The Pain after My Son's DeathChapter 1
The early morning light filtered through the dense canopy of the Sherwood Forest, casting dappled patterns on the pack house's walls. Excitement hung in the air like a palpable presence as the Sherwood Pack prepared for Matthew's coming-of-age ritual. The ritual, a long-awaited milestone for both Matthew and the pack, was meant to signify his transition into adulthood and his readiness to assume a greater role within the pack. Luna Sophia, though weighed down by a knot of anxiety, smiled through her apprehension as she prepared her son for the momentous occasion.
Alpha Felix, their esteemed leader, had assured Sophia that everything would go as planned. Yet, on the eve of Matthew’s ritual, an unexpected invitation from the Fangorn Pack—a pack tied to his childhood sweetheart—had compelled Felix to depart. Felix, with his entourage of warriors and elders, had left the Sherwood Pack, under the guise of diplomacy, leaving his pack vulnerable. Despite Sophia’s misgivings, Felix had insisted that this visit was of utmost importance. The Sherwood Pack, left without its Alpha, braced itself for what was supposed to be a routine celebration.
As the sun rose, marking the beginning of the ritual, an undercurrent of tension persisted. The air, once filled with hopeful anticipation, was now charged with an unsettling silence. The first howl pierced through the tranquility, not the celebratory howls of the Sherwood Pack, but the sinister, bone-chilling howls of the Ironclad Pack.
Panic erupted within the pack house as the Ironclad wolves breached the borders in a well-coordinated assault. The once jubilant atmosphere was shattered by the clash of claws and teeth, and the screams of combat replaced the joyous cries of celebration. Luna Sophia’s heart pounded as she swiftly gave orders for the pack members to defend themselves. The urgency in her voice brooked no dissent as she commanded her son Matthew to stay hidden in the pack house, ensuring his safety while she prepared to lead the defense.