"The Alpha wants you there, Lauren. We're pleading on your behalf, Connor is trying to make you leave , to make us leave..."
"Then, let's fulfil his wish, let's leave"
"We'll be putting our lives at risk if we leave this place. Remember what happened at our former pack eleven years back..."
"You don't have to bring that up" Lauren was tearing up at the memory. The memory she fought to forget. "I've been trying to forget...fine, I'm going. I'm going, okay?!"She resigned in defeat knowing there's no way she's going to stay back home this time.
"Thanks, Darling" Jane kissed her forehead, tucking her daughter in bed.
"Goodnight" She walked towards the door.
"Goodnight " Lauren mumbled, closing her eyes as she heard the door closing.
Immediately she was sure that her mother was gone, she sat up in bed and let out a sigh, staring outside her window into the dark. The past came rushing back into her memories even though she tried to forget what happened eleven years ago.
ELEVEN YEARS AGO...
"Zoey...throw the ball, throw it!"
Little Lauren yelled and Zoey threw the ball to her, and Lauren stretched to catch the ball but if passed over her head instead, into the woods nearby.
"Aw!" Zoey whined.
"I'll get it!" Lauren yelled and ran after the ball, stepping into the woods. The ball was lying just few feet away. With a bright smile of relief on her face, she rushed over to get it.
"Got ya"
After retrieving the ball, she straightened herself to leave but froze when a gunshot sound was heard. Seconds later, screams and cries could be heard in the background.
"Zoey" She ran out of the woods only to see the houses on fire and everywhere in chaos.
"Zoey!" She cried out, witnessing the fall of others. Other members of the pack falling after being shot. Black werewolves were attacking the wolves from her pack.
"Lauren!"
Zoey's voice called unto her and she saw Zoey standing beside the small hut, hiding from her predators and Lauren ran swiftly to her. The ball, long gone.
"Zoey!"
"Lauren!" Zoey cried out while they hugged one another. "I'm scared, they killed them, all of them... Mom... Dad"
"We'll be okay, let's hide uh?"
"What if we die too?"
"We won't die, the moon goddess will protect us, okay?"
"But..."
"Get those kids!"
They stared in the direction of the voice in panic. A man was approaching them with dark eyeballs and Lauren knew he belonged with the oppressors.
"Let's run!" She grabbed Zoey's hand, turning in another direction, towards her parents' house.
Another gunshot was heard and Lauren felt Zoey's body dropping. She was being pulled forward to also fall because of their intertwined hands. For a moment, Lauren wondered why Zoey had fallen, but when she stared at her friend, she sensed no movement. Paralyzed with fear and grief, she stared at their connected hands, Zoey's body was leaning against her leg.
"Zoey!"
She was not breathing and when she finally saw the blood flowing from her forehead, she realized that Zoey had been shot in the head.
"No!... Zoey! Please wake up" She cried aloud, not caring that the man was taking deadly steps towards them.
Suddenly, Lauren felt herself being lifted from the ground, and was forced to let go of Zoey's hand.
"Let me go! Let me go! Zoey!" She struggled to break free from the tight grip.
"It's me, Lauren...we have to go" Jane's voice came through to her hearing and she glanced at her before crying the more. Jane was so relieved to see her daughter safe.
"Mom... Zoey,they took her away from me"
Another shot was being fired but Jane was quick to dodge the flying bullet. Her body hit the ground but she was quick to take Lauren back in her arms and made a run for it, deep into the woods, the men and the black werewolves chasing after them.
As they kept running, Lauren could see what was happening behind Jane. She could see the other members on the run, being taken down with bullets, while some were devoured by the wolves. She squeezed her eyes tight because it was too gruesome to watch, her hands tightening around Jane, who continued to run with all her might and not looking back.
Finally, they stopped at a big tree where Romeo was waiting for them, with worried face and when he set his eyes on them, he let out a loud sigh of relief, almost tearing up, because he thought he'd lost them.
"Daddy!" Lauren cried out as she swing from her mother's arms into her father's.
"My baby...I'm... I'm so glad you're safe...oh Jane, I love you" He leaned in to kiss Jane on the forehead and also Lauren.
"I think we lost them" Jane said.
"Yes, I think so...but we have to leave. This place isn't safe anymore"Jane agreed with her husband.
"Where's Zoey?" He glanced around.
Lauren bursted into fresh tears at the mention of her name. Jane shook her head, communicating to him. He was quick to understand.
"It's okay...it's okay" He comforted and pet his daughter
And then they set off on an unprepared journey to safety.
Two days after the attack, they walked under the rain through the thick woods in the middle of the night. The rain showing no mercy on them, they were drenched. Everyone else in the park did not make it, even their Alpha was nowhere to be found, they were the only survivors.
"Who goes there?"
A guard walked towards them and soon guns were aimed at them. Jane clutched Lauren tightly in her arms, Lauren became scared.
"Please...we've come in peace, we're looking for safety and shelter..."
"Your Highness "
The guard bowed stepping aside and a man stepped forward.
"What are you doing on my territory?
His voice held command and authority and they knew at once that this man was the Al
pha king. They bowed in respect. Maybe this man would save their lives, or maybe he take it...they do not know.