ALPHA DINERO'S POV.
The evening had never looked so perfect.
The sky above Crystal Pack was awash in hues of gold and lavender, streaks of dying sunlight dancing through the trees like strokes from the Moon Goddess's brush.
The warm breeze blew through the trees gently, carrying the sweet scent of blooming night jasmine and the faint sound of laughter from the pack house.
I leaned back against the railing of the veranda, my arm lazily wrapped around my mate's waist as Iris, my Luna, my everything and her laughter rang out again, soft and melodic, as she nudged my side with her elbow.
"You're making that face again," she teased, eyes sparkling.
I turned to her with a smirk. "What face?"
"The one you make when you're thinking about how lucky you are to have me," she said, tossing her dark curls over her shoulder dramatically.
"Well," I chuckled, tightening my grip on her waist and pulling her closer, "I was thinking that. How'd you know?"
"Because you always do," she whispered, resting her head against my chest.
We stood there for a while in silence, just watching the moment before us.
Down in the clearing, our daughter Diana, all of eight years old and bursting with energy, as she was playing with Jaden. My Beta's and my assistant and one of the most gifted shifters in our pack, Jaden, had a unique talent.
Not only could he shift into his wolf at will, he could also morph into a giant dog-like creature with soft, thick fur…one that Diana absolutely adored.
Right now, he was in that very form…massive, snow-white, with striking gray eyes and a bushy tail that swirled in circles like a living ribbon.
Diana squealed with joy, chasing the tail, falling over, getting up again, and burying her small face in his fur like it was the safest place in the world.
"She's so happy," Irish whispered, her voice laced with warmth.
"Look at her. That laugh…goddess, I could bottle that laugh and live on it for centuries."
"She gets it from you," I said, kissing her temple.
We both watched as Jaden spun slowly, tail swirling like a twister. Diana giggled uncontrollably, chasing it like it was the greatest game ever invented. She was laughing so hard she fell on her butt in the grass, breathless but still reaching for him.
Everything felt... right…Until it didn't.
Suddenly, the wind changed as it wasn't the calm smoothing one any longer. It was through one dangerous breeze that could throw a child or even an adult into the air and as I watched It grew stronger, colder…biting through the warmth like ice water down your spine.
The trees, once gently swaying, began to shake violently, the laughter stopped as the birds burst from the canopy in a screaming frenzy.
Then came the rumble more like an earth quaking and I became more bothered as I could feel it but I wanted to be sure if what I was feeling was actually what was about to happen.
The ground trembled beneath us as I straightened instantly, my instincts kicking in before thought could even catch up. My eyes darted to the edge of the forest, then up toward the mountains beyond.
Even the pack house behind us groaned under the sudden pressure. I heard cracks in the walls, the sound of rattling glass.
Then my Luna, Iris, gripped my arm. "Dinero..."
I was already scanning the earth. The sun had dipped completely now, the sky went from violet to near black in an instant. And then as the environment became little clear, there then came the scent as ashes, smoke, claw's fight and bloodlust.
I smelled trouble as I didn't waste more time as I looked at the direction of my mate and then quickly to Jaden who already knew who was coming.
"Take Diana and Jaden," I ordered, my voice sharper than steel. "Get them into the tombs below the house. Now, Iris, lead them there… go!"
But she didn't move.
She stood there, staring at me like I'd insulted her soul. "And leave you? Are you mad?"
"Iris…go now!"
"I'm not leaving you behind!" she snapped, stepping closer, her hand pressing to my chest.
"Don't you dare ask me to run when I should be standing beside you."
"You know what this is. You know who's coming."
"And I don't care. I won't watch you die alone. If death is coming, then it comes for us both."
A beat passed, and her eyes never left mine as there was no time to argue. As there's no time for pride, only instinct.
She turned sharply to Jaden, who had already shifted halfway back into his human form, his face smeared with dirt and confusion as Diana was busy looking at the other end of his tail.
"Jaden, take Diana and run as fast as you can, and when I say run … I mean take her far and do not stop," Iris ordered. Her voice was commanding…Alpha-born, Luna-blooded.
Jaden hesitated. "But …"
"NOW!"
That was all he needed.
In a swift motion, Jaden bent down and used his mouth to swipe Diana up onto his back, her small arms wrapping tightly around his furry neck as he bolted into the forest. Her screams echoed behind them.
"Mom! Dad! No! I don't wanna go…!"
But they were already gone.
Iris gripped my hand tightly as we stood side by side at the steps of our pack house. The breeze turned to a roar, the air thick with something dark…something ancient.
And then... he appeared.
The shadows twisted and folded in on themselves until a tall, cloaked figure emerged from the edge of the forest.
His presence sucked the warmth out of the air, and I could feel Iris stiffen beside me and the trees behind him fade away as though recoiling from his energy.
I narrowed my eyes and he pulled back the hood as he is wearing a floating black garment that has a gape.
And of course, it was who I was that I was expecting for he shall always remain my blood and twin enemy.
"Lycan," I said coldly, my claws already threatening to tear through my skin.
My younger twin brother for he is my blood and at the same time my betrayer.
He smirked. "Well, well… long time no see, brother." he said but I was so busy scanning him thoroughly, I needed no one to tell me how he had gotten the forbidden power from the underworld which is prohibited to use as a werewolves.