Rising of the Amnesic Luna

“Mom! Dad...No!” Astoria trembled and wailed, “Leave me alone! James! Alex!” Her voice rose more louder.

“Leave me alone!” She yelled non-stop, kicking the air and struggling to get out of Mr. Den’s grip, her bodyguard. He held her firmly in place to protect the 13-year-old girl from jumping into the fire that had spread around the Alpha’s villa.

His eyes were filled with fear as he watched the blazing fire burn hungrily, wondering what could have caused the fire outbreak that had wiped out the entire Silver Crimson pack's royal family except the only Princess wobbling in his arms. His eyes fixed on her as she cried out in agony, hitting his hands and trying to bite him with her small fangs to let her go, but to no avail.

He empathized with her and tightened his grip, making a vow to protect her with his life. He knew something was fishy about the fire, but he couldn't point fingers just yet, at least not yet.

To make her leave the area, he lifted her, and as she pleaded to let her go, her green eyes filled with tears changed to bright red. He struck her on the neck, causing her to collapse, and immediately lifted her on his shoulder, together with the other guards, they strode back to the palace in silence, mourning the death of the royal family. The other wolves howled with grief under the full moon, alerting the wolves’ kingdom.

Astoria ran as fast as she could to her room, locking it immediately with a padlock. She crawled to her bedside and wept softly, vividly remembering the fire outbreak earlier. “Please, please come back, Mom and Dad. I promise to be a good daughter and always listen to you, Mom. Just come back…” Her little voice weeping in silence trailed off.

She was supposed to join her family in the villa earlier, but she had to pick red roses for her mother from the royal garden since September 9 was her mother’s birthday.

“Oh, come to my precious darling,” Maria, Astoria’s mother smiled, cuddling her daughter in her arms.

“Happy birthday, Mummy,” Astoria wished her mother for the hundredth time that day. Maria gave her best smile pulled her cheeks playfully and said, “Thank you so much, my dear.” in a calm and pleased tone.

“As you’ve been on it since morning, the loving mother and daughter are back to oppress us. What should we do, boys?” Boston, the present Alpha of the Silver Pack, asked his two grown sons, James and Alex while grinning from cheek to cheek.

"Let's keep our cool and let them be for today." Alex snorted while frowning at his little sister, who was sticking her tongue out at him. They were both being childish while their parents smiled at their kids. Alex rolled his eyes and twitched his mouth, and James chuckled while watching their drama.

“Alex is right. After all…” James started but then paused when he saw that Mommy’s girl’s attention was on him, “…today is Mummy’s…” he suddenly paused again, “Wait a minute! I think Mother should choose who loves her the most based on the gift we present to her today. “It should be us, three against Astoria, yeah?” He asked while grinning at Alex who nodded his head in support.

Astoria scoffed and hugged her mother tightly while James smirked and arched his brow watching how irritated Astoria seemed at that suggestion.

“Woah! Seems like she’s not ready for us” Alex laughed mockingly.

“Huh?!” Astoria rose, “What do you take me for? It is not like I am scared of any of you. Challenge accepted.” She stated with full confidence, "I'm going to win, Mom, okay?" She smiled at her mother and glared at her father and two brothers as she walked away.

“Den!” She heard her father call out to one of the guards and unknowingly to her that it’d be the last time she’d ever have fun with her family.

She didn’t know it’d be the last time to heard her father’s voice. She didn’t know it’d be the last time to have such sweet and childish arguments with her brothers. She didn’t know that’d be the last birthday she’d be celebrating with her mother. She didn’t know that’d be the last time to hug her mother.

On reaching the royal garden, she jumped around happily scanning the garden with her eyes for the spot for the beautiful red roses to give her mother, only to hear footsteps from behind.

She knew whose footsteps were already, and frowned as she turned to see Den and a few other guards. “What the f—, why are you following me even to the royal garden?” She asked while Den only smiled “Father again?” Crossing her arms across her chest, she inquired.

Den nodded with his generous smile again. She knew it’d be useless to tell the guards to leave her alone so she just went ahead with her business. One of the things she hates—is being followed around.

After a few minutes, she was done picking the flowers. She grinned widely at the few bunches in her hands as she sniffed in the sweet scent of roses and inhaled with immense joy.

“Here…” She passed it to Den who also sniffed it.

“You’ve got a lovely choice to go for the beautiful flower, Young Miss. It’s nice.” He stated plainly with a big smile and the other guards smiled at the cute and joyous face of innocent Astoria.

“Uhm… Uncle Den, what do you think I should get for Mother to beat the boys in this game?” She consulted with a cunning expression on her face.

And by the “boys”, she meant her father and brothers.

“What do you think?” Den put the tip of his finger on his lip like he was thinking about an idea, “You know what?” He bent to Astoria’s level looking at her eyes.

“What?” Astoria’s eyes beamed in suspense.

“Just sing for her.” Den voiced, “You know your mother loves the way you sing.”

“Yessss!” She squeaked excitedly, “You’re right.” The realization dawned on her—that’s surely the most lovely birthday gift to present to her mother.

She snapped her fingers and took slow steps out of the castle, with her index finger placed on her cheeks as she thought of different songs that popped up in her mind. “Ugh! Which song would be the best for Mom?” She mumbled in her thoughts.

While on their way back to the villa, there was a huge explosion that Den had to use his body to block hers in protection. The shattering of glasses pierced through his skin, but there was no serious injury. The fire spread so wide and fast, that not even a single soul, including the bodyguards on standby, was able to make it out of the villa.

Astoria broke down and she sobbed loudly as she recalled the earlier incidents.

And of course, she knew it was surely going to traumatize her for a few days if not for the remaining days of her life.

How’s she going to live alone in this world with no family members? Not even one. How’s she going to survive without having to call Alex a naughty brother?

Just how?!

Will she be able to live through all these miseries?

Numerous questions popped up in her mind, but they had no answers. She stared blindly at the furs on her hands and leg that might have come out because of her outburst earlier.

Ragnar, Astoria’s uncle, walked into the palace, which was in chaos with the howling of wolves. He silenced them all with the help of his bodyguards, who howled a warning. He looked around the whole palace as though he was searching for something. Den came out to greet him, bowing a little as a sign of respect. “Where is my niece?” He asked in a hoarse, deep baritone voice.

“She is upstairs, in her room,” Den answered curtly, with a clear unpleasant look on his face. He seems to not like the idea of Ragnar going in to check on Astoria, but no matter how much he dislikes the idea, he mustn’t make it obvious, especially now that his master, the Alpha, is gone.

Ragnar stared at him from toe to head and smirked, noticing Den’s expression. He walked to the door of the room where it was reported that Astoria was staying as his guards remained down the stairs.

He knocked gently on the door. “Tori…my princess, your uncle is here.” He called in a soft and calm tone with a smile plastered on his face, “Open the door for uncle.”

But that didn’t stop Astoria, she wept out more loudly but palmed her mouth so as not to make a sound. She’s always the kind to be happy to have her uncle around…but today, she’s not just in for it. She doesn’t want to be with anybody. She wants to be alone and, if possible, lock herself to death in this cold room.

“Your father visited my place yesterday and gave me a present to hide from you. If you come out, I will show you the present, but if you don't...then, I will get annoyed and walk away with the present.” He proposed but Astoria didn’t even move an inch, “So, I will only count to three. One,.." he paused and looked through the transparent hole to see what she was doing but could not catch a glimpse.

He gave up and proceeded to the next count, “tw…” Astoria opened the door, staring at her uncle with swollen eyes and an expressionless face.

“What present are you talking about?”