"The red moon watched in silence—an unblinking witness, patient and cruel, awaiting the final reckoning."
Somewhere deep in the snow-covered mountains,Sanathiel lifted his gaze to the sky.
The red moon was watching. He knew it.
—It won't be long now… —he whispered—. I can already smell the blood.
The wind carried a whisper. It was neither human nor wolf. It was older.
"Your pack won't save you from this."
Sanathiel closed his eyes as the medallion on his chest pulsed with a faint vibration.
Meanwhile, in a remote corner of the world,Varek moved toward his goal—with ruthless resolve.
—We'll use the enhanced dose.
—Sir, it's double the amount. It's lethal.
—But effective, —Varek replied coldly, sealing the syringe in a private case.
He pulled the curtains shut, letting in only the pale light of dawn. In front of him, a giant board covered in maps and photos displayed marked locations and faces crossed in red.
Without hesitation, he threw a dart. It landed squarely on Sanathiel's face.
—You'll never understand, brother —he murmured—. Aisha will return to me. As it should have always been. Before they interfered.
With slow, almost reverent hands, he picked up an old photo of young Aisha surrounded by now-forgotten figures. He kissed her image softly… then furiously crossed out all the others.
Flashback – Red Moon
The first time Varek found Aisha beneath the crimson moon, her eyes held something he couldn't name. His steps were sure, but inside, he waged war: protect her… or claim her.
—Why are you here? —he asked, gripping her arm—not violently, but possessively.
Aisha stared back—hardened. Her posture told the story. She was no longer the innocent girl. She was made of scars and broken promises.
—Let me go, —she said, voice trembling but resolute.
Varek hesitated. His fingers lingered a moment longer, as if releasing her meant losing her forever.
—If I do… you won't come back this time —he whispered, like it was a death sentence.
He didn't know if he loved her… or just wanted to own her. In his world, there was no difference.
His hand trembled as he tucked the photo away.
—I can't, Aisha. I can't lose you again.
Varek's thoughts:
What if it's already too late to save her?What if I'm the true danger?
She hates me now. That kiss… it's gone.But I still hope that someday she'll understand why I betrayed her.I wanted to keep her away from this filth—this curse.But I failed. And now, as the head of this broken community… I have to end the cycle.Even if it means destroying my own blood.
I remember when she told me:
—Even if we're apart for a while, I'll live my present.But my wish is to see you in my future.Because I like you, Varek.
That memory under the red moon faded.All that remained was cold steel… and the taste of blood.
Varek's hands clenched the necks of the last survivors from the Monra and Velona bloodlines. The stench of death coated the room. His hands shook. Cold sweat ran down his spine. Still, he didn't stop.
The sound of bones snapping jolted him back.
—They deserved it —he muttered—. They tried to kill her.
Blood still clung to the walls, soaking the stone. Muffled cries echoed like ghosts. He forced the memories down as he dropped each body to the ground.
Blood. Silence. Shadows.How much more would he have to sacrifice?
At the door, Elliot stood watching—his eyes a blend of judgment and old friendship.
How far will you go, old friend? he thought.We used to fight side by side. Now I see a man consumed by obsession.
The silence pressed down like a stone. Varek's ragged breath was the only sound.
Elliot stepped forward, spinning a set of keys between his fingers. The metallic chime broke the quiet—like a countdown ending.
—Still doing this, Varek? —he asked finally—. Any other dog in the community could've done it.
Varek clenched his jaw. His eyes burned. A nervous twitch danced across his face.
—They forced my hand —he growled—. They tried to kill Aisha during the Red Moon… and again in interrogation.
He dumped the bodies with a heavy thud.
—Stay and watch… or leave.
Elliot exhaled, annoyed, and stepped to the desk. Picking up the keys, he added:
—We found the human. Rasen.
—We sent the beasts for him. The ones you built. With the last dose of Keren blood.
His tone was cold. Precise.
—Happy now?
Just hearing the name "Rasen" triggered Varek's twitch again. He pressed his fingers into the desk and nodded, eyes locked on the corpses.
—Yes, —he said, venom barely restrained.
Elliot left in silence. Varek stood still.
The blood had dried, but the chill remained.
His eyes gleamed—icy, unyielding.His thoughts were a storm: protect Aisha or punish the world that kept threatening her.
Outside, the red moon rose—an unholy eye devouring the night.
Varek exhaled slowly, feeling fate tightening around his chest.
—Let the game begin, —he whispered, vanishing into the shadows.
That night, while she slept…
Aisha found herself in a scorched field beneath an unmoving blood moon.
Sariel was there. He said nothing.He only watched.
She couldn't move.
He raised a chain—one that had no end—and began to trace his name into the earth.
When she awoke, there was a mark on her arm.
It didn't hurt.
But it burned from the inside.
"The red moon watched in silence—an unblinking witness, patient and cruel, awaiting the final reckoning."