REBORN UNDER THE FULL MOON

Axel's POV

"Lyra!!! No!!!" I cried, running, my legs heavy like I was trudging through quicksand. Staring on, I saw a young man with the head of a wolf dragging her along. "Let her go!!" I commanded, drawing my sword and increasing my pace towards them.

"Oh I will, after she's dead perhaps, and there's nothing you'd do about it, haha!! " the weird creature said, walking steadily forward. Once or twice he stopped, turned round to look at me, and continued walking slowly but steadily. I could hear an eerie whispering to me, but I couldn't make out what it was saying, "Stop this instant! release her!" I commanded, still trying to run after the creature, but it all seemed like I stood stagnant.

"Who are you, and what do you want with her?" I asked out loud to it, realizing that it was gaining distance against me.

"Oh, but I'm just a friend, don't worry, she'll die, and that's all," it replied, stopping to take a look at me, still holding her tight.

"Help me! Axel!" she finally screamed.

"Hang on Lyra, I won't let you go, " I replied, still struggling to run up and catch up with the mysterious creature.

"Try all you can, my friend, but you won't get to her, for I'm her Destiny, I am," it said.

"Sure you are!!! Let her go this instant!! " I commanded yet again, still struggling. It gained distance, still walking slowly, dragging her along.

"Lyra, Lyra, I won't let go. Lyra! Lyra!" I cried loud, shaking fervently.

Then I felt gentle taps on my shoulder. It kept on.

"Axel, Axel...." I began to hear faintly. I looked on and I saw the creature afar.

"Destiny.... destiny," I heard it say, faintly, until it's voice disappeared into the horizon.

Then the taps became more violent. "Axel... Axel", I finally opened my eyes slowly, seeing Lyra stand before me, smiling and tapping my shoulder, the taps becoming gentle as I woke up gradually. "You've been sleeping for far too long, Axel," she said, looking relieved that I finally woke up.

"He took you, he took you away," I managed to say, "I couldn't stop him, I couldn't," I added.

"You need to eat. The drugs are quite effective. You had nightmares, sorry about that," she replied, her hands inside a transparent bag she obviously brought along.

Sweating profusely, "He kept repeating... destiny, destiny," I said. She froze immediately she heard those words from me.

"Destiny, you say?" she asked, noticing the attention she must have drawn to herself as she froze and harmonizing her actions to clear the air.

"Eat up, Alpha Axel, for you'll need it if you must recover to continue the tournament, and... " she bent closer to me, "Amira must not know that I mentioned this, for she would not hear another word about the tournament," she said, smiling as she regained her composure. She brought out the content of the bag and placed it on the table by the bed. In it was a Pirozhki, a kasha and a solyanka. Solyanka was a sort of official meal in the Palace. It's a hearty, vegetable based soup with a hint of pickled flavour and a side of crusty bread, but my favourite of all was the Pirozhki; small flaky pastries filled with meat, potatoes and onions. My mind drafted to my childhood, and back to the nightmare.

"I fear for you, Lyra, for what I saw in my nightmare wasn't good at all," I said, still worried

"I'll be fine, Axel. I will. Now eat up. What would you begin with, Solyanka, Pirozhki or Kasha? she asked, showing excitement.

"You, I want to begin with you, Lyra. We're mated but it seems like we are just normal friends," I said, looking deep into her eyes, hoping she would see love in mine.

"We were getting close to knowing each other, until I saw you fucking a slut in your very own office, the prime seat of authority in this pack". Those words hurt me like a newly cut wound from a stab sustained in swords fight. "Lyra, about that, I'm deeply sorry. I should have thought better. I got carried away by the pain I feel whenever it gets to that time of the year, when I lost my parents. Please forgive me, "I said these, resting my head on the hospital bed, looking at her. She kept still for a moment, eyes locked with mine.

Seemingly getting hold of herself, "I hold nothing against you Axel, but I can't just let my heart love again... for now," she said, setting the meal properly on the table. My heart ached for her.

"Let me love you, Lyra. Be my Luna, and I'll protect you with all I've got, "I confessed.

"Get well first, you have a tournament to win," she replied, trying to show no interest in my proposal.

I sat upright, stretching towards the food and picking bread. I tasted it, taking on all one at a time.

"Glad to see you getting better, Axel," Amira said, walking in.

"Yeah, I need to, for the .... "I paused, making eye contact with Lyra, she motioned with her eyes.

"the...role of a..... an Alpha. Pretty hectic I must say, I need a lot of health and food, "I finished, avoiding eye contact with Amira.

"Hmm, finally getting you responsible, Lyra's doing," she said, smiling at Lyra. She leaned closer to me, and in a whisper, "You mustn't let her slide," she stated, getting up. "I must be on my way, I've got an appointment," Lyra said, making to get up.

" Stay, Lyra," I pleaded like a child.

"Quit it, I'll be back soonest," she said," You're in good hands," she added, looking at Amira.

"Why, of course he is, I won't let him leave till his wound scar is gone, at least not to the tournament, " Amira said, keeping a neutral face.

"You'll bound your own Alpha from making his people proud? How despicable! You should be arrested at once, " I said, making a serious face and looking at her. They both laughed. "You'd get yourself arrested once you're spotted by me in the tournament, " Amira replied, settling down on the side of his bed.

"Eat up, now, and get some rest," she said.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Lyra said, turning to leave.

"Something's not right with her, dont know what it is yet, but I'd bet she's in love with someone else," Amira said, sneering.

Knowing she was pulling my legs and playing along, "Sure she is, and I'm pretty sure she's gone see her lover as it stands now," I said with my mouth half filled with potatoes.