Loving Hazel

“Move!!” The guards pushed her down to the floor. Hazel crashed to the ground, breathing heavily; she was sweating and bleeding at the same time.

This was not the life she wanted for herself. She managed to get up as she shot the guard a deep, painful glare.

“You do not have that much power again, do you?” He scoffed, pushing her forward.

She looked at the people behind her, and she felt immense guilt. It felt like she was the cause of all this; if she had married off Alpha Damien, maybe... just maybe her pack and people would be safe.

She lost her parents in the fight; the ambush took everyone unawares as her father fought meticulously for her safety, but in the end she watched an arrow pierce into his soul, taking him down.

Her mother wailed as she tried to run off with Hazel, but they didn't get far before she was shot down.

.

Hot tears streamed from Hazel's eyes as she held in her tears. One moment she's a princess, and the next she was being dragged like a slave who had committed treason. Well, apparently, she would be judged that way.

The Red Moon Pack was down, the greatest opposition of the Dark Shadow Pack was down, and the news had spread like wildfire. If the ambush and the capturing of the princess occurred, all other packs would go into instinctive hiding to shield themselves from this war.

Her father was too confident, and she was repulsive to accept his proposal when he first paid a visit.

She stood beautifully behind her father in his throne room as Damien’s right-hand man walked in, stating his Alpha's interest in getting married to his daughter, Hazel, the fairest of them all; she was the most beautiful.

“Go and tell your leader that I, Hazel, would not marry a faceless man.” Her words rang back to her, as if she had listened to her father.

“Move!!! You slow peasants! How high had the mighty fallen!!!”

After hours of walking, they finally got to the Dark Shadow Pack. In the said pack, no one trespassed. There was a loud cheer, apparently a feast of their victory. Hazel growled in pain as she was being pushed over.

“The Red Moon is down!!!” They all cheered like rats, awaiting their next meal. Their joy stunted her like a bee; it was painful. How could one rejoice over horror caused by another?

She looked up; it was their palace, apparently where her fate lies; she's either going to be sold as a slave to a rich merchant or reduced to a labor slave. Her rights were restricted, and if she defiled any, it was instant death.

“I'm sorry, mom; I'm sorry, dad." I've failed you both.” Her eyes dropped a few years ago. For the first time since all this was happening, she was scared. But there was neither Papa nor her mother to protect her. Her horror in Dark Shadow Pack is yet to unveil itself.

……

They were a force of nature, a nightmare made real. Her people cowered in fear, their terror palpable. They knew the legends; they knew the stories. And now, the stories had come to life, stalking them in the darkness.

No one had seen the real Dark Shadow leader; rumor has it that he never showed himself, and when he did, he was hidden perfectly under a mask, thus making it difficult for other packs to track him down. Even on the battlefield, his mask never moved from his face.

Her heart skipped a beat as it sank into her stomach, tightening itself.

The large gates opened, and the serene view of the entire Dark Shadow Park revealed itself. It was beautiful and calm, but the wickedness that engulfed this place was deeply felt. They finally came to a halt; the entire council that guarded the pack was already seated, and with the fall of the Red Moon pack, their joy was noticed.

Soon the door opened and a man walked in. She sensed he was the leader's right-hand man and spokesperson.

“What sought of a person does not show himself to the public?” She thought to herself.

“The leader is happy for his victory over the Red Moon Pack, and we've captured more slaves for the king. Cheer to Victory!” His voice was loud but strong. Hazel felt sick; this was worse than any nightmare she had had in the twenty-two years she lived.

They all raised their fists in the air, their faces flushed with triumph.

The air was filled with the sound of their cheers, a deafening roar that shook the ground beneath their feet. They had been waiting for this moment, preparing for it. And now, the battle is over.

The Red Moon Pack had been defeated, their bodies lying broken and bloodied at their feet. They all savored their victory, and the taste of it was as sweet as honey. But they knew that the fight was not over and that there were more battles to come.

Hazel fought the tears that were fighting their way down her cheeks. She was ashamed. But I had no idea what to do.

“Mom, Dad I'm sorry,” she murmured to herself as the loud cheer pierced into her heart like a dagger. Hazel hung her head in shame, her eyes downcast. She had tried so hard to protect her people and keep them safe. But she had failed, and now they were paying the price. She could still hear their screams, the sound echoing in her mind.

Hazel saw the terror in their eyes—the fear that had been etched on their faces.

She felt responsible, as if their blood were on her head.

“Take the captured princess inside. She is going to serve in the royal palace, and as for the others, take them to the slave trade market,” the representative ordered.

At this, Hazel's eyes twitched; on no account is she going to let them separate them.