SHE
I run through the forest, my bare and bloodied feet hurt a lot, but the pain in my chest was greater. I needed to escape from the monster, needed to flee from its claws, before it devoured me, but each step away from it made my heart bleed.
Would I die for being away from it, or would I die by its hands?
The forest was getting darker, it was so close that the heat of its hungry breath reached my neck. I was so tired, so weak, but I couldn't stop, or it would hurt me even more.
My heart was bleeding and the agony made me want to scream as loud as possible to escape that anguish.
— Luna, calm down! Breathe slowly, please!
Her voice was louder, calling me, but I couldn't see her, the forest was so dark… There were no stars, no moonlight…
— Oh, Mother Goddess, what do I do? Luna, open your eyes, it's okay, you don't need to be afraid!
I want to open my eyes, I had no intention of disobeying a Beta's order, however, my own body wouldn't obey me, paralyzed by fear.
— Luna, listen to me, you need to calm down. Imagine you're in a beautiful place, full of flowers, sunshine, where you are safe and protected. Breathe slowly, everything will be fine…
I did what she asked, I imagined I was in a large garden of yellow roses, as beautiful as sunlight, fragrant and enchanting.
My breathing gradually calmed down, my hands stopped trembling, and like a magic step, the pain in my chest diminished.
There were no wolves in the garden, only me and the flowers. I was free and safe there…
"He is here"
An unknown voice invaded my mind, interrupting the imagination.
"He is here"
The voice repeated, urging me to open my eyes.
— What is happening here?
His voice, thick and authoritative, entered my ears and hit my heart. The pain no longer existed, but the anticipation of something I didn't even know what it could be. I must be going crazy, someone inside my mind warned me of his arrival before I could hear him.
— Sorry, Alpha. She lost her balance and fell from the bathtub. It was my fault, I didn't hold her in time, I didn't think she would be so frightened only by hearing your name.
I didn't want to die, even though I had a miserable life in captivity, I wanted to be alive and experience the things that Rebeca told stories about and that filled my best dreams.
Silence fell, I don't know for how long, but the anxiety in my chest grew with each second. I would be punished and the Beta too.
My first day in this place and I would already be punished…
I could only beg Mother Goddess to let me survive…
*****
HE
The rhythm of my heartbeats was as chaotic as the growls and snarls of the beast of my nature. With each step toward the room, the scent of the little intruder intensified, to the point of making me salivate. She was a Luna by birth, I had met others. Beautiful, perfect, attractive, but none of them reached my nature in that way.
Somewhere in this fucking world, a lucky Alpha was waiting to meet her, and just thinking about it made me feel the thirst for blood of my third form. The beast was ready to eliminate anyone who tried to possess the one he had chosen as a substitute for my soulmate.
"Mine"
Of all the unintelligible noises I emitted, this was the only word easily distinguishable.
"Our mate is dead!"
It was painful, but I had to remind the beast that our true Luna was dead. There would never be a substitute!
"Mine!"
I stopped before entering the room and took another sip of the drink the old man had given me. If I didn't control my nature, I would end up hurting the little intruder. She was too young, not much more than a child. I could deduce by scent that her body was still not mature.
After a few seconds, the chaos inside me dissipated. With a clear mind, I continued on my way.A subsequent scene was not what I expected to find. Little Luna was curled up in bed, wrapped in a sheet, eyes closed, face wet from tears. The stench of fear permeated the entire room, and even so, that female's scent had an effect no less potent than the most addictive drugs.
— What's going on here? — My voice sounded cold and detached, the opposite of how I felt.
Tabita lowered her head formally before responding.
— Forgive me, Alpha. She lost her balance and fell from the bathtub. It was my fault; I didn't hold her in time, I didn't think she would be so frightened to hear your name.
— Not Alpha, please, don't take me to the alpha...
The first time I heard the sweetest voice that could possibly exist. That little intruder could be a siren, using her voice as a weapon to seduce people.
I would believe it...
— Why are you afraid of being taken to me? Have you committed any crime beyond braking in my territory? Are you a spy sent by one of my enemies?
I knew she was too frightened to catch the sarcasm in my words. That fragile creature wouldn't harm a fly… As for being a spy, it wouldn't be impossible…
She lifted her head, shaking it side by side, emphatically denying my accusations. There was something about her like a scared little bunny before a predator, knowing she would be devoured at any moment.
When her eyes met mine, I almost lost my balance.
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul…
"Mine!"
This time it wasn't my beast who recited such a word. It came from my mouth like a mantra, like a silent prayer to the Mother Goddess.
I could hear the expression of surprise that came from Tabita's mouth, who looked at me with wide eyes.
Against all logic, all I could think was that the little Luna was mine.
— Can you tell me your name, little Luna?
She slowly opened her mouth. Perfect, pink, plump lips contrasting with her pale skin and large dark eyes, as dark as the coldest night, but that contained a fire trapped that I would love to unleash.
— My name is Nadja, Alpha…
— Dérik, you can refer to me only as Dérik if you wish.
— But… Alpha, I don't want to be punished for disrespecting you…
I hated the fact that she feared me. But everything she said reached the most perverse side of my nature.
— Are you afraid of being punished by me, Nadja? — Would she perceive the double meaning in my question?
Her name was sweeter than honey in my mouth.
— Yes, sir, please, I will be a better servant.
Servant? Who would treat a Luna by birth as a slave? Where the hell had she been, who dared to mistreat her? I wanted to assure her that she was not a servant in my pack, but, even though controlled by the old drink, the perverted nature was quicker than reason.
— Don't worry, Nadja, I won't punish you… for now…