The pink water in our pack holds magic that only unicorns can absorb, and when foals reach a certain age, drinking the water helps their powers manifest. Genesis told me about overseeing this event and the treaty she made with the first Alpha of Harvest Moon to protect the unicorns during this time. It's probably why Alpha Artemis took his family and me out for the picnic and campout tonight.

Little does anyone know that a small stream flows from the lake into a hidden valley where Genesis and the unicorns live, and into a small pool that mixes with regular water from the river, which Genesis calls a moon pool. I've often watched the foals play and run around the pink water, mesmerized by the shimmer of magic in the air, each drop twinkling like diamonds. To say, I'm excited to see this at the pure pink lake instead of the small moon pool. It is an understatement.

With a nod from Cosmo and a hug from Luna Everleigh, the five of us set off towards the lake, Eloise and I chasing each other around the trees, giggling. Alpha Artemis reminds us to stay in sight and takes away Cosmo's game, forcing him to play tag with us. I avoid Cosmo as much as I can, chasing Eloise until she stops abruptly, causing me to crash into her.

"Maddie, I see the water! It's so pink," my friend squeals in excitement, causing me to cup my hands over my ears and wince. But in front of us, just peeking past the trees, is the lake. With a call of 'Last one there is a Crescent,' the three of us race to the water's edge and happily spend the day splashing each other, eating the delicious picnic packed by Luna Everleigh herself. It's a day free from the fear of my parents and filled with pure happiness.

As the day turns into night, Eloise and I huddle under a tree, our sleeping bags blending into the background, hiding us while we wait for the full moon to reach its peak and the unicorns to come out.

"A few more minutes," I jump as Cosmo's voice surprises me. He rolls out his sleeping bag, sits beside me, wraps his arm around my shoulder, and grins. I blush and nod before looking out to the lake, my eyes blurry with the need for sleep as I manage to catch a glimpse of the creatures I love to watch so much, beginning to come out and frolic in the water...

Madison, wake up... please, my love...

A soft voice flutters through my ears, and I yawn, looking around the night, my dream of watching over the forest and some blurred faces now gone. Dizzy, I gaze at the still pink lake and the eerie silence of the forest causing goosebumps to form. Soft snores from my left and right make me aware that Cosmo and Eloise are still fast asleep, but the Alpha and Luna are missing. That's when I hear it.

Growls and howls come from everywhere, and my first thought is to wake up Cosmo. I shake the sleeping boy awake as the growls and howls get closer, fear closing in on me. What if they were Crescent?

"What is it, Maddie?" He asks as he swats me away.

"Wolves, and lots of them," I whisper, sobbing with fear, watching him bolt up and silently slip out of his sleeping bag while motioning to Eloise. I quickly shook my friend awake.

"I smell blood," my friend says as she rubs her eyes, and she's right. The copper tang hangs in the air, and we both look in fear, knowing to whom exactly this scent belongs.

"Where is she?" A scream echoes through the lake, and all three of us freeze.

"I don't know who you're talking about," the Luna is crying. She never cries, her answer filled with fear, fear she has never shown any of us.

"The Future Moon Goddess. Your wolves took her from her as a newborn," the voice rings again, and a loud smack rips through the air.

"I don't know anything about this," Luna Everleigh wails. Cosmo and Eloise are frozen in their spots, but I slowly crawl forward. I see wolves in both human and wolf form standing around the lake, but I can't see Luna Everleigh or Alpha Artemis. However, I have a feeling this night will not end well.

"I do not believe that you know nothing about the kidnapping of the Moon Goddess' pup stolen the night of her birth. We have searched everywhere, and the only pack whose wolves gained a new pup that same night is this one. For your insolence in this incident, you will die just like your husband." A cold voice shakes the trees as the sounds of something tearing and the Luna's screams fill the air. All is silent except for a thud of something or someone falling to the ground. The strange wolves leave the lake, but Cosmo, Eloise, and I are too terrified to leave our hiding spot. The Alpha's children are curled up by the tree, sobbing, while silent tears fall from my face. I know what that tearing sound means; I heard it while my father slaughtered Crescent in front of Finn and me.

The day passes until the sun is setting when wolves from the pack come, calling out our names and looking for us. My parents are the first to find our hiding spot.

"Thank goodness you're alright, Cosmo and Eloise," my parents coo over the Alpha pups, and I stand in the background, everyone fussing over Cosmo and Eloise but forgetting about me. They block the sight of the lake from the sibling pair, but I see everything.

The lake is dyed red in spots where the bodies of wolves with the scent from last night lay, the ground holding small puddles, but not of the lake water. What hurts the most is seeing the Alpha and Luna both missing their heads and both dead just at the edge where the water slowly laps at their fallen forms.

"Do you remember much of what happened?" My father asks, the tension in the air so thick that it feels like the walls are closing in on me. Cosmo and Eloise sit to the side on the small couch with tear-stained faces while my parents force me to stand. Today, we buried Alpha Artemis and Luna Everleigh, and the idea of dealing with my parents after everything that's happened in the last three days was not a good one. So, I kept my gaze towards the window, watching the drops pitter-patter on the glass.

"I don't remember much. We fell asleep watching the unicorns play. Madison woke me up because she heard something and then woke Eloise up," Cosmo answers, his voice wavering. I turn to look at the older boy to see my mother comforting him and sending her seething glare my way.

"Madison, if you woke them up, then why didn't you come get help!" It isn't a question; it's an accusation that my mother throws my way. I can feel her hatred from halfway across the room where I stand.

"I woke up and got Cosmo up right away, then Eloise. There were too many wolves, and if any one of us tried running, then we would have been caught and most likely killed too," I answer, meeting her gaze with a pleading look, hoping my own mother would listen to reason.

"That's just an excuse!" She snarls at me, standing protectively in front of the Alpha pups and staring at me with contempt, a look I know all too well.

"It's the truth. They killed the Alpha and Luna because they were looking for the Moon Goddess' lost pup and believed that they were hiding her in this pack. If we came out, we would have been in danger, and if I left Cosmo and Eloise there, they would have been in dan-" I stop mid-sentence, flinching as my father slams a fist onto his desk, causing me to jump in fear. Anger radiates off of him in waves, and my attention turns to him.

"Enough of your lies, Madison. You're the reason why our Alpha and Luna, Cosmo and Eloise's parents, are dead!" His voice bellows, the bookshelves rattling from the power. I stand frozen with shock and fear.

"Since Cosmo won't be of age to take over for another eleven years, I will be in charge as acting Alpha, and so will my wife. You, Madison, will be nothing but an Omega, a slave to this pack for your insolence and failure to protect our leaders," he continues, his words a finality on my fate in this pack. I turn to look at my friends, knowing that their words would help me keep my status as a Beta female, but Cosmo and Eloise glare at me with hatred before turning away. I know right there that in this room, I am alone. Alone, disowned, and an Omega.

Beta Caspian dismisses us, and my face now bears a bruise from the slap he gave me just minutes ago when I tried pleading my case and calling him "Father" one more time. An Omega with a car waits for me, his job is to drive me to the Beta's house, a place I can no longer call home, and leave me there to pack up whatever can fit into a single duffle bag. After that, I will have to find my own way back to the pack house and to the small room that will be assigned to me. The car ride is quiet, the Omega giving me a look of sympathy with his eyes too large for his sallow face.

"We know it's not your fault, Madison. The Omegas know what happened was a freak event. We believe you," he reassures me before we return to the quiet drive. It feels nice knowing that the Omegas have my back now that I will be one of them. I have a sinking feeling that Beta Caspian will make our lives worse.

The car stops in front of the house, and the Omega gives me an encouraging smile, telling me to be brave while handing me an empty duffle bag as I step out of the vehicle and head inside. The house feels cold and empty, a forbidden place for me now. Heading past the living room and up the stairs, I make my way to my bedroom and stop in the doorway when I see everything is gone—five duffle bags sitting on the bare mattress of what used to be my bed.

"Thank the Goddess you're okay, Maddie." Finn's voice sounds from behind me, and I turn to see him holding a bundle in his arms and pushing past me to fill another duffle bag.

"I heard them talking last night, Mom and Dad. They already planned to make you an Omega, and when they left me here after the funeral, I asked an omega to bring me a few bags to fill for you. I have everything, including your blankets and toys," he states, pulling me into a hug.

"Do you think I could become a Beta again?" I ask in a whisper, tears threatening to fall.

"I don't know, Maddie, but you have to be strong when they come back." I nod, giving my brother a reassuring smile and hand him the empty duffle bag I held. I helped him pack a few more items, taking some food from the kitchen and pantry. A car pulls into the driveway, and my heart skips a beat, thinking it's the Beta couple, but it's the Omega who dropped me off.

"Liam here said he would drive me to the pack house. They are on their way home now, and I texted them the excuse of checking up on Cosmo, and they bought it. Liam is going to help me take the bags we packed to your new room. Just pretend to finish packing up the last one I leave for you, okay?" I only nod at Finn, letting Liam into the house as he and Finn carry six of the seven bags down and into the car. I wave to them before rushing upstairs and double-checking to see if we left anything before doing my best to carry the bag downstairs just in time for Beta Caspian and Mrs. Piper burst through the door.

"You should have been gone by now," Beta Caspian growls out. I keep my head down, looking to the floor, but I hide my fear.

"I was just leaving, sir," I answer quietly, staying in my spot and waiting for the two wolves to walk past me. Instead, a hand grabs my hair, and I cry out from the pain, Beta Caspian's face inches from mine.

"Well, get the fuck out, you stupid pup," he screams at me, dragging me to the door and throwing me off of the front porch and into the mud-soaked lawn. Mrs. Piper just smirks at this, her arms crossed over her chest.

"You know the way to the pack house, you bitch, so make your way there." With that, Beta Caspian growls again, turning and slamming the door, leaving me all alone. As the rain cascaded down in a symphony of silver droplets, I stood alone, drenched and vulnerable in the midst of the storm. The world around me seemed to mirror the turmoil within my heart, the uncertainty of what lay ahead as I approached the pack house.

And then, as if in response to my inner turmoil, a magical transformation began to unfold in the skies above. The rain, which had fallen relentlessly, suddenly ceased its assault, leaving a hushed stillness in its wake. The heavy clouds that had obscured the heavens started to part, revealing a canvas of deep, inky blue velvet sprinkled with stars that blinked like distant lanterns.