The Letter

The rain didn't stop even after the aftermath of the invasion. As soon as Varick arrived, it didn't take too long before he decimated the remaining rogues in his house, including Heinfield. It was a one-sided battle as they tried to escape from his wrath and failed as Varick was in his complete wolf form.

He tore their limbs when they were fleeing and those brave enough to fight couldn't last a second as soon as he struck them.

For Varick in his full-form was larger, stronger and faster than any of them combined.

Heinfield was the last one in the vicinity, never having the chance to change his form while he was on the ground as the cold icy stare of Varick's wolf glaring at him.

If anything, his wolf was kept its namesake as the descendant of Skoll.

A war wolf and the bringer of Death.

"Sc-screw you…if you don't have Skoll's blood…we b-be…be…come—" were Heinfield's last words before he died, succumbing to his wounds.

With no one to lead them, the remaining rogues had long fled before the Alpha King returned to strike them all.

It would be a victorious battle as the Skollist pack were outnumbered but with the Alpha, Varick by their side, they should be triumphant with the outcome.

However, this was the first time in history that a war happened within the walls of their safe vicinity.

Lives had been taken from their sudden attack.

Civilians—men, women and children; many died and were slaughtered viciously by the rogues.

And the Skollist pack was never the same again.

====

"Purifica, domine, potentiam tuam extingue…"

My eyes shut tight as I continued chanting the same spell multiple times.

The body laid before me hadn't reverted back to its flesh and even though the cuts were gone from my spell, Lenalee hadn't awakened from her deep sleep.

"PURIFICA! DOMINE! POTENTIAM TUAM EXTINGUE!"

A hand grabbed my wrist, breaking the spell as I was forced to turn my body to Varick's direction.

"That's enough, Rosaria."

"She's still alive! I know it! I can sense her! I need to keep healing her!"

His grip tightened my wrist and I yelped from the pain.

"I said…” he pulled me closer to his face and I was eye to eye with an angry, seething Alpha with his bare body tainted with his enemies’ blood. “That's enough."

But I wouldn’t give in as I glared at him. “No, you are saying this because I’m doing Hati’s Lycan spells on Lenalee, is that it?”

He didn't utter a word and it only angered me further.

I violently shook his grip. “If you have nothing to say then let go! I don’t care if you hurt me afterwards! I need to continue my ritual before it is too late."

"She's dead." Those cold words easily slipped through an alpha's mouth without a single ounce of sympathy.

My eyes grew wide then I shook my head in denial.

"That can't be right." I laughed as my smile widened. "She died just like that? That is presumptuous of you to think Lenalee died by the hands of those monsters!"

"Did you see your own expression just now? You act senile."

I laughed and I hated how he was right. Seeing that I laughed just now.

"I have no time for your insults, Varick," I refuted, shaking my wrist from his grip. "Every second is important and I need to cure Lenalee before she's dead for real!"

"Fucking hell!" He grabbed my shoulders. "How long are you going to act stubborn?! She is long dead! She died long before you could do anything to help her."

"WELL GIVE ME A CHANCE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! WITH HATI'S LYCAN SPELL, SHE WILL LIVE!"

He gripped my shoulders as I winced. Now, his brows furrowed as he gritted his teeth as he hissed, "Should I really beat you up until you accept the reality?"

"Well, that was your only way of solving your problems, huh?" I challenged him. "Violence is your key to make me submissive again?" I shoved his hands on my shoulders but he continued fighting back by getting both of my wrists.

"If that is the way, I will." He glowered.

I shoved his chest. "Then stop me if you dare, you heathen!"

That only roused his anger more. "Why, you—"

I kept smacking his chest as I forced myself to return to continue the chant.

A part of me was regretting becoming ungrateful to the Alpha who saved me—saved us.

But I couldn't accept it. I shook my head. Lenalee was alive. I knew she was alive when I saw her.

"Luna, you are being childish just now." Oh Hati, one more wolf to dampen my already sour mood.

Phineas came out from the underground wine cellar as he witnessed me smacking the taller, younger husband of mine while he apprehended my wrists.

"Before I say anything, could you please calm down? Both of you."

Varick released me as he heaved a tiring sigh.

Now, freed from him, I could go back and continue chanting—

"Look at this Luna."

He took out a piece of remnant of burned red paper.

Astonished, I stared at the paper. "W-what is it?"

"Apparently, I was right that the teenage beta didn't have any magic."

He flipped the paper and there was a writing that was difficult to read.

"This solves two things. One, this burned red paper served as an instruction of any spell—though less advanced, thus the reason she managed to put a barrier."

His eyes lowered, staring at Lenalee's wolf. "Another is how it got burnt. The moment the owner dies, this paper burns itself and breaks the spell."

His words echoed in my mind as I remained stupefied as I allowed the reality to slowly dawn on me.

I shook my head. "No, no, no… that is a lie."

"We have seen these enchanted red papers from the wars we faced. We knew its mechanism for years now."

"That means… Lenalee, the beta maid, didn't belong to the Skollist pack."

I didn't pay heed to his words as I continued repeating the same answer again. My body trembled and I felt my blood drained on my face.

Phineas looked worried, he raised his hand, reaching to comfort me. "Luna, I—"

Varick stepped forward, facing me as he lifted my chin as he leaned closer to my ear.

"You have to admit it before you will lose yourself with your delusions. Lenalee is dead, accept it."

"No, you are lying, she's not d—"

"Are you also going to deny the deaths of my pack as well? After all, she was the cause of the casualties of today."

"That is not true!" Anger rose in me and I knew that he intentionally said to rile me up.

He released my chin. "So her words were falsified by deceit then? When she hid you instead of turning you directly to them."

"I…" I was at loss. Unsure why Varick said all of these.

"I am aware she saved me…and they killed her be-because…" Tears falling from my eyes once more. "...because I couldn't do anything."

I dropped on my knees as drops of tears splat on the floor.

Someone kneeled down and a comforting warm hand placed on my shoulder.

"Hey, Luna…" An envelope was held in front of me.

At the center of the creme colored envelope tied with a straw-like ribbon was my name on it.

My eyes widened.

"I found it on the table in the wine cellar," he said.

With my trembling hand, I accepted it and I slowly tore the envelope to see three pieces of parchment with what seemed to be a long letter addressing me.

"C-Can I read it n-now?"

Phineas smiled. "You're the Luna, you don't need my permission." He stood up, went to Varick's side as I started reading.

Dear Lady Rosaria,

By the time you read this, that means I either fled the Skollist territory or worse…I died in the hands of those who took care of me.

My hands gripped the paper as I continued.

I go straight to the point: I hated you.

But that was because you were living a great life before the Alpha leader took you from your wonderful home. Each time you told me about the Hatiist Church, I grew envious of your life growing up in such a happy family.

But I knew you had struggles. You were a Hatiist, after all. And even if you weren't the Luna and you became a nun, I know that you would face terrible trials for being the most hated wolf in your pack. And with that, I sympathized with you.

And after being with you, it helped me feel myself again. I remember being happy just to have you by my side.

You reminded me of my late mother.

Now that I brought it up, I want to tell you all this time that I had been hiding it from you.

First, I lied about being in the Skollist clan. I was originally from the Moonbringer which was being slaughtered by the Red Moon Pack. It wasn't a nearby village within your territory, we…happened to be mistaken as part of your pack just because our clan was closest to your area.

I was the sole survivor and they let me live because I was theirs to entertain.

And theirs to conceal their mistake of slaughtering the wrong pack.

But I was saved by the rogues and even if they weren't the kindest to be around, they were still my family.

Now, the same pack, the vile Red Moon wolves decided to hire us to capture you after Varick marked you as his mate.

The reason how I got to enter the Skollist Pack without getting caught was because of—

I turned the page and the writing was smeared and blotted with black ink. I shook my head and continued.

—Now you know that I became friendly with the intention of your trust in me. I even fooled Varick to let me in his house.

And with that, I am truly sorry.

I won't ask for your forgiveness. And even if you do, please don't. I don't deserve it.

One day, your kindness will be your death…

…just as how my mother died.

However, Lady Rosaria, if Hati is truly kind, then I hope you won't give up your faith.

Because I believe you could tame the cold-hearted Varick and find ways to end the war peacefully. Well, it was all wishful thinking but I had this hunch that you will..

So, that's all I can say. Thank you, Lady Rosaria for everything and goodbye.

I sobbed as tears continued dropping from my eyes as I turned to the last page.

Then my eyes widened.

By the way, be careful of—words covered with blotted ink until the end of the letter.

I stood up and I reread the letter.

What were those redacted words? It was as if…Lenalee's important messages were intentionally hidden.

I bit my lower lip.

Something wasn't right.