Abandoned Luna Heiress

Lauren’s POV

I had long-awaited this moment since I was a child. Reaching adulthood today with the new moon marking my entry, it was finally time for me to meet my fiance, Adam Evans, the heir of the Ironclaw Pack. 

Over the years, frequent wars caused the decline of my own pack; the Crimson Moon Tribe. In hopes of creating some sort of calm between the two packs, Father sought out the support of the Ironclaws. Their Alpha King proposed a marriage alliance in return for peace between the two long-standing clans. 

This was settled on and decided years before today, and I knew the day would come when childhood left me. 

Before this agreement, Father discussed the idea with me. He didn’t want to sacrifice my happiness, but as the Alpha’s daughter, I offered to accept the proposition. I knew my responsibility, and always vowed to uphold it at any cost. Father had told me I would marry Adam, the son of the Alpha King. 

Adam was the most powerful Alpha apart from the Alpha King of the Ironclaw Tribe. Everyone knew this, but Adam and I had never met before. But now the day arrived when we would meet and become one. 

In the morning, my clothes were laid out for me. Getting dressed, I waited. But no one from the Ironclaws arrived. 

Feeling slighted, I tore off my cumbersome dress, running to the back hill to relax. Suddenly, the raging sounds of war coming from behind me filled my ears. 

Father had often told us about wartime. The scene below echoed his words. Rebellion! But why today out of all days? 

Left wondering if it had anything to do with Adam not appearing, I rushed back to look for my family. But the sight was much worse than I ever imagined. 

Houses burned to the ground, creating an ash fall around me, the cinders leaving black marks on my skin. There were cries and screams everywhere; members of our tribe fleeing for their life. 

Spotting my father, I ran to my family. Father was donning his armor, getting ready for war. 

“Lauren, hide your mother and your sister while I lead our werewolves into battle,” commands Father quickly. 

Leaving me behind, I ran to find my family, but in the confusion and chaos, struggled to find them. Fifteen minutes passed, when my father’s Beta, Victor, found me, a look of sheer desperation marking his face. 

As second in command, Victor was a strong man, and until now, I had never seen him wounded. He looked badly hurt, which meant Father had probably faced defeat. 

“Victor, what is going on? I was just up on the hill when I heard the outbreak…” I asked him anxiously. 

“Our dear, Lauren, I have some bad news,” responded Victor between short, shallow breaths, “it is your uncle who led the rebels today. I urge you to flee now before it’s too late,” my uncle briskly advises. 

“But, what abou-”

“Go, now! Hurry!” And with that, he turned, retreating into the madness. 

Running to the observatory, pandemonium greeted me, and I refused to believe what lay in front of me. Freezing in my tracks, my body turned stone cold. 

“Father!” I gasp. Spread out across the floor with blood seeping through the faux fur coat and dripping down his silver, was my father. A sword pierced his chest, and the one holding the wooden and leather handle was…my own mother! 

As if sensing where I stood, Mother looked up at me from the ground where my father lay with piercingly cold eyes and then drew the sword. At the same time, my Uncle Jed joined my mother at her side. 

Without saying a word to one another, Uncle flung his paw into the air, flexing his claws, and ripped through Father’s heart like a piece of meat. 

“Papa!” Crying out as I rushed to his side, wanting to save him. 

Without warning, Victor arrived, stopping me in my tracks, and carried me away from the blood bath, despite my struggles. A couple of meters on, we were met with another attack out of nowhere, and Victor hid me in a nearby haystack.

“Stay here, Lauren, and whatever you do, don’t leave,” and he turned to face the incoming enemies alone. 

Peering through a small crack, I saw our tribe’s Beta flung in the air, and killed by the rebels. Before his eyes closed, he turned to face me from a distance and I could tell he was trying to tell me something. 

“Stay…alive…” he mouthed and with that, drew his last breath. 

Flinging my hand over my mouth so no one would hear my scream, tears flowed uncontrollably, streaking my face wet. 

It was now evening, and there had been no one in sight for a few hours. Finally climbing out of the haystack, I tried to locate my father’s body. It wasn’t where I left him. 

Retreating to our village, I fell to my knees, crying out in despair. 

“Nooooo!” I screamed as my father’s head dangled from the scaffolding for public display. It was impossible to lift my body, and it felt as if my own heart had been ripped from my chest. 

It was too much to believe. My beloved father was dead…by my own mother’s hand!!!