ATTACKED

- MARILIA - 

         My eyes flickered slowly. I heaved, softly rolling over. I was struggling to sleep although I knew I had to. Once it was day break, I might not get the chance again. Suddenly the floor creaked. 

I sat up immediately, my eyes scanning underneath the door. There was no one outside‘. I must have imagined it’

I curled up under the sheets. ‘Marilia, try and get some sleep, please’. I shut my eyes. 

I heard that sound again except it was coming from in front of the house this time and it was louder. Something just banged on the door. Cold shivers ran down my spine. I crept out of bed, tip-toeing to the window. 

'What the hell is going on? Did they find us?’ 

My fingers pressed against the window pane. I hid my frame as I peered out into the woods.

“Ah!!!" The maid's scream cut through the silence. 

My heart stopped.

I gulped. ‘No. I’m hearing things? Yeah I am’. I tried to convince myself, tears pooled up in my eyes. My body trembled, fear wrapping around my heart and squeezing tight. I tried to ignore the fright. Somehow it worked, I managed to get to the door and burst into the passage. I staggered, my body hitting the wall a few times.  

Another scream echoed through the passageway. I covered my ears immediately. “No, Melissa. It's not her. It's not Nanny Melissa." I shook shaking back and forth like denial could save me even though I knew her voice too well. My claws grew out, my heart beating faster and faster. I had to freaking quit this scardey-cat act. Mandy, my baby sister, her room was that direction. I made for her room as fast as I could. 

I tried to call out to her. “Mand…” A hand covered my mouth. My body was dragged into the dark immediately.

“Let me go!!” I struggled, trying to break free. I thrust my elbow backwards but I couldn’t hit my captor.

“Mummy!!!" 

Fear laced my eyes wide immediately. That was Mandy's voice. “No, please. Let me go, please!!!” I begged.

His hands turned my plea into muffled shouts of distress. I was pressed tightly against the body of my capturer, I couldn't break free. My body felt limp. Suddenly I heard scratching in the passage.

“If I were you I wouldn't look.” His voice was low, like a gentle whisper. It hinted of something, of concern. But I was such an idiot, I looked… I still looked. My eyes fell on the silken brown hair of a person lying on the shoulders of someone dressed in black. I froze, watching the whole figure reveal itself. It was Mandy.

Exhaustion washed over me. Blood drained from my face and my breath seized. I shuffled in my capturer’s hold, stretching out my hands as if they would reach her.

Something heavy hit my head immediately. Everywhere went blur. I felt like a rag doll, as my captor turned my body around and onto his shoulder.

“What do we do with that one?" Somebody said behind me.

“I don't know. We will wait for the alpha's orders like we are supposed to do." My captor gave him a stern reply.

“What?” the other one sounded defensive. “I didn't think the little girl was gonna collapse from one blow. She was biting and hitting me. I had to do something.”

"You moron, she is just a kid. We weren't supposed…” my captor continued to scold the other one. I could barely keep on listening. My eyes were closing. Soon after, their voices faded.

********

“Marilia. Marilia, baby wake up please. Marilia.” Weak aging hands shook me vigorously, consciousness slowly returning to me. I opened my eyes. Mother's face was the first thing I saw. There was a deep bloody cut across her eyes. She helped me sit up. 

“Oh dear, thank the moon goddess you are okay."

“Mom…" My tears dripped down my cheeks. She pressed my face over her chest.

“You are making me sick, Beta queen." A deep voice scowled behind me. Mother rushed to her knees, pulling me closer to her. My gaze went around the room. Masked wolves were standing all around us. The entire room was a mess and Mandy was kneeling beside the boots of a large he-wolf. I recognized him immediately; he was Alpha Magnums Lucien Klaus.

He rose; his shoes stepping on Mandy's little hands and crushing them. Mandy gasped in pain.

“Stop it!!!!!!" I screamed, hot tears burning my eyes. 

A kick flew across to me, hitting my head. It happened so fast, I couldn’t dodge. My body collided with the hard floor. Blood pooled on the floor beneath my hair. “What a nosy bitch. Had I known you were this loud I would have killed you immediately." The perpetrator cursed me. He raised his leg to kick me again. Mother covered me.

“Please stop, please. She didn't mean it. She is just scared, please." She begged. It fell on deaf ears. He went for the kick again. 

“Enough." Alpha Magnums halted him. The wolf pulled back.

“Kneel." he sounded like he was bored. Mother hurried to her knees, dragging me too. I raised my eyes to look directly at the bastard before me. He wore a cold grin, relaxing pompously on the arm chair.

“You should have known better, plotting treason against me; what a foolish stunt.”

"We didn't do anything. We have always been loyal to you” Dad retorted. He sounded so weak.

"You still refuse to speak the truth even after everything." The alpha clicked his tongue in disappointment. “I have evidence Alphonso so just stop. Lying never helps anyone.”

“E… evidence?" Dad's voice began to quiver. I looked at dad, there was fear written all over his face.

'No, it can’t be? Is that why he had us running since last week? Did he really commit treason?’

“You visited the Crimson moon pack some weeks ago,” Alpha Magnums continued. “Shortly after that, chests of Silver were sent to you.”

The Alpha came close enough to meet Dad's gaze. “Do I need to say more?"

“My Alpha, I swear I didn’t go there to plot against you. A royal guard to their King had a sick daughter. He begged me to help. I didn't know they sent me silver. I told him to pay me nothing. “

The Alpha began to laugh. His men joined him. "Oh so a money hungry bastard like you asked a man to pay you nothing.” The Alpha kicked dad on his face. “Well, if you think I am here to listen to your bullshit then you are wrong Alphonso because you have already been condemned. I just want to watch your punishment.”

The alpha returned to his seat.

“Kill them all." He ordered.

That bloody wolf rushed dad, swinging his claws at him. Dad sprang from the floor and thrust dagger towards the guy’s stomach. He braked immediately and dodged. But the knife was faster, it sliced through his left eye.

Dad yelled at me. “Run!!!"