Chapter 12: A Tale of Desperation and Discovery

(POV: Lina)

"Foolish child! Of course not!" Scarlett denies, squeezing my right cheek while Deniel watches silently. "You don't have parents, sweetheart. You are a being created in a laboratory."

Tears stream down my face, and Scarlett finds even more amusement in my suffering. I can't cry in front of them, I can't show weakness, but I can't help it. My heart aches so much. Everything I thought was real turns out to be illusions implanted in my brain. But why? What is the purpose of all this?

"Don't cry, Lina. We had our reasons for doing this," Deniel says, handing me a piece of white cloth to wipe my tears. "Now you can know the truth about your history."

"And what is my history?" I sniffle. "Can I trust you?"

"You decide, Lina," Scarlett sits in a chair in front of a vanity. "Do you want to know?"

With limited options, no option at all, I nod my head up and down, silently saying yes.

"Over six hundred years ago," Deniel begins, "I had a family. We were very happy. I was a well-known wizard and scientist. Known for my advanced studies and powerful spells that I created myself. But one day, the wolves decided they no longer wanted our kind to exist in this world. So they hunted us down and made us disappear."

I can't believe this, but I continue listening attentively to his explanation.

"I tried with all my might to protect my wife and two children, but I couldn't. They locked me in a cage where I couldn't use my spells. I was imprisoned for, I think, about two days. On a full moon night, the alpha of the pack that held me captive decided to torture me before killing me," Deniel pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing.

"When the moon rose, they took me to the middle of a forest, now known as the Dark Forest. Everyone from that pack was present. They weren't many because the pack was small. One alpha, two betas, and maybe twenty omegas. It wasn't a big deal, but they allied with other packs. They tied me to a large tree and hung my family with chains. They restrained them by their hands and feet, leaving them at the mercy of those animals. They tortured them mercilessly. I tried to break free, but I didn't have the strength. I had been without food for a long time and had lost track of how long I was trapped in that filthy, dark cage..." I can see the hatred in his eyes.

As much as I want to say something, I can't. Deniel continues:

"I saw those disgusting animals massacre my clan and they even raped my wife and two children in front of me. I vomited at the sight and tried to break free, but it was in vain. When they finally were satisfied, they set my family on fire while they were still alive!" He emphasizes the last sentence loudly. "Even today, I can hear their screams of pain, begging for help, begging me to save them. My hatred was so intense that I managed to kill the animals that were keeping me tied to the tree. Then I killed all the members of that disgusting gang." " He pauses, squints his eyes, and shakes his head as if trying to shake off the memories.

I swallow hard. I've always heard that when you mess with the ones we love, we gain strength. Deniel's expression changes, and he continues:

"Do you know something interesting? Where that pack used to live, the new alpha of that region resides now, your mate, so to speak."

Deniel stares at me, but I can't say anything.

"I killed everyone in that pack, but the guilt still eats away at my soul to this day. I was the most powerful witch of my clan, and yet I failed to protect those I should have. Since that day, I have sworn revenge against all wolves. I have sworn to make them disappear from the face of the earth." He pauses and looks at Scarllet.

She nods and gives a small smile. Then Deniel continues:

"One day, while wandering through the Eastern Forest, I met Scarllet. She was a vampire who lost her parents to humans seeking revenge because they killed their queen. She needed help, and I did too, so I took her as my apprentice. We traveled the world, observing events unfold. In my studies, I decided to create a creature powerful enough to end all wolves and avenge the witches who died on that terrible day. Scarllet and I spent years creating formulas and theories, conducting many experiments. With our years of study, we collected wolf blood and, after acquiring all the necessary equipment, we began the experiments. I mixed wolf blood, starting with omegas. I combined it with a drop of my own blood, to prevent them from dying. And then I used vampire blood, that is, Scarllet's blood, to speed up their development. We invented a glass box containing an artificial womb designed for the beings we created, but we had no success with births." He wrinkles his nose in disgust and continues:

"The creatures were born in human-like forms, but hairy and colder than the dead, without the ability to think, acting solely on instinct. With these unsuccessful projects, we left them in the Dark Forest, where they became known as beasts that devour wolves. I was almost ready to give up, but on a stormy night, with lightning tearing through the sky and shaking the ground," he looks at the vampire again, and they exchange smiles.

"Scarllet one day appeared with the blood of an Alpha Supreme in her hands and said that the Alpha Supreme of the South and West had died. Just hours before saying goodbye to the world, she collected almost all their blood. We immediately went to the laboratory and added all the blood of the Alpha Supreme, without modifying the other samples in any way. It took time, a lot of time, and we were on the verge of shutting down the machines when you were born, and we were surprised to see that you were born like a normal baby. I was disappointed at that moment because I thought we had failed the experiment once again. So, since you were born as a simple baby, I waited for four years, and when nothing happened, I erased your memory and replaced it with that of the human family I handed you to. They made you believe that you were also a wolf and raised you in the Eastern Forest until you were nine years old. But one day, during a vampire attack, they were killed, leaving you alone. I thought you would die, but you knew how to take care of yourself and went to the pack of the North and East."

"Yes, child, you have surprised us with this attitude," declares Scarllet.

"Well, with that, we watched your every step, seen all your suffering," Deniel reminds me of my sad days. "We thought they would eventually kill you since you had already passed your twelfth year without transforming, but that didn't happen. You were pursued and bullied, which was fine until one day you escaped and entered the Dark Forest. When you rolled through the forest once again, we thought it would be the end of you. You were badly hurt, and no one but the Supreme Alpha of that region had the courage to enter it. But, something intriguing happened, and we made a new discovery. Do you remember before you passed out from the pain, hearing footsteps approaching and whispers?"

I search my mind for memories of that, try, try, try until I finally remember it, and then I nod my head.

"Well, those weren't whispers; they were the failed creations communicating with each other about you."

"A-about me? What do you mean?" This story becomes even stranger by the minute.

"I had no knowledge of such a feat until I saw them carefully carrying your body out of the forest and leaving you in a place where your trainer would find you and take you to safety. Since I didn't understand their language, I spent a long time just observing them. Six weeks later, I saw them getting agitated, trying to howl at the full moon, but no sound came out of their mouths. As I watched them lost and confused. I noticed a huge blue-eyed white she-wolf running wildly through the forest. The failed projects followed her at a distance. That's when I realized that they saw you as a leader. Even though without discernment, they tried to make contact with you. They pulled you by the arm when you ran away from your companion. Which also surprised us once again because you are the Supreme Alpha of the North and the East. You trembled in fear and called for help from your mate, who appeared and, in his thoughts. Saved you from possible death. We confirmed the connection between you and your siblings when Nicollas killed one of them, and you let out that scream that about deafened us."

"Those cre-creatures are my siblings?" A lump forms in my throat, making my breathing heavy and irregular.

"And in a way, they are also your pack, let's say hybrids."

I sense something bad, a sense that something is about to happen, and I won't like it at all.

"Wh-why did you bring me here?"

"Because you succeeded. The combination of these bloodlines has turned you into the Supreme Luna. You are the most powerful in the world, commanding everything. Compared to the Alpha Supremes, you are like their own moon goddess. You are our ticket to a world where wolves no longer exist. You will avenge the death of all the witches of my people in my name."

"I WON'T DO THAT!" I shout with hatred in my voice, and then I sense a sting in my back, and my vision becomes blurred and darkened.

"You will, Supreme. We are your creators," I hear a mocking tone in Scarllet's voice. "Have sweet dreams, my dear."

Then I sense nothing, hear nothing, see nothing. I fall into a deep abyss and lose myself in its darkness.