CHAPTER FIVE

2000 Years Ago

The forest glowed in the gentle silver of the moonlight, its towering trees reaching skyward like silent sentinels. The night was still, the air thick with the scent of pine, earth, and something more delicate, something almost too fragile for this world.

That something was Lilian.

She stood in a clearing where moonlight poured through the branches, bathing her in an ethereal glow. Her white dress fluttered softly with the breeze, the delicate fabric glowing like a second skin. She looked like she had been born from the moon itself too pure, too good, and too unready for the cruel edges of destiny.

She stood alone… or so she thought.

Softly, she began to hum a song, a lullaby she had known since childhood. The forest listened. Birds settled nearby, tilting their tiny heads. A doe paused to watch from between the trees and some of the birds are on her shoulders. Even the breeze quieted, as if the earth itself held its breath for her.

She was said to be the gentlest girl in the whole realm; she is an example to young girls, but even though she is gentle, when she fights, she is as fierce as a train fighter.

Which made everyone in the pack love her more.

But there is something about her that needs to be uncovered.

 Hidden in the shadows of the woods, some large towering creatures, eyes glowing faintly in the dark. The trusted guards to the werewolf prince, following her, but keeping distance, but not letting her know, they had been there protecting her, as ordered by the prince. Their prince has ordered them to watch over Lillian against the rogue, since she loves singing in the woods. 

Unbeknownst to them, they were not the only ones in the woods, and with the same mission.

From the opposite side of the forest, a much heavier presence crept closer. The air grew tense, thicker, as another group emerged between trees and the Lycan pack. Stronger, larger, and more ruthless, yet with the same intent. Their prince has also sent them to guard the enchanting goddess sitting under the moon. 

Hey, did you see something moving on the other side of the forest? One of the Lycans noticed, yes another answered,

 They are werewolves, what brought them here? The leader asked.

He turned, the three of you should stay here, while I go check what’s going on.

Hey, what are you doing here at this time of night? He asked the werewolves, and they all smiled at him and wouldn’t say a thing. Why are you not answering?  He asked again.

You don’t need to know much but just know that we are here to protect her.

Ohm! I didn’t know that she had lovers in the werewolf clan, we, well,well, we are also here to protect her, so we are on the same boat.

They kept watching her and kept discussing their clans, it was obvious that all the supernatural creatures were one.

For a moment, everything seemed fine until the Lycan spoke, she is going to make a fine Luna. All the werewolves turned and looked at him, What do you mean by that, they asked.

Lilian is our Lycan prince's chosen mate, so she will be our next Luna, he explained. 

What! One of the werewolves exclaimed, She is our alpha prince's chosen mate, another retorted. This led to a heated argument, which made the other group come to the other side.

There is an intense clash between the two parties, both parties protecting the interests of their prince.

The forest is torn apart with agonizing sounds.

Growls rumbled through the pines, low and vibrating, before exploding into a chorus of snarls. Shadows moved between the tree, their fur flashing rays of silver under the moonlight, their eyes burning with golden flashes.

The werewolves came first, faster, their movement sharp as blades. They darted through the bushes, snapping jaws catching the gleam of moonlight. Their howls echoed like war horns. 

Then the Lycans struck. Larger, heavier, their massive body shook the ground with every swing. Their claws carved through bark as easily as flash, their roars deeper and more brutal than the roar of an animal but more of a beast. Their beastly attack took a major turn in the once tranquil forest.

The clash was brutal. The wolves collided midair, their bodies twisting in a frenzy of claws and teeth. Pine needles rained down like trunks of splintered beneath the weight of Lycans slamming their previous ally against them. 

The air filled with the smell of copper, blood splashed on the pines, fur flying with dirt as a result of thrashing paws.

Some battles were meant to be silent savaging throats, ripped at a strike. While others are meant to be dragged into chaos. 

The rolling bawls that tore across the forest ground, the night shaking with bone snapping violence. Above all the moon hung cold and merciless, lighting the carnage like a stage.

Just like the roots of the howls, which stands with a cold expression on it face and a visible smirk on her face, seeming to enjoy all the chaos she had created. 

Suddenly an intimidating aura coming with a roar, which suppressed those fighting which made them stop and turn to the source of the aura, is was the werewolves prince.

The prince’s roar split the night, deeper than the snarls that filled the forest. In a single stride, he was among them, his presence enough to halt claws mid swing. The air tightened; even the Lycans bristled at his command.

But then his eyes found her. 

What happened, he asked with authority. Your werewolves said that lilian is your future luna, one of the Lycans open up, his body filled with bruises. 

Yes, he answered, is that a reason for you to fight? He asked again. Yes, another answered, because she is our Lycan prince chosen mate.

Edward closes his eyes, the pain sipping through the walls of his heart, fury ignited, a wild fire raging out of control.

Philip, is that true? He asked one of his men, yes prince, they claim that she is their prince chosen mate, he turns to look at her where she is standing and saw the guilt in her eyes, he knew was true.

Something inside him snapped, his chest heaved, breath ragged, furry sparking through every vein. “mine” he growled, the word fractured with rage. Before reason could catch him, his fist drove into the nearest tree.

The trunk cracked like thunder. Shards of splintered wood exploded outward. One jagged piece spun through the air, a deadly blur beneath the moonlight. 

She stood not too far from him, yet too close, far too close. The shard struck, sinking deep into her chest, right where her heart beat.

For a moment, the forest froze. The werewolves, the Lycans, even the prince himself.

Only her staggered breath moved the silence. 

Lilian! Prince Alfred called out to her, popping out behind the trees followed by his father, the Lycan king, king Donald. 

The prince cradled her against his chest, her weight far too light, her silence far too heavy.

His claws trembled as they retracted, it is useless now, it was unable to protect what mattered most.

He pressed his forehead to hers, desperate to breath her back to life, but the moon that had once blessed her glow now mocked him with its cold indifference.

Why did you do it, he asked, while looking up to Edward, 

I didn’t wish to do it he replied, did you know that she was my chosen mate? The same way she asked you to keep it a secret the same way she did to me.

What do you mean? He asked dewdrops of sorrow dropping from his eyes, you mean she has been playing me all this while, his chest heaved, not with breath, but with the weight of a thousand shattered days.

And then with a trembling hand, he reached for a dagger at his side, he pressed the point against his heart, 

“Without you, I am nothing,” he whispers,

With a final breath, he drove the blade inward.

His father tried to stop him but it was too late, everyone was stun at what happened.

Later on, the Lycan queen found out that her son killed himself and she did the same, nothing of what happen that day was said outside.

So, the current Lycan king has always blamed the werewolves for his brother’s and his mother’s deaths