Chapter 2 - A Shattered Dream

The biting chill of the courtroom, the searing image of Atticus’s defiant eyes, faded as my mind rewound, snapping back two days.

Just two days ago.

It should have been the happiest day of my life, a culmination of destiny and dreams. Instead, it was etched into my memory as a gruesome scene, one of unspeakable horror that played on an endless loop in my mind.

I could still vividly picture it, sharp and terrifyingly clear.

Axel’s head, severed with brutal precision, rolling across the pristine white marble of the ceremonial stage. It bounced once, twice, before coming to a sickening stop right at my feet, his eyes, once so full of life and love, now staring blankly upwards.

A thick, metallic scent, the undeniable stench of fresh blood, filled my nostrils, so potent it seemed to cling to my very soul. It was a bloody scene, horrific in its immediacy. The shock had been so profound, so utterly paralyzing, that I had forgotten how to scream.

No sound had escaped my throat, no cry of anguish, no gasp of terror. I had simply stared, hollowly, at the two separated parts of my beloved mate, a silent witness to a devastation beyond comprehension.

It had all started so perfectly.

The morning of the ceremony had unfolded like a dream, filled with light and laughter. I remembered the warmth of the sun on my skin as I, along with my two closest friends, Amy and Jor, had carefully chosen my dress. It was a flowing gown, the color a vibrant crimson that Axel adored, though he had left the design entirely up to me, trusting my taste implicitly.

"Red suits you, Anna. It always brings out your fire," he had murmured that morning against my ear as he pulled me into a quick, strong hug. His scent, pine and earth, had enveloped me, a scent that now brought a fresh wave of nausea. "Just pick something that makes you feel like the Luna you're destined to be."

I had laughed, a genuine, joyful sound. "Easy for you to say, future Alpha. You don't have to wear this thing all day."

He had pulled back, his warm hands cupping my face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You'll be beautiful no matter what. And you'll be a magnificent Luna, Anna. Don't doubt that for a second." His words had been a constant comfort, a quiet reassurance that I was capable of stepping into such a demanding role.

Axel, at twenty years old, had been everything a future Alpha should be. He was next in line for the Alpha position at Woodcrest, slated to take over the reins from his father within the next year. He had completed all his rigorous training with flying colors, excelling in every discipline, his potential shining brightly for all the pack to see. He was strong, intelligent, and possessed a quiet wisdom beyond his years.

I had felt immensely honored when he returned from his last training session and we, against all odds, discovered we were fated mates. Our bond had snapped into place with a gentle hum, a silent, comforting confirmation of what we both instinctively knew.

A few weeks earlier I had just turned eighteen, and the path ahead seemed clear, paved with shared purpose and deep affection.

Axel had been my rock, helping me navigate my uncertainty about the daunting responsibilities of the Luna position. He had patiently answered my questions, dispelled my fears, and showered me with endless compliments, praising my strength, my intelligence, my quiet grace. He was relentlessly affectionate, his touch always a comfort, his presence a source of profound calm.

We had agreed, with a thrilling anticipation, to have our first night together after the mating ceremony, a sacred culmination of our bond. We would mark each other, an indelible claiming, reaching a tremendous climax that every mated wolf described as mind-blowing, a transcendent experience that would solidify our connection forever.

My friends had been buzzing with excitement.

As I stood in the dressing room, adjusting the intricate lace of my dress, Amy had clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling. "You look absolutely stunning, Anna! Axel won't know what hit him."

Jor had nodded in agreement, her expression more serious. "And you're going to be an amazing Luna. I mean, you've always been so level-headed, even when Axel was acting like a total brute during training." She elbowed Amy playfully.

I had smiled, a warmth spreading through me. "I just hope I'm ready. It's a lot, you know? Leading an entire pack."

Amy had squeezed my hand. "You're more than ready. You're strong, Anna. And with Axel by your side, you two are unstoppable. Woodcrest is lucky to have you." Their words, once so comforting, now felt like cruel echoes.

And now, I am left utterly alone.

The vibrant red dress, now stained with Axel’s lifeblood, was a grotesque memory. The hopes, the dreams, the shared future, all reduced to ashes. Axel's cremation had been yesterday, a blur of solemn faces and hushed whispers, yet even then, the tears hadn't come.

 My eyes had remained dry, my face a blank canvas of shock. Everyone had been visibly unsettled by my reaction, a few even daring to accuse me of being insensitive, heartless, perhaps even indifferent to Axel’s tragic demise.

I still remember the murmurs, the sidelong glances.

 "Look at her," one voice had whispered. "She hasn't shed a single tear."

Another had added, "How can she be so cold? It was her fated mate, for goodness’ sake."

It was only the pack doctor, a kind, older she-wolf with wise, knowing eyes, who had stepped in. She had pulled me aside, her voice soft but firm, explaining to the bewildered members of the pack why I seemed so strangely detached.

"Her reaction isn't callousness," the doctor had stated, addressing the murmuring crowd with quiet authority. "It's profound shock. Anna's mind is protecting itself from an unbearable trauma. She's in a deep state of denial right now, a defense mechanism. Her heart and mind simply cannot process the enormity of what happened. You should all be more supportive and less blaming."

She had looked directly at me, her gaze filled with a deep understanding that bypassed my numbness.

"The shock has simply overwhelmed her, creating an emotional wall around her heart. The grief, the screams, the agonizing despair, they are merely delayed, waiting to erupt."

The doctor’s words had been a grim prophecy, the worst, she explained, was yet to come. And I, lost in the haunting void of my shock, felt a terrifying premonition that the doctor was right.

The storm was coming, and I had no idea if I would survive it.