1 Shattered Serenity

"Where are you taking me?" A wide smile appeared on Sophia's lips as her other half, her mate, Eli, guided her through the woods with his hand covering her eyes.

"If I'd tell you. It wouldn't be a surprise anymore."

Today was their anniversary. It had been five years since Sophia had found her mate at the age of eighteen. A charming alpha from the Hixon pack.

Even though she was merely an orphan with a low omega status and no wolf, he had accepted her as his mate and opened his heart to her. By chance, she had become the Luna of the pack and, despite her lack of power, a well-respected member.

With Eli by her side, nothing could take her down. It was he who had wiped her tears when the pack doctor told her it would be difficult for her to conceive pups—and even then, he had been very patient with her.

There were rumors, and lots of them. She knew several gossiped it was due to her issue with her wolf, who refused to show herself—while others claimed Eli must've manipulated their unions because he didn't want weak offsprings.

It didn't affect her, though. She knew the truth, and that was enough for her.

"We're here." He carefully removed his hand from her eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist, letting his chin rest between the crook of her neck.

In front of her was a wooden table decorated with roses and candles. "Oh, Eli!" She gasped at the sight. "This is…way too much."

Eli pressed his soft lips on her cheek. "Nothing will ever be too much for my Luna." He spoke, moving his hand to intertwine it with hers. "Come on, babe." He led her to the table and pulled out a chair.

"I feel a bit underdressed." Pursing her lips, she looked down at her ripped jeans and sneakers. "You should've told me it was a date—date."

"Don't say that." Eli showed his teeth. "You're beautiful, and you know it."

A flush appeared on her face. He knew she couldn't take compliments very well. "Did you make all of this?" She changed the subject. "Looks delicious."

"Yes—and they're all your favorites."

He could barely finish his sentence as tears began rolling down her cheeks. Not once in her life had anyone managed to make her feel this special, and Eli never missed the assignment.

All the love she had lacked at the orphanage he had given to her in those five years. Anniversaries, Valentine's day, Birthdays—all of it.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Eli grabbed her hand from across the table. She stared into those comfortable ice-blue eyes. "Is that a tear? Don't cry, my love."

"I just never thought I could ever experience a love like this, and I'm just so grateful." Her voice got stuck inside her throat. "Before I met you—I didn't have a family."

Eli rubbed her hand, shaking his head. He knew she didn't like talking about her family who she had never met—and he hated seeing her like this.

"Let's eat." He eyed the food. "I can't stand seeing you cry any longer."

She shot him a charming smile, resting her chin on her hand. "I agree."

~

They emptied every dish on the table and spoke about the smallest stupid things—but for some reason, she couldn't help but think Eli seemed out of it. If only she could read his thoughts.

"Are you okay?" She wondered.

"Yes."

Liar.

There was a time Eli and Sophia told each other everything, but lately, he had been acting more and more suspicious.

It wasn't something to fight over because she trusted him, and she knew he wanted to protect her from all evil.

Due to her weak powers, there were certain things beyond her control that he preferred discussing with his beta and best friend, Jake—and she respected that.

"Things have been so good lately." She tried cheering him up. "Who knows, maybe the moon goddess will soon bless us with pups."

Her words didn't get through to him as his eyes turned big and his breathing fastened. She recognized that look. That was the look of fear.

Everything happened so fast. The next second he had jumped up and brought his knees to the floor, screaming and holding his head.

"Eli!" She ran to his side and knelt beside him, completely hopeless.

"Jake!" He cried out, his face turning red. "No, Jake!"

"Eli, what's wrong!"

Eli's breath hitched. "H-he's g-gone."

"What do you mean he's gone?" Her voice trembled. "Is he d-dead?" She was confused, and she didn't know what the hell was going on.

All she knew was that she was yanked from the floor by Eli, who carried a tight expression. "Sophia, we're under attack." He didn't beat around the bush.

"Under attack?" She asked. "By who? I can't smell anything—"

"I need you to listen to me. You need to go to the hideout—now!" She felt the firm grip of his hands on her shoulders, shaking her around. "We don't have much time."

"Eli, you're scaring me!"

"Go to the hideout, lock yourself in the basement just as we've discussed in any case of danger and wait until I come and get you." He instructed. "If I don't come for you…"

"No, I'm not leaving you!" She yelled, looking around. He couldn't just tell her Jake was gone, or whatever that was supposed to mean—and order her to go to the hideout without him. "Who's attacking us?"

"Run," Eli demanded. "Run and don't look back."

"Eli," she whispered his name. "I'm sorry." The only way for her to run was with her two legs. She was incapable of shifting and was only a burden—an unfit Luna who couldn't even fight alongside the Alpha.

The love of her life pressed his forehead against hers and circled her cheeks with his hands as she let herself melt in his touch. "I'm not leaving you."

"Sophia, in case you won't see me anymore—"

"What are you talking about, and where are the others?" She panicked. "Why can't I feel anything—"

"They're dead!" He yelled out, breathing loudly. "He killed them all…they're all dead!"

The pack was dead? Impossible.

"W-who's h-he?" Her body shivered at the new information. She couldn't possibly believe that one wolf single-handedly managed to kill off one of the most powerful packs.

"Do you trust me?" Eli's voice was filled with guilt.

"Y-yes."

"Then go and don't question me. I'm not asking—it's my request as your Alpha." His tone sounded severe. There was nothing more she could add, as obeying Eli had been one of her main purposes.

"Sophia, I need you to know that I love you so much, and I'm so sorry about everything." He pressed his lips against her forehead and pulled her into his embrace. "No matter what anyone tells you, you are my mate—and I love you so much."

"Eli, what do you mean?"

"We have no time!"

Unaware of when she would ever see him again, she tightened her grip around him and took in his sweet scent. "I love you too."

"Now go."