Alpha's search for his Luna

Chapter : The Weight of the Past

Daksh's muscles burned with every pushup, but his mind was elsewhere. His body strained under the intensity of his workout, but it was nothing compared to the weight of the memories that haunted him-memories from a time when he was only six, the same age as Priyal when the Xians attacked.

He could still hear the wolves' growls, the clash of claws and fangs. He remembered the night vividly, the way the chaos unfolded without warning. One moment, he was asleep; the next, he was woken by the terrifying sounds of war. His small body froze in the bed, heart hammering as he heard unfamiliar growls drawing closer.

Just when he thought his time had come, a wolf lunged at him-a rogue from the Xian Pack. But she was there. Luna came, her powerful frame descending like a shield between him and death. She tore through the rogue as if he were nothing, and all around him, the scene was pure chaos.

His mother, Tara, had rushed to save Priyal, the little girl sobbing with fear. Tara had always been quick and fierce, but that night was unlike anything they had ever faced. Daksh could never forget Tao, the Xian Alpha, the monster who had scarred his mother's face for life. Tao's brutal claws had ripped across Tara's cheek, and the wound, deliberately laced with wolfsbane, never healed completely. The mark was a permanent reminder of the horror they had faced that night.

Tao had nearly killed his mother too. Daksh had watched in horror as Tao tried to pounce on her, only for Luna to once again intervene, her strength unmatched.

Vyom, Ranveer, and the other pack children were small, helpless. Daksh remembered his father, Arjun, and Priyal's father, Ananda, both guiding them through the chaos. He recalled their hurried steps to the monastery, where the monks waited in silence, their red and yellow robes standing out against the dim light. The soft chime of bells rang in the background as they led the children to safety.

To a six-year-old Daksh, the monks were a strange sight-quiet, gentle, and always smiling despite the horror the children had witnessed. The monastery had felt like another world, but the reality of their situation pressed heavily on their hearts.

That night, Daksh had embraced Vyom, Ranveer, and the others as they cried. Priyal sat nearby, her beaded ponytails shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably. The monks gave them a room, bedding on the floor, and a monk lady stayed with them, her quiet sympathy reflected in her gentle eyes. The younger children cried themselves to sleep, and though Daksh tried, he couldn't bring himself to close his eyes.

Morning didn't offer relief. None of the children could eat, despite the monks' kindness. Priyal, still in tears, fed a few of the younger ones with trembling hands.

Days passed before his mother and father came back. But the reunion was bittersweet. Only Daksh and Priyal were taken back to their pack. The others, including Vyom's mother, stayed behind.

And then came the sight he could never forget-the bodies of their Alpha and Luna laid out before them, along with the corpses of countless pack members. Vyom's father was among them. Priyal had lost both her parents that day. He remembered her screaming, trying to run to their corpses, but his mother locked Priyal in her arms, holding her back. Daksh watched in silence as the shaman performed the final rites, the flames consuming the bodies of those who had protected them.

Tears welled in Daksh's eyes as the memory replayed. He had never understood why the Xians attacked. No one had told him, not until much later. It was all because of their pack's females-the Moon Goddess had gifted them the ability to bear pups for males who were not their destined mates. What should have been a blessing had become a curse, exploited by the Xians.

Now, years later, Priyal was about to become Luna, mated to Tanishq. With her official recognition, the Hemis Pack's survival would be public knowledge, and other packs, hungry for their females, would have their eyes set on them.

Daksh's pushups slowed as his mind continued to race.

Just then, Vyom entered the gym, his presence pulling Daksh out of his thoughts. "Still thinking about that night?" Vyom asked, sensing the heavy emotions swirling in the room. It was the bond of pack members, always aware of each other's pain.

Daksh didn't respond immediately, focusing instead on the mat below him.

"You should let go of that pain," Vyom said, starting to set up weights for his own workout.

"I can't," Daksh admitted after a moment, pushing himself up.

"You should." Vyom's tone softened. "I lost my father too."

Daksh stopped at his 250th pushup and sat down on the mat, eyes on Vyom.

"Instead, focus on the future," Vyom continued, adding weights to the bar. "Priyal got Tanishq. And even if I don't like him, I appreciate that his pack is big and strong."

Daksh narrowed his eyes. "Don't you think the Moon Goddess gave us a curse by gifting our females like that?"

"It depends on how you look at it," Vyom replied, serious now. "We've helped many packs this way. Look at Rinnay."

Daksh recalled how his family had told him the story. His father had two sisters, one of whom mated with the Rinnay Alpha after their Luna died. They had come to Hemis, asking for help, and the pack, with its surplus of unmated females, had assisted.

But Tao's pack-Daksh's hands clenched into fists-they were different. Tao had killed his own mate and, in his desperation, had sought to exploit Hemis. When that failed, he had set his sights on their Luna and Daksh's mother. The rage Daksh felt was hard to contain.

"You have a college viva, right?" Vyom's voice broke through Daksh's thoughts again.

"College seems insignificant right now," Daksh muttered, though he knew he had responsibilities. His parents wanted him to complete his engineering degree. The pack needed to grow stronger, and finances had to improve. He wasn't sure how studying mechanical engineering would help, but he trusted his parents knew better.