The White Crescents

Vampires and werewolves had always been locked in a perpetual state of war. While vampire venom was lethal to some werewolves, it was Wolfsbane that truly endangered them all, leaving the werewolves at a constant disadvantage.

Then, one day something extraordinary happened. A white wolf was born, marked with a distinctive white crescent on its chest. Remarkably, it wasn't an isolated event; soon, several packs reported the birth of similar white-crescent wolves. These wolves were not only distinguished by their unique mark but also by the extraordinary gifts they possessed.

These wolves were immune to vampire venom and could extract it from other werewolves, rendering them nearly invincible in battle. Their second gift was even more formidable: they had the power to compel submission from anyone who dared to meet their gaze. Their deep crystal-blue eyes could paralyze an opponent with fear if looked into for more than three seconds.

Initially, it was thought to be a curse, but it soon became clear that the birth of a white-crescent wolf signified greatness and power. These wolves were believed to be the favored children of the Moon Goddess herself.

One day, the white-crescent wolves came together and made a momentous decision: they would form their own pack and rule over all werewolves. Just as the vampires had their King and Queen, the werewolves would have a King Alpha and Queen Luna. The males of the white-crescent wolves fought fiercely for the position of King Alpha. Once the strongest among them emerged victorious, the White Crescents pack was formed—the largest and most powerful pack in the world.

Beyond their extraordinary gifts, these wolves were stronger, faster, and more agile than any other werewolves. They were the epitome of strength and pride among the werewolves, embodying the essence of royalty.

The vampires, already harboring deep resentment toward the werewolves, now found themselves seething with hatred for this ‘new breed’ of wolves. The White Crescents' unmatched power made the vampires feel threatened and vulnerable. As if things weren’t complicated enough, some dark witches, eager to tip the balance of power, forged an alliance with the vampires with a single goal: to eradicate the White Crescents.

A thousand years ago, King Alpha Zachary and Queen Luna Sienna had another baby. A baby girl! She was born with hazel green eyes.

King Zachary had three brothers and a sister, the youngest being Marcus, Mila, Theon, Titus and the oldest, Zachary. They were from the royal bloodline.

Two months after the baby was born, the family gathered around the grand table in the vast hall of the castle for dinner.

"Where are Mila and Marcus?" Sienna asked as she took her seat beside Zachary.

"Marcus went with Mila. She wanted to surprise Julius," Titus replied, taking a bite of his steak.

"Ah yes, he's returning today with the youngsters from their training," Sienna recalled.

Suddenly, loud footsteps echoed from the distance, followed by the door slamming open.

"They killed him!" Mila shrieked, collapsing to the floor.

"Mila!" Theon jumped up, rushing to her side.

"They murdered my mate, brother. My love is dead!" she sobbed.

"Who murdered Julius? Who are you talking about?" Theon demanded, his voice tense.

"Vampires," Mila choked out between sobs.

"Come here," Theon whispered, pulling his little sister into his arms as she wept.

"And the witches—they helped them," Marcus added grimly.

"The witches? But I thought they were on our side," Lucius, Zachary's eldest son, spoke up, confused.

"I've had enough of this," Marcus growled through clenched teeth.

"I agree with Marcus. Zachary, what do you propose we do?" Theon asked, his gaze shifting to their father, who remained fixated on Mila.

"This is war!" Titus roared, slamming his fist on the table. "I'm not going to sit here while our sister cries. They killed one of our own!"

"It won't be long before they target another one of us," Theon added gravely.

"We should gather everyone at the castle grounds," Marcus advised, his voice cold and sharp.

"They killed him brutally... They ripped his head off..." Mila whispered, her voice trembling with horror. "Please, brother, don't let this happen again."

Zachary rose slowly, his eyes burning with fury. The room fell silent. All eyes turned to him. Sienna's face was etched with concern—she knew all too well what was coming.

"Prepare the pack," Zachary's voice was low but filled with deadly resolve. "Hell is about to break loose."

Intense training began immediately as they prepared for war. An old friend, Rufus, a powerful Warlock, came to see Zachary about the dire situation.

"They are dark witches, Zachary. They use forbidden spells—black magic. Trust me, I had no idea they were aiding the vampires. Let me help you win this war. I’ll put them in their place," Rufus offered, his eyes glinting with determination.

"We need all the help we can get, Rufus. Thank you," Zachary replied gratefully.

Warlocks were incredibly rare—only five existed in the entire world, each one possessing the power of a hundred witches combined. Rufus called upon his fellow Warlocks to join the fight against the dark witches.

It would be five Warlocks and the White Crescents against an army of vampires and dark witches.

Two days later, the enemy struck.

"They're here," Titus announced as he entered. "It's not looking good. Mila and Theon have already gone out with some of the wolves. Marcus is fighting alongside Felicia."

Felicia was Titus’ daughter.

Zachary's gaze met Sienna's, understanding her unspoken plea.

"Rufus," Zachary turned to him, "I need you to do something, brother."

"What do you need?" Rufus asked, ready to assist.

"I want you to take my daughter as far away as possible until this is over. It’s not safe for her here. Anything could happen."

"Zachary—"

"Please, Rufus," Sienna interrupted, her voice trembling. "Take my girl and protect her. Promise you won’t let anything happen to her."

Rufus sighed, his resolve softening. "Of course, I’ll take her. I promise you both—I won’t let anything happen to her."

Sienna kissed her baby girl on the forehead as the infant cooed softly. "I love you, my darling," she whispered.

Zachary picked up his daughter, pressing a tender kiss to her cheek. "I’ll meet you again, my baby girl," he said, handing her to Rufus.

Lucius gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. "I’ll see you soon, sister."

Titus patted Lucius on the back, grinning widely. "You alright, son?"

"Never been better, Uncle," Lucius replied, his smile unwavering.

"Go," Zachary ordered firmly.

Rufus nodded; his expression serious. With a final glance at the family, he vanished into thin air, the baby, secure in his arms, retreating to isolation.

They shifted into their wolf forms and charged alongside their pack, both sides roaring with bloodlust as they raced toward each other, driven by the urge to kill.

A week passed with no word from Zachary or anyone else. Rufus feared the worst but clung to hope, waiting in silence. Two days later, his worst fears were confirmed—Zachary was dead. The castle lay in ruins, and the White Crescents were no more. Everyone had been reduced to ashes.

Rufus had been hiding in a secluded cabin deep within a remote jungle, far from the chaos that had consumed the world he once knew. Over the months, he had grown deeply attached to the baby girl, the last of her kind, the final heir to the royal bloodline—the last of the White Crescents.

During their time in hiding, Rufus devoted himself to caring for the child. Each day, he wrote in a journal, leaving behind his wisdom and memories for the girl who would one day need to understand her legacy. He was nearly resolved to raise her as his own when, one day, something extraordinary happened.

As he fed the baby, she looked up at him, locking eyes with his. Her hazel-green eyes suddenly shifted to a deep, sea-blue hue. Rufus froze, unable to move, his heart pounding in his chest as sweat beaded on his forehead. A wave of fear washed over him—what if he couldn’t protect her? What if he failed to keep the promise he made to Zachary and Sienna?

The moment she blinked and looked away, Rufus snapped back to reality. The baby, now smiling with pure innocence, tapped the table eagerly and opened her mouth for more food. Her eyes had returned to their usual color, but the moment left Rufus shaken.

What just happened? he thought, bewildered. How could she possess such power before fully transforming into a wolf? She's only six months old... She was unlike any werewolf he had ever known—she was special.

Another wave of fear surged through him—the fear of failing to protect her. He made a fateful decision then and there: he would put her into a deep slumber, one that would last for centuries. This would ensure that she would one day awaken to a safer world, where she could restore her bloodline and fulfill her destiny.

Gently, Rufus lifted her and placed her in a small, ornate cot. The baby cooed softly, watching him with those innocent eyes and offering a heartwarming smile.

He kissed her forehead one last time, whispering, "You will be just fine, little one."

Stepping back, Rufus began to chant, pouring all his magic and all his heart into the spell. The air around them grew heavy with power as the baby’s eyes fluttered closed, succumbing to the deep sleep. The cabin, once a refuge in the forest, began to fade, dissolving into a dark void until nothing remained but emptiness and cold.

With his energy drained, Rufus knelt beside the cot, gazing at the sleeping girl. His strength was nearly spent, but he knew she was safe—for now.

A 1000 years later

The cabin reappeared mysteriously at the same spot, filling the once-empty, cold void with its familiar structure. It stood quietly, hidden deep within the forest, as though it had never vanished. A man in his late twenties, out hunting with his dogs, stumbled upon the cabin. Intrigued by its sudden appearance, he decided to investigate.

As he entered, he was struck by what he saw. The cabin was dimly lit and seemingly abandoned, but in the center of the room stood a cot. To his amazement, a baby girl lay sleeping soundly in it. Beside her was a neatly folded piece of paper.

He carefully unfolded the paper and whispered the name written on it:

“Aurelia.