Moonlit Lovers

Twelve Years Ago:

The red moon rises over the village, a bloodshot eye in the night sky. Below, the lights of the festival pulse like racing hearts, a forbidden spectacle for those without lineage, for those who don't share the pure blood of the wolves. The legend of the red moon is a whisper in the darkness, a tale of unity and power that only the chosen can experience. For outsiders, the feast is an enigma, a labyrinth of secrets and dangers where ambition and envy lurk at every turn. It's said that the red moon grants wishes to those who have the courage to seek it, but it also punishes those who dare to profane its sacred ritual. The red moon festival is an unattainable dream, a mirage of greatness and belonging that only the invited wolves can enjoy.

The crowd gathered at the red moon festival was a dazzling display of power and prestige. The vast majority of attendees were Alphas, but not just any Alphas. They were the elite of the elite, the leaders of the most ancient and powerful clans, the fiercest warriors, and the most cunning strategists. Their faces reflected years of battles and difficult decisions, but also the determination and confidence that made them stand out among others.

And then there was the color. Red. Like the moon that watched them from the sky, red was the only color allowed at the party. Dresses, cloaks, jewelry—everything was an intense red, a tribute to the blood moon and a symbol of their own strength and power. The red enveloped them like a flame, reminding everyone that they were the Alpha wolves, the leaders, the ones who made the decisions and protected their people. The red moon festival was their night, a celebration of their lineage, their power, and their union. A night in which they reaffirmed their place in the world and demonstrated to others, and to themselves, that they were the masters of their destiny.

But the night was not just a party; it was also a crucial moment for the Blackwood clan. Every twelve years, the red moon witnesses the election of the new leader, a momentous event that would decide the fate of the clan. The most prominent members watched with anticipation, as the current leader prepared to give way to the next generation. The name of the new leader would resonate in the night, marking the beginning of a new era for the Blackwoods.

Amidst the crowd of imposing and muscular Alphas, a young wolf stood out for his slender figure and angular face. His fur, a pale ash tone, barely concealed the thinness of his body, and his eyes, an intense blue, reflected a sharp intelligence and a silent determination. Despite his unimposing appearance, he had been chosen as the new leader of the clan, a decision that generated murmurs and doubts among the other Alphas. Some questioned his ability to lead, arguing that his lack of physical strength made him a weak and vulnerable leader.

"That hairless wolf will be the new leader to guide us?"

"He's so young and thin, they'll eat him alive."

"God have mercy on us."

"You just wanted Darren to be the new leader because your daughter is his mate."

"How dare you insinuate that about me? Don't you know me?"

"Because I know you, I can say it perfectly."

Hatred and division could be felt in the environment.

The leader raised his hand before the discussion started, and the silence became sepulchral. The crowd held its breath, aware that they were about to witness a historic moment. The name of the new leader echoed in the night, pronounced with solemnity and pride. A new chapter in the history of the Blackwoods was about to begin.

"Kael, those people are talking badly about you. How can you endure it in silence? It's too much."

Kael, his older brother, wasn't even looking at him. His hand gripped him tightly, but at no time did he say anything.

"Lane," Kael suddenly called him, bending down to his height. "From now on, no matter what happens, don't forget that I will always be with you."

At the time, he didn't understand why, but his agitated heart was calmed by Kael's smile.

(Selena's House)

"Can you tell me why you're awake at this hour, Selena?"

Selena shrinks in her seat as her older sister scolds her alongside their parents, playing nervously with her small hands.

"I want to go to the party with youuuuu," Selena replies.

Lyra rubs her temples with her fingers, looks at her parents, and gestures for them not to be so hard on her little sister.

"Selena, you're still too young. You haven't even manifested your second gender yet. You know the party is only for Alphas and Dominants; no children are allowed."

Selena crosses her arms, angry.

The Red Moon party, a magnificent and highly exclusive celebration where the most prestigious families gather to name the new leader, is a celebration that only deigns to invite pure-blooded wolves.

The excitement in the air was palpable. Lyra, Selena's older sister, had come of age, and with it, her manifestation as an Alpha. The news had spread like wildfire throughout the territory, and the invitation to attend the prestigious Red Moon party was not long in coming. Lyra, with her imposing presence and penetrating gaze, had earned a place at the top of the hierarchy, where the Dominant Alphas reigned with an iron fist.

In that world of werewolves, the line between power and survival was thin. The Dominant Omegas, once symbols of fertility and abundance, were extinct, victims of a power struggle that had shaken the foundations of their society. The Recessive Omegas and the Betas, relegated to the lower rungs, struggled to find their place in a world dominated by strength and ambition.

Lyra, oblivious to the intrigues and dangers that surrounded her, prepared for her big night. The Red Moon, witness to her lineage and her power, awaited her to welcome her to the elite of the werewolves.

"But you're going to have fun and tomorrow is the contest, what if you don't come in time?"

"Is that why you wanted to go with me?" Selena felt her sister's question. Lyra smiled and ruffled her hair. "Nothing will make me miss the contest. I promise I'll be in the front row supporting you. And in the future, if you're an Alpha like me, we'll go together."

Maybe she should have insisted a little more, not let go of her sister's hand so easily, or said goodbye at the entrance of the door with her father who went to take her.

If only Selena had insisted a little more... Would doing that have changed anything? Because when Lyra returned... she was no longer the same.

In a white dress that covered her feet, Lyra's loose hair tangled over her face. She was repeating incoherencies and possessed an unearthly strength, arriving a couple of hours before her talent show, when Selena was practicing the piano.

In Selena's memory, the events were distorted. She remembers her sister's face, her mouth full of blood as she shed tears as if she didn't realize it and continued to murmur unintelligible things. Her eyes shone with an intense red, and her claws, sharp as knives, extended forward. Selena, terrified, tried to dodge the attack, but Lyra's speed was too fast.

Selena's parents, who were nearby, reacted instantly. The father, a burly and muscular man, lunged at Lyra, trying to grab her by the tail. The mother, a slender but agile woman, stood between Lyra and Selena, trying to protect her daughter.

Lyra, however, was stronger and faster than they expected. With a single movement, she broke free from her father's grasp and pounced on Selena. Her claws dug into Selena's face, tearing away a piece of skin and flesh. Selena screamed in pain, and her eyes filled with tears.

Selena's parents finally managed to knock Lyra down, but not before she caused more damage. Selena was left with a deep gash on her face, and her left eye was swollen and bleeding.

Lyra, for her part, was exhausted and panting. She had transformed into a wolf for the first time, and the effort had been exhausting. She collapsed on the ground, gasping and trembling.

Selena, still shocked and with her face bloodied, slowly got up. Her eyes, full of tears and pain, landed on Lyra. She recognized her instantly, despite her form, and a feeling of sadness overwhelmed her. She extended a hand towards her sister, trying to get closer, but Lyra recoiled, frightened.

"Sister...!"

Lyra's wolf shook her head, as if she had reacted. She turned and ran away, but fainted halfway there.

"Selena, we have to go to the hospital now!"

"Mom, but Lyra is...!"

"Your father will leave her in her room. Then, when she wakes up, we'll have time to find out what happened. We're leaving now!"

...

But Lyra did not wake up again.

With a bandage around one eye, Selena watches her mother writhe over Lyra's grave, screaming. A sense of reality suddenly hits her as the rain falls.

Lyra, her beloved older sister.., had died inexplicably.

"Poor thing, such a young and promising Alpha..." someone says behind Selena, but she remains silent, a red rose in her hand. "The mother is devastated."

For the first time in her life, Selena is afraid to approach her mother.

"Do you think the little one is also an Alpha?"

That question stirs something inside Selena. For the first time, the panic of reliving the past rises to her stomach. Selena approaches her sister's grave again to stop listening to that conversation. She leaves the rose next to Lyra's photograph. Her mother, with a haggard face and eyes swollen from crying, clings to her hand, seeking comfort in her daughter. But Selena cannot offer her what she needs. The loss of Lyra is an open wound that will never heal.

It isn't long before tragedy strikes the family again. Selena's mother, consumed by grief and guilt, cannot bear the absence of her eldest daughter. One night, while the red moon still illuminates the night sky, her heart stops forever. Selena mourns her mother's death with the same intensity with which she had mourned her sister's.

"Dad, I'm off to work," Selena says, kissing her distracted father's forehead. "Be good, okay? I'll try to come back as soon as I can.

Her father, as always, didn't respond.

The death of his wife was the straw that broke the camel's back. Selena's father, a strong and proud man, collapsed at the loss of his beloved. Grief consumed him from within, and his mind became clouded in a whirlwind of pain and dementia. He began to wander aimlessly through the woods, talking to himself and raving about the red moon and ancestral spirits. His eyes, once full of life and love, now reflected the madness that consumed him. Selena watched her father with a broken heart, unable to comprehend the magnitude of his suffering. The girl she once was had become the head of the family, assuming the responsibility of caring for her father and trying to restore his sanity.

"I heard you were calling me, Mr. D."

Selena carefully opens the door to her boss Danie