Chapter 2

Amelia’s POV

My bare feet slapped against the silk floor as I ran in the rain. The sky bellowed and the thunder danced with rage in the dark sky. There was no moon in sight nor a single werewolf on the road. It was just me and my tears, traversing the cold terrain.

I swung my arms as I ran, recalling what happened at the pack's hall. Damien hovering over me, his fingers wrapped around my throat as he laughed.

“Did you actually think I would make a witch my Luna?”

Echoes of gasps traveled the hall and the people stared with wide eyes at me.

“She's a witch?” An omega wolf from the crowd cried out.

“Yes, she is!” Freya added, fueling the crowd's fear and anger. “Her mother was one. She had Damien wrapped around her little finger in an evil spell!”

“Burn her!”

“Burn her!”

Damien gave me a shove and I fell backwards, catching my breath. He crouched to my level on the floor.

“Run, little girl. Run to your people. Before it's too late.”

My breath came in shudders and soonest, I began to hyperventilate.

“I hear fire spreads faster when it's raining.”

“No. Aunt Abigail.” My voice trembled as I ran.

“Aunt Abigail!” I screamed in the rain. “Aunt Abigail!”

I made a quick turn by the left and stumbled to the floor, my body slick from mud. I pushed myself up and continued my run. When I got closer, I saw fire.

“No. No. No.” I ran closer to the direction it was coming from.

As I approached, I heard a large snap and whipped around, a large tree lost its  balance and before I could shrivel back to safety, it fell.

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The cruel rain stopped falling but the fire kept on burning. Wisps of smoke filled the air and I jolted awake, coughing violently. I blinked back as I sat up on the wet earth, trying to recognize my surroundings.

Gaping holes stared back at me. I put my hard on the hard ground and it slipped, smeared by blood and water. I took to my feet and realized I was in hell.

Low fires licked at the roof of buildings, bodies piled up like sardines lined the streets, an apple tree crashed in the middle of a building - a familiar building. I swallowed hard when I recognized that building from the picture attached to the letter aunt Abigail had given to me.

“Aunt Abigail…” My voice trailed off as I limped towards the house. I stopped right at the entrance, my eyes widened in shock. Aunt Abigail’s immobile form stared right at me. Her clothes were burnt all the way to her knees, her hands laying limp on her chest, her eyes were closed. She was covered in her own blood.

I fell to the ground on my knees and scooped her into my arms.

“A… Aunt Abigail…” She didn't respond. I gave her shoulder a light shake and she winced.

“Aunty, open your eyes.” I patted her cheek lightly and her eyelids fluttered for a moment before they flickered open.

“A..melia?” she whispered in a weak voice. Tears formed in my eyes and I let them slip down my cheeks.

“Yes, it's me.” She lifted her hand to touch my cheek and I held it away.

“No, save your strength, please.” I kissed her hand. They were cold and almost clay-like. Just like mom's before she died. Aunt Abigail threw her eyes heavenward.

“They came for us… They were merciless.”I sniffled softly.

“Uncle Mark?” She shook her head, her lower lip quivering as she cried.

“He was the first to go down…”

“I'm so sorry.” I held her body closer to mine for warmth but hers was so cold.

“They cut him down at the gate and dragged his body till there was nothing left…” she looked at me now, squeezing my hand with little strength. “Amelia…you must be careful…They will come for you.”

“Who?” I searched her eyes for answers but they were closing. “Hey, Aunty,” I slapped her cheek lightly. “Come on, stay with me. Who… did this?” Aunt Abigail leaned upwards and whispered in my ear.

“Alpha Donovan.”

Thunderstruck the sky and it All came back to me. Damien's warning back at the pack. He knew.

Aunt Abigail fell back limp in my arm.

“They killed your mother and now, they have succeeded in wiping out our entire clan.” I shook my head as her words slurred and her eyes closed.

“They might've won this time but you're the last of us.” She whispered.

“Aunt Abigail!” I screamed, shaking her body.

“Peach looks good on you,” her lips stretched into a smile.

“N - no.” I watched as her hand slipped from mine.

“Aunt Abigail!”

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The hollow that formed in my chest after my mom's death expanded. I had scouted RedMoon in search of any survivors, screaming in the sun that I couldn't be the only survivor. I deceived myself for hours and hours, going through charred woods and dead bodies but nothing… no one else lived. Not a single soul. Alpha Donovan had succeeded in burning the pack to the very ground.

In solemn quiet, I dragged my body upwards and headed home - The pack they call BloodMoon. Calling it home left a bitter taste in my mouth and bile rose to my throat. After mom's death, I never thought of that place as my home. It never was.

As I neared the pack's gate, the rain began again, slackening more as I trudged onwards. My eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, my body broken and fatigued, my dress drenched from the rain, my feet bare and bleeding.

Every eye that met mine quickly averted their gaze. The whispers began but I didn't care. The words that whispered in my head weren't my personal mantra.

They were new words that rolled easily in my tongue as I spoke them - “kill them all.”

“Witch!” said a little girl and she hurled a tomato at me. I couldn't care less about the stain it left on my dress or how it hurt when the tomato hit my left eye. All I wanted was a taste of revenge.

“Have you heard?” A male omega wolf said to another.

“Heard what?” His partner said, eyeing ke suspiciously.

“The RedMoon pack has been burnt to the ground.” The first wolf said with a wheezing laugh.

“Ah Finally!” The other one joined him in the laugh, coughing violently as they danced in the rain.

“The witches are gone! They will haunt us no longer!” The town crier cried out as he slammed the gongs in his hands together.

A wave of surprise crashed through me and my fingers clenched. These barbarians were rejoicing over the death of people. People like them!

A carriage rode by, splashing  all over my dress.

Whoever was in it said in an aristocratic voice.

“I'm glad they're gone. Now, my nightmares will be over.”

“Hey, look, it's the witch from the mating ceremony.” A woman cried out, shielding herself with her umbrella.

“She wouldn't dare hurt us. Not when the Alpha is around!” A gentleman placed himself in front of her.

I walked past them without a backward glance. They were not with my salt. The rain ceased and I kept on walking, following the path that led to that house.

“Witch!” the people never stopped calling me that.

They hurled different items at me and even though it hurt, I still ignored them.

Why were they even scared of witches when they never attacked them?

Witches in the RedMoon pack were known to be peaceful people. Though half werewolves, they possessed magical powers that gave them an edge over normal werewolves. The wolves were jealous and this jealousy made them spread rumors about the witches being evil and all things unholy.

The green duplex came into view and I exhaled softly as I climbed the little stairs at the entrance. I had barely gotten the door before it swung open on its own.

“You!” came Aunt Matilda's sinister growl.