Chapter 108

Chapter 108
Crimson Stone Pack
Leira, a loyal fighter, rushed into Luna Alicia’s room, her face filled with worry. Luna Alicia stood up from her seat. With hesitation, Leira handed her a letter wrapped in a black cloth. “This came from Prince Zeke.”
As Luna Alicia read the letter, tears filled her eyes. “A war…” she whispered. “After a drought.” She stumbled, overwhelmed by the news, but Leira quickly helped her back to the chair. Following Luna Alicia's command, Leira took the letter and set it on fire with a match. 
As the letter burned, Luna Alicia's eyes reflected a mix of emotions. “Just as my sister warned me,” she said sadly, remembering a distant, painful memory. “It’s bound to happen sooner or later. There’s no stopping it.”
Leira stood silently by her side. For the past few weeks, she had watched Luna Alicia cry, not because of her situation with Alpha Prince Zeke of the West Wood Pack, but because of the past and the fearful future that people from the past had predicted.
“Did Samantha leave?” Luna Alicia asked after a moment.
“Yes, Luna. She should have reached West Wood Pack territory by now.”
Luna Alicia sighed deeply. Leira tried to comfort her, saying, “She’ll be fine. The Princess can fight.”
Luna Alicia nodded, knowing Alpha Princess Samantha, her younger cousin, was a skilled fighter. She was better than most of the fighters in their main village. If Luna Alicia had known the war was imminent, she wouldn’t have let Samantha leave. But tradition dictated that Samantha had to leave to maintain their alliance with the powerful West Wood Pack.
The plan had been for Samantha to marry and mate with Alpha Prince Kael. But with the war, this would likely be postponed. What mattered now was that everyone worked together to quickly defeat their enemies.
“Zeke,” Luna Alicia whispered, standing again. “I have to tell him something.”
Leira looked at her worriedly but didn’t stop her as she began to leave. However, as the door opened, two tall and imposing men stood there.
“General Freyr. General Aaron,” Luna Alicia greeted.
General Freyr glanced at Leira before addressing Luna Alicia. “Luna Alicia, Alpha Victor ordered us to watch over you while our men assist the West Wood Pack,” General Freyr said.
General Aaron added coldly, “It seems you’re heading somewhere. Do you need an escort?”
Luna Alicia hesitated, clenching her hands. “I was just planning to take a stroll.”
General Aaron nodded. “Given the tension at our borders, it’s not safe. General Peter dealt with many rogues yesterday, and there might be another attack.”
General Freyr continued, “We want what’s best for you. Please stay in your room for now. If you want to go outside, let us know, and we’ll accompany you.”
Not wanting to argue, Luna Alicia and Leira returned to the room. Once inside, Leira spoke quietly, “Should I take them down?”
Luna Alicia trusted Leira’s skills, knowing she was more capable than many of their pack’s generals. But she also knew Leira's weaknesses. “No,” Luna Alicia said. “Let’s stay here and wait for news.”
“But if it rains,” Luna Alicia added, her eyes flashing with emotion as she looked at Leira, “I will leave, no matter what.”
. . . 
Naya was dreaming. In her dream, she saw someone who shouldn’t be there—Sana Azalea, the famous prophet and messenger of the Moon Goddess.
In the dream, Sana Azalea faced Naya and said, “You have to know the truth.”
Naya was confused. What truth was she talking about? She wanted to ask, but couldn’t speak. Like dust in the wind, Sana Azalea vanished. The scene changed to a bright sky and a vast open field, where leaves fluttered and butterflies danced around a small figure—a little girl.
“Rosanne!” called a woman’s voice.
Naya turned to see a smiling woman, dressed like a fighter from the mainland. A black belt with a stone, like the one worn by the Crimson Stone Pack, caught Naya’s attention.
Naya’s heart began to race. The little girl ran to the woman, calling, “Mama!”
The girl, about four or five years old, reached her mother, who knelt to meet her. “Did you do what Papa told you?” she asked.
Rosanne nodded excitedly. “Yes, Mama. I did it! Look, my hand even got burnt…”
She showed her hand, and her mother gasped. “You silly child,” she laughed, squeezing Rosanne’s hand. “Why are you so reckless?”
“Papa said it’s in my genes, from you,” Rosanne said.
Her mother laughed louder. “Well, Papa’s wrong. I’m not reckless. Besides, I can cook now.”
“Yes, but Aunt Ali is still a better cook than you, Mama,” Rosanne teased.
“Hey! Are you really my daughter?” She teased, then muttered, “At least I can bake bread now…”
Rosanne giggled, holding her mother’s hand as they walked. “Whatever you make, Mama, I’ll eat it. But don’t burn your hands.”
“You talk big, Rosanne. Didn’t you burn your hands too while playing with that match?”
“I wasn’t playing! I was practicing my power, using Papa’s technique to calm my mind and meet my wolf someday!”
“Blah blah, you two talk too much.”
“Mama, you’re such a bully!”
The mother and daughter walked hand in hand through the grassy field. Naya watched them, feeling a twinge in her chest. Were they from the Crimson Stone Pack? But anyone from that pack was her enemy. They had invaded her pack and killed her mother and sister. That’s why she had come to the mainland.
Once she woke up, she would head to that pack and find the heir—then kill him.
The scene shifted to a small house, showing Rosanne with her father. Like with her mother, their relationship was warm and full of laughter. A happy family.
Naya felt uneasy. Her feeling proved right as the door opened. Another person entered, shocking Naya.
Rosanne’s father stood up from the table and greeted the man with a smile. “Gaston, you’re finally here.”
“Hi, Uncle Gaston!” Rosanne greeted.
Gaston, looking much younger than Naya remembered, grinned and ruffled Rosanne’s hair. Then he looked up at her father, saying, “How could I not be here? Louisa said you caught a wild boar.”
“That’s right, Papa did!” Rosanne exclaimed proudly.
Gaston laughed. “See?”
Louisa, Rosanne’s mother, shook her head. “It’s getting harder to hunt these days. This wild boar is rare. But I wonder if the meat is any good. We’ve been cooking it for hours, but it’s still tough. I’d rather have nuts.”
“Me too, I love nuts!” Rosanne chimed in.
Smiling, Gaston reached into his pocket and handed Rosanne an acorn. “I found this on my way here.”
Rosanne looked at the acorn and pouted, “But I’m not a squirrel, Gaston. Come on!”
Everyone at the table laughed.
Standing on the side, Naya watched their interaction with wide eyes, feeling confused. Gaston was friends with the Crimson Stone Pack?
Slowly, Naya’s eyes traveled to Gaston’s hip. Hanging from his belt was an emblem—a stone belonging to the Crimson Stone Pack.
Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at Gaston. But the surprise she felt was nothing compared to what she felt when she heard Gaston’s next words.
“When are you going to return to our camp, Fabian? You know the Alpha has been asking about you lately. Oh, and Alfredo too. He said he wants to work with you.”
Alfredo... Naya's father. He, like Gaston, knew these people of the Crimson Stone Pack?