ECLIPSE OF THE MOON: The Alpha’s forbidden desire

"If only the moon goddess can just take your life and let us live in peace" Calliope yelled at Hera with Venom in her voice. 

"I'm sorry Ma, butI didn't kill him," Hera explained with tears streaming down her face. " I tried to…..

The squeaky sound from the door interrupts their heated fight. " What's going on here?" Eros asked, looking puzzled. He eyes the blood stain on Hera's body warily.

"Your daughter" she stated mockingly " murdered  Hector" She burst into tears. She looked at Hera in contempt. 

"Let me explain, father. I didn't kill Hector, he is my friend. I would never do that. He slipped and fell off the cliff." She explained while sobbing uncontrollably. She wanted her parents to believe her but they paid deaf ears. 

Eros's face turned red, he was fuming in anger "he fell off the cliff and you have blood stains all over you? You lying whore" he landed a punch on her cheeks which instantly turned crimson red.

Calliope dragged her up from the ground before slapping her across the face. " That dog was more precious than you. I wish you were the one that fell off that cliff and died," she yelled in her face before pushing her to the ground where she landed with a loud thump. 

"Get the fuck out of my sight before I make you go join Hector". Eros sternly warned.

Hera ran out of the house in tears. Running through the quiet forest, she imagined running from her troubles. Physically and emotionally abused by her parents all her life, she only hope to be free someday. 

She stopped by the foot of the mountain where Hector fell to his death.

"Oh poor Hector! I shouldn't have let you wander away like that. You were my only friend" she broke down in tears. 

The pain of losing someone who made her feel loved and wanted was overwhelming. Her little friend Hector has been with her since childhood. He was protective of her and shielded her from bullies and her parents. 

"You know how we talked about celebrating my 18th birthday tomorrow? Her face broke into a sad smile "You won't be here to witness my first shift. My wolf would have been so happy to meet you". She paused for a while, "I might meet my mate tomorrow. I'll be free Hector" Her lips twitched into a smile "I… She was interrupted by Dion, one of the pack warriors.

"What are you doing there all alone ? Dion asked as he walked towards her. " You shouldn't be out here alone, Hera. Alpha Kratos left a threat message for the Alpha". He added. 

Her smile dropped, it was immediately turned to fear. Every wolf in the world knows Alpha Kratos. The ruthless, cold-hearted, and powerful Alpha. 

Compared to the Dark Knight, the Moonstark pack is smaller without strong wolves.

"I like the look on your face." He chuckles softly "Run along before you get roasted like a chicken by the Dark Knight wolves".

"You…." Dion starts but stops abruptly. He looked around frantically. His fangs came out looking very sharp. He growled loudly. "GO! NOW! There's a wild rogue on the loose"

Without wasting time, Hera sprinted towards the direction of the village. But she was unlucky as the rogue pounced on her.

"Dion! Help!" She cried out in horror. The rogue dugged it's sharp claw into her skin making her scream in pain. 

Before it could snap her neck, Dion shifted into his wolf form and came to her rescue. 

The last thing she heard Dion calling her name before she blacked out.

  ***********************************

As the moon shone brightly across the sky, so was the happiness on Hera's face. The day she has been waiting for. Her 18th birthday, meeting her wolf and her soulmate will finally be a dream come true today.

After the incident with the Rogue yesterday, she needed her wolf in order to protect herself. 

"And what's making you happy all day? Wipe that ugly smile off your face, you look ugly" Calliope hissed.

"Today is my birthday Ma! I'm eighteen today" Hera replied with so much joy, ignoring the harsh comment from her mother. 

Calliope's face turned pale, her eyes widened in shock. "Wh… what?"

Confused by her Mother's reaction, Hera looked at her worriedly "Are you alright Ma? You look like you saw a ghost" she asked with concern while trying to hold her mother's hands. 

"Don't you dare come near me" she glared at her "If only you knew how this day is a threat to us all. Oh moon goddess, save us" She rushed out of the kitchen leaving Hera in utter confusion and worry.

"It's almost time!" she grinned looking at the old wall clock. "I can't keep the moon goddess waiting" Her smile grew bigger as she rushed out of the kitchen.

"And where are you off to?" Eron, who was standing beside his wife, asked with a frown. 

She stopped in her tracks "I'm going to the Moon mountain. Today is the day" she responded. 

Eron's eyes narrowed as he looked at Calliope with fear and worry. They both held the same gaze and didn't say a word. It looked like they were mind-linking each other. A way of secret communication. Hera took the silence as permission to continue her walk to the mountain. But the tense atmosphere and deadly stares made her feel uneasy. Something was wrong.

"We have to end it tonight," Calliope whispered to Eron in a small voice. 

Reaching the foot of the mountain, Hera was anxious and excited. She climbed to the top and placed herself comfortably on the stony ground. 

"Alright Moon goddess, it's time. I'm so happy and scared right now. I heard shifting for the first time hurts. I wish I had someone here to pass through this with me" she sputtered, taking fast. A habit of hers whenever she is nervous. 

After waiting for a while, she stood up prancing around to ease the tension of fear of being neglected by the moon goddess. 

Suddenly, she felt a drop of rain on her face. She looked up and saw the moon covered in a dark shade of red. The sky was covered with dark clouds and it started pouring down heavily. Immediately was drenched by the rain.

It was strange, different from what she read and heard from other wolves. She waited for something to happen, but nothing came. She was beginning to panic. 

"We have to end this now" a voice screamed at her. She turned back and saw her Mother and her father who was already in his wolf form. 

Perplexed by her parent's presence, she wasn't able to react before being thrown to the ground by Eron. She yelped in pain.

  Without having time to recover from the shock and pain, Eron dug his sharp claw into her skin which made her cry out in pain. 

"Do it Eron! We waited all these years to put an end to this" Calliope yelled. Eron's wolf dragged Hera to the cliff of the mountain, she tried struggling out of his tight grasp. 

She became lightheaded and the only thing she remembered was Calliope screaming and running to save her husband as they both fell off the cliff.