Seraphina’s POV

A thunderous commotion dragged me from sleep - not my alarm, but Holden’s hurried boots pounding against the hallway floor outside my room.

"Luna, the Alpha requests your immediate attention. Solstice Fang has been attacked. The damage is catastrophic."

His words struck me like ice water. I sat up, struggling to breathe as the implications crashed over me. "This wasn’t a skirmish or failed raid. Complete annihilation. Everything destroyed. Fewer than half made it out alive."

Nausea twisted through my gut. I understood immediately. Dorian.

My brother had orchestrated this massacre purely for vengeance against those who had wronged him and our family in the past. But the victims - the children, the blameless families - they bore no responsibility. Their only crime was belonging to that pack.

I had lived among Solstice for years. We never formed deep bonds, and affection was scarce between us, but no one merited such brutality.

This catastrophe spelled disaster for Zenith Fang. Solstice had been our most formidable ally. More terrifyingly, it raised an ominous question: Would we be his next target?

Remaining here awaiting updates wasn’t an option. As Luna, I had responsibilities to fulfill.

I moved swiftly through the Fang House, issuing commands. I summoned Holden to my side.

"I’m departing for Solstice territory immediately," I declared, meeting his gaze directly. "Command remains yours until our return. Maintain heightened security. Strengthen border patrols. We cannot predict whether Dorian intends to strike us next."

Holden acknowledged with a firm nod, his expression reflecting the severity of our situation. He was dependable. He could manage things here.

My family required attention next. I located Penelope preparing breakfast while the children were just stirring.

"Penelope," I said gently. "I must leave temporarily. Guard Theo and Elena carefully. Never let them leave your sight."

She nodded silently, her eyes reflecting deep concern.

I knelt quickly to address my children. Theo, my beautiful boy, gazed up at me with worry etched across his features.

"I realize I haven’t been very available recently, Theo," I murmured, caressing his face. "But I swear to you, we’ll spend proper time together soon. We are unbreakable, remember? Nothing can tear us apart."

Theo, blessedly, possessed remarkable understanding for his age. He responded with a solemn nod. Elena simply wrapped her arms around my neck tightly, pressing her face into my shoulder. Their simple faith in me filled my heart with warmth and provided the courage I needed to depart.

The journey seemed interminable, but when I finally entered what remained of Solstice territory, the atmosphere transformed. It hung heavy and oppressive, saturated with smoke, debris, and something far worse - the metallic stench of dried blood.

The devastation was complete. This hadn’t been warfare; it was systematic extermination. Structures that once housed families now existed as heaps of shattered timber and charred remains. The carnage was clearly intentional slaughter.

My heart fractured as I navigated toward the center.

Upon reaching where the Fang House formerly stood - now merely a massive, smoldering crater - I spotted the survivors clustered together. Then I noticed her.

My mother. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

She identified me instantly and rushed forward, her face streaked with grime and tears. Before I could prepare myself, she embraced me desperately.

"Seraphina! Oh, my precious daughter, they’ve destroyed everything! We’ve lost it all! We desperately needed our daughter here!"

I went rigid immediately. I shoved her away forcefully until my hands gripped her shoulders, maintaining distance between us. The acrid smell of ash clinging to her clothing nauseated me.

"Enough," I stated, my voice dangerously controlled. "Don’t address me as your daughter. I stand here as Luna of Zenith Fang. We serve as your strongest allies, and I’ve come to provide assistance. That represents my sole purpose here. Keep your distance."

Her face collapsed, tears streaming harder. "But Seraphina, everything has been destroyed! We’ve lost our home!"

"That opportunity has passed," I informed her, my heart hardening like stone. "You murdered me in your heart years ago, just as you assisted in killing my biological father. Don’t pretend now that you desire my return."

She flinched as though I had physically struck her. I felt no remorse. The past carried too much weight for this moment.

I turned from her, surveying the scene. That’s when I spotted Julian. He was coordinating people, his face severe, covered in soot. He appeared utterly drained.

He glanced up, noticing me, and his brow creased.

"Seraphina? Why are you here? I instructed you to rest."

"I’m pleased you haven’t abandoned your responsibilities," he continued. "Despite our current complications."

He didn’t await my response, returning to his conversation with a medic.

I began walking through the debris, and the true horror overwhelmed me. I witnessed what warfare inflicts upon human lives. This transcended mere wood and stone destruction.

I observed a small girl sitting alone, silently swaying, staring at a smoking heap that once formed a wall. I saw women who had lost their children. I watched a young father sobbing uncontrollably over a sheet-covered bundle.

Innocent children mourning dead parents. Mothers stripped of everything.

My personal grievances - my resentment toward Julian, my anger at my mother - all became meaningless compared to this suffering. This represented Dorian’s handiwork, and it was monstrous.

I made a solemn promise then. I would do whatever necessary to prevent Dorian from harming more people. If he sought revenge, he could target me, but he would not touch another innocent pack.

I returned to Julian, my decision crystallized.

"Julian," I said firmly. "This location remains unsafe. It’s a target. We cannot abandon them here."

He looked at me, comprehending immediately.

"Zenith Fang offers the strongest sanctuary available," I continued. "We evacuate the survivors with us. We’ll help them rebuild on our territory."

Julian didn’t hesitate. He simply nodded, brief relief crossing his exhausted features.

"Agreed. Let’s begin evacuation."

Together, Alpha and Luna, despite our personal turmoil, started organizing the living, extracting them from the wreckage, preparing to bring them home. Our pack was about to expand significantly and become far more crucial. War had arrived at our doorstep, even though the attack occurred elsewhere.