Dark Heart

1.

He's coming.

He's coming.

He's coming.

It was the only worlds whispered throughout the Solar Pack. The past few days had become silent and tense as people continued on their daily tasks. The atmosphere was dark, hanging above their heads like a storm cloud.

Men continued to till the land, backs bent and muscles straining in the hot sun. Women continued to pick the summer harvest and comfort their children. Warriors who would rather lay in meadows and count stars than kill another, guarded the border. They knew their days were limited, but there was nothing else they could do.

There was nowhere to run. To hide.

Soon, the whispers turned into screams and cries.

He's here.

The Solar Pack was small compared to others, barely numbering one hundred. Located on the edge of the sea and blessed with fertile land, they were known for their kind and peaceful people. The weather was never too hot nor too cold and the land was filled with flowers, orchids, and farms. The warriors, holding as much potential as any other pack warriors, preferred the art of farming compared to the art of killing.

No one attacked the Solar Pack.

No one wanted to.

Until the Alpha of the Lunar Pack.

He was death incarnate. An Alpha who took pleasure in the ruin of others. Who loved to bend others to his will. He conquered other packs, slaughtering old and young if they resisted. He was planning to rule them all.

Moon Goddess, many wolves cried every night, to only be answered with the moon's silent stare and harsh moonlight. She had left the land long ago.

The Lunar Alpha was the youngest alpha in werewolf territory, but he was also the most powerful. No one could stand against him. No one dared to anger him. He had already destroyed three packs, all that refused to submit. He left bloodshed and carrion with every step and now he had reached the Solar Pack.

The Solar Pack could smell death before they heard it. They stopped in the middle of their work, their noses in the air, sniffing. Then the screaming began. Woman hid their children, locking the doors to their homes to give a sense of safety. Others tried to shift and run to only be mauled by wolves with coats as black as midnight.

"Come out, come out," the Lunar Alpha growled. He was the only one from his pack who was still in his human skin.

The people shook, hugging their families tight, knowing any moment could be their last. They prayed to the Moon Goddess. Prayers that they knew would not be heard.

"I said, come out!"

The Lunar Alpha slammed his foot on the door to the first house near the entrance. The door easily broke, and the people inside screamed as they watched the Alpha give a feral grin and throw the torch in his hand. The house caught on fire and the young family of three quickly ran outside, coughing as smoke choked down their lungs.

"Must I set every home on fire to bring everyone out?" the Lunar Alpha asked. He broke off the leg of a chair from the house and lit it on fire.

Unfair. It was unfair how terrible people were blessed with great things to cause the pain and suffering of others. He had been blessed by the Moon Goddess with the gift of fire.

The Solar Pack started rushing out of their homes, scared to meet death in the hand of fire. Children were wailing as their parents sobbed at the sight of their friends and families who had tried to run were slaughtered.

The homes were arranged in a giant circle, with a building right in the middle. The pack house. The Alpha of the Solar Pack slowly opened the door, eyes burning at the sight of his pack destroyed. His wife and daughter followed behind him, their faces tear stained.

He was old for an Alpha, a man past his prime, but the Solar Pack was just filled with farmers and peaceful wolves. They would rather have someone rule with empathy than a heavy hand. Using words instead of fists to decide the next Alpha.

He stood tall, staring straight into the eyes of the Lunar Alpha. "What do you want?" he said. His eyes burned with anger and his heart hurt to see the ruin of his people and destruction of his territory.

The land was on fire, the precious gardens and farms consumed in flames of orange and red. Ash rained down, coating the ground with grey. The land was crying at what was lost.

The Alpha of the Lunar Pack laughed. A long and evil laugh that made the people startle. What would such a laugh mean? "Me? I want–" He paused suddenly, sniffing the air. Death, blood, ash, but also something sweet. No, he thought, it couldn't be. He stared forward, past the Solar Alpha, to the girl huddling against a woman. He knew what she was. His canines elongated as he said, "I want her."

The woman fell the ground, facing the ground. Her body shook, as if she was crying. Then she pushed the girl forward, making him growl. He realized that her shaking was because she had been laughing.

"I don't want to go!" the girl screamed, trying to push against her mother. He watched her fight, tears anew, but she was pushed to the ground.

"You must go! Or he will slaughter us all!"

"Your mother is quite smart, little mate," the Lunar Alpha said. He started walking forward until he was right in front of the girl. He smiled when he saw her shiver at his close proximity, even his own body shook slightly from desire.

She looked up and raked her eyes from his black hair and blue eyes to his shoes, that were grey with ash. He growled at that, feeling his wolf wanting to come out. He was pleased that she couldn't stop staring at him.

"Your daughter for your pack," he said, not tearing his eyes away from her.

Her father came up behind the young Alpha, surprise etched on his face. His eyes were wet with tears.

"You have five seconds to decide, Solar Alpha. I'm sure you know that I don't have much patience."

"Please don't," the girl pleaded. The Lunar Alpha felt his heart clench at her pain. Her naivety of the world made him turn away. How could the Moon Goddess give him such a beautiful and innocent mate? Although a large part of him was quite excited to someday see her come undone under him, ruining her.

"She'll go," the Solar Alpha said. His voice and expression had hardened. It was the face of an Alpha, an echo of his strength long ago. "Just promise that there will be no more bloodshed tonight."

The Lunar Alpha grinned and gently pulled his mate to her feet. She shivered against him as he placed a kiss on her fingers, nipping a bit with his canines to make her gasp. A promise of what was to come. He turned to face the whole Solar Pack, his own warriors snarling and snapping their teeth at anyone who moved. The fires all over the land suddenly went out, leaving behind only charred ruins. "It is done," he said.