"Devil's spawn!" Winona's mother shrieked, her voice echoing with a grief that was as raw as it was profound. "You've taken my husband from me! Sent him back into the flames and now he's gone!"
The words pierced Winona like a barbed arrow, her mind reeling in disbelief. It couldn't be true, could it? She stared at her mother, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and terror.
"Dead?" she choked out.
The harsh words seemed to physically sting Winona, her heart constricting painfully in her chest as if her mother's hand was squeezing it mercilessly.
"He can't be gone! He promised me! He said he'd come back with Mr. Whale," she murmured to herself, desperately clinging to the hope that her father had merely gone back to retrieve her beloved toy.
But that was the only memory she had left of him.
"I'll end you! You'll pay for what you've done!" Her mother's threats grew louder, more vehement.
A soft whimpering sound and a tug on her mother's dress brought them both back to reality. Hayley, Winona's twin sister, was crying inconsolable, clutching at their mother's dress.
In an instant, Winona's mother seemed to forget all about her and her threats. She let go of Winona and rushed to comfort Hayley, her golden child. Winona watched as they sat on the grass, weeping in each other's arms, oblivious to her presence.
Suddenly, Winona found herself gasping for air. The air was thick with ash and smoke from their burning home. Pain radiated from every part of her body, from her head to her stomach where her mother had kicked her in a fit of rage.
She groaned, a part of her wanting to crawl back into the flames and call out for her father. If she screamed loud enough, surely he would hear her and come out.
"Daddy! Daddy!! Please, help me! It hurts so much! I can't bear it!"
She needed him. She couldn't be left alone with her mother. She might be her mother's child, but she was not her daughter. She needed her father. If he didn't come back, her mother would make her life unbearable.
So, she made a decision. If her father wouldn't come to her, she would go to him. Gathering all the strength she had left, she began to crawl towards the fire.
With each painful movement, she inched closer to the flames. Tears streamed down her face, scalding her cheeks. Or was it the fire? She didn't know, nor did she care. All she wanted was to see her father again. Her determination to reach him overpowered any sense of reason.
As Winona neared the fire, the heat was so intense that she was forced to pull back. She tried again, but the scorching flames repelled her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she berated herself for her cowardice. How could she retreat from the very fire her father had courageously entered?
She attempted again, but the heat was unbearable, searing her skin. Despite numerous attempts, she couldn't muster the courage to step into the flames. All she could do was cry, her tears soaking her already damp clothes. She didn't care. She just wanted her father back.
"Fire, give me back my daddy! You can have Mr. Whale, but please return my daddy to me!" she sobbed.
Her cries were so intense that her throat ached and it became difficult to breathe. She wept for her father, but her tears didn't bring him back. Still, she clung to a sliver of hope that he would return for her.
Looking around, she realized her mother and Hayley were nowhere to be seen. Fear gripped her heart at the thought that they might have left her too. She began to wail, but there was no one around to hear her.
She started walking towards the forest, hoping to find her mother and sister. She couldn't bear the thought of being left alone.
"Momma! Hayley!" she called out. "Please don't leave me alone! Daddy is gone! Please don't leave me alone! I promise to be good, mommy!"
Her cries echoed through the forest as she ventured deeper, unknowingly crossing the boundary of their Pack's territory.
Suddenly, a loud growl echoed behind her. A foul stench filled the air, and a wave of fear washed over her.
"Daddy! Save me!" she cried out as her eyes met the fiery gaze of a wolf.
At the tender age of seven, Winona knew little about rogues, but she was certain this wolf was not from their Pack. The wolf let out another bone-chilling growl, and she screamed in terror.
She spun around and ran as fast as her small legs could carry her. Exhaustion overtook her, and she fell onto the grassy ground with a thud. She saw the wolf lunging towards her.
She braced herself for the fatal snap of her neck, but it never came. Instead, she heard another growl, this one from a young boy. He was in his human form.
She watched in awe as the boy fought the wolf, and within minutes, he had snapped the wolf's head off. The boy approached her slowly, squatting down to look at her.
Not wanting to frighten her savior, she covered her face with her small hands.
"Little girl, why are you alone in this forest? Where are your parents?" he asked.
"My Papa was taken by the fire, and I can't find my momma and Hayley," she replied, her face still hidden.
"I'm sure your momma and Hayley are looking for you right now. Are you from this pack?"
"Yes. I lost my way. I don't know how to get back," she answered.
"Come, I'll take you to the palace. The alpha will find your momma and Hayley, okay?"
She nodded, but still refused to show him her face.
"Why are you hiding your face, little girl?"
"Because I'm a monster. A black-eyed curse. I don't want to bring you bad luck. You're my savior," she replied.
She heard him chuckle. He gently removed her hands from her face, but she kept her eyes tightly shut. She didn't want him to see her eyes.
"Open your eyes, or I'll get angry," he warned.
Not wanting to upset him, Winona slowly opened her eyes. She braced herself for his reaction, expecting him to either curse her or run away. Instead, she was met with a warm smile. He was incredibly handsome.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"My name is Winona, Winona McKellen," she replied.
"Listen to me, Winona. You're not a monster or a bearer of dark eyes. You're unique and beautiful in your own way," he reassured her. "Someday, your true beauty will be recognized by someone who truly deserves you, okay?"
She nodded. "What is your name, savior?"
"Just call me the Celestial Alpha," he said, grinning at her.
As he carried her back to the pack, Winona found herself wishing upon the Moon Goddess that she would be his mate. He truly seemed like he was from heaven.
