2: THE RED NIGHT

XAVIERA 

It was about us. The enemy was out for our blood. 

Was all that ran through my mind. The discussion from earlier was really about our pack. A loud bang tore through the already chaotic air. People screamed, running out of the hall. 

“Oh my God!” Collins gasped.

“Comport yourself, boy!” Chief Adrian admonished him. To my mother he said; “ follow Sir Kelvin, you'd be taken out of the city through the underground pathway. A van will be waiting to move you all. Move fast and together, I'll go find the Alpha!” Then he turned on his heels in the midst of the chaotic room, and was gone. 

“I can't find Zee!” Asher shouted, panting as he joined us, another explosion tore through the walls, indenting it with large cracks. The people went helter-skelter, stampeding for safety. 

“Oh God!” My mother gasped dreadfully “where did she go?!” 

“She was with Luca” I said, Jordan was beginning to make a fuss, and little Georgia was shaking like a leaf in my mother's arm. We stood in the midst of the whole ruckus, protected by a body of Deltas. 

“Luna, we have to leave!” Sir Kelvin growled apprehensively. 

“But Zee—” Kaya began to protest. 

“I'll find her,” I offered. 

“No, I'll go” Asher countered as expected. Kaya gasped, a doubtful look resting on her face, she stalled amidst the thick apprehension in the air. He was going to play big brother again, but he had forgotten I was a trained fighter, top of my rank and class, and he needed to focus more on his family, and staying alive to succeed our father. 

“Take Kaya and everyone” I countered. I watched him flash his wife a quick glance, suddenly realizing she needed him more. “I know the spots Zee and Luca frequent. I'll find them there” I added.

My mind went racing, a mind search of possible places to find her, and the quickest routes to take. I had no idea of the spots she frequented with Luca. A war cry of growls and snarls tore through the ruckus, and soon shadowlike creatures with amber for eyes trudged in. A sharp sound of steel against skin, a body fell with a thud, and a woman's scream greeted their arrival. “Go now! Take the entrance below the gallery!” I screamed at Sir Kelvin. 

“XAVIERA!” My mother pulled at my arm, tears welled up in the emeralds she'd graciously gifted me. “Don't go,” she muttered. I touched her hand softly, offering a small smile in the bid to ease her worry. 

“I'm a Delta wolf, mother. I surely can handle this. Asher, Join sir Kelvin and make sure they're safe. I'll come find you all with Zee” I gave my mother's hand a gentle squeeze, she loosened her grip.

“Come back to me,” she muttered again.

“I will,” I promised, then turned on my heels, and ran out. 

“Xaviera” Collins called out, but I was far gone. Little did I know that this moment was about to birth consequences far worse than I could ever imagine.

_____________________________

By the time the moon reached its Zenith, we were at a full blown war with the most murderous kind of werewolves I'd ever seen in my entire existence. The city was ablaze with fire, and unbelievable destruction. I hadn't found Zee yet, and there was no way I could return back home without finding her first. I raced through the streets, the smell of death and blood thick in the air. Bodies were found, littered about in every corner, some whole, others gruesomely dismembered. 

In the space of a few minutes, the Red moon festival had transitioned into a bloody carnage. Screams —painful screams rang in my ears for what seemed like an eternity of futile search. In the space of running, hiding and confronting our enemies, my evening dress had been refashioned into what made running easier, my heels, and jewelry were lost in every confrontation I had encountered and won. My waist had taken to a knife hoist, as I fought for both my life, and my sister's 

I was certain I had been running for hours, because my lungs began to hurt. I ran through the woods, howling for my sister, but it was as if she had vanished into the smokey and bloodied air. I had circled the market place severally, amidst the smoke, trying to link her, but I couldn't get any signal. On my fifth circling, I caught a familiar scent, and a painful grunt behind me. I paused, turning around just in time to see one of our attackers furiously stabbing someone. 

I charged towards him, pulling out one of the blades I had collected during my fight and search. In one perfectly calculated throw, I buried it deep into his neck. He fell off his victim, and then I caught sight of who he was assaulting. 

Luca! 

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as I ran to him. He gurgled out blood, his body shaking convulsively. 

“No no no no” I pulled him up, “Please don't” I begged, tears dripping down my cheeks. 

“Z…Z..Zee” he stuttered. I felt my heart sink lower. They'd been together, and if this was his fate, my sister would be long dead. 

Oh goddess please. 

“T..they..t..t..took..her” he coughed out, and then went still. I held his body, numbed at what had just happened. Luca was dead. He was gone. The severity of what had just befallen my pack finally dawned on me. 

Goddess, if this is a dream, please wake me up. 

A painful howl tore through the chaotic sky at this, the hairs on my body stood in recognition, a chilling sensation running down my spine as I recognised that howl. 

My father!

“I'm so sorry, Luca. Goddess, please grant him eternal rest” I laid his body down to the ground. I got to my feet, transforming into my wolf as I raced back to the mansion. The anguished filled cries got louder, as I raced back home. I could pick them all out through our red link, my mother's, my siblings', Kaya’s and my father's. Thick black smoke oozed aggressively from the mansion grounds as I raced in. The house before me was coated in flames, and smoke. 

 An explosion greeted my arrival, shaking the foundations, sending glasses out and about. Heart wrenching screams erupted from the house, as the smell of burning flesh replaced carbon. I halted before the roaring house, listening as the screams died down. 

I was late!