LUNA'S SECRETS

MEDIEVAL WOLFDOM;

FLAME BLOOD WOLF PACK.

PRINCESS RONA CAMPBELL'S POV

Tomorrow is my seventeenth birthday when I will finally shift. Well, I was pretty much excited.

There are some rare bloodlines that shift at fifteen or less, but mine was not that privileged. I didn't mind it though, our wolves were very powerful.

Besides, no matter the age at which you awaken your wolf, the mate function and bond remains dormant till eighteen. So why the hurry?

I heard lots of people screaming.

Smoke was choking me, almost as if something was burning. I was probably having a nightmare. I rolled on the bed as I tried to separate the noise from my dreams, from reality.

However I couldn't. People kept crying and screaming. I began to cough severely, making me force my eyes open. The smoke was not from my nightmare, our castle was on fire!

"Princess wake up!" I heard my mom shout, running into my room.

The sleep immediately disappeared from my eyes, and I quickly sat up in alarm. My room was filled with smoke, and my mom was crying profusely. Her clothes were stained with blood and she looked dirty.

I gasped. My mom, Luna Sophia Campbell, who cared about looks more than anything, looking dirty and messed up like this?

What the fuck happened?

I rushed to my window and threw it open for fresh air and immediately staggered at the sight before me. A very powerful army was before our gates; they stretched as far as the eye could see.

And they were obviously invincible, not your average army.

I watched those that have breached the gates and those still scaling the walls. The western gates close to my chambers, were being attacked, with a fancy looking battering ram, which tore the metallic gate with every impact.

Our soldiers were obviously too weak to face these soldiers, whoever they were. They were torn apart before they could even fight, the castle was already on fire!

My heart palpitated wildly as I shook.

How did this happen?

One moment I was sleeping peacefully, and the next moment, this?

How did they cross the borders and get here in one night, without us receiving notifications from the border patrol?

How did they breach the city walls easily?

They cleared the entire city and entered the castle in just a few hours!

It hasn't been long since I went to bed for Godess's sake.

"This is not the time for this, Rona. They are hellbent on leaving no survivors in this attack. They said your father offended the Royal wolf emperor. He's here to punish us by exterminating our tribe. You're our only hope, my only child. I won't let you die with the rest. You must leave. They are already inside the castle, they're headed towards the main palace. You need to leave before they realize it," my mom said, sniffing as she hurriedly gave me a satchel, which she had obviously packed for me.

"Mom, what do you mean? Let's go together" I pleaded, tears covered my eyes at the implications her words.

"Don't be stupid. I'm Luna, if they can't find me, they will immediately realize someone escaped. They will find us. I don't have time to exchange words with you. I went through hell to conceive you, and I will pass through that same hell before I let anyone hurt you!" She shouted, tearing off my nightgown, and hurriedly dressing me in black silk, and then a black fur cloak.

"There are clothes, food, money and a little jewel in the satchel. Use it to survive a bit. There's also a training guide to suppress your wolf. You might not know this, but let me quickly tell you since I might not get another chance to say it. You were supposed to shift at fifteen, but your wolf was too volatile. So we kept giving you drugs to suppress it, up till now you are seventeen. Your mate function also awoke on your sixteenth birthday. It was the priestess who noticed it, but you were too young to understand the feeling. We have been monitoring and trapping your wolf to protect you, but you need to shift now, to be able to protect yourself now that things have gone awry. Please be wise and very careful. There are two treasures in the bag, try to figure out their use on your own. Also, the pack's main treasures are hidden in the basement that goes down from your chambers. The wolf king will never suspect its' existence. In the future when you're settled, come back for it," she whispered, and dragged me through a series of secret corridors.

I stopped as we walked past a balcony. My eyes widened at what I was seeing. A man in a golden mask and golden armor, was standing before my father, with a sword whose radiance was blindening.

His cape which stretched from his back was made of expensive guanaco, silk and jewels. He was probably the Royal wolf emperor, the overlord of werewolves, whom even the Lycan king fears. His mask looked handsome with a crest on it. His lips and nose looked like it belonged to someone breathtaking.

However, this monster will be far from it. He stood tall and stoic, and I hated myself for being too weak to do anything. My mom noticed that I stopped following her, and hurriedly ran back to grab my hands.

"Follow me before they notice you" she whispered urgently, but I angrily pushed her hand away.

My father was pushed down to his knees and made to kneel before the royal. The royal was saying something to him in anger.

He kicked my father's crotch and he flew up in the air, his eyes wide with fear and pain. I gasped at the viciousness. Before my father could land back on the floor, the royal slashed out his sword and my father's head rolled off.

I opened my mouth to scream but no sound came out. Tears kept streaming down my eyes silently; my mouth kept opening and closing. My whole body was shaking.

I heard my mother whimper and felt her dragging me through a corridor.

"Make sure you find them! No one escapes!" I heard a voice order.

"Oh Godess! They're looking for us!" My mother cried.

RONA'S POV

I was blinded by pain and wanted nothing more than to rush the evil emperor and face him myself.

The fact that his men were looking for my mother and I to kill us too, meant nothing to me.

My mom dashed into a secret corridor, dragging me along. She was still crying profusely. However, tears never clouded her reasoning, unlike me that was plain confused. My legs were still shaking in horror and I couldn't stop crying.

"You will go to your mate's pack to take refuge, I'm sure he will hide and protect you. That's the only option now," my mom whispered, as we entered the tunnel.

Mate? What mate? Since when did I have a mate?

"Which mate?" I stuttered, while still shivering as she dragged me along.

"Alpha Kenzo Stewart of Raven pack is your mate. It has been long we found out, but we blocked you from feeling the mate bond, according to the priestess's directions. However, Kenzo knew you were his mate and tried to claim you. He felt the mate bond during your father's birthday a few months ago. The priestess confirmed it, so we blocked it for you. He agreed to wait till you turn eighteen. However, he had been coming to see you since then. We had an understanding, that was why I never stopped him from visiting, or buying you gifts," my mother said, wiping her tears as we ran.

How many shockers will I receive today? Now I know why the unsmiling Alpha suddenly became uncharacteristically nice to me.

We burst out into a forest that was just behind the castle. It was close to a lake, so it was cut off during the construction of the city wall.

"Never reveal your identity to anyone. Head to Blue river territories, Raven pack is at the edge so you won't have trouble with border patrols. Take this tag. Any Raven pack soldier that sees it will take you straight to their Alpha," my mom said, giving me a black seal, shaped like a raven.

Its eyes were made with yellow colored jewels.

"No matter what happens, run and don't look back. Harden your heart and always put your safety first, that's the only way you can survive this. From now on, you're alone. There will be no one to watch your back, except your mate. Even then, you have to be careful. The hearts of men are treacherous. I can't believe your father did that to me!" She wailed again.

"What did father do?" I asked in between tears.

"He did nothing. Just stay alive. Promise me" she whispered and held my hands.

I kept quiet. What exactly was she asking me to promise?

"Rona Campbell, promise me you will not die! You will not let them, or anybody catch and kill you, no matter how tough and lonely it gets, promise me you will live well. You must strive to stay alive and live well, in good conditions. Do anything to survive!" She said and turned to run back.

"Mom!" I shouted in tears, trying to hold her from returning to the raging palace filled with fearful screams of my pack members.

She turned angrily, seemingly frustrated at me for being uncooperative.

"Are you nuts? Why are you screaming? Do you want to alert them to your presence? Hurry to the cave, you fool! You will see a horse tethered there, take it and make your escape. You better not disappoint me by getting caught. You better not die!" She said angrily, and began to run towards the castle which was already burning down.

I staggered as tears clouded my vision, but I quickly realized that I needed to stay alive. If not for anything else, I need to stay alive and kill the Royal wolf emperor for his cruelty.

A new found courage sprouted in me and I began to run to the cave, suppressing the urge to follow my mother . I found the horse and bag filled with food and pastries. Hurriedly, I began to ride without looking back.

Tears clouded my vision as I rode the stubborn horse. All my life, I have been doted on and pampered, as the future of Flame Blood wolf pack. I had loving parents, and servants who treated me like some treasure. The fact that I have suddenly turned into a fugitive and treasoner, running for her life was unacceptable.

I rode for two days, wearing the same clothes. For the first time in my life, I didn't bathe twice a day. Bathing was the least of my problems anyway. I had to take forest routes while avoiding towns, major roads and cities to avoid getting caught by the people searching for me. I had to sleep alone in the forest, bitten by mosquitoes and fearing wild animals.

I had shifted the first night, helping me to stay safe from other predators. With my wolf's help, I managed to escape from the bear that wanted to use me for dinner. However, I couldn't do anything about the mosquitoes. I just kept crying over and over again, feeling sorry for myself, while mourning my poor parents.

I found a clean lake close to blue river territory at night, and stopped my horse. I got down and took a long bath in the freezing water. In the past, I always used warm water to bathe, so using the lake felt strange. Well, I'm no longer a pampered princess but a fugitive. I have to start living like a peasant, till I reach my mate's land.

I dried myself and changed my clothes with one of the spare gowns mother had packed for me. My skin felt dry, but skin oil was a luxury I definitely can't afford right now. I sat down and opened my bag of food, which was dwindling at an alarming rate. I ate the dried meat and bread which was going stale already.

I got thirsty, but using the lake's water that people probably bathed in felt disgusting to me. My spring water already got exhausted a long time ago.

I began to look around and noticed that the lake had a waterfall as its source. I quickly rushed to it and drank, refilling my gourd with water. I mounted the horse and continued on my way. I was almost at my destination, no need to rest.

I reached the Raven pack and heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, I was in Kenzo's lands, filling me with relief. I'm safe with someone who will protect me.

Border patrols surrounded me with their weapons, and my eyes widened in fear and shock. I quickly showed them the plaque.

"I'm here to see your Alpha. What the hell are you doing?" I roared in my princess's tone to instill fear and obedience in them.

They whispered among themselves, and two people ran off. In a few minutes, they returned.

"Follow us!" They ordered and I quickly followed, feeling relieved. I saw Kenzo waiting with some men and immediately ran to him.

The men with him suddenly surrounded me with unsheathed swords, confusing me.

"Kenzo, what are you doing? I'm your mate? Why are you pointing your sword at me?" I whispered.

"A fugitive cannot be my mate! Either I kill you, or I hand you over to the wolf emperor for a bounty. But before that, I think you owe me all the sex I should have gotten" he said, smirking.

My eyes widened at his plans, was this the dark heart of men my mother talked about?

"Why will the goddess give us such a mate?" My wolf wailed in my mind.

"I Alpha Kenzo Stewart, reject you princess Rona Campbell as my mate!" He said coldly.

I staggered as pain blinded me, it was finally happening, I got betrayed once more.

"Now get her for me!" He ordered his men.

"In your dreams!" I howled as my wolf took over.

My mind went blank immediately, while she took over my consciousness.

What I realized next was me back on my horse, escaping in a haste.

"Ara, how did you do it? How did we escape?" I asked.

A series of memories flashed before me, and I saw her transform and tear the person behind us apart with her claws, before jumping over the blockades, all in a few minutes.

She also sprayed something on them that momentarily blinded them, before mounting the horse.

"Thank goodness your mom packed the delirious powder for us!" She said, as I increased my pace.

Tears dripped down my face at Kenzo's betrayal.

Even though I didn't know his identity as my mate, we had gotten close in the past few months, and I regarded him as the brother I never had.

His gentle and warm smiles were all fake, I know that now.

My heart immediately got filled with worry. What if he informs the emperor that I survived?

I continued the next few weeks without destination, just trying to get as far away from Kenzo as possible. I just kept traveling straight in the opposite direction, I wanted to leave this area and go somewhere it would be impossible to recognize me. Somewhere very far.

My food ran out twice and I had to go into the towns to buy food. However, my money was also going down. I began to buy spices instead, killing and roasting animals, while only eating a little bread, in order to preserve money. I was definitely exhausted by everything that have been going on.

I sat down on the forest floors to sleep a bit after my dinner. The weather was very cold, but there were no blankets. I leaned against the trees, pulling my cloak closer around me, while shivering. I had since hid my money, weapons and jewels in various parts of my body. I was always prepared to run, so I can't afford to relax. Only my bag of food and water remained strapped to the horse.

I soon slept off while leaning on the tree. After a while, I tried to wipe my face only to realize I couldn't move my hands. My eyes immediately snapped open in shock and I gasped. I was inside a fucking net.

Someone trapped me while I was sleeping! How did this happen? I always wake up at the slightest sounds, or my wolf wakes me up, ever since I started running. Why didn't I hear them attacking me?

"The sleeping powder will wear off soon. We need to move her to the camp. She's indeed very beautiful. She will sell for a lot at the brothel" I heard a male voice say.

My heart immediately skipped a beat. Slave traders? Did I just fall into the hands of slave traders? Tears formed in my eyes and I quickly sniffed it back. I have to be strong.

What kind of bad luck is following me around? No matter how fast or far I run, I always get into a huge mess! From losing my parents and pack, to becoming a fugitive, being betrayed and rejected by my mate, to getting attacked by robbers. I had managed to escape the robbers with a gash on my arm, and have been applying herbs to clear it, but it has not completely healed yet. Now this?

Will I get sold into slavery? Oh Goddess!

'calm down. Why do you keep crying? Damn! Your tears were probably what weakened us to the extent that mere sleeping powders could be used to overpower us, damn!' my wolf growled, obviously angry with me. I immediately kept quiet for fear of annoying her further.

The men stood before me, and one gave me a creepy smile before tearing the net. But my hands were tied too. They threw me into a cart and I sat down grudgingly.

I immediately realized that the little satchel containing my clothes was still on my back. Why didn't they seize it?

The cart stopped and they dragged me down. I saw other people tied up. There were cages and carts parked at one corner. I was pushed to the side where young girls stayed, and I staggered trying to regain my balance.

"Someone escaped!" I heard one of the men roar, and they quickly gave chase.

In a few minutes they came back with a man.

"How dare you try to escape?" Their leader roared, and poured flaming coals on the slave that tried to escape, burning him alive. The man's screams reverberated all over showing the immense agony he was enduring.

They began to flog him mercilessly with horsewhips, tearing his flesh. I watched them chop off his limbs before finally killing him.

"Anyone else that tries to escape will have it worse!" He roared, trying to instill fear in everyone.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and kept quiet.

Soon it was bedtime, and I carefully chose the edge, close to the forest. Others were huddling around the fire since it was cold, but I had my plans. They're peasants so they value comfort and are easily frightened. However, I am a warrior, I can't give up.

I slowly removed my hair pin and began to pick the chain on my legs covertly. After an hour, it opened, and I reached for the dagger I hid in my boots to cut open the binds on my hands.

I began to look around once I cut it, while pretending to be asleep and chained. I quickly crawled to the forest and began to run. I heard a furious howl just when I thought I was safe.

"That girl escaped! Make sure you find her!" The voice reverberated in the dark night, making me shiver.

I clenched my teeth and began to run. It was nearly dawn when I changed into the last pair of clothes in my bag, a white silk.

I quickly used my wolf's fire to burn the rest of the clothes and satchel. They will be looking for the girl in dark blue silk carrying a satchel, however they won't find her. I continued my race. Now I have lost my horse, and I have to continue on foot.

I ran for two days straight, without food, only eating fruits and drinking water, if I

saw any. They didn't stop chasing me, they were confused at first and lost my trail.

But like some magic, they found me again.

"Check your hair," my wolf said in frustration. I began to ransack my hair and loosened all the pins. A strange green crystal fell off, alarming me.

'Damn it! No wonder. It is indeed as I thought. No wonder they always follow up, no matter which corner we divert to! They affixed a tracking crystal to your hair, probably when they first captured us!" She growled, and I gasped in shock.

They were gaining on me, so I kept running, but I soon came to a dead end. I was at the edge of a cliff whose bottom I can't even see. The road suddenly stopped here.

If I jump down that distance, I will definitely die.

If I let them capture me, the same fate awaits me.

I could hear their footsteps and hunting dogs approaching.

Godess, what do I do?

I said a short prayer and jumped down, I would rather die a free man.