Caitlyn's POV
I walked alone to the attic, where an astronomical telescope sat, a gift from my father when I was eight years old. As a child, I was surrounded by other children who teased me for being motherless. I cried and asked my father why all the other children had their mothers with them, and why I didn't. My father tenderly touched my head, and what he said that day has remained in my heart until today.
"Because the moon god loves your mommy so much that he summoned her to go far away and turned her into the brightest star to watch over every child's night. By the time Caitlyn falls asleep, she'll come to your bed to keep you company."
At the time, I nodded as if I understood, and spent many nights pretending to sleep, hoping to catch a glimpse of my mom. But she never appeared, and after I shared my disappointment with my father, he gave me this telescope.
"So you can look at mom whenever you want."
Growing up, even though I knew it was a well-intentioned lie, I couldn't resist climbing up to the attic and using the telescope to search for the brightest star in the night sky when I missed my mom.
"Caitlyn, still awake?" A familiar voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned my head to see my father standing in the doorway with a thin blanket in his hand.
"It's easy to catch a cold in this temperature. If you're going to stay up, go to bed early."
My father said as he put the blanket over me and sat down beside me.
"Did our conversation just now make you think of your mother again?"
My father looked at me kindly, just as he did every time he watched me leave the house. I nodded softly before burying my head in my knees.
"Can you tell me about what happened before?"
My father hesitated for a moment, as if he hadn't expected me to ask such a question, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Of course."
He cleared his throat and then gazed up into the deep night sky.
"It's as Talon said, I was once part of the lycan. We were close before Aatrox became king. We campaigned together, played together, and promised to be good brothers for life. However, after he became Alpha, our positions shifted. Despite the many powerful individuals within the pack, he pushed for me to become the pack's Gamma."
A subtle smile graced my father's lips as he spoke, almost as if he were reminiscing about those glorious years.
"Initially, I believed it would be sufficient to rely solely on my efforts to protect him. Unfortunately, his ambition was boundless; he yearned for a larger realm and greater power, which led us into conflicts with other factions. The war persisted for many years, and gradually, weariness overcame me. It was during this period that I encountered your mother in a human settlement."
My father let out a long sigh before gazing up at the brightest star in the sky.
"At that moment, I had become separated from the army. In a desperate attempt to escape our pursuers, I had no choice but to seek refuge in a human town. Due to the severity of my injuries, I had to take advantage of the cover of night and hide in a stable. My original intent was to take a brief respite and continue my journey, but to my surprise, my injury caused me to lose consciousness."
"And then?" I blinked at my father, my curiosity growing impatient.
"When I awoke, I found myself in a pink room. Opening my eyes, I was met with a pair of eyes that shimmered much like yours. She was truly captivating, radiant as the brightest star in the night sky. She introduced herself as Gwen," Father recounted, a joyful smile gracing his face.
It was evident that my father held deep affection for my mother. I had witnessed him more than once, in the stillness of the moonlit night, gazing at her picture with tears in his eyes.
"What did Talon say about mother being taken captive later?" As I voiced my question, I noticed my father's countenance slowly darkening.
"By that time, your mother was expecting, and I had implored the Alpha to permit my return home to complete my mission. However, on my way back from the mission, I encountered a masked man who used your mother's life as leverage to forbid me from approaching the lycan palace again. I wrestled with my decision for a long time because, at that juncture, there were rumors of a conspiracy against the Lycan King, and as the King's most trusted Gamma, I had no choice but to return without a second thought, but I..."
My father clenched his teeth, his body trembling slightly with anger.
"Talon said the former Lycan King forgave you before he died, and he knew you had your share of pain."
I pursed my lips, suddenly recalling something Talon had once mentioned.
"But no matter what, I was always a deserter. Perhaps if I had returned then, everything might have turned out differently."
"Then my mother might have been long gone, and there might be no me."
I looked up, attempting to comfort my father, who buried his head in his hands, showing signs of pain.
"So, I followed the masked man's advice and stayed away from the lycan palace, thinking that if I distanced myself far enough, I could escape the turmoil. But I was wrong. Being a rogue meant that more werewolves would look down on me and bully me. To silence them, I had to prove I was more powerful than they were!"
My father raised his head towards the moon, inadvertently revealing sharp fangs.
"I had another adversary along the way until I met Shaco, the first Alpha who didn't mind my origins and invited me to join his pack."
"The Purple Moon Pack?" I inquired.
"Yes. He called upon the pack to be more accepting of me and your mother, and so, in his honor and during the subsequent war, I did what I could."
My father nodded, but his expression seemed somber.
"So, that's why the leaders in the pack generally respect you?"
"Respect? Ridiculous. Those old guys are merely afraid of my fangs."
My father snorted, then slowly gazed into the distance, as if reaching a dark decision.
"But after today, I realize it was all a farce, and it's time for me to show them the true cost in blood."
My father slowly stood up, raising his head toward the moon, and let out a loud, haunting howl that echoed through the empty forest.