Moonbound Fate

By the time Sumaya reached her house, the sky was dark, the streetlights casting long shadows over the cracked pavement. Her backpack felt heavier than it should, dragging her down like an anchor.

Her fingers trembled as she clutched the straps, her breath uneven, every step slower than the last.

She wouldn't have been this late if not for Amanda and her circus of friends—or if she hadn't been so utterly mesmerized by that golden-eyed black wolf.

She could still see it in her mind—how the wolf had rested its head on her lap, letting her run her fingers through its thick fur. For a moment, she had felt important, like she truly mattered.

The memory almost made her smile. Almost. But reality hit too hard, too fast.

Dread curled in her stomach, cold and suffocating, coiling tighter with each hesitant step toward the door. The weight of her backpack was nothing compared to the suffocating pressure in her chest.

He would be angry. Furious.

Sumaya swallowed hard. Maybe if she was quiet enough, he wouldn't notice. Maybe he'd be too tired to care.

Then she heard it. A dull, sickening smack. Flesh against flesh. Followed by a muffled cry. Her blood turned to ice.

"No… not again," she whispered.

Her feet moved on their own, pushing open the door with hesitant fingers. The dim, flickering light in the living room revealed the nightmare she had feared.

Her mother lay curled on the floor, her frail arms raised in a pitiful attempt to shield herself. Towering over her, Jae—her father—breathed hard, his knuckles red, his face twisted with rage.

Bruises were already forming on her mother's face, and shattered furniture littered the floor. He hadn't noticed Sumaya yet. "You pathetic bitch!" Smack! Smack!

Sumaya flinched as her father rained down blows, his foot colliding with her mother's side. Her mother sobbed, gasping between choked pleas.

"Jae, please… please stop," she whimpered, her voice hoarse. "I—I'm sorry. Please…"

But Jae wasn't listening. He never listened.

Sumaya's hands clenched into fists. She should move. Do something. But fear locked her in place, pressing down like chains she couldn't break.

She didn't even realize she was crying until she felt the warm streaks rolling down her cheeks. Wiping them away fast—lightning fast—she refused to let him see. If he did, it would only make things worse.

Then Jae had his hand wrapped around her mother's throat.

Sumaya's breath hitched as he lifted her off the ground with ease. The choking noises her mother made sent a wave of dread crashing through her.

She couldn't stand it. She couldn't stand watching her mom suffer under that monster's hands.

Jae suddenly slapped her mother hard across the face. "Will you dare repeat yourself!?" he snarled like a rabid animal.

Sumaya's mother clawed at his hand, her nails scratching desperately at his wrist. "P-please, Jae," she gasped, her voice breaking. "L-let go…"

Something inside Sumaya snapped. Before she could process it, she dropped her backpack and lunged—an instinct she seemed to be giving in to more and more lately.

Her hands clawed at Jae's arm, pulling with all the strength she had. It wasn't much, but she didn't care. She had to do something.

Jae let go, her mother crumpled to the floor, gasping, coughing violently as she clutched her bruised throat. But then Jae turned.

His bloodshot eyes locked onto Sumaya, for a moment, silence stretched between them.

Then—SMACK. The slap sent her flying.

Her body crashed into the glass center table, her head slamming against the edge of a flower vase. White-hot pain exploded through her skull as her vision blurred.

What the hell did I just do? And what is his obsession with slapping people!?

Why didn't I just sneak past them? Why did I have to get involved and let my innocent face suffer for it!?

Her regret, was Immediate and sharp. Pain burned through her cheek as she lay sprawled on the floor, her body screaming in protest. Ouch. That hurts like hell.

How has my mom been enduring this for so many miserable years?

She tried to push herself up, but Jae didn't give her the chance. His fingers tangled into her hair, yanking her up with brutal force.

She yelped. Oh, I'm so dead.

"You foolish brat," Jae growled, his grip tightening.

Yeah, yeah. What else is new? I know I'm a brat, but why do you keep snarling like a starved wild animal?

She wanted to scream the words out loud. Instead, she gritted her teeth, her fingers prying at his wrist, trying to ease the burning pain on her scalp.

"Why are you just coming back now?" Jae's voice was dangerously low as he dragged her toward the stairs.

From below, her mother's broken voice sobbed through the air. "Jae, please! Stop! Leave her out of this! You're hurting her!"

As if he'll listen. Her father was a monster. A demon incarnate.

She barely realized they had reached her bedroom door until Jae threw her inside.

Her body collided with the bedside table, knocking over the lamp and her digital clock. The sharp edge of the wood dug into her ribs, pain shooting through her body like fire.

Ouch. That's definitely going to leave bruises, she thought, wincing. And judging by the sharp sting, I might have sprained my wrist.

"I'll deal with you later," Jae spat before the door slammed shut. Then—click. The lock turned.

Sumaya groaned, pressing a hand to her throbbing head. "Great."

From downstairs, Jae's furious voice roared once more. "Now that brat is fighting and disrespecting me in my own house!?"

Point of correction, dude. Sumaya scowled. I was only trying to stop you from killing my mom, not disrespecting or fighting you. Not that you'd understand that.

Then—CRASH. Followed by a sickening thud, more choked sobs. Her mother's cries grew louder.

Sumaya squeezed her eyes shut, guilt clawing at her insides.

"I made it worse. I shouldn't have gotten involved." Self-loathing wrapped around her like a noose.

She dragged herself to the door, jiggling the knob. Locked.

Defeated, she slumped against the door, pressing her back against the door, feeling her own tears well up again.

She sank to the floor, her body trembling as she hugged her knees to her chest.

Downstairs… the horror continued. Crash, punch, scream. With every sound, every plea, every muffled cry of pain. She felt more useless, more stupid.

She wished she could do something. Anything.

She wished someone—anyone—would give her father what he truly deserved. Torture.

She wished she had the power to stop this nightmare, but at that moment, she had nothing. Nothing except the unbearable suffocating weight of hopelessness.

→→→→→→→

Nestled on the outskirts of town, a secluded manor lay hidden beneath a dense canopy of foliage. Towering trees loomed over it, their branches weaving restless shadows against the dusky evening sky. Dense bushes crowded around the structure, rustling softly as unseen creatures moved within. The faint scent of damp earth and wild grass filled the air.

Inside the manor's dimly lit sitting area, the air was thick with the scent of aged wood and faint traces of burning embers from the grand fireplace.

Marrok sat stiffly on a sleek black leather sofa, his posture tense. Beside him, a girl with striking red hair and sharp green eyes leaned in, her nose twitching as she openly sniffed him. The soft glow of the low-hanging bulbs cast a golden sheen on her pale skin, accentuating the slight furrow in her brows.

"Who was she?" Ulva asked, her voice smooth but demanding. "Her scent is all over you."

Across from them, Raul lounged in an armchair, arms crossed, his lips twitching as he barely held back a laugh.

Marrok shot him a warning glare, his expression tight with restraint. "Ulva, drop it," he muttered, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted his sleeves. "And tell me—how certain are you that the scent belongs to a girl?"

Ulva has no plan of dropping anything, she turned to Raul. "Who did you two meet?"

Raul opened his mouth, still grinning. "Lady Ulva, I don't—"

A sharp, uneven breath cut him off.

Both Ulva and Raul both turned toward Marrok. Only to freeze in shock. Raul's amusement vanished instantly.

Tears streaked silently down Marrok's face. His breaths came shallow and unsteady, his fingers curling against his knees as an unfamiliar ache settled deep in his chest. It was suffocating, this sadness—heavy and raw. But it wasn't his.

His heart pounded, but the pain felt distant, as if it belonged to someone else entirely.

Ulva stiffened, her sharp gaze narrowing. "Marrok?"

Raul leaned forward, his smirk long gone. "It's happening again, isn't it?" he asked, his voice low with concern.