I remember that night like an endless nightmare.
One day, I was with my mother. The next… she was gone.
I had promised to protect her. Dad reminded me every night to protect my mother. And I failed.
Back then, it had started like any normal morning.
Sunlight came through my window. I had already shifted back into human form before waking. I groaned and buried my face deeper into the pillow.
"I don't want to get up," I muttered.
With one final push of will, I threw the covers off and stood, stretching.
"I hate mornings."
I dressed quickly and stepped out of my room.
"Mom, are you ok?" I asked as she passed me in the hallway.
She smiled, amused "You always ask me that. I'm fine, silly." She rubbed my head gently.
"Ever since that vampire attack, I've just…" I hesitated. "I worry."
She softened.
"I love you so much. It's sweet that you care about me. But your mother is strong. I'm fine."
I exhaled in relief. "Okay."
In the kitchen, Dad sat at the table, serious as ever, scrolling on his phone.
"Morning, Dad."
He glanced up. "Good morning, Zac."
I began making breakfast, eggs and toast.
"Dad… I'm sorry for disappointing you," I said quietly, my back still turned.
He didn't hesitate. "You didn't disappoint me."
My hands went still.
"But I wasn't there to protect Mom during the attack."
"Son," he said firmly, "listen to me. If I ever made you feel like you carry the weight of protecting this family alone, that's on me."
I turned slightly.
"I tell you to protect your mother because it teaches you how to protect someone you love. But that doesn't mean you have to be perfect. Even I can't protect them from everything."
Silence filled the kitchen as I scrambled the eggs.
"Now turn around."
I faced him.
"I love you, Zac."
"I love you too, Dad."
He smiled faintly and went back to his phone.
His words comforted me… but the guilt never really left.
I couldn't imagine losing mom.
As I finished eating, Courtney burst into the kitchen.
"What's that food I smell?"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Eggs and toast."
"Thought so!" She hugged me tightly. "Morning, Zac!"
I laughed, squeezing her back. "Morning, Courtney."
Courtney was pure morning sunshine bright-eyed, energetic, unstoppable. Four years younger than me and somehow powered by pure chaos.
She grabbed her usual cereal.
"Froot Loops again?" I teased.
"Hey, no judging, mister," she shot back.
After breakfast, I brushed my teeth and relaxed on the couch.
"Zac?"
I looked up. Mom stood in the doorway.
"Do you want to come out with me? Your dad and Courtney are doing their little daddy-daughter day. I thought we could roam around the stores. Get out of the den."
I smiled. "Yeah, I'd love that."
"Then hurry up."
Thirty minutes later, we stepped outside.
Mom spun slowly, breathing in the fresh air.
"Anything you want to see first?"
"Not really."
"Then let's explore."
We entered a jewelry shop.
"Welcome! Oh my goodness, Miss Alpha! What a pleasure!"
"Nothing special," Mom replied warmly. "I just needed a break."
I wandered as she chatted. Wedding rings glittered under the lights.
"Speaking of breaks," she said casually, "have you found any lucky ladies yet?"
I nearly choked. "Mom. We're standing next to wedding rings."
She laughed. "I'm not marrying you off today. I'm just asking if there's a girlfriend."
"No," I muttered, blushing. "There isn't."
"That surprises me. You're a handsome boy."
"Mom…"
She laughed again. "Relax. You're nineteen. Live a little."
I smiled. "When I do get a girlfriend, you'll be the first to know."
"Good," she said softly.
We wandered into a flower shop next.
Mom adored flowers.
They suited her.
"Zac," she said gently, "who's that girl with the crush on you?"
I stiffened.
"Can we not talk about that in public?"
Her expression shifted. "That bad?"
I nodded.
"School's rough," I muttered.
She didn't press further.
Then I made a mistake.
"Mom… how did the vampire princesses escape?"
She froze.
"A vampire I didn't recognize freed them," she answered carefully.
"Oh."
"But that's enough dark talk for today."
We stepped outside.
And that's when everything changed.
The sky dimmed unnaturally fast.
I looked up. "Is a storm coming?"
"Zac!" Mom screamed.
I turned just as she sprinted toward me.
"Mom?"
She shoved me hard out of the way.
A shadow descended.
It wasn't solid. It wasn't smoke. It was something in between.
It wrapped around her.
"Mother!"
She reached for me.
Then the shadow pulled her upward.
"Mom!"
Around me, wolves began collapsing. One by one.
Their souls lifted from their bodies like pale light, rising into the dark sky.
Panic seized me.
"We finally meet, Prince Zac."
The voice slithered through the air.
And I stood there.
Helpless.
Every night, I relive it.
My mother taken.
My father and sister not long after.
If I could go back… I would do anything differently.
Anything.
"Zac?"
I blinked.
The forest returned.
The road to Eldora.
Alphonso was staring at me.
"You alright?"
I forced a breath. "I'm alright."
He studied me.
"Haunted," I admitted quietly.
"Haunted by what?"
I looked ahead at the twisting path.
"A dark memory."