The end of the bad luck

"Leave my daughter alone!" Sonia yells in her red velvet wolf form.

"Why, if we are having fun?" The wolf dragges Kira with his paw until he has her just down underneath him. "You better not move from here."

"What does a royal lycan do in my domains?" Arseni growls without taking off his gaze to the stranger and his cub.

"Will we start with the interrogation now? What makes you think I'm a royal one?"

" Your shape is different and your height betrays you, no lycan not even a werewolf can reach that size."

"I broke a record then," he laughs. "But let's ignore that, you want your cub, don't you? Maybe if you accept my demands, I will let go of your child."

"How dare you," Jayden growls.

"What demands?" Arseni says with gritted teeth, but there is no other option but to listen.

"I need enough food and I will go in peace, of course without being chased and I will leave the little princess at the entrance of the city," the stranger says as if nothing. "Your/A omega can follow me to get the girl back, but if I see that they follow me or want to make an attempt to ambush me, well, let's say they won't see her again, whole."

Arseni growls, he doesn't like the corner he has been forced to reach, his pride is wounded; but he can't let his child succumb to this wolf, just because he didn't want to give in to his request. Looking forward to Vladimir and his Theta Yeong, with a silent order both wolves rushed out to the palace.

The others stayed in the same position, a tense feeling was felt in the air. Kira has not yet been released, the long nails are stuck in her back uncommently. The minutes seem eternal at that moment while waiting for Yeong and Vladimir's return.

The two return after ten minutes with a whole moose, the largest that the young people had achieved that afternoon.

Once it has been left on the ground, the stranger attacks it almost instantly, but without letting go of Kira at any time. The wait became more and more agonizing, while the wolf finished eating. At the end of his meal, he runs the tongue by his lips. He can’t remember when he had last eaten such a delicious thing.

The stranger took his paw off Kira before holding her by the neck again.

"Daddy! Mommy!" Kira exclaims, terrified.

"Quiet, my sweet girl, Vladimir will bring you back. Just do what he tells you," Sonia says distraught but calm for her child.

The wolf leaves the castle followed by Vladimir, his fur is ash-colored, the wolves and lycaons in the city look at him cautiously; Arseni has sent a message to everyone by mental connection, they should not intervene at all - only if he did not keep his promise.

After almost an hour, they reach the limits of the Iberian forest that surrounds the city.

"Here ends your journey, little princess," the stranger says, leaving Kira on the ground. "I told you that you would be my escape ticket."

"I won't be again," she growls, now that she is free.

"Keep being that rebellious and you'll have more problems, cub. Maybe we'll see each other again some day. Goodbye." The wolf rushes out into the forest, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

"Come on, Kira, let's go home. Your parents are anxiously waiting for you," Vladimir runs his tongue over her head, calming the tension of the cub.

"That was terrifying."

Vladimir grabs her by the neck gently and they return to the interior of the city. Walking in the direction of the castle.

Dawn is beginning when they arrive again at the main entrance, where Arseni and Sonia are waiting restlessly, until they see Vladimir and Kira arriving.

The Omega releases Kira and she runs straight to her mother's fur. Vladimir just smiles at the family reunion, thanking the Moon Goddess that his daughters did not run with Kira's bad luck

"He did exactly as he promised?" Arseni asks, rubbing his nose with Kira's fur in a way to make her feel safe and calm her protective instinct.

"Yes, he left the city."

"I want a full investigation. He had to get in some way." Arseni says but before Vladimir can say anything, he speaks again. "Not tonight, the lycaons and warriors can take care of it. We go with our families, we will need it."

~0~

Kira is sitting at a desk in a classroom, listening to her etiquette tutor alongside her siblings and the forty-five children, all kids of the elite of their parents. Unlike the cubs of the common lycan, they receive classes with special tutors of different species, equal elite children of other species; only two days a week they study with the children of warriors and other common kids.

Although this class is necessary, it begins to become tedious with so much learning how to behave in front of other people with a high cradle or diplomatic visits. She can no longer even see cutlery in the same way because of the amount that should be used just at a dinner.

Kira looks at her book with boredom. That day they are studying the function of relations with other kingdoms and the human world. She knows very well that this part of her lessons is important, especially for those who would be the next king or queen; but she can't help it. She doesn't feel like it. She looks away at the window, filling her mind with things from the past.

"Princess Kira!" The voice of her tutor, Faida, resonates through the classroom. A beautiful tall woman with long, pointed ears, sun-golden hair, and an elegant ivory-colored robe.

Kira jumps slightly in her chair before watching the teacher approach. You can hear the poorly disguised laughter by Agna and Paulette, daughter of Jayden, who are sitting near her table. She shared hers with Aristide and Sarka.

"You do know we're in the middle of a class, right?" The elf speaks to her ten-year-old student.

"Sorry, Professor Faida. It's hard for me to concentrate today," Kira replies somewhat embarrassed.

"I understand that we are in full festivities, princess, the ceremony of the first winter moon is important, but so are the studies." Faida sighs, royal children are always difficult, obeying and staying still is not in their nature, at least not at this age. "Or is it that she only thinks about fighting?"

Kira blushes almost from head to toe. The class laughs, ignoring the girl's condition. She growls loudly echoing long throughout the room, shaking the walls from the vibration. The others were immediately silent.

For four years since the incident, she has devoted herself arduously to her physical and magical workouts, she still had much to learn. She also has a good intelligence for her age if only in certain things, although like everyone she has her weak points and one of those is a quite imaginative mind, which could be carried away and distracted easily.

They hear the door open and Arseni comes in.

"Hello kids," smiles Arseni. As he watches the children do the same, he also did it with more enthusiasm.

"Tsar Arseni, an honor to have you here," Faida bows.

"A pleasure, I hope they are behaving. Will you allow me to take my children? The elite will probably come and get theirs soon. We will soon begin preparations for the festival."

Kira is the first to get up, jumping her over her desk which is in the front row. Her brothers do the same as her.

"I think they responded to you already," Faida laughs softly. "Okay, but I want you all to read chapter 12 completely for the next class, understood?"

"Yes, teacher," say the Quintuplets.

Arseni and his cubs leave the classroom, located on the ground floor, walking towards the sun room.

It is a huge room that overlooks the south garden, the walls are large crystals that allow you to admire the exterior landscape. Inside it contains an infinity of exotic plants from the tropics to the impenetrable desert, it gave a spectacular color bath. In the middle there is a crystal table in the shape of a crescent with various alchemy utensils and potions, Including a tall glass container painted with a pale blue liquid.

"What is that?" asks Lev.

"Do you remember that during the festivals the adults have a special drink after the ceremony, which the children participate in?" asks Sonia as she exits from among the plants with a basket full of three different types of flowers. The children nod, getting closer to their mother. "It is the mead of the moon, it is a special drink that allows us to connect directly with the goddess, see our destiny, our mate, or the very rooms of Valhalla."

"How?" Sergei asks now, looking at the flowers that his mother puts on the table

There are several samples of varied roots and fruits. Kira is able to recognize the beautiful flowers of the aconite, a plant quite dangerous for humans and werewolves, the lycan were also in danger if used poorly processed; but it is used in various rituals of celebrations like this.

"The aconite accelerates the heart rate, which allows blood flow to the brain to be greater," explains Sonia as she plucked the aconite flowers from its branches. She puts them in a silver mortar with blue lily petals, unlike werewolves silver is not deadly to them.

Silver is the most representative metal of the Goddess Dianica, it gave them energy and made them feel closer to her. This element being a punishment for werewolves, who dared to challenge her.

"Using it in an infusion of other flowers and seeds, bathed in Arctic waters collected in the Samhain; a special mead can be created. For example the Blue water lilies and peyote seed produce a rather psychedelic hallucinogenic experience, but it is the energy emanating from the silver that connects with the goddess."

Sonia continues to spray the plants before using a larger one for peyote.

"You will help your mother prepare mead this year, you have reached the age to take a minimum dose," Arseni mentions. Seeing the expression of happiness reflected on the children's faces, it is noted that they are excited. You can tell that they are happy to be able to participate in adult things. "Kira, you don't stay, you will come with me."

"Why won't Kira stay?" Garald says with a frown

"She is the firstborn, she has different duties for these festivities," Arseni explains as he strokes his daughter's short hair.

Kira smiles as an apology to her brother. Garald purses his mouth but shrugs his shoulders with a small smile in return.

Although they are siblings and each had a chance to become king or queen, the Firstborn has a more important role for the Lycan. They are considered as those blessed by the goddess, because they are the ones who won the battle of being born first, according to their beliefs. Some had great power, others endowed with unique gifts in music or art, others were made to lead or even have an enviable beauty.

That would have been the case with Arseni's sister, Anastasia, who was born with an unusual and dangerous beauty, becoming one of the perfect killers. Although she is already retired, after an accident that almost killed her chosen mate and soul mate, Aquiles and Adonis, two Greek princes of the kingdom of chimeras.

"Come on, Kira, you have to prepare," Arseni gently grabs his hand and returns to the castle.

They walk down the plant corridor for a while before reaching the other door facing the palace. Kira knows that area well, although she wasn't allowed into it until she reached her current age. A special area only for certain trainings, although it was not used for a long time, is the headquarters of the brotherhood; but she doesn’t know for what exactly.

"Dad, why are we here?

"Here will be your preparation and instruct you on what you are going to do."

"Won't you instruct me?"

"No, you need someone else of your level," he opens one of the doors, more than a room it looks like a dressing room and study.

There is a figure sitting in one of the high back seats, covered with a special costume reminiscent of ninja suits.

"Godmother Anastasia!" Kira screams excitedly, running to the chair.

Anastasia removes her hood before receiving her goddaughter. The woman is exceptionally beautiful, almost like a Greek goddess. Her greenish eyes glow in the sunlight and her long platinum blonde hair is adorned with a hairstyle of twenty different braids.

"Hello, little one, it's been a while since we last saw each other," she replies by hugging the girl.

"I'm glad you're here for the holiday, Apollo and Hercules came?" Kira asks about their older cousins.

"Yes, but that's not what I'm here for. We're going to prepare you." Anastasia takes her to a chair in front of a dressing table, nearby there were two mannequins with dresses.

"I leave it in your hands, Annie, I will see you at the festival," Arseni caresses his daughter's head. "Good luck, sweetheart, and resist the torture of your godmother."

"I'm not going to torture her!" Anastasia is scandalized.

Arseni just laughs and leaves the room, shaking his hand as a farewell.

"Don't make me look like a doll," snorts Kira.

"Don't worry, you'll look like a warrior, that's why we're Lycan." She started combing her hair, "Remember what symbolizes the braids in the hair in our culture?"

"The victories we have had in our lives, but when we lose, we use a knife to cut it completely and we start again."

"I guess you had to lose because of how you have your hair, how many have you won?"

"Seven," Kira smiles proudly.

"Seven, they will be."