Switched Luna

Chapter 2: Help Me

|Carmella|

Two weeks ago, on a night where the moon concealed itself behind a veil of darkness and stars glittered like diamonds in the sky, my journey took a pivotal turn. I was standing on the balcony overlooking the sprawling grounds of our compound, the heart of the Dark Moon pack.

It was an important night for me, for everyone. It was an important night for the celebration of the Dark Moon pack. Because it has been five years since I established our pack, five years since I led it. And that night, we celebrated not just our anniversary, but our triumphs, our growth, and our future.

The open area was alive with music and laughter, the air was filled with roasted meat and with the warmth of a large bonfire in the center. Pack members mingled, their faces illuminated with joy and pride. The sight filled me with a profound sense of accomplishment.

Five years ago, this was only a dream, a mere flicker of hope amidst the chaos. Yet, who would have thought that those dreams would become a reality, a testament to our strength, perseverance and unity.

“You should interact with your people,” a familiar baritone voice said behind me.

I slowly dragged my gaze to my side and the face of the person who has been with me since day one–no, even before the inception of the pack.

Hans Ferrer. Among my other friends, he has been my closest.

“Everyone is eager to talk to you.” Hans added. His chiseled features were softened by a perpetual hint of a smile. He has deep-set eyes, the color of stormy sea, that softens whenever it met mine. His dark, tousled hair fell in perfect disarray, framing his face and highlighting his strong jawline.

“Do you think I won’t do that?” I teased. Hans’s smile widened, and he followed me as I descended the staircase to join the festivities. Each step I took, I couldn’t help but remember the memories of my journey—our journey as a pack.

The early days were the hardest. And to be honest, I had never really considered establishing a pack of my own. Because eight years ago, the only thing in my mind was to survive in a region I was not familiar with.

After fleeing from home, I dared to make my life in the southern continent. I knew it was the one place my family wouldn’t think to search. Their influence extended across the eastern regions and touched parts of the north and west, but the south remained untouched by their reach. Confident in this safe haven, I believed they wouldn't risk following me into this uncharted territory.

And they didn’t.

Or perhaps my mother's warning alone was enough to convince me that they wouldn't dare attempt to track me down.

I remembered vividly the harsh winter cold as I traversed the boundaries of the east and south. With no proper shelter, caves became my safe haven, and I survived by hunting for food on the frozen lake. Then, out of the sudden, a man appeared out of nowhere and extended an invitation for me to join his pack.

Desperate, I accepted the offer without a second thought. In the face of that harsh winter, any chance of survival was worth seizing. It was only later that I discovered he was the Alpha of the White Dawn Pack. And that was where I met Hans and our other friends.

But then, three years after I had joined, Alpha was killed in an ambush. The new leader of the White Dawn pack refused to investigate the circumstances surrounding our former Alpha’s demise, leaving me with no other option but to leave the pack.

I must avenge our Alpha’s death. If I need to make a pack of my own to achieve it, then I would gladly do so.

Hans and the other three seemed to have the same resolve as mine. And so, under the cover of a moonless night, the Dark Moon pack was born. Together, we forged a new path, and I became the Alpha.

Our sole purpose, truth be told, was to uncover who orchestrated the ambush on the former Alpha of White Dawn and exact our revenge. We loved him dearly, as if he were our own father. However, we soon recognized that our limited numbers lacked the power and influence needed to achieve our goal. Thus, the five of us divided into three groups, each determined to expand our reach and grow stronger.

I was left with Hans, being my beta, in order to strengthen the Dark Moon pack. The other three explored the continent and found other ways of growing our power and influence.

And I must say being a new pack in a region fraught with power struggles and territorial disputes had been a formidable challenge. Many doubted my ability to lead, but I was determined to prove them wrong. With every victory, we silenced the naysayers. With every alliance, we solidified our place in the southern continent.

One of our greatest achievements, and one that brought us immense respect, was the formation of the Trinity Alliance of the South. It was an audacious idea at first—a coalition of the three most powerful packs in the region, united under a common goal. It required delicate diplomacy and unwavering resolve.

But we did it.

The Trinity Alliance now stands as the most influential organization in the South, a beacon of strength and unity.

Tonight, as I wove through the crowd, I felt the weight of those accomplishments. Hans and I greeted the pack members, sharing in their stories and their joy. Each one of them had played a role in our success. Each one of them had believed in the vision we set out to achieve.

"Alpha Carmela!" A voice called out, drawing me to a group gathered near the center of the courtyard. It was Calista, one of our youngest and most promising warriors. She held up a goblet, a wide grin on her face. "A toast, to our fearless leader and the future of the Dark Moon pack!"

The crowd echoed her cheer, raising their glasses high. I accepted a goblet and raised it, feeling the warmth of their support and loyalty.

“To the Dark Moon pack,” I began, my voice steady and strong. “To the past five years of hard work, sacrifice, and triumph. To the bonds we’ve forged and the heights we’ve reached together. And to the future, where we will continue to thrive and lead with honor and strength. We are more than a pack; we are a family. Here’s to us!”

The roar of approval that followed was deafening. As I took a sip from my goblet, I looked around at the faces of my pack, my family. This was my legacy, our legacy. The Dark Moon pack was more than just a name; it was a symbol of resilience, strength, and unity. And as long as I was Alpha, I vowed to protect and lead it to even greater heights.

As laughter continued to fill the air, I reveled in the joyous celebration with my pack. I moved among my pack members, greeting each one with a smile, my heart swelling with pride. The celebration continued a few more hours and I thought it would be until the first peak of sunrise. Yet…my instincts, honed over years of leading and protecting my pack, told me something was wrong.

Just as I was about to investigate, I felt a familiar tingle at the back of my mind—a mental nudge from my gamma.

"Alpha Carmela," came the urgent telepathic message from Kian, leader of the scouts and warriors. "We have two intruders heading straight to the celebration. They’re moving fast and will be here any minute."

Alarm washed over me.

Intruders? Tonight, of all nights? But the main question is, how the hell did they manage to infiltrate our territory?

I quickly masked my concern, not wanting to alarm the pack members around me. "How close are they?" I asked, keeping my thoughts steady and calm.

"Very close. We estimate less than five minutes."

I nodded, my mind racing. An attack during our celebration would be devastating. I couldn't let that happen.

But they’re only…two?

Taking a deep breath, I reached out through our pack’s mental link, a bond that allowed me to communicate with my warriors instantly and silently.

"All mus, be on high alert," I commanded. "We have two intruders approaching. Prepare for a potential fight but do not engage until I give the order."

A chorus of acknowledgements echoed back to me through the link. I could see the subtle shift in the posture of our warriors scattered around the area, their relaxed stances now tense and ready.

I moved swiftly towards the edge of the gathering, my senses heightened. The music continued, and the laughter carried on, but I could feel the undercurrent of tension among the warriors.

We were ready.

But I have an assumption that a fight won’t happen. It’s not that I am underestimating the strength of the two intruders. Knowing that they manage to infiltrate our territory without warning means they are skilled.

Just as I reached the perimeter of the celebration, the mu's—our elite scouts and warriors—emerged from the shadows, their expressions grim. Kian, who leads the group, stepped forward, his eyes scanning the darkness beyond our territory.

"There," he said, pointing. "They’re just beyond those trees."

I followed his gaze and saw movement. Two figures were stumbling through the underbrush, moving quickly but with a strange, desperate urgency. My heart pounded in my chest as they came into clearer view. I was prepared for anything—a rival pack’s attack, a rogue threat or even a sudden ambush—but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw next.

The intruders burst into the clearing, and my brow furrowed. Dressed in black cloaks, they resembled shadows in the moonless night. My eyes locked onto the person leading the other. There was something about his presence that made me uneasy, a sense of familiarity that I couldn't quite place, no matter how hard I tried to remember.

My heart hammered in my chest as I watched them draw nearer. Suddenly, the figure at the front pulled back the hood of his cloak—her cloak. The face that greeted me was a mirror image of my own.

My lips parted and my eyes widened in shock upon knowing her identity.

"Camilla?" I whispered, disbelief flooding through me.

I could hear the gasps around me, but I paid them no mind. Before I knew it, I was moving, walking towards her, meeting her halfway.

Gasps echoed around me, but I paid them no mind. Before I knew it, I was moving, walking toward her, meeting her halfway. Shock and excitement coursed through my veins, mingled with confusion.

The shock of seeing my twin sister, Camilla, here was overwhelming. It had been a full eight years since our paths diverged, since I fled from home. I attempted to reach out to her through letters a couple of times, two or three years back, but they went unanswered. And now, out of the blue, she appeared before me.

For what?

Series of questions flooded my mind, rendering me unable to fully grasp the changes in my twin sister. It wasn't until she stood before me, her cold hand gripping my arms, that I noticed the tremors coursing through her.

"Help me," Camilla gasped, her voice hoarse and barely audible. And before I could react, she collapsed into my arms.