Emma's heart raced, her father's urgent plea echoing in her ears, "Run, Emma! No, Papa, please!" She fled through the darkness, each step fueled by a desperate need for safety. Then, a bone-chilling scream shattered the night, freezing her in her tracks. She turned, dread clawing at her, only to witness the lifeless form of her father and the malevolent figure responsible for this unspeakable act. The monster's twisted grin sent shivers down her spine, etching a nightmarish image into her memory. His sinister delight was palpable, as if he savored every moment of the horrifying scene unfolding before him.
Emma jolted awake, her body drenched in sweat, heart pounding in her chest. As reality rushed back, tears streamed down her face. The woman to whom Emma had given her food looked at her with deep concern.
Meanwhile, Lucas awoke with a heavy heart, a profound sadness weighing him down. His inner beast, typically resolute, seemed restless, as if attempting to convey a message. Yet, he forcibly suppressed those emotions, recognizing them as Emma's, not his own. He couldn't afford to let his guard down.
Andrew sat in deep contemplation, his brow furrowed, pondering what steps to take next. Knowing Emma's true identity as the Pack's Luna, he couldn't allow her to remain in the cell. Yet, he was acutely aware that Lucas wouldn't readily agree. As he sipped his tea, lost in thought, a voice interrupted his reverie.
"Drew, how do I look today?" It was Sasha, standing before him with an unusual expression. Andrew looked up, momentarily taken aback. "You look great, Sasha. Is everything alright?"
Sasha, a striking 16-year-old with captivating brown eyes, golden hair, and a fair complexion, was the Alpha's sister. Since their parents' passing, Lucas had taken on a paternal role for Sasha. She held deep affection for her brother. From a young age, she'd harbored a crush on Andrew, nurturing hopes that he would be her mate once she came of age.
"Yes, but what's been going on with Lucas? He hasn't seemed like himself lately. Is everything alright with him?" Sasha inquired, her concern evident in her voice.
Not wanting to worry her, he said, 'Yes, nothing to worry about. He's just been working a lot lately.' Shifting the topic, Andrew asked, "So, where are you off to all dolled up? Ready?"
"A friend's birthday party," Sasha replied with a smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Alright, have a great time," Andrew replied with a warm smile. Sasha turned and headed out, leaving Andrew to his thoughts.
Andrew rose from his seat, making his way towards the cell where Emma was being held. As he approached, he inquired with the guard about the human's condition. He couldn't reveal her true identity as their Luna; that would only lead to chaos. The guard informed him that she was not doing well. Since her arrival, she had been refusing to eat and would instead give her food to her cellmate and the child. A fleeting smile tugged at Andrew's lips, recognizing this selfless trait as a quality befitting a Luna. Yet, the smile quickly faded, replaced by a deep sense of concern. Emma was causing harm to herself by not eating. He knew he had to take action to get her out of the cell before it was too late.
Emma awoke with a profound emptiness gnawing at her heart, the depths of her despair unfathomable. Days had passed since her capture, and the encounter with the Alpha, rife with hostility, had only served to deepen her desolation. The raw ache of losing her parents still hung heavy, casting a long shadow over her world. Yet, after meeting him, the will to live seemed to slip through her grasp.
In the throes of despair and solitude, a desperate yearning for warmth washed over her. She closed her eyes, summoning the image of her parents' smiling faces. A fleeting smile danced on her lips, but it was short-lived. The creak of the cell door pierced the silence, signaling the arrival of food. No one ventured here otherwise. As she tried to rise and reach the plate, a tremor seized her head, consciousness slipping away. Her gaze met her parents', tears streaming down her face. In a choked whisper, she uttered, "Mumma, Papa, I'll be with you soon."
Lucas sat in contemplative silence, his furrowed brow bearing witness to his inner turmoil. A weighty decision loomed, one that could alter the course of many lives. The responsibility pressed upon him, seeking solace in the quiet of his office.
Then, a surge of emotion surged through him, fierce and unfamiliar, as if a part of himself was slipping away.
"Alpha Alpha!" The urgent cry shattered the stillness, jerking Lucas to attention. Andrew's voice, laced with alarm, sliced through the air. Lucas' senses honed in, instinctively seeking the source. Andrew's arrival was swift, his worry palpable.
"Alpha Lu... Emma has fainted in the cell," Andrew's report hung heavy in the room. "I tried contacting you through the mind link, but you had blocked everyone."
A surge of blood rushed to Lucas' face. Now, he understood the tumultuous emotion that gripped him — the dread of losing a soulmate. Trembling, he inquired, "Where is she?"
"In the Pack Hospital," Andrew's response was swift. Without a second thought, Lucas bolted from his office, determined to reach Emma's side. Andrew followed closely, the urgency of the situation propelling them forward.
As Lucas stormed into the hospital, every eye turned towards him, initial shock giving way to deep concern. It was a rare sight to witness their Alpha in such a state, a stark contrast to the composed leader they were accustomed to. The doctor hurried over, sensing the urgency.
"Alpha, is everything alright?" the doctor inquired, genuine concern etched on his face. "And where is Emma?"
Lucas's growl reverberated through the room, his impatience evident. The doctor's confusion only deepened. "The human?" he queried, seeking clarification.
A single look from the Alpha confirmed the doctor's bewilderment. Without uttering another word, Lucas led the way to Emma's room. Upon entering, he cast his eyes on her frail form, a sudden wave of realization washing over him. In a hushed, regret-laden whisper, he murmured, "What have I done?"
Emma lay still on the hospital bed, her once lively face drained of all color, leaving her looking almost spectral. Tubes and wires connected her to the monitors, their steady beeping filling the room.
Lucas stood by her side, his concern etched on his face. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on him, knowing his decisions had led them here. Andrew watched from a distance, sharing in the worry, understanding the gravity of the moment. Lucas's voice trembled as he asked the doctor, "When will she wake up?"
The doctor's response was grim, "She is in a coma. We can't predict when or if she will wake up, Alpha."
At those words, Lucas felt a surge of uncontrollable fury. His inner beast, Jade, overtook him. His once-blue eyes now blazed a fierce yellow, a telltale sign that Lucas was no longer in control. In an instant, he seized the doctor and hurled him against the wall, bellowing, "How dare you suggest that my mate, your Luna, might never wake up!"
The hospital was plunged into a stunned silence, every ear attuned to the weighty significance of that word, "Luna" Andrew knew he had to act swiftly before the Alpha's fury escalated any further. Stepping in between Lucas and the doctor, he firmly implored, "Alpha, please, you must calm down."
However, the words seemed to have the opposite effect. The beast within Lucas seemed to grow more agitated. A low, guttural growl rumbled from his chest. "The doctor is telling me that my mate may not live, and you're telling me to calm down?" His growls grew louder, reverberating through the room.
Maintaining his composure, Andrew pressed on. "Alpha, the doctor is only presenting possibilities. He is doing everything in his power to care for Luna. If anything were to happen to him, who would be left to treat her?
As Andrew spoke, he could see a shift in Lucas's expression. The anger began to give way to a deep well of worry. In an instant, Lucas's eyes flickered back to their normal state, a sign that he had regained control the usual expression of guilt wash over Lucas.
With one look at Andrew he went in the room of Emma and sit beside her bed on the chair staring at her. for the first time he was looking at her clearly " beautiful" words came out of his mouth his had unknowing reached to her face and caresing her, hoping she would open her eyes but she did not suddenly a tear drop from the eyes of Lucas "I am sorry " he whispered
Meanwhile, the news had spread like wildfire throughout the pack's territory. Whispers of the Alpha finding his Luna and her hospitalization reverberated through the community, eliciting a whirlwind of emotions.
Among the pack members, there was a blend of elation and sorrow. Many rejoiced that their Alpha had finally discovered his destined mate, the long-anticipated Luna. Yet, this joy was tinged with a somber undertone as word of her precarious condition reached their ears. The potential loss of their Luna weighed heavily on their hearts, casting a pall over the celebration.
However, not all within the pack shared this sentiment. Some members expressed frustration and confusion, struggling to comprehend how a human could hold the title of Luna.
As the news continued its rapid spread, the pack found themselves grappling with a complex blend of hope, fear, and uncertainty, all centered around the unconscious figure lying in the hospital bed. Meanwhile, John, Lucas's uncle, a seasoned man with deep brown eyes and a rugged scar on the right side of his cheek, sat in his office. John had harbored ambitions to be Alpha himself and had opposed Lucas's ascent to the role. Upon Lucas's succession, John chose to leave the pack, though his supporters still remained.
In the midst of his contemplations, a knock at the door disrupted John's thoughts. "Come in," he gruffly ordered. The visitor entered and bowed before John. "Alpha, I have information to share," the man announced.
"Speak," John commanded.
The man hesitated for a moment before delivering his message. "Rumors are circulating that Lucas has found his mate," he revealed. John's jaw clenched, bracing for the revelation. The man pressed on, "However, there's a twist—she is a human." At the mere mention of the word "human," an ominous smile crept across John's face. Finally, he thought, "my time has come.