The Blessed One

***Allue*** “Allue! Get up now!” the urgency of my Pa’s voice woke me from a dead sleep. There were distant screams and the smell of smoke filled the air. The sound of metal colliding together, the switch of a blade through the air. It was chaos. My nose twitched not liking the smell and my ears were in pain listening to the cries of our people. “Pa, what's going on?” my soft and timid 10 year old voice asked. Mom ran in the room with my older brother, Damien, his hand clasped in hers. He is 2 years older than me, but we are super close. “Here are the bags.” mom whispered frantically. Her hair was disheveled, she had a wild look in her eyes, and she looked scared.. She is the Luna of our pack, she is never this flustered. Something is wrong, very wrong. I went to the window and peeked outside. Our warriors were battling, their swords drawn. Some shifted some in human form. There was fire everywhere. “Get away from the window, sweetie!” mom yanked me back to her chest and I hid behind Damien. I was scared, my parents' fearful energy rubbing off on me. We've dealt with battles before and rogue attacks, but this was different. Usually, my dad was down there fighting with the pack. What was happening? Why is everything different this time around? My ears twitched as I heard a scuffle outside of my room as someone banged on the door. There was yelling and screaming. Whoever was outside of my bedroom door was trying to get in. There was a loud yelp and a thump before my Dads Beta, Mark, came into my room with his mate. He and my dad exchanged a look, their eyes glazing over indicating that they are using mindlink. Damien gripped my hand to lend me some of his strength, we were both terrified. We had no idea what was going on, why was our pack fighting, who were we fighting? “Lou?” mom walked to dad and he sighed and cupped her cheek. The love and affection shining in his eyes was mixed with fear and sorrow. “I'm sorry, Lass. It's time” mom let out a strangled cry and looked between my brother and me. She dropped to her knees and engulfed us into a hug. I could feel her tears dripping onto my nightgown. “Mama, what's wrong? Why are you crying?” She cupped my cheek and kissed my forehead. “My sweet little moon. There is so much in this world that you and your brother don't know about. Both evil and good. I want you both to remember something. If you forget everything else it's okay but remember this. I love you with all of my being. Your father loves you too.” “Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?” Damien asked. Dad came over and crouched beside me and engulfed me in a hug. “There is a war going on outside. Some very bad wolves want to take you away from us Allue. We won't let them get to you. My job as an alpha is to protect the pack and everyone in it. I need to stay and fight my darlin. So I need you and your brother to listen to me. I need you to go with Uncle Mark and Justine. They will keep you safe until the fighting is done.” Why do they want me? What is so special about me? “I thought we had time...time to explain everything, time to teach and prepare you, time to be a family. I need you to promise me a few things” My dad and us have always had a special bond. He has ruled with a firm but merciful hand. Me and Damien are his soft spots, but me being his little girl earns me a few more brownie points. He has been one of my idols. But seeing him so disheveled is nerve wracking. “I need you to promise me to always, ALWAYS stick together. I need you both to promise me to always stay safe. Promise me that you will stay strong, train hard, but most of all I need you to promise to not give up on people, trust, and love. Love is the most powerful weapon.” with each sentence I grew even more worried. “What about you and Momma? Won't you be coming too?” He cupped my cheeks. “Oh, my little moon. I will try my absolute best to be with you both. But I make no promises in war. Promise me love. Promise me you'll do what I've asked.” I nodded my head meekly while he turned his attention to Damien. We said our goodbyes to each other while I grabbed my favorite doll, and Justine packed a few of my dresses into a bag. There was a loud bang that sounded like an explosion from within the castle. Once the stone walls stopped vibrating the adults shared a look. “You have to hurry. Stay safe my friend.” Mom hugged justine. There were so many tears, so much sorrow. I still couldn't understand why they weren't coming with us. With one last hug from my Pa and my Mom they both stood up. Dad looked at his beta and I could feel his alpha authority seep out of his pores. “I know I don't need to do this with you, but they are my pups. I know you will defend them and take care of them with your life, but I will command it anyways. You WILL protect them at all costs, you WILL take care of them, you WILL train them to the best of your ability, and you WILL love them as your own.” With each command my dad's voice broke a bit more. Beta Mark stiffened as his wolf was receiving the command. “You know I will. I love you, brother!” he clapped my dad on the back in a big hug and mumbled some things to him that we couldn't hear. Soon after the walls stopped shaking voices were heard. “They're in here! Let's go, men!” Justine grabbed both mine and Damiens hand and led us to the window. We were on the 3rd floor. Mark jumped first as dad tossed our bags out to him. He quickly opened his arms and I was scooped up by my dad. My mom placed a kiss on my forehead and my dad hugged me tight. “Remember your promises Allue. And always remember that we love you.” he didn't give me a chance to respond before he tossed me out the window. I couldn't stop the squeal that left my lips as I landed in Beta Marks arms. He steadied me and got ready to receive Damien and his mate. After justine landed she stripped out of her gown and undergarments and stuffed them in a bag. Being a werewolf we were used to nudity. The only thing I hated was how shewolved had so many layers to take off. She quickly shifted into a Caramel colored wolf and lowered her body to allow me and Damien to climb on. Mark had shifted as well after placing bags on Justines back like a saddle. He chose to remain riderless and bag free, so he could be alert and ready to attack and defend at any moment. "Hold on tight mo ghràidh.” she said through our link and i grabbed the fur in between her shoulders and neck. I turned my head and looked up at the window of the castle we were thrown from. Mom and dad stood there watching us as we were taken away. They said they would fight. They said they would do their best to meet up with us, but I had a terrible feeling this was the last time I was ever going to see my parents again. "Tha gaol agam ort.” I whispered to our link. Mom and dad kissed their fingertips and raised them up at us showing they heard. Before I could say or hear anything else Justine took off and Damien held tight on my shoulders. “I've got you Allue.” he said resolutely. I knew he was hurting too. We got about 5 miles outside of our pack's territory before we stopped for a rest. We hadn't run into any rogues or attackers on our way yet. I had a feeling mom and dad used themselves as distraction so we could escape. We were taking sips of water out of a metal flask when curiosity got the best of me. “Beta Mark…” He walked over to me thinking something was wrong. He was alert and his eyes scanned everywhere. “Yes, little Moon?” Everyone close to us always called me little moon and Damien big moon. It was our own nickname with the pack. “Why were we under attack? And why did we have to run away this time? We usually stay hidden in the castle during attacks. Why was tonight so different? Why didn't mom and Pa come with us?” Damien wrapped his arm around me and hugged me for strength but I didn't miss how he was paying attention waiting for Mark's answer. He looked to Justine and she nodded at him. “Oh little moon, you are awfully perceptive. What I'm about to tell you is something that your parents had wanted to talk to you about when you both got your wolves. But under the current circumstances things have changed.” he sighed and his shoulders slumped almost as if he was defeated. Mark was a big burly man with blonde hair and brown eyes. He always reminded me of a teddy bear, but I've seen him fight. He is deadly. “On the nights of both of your births your parents were visited by the goddess. When Damien was born the Goddess picked him up and kissed his forehead. I saw it myself. You were surrounded by a sphere of light before she set you down. She bestowed a gift to you that night that you should acquire when you get your wolf. She didn't say what but that you would be powerful. When asked why you were blessed the goddess just chuckled. She works in mysterious ways y'know. But we have a feeling it was a reward for your parents bringing peace to the surrounding packs after 5 years of fighting and bloodshed.” I looked at Damien. He didn't look any different, but I knew Mark's words to be true. “With you Allue similar events happened, only difference was when she kissed your forehead you were surrounded by light, but you had your birthmark appear. The one that looks like a crescent moon on your wrists. We don't know what gift she gave you and when she was asked this time she looked very seriously at your parents. Her words were ‘she is a special one. She will be the bringer of peace, she will be blessed with a power greater than anyone can imagine. She will need it for what's to come.’ shortly after that she vanished. Watching you grow Allue you have been so kind natured, so inquisitive and curious. You have shown tremendous patience and love. We think part of her gift has to tie into love. Remember your dad's words. Love is the most powerful weapon.” Why were we never told before? I mean I guess it makes sense they wanted to wait until we got our wolves. We would be more mature and more likely to accept the news of what's going on. “But why were we attacked?” Damien asked curiously. “Word got out of your gifts. Some wanted to take you for their own benefit. When your father was approached to purchase both of you he declined. Others think that wolves shouldnt hold that much power and want to kill you. Those who attacked tonight we aren't sure what they want, but they wanted to get to both of you. I won't let that happen. Neither will Justine or your parents.” After he said that me and Damien collapsed in the forest floor screaming in agony. This pain was a burning sensation that felt like my insides were being ripped apart. I don't know how but somehow we both knew what that meant. Beta Mark fell to his knees clutching his chest, feeling the pain as well. Feeling the pain of losing his alpha and luna. My father and mother were dead. Tears were falling down all of our faces. In the timespan of a few short hours my brother and I were made orphans, Mark lost his best friend, and my world was flipped upside down.