Despite the rising flames crumbling all of my past, that was the coldest night of my life. 

I was alone. Over my burning chest, the touch of my clan's medallion was comforting yet painful - all traces of my people would turn into ashes once the fire was subdued. I clenched that medallion until my fingers hurt, I gripped it, and the memories were washed away by the tears rolling down my cheeks. 

My vision was blurred, but my understanding was limited even if I could see. Everything was confusing; my body wouldn't take another step, yet there was a voice reminding me vampires would come, and I was in danger. 

I was paralyzed in fear under the pale white moonlight. In a dusty alleyway of what used to be my hometown, I curled my body. I tried to ignore everything around me; I tried to be blind and deaf. The screams and laughter of our persecutors haunted me. 

Slowly the snow started to fall, its whiteness so bright amidst the dark night it almost looked like falling stars. Maybe nature offered me a white mantle to comfort me from my sorrows. 

Maybe not all was lost, thought a part of me. 

My shaking legs managed to stand up and take a few steps. I dragged my feet to the main road. Markings of vehicles, blood, and dirt were painted on the white canvas of the snow. 

My hometown was now in ruins, all wooden houses burning, and the few brick constructions were blown apart. The streets were empty, and I could barely look at them. Every favorite spot, every memory, sullied and filled with debris. The bakery had the stench of burning flesh instead of baked goods; the library grounds were surrounded by remnants of paper burning. Ashes looked like black fireflies. 

I swallowed heavily to prevent myself from crying, but there was no use; I screamed loudly as I walked, like a lost pup howling to the moon. I didn't want to be alone. I was not one to be close to my family, but how I wished they were nearby, safe and sound, somewhere else. 

I wanted to be somewhere else too, and that yearning made me shed even more tears. With that wish, I could harbor some hope of finding others like me. 

I howled, waiting to find someone, an answer among the blowing wind. There was none. I howled once more, but a horrid wail escaped my lips instead. I screamed from the top of my lungs; I tried to get all the sadness out through my crying. 

Instead of sadness, it was my strength that abandoned me. I fell to my knees. I clutch my clan medallion again. A five point star, a reminder to look in the sky for the north and find a way. 

How could an omega wolf like me find a way in all that chaos?! Was I not small?! Was I not insignificant?! All was destroyed, and all my body could do was cry! Why was I the sole survivor of such a catastrophe when there were stronger, braver, and more competent wolves?!

Why me?! 

I didn't want to be alone; I didn't want the responsibility of being a survivor. 

I was not a warrior alpha but an omega. I had never earned any tattoo or mark on my skin that told a story - my limbs were pristine. 

Why me if I am so weak! I thought aloud, or perhaps I screamed it for the moon to hear me. I cursed a fate that I had little control over. 

I didn't want to be alone. That was all I could think of at that moment. 

I care not for time or seasons,

I care not for the mud and rain,

Flowers living and withering, 

It's just a fate we do not share,

I heard someone singing. My ears twitched in anticipation. I approached that melody feeling my heartbeats rising for the first time that night. There was a resemblance of warmth somewhere. 

I looked around with the hope of finding a friend. I sniffed the air to discern if, amidst the burnt debris, there was another wolf or, in the worst scenario, another vampire. It would have helped not to have my nose blocked after so much crying. Luckily, I couldn't sense any danger.

I couldn't sense anything.

Perhaps I was possessed by an illusion. Even my steps on the snow were distant echoes. Guided by that voice, I exited my old hometown and headed to the outskirts, the entrance of a forest full of great pines. 

At that distance, the creak of fire was but a murmur. The melody accompanying the voice was the tree branches shaken by the wind. 

My heart halted at the realization that the one singing was a vampire; he had that distinctive blood stench, the pale visage and pointy teeth were visible with each enounced word. He was also staring at me as if waiting for my arrival.

He had long red hair like a crimson moon and was unseemly tall. On his pale and long face, his eyes stood up like jewels; one ruby, the other like clear onix. His lips were awkwardly curved in a somewhat sympathetic smile.

His dark clothes waved in the wind like a mournful flag; a dark coat, gloved hands, and leather ankle boots. He didn't look particularly refined, but his slender physique compensated for it by doting him with a mysterious attractiveness. A beauty like dangerous flames dancing with elegance yet no direction. 

He didn't wear the vampire's uniform; there were no traces of the crescent red moon. Still, I couldn't move. Quite the opposite, I was ready to run away. 

The vampire seemed aware of this and widened his odd-colored eyes. He approached with care, but I took steps back, keeping the same distance.

He looked defeatedly; his pale lips almost twitched. "More agents of the red moon will come," he said carefully. He had a soft voice but a strange accent. Strong rs, singsung tones. Where was he from? 

"Come with me; I can keep you safe," He reached out his gloved hand. "You can smell me. Come on…." 

I stared at him for longer than I intended; his looks were mesmerizing. "No!" I stuttered when I snapped out of my dazzle. Hopefully, he was not using any blood magic. 

"I don't want to hurt you," he reassured. "I don't like fighting, much less hurting werewolves."

My nose tried to catch anything strange in the air, but nothing was menacing about him. Was his company better than nothing? 

"If I wanted to hurt you, I would have used my magic, don't you think?" He offered, taking a few cautious steps forward, "I would be wearing that tacky uniform. I would have a collar hidden in my jacket."

He opened the lapels of his coat; nothing was there. I frowned, not finding his gesture funny in the slightest. However, he quickly became close to me, and before I could gather some distance, a gloved hand rested on my head. 

He patted the area between my wolf ears. It was a pleasing feeling, but I couldn't allow myself to feel relaxed, especially after an attack from his kind.

"What you say, it's what an enemy would say." I stuttered weakly in a hoarse voice, "You only want me as your pet."

"Like I said, I don't carry any collar with me nor a weapon; you can check." He offered with a playful smile. 

I smelled around him and patted his sides with skepticism, squinting my eyes. 

He seemed fascinated with me, staring intensely into my eyes. "You look like the full white moon, you know that?"

"The weakling's moon, I know," I hissed; he really seemed clean of weapons. His hand reached for my head once more. I was tense and a bit disgusted, yet deep down, a little relieved to have someone's touch.

"White hair and gray eyes; you are really something." His smile widened with excitement, "can I know your name, Moon Child?"

"Why would I give my name to an enemy?"

"If I am your ally, would you?" He asked, tilting his head and smirking. "I am Radleigh Halloran, a runaway vampire. Ranks are boring anyway." 

I blinked in shock. It didn't seem like Radleigh was lying.

"You would need a vampire to enter a city; you are a wolf with no papers or collar. We could get there and settle in before the next red moon. What do you say?"

"…I say, why? Why are you telling me this?"

"You are alone, and so I am. Why not go together?"

I couldn't argue with that logic. I nodded slowly. I couldn't consider that vampire my friend, but I had little choice in that predicament. Perhaps I could find some of my kind once we reached the city. 

Yet there was something about him that drew me. More like a vampire, he had something animalistic in him. The red hair, relaxed smirk, and deep eyes reminded me of a fox. I was wary and yet at ease. 

 "My name is Lior…."