Seraphina’s POV
A thunderous commotion dragged from sleep - not my alarm, but Holden’s hurried boots pounding against the hallway floor outside my room.
"Luna, the Alpha requests your imdiate attention. Solstice Fang has been attacked. The damage is catastrophic."
His words struck like ice water. I sat up, struggling to breathe as the implications crashed over . "This wasn’t a skirmish or failed raid. Complete annihilation. Everything destroyed. Fewer than half made it out alive."
Nausea twisted through my gut. I understood imdiately. Dorian.
My brother had orchestrated this massacre purely for vengeance against those who had wronged him and our family in the past. But the victims - the children, the blaless families - they bore no responsibility. Their only cri was belonging to that pack.
I had lived among Solstice for years. We never ford deep bonds, and affection was scarce between us, but no one rited such brutality.
This catastrophe spelled disaster for Zenith Fang. Solstice had been our most formidable ally. More terrifyingly, it raised an ominous question: Would we be his next target?
Remaining here awaiting updates wasn’t an option. As Luna, I had responsibilities to fulfill.
I moved swiftly through the Fang House, issuing commands. I summoned Holden to my side.
"I’m departing for Solstice territory imdiately," I declared, eting his gaze directly. "Command remains yours until our return. Maintain heightened security. Strengthen border patrols. We cannot predict whether Dorian intends to strike us next."
Holden acknowledged with a firm nod, his expression reflecting the severity of our situation. He was dependable. He could manage things here.
My family required attention next. I located Penelope preparing breakfast while the children were just stirring.
"Penelope," I said gently. "I must leave temporarily. Guard Theo and Elena carefully. Never let them leave your sight."
She nodded silently, her eyes reflecting deep concern.
I knelt quickly to address my children. Theo, my beautiful boy, gazed up at with worry etched across his features.
"I realize I haven’t been very available recently, Theo," I murmured, caressing his face. "But I swear to you, we’ll spend proper ti together soon. We are unbreakable, rember? Nothing can tear us apart."
Theo, blessedly, possessed remarkable understanding for his age. He responded with a solemn nod. Elena simply wrapped her arms around my neck tightly, pressing her face into my shoulder. Their simple faith in filled my heart with warmth and provided the courage I needed to depart.
The journey seed interminable, but when I finally entered what remained of Solstice territory, the atmosphere transford. It hung heavy and oppressive, saturated with smoke, debris, and sothing far worse - the tallic stench of dried blood.
The devastation was complete. This hadn’t been warfare; it was systematic extermination. Structures that once housed families now existed as heaps of shattered timber and charred remains. The carnage was clearly intentional slaughter.
My heart fractured as I navigated toward the center.
Upon reaching where the Fang House forrly stood - now rely a massive, smoldering crater - I spotted the survivors clustered together. Then I noticed her.
My mother.
She identified instantly and rushed forward, her face streaked with gri and tears. Before I could prepare myself, she embraced desperately.
"Seraphina! Oh, my precious daughter, they’ve destroyed everything! We’ve lost it all! We desperately needed our daughter here!"
I went rigid imdiately. I shoved her away forcefully until my hands gripped her shoulders, maintaining distance between us. The acrid sll of ash clinging to her clothing nauseated .
"Enough," I stated, my voice dangerously controlled. "Don’t address as your daughter. I stand here as Luna of Zenith Fang. We serve as your strongest allies, and I’ve co to provide assistance. That represents my sole purpose here. Keep your distance."
Her face collapsed, tears streaming harder. "But Seraphina, everything has been destroyed! We’ve lost our ho!"
"That opportunity has passed," I inford her, my heart hardening like stone. "You murdered in your heart years ago, just as you assisted in killing my biological father. Don’t pretend now that you desire my return."
She flinched as though I had physically struck her. I felt no remorse. The past carried too much weight for this mont.
I turned from her, surveying the scene. That’s when I spotted Julian. He was coordinating people, his face severe, covered in soot. He appeared utterly drained.
He glanced up, noticing , and his brow creased.
"Seraphina? Why are you here? I instructed you to rest."
"I’m pleased you haven’t abandoned your responsibilities," he continued. "Despite our current complications."
He didn’t await my response, returning to his conversation with a dic.
I began walking through the debris, and the true horror overwheld . I witnessed what warfare inflicts upon human lives. This transcended re wood and stone destruction.
I observed a small girl sitting alone, silently swaying, staring at a smoking heap that once ford a wall. I saw won who had lost their children. I watched a young father sobbing uncontrollably over a sheet-covered bundle.
Innocent children mourning dead parents. Mothers stripped of everything.
My personal grievances - my resentnt toward Julian, my anger at my mother - all beca aningless compared to this suffering. This represented Dorian’s handiwork, and it was monstrous.
I made a solemn promise then. I would do whatever necessary to prevent Dorian from harming more people. If he sought revenge, he could target , but he would not touch another innocent pack.
I returned to Julian, my decision crystallized.
"Julian," I said firmly. "This location remains unsafe. It’s a target. We cannot abandon them here."
He looked at , comprehending imdiately.
"Zenith Fang offers the strongest sanctuary available," I continued. "We evacuate the survivors with us. We’ll help them rebuild on our territory."
Julian didn’t hesitate. He simply nodded, brief relief crossing his exhausted features.
"Agreed. Let’s begin evacuation."
Together, Alpha and Luna, despite our personal turmoil, started organizing the living, extracting them from the wreckage, preparing to bring them ho. Our pack was about to expand significantly and beco far more crucial. War had arrived at our doorstep, even though the attack occurred elsewhere.
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