The Future Luna

The man in a black coat heaved a sigh as he trudged into the winter wonderland with a little boy next to him. The boy's eyes sparkled as he waved his right hand in the air. He was drawn to the cinematic display of the snow. The Christmas light around the woods lightened up the atmosphere; it fought hard with the darkness, providing a sense of security and freedom. The overwhelming atmosphere filled the boy's heart with intermingling emotions of joy and excitement.

"We won't be out for long, son," the man clarified. "We don't want your mother to realize I let you out." He tittered.

The hike was long enough that they got to their destination. Fiercely, the cold air stung the boy's cheeks. As though the man had noticed his discomfort, he bent to his level, unwrapped the scarf around his neck and circled it around the boy’s face. The boy squealed, wrapping his hands around his father's waist. After, the boy bent to pick up some snow, swiveling, and attempting to make a snowball.

"Don't do it, son!" the man exclaimed as the boy raised his hand to throw the ball at him.

The boy ignored his father and applied more pressure to his hand, musing as it flew to his father's torso.

"I will get you, son!" The man smiled. He turned to make his own snowball, smiling and shivering. The beauty of the trees was concealed by the white powdery substance. Winter was always cold and frightening, but his little boy was mesmerized by the bizarre weather.

Suddenly, there was a deafening silence. The fresh, crisp air lingered in his nose, and the wind howling took him aback. He spun around, praying for his eyes to lock with a set of blue eyes. His hopes were immediately flushed down with the saliva that trailed down his throat as the realization hit him.

"Son!" the man yelled at the top of his voice, but there was no reply. The boy was obsessed with snowflakes. He couldn't have gotten that far.

He trudged ahead as different thoughts juggled in his mind. The distant part of the woods was dark and eerie.

"Dad…" There came a soft voice. It sounded frightened and shaky.

It was his son.

Immediately, the man ran in the direction of the voice. The boy was on the ground. He was weeping and pointing at something, but the man couldn't get a clear view of what it was. Despite the obscured view, the growl he heard was enough to put him in action.

A huge stone in the area caught his fearful gaze. He rooted it out of the snow and threw it at the mysterious creature. It growled and moved backwards, alerting the man's instinct. Swiftly, he bolted to the boy's direction and yelled.

"Run, son! Don't look back and keep running!" An avalanche of tears trailed down the boy’s cheeks as he glanced at his father.

"This is no time to cry." The man fought hard to smile despite the fretful moment. He stroked the boy’s cheeks slowly; it was the only way to keep him at ease. "I love you, and I will be right behind you," he assured.

The boy rose and picked up his pace. He stretched his muscles and moved his arms. The pain from the scratch the creature inflicted on him had subsided. The pain in his chest had managed to overshadow it. As he galloped further, the strange sound that had come from the creature became faint. His father's smile flashed across his face as he took a pause. His heart rose above his chest, and his breath heaved heavily. Despite the cold, his glands had produced sweats.

His mind was frantic with thoughts. "Don't look back and keep running!" His father's plea replayed in his head.

He ignored the voice. It was too tempting. He wanted to be sure that his father was behind him.

When he turned, his eyes became red. He wished he never looked back. His lips trembled, and his eyes burned as he tried to keep his tears at bay. What he'd seen was enough to make him pass out.

"Hide the book, Mel!" Sophia exclaimed, and Amelia shoved it into the basket next to her, replacing it with a book about sewing and embroidery.

It was an illegal book about the human and wolf revolution. Madame Collins had caught her with the book once, and she'd warned her against it. If the Alpha king got to know a copy of the book still existed, she could be imprisoned or possibly executed despite her parent's rank in the country. It had been rumored that the author himself was executed hundreds of years ago. Every copy of the book had been seized and burnt that year.

How had she gotten the book? Well, that is a question that needn't be answered just yet.

Madame Collins suddenly appeared at the front of the room with her gaze fixed on the delinquent. Amelia's mother had given her the pass to discipline her when necessary. "Was Lady Amelia reading that abomination?" She scrutinized the ladies.

No one spoke. They lowered their eyes, avoiding her gaze. Amelia was certain her friends weren't going to sell her out, but there was one exception. There were four in the class. Amelia and Meredith were alphas, while Sophia and Elizabeth were Betas. The hierarchy system in the pack had always irked her; it was a system she despised.

The Alphas were the largest and strongest pack in the country. They were influential, rich, and powerful. The title could only be acquired through bloodline, marriage, or honor. Amelia and her pack were Alphas by bloodline, and it was a privilege she didn't fully understand. Next in line were the Betas. They were subordinate to the Alphas but shared the power they beheld. The Gammas were right behind them, and they were privileged to be able to hold some influential position in the pack. Only an ambitious Gamma could climb up the ladder.

After that, the Deltas, and finally, the least influential: the Omegas. They were the lowest in the whole rank. Madame Collins was an Omega, and teaching the ladies gave her some power she never ceased to misuse.

Beth gave a sly grin, tilting her head in Amelia's direction. "I suppose I saw her with a book," she smirked wolfishly.

Meredith and Sophia gaped in disbelief.

Beth was the exception.

"Might you spare me a moment with Lady Amelia, ladies? I would—"

Her words were cut short by a howl from outside. A public announcement was about to be delivered. Madame Collins and the ladies immediately trooped to the terrace, awaiting the message, While Amelia Flower sat still, not moving an inch. She used some of the fabric her handmaiden had purchased from the market to conceal the revolution book, taking a mental note to be extra careful with it next time. It was her treasure; it opened her eyes and soul. She wanted to explore, and even meet the humans. The word human had become an abomination in the pack. They believed humans were tyrannical and ruthless.

But Amelia…she had a slight feeling they weren't as bad as everyone thought.

Returning to reality, she watched as the ladies came back into the room, beaming. "Oh, Amelia. Why did you not join us?" Meredith questioned.

"You speak like you are not familiar with Mel," Sophia chuckled, facing Meredith. Suddenly, she wavered, her dark eyes shining and glittering. "This is wonderful news; I have been craving an event. This is going to be grand!"

Amelia raised a brow, waiting for the news. What exactly was going on?

"May I be enlightened?" She smiled gracefully.

"It is the Alpha King's seventy-seventh birthday celebration on Saturday. There shall be a grand ball, and everyone's invited!"

The Alpha King. The most influential, strongest, and controversial wolf in the country. He'd won many battles and conquered nations. It was rumored that he married fifty women in a day and was accompanied by hundred concubines. He was the best at hunting and the leader of all the packs.

Many wolves had planned coups and abductions to bring the king down, but all had failed and faced public humiliation and execution.

"Calm down, Sophia," Meredith chuckled and whispered, "I understand why you are excited. You shall once again meet Henry!" She giggled.

Sophia's tail appeared, it always happened whenever her cheeks flamed up. Henry was a Delta, and she'd met him when they went hunting last season. The social ranking in the country was a major barrier to their feelings towards each other. It was always difficult to plan a meeting. If seen together, word could get out fast, and that meant humiliation for Sophia.

"I cannot help it. I…I love him," Sophia stuttered and then smiled.

"How do you know when you fall in…love?" Amelia asked out of the blue, and the ladies stared at her agape.

"So, you mean, you have never been in love?" Sophia questioned, her eyes widening.

"But you spoke about a certain Thomas one time," Meredith said.

"You do know Thomas is my cousin, right?" Amelia chuckled, and the ladies joined. Beth growled at them, revealing her sharp teeth.

For a moment they fell silent.

"When you are in love, your heartbeat increases—"

"Like when we hunt and run in the forest. The way the heart races?" Amelia placed her hand on the hem of her dress as she spoke.

Sophia nodded. "Then you get nervous around him when he touches—"

Madame Collins entered the room, and the girls scrambled to their seats swiftly.

"Lady Flower," she muttered, "Come with me."

Amelia rose from her seat, and Meredith gave her an apologetic gaze.

"I shall be fine," Amelia said through the alpha mind link.

She followed Madame Collins quietly till they walked into a room filled with dresses and dusty surfaces.

Madame Collins shut the door and averted her gaze to Amelia. It was a dark room, making it impossible to read her face clearly.

"You shall get in a lot of trouble if seen with that book…I shall get in a lot of trouble." Madame Collins paced back and forth, and Amelia lowered her gaze.

She moved towards Amelia and stopped in front of her. "I understand that your friends can cover for you, but Beth…I am aware she doesn't fancy you. She could report you."

"I promise to never again reveal the book. I'm sorry, Madame."

"How did you get it?" Madame Collins paused, awaiting an answer. She'd been eager to ask the moment she first laid her eyes on it, but Amelia looked away.

"I see you don't want to give me an answer," she pointed out. "You are quite special, Lady Amelia. I see something in you. I cannot seem to place my paws on it, but there is something about you that howls trouble and glory.”

She wavered briefly before continuing, “I will let this pass, but if I see that book again, I shall not hesitate to report you."

"Noted. Thank you, Madame," she said, vacating the room hurriedly.

Madame Collins’ words continued to repeat in her head, and it continued to echo in her ears. It didn't stop. Amelia held her head and listened as it went on.

"There is something about you that howls trouble and glory…"