Bound by moonlight

The faint aroma of roasted meat spread through the air as I sat with my parents at the old, shaky wooden table. Dinner was simple—a stew made from the herbs and vegetables we had gathered—but the warmth of family made it feel like a feast.

My father, his hair streaked with gray, scooped some stew into his bowl, laughing at something my mother had said.

“Leah,” my mother teased playfully, her voice soft, “stop staring out the window and eat. The stew won’t stay warm forever.”

“I’m eating,” I replied, even though my spoon lingered over the bowl, untouched. My eyes flicked to the darkening horizon, unease settling in my stomach. “I just… I'm just having a strange feeling.”

Before my mother could respond, the noise of horses thundering down the road made us all freeze. My father stiffened, his spoon clattering against the bowl.

“Stay calm,” he murmured, his voice low and steady.

The pounding hooves stopped suddenly, followed by heavy boots crunching against the dirt outside. My heart sank as I heard the unmistakable sounds of swords and armor. My mother shot me a worried glance, and I instinctively gripped the edge of the table.

A sharp knock shook the door.

“Open up!” a voice echoed. “By order of the Silverfank Pack soldier's!”

My father rose slowly from his seat, his movements deliberate, and he gently opened the door. Two soldiers stood there, their uniforms as dark as night, the insignia of the Silverfamg Pack glinting on their armor. Behind them, two more soldiers sat on large warhorses, their eyes scanning the house with as if they were looking for something.

“What do you want?” my father asked, his voice calm but laced with a quiet defiance.

One of the soldiers, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. His presence was overwhelming, his tone harsh. “We’ve come for Leah, the herbalist.”

My stomach churned. I stood up quickly, my chair scratching against the floor. “Why? I asked.”

“The Alpha commands it,” the soldier snapped, his eyes narrowing. “You are to come with us at immediately.”

“And if I refuse?” I crossed my arms, my voice steady despite the fear swirling inside me.

The soldier sneered. “You don’t refuse the Alpha's command, you have to do exactly what he says. You should be grateful we’re even offering you the chance to serve.”

My mother stepped in front of me, her arms stretched protectively. “She’s just a girl,” she said, her voice shaking. “Surely there are others who—”

“Silence!” the soldier shouted, cutting her off before she could finish. “This isn’t a request. If the Alpha wants her, then she goes.”

I pushed past my mother, glaring at the man. “I’m not just some object you can just take. Why does the Alpha need me?”

The soldier’s lips curled into a snarl. “The Alpha has been injured. You’re a herbalist. And you're the only one that will heal him.”

“I’m not the only herbalist in this village,” I shot back. “Go for someone else.”

The second soldier, a lean man with a wicked smile, laughed mockingly. “You’ve got some guts, I’ll give you that. But guts won’t save you from defiance.”

The burly soldier stepped closer, towering over me. “Enough of this. Pack your things, girl, or we’ll drag you there with nothing but the clothes you're wearing.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said firmly, grounding myself.

My father stepped forward, his face pale but determined. “Please, she’s all we have. She’s not a slave to be taken at your whim.”

The soldier grabbed my father by the collar and pushed him against the wall. “Don’t test me, old man. The Alpha’s command is final.”