone else in the room.
"Her soul is in turmoil, Alpha. She needs the sorceress," Channe explained quickly.
Without hesitation, Zephyr went to the bed and gently scooped Selene into his arms.
"I'm coming with you," Vilka declared, following closely as he turned towards the window.
He wanted to protest, to tell his mother she needed to rest, but the determined set of her jaw silenced his objections. Together, they slipped out the window and into the silver glow of the full moon night.