𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀

*9 years ago*

My mother shook me gently waking me from my slumber. I lightly opened my eyes and saw her pale blonde hair cupping her pale skin, her emerald green eyes shimmering, her petal pink links curved upwards in a warming smile that I was used starting my mornings to.

"Good morning sweetheart, it's time to get up." She said softly "breakfast is ready"

I smiled, yawned and stretched swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I eagerly got onto my feet and followed her downstairs into the kitchen. I noticed that there were two sets of dirty dishes in the sink already while my breakfast sat idly at the table.

My mother noticed my wandering eyes. "You're father and brother had to leave a little bit earlier this morning, you know how they are" she chuckled.

I sighed and nodded, I did know how they were. I was jealous. With my father being the alpha and my brother being the oldest he was now basically in training with my father. While I'm only 10 My brother is 8 years older than me so I did understand why he got to know more than me. He just turned 18, prime age to start prepping to be meadow packs new alpha! My father wasn't like most alphas, he didn't crave the power and notoriety most craved. He didn't mind getting old and letting someone else take over. He also kept his nose out of other pack feuds, he lived a very peaceful recluse life. He was more than fine with it actually, he was ready to relax and adore my mother. But just because I was understanding doesn't mean I also didn't crave that one on one time with my father. I also was a bit offended that because I was a female I never had a chance of being in charge anyway. Stupid pack rules. I swallowed my disappointment and started shoveling in the fluffy yellow eggs in front of me.

I finished the last bite of my toast and finished sat my dishes in the sink. I kissed my mother on her cheek, "thanks mom! I'm gonna go sketch outside!" I yelled running upstairs to grab my supplies.

"Okay Hun! Be safe and mind link if you need anything! Otherwise be back before dinner you know the drill!" She sang out to me

I packed my backpack with my coloring box, notebook and blanket. I slung it over my shoulders and ran down stairs yelling out a goodbye as i slang the door shut behind me.

---

I awoke to a twig snapping, I shot up from my blanket and colored pencils clanking as they fell everywhere. It was definitely Darker than when I came out here- the sun noticeably had started to set causing panic in me because of how quickly in can get dark in these woods. I rubbed my eyes and realized my short nap I planned on taking turned out to be a long one. Mother was going to kill me. In a rush I threw all my coloring utensils in my bag with my sketchbook, I folded the blanket and shoved it in closing the bag. I started back tracking back to the house in a hurry.

As I was rubbing I started to get goosebumps on my arms- something felt... off? I started to slow down slightly preparing to mindlink my mother when a hand reached out and grabbed my shoulder. I yelped and was turned around to face my father

"Dad! You scared me!" I exclaimed sheepishly, I noticed his pointed stare and explained before he could even ask, "I'm sorry I fell asleep drawing- I stayed out longer than I meant to" I admitted

"I've been looking for you, you weren't responding in the pack link, I was worried" he explained then pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. I suddenly noticed my fathers blue eyes had a different look in them, he was nervous? His hands looked dirty- I'm not sure what the substance on them was. He wiped them off quickly on his pants when he saw my gaze fall onto them "sorry I'm just a little on edge right now, you need to listen carefully" he said his voice stern. "I don't have a lot of time right now but you need to go with your brother, I mind linked him that I found you" he brushed my light blond hair out my face cupping my face gently. "I love you willow, please please listen to your brother, things are going to get confusing, but I will come find you" he promised me.

My eyebrows burrowed together, questions started piling up in my head and before I could open my mouth to ask them my brother popped out from the trees- sweat bedding down his forehead causing his dirty blond hair to stick, he looked immensely stressed causing my nerves to shoot through the roof- something was very wrong.

"I hate that you're making me do this! This is a mistake I need to go with you don't send me away!" My brother pleaded walking up to my father "I'm strong I can help it's my pack too!" He reasoned

My father shook his head, "take your sister and go, we talked about this-" Before he could finish his sentence there was a loud explosion. I flinched at the sudden he'd sound- what was that?

"Take her now, I'm not leaving without your mother" he stated.

All of the sudden my father takes off running- I see in the distance a faint glow. I started to walk towards just to see what it was when I was scooped up by the arms of my brother. He was running so fast, something I wasn't used to yet due to the fact I hadn't shifted.

"What's going on?" I whimpered to my brother confused and scared "Where's mom?" I asked again, my voice croaking. As he was running through the trees, I finally realized what I saw. It was our house- it was on fire! I started crying and beating my brother's chest in protest. Why weren't we helping them? What was he doing?

"You heard what dad said" was the only response I got - I thought it was cold until I saw his shimmering blue eyes- they were watering. He didn't want to run either. I decided to stay silent after that.

But the silence didn't last long when something smacked into the side of my brother. I heard the air get knocked out of him as I fell to the ground. I braced and let out a whimper when I landed on a branch, of course of all the things to land on. I looked up to see a creature hunched over with red eyes snarling at my brother- it was so pale, almost human like but definitely was not. I whimpered in fear and started edging backwards but I didn't even have enough time to get on my feet as it sniffed the air and started barreling towards me. My brother must have shifted while I was busy gawking at this creature his wolf shot in front of me snapping its teeth and growling at the creature.

"Willow, you need to run" hunter told me calmly in the pack link

"No please, Hunter. I can't go without you please I can't go alone I'm scare-" he cut me off before I could even finish my sentence the creature went to lunge over him for... me?

"WILLOW RUN NOW!!" He commanded jumping up colliding with creature to protect me.

I didn't get to see anymore because I was sprinting. I didn't even know where I was running. I didn't even know I was still crying until I felt wet on my t shirt. I shoved branches and twigs from bushes out of the way cutting my hands. I felt there long branches whip against my legs, I scrunched my eyes in pain but kept running. I was definitely not in my part of the pack land anymore from how overgrown this forest was. The dense foliage started making it harder to run as quickly. The pricks and slices on my legs and hands started to ache. It felt like I had been running for so long, how much longer did I need to run? Was my dad okay? Where was my mom? Did hunter beat whatever that was? We're they okay? Could I go back?

"Hello?" I sent out in the pack link. I waited eagerly for a response. Minutes went by, nothing. My hope drastically dropped, they never didn't reply. My legs started to feel heavier and before I knew it they collapsed beneath me. I held my legs to my chest letting the sobs fully rake over my body. I looked down at my legs coated with a mixture of mud and blood. I laid my head down on my knees and began to shake, why? Why me? What was I going to do? I had not a single clue on where to go, I was alone. I felt so alone. They were really gone and I had no one. I curled up in a ball on the forrest floor and accepted my defeat, I didn't want to fight, I didn't know how to.

"Who are you?" A dark feminine voice inquired out of the dark

I shot up my heart beating out of my chest, I looked around and saw no one? I kept scanning again until it asked again- we'll more like commanded

"You're testing my very thing patience child, state who you are and what you are" she commanded in a harsh tone

"My name is Willow Adam's I'm f-from The meadow pack" I stuttered out. I heard the wind pick up and I flinched expecting an attack but instead I watched as she used the wind to reveal herself. She was stunningly gorgeous, she had long silken black hair perfectly straight, a long enchanting purple robe hiding her slender figure. She radiated power.

She took a few steps closer to me, I inches away slightly and she stopped," child if I was going to harm you I would have the moment I felt your presence now calm down I can see your hurt". She stated. My eyes widened at how continued to talk to me, my mother was always so soft about how she spoke, this woman was nothing like that. Respecting her point I sat still as she crouched to my level to inspect the cuts. She cupped my face and I noticed she had very warm brown eyes- almost on the verge of black.

"Your injuries are minimal, they looked much worse from a far. A bath and some

Herbs and you'll be fine" she hummed to herself. As she looked at my eyes it was like I watched something click. "Your eyes... Adam's...your from meadow pack? That's not too far... you're just a wolf?" she asked curiously. Her question seemed strange to me.

"Um yes I just haven't shifted yet" I said awkwardly. She then I turn nodded acting as if that had answered all her questions. I was still incredibly lost. "What exactly are you? You're not a wolf" I asked her finally gaining the courage. I didn't really see the point in holding back.

Her eyes shone with amusement "how do you know?"

"Whatever you did with wind, I don't know anyone that can do that. You like to hide yourself, also you just feel powerful" I explained shrugging my shoulders.

"You can feel that? Interesting" she mused "I'm a witch, enchantress, sorceress, whatever you find fitting I've been called many things. But you will call me Circe. It's not often the moon goddess has other species cross paths like this" she mused standing up, she started walking back to where she originally shown herself to me, "come on get up you're coming with me let's get those cuts cleaned". She said. I got up and brushed myself off and followed to where she stood, as we began our walk back to wherever her home was she murmured

"You know, you're lucky I'm a curious creature"